Category: Devotional

David and Abigail

And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great (extremely wealthy) and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing — his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear — his sheep.                               

And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there aught missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. Ask — thy young men, and they will show thee. Wherefore let the young men find favor in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, — whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David. (the shearing of sheep was joyous occasion) And Nabal answered — David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take — my bread, and — my water, and — my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

 

Prior to studying these new verses let’s recap our last two Vida’s. One of the greatest and most damaging lies Is that God is a condemning God. I trust with the last two devotions we have completely squashed that. God hates sin because it entraps the soul that he died to free. He gave his life to free us from ourselves and the vices and habits that so easily entrap us. We MUST distinguish between the sin and the sinner. With Christ we have the opportunity to “come clean” with full assurance that on the other side of repentance are the welcoming arms of the Father. That message we must keep close to our chest. For whatever reason whether it was for money, love or both, after the woman’s encounter with Christ I’m sure that she found his love for her to be her “True Treasure.”

 

Starting with us “hombres” (men). We don’t know much about Nabal.  Was he this brash always, or did he become more so as he became wealthier? We can only assume that his nature from his youth was stingy, for hence his name. Nabal also means rude, arrogant, prideful. It’s a personality type that cannot speak civilly with anyone. To whatever extent he was prior to acquiring his wealth, and I’m sure given his answer to David’s men it only made him more. His response on the surface may seem justified, but even his own servant condemns his actions.

“But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute — our master; and he railed (to scorn or insult) on them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, (good for nothing) that a man cannot speak to him.” (I Samuel 25:14-17)

 

We see that his character was contemptible  even in the eyes of his own servant. Let’s answer Nabal’s question, “Who was David? Who is the son of Jesse? There be many servants…”  Prior to this period in David’s life he was the commander of the Israeli army. He had not known a single defeat. It was because God fought for Israel as long as David was in charge.  So “Who was David,” was an arrogant and insulting statement and the servant knew that their lives were in danger because of it. “Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept — all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.” (referring to killing all the men)  I Samuel 25:21-22

 

Upon hearing the servant’s report, “Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys…”  “And it was so, as she rode on the donkey that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met — them.” “And when Abigail saw — David, she hasted, and lighted off the donkey and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground. Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even — Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not — the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send…” ” Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withheld thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal…”  “Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek — thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and — the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle — of a sling.” (1 Samuel 25:18,20,23& 25-26 &29, 33-34)

 

David responded, “And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting — thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.” (I Samuel 25:32-33)

 

So David receives her advice acknowledging it was God intervening through Abigail. For David needed to swallow his pride and know that it is The Lord that he must respond too and not react to the folly of men. We will continue our study next week and draw lessons from it, but it is the same with us. Responding to truth, God’s word, or words spoken to us via people whom God uses, verses becoming offended at comments or insults from people who only care about themselves.

 

Father God,

Thank you for this real life lesson of David’s. To do good to and for someone to only receive bad in return is frustrating and can be angering. As David learned through Abigail’s wisdom that he could not allow himself to be given over to his own defense or passions. Our reputation stands on what You say of us not men, and if we seek You and allow You to live through us, our reputation is in your hands, not ours.

Thank you and Amen.

 

Move Forward in His Grace, Arthur

John 8:1-11

A Woman Taken in Adultery

— Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

— This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

— She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

 

In studying some of the key words for this week’s devotional another thought comes to mind. It is not too far out to consider that this woman could possibly have been the “general call girl” for the Pharisees, or at least one of them. In their great desire to find something to accuse Christ of they were willing to sacrifice their “secret pleasure.” Let me explain a few key words. The first words Christ has with the Pharisees “ He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” The word “without sin” implies a specific sin. “Anamartetos, without sin (yet) not absolutely (sinless) only in a particular case.” Interesting also is that there are several words for sin, but this specific word is used only here. That’s pretty amazing. It’s a specific word for a specific reason. Another question was Christ contradicting the Old Testament law given to Moses by God by preventing the Pharisees from stoning her? Was he permitting this sin to go unpunished, or was he contradicting their hypocrisy? “If their is one among you without (this same) sin, then you be the first to cast the stone. Or said in reverse, all of you should die by stoning for all of you are guilty, and they got it!

