Monthly Archives: September 2015

Sharper than any double-edged sword!

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Meditation Journey Day 4                        double-edged-sword

Hi Friend,

I trust your Sunday was blessed. By now you have noticed this is not the usual devotional that jumps from one verse to another each day. We are slowly “chewing on” Proverbs 2:1-5. I want to you understand the importance of this process. Typically, people jump around in their reading of the Word of God and never listen deeply or clearly to what God is saying to them. The longer you “chew” on a passage, the more the Spirit can reveal to you about God and yourself. So we continue:

 Proverbs 2:1-5

My son, if you receive (accept) my words and store up (hide) my commands within you, turning (inclining) your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for wisdom (insight) and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then (and only then) you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

The first critical “If” is if we will receive His word.

“My son, if you receive (accept) my words…”

We have received the Father in heaven speaking and we have embraced that we are a chosen Child He dearly loves. Now the message comes. It is His Word; therefore it is essential, and powerfully alive. When the Apostle Paul was encouraging Timothy he wrote: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

God’s Word has a life of its own. Through it the Holy Spirit is able to produce in us the character and image of His Dear Son. No other word is able to do that. It is the God Command that He spoke and framed the worlds and created the light. It is the Angelic Word spoken to Mary that produced the living Word that she birthed at Bethlehem. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…” so the Apostle John begins his gospel.

What The Father is asking us to receive is His living Word breathed into us by His Spirit. It will produce God-life in us just as a seed placed in the soil produces its life. Isaiah spoke for God when he wrote,” As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Hebrews 4 tells us: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” It will clearly and sharply judge us; piercing our hypocrisy, religiousness and pretence. It has the authority to reveal our lies and falsehood but also illuminate the glory of who we really are in His eyes.

But remember the “if”? We have a choice. Will we receive the Word as He gave/gives it or will we modify/adjust/dumb-it down to our liking? Will we pick and chose what we think is important to us to know as arrogant children in a classroom? This is why the lack of humility is the first great hindrance to all spiritual growth.

Observation: Our Father is speaking. He is offering His very life through the living Word. It is His Word and it is unlike any other Word we will hear.

Interpretation: His Word has its own life and agenda. It is able to judge the thoughts and intents of our hearts. It will become a God mirror showing us what and who we are so we can be transformed.

Application: Father God I want to receive your Word as Mary did in response to the angel by saying “do unto me according to your Word”. May you grow in me and through me the character of Christ that I may honor you and become the Child of the King I am called to be. Help me to put away arrogance and pride; because I know the lack of humility is the first great hindrance to all spiritual growth.

What is your take away?

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Thanks for listening. I hope you will pray for me and all the others that are on this journey. You may also want to send me comments, suggestions or questions. I promise I will respond to each inquiry.

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I’m so glad my wife likes coffee.

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Coffee cupI’m so glad my wife likes coffee. Not just because there are some healthy reasons to drink the brew, but because it is an easy simple gift I can give her every morning, every day. I have a routine of making the coffee either the night before, or as soon as I awake, and then I bring it to her while she is still in bed.

It’s the perfect time to tell her she is beautiful, I love her and thank God for her.

Yes, everyday if I can. When she is away on a trip, I send her a morning text with “here is your coffee, I love you” just to remind her.

Why? ….. because she so insecure that she needs that reassurance each day? Not at all! She is a very confident and competent woman. I just happen to enjoy loving my wife, and this is a simple easy way to let her know I cherish her each day. I also know I need opportunities to express the truth about her and our relationship. This is a simple and easy way to serve her and keep my heart focused in God’s direction towards my wife and our marriage.Coffee together

So what are the little rituals you have practiced in your relationship? You need them. Look for the routine moments of your life and turn them into rituals of grace to nurture your love for each other. How do the two of you say hello or good-bye? What do your children observe in how you cherish each other?

Keep it simple and easy to do each day. The impact will be little each day, but great over the years.

“My Son, if”

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Let go Let GodHi Friend,

Thanks for joining the journey. We are gently walking our way through: Proverbs 2:1-5

My son, if you receive (accept) my words and store up (hide) my commands within you, turning (inclining) your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for wisdom (insight) and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then (and only then) you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 

The word “if” captures important truth we need to walk in each day. The Father repeats it three times for our learning process. Each one calls us deep into Him. None of the “ifs” stand alone. You need all of them together “if” you are to receive the benefits of His Word. We often run to the Bible and snack on one simple thought that calms our fears; but seldom do we lie down in the green pasture God has provided to be nourished completely. Each “if” is a sign post. To go on following requires more of us as God gives more of Himself to us. These three “ifs” are direction/processes that will lead us to feast on His Word and become like Him.

 “My Son, if”

Even though we are His child we still must make critical choices for ourselves. The Father calls us by the Spirit to faith in the work of Jesus Christ. We then must chose to accept His path.

“My Son, if….” Will you choose His path today? Will you choose to believe His Word instead of the lies of this world? Will you receive His Word or walk in your own way. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. (Isa. 55) Every day we must choose to trust Him, walk in faith in His word and believe. Every hour requires a renewed dependence and trust. Daily we must confront the sign post “if” and deny our own way to follow Him. If you are to make progress in the conversion of your soul and transforming your mind; then each day you must choose His path with habitual faith.

