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Who Are We Following? Part 2 Spiritual Beliefs

On By LindaIn Uncategorized, Who Are We FollowingLeave a comment
Photo by Wallace Chuck on Pexels.com

With the exception of what some atheists say about themselves, we all have spiritual beliefs. And we all believe that what we believe is the truth. But how often do we consider the origin of what we actually believe? I say actually, because often we say we believe something but our actions prove that we really don’t.

Usually we take on the beliefs of whoever we are following. Whether that be our parents, the religion we grew up in, the education we received, those we esteem as being wiser or better than ourselves, or our own reasoning, we rarely give much thought to why we believe what we believe. We believe because someone in authority told us to believe. We believe because it feels right to us. We believe because it seems logical to our way of thinking. We believe because it makes us feel part of a group.  Or we believe because we had a spiritual encounter. Regardless of how we formed our beliefs, they become part of who we are. They can change over time as we learn and mature – if we think about what we believe – but for most people beliefs become set and are very hard to change. Have you noticed how defensive people can get when talking about them? Almost as much as when talking about politics. In my view, that’s because they are not looking at their beliefs objectively. Their beliefs go very deep in their hearts and they cannot separate who they are from what they believe.

Over the years, especially the last year or two, I have felt God leading me to examine everything I believe. I have been surprised, sometimes even shocked, to find out just how much of what I believe did not come from Him. I imagine the Jews at the time when Jesus walked the earth must have felt the same whenever Jesus spoke against some of what the religious leaders were teaching.  He sometimes began by saying, “You have heard it said,” and then continue with, “but I say.” God had given Moses the laws they were to follow, but over the centuries, religious leaders added to them. Most likely, some had good intentions. Their job was to assist the Jews in their worship and sacrifices to God as well as to model how to live pure lives. They probably added laws that they felt made God’s laws clearer. But others added or enforced laws to increase their own power and prestige.  Such were the Pharisees and the Sadducees that Jesus strongly and clearly spoke out against, especially with all those woes in Matthew 23.

Jesus warned against the danger of wrong beliefs by comparing them to leaven.  “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they (the disciples) understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:11b-12. Mark adds “the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:15) so it’s not just what the Jews were learning from religion but also what they were learning from secularism.

So what do you believe? How do you determine what is true?  For Christians, that would be the Bible. Not a religious leader no matter how famous or important or loved. Not your pastor or your family or your own reasoning. They may be preaching truth, but we should be like the Bereans in Acts 17 who examined the Scriptures nightly to see if what Paul was preaching was true.

When God told me to have a Scripture for each thing I told people in my blogs or other writings, I was amazed at what I found. Or rather, what I didn’t’ find. I was raised in a strict denomination with many rules and traditions. I was part of the early Charismatic movement with its heavy emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit. I got into the Enneagram when it was first introduced into my group of Christian friends. I followed the Word of Faith and the Prosperity Gospel teachings, again in its earlier days. I attended the services of varying denominations. I read multiple books on different religions and on the history of Christianity. I immersed myself in science fiction through books, TV shows, and movies. My faith – the things I believed – was knowingly and unknowingly influenced by all of these areas. As I began to examine what I believed by searching for it in the Scriptures, it turns out some of it was true, but a lot of it was not found in the Bible. In fact, some of it bordered on the occult and new thought (Christianized occult practices and beliefs) and was actually condemned in the Bible. I then had a choice: continue to believe what I wanted to believe, or repent and change to line up with God’s Word.

It’s hard to accept that something we hold near and dear to our hearts could be partially or completely untrue. Some that come to mind are…

God helps those who help themselves.

God wants everyone healthy and wealthy.

If I am good enough, I will get into heaven.

Being sick is caused by sinning.

Disasters in our lives are caused by Satan attacking us.

Jesus died for my past sins, but I have to pay for my current and future sins.

We are all children of God.

I used to believe each of those at some point in my life, but have since found Scriptures that reveal the fallacy of such beliefs. Let me know if you want me to send you some of the Scriptures I found.

Stay tuned. Next, I plan to start examining specific beliefs.

Note about the Bible, it’s important to read the context of whatever verse is being referenced. Biblical verses taken out of context can be made to say or support anything. John 6:27 is a good example.

John 6:27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.

