"The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom." ~Solomon
I was asked once by someone that was very interested to know if I believed that hell really is a lake of fire. For years, I had believed that it was but I had never studied the subject and could recall no scriptures to back up my assumptions. I told them that honestly, I'd never studied hell because I'm not going there. I assured them that I would research it for them and get back with the answer. The next day when I saw them at work I had a cheerful answer; "Yep," I chirped.
The whole concept of hell began to crystallize in my mind. A semi-morbid curiosity drove me to imagine the scene in Revelation 20. I had always sort of hopped across those verses lightly, afraid of getting burnt, and rushing on to the good part. The part where the devil, death and Hades get tossed into the lake like twigs. What I saw made me shrink back from a Holy God this time though. Instead of cheering on the end of death like usual, I was forced to stare into the face of the damned. It chills me to think that God made the wicked for Himself for the day of doom. I realize it's His prerogative to do whatever He wants with His creation but it was hard for me to reconcile the God of love that I knew with the Holy God that proclaimed, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay". A deeper appreciation and love for Jesus grew. I'm thankful that I was created for good works in Christ and not for the day of doom!
"If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." ~John
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Seeking Truth
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." ~Paul
Once again, I've been reminded that my spiritual relationship with God is my own responsibility. It is up to me to know what I believe and why I believe it. I can't rely on clever sayings or feel good posters to give me the hard truths of being human. My preacher, mentor, friend or parent are not going to be my lawyer at the judgement seat of Christ. I won't be able to point a finger at my spouse and say, "It was the spouse you gave me". That didn't work for Adam so I'm certain it won't work for me!
I want to be a gleaner of truth. I try to isolate everything that claims to be of or about God and examine it through the lens of scripture to see if it has any value for my life. Not that I want to point a finger and accuse others of heresy but I guard my heart diligently against lies. My heart is the wellspring of life. I'm deeply aware of the fact that I can be deceived easily and nothing slurps the joy and peace out of my spirit quicker than believing lies. Especially, lies about the one I claim as my God.
Testing or questioning teachings and even my own thoughts has become an opportunity for me to learn more about Jesus. Challenges to my preconceived ideas have resulted in the past with abundant blessings. I don't need to defend God but I do need to know him. Therefore, I seek him in the words of the Bible, in prayer and in fellowship. I ask him for wisdom and believe that I have it. I seek God and know that I've found him. I've seen the doors of heaven open at a knock of my imagination. What a day of rejoicing it will be when I get there! Until then though, the trial continues and the judgement awaits me. There is a side of me that fears it as a child fears disappointing a parent but mostly I'm looking forward to seeing the face of my king on his throne and bowing before my God while immersed in his glory!
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." ~Jesus
Once again, I've been reminded that my spiritual relationship with God is my own responsibility. It is up to me to know what I believe and why I believe it. I can't rely on clever sayings or feel good posters to give me the hard truths of being human. My preacher, mentor, friend or parent are not going to be my lawyer at the judgement seat of Christ. I won't be able to point a finger at my spouse and say, "It was the spouse you gave me". That didn't work for Adam so I'm certain it won't work for me!
I want to be a gleaner of truth. I try to isolate everything that claims to be of or about God and examine it through the lens of scripture to see if it has any value for my life. Not that I want to point a finger and accuse others of heresy but I guard my heart diligently against lies. My heart is the wellspring of life. I'm deeply aware of the fact that I can be deceived easily and nothing slurps the joy and peace out of my spirit quicker than believing lies. Especially, lies about the one I claim as my God.
Testing or questioning teachings and even my own thoughts has become an opportunity for me to learn more about Jesus. Challenges to my preconceived ideas have resulted in the past with abundant blessings. I don't need to defend God but I do need to know him. Therefore, I seek him in the words of the Bible, in prayer and in fellowship. I ask him for wisdom and believe that I have it. I seek God and know that I've found him. I've seen the doors of heaven open at a knock of my imagination. What a day of rejoicing it will be when I get there! Until then though, the trial continues and the judgement awaits me. There is a side of me that fears it as a child fears disappointing a parent but mostly I'm looking forward to seeing the face of my king on his throne and bowing before my God while immersed in his glory!
