I once heard a counseling friend of mine say that the majority of the cases she deals with are rooted in the sin of unbelief.  I am not talking about refusal to come to Jesus for salvation.  That carries a set of very serious problems all its own.  No, I am speaking of born-again, saved believers who sin through unbelief.  It seems to be an oxymoron to say unbelieving believers, but that is precisely what is evidenced in the lives of many Christians today. 

Let’s look at an example.  Deut. 7:9 says “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.”  Deut 32:4 says, “A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”   Psalm 25:10 “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of the covenant.” Psalm 33:4 “For the word of the Lord is right and true, he is faithful in all he does.”   Those are just 4 verses that speak of God’s faithfulness.  So the question is “Is God trustworthy?” Can you trust God?  If the answer is yes, then why do you worry?  Why do you live with fear?  Why do you get depressed when you consider your circumstances? In other words, if you KNOW that God is trustworthy, but live with fear, anxiety, depression, or worry, you are saying by your very actions that you do NOT BELIEVE that God is what He says He is, that is trustworthy.  That is evidenced over and over among Christians today. 

      I am by no means claiming that I am free from this sin myself.  I personally was challenged in this regard many years ago.  When I was asked how trustworthy God was, I immediately began to respond with my quick and ready answer when my friend stopped me.  She said, “You are answering me from your head, I want you to answer me from your heart.”  So I sat and pondered the question at length.  I realized that my very actions denied my belief that God was trustworthy.  That was a real eye-opening experience for me.  When we fail to live in truth we deny its validity in our lives.  We essentially live as if it were not true. 

John 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Diane

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

A few years back I taught a Bible study from “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby and Claude King.  In Appendix A on pg. 220, he records the following Names, Titles, and Descriptions of God: “a faithful God who does no wrong, a forgiving God, a fortress of salvation, a glorious crown, a jealous and avenging God, a Master in heaven, a refuge for his people, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge for the poor, a sanctuary, a shade from the heat, a shelter from the storm, a source of strength, a stronghold in times of trouble, an ever present help in trouble, architect and builder, builder of everything, commander of the Lord’s army, Creator of heaven and earth, defender of widows, eternal King, Father, Father of compassion, Father of our spirits, Father of the heavenly lights, father to the fatherless, God, God Almighty (El Sabaoth), God Almighty (El Shaddai), God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, God Most High, God my Maker, God my Rock, God my Savior, God my stronghold, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God of all comfort, God of all mankind, God of glory, God of gods, God of grace, God of hope, God of love and peace, God of retribution, God of the living, God of the spirits of all mankind, God of truth, God our Father, God our strength, God over all the kingdoms of the earth, God the Father, God who avenges me, God who gives endurance and encouragement, God who relents from sending calamity, great and awesome God, great and powerful God, great, mighty and awesome God, …” and 100+ other names of God.

Today, pick one, any one, and savor it all day long.  

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Diane

 

What has captured your attention today?  Of the 1440 minutes today, how many will you spend contemplating your Maker?  

“Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God.  It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God.” J.I. Packer “Knowing God” pg. 23

If you are going to be obsessed today with anything let it be your contemplation of the One True God, creator and sustainer of the universe.  Psalm 145:5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

One Pure and Holy Passion (by Watermark)

Give me one pure and holy passion 

Give me one magnificent obsession 

Give me one glorious ambition for my life 

To know and follow hard after You 

Jesus, this is my prayer.  

Diane

 

The fourth question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is “What is God?” The following Answer is given: “God is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.”  Broken down into its component parts we get a better feel for the richness of its meaning. God is Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being.  God is Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His wisdom.  God is Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His power.  God is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His holiness.  God is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His justice.  God is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His goodness.  God is Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His truth.  If we were to break it down even further we would see that God is Spirit in His being.  God is infinite in His being.  God is eternal in His being. God is unchangeable in His being.  I think the two that really expand my mind and draw me to worship are God’s infinitude and eternality.  In every attribute of His character, every aspect, He is infinite (without bounds, limitless) and eternal (without beginning or end).  His wisdom is infinite and eternal.  His power is infinite and eternal.  His holiness is infinite and eternal.  His justice is infinite and eternal.  His goodness is infinite and eternal.  His truth is infinite and eternal.  

