Personal Update

My sweet Spirit had a bad bout of pancreatitis but there is no malignancy or tumor.  She'll have to have a change of diet and no table scraps (they weren't much of an issue anyway. Gratefully it wasn't anything more dangerous.  I didn't get offered the part time job but the facility is keeping my application for some day shift positions that might come available soon. I am looking forward to having my vision improved through the surgery Monday morning.  I am grateful to be living in a time when they can do so much! Praise the Lord for such mercy. 

A friend and I have been reading hymns to each other as part of our mutual edification. I am grateful for my church and BSF that continue to sing some of the old traditional types of music.  There is some wonderful newer music and I have been blessed immensely by it.  Some of the older hymns have such strong doctrine in them I hope we don't lose them any time soon. 

"The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life" Charles Stanley

Its been years since I first read Charles Stanley's "The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life."  I wished I had paid more attention to it when I first read it twenty years ago. Stanley takes a very balanced approach to the Spirit filled life and there is a red alert warning I want to post here.  It's one to which I took no heed and it has cost me dearly.  Stanley says this:

Like so many people, I wasn't always careful with what I allowed myself to think about. When I got serious about setting my mind on the things of the Spirit, I realized just how polluted my mind really was. God used one verse in particular to help me get on, and stay on, track in this area:
          We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. II Corinthians 10:5.
...There is no legitimate place in the mind of the believer for ideas, notions, dreams or fantasies that have as part of all their content things that are contrary to the truth of God. To entertain such thoughts for even a moment is to set our minds on the flesh and therefore walk after the flesh.
Stanley continues:

Look again at the standard by which we are to judge our thoughts:
Is it true?
Is it honorable?
Is it right?
Is it pure?
Is it admirable?
Is it excellent?
Is it praiseworthy?

Charles ends with :
If you are like me, you will be shocked at how many times a day you are tempted to take hold of one of these deceitful speculations and dwell on it. I am convinced that most Christians aren't aware of what they are doing. It becomes habit. As long as we don't follow through with what we are thinking, we usually don't consider our thoughts much of a problem. That is the trap. Without knowing it, we have begun walking in the flesh--and we aren't even aware that anything is different. But remember. "those who are [walking] according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh." Our mind-set is the chief indicator as to how or what we are allowing to lead us.

Personal Update

My dog Spirit is being treated for pancreatitis but it appears there MAY be a problem with her liver and pancreas.  The x-rays showed that there is an enlargement in both areas.  She has not been able to eat for a week and has dropped 5 pounds.  That's about 12% of her total body weight. She's staying at the vet's while the treatment is going on.  I would appreciate your prayers. Also I have a job interview at The Courtyards on River Park and would also appreciate prayers for that.

Humility

I'm working on my BSF questions for this week and one concerns the definition of "humility". I looked up several verses and found that Moses was the most humble man on the face of the earth. (Would not you love God to say that about you?). God leads the humble in justice and teaches them His way. The humble inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.  The Lord takes pleasure in the humble and he beautifies them with salvation.

Blessed are the humble for they will inherit the earth.  The Bible tells us that Jesus is gentle and humble in spirit so in Him we can find rest.  Finally, I learned that women should possess a gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in the sight of God.  Pride can mask itself very easily.  Dr. Piper speaks of two ways pride manifests. The more common way is wanting accolades for achievement. In other words, applaud me for what I have done.  The more subtle form is one that the Lord has revealed in my own heart.  It is self pity.  the self pitiful demand applause for their sacrifice.  It thrives on attention and carves an idolatrous god who is angry, demanding, harsh and judgemental.  A god that is evil and antithetical to the loving Lord portrayed throughout the Scripture.  Gratefully there is the hope that God's mercies are new every morning and His compassions fail not. We can flee to the Cross and preach the true Gospel to our hearts.  Praise Him who is indeed gentle and humble in spirit.

The Wages of Sin is Death

Romans 6:23 states: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  There are deep theological explanations of verse 23.  But today the very practical aspect hit me right between the eyes and then pierced my heart.  Lately I have taken a very lax attitude toward my sin.  I have not only sinned against the Lord but others in my life.  The wages of sin is death whether it is spiritual death, a death of a friendship or any other myriad negative consequences of our sin.  Gratefully faithful are the wounds of a friend.  A triad of people who love me and know my life rightly rebuked me sternly yet in love. 

My walk right now is a stench in the nostril of a holy and high God.  I've created idols in my own heart that I serve and prefer over the kind, generous, gracious, great and glorious God of the Bible.  Scripture commands us to flee idolatry.  If we don't do so quickly and fully, there is a tremendous price to pay.  What I was reminded of today is that price isn't only ours but innocent others as well. I hope my rebuke serves as a wake up call for us all. 

The Lord is My Banner

Song of Solomon 2:4 states: "He has brought me to His banquet hall and His banner over me is love."  Valentines Day is sometime soon.  I think it's next Thursday. I'm a life long single so I don't keep track of such things.  This name of God is Jehovah Nissi. Moses called the Lord this after God gave the Israelites a successful battle against the Amalekites.  This name of God reflects His gracious help through providence in the affairs of men.  Christians will fail to have victory in their lives when Jehovah Nissi is absent.  Sometimes we want God to bless our plans.  God the Banner goes in front and we are to follow behind Him.  He is to take the lead not us.

God is the source of our overcoming!  Psalm 60: 4-5 states: "You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth.  that Your beloved may be delivered, save with Your right hand and answer us!"  The fact that we have Jehovah Nissi in our lives means that we are overcomers.  John 16: 33 promises: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have much tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world."  Stand back and get under the banner of His love.  March in step with Him and your victory is assured.

Walking Better Changed Everything

I helped an elderly man shop in the grocery store today. We waited for the bus to come and take us back to the assisted living facility.  It gave me an opportunity to know him better.  He at one point had a neurological disorder that caused water on his brain. The doctors were able to drain it but it left him shuffling and off kilter.  He decided that he would march as he did when he was in the army.  He called out the "hup one two three" mantra to which they used to march for me.  He then said something interesting.  "Once I walked rightly everything fell into place."

I thought about how we are to walk with the Lord. Frankly I'm struggling right now.  I feel like I'm shuffling along doing as I please giving into my flesh and feelings.  I need to make a choice to march to the Lord's command.  He clearly calls us to walk by the Spirit often throughout the New Testament.  To walk by the Spirit means we have new life. It also means we do good works and obey moral commands.  We don't walk as the worldly pagan but as the believer that we are in Jesus Christ. We are to walk decently and properly not enticed by worldly lusts.  Paul calls us to be wise in times of evil days.  We are to be above our circumstances and live life in a way that reflects our true citizenship is in heaven.  May we all hear "hup, one ,two ,three" in our own heads as we walk rightly.  I'm sure everything will better fall into place for us too.