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." ~Jesus
Friday, April 26, 2013
Pulling a Weed
"Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?" ~Solomon
I've often looked at this verse from the viewpoint of the recipient of anger, fury and jealousy. It warns me that an angry person is cruel and a furious person is overwhelming. I've been the object of jealousy though, and indeed, I would rather have an angry or furious person in front of me. At least there is hope of making peace with them. A jealous person works to tear you down in secret. They magnify faults and dish out gossip like choice morsels. A friend can get angry or even furious at you and it is worked through and dissipates. Apologies are given and received. Some cruel things may have been said and the anger may have escalated into fury and been overwhelming for a time, but all is forgiven. Not forgotten, mind you... but forgiven!
Jealousy just sucks the joy right out of the relationships it takes root in. It's a hardy, bitter weed that sprouts up quick and grows deep roots. A lot of times, you don't even know that it's growing. When I find myself getting jealous, it's a nudge that my meditations have shifted off course. Instead of an attitude of gratitude for all that I'm blessed with, my attitude becomes one of wishful thinking. Rejoicing with friends is replaced by a "poor me" countenance. My spirit grows heavy and if the Holy Spirit could get tired, he'd be weary of my selfish groaning. It's such a relief to confess it and be forgiven! Then to redirect the thoughts to whatever is good, holy, just, and praiseworthy in my life and to share the joy that others have in the blessings they receive.
"The kisses of an enemy may be profuse, but faithful are the wounds of a friend." ~Solomon
I've often looked at this verse from the viewpoint of the recipient of anger, fury and jealousy. It warns me that an angry person is cruel and a furious person is overwhelming. I've been the object of jealousy though, and indeed, I would rather have an angry or furious person in front of me. At least there is hope of making peace with them. A jealous person works to tear you down in secret. They magnify faults and dish out gossip like choice morsels. A friend can get angry or even furious at you and it is worked through and dissipates. Apologies are given and received. Some cruel things may have been said and the anger may have escalated into fury and been overwhelming for a time, but all is forgiven. Not forgotten, mind you... but forgiven!
Jealousy just sucks the joy right out of the relationships it takes root in. It's a hardy, bitter weed that sprouts up quick and grows deep roots. A lot of times, you don't even know that it's growing. When I find myself getting jealous, it's a nudge that my meditations have shifted off course. Instead of an attitude of gratitude for all that I'm blessed with, my attitude becomes one of wishful thinking. Rejoicing with friends is replaced by a "poor me" countenance. My spirit grows heavy and if the Holy Spirit could get tired, he'd be weary of my selfish groaning. It's such a relief to confess it and be forgiven! Then to redirect the thoughts to whatever is good, holy, just, and praiseworthy in my life and to share the joy that others have in the blessings they receive.
"The kisses of an enemy may be profuse, but faithful are the wounds of a friend." ~Solomon
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Fatherly Fear
"This is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...'" ~Jesus
This verse has been rolling around in my head for a couple of weeks now. The intimacy of calling Almighty God "my Father" has seemed to cast a shadow over the "hallowed" part for some time. The verses are so familiar that half the time, I just recite them by rote instead of reading it. You know, when you reach those passages that your mind just sort of swallows without chewing or skips through with a happy tune. I get all into calling God my "Daddy" and forget that his name must be hallowed. Yes, he is my Father in heaven but he's also Holy, Almighty, GOD!
Obviously, Jesus knew without a doubt that God was, and is, his father. He was wrapped in the Holy Spirit and spoke and prayed with authority. I find it interesting that when he was dying on the cross, he did not cry out to his father, he cried out to his God. He didn't appeal to the fatherly love of the divine, he cried to the Holy love of the consuming fire he knew intimately as his father. He asks both the Holy Spirit and his Father. "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?," in echo of the agonizing words of David in the Psalms. Jesus felt abandoned and forsaken. He was living Psalms 22 and knew it. Yes I can call God "my Father in heaven" but may I never lose sight of the fact that first, and of utmost importance, is that I fear him as Almighty God. Jesus did.