Let that stretch your mind and draw you to contemplate the awesome majesty of God. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.” Phil 4:8

Diane

 

I love this time of year (more when it doesn’t rain quite so much).  The trees are just so magnificent as they are coming into bloom.  It never ceases to amaze me that God has not only created such beauty, but that He blesses us with the ability to appreciate it.  He could have created such beauty but made us dull to it.  

Several years ago at a staff retreat, Pastor Tim Shorey shared the thought that God did not create us because He needed us, or that He was somehow lacking.  Rather, God so delighted in Himself, His glory, His perfection, His happiness that He has lived eternally in perfect bliss.  He created us to share that bliss with Him.  Now I know what you’re thinking. Bliss?  I don’t get it.  Bliss?  I don’t see it.  Bliss? You have got to be kidding because my life is anything but bliss.   I hear you. Let me encourage you.  Pastor Shorey also made this statement which encapsulates my philosophy of ministry: “Perhaps the single greatest means of gaining victory over sin, of breaking the grip of addictions, of escaping the pit of depression, of shattering the chains of lust, envy and anger, is a practiced, sustained, holy and expanding contemplation of the being of God.” 

Healing, your healing and mine, is rooted deeply and firmly in the very person of Jesus Christ.  Victory over addiction, or any other sin, will come only when we love Jesus more than we love ourselves, more than peace and calm, more than  being in control, more than power, more than status, more than acceptance, more than  drugs, drink, porn, or gambling.

    How do we love Jesus more?  Get to know Him personally.  Does that mean beginning a new, personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Yes, if you have not already done so!! For those of you who are already not just believers but followers of Jesus, getting to know Jesus goes way beyond the salvation experience.  It goes beyond asking for things.  It goes beyond praising God for all the things He has done, for His works.  It goes beyond memorizing Scripture.  All of these disciplines are excellent.  Learning to love Jesus more requires that we contemplate, meditate, and set our minds upon the very person of God, upon His character.  It is a fruitful, mind stretching experience.

Diane

Recently I was sitting in the waiting room with my husband. We were the 2nd to arrive at 6:30 am. There was one other couple that arrived at the same time we did, but they entered first.  I was pleasantly surprised that the office had the TV on so early but also that it was tuned in on a channel with a Christian talk show on.  Very quickly after arriving I heard the other man say to his wife, “you better change it before it’s too late.”  She didn’t move.  Probably another minute or two passed but it was obvious that he was irritated from him shifting in his seat and his ‘hrumphing and sounds of exasperation.  

A second time he said, “I’m going to change it, I can’t take it.”  So he proceeded to get up and change the channel.  

Have you noticed that people are often not neutral to the gospel?  They can be quite hostile to the gospel, and Scripture indicates it is going to get worse.  Our culture teaches/preaches tolerance but what they seem to mean is tolerance of any thing and every thing OTHER than Christianity.  I heard a radio speaker this week referring to legislation regarding hate speech, which would make it illegal to teach that Jesus Christ is the only way, basically because it would be “hateful” to all the other ways.  

Why are we surprised?  Jesus warned us.  

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

In spite of all these hostilities, never forget: in the end we win because Jesus has overcome the world.  

Diane

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 NASB

Then there’s the last phrase, “…that it may give grace to those who hear.” This is what the Lord used to really impact me that day many years ago, concerning my speech and the use of my words. And I’m often reminded of this verse from time to time and cautioned.

As I read those words, the Holy Spirit gave my the mental picture of being in conversation with someone about another person, and not only using my words but also the inflection of my voice, the body language, the rolling of my eyes, and facial expression to get my point across. Not only was I gossiping, but also slandering the person, and claiming that I was the one who was right in the situation. I was convicted not only of these unwholesome words, but of the fact that they would not be edifying to the person I was speaking to or anyone else passing by who heard me speak; nor did they in any way express grace to every one of those people who observed my tone as well as my words. Thus, tears came to my eyes and confession to my lips; repenting, I asked God’s forgiveness. 

How easy it is to be deceived into not “watching our words,” then falling into sin by not using our words to bring glory and praise to the Lord. Let us be diligent about honoring Him with every word that comes from our mouths, so that the motive and intent of our words might be pure and edifying to all who hear.

As we continue the practice of Watching Our Words, I trust that the following scriptures will be helpful:

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Matthew 12:34b “For out to the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep a watch over the door of my lips.”

Proverbs 13:3 “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”

Proverbs 21:23 “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock, and my Redeemer.”