 

“And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” So Jesus never contradicted the commands of the Father. He contradicted their hypocrisy. “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” Condemn means to pronounce judgement against. To sentence having been found guilty. She had been acquitted, not because she was not guilty but because Jesus had come to redeem the lost “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved (redeemed) through him” (John 3:17). Redeemed is a deep word; meaning to owe a debt we absolutely can’t pay, but to be released of it because someone else paid it for me. Old Testament law is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and a limb for a limb. When Adam and Eve sinned it was more than just eating an “apple.” It was a willful disobedience of a Divine law. Which in turn means the worship or obedience to another god even if it’s yourself. If we have never come into fellowship with God through faith in Christ then we are separated from Him. If you are a believer every time we break fellowship with God by disobeying it is spiritual adultery. We have engaged our soul and spirit with another “lover.” I know this sounds extreme but here’s God’s perspective. “Do not rejoice, O Israel, (or my name, O Arthur)  with exultation like the other nations! (that have no true God that guides them). For you have played the harlot, (in that you have) forsaken your God.” (Hosea 9:1) and “I have spread out my hands  as in a Father wanting to embrace His kids) all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; (Isaiah 65:2)”

 

From Heaven’s perspective we have a serious problem. From our perspective it’s “what’s the big deal?” Well it is a big deal because the Cross was and is God’s only answer to man’s fall. The Cross to some is ugly and in many respects it is. It is ugly, hideous, and a cruel way to die that speaks to the brutality and callousness of mens hearts one toward another. That part is true. But on God’s side of the Cross it is a two fold message to man. One, we are in sin and our sin judged means death – our death. However quoting John 3:16  “For God so loved the world that  He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life.”  The righteous Judge of the universe pronounced his judgement on man, found man guilty, then stripped himself of His Majesty, His Eternal Glory, and left His estate to be placed on a tree. A tree which his own hands created to be crucified by man his prized creation. For only man was created with a tri fold nature- spirit, soul and body in which could abide God’s Holy Spirit. No other creature formed has this capacity. To understand this is to understand the eternal depth of Christ’s words to the woman “neither do I condemn thee” because he was to bare her guilt, as well as the guilt of all men. Knowing that the Father would not abandon him in death, that he would rise again and claim absolute victory over sin and the grave. He and He alone was able to give life back to man by forgiving man of his sin. No other man before, nor any man after could make this claim.

 

The final words “go and sin no more” is the normal word used for sin “hamartano, meaning to “miss the mark.” Taken from archery when an archer releases the arrow and misses the bulls-eye. He’s missed the mark. And the mark is holiness as quoted in two devotions past, “Be ye holy for I am holy,” (I Peter 1:16) a command impossible to keep, and it is impossible for God to become less Holy. Christ is the bridge that connects God to man and man back to God – for those who are willing.

 

Father God,

Thank you for this insight into your nature “neither do I condemn you.” Let us be honest enough with ourselves to admit and know that we cannot live a holy life. We are faulty and hence sinful. We need a Redeemer to receive our sentence so we can live in freedom. You did that for us. Cause us to be humble enough to “open the package” and receive the gift.

 

Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur

John 8:1-11

A Woman Taken in Adultery

— Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

— This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

— She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

 

Before we start with this week’s devotion I want to repeat the motive behind this series “True Treasure.” That our greatest state of being whether we have an abundance or we struggle with daily needs He, God, is our True Treasure. It is often through the struggles that we come to acknowledge that truth. We are all wired the same. We were made by God for God – to be in relationship with Him. However when Adam and Eve disobeyed God a divide was created and a sin nature entered into the fabric of man. The core of that sin nature is the I, sin, pride combination we discussed last week. We are all the same in needing God’s presence. The way we go about trying to compensate for the lack of It is unique to each of us. This is all on a subconscious level. On a conscientious level it deals with our core values of what causes us to feel safe, secure and of value.