If we pulled this Scripture by itself without considering it in the context of the rest of the Bible, we might use it to believe that we shouldn’t have jobs. We might think that we should only do spiritual things and that our food will come directly from Jesus. However, reading through the other books in the Bible, we know that we are supposed to live in the world (have jobs, support our families) but not be of it (with the same world views, morality, ambitions). Our focus should be on the kingdom of heaven – spiritual matters – without expecting others to take care of us (see the last Scriptures listed below).

Scriptures:

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi[b] by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.[c] 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.[d] 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell[e] as yourselves.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[f] whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

“You have heard it that was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:43-44

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:10-11

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own lands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Ephesians 4:28

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, Colossians 3:23

Nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:8

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly, and to earn their own living. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 17 The Net

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My heart dropped at the sight of the dead fish laying on the rocks outside the pond. How did it get there? There was no way it could jump high enough to clear the sides of the pond. It must have been carried there. What could do that to a fish? I had never seen a possum or raccoon in my yard in the three years I’ve lived here so I doubt it was one  of them. A toad might try to eat one but wouldn’t be able to jump up out of the pond with one in its mouth. Even if it did, it wouldn’t just leave it once it started eating it. It had to be a bird. One of the many that live around the area, many of which eat fish.

I imagined a bird swooping down, grabbing a fish, and then accidently dropping it as it flew away. No way was that going to happen again, not if I can help it. I don’t care that other people say it’s just the circle of life and that if I want a pond with fish, I should let nature take its course. My heart is for my fish. They didn’t ask to be easy prey contained in my small pond. I’m the one who set them there. And I’m going to protect them.

I grieved for the lifeless fish in my hand. It had survived two winters under snow and ice, two hot summers when the water temperature rose to bath water temp, the recent traumatizing chase and capture in a net, and a temporary stay in a plastic tub. And now it was dead. Captured by the enemy. Dropped and forgotten. I buried it in my raised garden bed. At least it’s death is not wasted. And then I covered my pond with a large net. It may not look as pretty, but it’s much safer for my fish.

God chose the Israelites to be His. With the call of Abraham, He set them in place. His heart was for His people and He protected them.  There were other nations, but this is the one He focused on.

The Bible talks about people being protected under the shadow of God’s wings. Birds have wings. Angels have wings. Somehow I don’t think God actually has wings, although I could be wrong. I think God was using the same imagery Jesus used when He cried over Jerusalem.  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Matthew 23:37

No one likes to be confined. We all long for freedom, which is what God created in us when He created Adam. The Bible doesn’t explicitly say that but it seems if Adam and Eve were told to go forth and dominate the world, that that was a lot of freedom. But sin entered the world and through disobedience Adam and Eve lost that freedom. There was an enemy now that wanted them and their offspring dead. And so God set His wings over the Israelites just like I set a net over my fish pond. As long as the Israelites stayed where He set them by loving and obeying Him, they were safe. But if they strayed out from under it through disobedience, they were easy prey for those who sought to harm them.

The net is not pretty. It was not what I wanted for my pond. But it is necessary at this time.

God’s laws may feel confining. They may not be what He wanted for mankind. But they are necessary at this time.

Instead of complaining about His commandments, maybe we should thank Him for setting His heart on us and protecting us from things we can’t see.

Scriptures:

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.  If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rule, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.  But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:15-20

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light. Psalm 36:7-9

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26

Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. Deuteronomy 10:14-16

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him, in love. Ephesians 1:3-4

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. Psalm 91:14

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 14 – Waiting

On By LindaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I glared at the rain through my window. It had arrived earlier than expected interrupting me as I painted the two 4×6 boards. Everything was waiting on these two boards. I couldn’t finish arranging the rocks around my pond or rearrange the water irises or plant any new land plants until the bridge was installed. And we couldn’t install the bridge until the foundation boards – these boards – were in place. And now it would be days before they dried enough to finish painting them.

I hate waiting. Waiting for flowers to multiply and bloom. Waiting for my husband to help with something I can’t do on my own. Waiting for the light to turn green. Waiting for the nurse to call my name. Waiting for the arrival of a special day.

Often over the years, if I could make something happen to shorten the wait, I would. If God appeared to be taking too long, I would help Him get it done. When someone was too slow at finishing a project, I would do it for them. And in many of those occasions, I ended up regretting it.

However, the older I get, the more I find myself accepting times of waiting as part of life. I have experienced God’s timing countless times, and the times I waited on Him always turned out better than when I grew impatient and ran ahead of Him.