Let’s pray that others will be drawn to the Lord by the expression of the Fruit of His Spirit evidenced in our lives as we are prayerfully “Watching Our Words.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5: 22, 23

DeEtta

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 NASB

Next let’s consider the words, “…only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment,…”

How often are my words those that “edify” or build up others? It’s so easy to criticize, be judgemental, or speak with a negative attitude, to gossip, or discourage someone by what I say. Those words would then be considered to be “unwholesome,” “corrupt,” and even “rotten.” But here we are instructed to be using our words for the good of those around us to build them up in the Lord, edifying them “according to the need of the moment.” As we observe those we meet along the way each day, how can this Scripture be applied in our home, at our workplace, in the grocery store, at the post office, in our neighborhood, at the doctor’s office, or while shopping at the mall? I need to ask myself, “Am I aware of ‘the need of the moment’ of those around me, or is my focus just on myself, and the things that I have to do?”

An encouraging word, an act of kindness, a smile, a word of affirmation can express the love, joy, and peace of the Lord to someone who may be having a difficult day. The Lord has been teaching me to be resting in Him in the details of my life, trusting Him for His timing and direction moment by moment. Perhaps this is so that I can observe “the needs of the moment” in the lives of those I come in contact with and share Jesus’ caring love with them. 

Philippians 4:4-8 “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses every thought will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers (sisters), whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things.” CSB ( ) mine

“Watching Our Words” will be continued…

DeEtta

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 NASB

When I first became truly aware of the words in this verse, about 20 years ago, it brought tears to my eyes. Now, I wasn’t one to use “bad language,” swear words, or even a lot of “slang” words, but the Lord used something about this verse to speak to me in a very deep way that day. I will address that more further along, but first some other issues about our words and the application of this verse. Other Scripture translations read “corrupt communication”(KJV), “corrupt word”(NKJV), “unwholesome talk”(NIV), “rotten talk”(CSB). Perhaps you are like me and never have considered your words to be “unwholesome,” “corrupt” or “rotten,” but how often are there some words we might use in place of those that we seek to never let pass over our lips. Such as “darn” or “drat,” “heck” or “gads,” “gees” or “fudge,” and others, expressed with the same intent. They are a habitual response and that tends to come out of our month when we are frustrated or irritated or angry. Perhaps there have been other times when we have muttered them under our breath, not really aloud for anyone to hear! I was convicted of this even more years ago by these verses from the book of James, chapter 3:9-12, addressing the use of the tongue. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men…Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers (sisters), this should not be.” NIV ( ) mine

Another thing that I’ve become more and more aware of in recent years is the use of God’s name by those in the Christian community in an exclamatory way ~~ “God!” or “My God!” or “Oh, my God!”. While teaching the Ten Commandments to my Kindergarten class (also a number of years ago), and wanting to impress on them what was meant by “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…”, we talked about how we would use God’s Name “in vain.” Understanding “in vain” to mean “misuse” or “for no reason,” we concluded that God’s Name should not be used just casually or at anytime other than in praying to Him or praising Him. The Jewish people considered God’s Name too holy to even speak it. “Yahweh is the promised name of God. This name of God which (by Jewish tradition) is too holy to voice, is actually spelled “YHWH” without vowels….During the third century A.D., the Jewish people stopped saying this name in fear of contravening the commandment “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain” (Exd 20:7).”1 

“Watching Our Words” will be continued….

DeEtta

1www.blueletterbible.org/study

So often we fall into the trap of basing our faith on what feels true rather than what IS true. Faith is much less related to feelings than to fact. Genuine faith is believing what is true.  How do you know if you believe something?  When you sit in church and the Pastor makes a statement you have not heard before, do you ask yourself – Do I believe that? Or How do I feel about that?  OR Is that true?  We are told to test the spirits – check the Word.  

How can we have fact-centered faith*? Only by checking and knowing the facts. Where or how do we get the facts? Through the reading, studying and meditating on the Word and knowing the living Word, Jesus Christ.  Faith is not a feeling, a philosophy, a theory, a sense, or some ethereal good feeling.  Biblical faith is grounded in the Person of truth.

Knowing the facts without faith is not belief.

Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

Having faith without facts is misplaced belief. 

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

So let our faith be rooted and secure in truth, in the facts of the Word.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Diane

*”Fact-centered faith” is a phrase gleaned from Miles Standford’s book: The Complete Green Letters.