 

In our first study we dealt with the desire for wealth with the farmer who would build bigger barns to store his crops. God called him a fool because “that night his soul would be required of him.” Then Martha, who represents many of us having busy schedules that crowd God out. In being busy we feel needed and therefore secure. If we would commit to a half hour of time with The Lord we would feel secure with so much less hassle and hectic pace. Then we studied the rich young ruler who had an emphasis on being moral and doing good, but in the end it was his wealth that made him feel secure. Lastly we finished discussing those of us that maintain a very legal right and wrong approach to life. Because we can discipline ourselves to walk that line it gives us a sense of value, importance and unfortunately excessive pride.

 

Now in this study we are going into an area that has multiplied a thousand fold or more. As the collapse of the family continues, so has this area increased. The breakdown of the family has had a tragic effect on our children. The home represents the one place of refuge and security. Unfortunately as divorce or affairs have come into the home this inner sense that “I’m safe, secure” is  stripped away making our children vulnerable.The importance of this stability, or it’s lack has a huge effect on the “fabric” of our developing kids. As much as one parent wants to cover all the bases, it is not possible. Nor is it possible to keep them from blaming themselves for the divorce, or wondering why daddy had an affair. “He must not love us” is their conclusion. As this thought “I am not loved,  worth loving, or important enough to be loved” becomes woven into their self image they are unprepared for what awaits them. Instead of reaching adolescence, a most turbulent part of life secure, they enter it with this huge deficit and have no inner “tools” to cope with it. They are going to seek out and do whatever means they find to fulfill this void and be accepted. They will go in the direction of the “natural bend” of their soul – such as the personalities we have studied so far.

 

There are still so many more “natural bends” that we have not studied with sex being a major one. In our sex pumped cultured we have girls pre-adolescence having sex and not understanding any of the physical or emotional consequences that come with it. Many of us live with our boyfriend or girlfriend as opposed to getting married. This also sends a message to our kids of a home that is still not home. Was this the background of the woman in our story? Is that why Christ did not judge her according to the law? The law that God gave to Moses? The pagan culture of that day was very much like ours today.  With the temple prostitutes coming into the towns at night to practice their trade. Could she have been a temple prostitute, but now older and on her own to make a living from the only “trade” she knew? The story does not say, but these are questions to consider.

 

Let’s get into the story and see what we can learn. The event happened in the morning based on the first verse. That is why I mention that at one time she might have been a temple prostitute, but now she’s on her own? Since she was caught in the very act where’s the man? The law of Moses states that both of them were to be stoned, not just the women. So we have a double standard. Why would the Pharisees not bring the man, could he have been a fellow Pharisee? Whatever was the truth behind this event Christ knew it, and he was not going to play into their self righteous hypocritical ways, nor answer their questions.

 

We will need to continue this study next week, but this lays the foundation for the study. The lesson to bring home is this. Whatever damage we have sustained through life and how that damaged has caused specific actions, vices or habits from us, Christ does not condemn us. However knowing that we are not condemned by Him, we are not free to continue in a known sin, we are “to go and sin no more.”

 

Father God,

May the greatness of your forgiveness in not condemning me be the thing that changes me. Once a guilty man with no hope of true life, now standing uncondemned by the only one that could condemn me. Let this joy and truth be the impetus to seek You and begin finding victory in the areas of my life that have torn me down. I no longer need to rationalize my actions trying to make something wrong right – I’m not condemned. Now help me by your grace to live free. Thank you and Amen.

Jesus cleanses the Temple (John 2:13-17)

 

“And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise.

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

In Mark we have his account  (Mark 11:15-19)

 

“And they come to Jerusalem:and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.

And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine.”