The key to waiting patiently has to do with my eyes. When I focused on the situation, I stressed about the delay. My impatience impacted how I felt and acted. But slowly, as I trained my eyes to focus on God and His promises instead of on the current situations, waiting became easier. God doesn’t worry about time. His plans will be accomplished regardless of anything that I see as delays. So if He’s not worried about the when, why should I? My life is in His hands – and that includes not only what happens but when it happens.

I still hate waiting. But I don’t try to force my plans to happen on my schedule as often. After today’s initial disappointment of the rain, I relaxed and allowed God to be God in this area of my life also. I directed my attention to Him and to the things I could do while I waited – like working on my Bible study, doing laundry, and taking a nap. Sometimes, it seems that it’s in the waiting that God works on our behalf.  And someday I may grow to the point when I don’t have even the initial disappointment.

Thoughts to ponder:

Rain will fall on everyone’s plans sooner or later. In the spiritual realm, it’s not about what the rain does to your plans. It’s about what you do in the wait.

Do you waste time as you fret over the change in your plans?

Do you view the delay as an enemy attack and fight it?

Do you accept it as is and use your time waiting in a productive way?

Do you trust in the Lord’s timing?

Scriptures:

But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness and put God to the test in the desert. Psalm 106:13-14

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in sprit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecclesiastes 7:8

And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:15

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:8

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 12 – The Temptation

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I knew I shouldn’t do it. I knew my strained knee needed to rest for a few more days. I knew I was asking for trouble if I continued. But the temptation was too strong. The waterfall needed me.

After five attempts to set up the rocks in my waterfall, I had finally got it right. The water flowed nicely but within a week all the rocks were covered with algae. Not only that, but some of the smaller pebbles had been moved by the water leaving the lining exposed again to the sun’s damaging rays. I had to do something.

I could have asked someone to help.

I could have waited another week.

I could have thrown in more pebbles along with a chemical to kill the algae.

But an idea had entered my mind that I couldn’t ignore. If I was careful, I told myself, everything would be fine. I just needed to stay off my right knee. I had torn a meniscus a year ago which was taking a long time to heal, and had discovered a few days previous the agony of kneeling on it. I didn’t plan on doing that today.

So I took my time removing all the rocks, bending at the waist instead of stooping or kneeling. Then I lifted the liner and dug out more of the dirt under it. When I put the liner back down and turned the water pump back on, I smiled with satisfaction. The pool was deeper now and would be perfect to grow some water plants which would shade the lining, control the algae, and eliminate the need for so many smaller rocks.

I proceeded to craft out the pool with a few larger rocks and some plants. Everything went well – until I attempted to place a large rock at the edge of the waterfall. It was a long stretch to reach the middle, and I had nothing to hold on to. I hesitated but then decided if I was careful enough, I could do it. Slowly, I lifted the heavy rock in one hand and bent over the edge of the pool, balancing myself with my other hand outstretched behind me. Six inches to go. Five. Four. It was working. As long as I moved slowly, I was able to lean without having to bend my knee. Three more inches. Two. Slowly, I pushed my limit to reach that last inch – and slowly I felt myself falling. Not into the small pool, which would have been bad enough, but over the edge of the waterfall into the large pond. My life flashed before my eyes. I saw myself falling head first onto the pile of rocks at the bottom of the waterfall and wondered how long it would be before someone discovered me down there covered in algae and goldfish.

No! I was not going to let that happen! I scrambled back as much as I could waving my arms around for balance, and landed hard on my knees with my face inches from the water. Relief was instantly replaced with agony as my bad knee screamed in pain. I took several deep breaths before attempting to stand up. It took a few minutes, but I was able to get to my feet, limp into my house and dig out my knee brace.

After resting and icing my knee for a few days, I was able to walk around again. The weather had turned too cold to go outside, but soon the warm sunny weather returned – and along with it came the temptation to get back to work on pond.

I knew I shouldn’t. I knew my knee needed more time to rest. But the temptation was too strong. If I was careful not to kneel and only worked on the safer parts of the pond, I would be okay. Right? I didn’t fall again, but I now have an appointment with an orthopedic specialist. It seems I’m no match for the urge to create when it comes to an unfinished pond and garden area.

Giving into temptation can hurt us even when we are being careful. We may think we are getting away with it. But there is always a price to pay. An extra five pounds or an empty wallet might not seem to be such a big deal. But that five pounds can become twenty-five over time and that empty wallet can end up with bankruptcy.

