Conformity To What?

When I begin to realize I am dwelling on the things of this world instead of Jesus, one of my greatest tools to get back in alignment with Him is to study His attributes.  After I spend time recognizing His character, I can only humble myself and thank Him.  It leaves me speechless.

His Holiness points to more than the fact that He never sinned.  His actions, attitudes, and motives all pointed to flawless alignment to the will of God.  Think about what is written:

-John 6:38   He came from heaven "not to do His will but to do the will of Him who sent me"
-John 4:34  "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me"
-John 8:29  "I always do what pleases Him"

I see my lack of holiness as I read these scriptures.

The Holy Spirit makes us aware of our need of holiness, but, it is to stir us for a deeper place of commitment not to condemn us.

Once we see the need, we can turn and thank Him for our salvation and His righteousness.  We begin to think as God thinks and do the things that please Him.  He is our example as 1 Peter 2:21 shows us.

Holiness, then, is conformity to the character of God and the purpose of our salvation, Ephesians 1:4, "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight."

"Have You Seen Your Father's Eyes Today?"

Her long brown hair bounced off her back as she ran to the oceans edge.  She giggled with delight.  The small preschooler never looked back but instead fearlessly got closer to the water.  Her father casually walked to where the shore line was and stood with pride while watching her play.

She moved in further, now to her knees. You could hear her squeals and laughter, see her jumping with abandonment. The pappa inched his way out but never so close that he interrupted her enjoyment.

From the look on her face you could tell she never once thought about any danger that could be below the surface of the water or that any moment a wave could knock her over. But the daddy knew what harm was around her and he was there to protect her.

Two more steps, she was waist deep. She looked at the man who was still behind her. She LOOKED straight into his eyes as He spoke and motioned to her to come closer to him.  She obeyed.  Closer to her father, closer she went.  His love and concern drew her to him.

I saw all of this as I sat in my chair on the beach and three simple things hit me. One, how our Heavenly Father must take great delight when we get pleasure and enjoyment in the things He has created.  Secondly, He is always there watching over us with protection just like this earthly Father was with his child. The third thing I was reminded of is, how easy it is to take our eyes off Jesus, our Heavenly Father, and get caught wading further into an ocean of danger.  It is only by constantly being aware of Him and focusing on Him that our eyes stay locked on Him. It is easy for Him to keep calling us but we must be close enough to hear, and close enough to gaze directly into His eyes.

I left the beach that day asking myself, have I looked into His eyes today? Am I so close that He can pick me up if the worlds waves get too close?  Or is the world around me taking me further into its ocean?

Hebrews 12:1 and 2....."Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus".....

Haven or Hive?

While sitting outside drinking coffee and having a quiet morning, I listened to the red cardinal chirp.  Another sound came buzzing by my ear, a whirling sound that made me think a helicopter might land on my head.  It was that of a bee. 

While shooing it away, I started questioning what it wanted with me.  What did I have that attracted this insect?

It wasn't my perfume because there wasn't any and there was no honey on the table.  But let me describe a picture that might be the draw.  It's my curly hair in the morning, pre shower.  It looks more like a well woven nest than locks of curls.  Could it be this little honeybee was looking for a hive?

This caused me to think.  How's my attraction?  Am I a haven for the world pointing them to Christ, a safe place from the cares of this world or an artificial hive offering nothing?  As a Christ Follower, we are either attracting or repelling others to our Lord.   2 Corinthians 2:14-16 says, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life."

Lord, today may I be the fragrance this world needs to draw them to You.  May I attract others to You by being a sweet aroma and pointing them to You as a haven away from the perishing hive this world offers.

"The Cloud of Unknowing"

Desiring More....

From "The Cloud of Unknowing", author anonymous, "God, unto whom all hearts be open...and unto whom no secret thing is hid, I beseech Thee so for to cleanse the intent of mine heart with the unspeakable gift of Thy grace, that I may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee.  Amen"

Call Me Jacob"ina"....

Don't seek the plan but rather the One who reveals the plan and when you do, you will find the answers you need. 

 

Decisions, decisions, decisions.  Most of us are fairly good at reasoning.  We have methods of deduction, get advice from friends, or do a pros and cons list.   We are fairly confident our final choice will be well thought and planned.  But have you ever felt like you were struggling to get an answer on something that wasn't so clear?  I think we all have; I know I have, and, so it seems scripturally, did Jacob.   The book of Hosea says in chapter 12, "...he wrestled with the angel and prevailed;  He wept and sought His favor." 

It seems Jacob didn't easily make a decision, he struggled to make a decision.   He wrestled.  Who is he wrestling?  The angel, who is God.  God has met him in order to change him.  God wanted to do something IN Jacob that was according to HIS plan for Jacob's life.  This kind of transformation can only take place by way of a supernatural experience.  An altercation that would be life changing.

Like Jacob, I wrestle.  I wrestle with the things of The Lord and my decisions in life.  What God wants for me and you, instead of wrestling, is to rest in Him.  Surrender, surrender all we want for what He wants.

In Jacobs’s strength, he tried to fight God, he wanted the blessing of the victory.  He wrestled with submitting to the ways of God; while all along Gods intention was that Jacob would be blessed in the relinquishing of himself.

Once Jacob prevails, he weeps and finds favor.  How does Jacob obtain favor?  Favor was found in the surrender of his will to God's will.  Jacob loses himself but gains the Lord's favor.  He weeps because he now understands true brokenness before God.   

In Genesis 32:28, God told Jacob he was changing his name because of the transformation that had taken place.  Jacob was no longer the same man because "you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."  Jacob was learning to let go and let God be in control.  Jacob acknowledged that the blessing comes from God.  Jacob witnessed God face to face and discovered intimacy in Him!  He overcame the struggle through a personal encounter with the Almighty God and recognized his weakness.

Jacob limped as the match closes.  It was a permanent reminder that God spared him and did not want him to resist God's will.  Although he was broken and worn out, he realized the power of God when he let go.

Prayer:  Lord, help me, to not wrestle with surrender, but, instead to recognize the value and blessing behind Your perfect will for every situation in my life.  Today, Lord, may I see You and observe (being fully present in time) Your loving kindness and justice.  May I wait for you continually and be still while you become my focus over the end result of all my plans.