 

The scene we are a part of is that which was most scarce to Christ and man had profaned it. The call of going to the Temple was one of a holy journey. All Israel on special Holy Days made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship and sacrifice in the temple. For some the journey was long and taxing, therefore making or bringing a sacrifice enroute difficult. Taking advantage of this problem the “temple merchants” provided animals for sacrifice at inflated prices. It became a most profitable business. For us the thought of killing something for our sins does not sit very well. However in that time it was clearly understood. My violation of God’s law equaled separation from God, for I was no longer pure. God’s call to man was to “be ye holy for I am Holy.” (I Peter 1:16) A command that man could not and cannot keep. Since God could not become “less Holy” God instituted the laws of sacrifice so that man could have an on going relationship with Him. The chosen vessel be it a lamb, pigeon or cattle was the substitution for man. Through a repentant heart and the placing of ones hand on the animal the sin was transferred. The animal became the “profaned vessel”-the vessel that now bore the sin. The animal was then sacrificed and the sin atoned (paid) for. Saving man by restoring his relationship to God.

 

For the Pharisees to turn this precious scene into one of commerce was beyond what Christ could tolerate. His zeal for his “Father’s house” to be pure consumed him. He made a whip of cords and literally beat the money changers and vendors turning over their tables and spilling their money. A percentage of which the Pharisees were to receive. Christ was a man’s man. To the broken, repentant, rejected by society, he represented the heart of God’s compassion and forgiveness. To the arrogant, greedy and prideful he represented the anger and judgement of God. No man would stand in his way. He fully acted as God’s Son by making this statement “make not my Father’s house a house of commerce.” He also fully acted as God incarnate by making this statement “…My house shall be called by all nations a house of prayer? But you have made it a den of thieves.” Both these statements clearly depict Christ’s identity as well to the degree temple worship had degraded too under the hands of the Pharisees. These religious leaders filled with their own sense of self righteousness and importance had completely mislead the people.

 

How about us? God has not changed. He is just as Holy, He is just as compassionate and He is still just as zealous for His temple to be Holy which now has become our hearts. We have no need of a “physical temple” to sacrifice because Christ was the final and complete sacrifice for man. The presence of God  has come to dwell within man through faith in Christ. So if you “abide in Christ and He abides in you,” you are His temple. Have you sold out your heart to other passions? Does pride keep you from bending the knee and making Him Lord fully?  These are personal, searching questions that only you can answer. However if you are pretending to be a believer, be prepared to have “your tables turned over” as God’s judgement comes. That judgement comes because He loves you.  For He pursues His own, seeking to bring you unto Himself freeing you from that which deceives and binds you. I would worry more if I was free to do my own thing. In extreme cases He will destroy the body bringing repentance to the soul redeeming it for eternity. It is not beyond Him. For He is zealous, passionate for His temple, which temple you are.

 

“And  they sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him,” The verb to destroy here is “apollumi.” Ollumi by itself means to destroy. However when “apo” is added it adds the force of “fully or wholly” to the word. In our vernacular we would say “let’s wipe him out!” They hated Christ because he revealed to the people the hypocrites that they were. Christ came to represent to the people who God truly was. The picture the Pharisees were giving was completely and utterly wrong, and Christ could not play their game. Therefore they hated him intensely because he unmasked them before the people. How about us, where do we stand? Can we receive God’s conviction knowing that it is for our good, or do we love our ways more? Do we use pride and legalism as masks to prevent us from dealing with the real me? Do we understand that on the other side of repentance lies the open arms of Christ? Once they were opened to receive nails (spikes), now they are open to receive sinners with price paid in full. Amen

 

Father God,

We say ” Grace without measure” as though we understand; truly we have no clue as to depth or width of  your love. For those who are honest with You change always scares us, but we are not on our own to make those changes. You are here with us for you have given us the Holy Spirit to guide and abide in us. Though it is not an easy walk, your presence abides and guides those who seek you.  Thank you and Amen

Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur

Thank you for coming to Part II to learn more about God’s Sovereignty and how understanding it can give us confidence as we move forward in life, even in those hard moments. He is in all of life, and can use events in our lives to our benefit—whether those moments/events are happy or sad, whether they bring us joy or pain.