"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." ~Jesus
This verse has been rolling around in my head for a couple of weeks now. The intimacy of calling Almighty God "my Father" has seemed to cast a shadow over the "hallowed" part for some time. The verses are so familiar that half the time, I just recite them by rote instead of reading it. You know, when you reach those passages that your mind just sort of swallows without chewing or skips through with a happy tune. I get all into calling God my "Daddy" and forget that his name must be hallowed. Yes, he is my Father in heaven but he's also Holy, Almighty, GOD!
Obviously, Jesus knew without a doubt that God was, and is, his father. He was wrapped in the Holy Spirit and spoke and prayed with authority. I find it interesting that when he was dying on the cross, he did not cry out to his father, he cried out to his God. He didn't appeal to the fatherly love of the divine, he cried to the Holy love of the consuming fire he knew intimately as his father. He asks both the Holy Spirit and his Father. "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?," in echo of the agonizing words of David in the Psalms. Jesus felt abandoned and forsaken. He was living Psalms 22 and knew it. Yes I can call God "my Father in heaven" but may I never lose sight of the fact that first, and of utmost importance, is that I fear him as Almighty God. Jesus did.
"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." ~Jesus
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Muddy Motives
"All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord." ~Solomon
Jesus reserved his most stinging rebukes for the teachers of the law and the Pharisees yet he admonishes the crowds and his disciples to obey them and do everything they told them. They sat in Moses' seat and therefore, people were to respect the position but they were not to copy thier motives. These men did everything for others to see. They were showmen and salesmen. I can almost hear him hiss, "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" I love to imagine the scene where Jesus just cuts loose on the Pharisees in Matthew 23. I imagine myself standing there going, "Yeah... yeah!" with my head bobbing in agreement. Until I realize that I could easily fall into these woes. Did I share any of thier motives? Had I become a hypocrite?
How easy it is to neglect the more important matters of the law- justice, mercy and faithfulness. How natural to look good on the outside and deny that the inside is dirty. Motives become murky and ceremony replaces fellowship. "But I'm doing it for you, Lord," I'll say. Oh, really? That's when it's time to drag out the motives and examine them closely. I'm thankful that these altercations were recorded. Not only for the slap the Pharisees got but for the nudge of the shepherds rod in my life. I pray that the Holy Spirit will expose any unclean motives I have and continue to show me his ways.
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." ~Paul
Jesus reserved his most stinging rebukes for the teachers of the law and the Pharisees yet he admonishes the crowds and his disciples to obey them and do everything they told them. They sat in Moses' seat and therefore, people were to respect the position but they were not to copy thier motives. These men did everything for others to see. They were showmen and salesmen. I can almost hear him hiss, "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" I love to imagine the scene where Jesus just cuts loose on the Pharisees in Matthew 23. I imagine myself standing there going, "Yeah... yeah!" with my head bobbing in agreement. Until I realize that I could easily fall into these woes. Did I share any of thier motives? Had I become a hypocrite?
How easy it is to neglect the more important matters of the law- justice, mercy and faithfulness. How natural to look good on the outside and deny that the inside is dirty. Motives become murky and ceremony replaces fellowship. "But I'm doing it for you, Lord," I'll say. Oh, really? That's when it's time to drag out the motives and examine them closely. I'm thankful that these altercations were recorded. Not only for the slap the Pharisees got but for the nudge of the shepherds rod in my life. I pray that the Holy Spirit will expose any unclean motives I have and continue to show me his ways.
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." ~Paul
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Ever Present
"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" ~David
After the honeymoon of spiritual rebirth into the kingdom of God, everyday life and decisions began to leach the joy right out of me. Added to the stress of which coffee to buy was the barrage of questions about my beliefs. Did I believe I could lose my salvation? Did I believe in "speaking in tongues"? What about praying before meals? Groups had scripture to back up well planned arguments for what they believed. It was overwhelming. All I could really say I knew was that the Holy Spirit had picked me up, cleaned me up, entered my heart and quickened a dead spirit. How? Through a human sacrifice. Why? Because he loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me!
