Naked

 

Sitting on the toilet this morning in my birthday suit, I began praying. All of a sudden, I thought of the picture I was presenting to God. I quieted my prayer and listened. It came into my mind, as if from God, “you are always naked before me to the very center of your being.”

 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)

Thinking about this, I realized that God is not embarrassed to look at me and he doesn’t turn away. So often when I see someone in what I consider a shameful condition or someone with a severe visible handicap I look away. God sees all that I am and He doesn’t turn away. Rather He loves me and reaches out to offer me help to become what he longs for me to become.

 Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it. (Hebrews 4:15-16 Good News Bible)

 

What is your Practice #1

What is your Practice? What activity do you actively, regularly do to help you draw closer to God? There are a few things that I have done over the years and even more recently that I am finding helpful for my spiritual development.

I think that the first thing I would like to share is the practice of journaling. I have written in journals for many years. I think that, even though we have moved too many times, I could still find a notebook that I used in Viet Nam over 50 years ago.

It may be good to mention that I don’t think you have to journal in order to be growing spiritually. I am only sharing what has helped me and a little of how it has helped me.

Journals like the proverbial diary are very personal. This is a place where I can put all of my thoughts on paper and look at them. Sometimes this is definitely not something I want others seeing. But it can be very helpful in really seeing what I am thinking and in coming to actions necessary to improve situations.

In my journaling in recent years I have tried to start my journal entries with at least three statements of thanks. I usually address these to my Father in Heaven. This practice has helped me to appreciate things that I had not considered blessings. This has included big things like a healthy new baby and little things like hot coffee. It has also come to include things that we don’t often think of, like the loss of a loved one or a financial setback. There are many scriptures to support this but just one is 1st Thessalonians 5:18.

Journaling has also been very helpful in better understanding of God’s will. Many times, when I have a question or a problem about what to do or what a scripture means, I will write the question in my journal and as I am writing the question, I begin to understand the answer. Then I write the answer that I see, so that I can pray about that.

These are just a few of the benefits that I have found, journaling. I hope you will think about it and see if it is not a tool or practice that might be helpful for you.

Journalers please comment.

Be Faithful, Rick

Discipleship; What's the deal?

My intention in this blog is to encourage you, the reader, to become active as a disciple of Jesus. For a long time, I wondered about that whole business. Why? What’s it all about? How do you do it.

In Sunday school we sang, “Read your Bible and pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow…”. 

Why? So what?

Frankly, it looked like everyone else was having all the fun. Only after years of seeing how the ones I envied developed and how their lives looked did I begin to see the value and wisdom of taking those simple instructions seriously.

For myself I was one in the middle. I wanted to be a teacher, someone in authority, where it involved spiritual things. But, I envied those who turned their backs on spiritual things and lived for pleasure. I was in the “we don’t smoke and we don’t chew and we don’t go with girls that do” group. I think that may be the most miserable group of all.

It wasn’t until much later that I began to see that the ones following the way that Jesus offers are the truly happy ones. I began to try to learn what it means to be a disciple, not just a Christian. In John 10:10 Jesus says,

The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

What is that abundant life?

It’s something to think about, pray about and look into.

Daily thoughts 9 December 2019

I am on a journey of discipleship. I have been on this journey for some time and yet in so many ways it seems I am just a beginner. I am certainly nothing of consequence, but I am on this journey.

For a few years I contributed articles to this website in order to encourage others who are also learning to be disciples. For very selfish reasons I stopped. I must ask your forgiveness.

I am now retired and can spend literally hours in prayer and meditation. My thoughts turn toward those who are still busy with life of work and raising children. I recognize that you do not have hours for dedicated prayer, reading and meditation. Even so, if you can begin or end your day with one thought to think on through your day, hopefully that can be an encouragement to draw closer to Jesus and listen for his words of encouragement and love.

Therefore, it is my intention to offer by this medium; simple, short words of encouragement, that you can think on through the day.

Let us begin with familiar words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30;

Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Copy these words to a note card or small piece of paper, then look at them through the day and think what they mean to you.

These are the words of someone who loves you more than you can imagine and wants you to have rest. What does that mean to you?

From today's reading 11 May 2019

Psalm 30 and 32

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Daniel 6:25-26

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.

It didn’t work. No one can legislate the worship of God by fiat. Men’s hearts have to be changed. This is the new birth, and it takes time and effort for each of us.

3 John 1:11

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

What a simple instruction. There is no need to delve deeply into complex and confusing theological questions. Follow the simple instructions that a child can understand.

Luke 5:27-39

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

Jesus had called Levi (Matthew) who was a tax collector. And then Jesus went to dinner at his house with other tax collectors. This was scandalous! Jesus is still doing scandalous things, calling sinners to repentance. The religious leaders are still making demands, but Jesus is simply calling. Shouldn’t I just do what Jesus is doing and invite people to follow him? I will let Jesus do the sorting.

It’s something to think about.

From today's reading May 10, 2019

Daniel 6:1-15

It is amazing how when we read a story, we are standing back where we can see the whole story, but when it is our story, we are so close that we cannot see. King Darius valued Daniel and recognized his value in the kingdom, but when jealous advisors wanted to eliminate Daniel and plotted to use the king to destroy him, king Darius was blindsided. How often am I blindsided by the urgent? Refer to Daniel 6.

2 John 1:1-13

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9

There are a lot of teachings round about concerning many things but this seems to be a very serious and precise word. It is definitely something to consider.

Luke 5:12-26

And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

In todays gospel from Luke 5:24 these words of Jesus jumped out to me. And later in verse 24 he says, “that you may know that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins”. Later in John 20:23 Jesus tells his disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven, if you withhold forgiveness from any it is withheld.”

In the daily prayers when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we say, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It seems to me that a large portion of our ministry to others may be to be giving forgiveness to those who need it. Just as I need it.

It’s something to think about.

Are We Following?

Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Why is it that so many “Christians” believe it is their duty to slander people that they don’t agree with? Why do “Christians” feel that they must emphasize the sins of people who believe differently? Why must “Christians” condemn people who live different lifestyles.

Can we not find the log in our own eye? (Matt 7:3-5)

I believe that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am thankful, because that is the group that includes me.

The life of a disciple of Jesus is full of mystery. There is the mystery of being born again. No one can convincingly describe what happens or when it happens, but it is something that God does for us when we humble ourselves before Him. It’s a mystery. There is the mystery of baptism and the filling of the Holy Spirit of God. Christians have disagreed about these things for a long time and no one knows exactly what they mean. It’s a mystery. The Lord’s Supper, Communion, The Eucharist is a great mystery. And Prayer is another mystery. These are all mysteries.

“For now, we see as through a glass, darkly…”

We slander, point and condemn people outside our little circles and within our little circles we cannot even agree. How can we say we are following the prince of peace?

It seems to me that if I love as Jesus loved, humbling myself below all others (Philip. 2:3), if I love my neighbor as myself, If I love my enemy, THEN I will be following Jesus.

Everything else is rebelliousness, which is witchcraft (1 Sam 15:23) and stubbornness which is iniquity or sin.

Let us repent and follow the Prince of Peace.