In Part I of this series, I shared a story about a life event that caused me great pain, but how through that pain God has shaped me into the man I am today. You see, when tragedy occurs, we have two choices. We can become bitter, or we can become better. We can run away from God, or we can run to Him. I chose to run to Him, and it is my prayer that I can convince you to do the same by sharing another story.

As a young man, a friend of mine suffered third degree burns on his leg. It took many skin grafts to repair the disfiguration and many months of physical therapy to overcome the damage to his leg muscles. In that difficult process, my friend was introduced to “Burn Camps” for children and young adults who were burn victims. These camps offered a chance to feel “normal,” to not stand out, and to be able to relate with other young people struggling with the same issues. Most of all though, it was the opportunity to just be normal, playing and enjoying the opportunities offered at the camp. It was something my friend did yearly, and the experience gave him confidence to face his world. Still, deep inside he continued to wonder why God allowed him to suffer such an injury.

My friend grew up, married and became a father three times over. When his youngest daughter was seven or eight, the family went on a camping trip. As they were traveling, one of the tow chains came loose and bounced up, hitting the propane tank on the trailer causing a huge explosion that wrecked the car and trailer. In the explosion, his daughter suffered third degree burns on both her hands and arms.

Had this friend been any other father, the grief and the emotional pain would have been overwhelming. However, being a burn victim himself, he knew. He knew the pain his daughter would have to bear and the hard road she would have to travel. More importantly, and he emphasized, his daughter knew that her father knew. Her dad’s scars gave her hope for healing, as she went through several surgeries of skin grafts and the difficult physical therapy that would follow. She could have hope and see that healing would follow pain.

My friend could have questioned God again. Yet as he matured, he had learned to trust God and lean upon Him rather than his own understanding. Now, as he faced this new crisis, he saw how God had prepared him to be able to draw from his own experience to bring hope to his daughter. In tears, he said: “My scars became my praise and thanks to God, precious marks of God’s Sovereignty, for because of them I now can relate, comfort and strengthen my daughter.”

God’s Sovereignty is sometimes described as a tapestry that He weaves from above. Mostly, we see only the underside of that tapestry. We can’t see the glorious patterns. All we see is what looks like a tangle of knots and dangling threads. But every once in a while, we have a “top of the tapestry” moment, when we can see God’s purpose in something that was very difficult. That’s what happened to my friend. He finally saw the top of the tapestry for his own life, and could see how his own tragedy was being used by God to help his daughter.

 

In the same way, I can look back on the loss of my brother and how I held myself responsible and see how God has used that pain to draw me closer to Him. You see, from that time till now, death has always been part of life for me. It sounds strange I know, but sadly the news reports prove me right. Tragedy is all around us. Still, that realization brought perspective to my life, causing me to live a life of faith, spending time learning God’s Word (The Bible) and finding strength and hope in spite of my “jarred” view of life. For me, death brought me closer to Life. And when I became a dad, I knew there were no guarantees. I only asked the Lord that my girls could live long enough to comprehend a life of faith. That may sound like a strange prayer coming from a parent, but the awareness of the brevity of this life causes me to put all my eggs in the basket of faith and in a personal God. He has become my closest companion, my best friend, and my Lord and I feel extremely privileged to know Him. And most importantly, very secure in that He knows me and has truly worked all the events of my life to create in me a man that I am pleased to be. A man I would have never become without Him.