Everyone faces temptations every day. Some temptations are easier than others to resist, but they all require self-control. Paul told Timothy that God has given us a spirit of self-control so it’s something we all have even if we aren’t using it. Paul told the Galatians that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit which means it can grow. And Peter warned the early Christians to be self-controlled in these end days which implies it’s a choice. Choosing to exercise self-control in the easier areas can help it to grow strong enough to handle harder or stronger areas.

God warns us away from things for a reason. He can see consequences that we can’t – or sometimes choose not to – see. We sometimes call these things sin, but temptation doesn’t always have to involve sin and they don’t always apply to everyone. Buying the more expensive dress, sleeping in on Sundays, and having an extra piece of cake may not seem like much for some but for others it can easily lead to weakening self-control. In these cases, people exercise their ability to make excuses over their ability to control themselves.

The call of my garden is admittedly a relatively mild temptation but I’ve experienced a greater temptations. Resisting one involved weeks of agonized tears, desperate prayers, and constantly yelling “No!” at myself – but even so I never got to the point that I shed blood like Jesus did in His garden that dreadful night.

We have no excuse. Jesus told the disciples to watch and pray so they wouldn’t fall into temptation. He said no temptation would be too great to handle and that He would always provide a way out. But He does not usually fight this battle for us. Neither can anyone else. It’s up to us to fight our own temptations. But even so, we don’t have to fight them alone. God stands with us in our struggle, and we can ask other people to help. The encouragement and prayers of someone we who will hold us accountable is like the support of the men who held up Moses’s arms during a long and intense battle.

I like to do things myself. I like being self-sufficient. I take pride in my ability to get things done no matter what the challenge. But sometimes, like now as I can feel the pull of my waterfall, it would be wiser for me to reach out to a friend rather than to my gardening gloves.

Scriptures

But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:12

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Hebrews 12:4

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

For the grace of God as appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age Titus 2:11-12

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it  1 Corinthians 10:13

Throw Out the Bath Water – But not the Baby

On By LindaIn My Thoughts, UncategorizedLeave a comment

With all the stuff coming out lately – the Epstein files, false prophets, immoral pastors – it seems that the people who have been speaking out against rich white males have a point. Rich and powerful men have been doing all kinds of bad things for many years. And most of these have been white.

Yet there are millions of adult white men who are nothing like these. Millions of adult white men are living decent lives. They work hard to support their families, give of themselves to their community, and share their resources with those in need. Judging all white men because of those who are doing wrong is like throwing the baby out along with the dirty bath water. Besides, there are plenty of non-white men doing evil – and it’s not limited to just men. Women can be just as evil.

We need to get rid of the evil but let’s not do so at the cost of the baby. Let’s clean up our lives so our light, which comes from Jesus, will shine in dark places and we can rightly call out the evil happening around us.

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. John 7:24

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Ephesians 5:11

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, Ephesians 5:13

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

God Feels Indignation Every Day – Open Your Eyes Series

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Ps 7:11  God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

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Indignation, according to Strong’s H2194, is defined as froth at the mouth, fury, angry, rage.

That is not an image of God we like to think about. We’d much rather think of God’s love and forgiveness and mercy and grace. But if that’s all we think about, we’re going to miss a side of God that is as important as the warm fuzzies He gives.

A God that is only loving and merciful and forgiving is not a loving God at all. If He allows sin to go unpunished, how is that loving to those who are hurt by it? How is it loving if He never disciplines us and we end up selfish, self-centered, greedy, idolaters – and then he judges us when we die? 

I’ve heard people say that they can’t accept a God who is an angry, judging God.

First, I’d say they don’t get to create God in their image. If God was a vindictive, unfair, cruel God, He would still be God. We would still have to treat Him as such. We might not have the warm feeling for Him that we would want, but that doesn’t change the fact that God is God. No one made Him. He just is.

Second, God is just. He does what is right, period. He doesn’t follow social norms or cultural expectations. He doesn’t take advice from anyone. He does right because He is righteous. It is who He is.

Third, they don’t know and can’t know God’s thoughts. His thinking is way beyond our thinking. He sees things differently than we do because His perspective is so much higher than ours. He can see the end from the beginning. Time had no restraint on Him. We are bound by so many things – He is bound by nothing. He sees all. He knows all. He is in all places at all times, including our hearts. He knows each person’s motivations and future. Our decisions are based on what we see and know. In like manner, God makes decisions based on what He sees and knows.