I read the scriptures pertaining to each subject carefully and concluded that I wasn't going to worry about whether people could lose their salvation or not. I was going to focus on them getting their salvation in the first place. I wasn't going to argue about whether tongues were languages or angelic words, I was going to speak the words of God in the only language I know, English. They were right there to use and God's word in English works for me. I'm usually praying continually. There's so much in a day to be thankful for and so many people in need of prayer. There is no where I can go that the Spirit isn't present and that in itself is something I'm very, very thankful for.
Today, I'm praying that people's eyes are opened to the presence of the Holy Spirit around and in them!
"If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." ~David
After the honeymoon of spiritual rebirth into the kingdom of God, everyday life and decisions began to leach the joy right out of me. Added to the stress of which coffee to buy was the barrage of questions about my beliefs. Did I believe I could lose my salvation? Did I believe in "speaking in tongues"? What about praying before meals? Groups had scripture to back up well planned arguments for what they believed. It was overwhelming. All I could really say I knew was that the Holy Spirit had picked me up, cleaned me up, entered my heart and quickened a dead spirit. How? Through a human sacrifice. Why? Because he loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me!
I read the scriptures pertaining to each subject carefully and concluded that I wasn't going to worry about whether people could lose their salvation or not. I was going to focus on them getting their salvation in the first place. I wasn't going to argue about whether tongues were languages or angelic words, I was going to speak the words of God in the only language I know, English. They were right there to use and God's word in English works for me. I'm usually praying continually. There's so much in a day to be thankful for and so many people in need of prayer. There is no where I can go that the Spirit isn't present and that in itself is something I'm very, very thankful for.
Today, I'm praying that people's eyes are opened to the presence of the Holy Spirit around and in them!
"If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." ~David
Monday, April 22, 2013
Fading Focus
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." ~Peter
As a woman, I can really fall into the trap of spending my time on my outward appearance. Not only have I spent a lot of time on my appearance, I've spent a lot of money on it. I enjoy looking nice and believe that as God's gift to my husband, it's my job to take care of myself but problems arose when that became my focus. Getting my hair done, having that jewelry, pumping iron and coveting fine clothes replaced playing with my husband, laughing with the children, and staying within a budget. I had to step back and try to give as much time to my inner self as I did my outer self. A real eye opener!
It took awhile before I realized how fast outward beauty fades. Clothes wear out, jewelry grows wings, and hair turns gray. I didn't realize how fast children grow or how time would sap enthusiasm. I'm so very grateful that God was working in those times on an inner beauty. The Spirit was gently but firmly at work for years. My husband and I are grandparents now. He tells me every night that he loves me, he's proud to be my man, and I'm beautiful. I still work to stay as attractive as I can for him not only outwardly but inwardly now as well. God gives good gifts!
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." ~King Lemuel
As a woman, I can really fall into the trap of spending my time on my outward appearance. Not only have I spent a lot of time on my appearance, I've spent a lot of money on it. I enjoy looking nice and believe that as God's gift to my husband, it's my job to take care of myself but problems arose when that became my focus. Getting my hair done, having that jewelry, pumping iron and coveting fine clothes replaced playing with my husband, laughing with the children, and staying within a budget. I had to step back and try to give as much time to my inner self as I did my outer self. A real eye opener!
It took awhile before I realized how fast outward beauty fades. Clothes wear out, jewelry grows wings, and hair turns gray. I didn't realize how fast children grow or how time would sap enthusiasm. I'm so very grateful that God was working in those times on an inner beauty. The Spirit was gently but firmly at work for years. My husband and I are grandparents now. He tells me every night that he loves me, he's proud to be my man, and I'm beautiful. I still work to stay as attractive as I can for him not only outwardly but inwardly now as well. God gives good gifts!
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." ~King Lemuel
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