 

Just as God used pain to “wake me up,” the Bible is full of stories in which God uses hardships to get our attention. We are so self-absorbed, so earth-bound that we have no thoughts towards God. We are like the frog in chemistry class which is placed in a beaker of water with the water being slowly heated. As the water is heated the frog acclimates to the temperature until it is cooked. We acclimate to a life without God, doing things our way, not understanding that the longer we stay in that state the more the burdens in this life kill the innocence and the joy that knowing a Sovereign God would give back to us. We burden ourselves and “cook ourselves” needlessly because we chose to have a life apart from Him. There is a spirit inside us that is made for God, it lies dormant, meaning that we are only living two thirds of our life. We are spirit, soul and flesh and most of our lives are lived being governed by our flesh, fears and insecurities. Knowing God starts the process of changing that as we become alive in our spirit. And, over time, there comes a change of “ownership.” Instead of operating by flesh, fears and insecurities we start to operate from our spirit with confidence in a Sovereign God who loves us. Knowing God and being confident in His Sovereignty brings hope. A soul without hope has nothing to live for because life holds no meaning. I don’t want you to live like that and, more importantly, God does not want you to live like that.

The Hope that we find in God is more than that He will see us through our pain. As we come to know Him more and more, we also realize that He uses our struggles to build real character into us. In essence, God uses hard life experiences to free us from our self-absorbed thinking and grows a faith that says “with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). As we learn to live life from that perspective, the trials become the means that God uses to “dig a deeper well” of faith in us. Painful yes, but fruitful, causing us to live for Eternity, not for the temporal. To live just for this life, is like investing all your interest and hope in the Titanic. The Bible says it this way: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal…” (Matthew 6:19).

If you are dealing with tragedy now, or have never come to peace with a tragedy in your past, I urge you to hear me and turn to the Lord. Start by reading the Book of John. Pray before you read, asking the Lord to give you understanding. The more time you can spend in prayer and reading the Scriptures the sooner a life of faith will make sense to you. For now, rest in this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

It is my abiding prayer that you would know this love and so find rest in Him.

 

Welcome to our December edition of House2Home. As we look back on 2013, the Executive Care team and I are very grateful for our faithful readers and the clients we have built relationships with  via landscaping. Whether we have been able to inspire you with new ideas through our articles or have had the pleasure of creating a landscape for you, we are very appreciative of these relationships.

We are blessed to be able to do what we love for a living. Yet it is the building of relationships, and bringing joy into people’s lives that make us feel that we have earned more than just a paycheck. We have earned trust, and friendship. These are not just professional. It is also personal. Over the course of a project, I have the opportunity to really get to know my clients as people, understanding their personalities, their hopes and dreams, and even their challenges and worries. And this carries beyond the extent of the job.

Whether it is personal or family health, job concerns or relationship woes, we all face challenges and worries. I know I do! Yet by working so closely with nature, I see daily evidence that God has a plan. Consider the seasons. Each plays an important role in the life cycle of a plant, while also acting as a metaphor for the stages of our own lives. Or consider that each plant has been designed for a specific setting, including climate, soil type, and shade vs. sun.  Like people, each is also beautiful in a wholly unique way. Consider, too, that plants, like people, are subject to challenges. Granted, their challenges—like insects and extreme weather—are not as emotional as the challenges we face.  Still, the ways in which nature provides an ever-present picture of the Master Gardener gives me a quiet confidence.

That confidence is increased when I am designing a landscape because that creative act gives me a further glimpse into the wisdom and beauty of God’s plan. I am extremely pleased when I am able to overcome a design challenge in a practical, yet artistic way.  I am also humbled, because the solution given to me, to what felt prior like an insurmountable challenge was already accounted for and solved in God’s mind.

While the challenges I face in design and in business are real, they are small in comparison to personal challenges and burdens. When I was but a boy, my younger brother drowned.  The details of that story, however tragic, are less important than the fact that I blamed myself. It is a burden that I carried for years. Still, as I look back upon that incident, including the self-searching it caused, I realize that it has shaped the man I am today. From a young age, I was acquainted with the reality of death. And, like people young and old, I needed to make sense of it.

I have learned to see life as it is, through nature, with life and death being part of it. And in accepting death, life becomes more precious causing me to live in such a way that every moment counts. I can tell you that God has used both nature and other life experiences to convince me that He has a plan, and that He is absolutely in control of that plan. I am certain of this. And I rest in that certainty. No matter what life (or business) throws at me, I rest in God’s sovereignty.