And fourth, our spirits are created for God. If we reject Him, we will fill that space with other gods of our own making. Money, power, prestige, causes, agendas, family, jobs, hobbies, sports, even ourselves, are all things that have become gods in today’s world. We can talk ourselves into and out of believing anything, but the truth doesn’t change. There is only one God.  And we didn’t create Him.

God is who He is. He does what He does. We can accept all of Him, part of Him, or none of Him. That doesn’t change the fact that He is looking down at us right this minute with both love and fury. Jesus provided the only way to escape being the object of His fury. We may suffer some fallout from the fury directed at the evil around us, but we will not be a target.

How many of us truly believe what God has revealed about Himself through the Bible? How would our attitude and reverence towards God change if we truly accepted all aspects of Him? How would our lives be different if we really believed that God feels indignation at sin every day?

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.  (Eph 1:4)

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.” (Luke 4:8)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways  and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Is 55:8-9)

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jer 17:10)

Where Are You, God?

On By LindaIn Journal Entry, Uncategorized2 Comments

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Where Are You, God?

 

I am here in the trenches

With the sickest people

And with those who care for them.

 

I am here in the nursing homes and hospitals

That are filled with anxiety and fear and worry

 Bringing peace and comfort to those who let Me.

 

I am here behind the scene

With those who are fighting to find answers

Guiding and strengthening those who will listen.

 

I am here in the homes of millions and millions of people

Who feel all alone as they shelter in place

Offering companionship and peace to those who let me in

And don’t allow anxiety to squeeze me out.

 

I am here for the millions of stir crazy people

Who are struggling to get through each day

Inspiring creative ideas to relieve the boredom.

 

I am here to the masses of people

 And I am here to the solitary person

Who feels abandoned, alone and scared about tomorrow

Offering love, friendship, hope, peace, and a place in My kingdom.

If only they’d let Me.

Offering It Back to God

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, UncategorizedLeave a comment

You asked for something from God. And He gave it to you.

Or He gave you something to do for Him.

You are thankful.

You love it.

You want to enjoy it.

You want to play with it.

And He wants you to.

But what if…

What if you gave it back to Him? 0201201926d

What if you asked Him to use it for His glory?

What could God do with it?

Is it possible that not only would you get to enjoy it, but so would a multitude of other people?

And that God’s amazing goodness would be seen by many?

The boy with the bread and fish found out the day he offered God’s provision back to Him.

And so could you.

If you dared.

So the question comes down to…

When God gives you something, what will YOU do with it?

Get Out of Your Boat

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, Journal Entry, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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Come walk with Me.

Um… You’re walking on water.

Yup, and you can, too. Come on out here.

I will sink. Those waves are bigger than I am, never mind the deep water underneath. And who knows what’s down there?

I will keep you above the water. Come on, it’s okay.

I appreciate Your invitation, but I really should stay in my boat. It’s keeping me safe from the storm.

I will keep you safe. Come out of your boat, and take a walk with Me.

Well, that sounds nice and all, but I have to think about my health. If I don’t worry about doing everything right, I might get sick.

Focus on Me, and let Me keep you well. Come on, we’ll exercise together.

If I’m out there with You, who’s going to worry about making sure there’s enough money in the bank to pay my bills. What if something big happens and I don’t have enough money?

I will supply your needs. Leave your boat, and let’s go on an adventure.

That sounds great, but who will take care of my family and dogs? I have to stay here to make sure their needs are met, too.

I will meet their needs. Come on, you can do it. Come to Me.

But I made this boat super strong. It can protect me from the rough waves.

I’m stronger. Come out here, and be with Me. You will see how strong I am.

I know people can’t really walk on water. Besides, You’re more like a ghost. My hand will go right through Your hand, and I’ll drown.

I will hold you up. You will not drown. Come out of your boat, and dance with Me.

But it doesn’t make sense to trust something I can’t understand instead of trusting something I can see and touch.

You’re thinking is backwards. Trusting the boat doesn’t make sense. It’s just boards nailed together. It can break. It can sink. It’s Me you need to trust. I will never break or sink. Trust Me. Come out here, and stay with Me.

I’m scared.

I know. I am trustworthy. Come out here, and find out.

I’m coming.

Here’s My hand. This is going to be amazing!