Observation: Our Father offers us three choices to progress in faith or continue our own way. We will grow closer to Him or turn away from Him.

Interpretation: By giving us these three choices we begin to identify with His truth and ways. We belong to Him, but even so He never forces us to follow. We must choose daily to follow.

Application: If I enter into all three of these directions/processes of God I receive more of Him and I will allow the Holy Spirit to transform me. If I do not receive His Word and do not follow Him closer I restrict His Spirit’s transforming power. I hold the trump card to my spiritual growth.

What is your take away?

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Thanks for listening. I hope you will pray for me and all the others that are on this journey. You may also want to send me comments, suggestions or questions. I promise I will respond to each inquiry.

Proverbs 2:1-5 Getting Your Boots on for the Journey

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Boots on 2Meditation Journey Week 2

Hi Friend,  This will be a slow paced and a focused journey with the Holy Spirit into His Word. More like a Mr. Roger’s pace than the usual speed of a TV commercial.  Our purpose is to glorify Jesus Christ and grow in fruitfulness to honor our Heavenly Father.

He made it clear that we need His spiritual food each day just like we need natural food. Most Christians are starving themselves spiritually and are living in a defeated discouraged religious mindset. Yet Jesus offers abundant life that is available to all God’s children that will abide in Him and His Word. Your desire to receive these blogs reveals you have made a clear choice to become more like Christ. Yet so few understand the process and so do not cooperate with the Holy Spirit to allow spiritual fruit to be matured in their life.

As we put our boots on for the journey ahead; please keep these thoughts in mind:

  1. It will be slow paced because we are branches that grow organically, trees that need to develop roots. Not race cars that can slap on new wheels.
  2. We will stay focused on whole passages of God’s Word for much longer time than you may think is necessary. Plants need time to grow in the same soil. Seeds need time to take root. We will feast not snack on God’s Word. This will give our spiritual digestive track time to absorb His life into ours. So do not be surprised if I repeat ideas, concepts and processes.
  3. This will have little effect in your life if you do not begin to memorize and ponder God’s Word in humble submission to the Holy Spirit.

Today we begin to look at the first two words of Proverbs 2.

“My Son”

He calls us His child, my son… my daughter.

Do you hear a calm voice calling to your heart? It is your Father in Heaven. He is not like your earthly father. He has known you before you were born and has been with you every moment of your life. He will and has been always there with you, holding you, guiding you and keeping you. To say He loves you is silly. His concern and care is beyond any concept of our idea of love. He is your Creator, Sustainer and the Image of who you will become. His character is embodied through the life, actions and words of Jesus Christ. All His choices and actions towards you, all that He has allowed and restricted from your life is to make and mature you to be like His Son. He is to fitting you for an eternal life with Him.

His call today is towards that end.

Have you accepted the reality of His Fatherhood in your life? Have you humbled your being to Him to open your heart and soul as a dependent child to His Spirit? This is not a one time or occasional choice or experience. It is the continual life time attitude of a child of God to The Father. We cannot come to Him and abide in Him any other way then the path of continual humility. The lack of humility is the first great hindrance to all spiritual growth.

Observation: It is a personal communication between a Father and a Child (son). Our Father is very concerned that we each grow spiritually.

Interpretation: He has a personal relationship with you as though you are an only Child. His full attention is on you and He calls for your full attention on Him in a broken and humble attitude.

Application: I need to ponder on how I consider Father God. Do I accept that all His actions have been designed for my good and His glory? Am I walking daily, continually and intentionally with a dependent attitude toward Him and His Abiding Spirit?

What is your take away?

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Thanks for listening. I hope you will pray for me and all the others that are on this journey. You may also want to send me comments, suggestions or questions. I promise will respond to each inquiry.

Your Meditative Journey into Christ

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Hi Friend,

I am sending this to invite you to journey with me as I seek Jesus Christ in the Word of God. Starting with this blog I will begin sending you  a weekly meditation in God’s Word. My desire is to spur others to a continual seeking of Jesus through the word of God. God made it clear that we need His spiritual food each day just like we need natural food; yet so few find the time every day to engage God’s thoughts. Or they often do not know how or where to start.

So if you want to come along for the journey and seek the Lord with me sign in on my contact page affirming that you would like to receive a weekly scripture meditation from me. If I do not receive your sign up affirming your decision to accept my communication I will not send one to you. Also, know you can stop receiving them any time you choose. My desire is to serve you and encourage your spiritual growth.

We will first visit Proverbs 2:1-5 as this is a concise description of how and why God desires us to seek Him and receive His word. Today we will look at all five verses. The following days we will take much smaller bites of this wonderful portion of the Bread of Life!

Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if you receive (accept) my words and store up (hide) my commands within you, turning (inclining) your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for wisdom (insight) and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then (and only then) you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Observation: It is a personal communication between a Father and a Child (son). The father is very concerned that the son will grow spiritually.

Interpretation: It is a universal scriptural plan to seek God and know Him. It gives us the concise basic principles that are essential to know and seek God.

Application: I need to receive this word and engraft this process into a daily discipline of seeking Jesus Christ.

What is your take away?

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Thanks for listening and I hope you will respond positively and walk with me through God’s Word.   You may also want to send me comments, suggestions or questions. I promise will respond to each inquiry.