Rather than turning to an impersonal dictionary definition, I would like to share what God’s sovereignty means to me.  My definition of sovereignty is that God is over all of life and over every moment and event in my life, whether those moments/events are happy or sad, whether they bring me joy or pain. And sovereignty means I don’t have to understand it all. I have come to see God’s wisdom through the years, many years after a painful event. And as the hardship of nature makes the plants and trees strong, growing deeper roots, so I find the same truth in me, causing me to seek to know God in a very real and personal way. As if this were not enough, God’s sovereignty also means that He will work all things together for good, even the things that feel awful for a time, if I will but come to Him.

It is a great blessing for me when my work as a Landscape Designer and Contractor allows me to share the source of my confidence in a way that helps and encourages my clients who are facing challenges of their own. Likewise, it is a great blessing to be able to share my faith in God’s sovereignty with my readers through this annual article. If you would like to learn more about God’s sovereignty or the ways in which my faith has been cemented, I invite you to read “Sovereignty, Part II on our website

Until next year, may the Lord bless and keep you. And, as always, Good Gardening.

Thank you for taking the time to read our Christmas edition – Merry Christmas and God Bless.

Luke 6:6-11

 The Man With a Withered Hand

(Matt. 12:9- 14; Mark 3:1- 6)

“And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man — whose right hand was withered.

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it?

‘And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. (Matt.12:11-12)’

And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

‘And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.’ (Matthew 12:14)

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.”

 The personality type that we will study for the next couple of devotionals was the one that angered Christ the most. It was not any other type more than the self righteous, or the legalist. Legalism allows one to become self righteous because you are fulfilling all the requirements, crossing your “T’s” and dotting your “I’s.” It engenders pride even if the rules you follow are your own. You’re doing it right by your standards. I was this personality type early on. Initially my motives were very good, so I thought. As a new believer I frequently heard criticism of other Christians, and unfortunately much of it was true. So I asked The Lord to make me real. Make me an example that others could see and be encouraged. However over time and without realizing I developed a self righteous spirit, and found myself at odds with God’s mercy for others. It’s a long story, but God definitely corrected me.

In studying this personality type I am so grateful for the work of Grace God has done and is doing in me. There is nothing more I value than just a quiet life of faith. Where daily I walk and learn of Him as a son with his Father. In understanding this story, and knowing that the legalist and self righteous are the personality types that crucified the “Son of Grace,” it is a trap that we do not want to fall into. Fall into any of the other personality types we have studied, but avoid this one at all cost! Unfortunately though it is not that easy. For you see we all have this spirit in us only in different degrees. When we judge ourselves to be better than someone else that is a self righteous spirit. When we count how many times someone has offended us (keeping score) that is a self righteous spirit. When people have to “earn” our approval, or meet us halfway that is a self righteous spirit. I can go on, but these examples suffice. This attitude and its root problem can be summed up with these three words: pride, sin and I.

Wherever we go we bring the problem with us- ourselves. Until we learn to exchange kindness for criticism, patience for impatience and forgiveness for judgement the “I” remains. Next question- can we truly live like this from the heart? I could not. I had to receive kindness, patience and forgiveness from The Lord first before I could give kindness, patience and forgiveness. In myself I have a very limited supply of any given thing. To go beyond me I must first receive “Life” from God. I can give “life” only because God’s Life is working in me and through me. I cannot give what I have not first received. Therefore it is a Christian’s “spiritual life blood” to be in communion with The Lord. Otherwise we just dry up, run out and are miserable to live with. Show me a grumpy Christian and I will show you a son or daughter that has lost his/her connection to their Life Source.

In our story Jesus tried to open their eyes by asking them simple questions. “Is it right to do good on the Sabbath or evil? Which one of you would not save a lamb that had fallen into a pit, and how much better is a man than a sheep?” Why didn’t they get it? By the time Jesus had arrived “on the scene of history” the Pharisees had added many more rules to the Bible. They adhered to those rules rather than the scriptures. One Biblical rule was that there was to be no work on the Sabbath. The work that scripture spoke of was that of earning a living. They were to trust God for provision. That if they honored God by keeping the Sabbath God would provide enough extra resources from the other 6 days to meet the Sabbath day’s need. However, the Pharisees missing the whole point of the law went about defining what it meant to “work.” What work was allowed and what work was not allowed on the Sabbath. It became so stringent and legalistic that not even Jesus was not “allowed” to heal on the Sabbath. It came to the point of becoming absurd. The whole purpose of the Sabbath was to rest. To reflect on God’s kindness/provision and to show that kindness and share those provisions with others.

Type A personalities are the ones that are most apt to become the legalist and the rule keepers. These are the doers.  “Give me a mountain and I will climb it, a task and I will do it, a list and I will complete it.” That’s how we get our “brownie points.” It is the way we are wired. This behavior for other personality types drives them nuts. They want nothing to do with it, but A’s love the challenge. These are the leaders, CEOs, the people who join committees, and people wanting to make their “mark” on life. We will continue this study as we look at another example next week.

Father God,

Thank you for this study and how I can be instructed on not only how to be, but also how not to be. Help me to heed the warning without having to learn the lesson. To do good, to heal, be it soul or body should never be hindered. Let me become a conduit of healing through words of kindness, wisdom, patience, love and forgiveness. May I receive from You and from You give to others. Freely have I received, freely may I give with no strings attached. Thank you and Amen.

 Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur (Happy New Year)

 

17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what (“good thing” Matt.8:19) shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” (What more do I lack? Matt 8:19)  21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”22 But at these words [a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

 In this current series we are going into the “DNA” of the human soul. Examining our deepest motives- the why’s and the why not’s. We were made by God for God, and we have lost that connection. If you are “born again” that connection has been “reconnected,” but because of sin entering into man we have to deal with spiritual “schizophrenia.” Having two opposing natures in one being. The Holy Spirit gives life to the spirit man, but our natural man still abides in our soul. At times it is truly a “tussle”.

It has taken me maturing to be able to understand the why’s and the why not’s behind my desires, motives and actions. I have come to understand that it all ties back to the fall. We were perfect (complete) prior to the original sin- broken (incomplete) afterward. Becoming indwelt by God’s Spirit via faith in Christ’s atonement brings the Holy Spirit back, but as already mentioned gives us an eternal hope. As believers our sin nature must simply be overruled or “crucified.” As Paul the apostle says in Galatians 5:24 ” … those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” and verse 5:1 “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be overcome (controlled) by a yoke of slavery.” So our “dual nature” is the struggle we all share in, “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit contrary to the flesh (Gal.5:17). Those desires for care of self, to meet ones own needs is rooted in insecurity which is the result of our fellowship being broken with God.

The need to feel secure is our most basic, intrinsic need. It is part of our fabric and in one person it causes them to seek after wealth. To establish their significance or worth by their wealth, hence making them feel secure. In another personality type, we become like Martha’s. Being so busy that there is no time for God. Subconsciously we are seeking to validate our worth. I meet many Martha’s. Being busy has become “the culture” of today. We say “how are you doing?” What do we say back? “I’m good, I’m busy.” Busy makes us feel important – needed. As someone who is self employed being busy is a good thing. However is being busy my idol, or is God my Lord? It’s like the question “do you work to live, or do you live for work?” There’s a huge difference and our spouse and family can feel that as well. In our spirits we also can feel the difference when a busy schedule crowds out time with God.

In another personality even if wealth is present, it is not enough. There is a moral conscience that seeks to live right. To establish a sense of right and wrong. Religion or a type of belief often fills this need. It enables one to go to bed believing that they have done right. Believing this about ourselves is also a core need. Most of us want to believe that we are good people, and such is our personality study today – the parable of the rich young ruler. Undoubtedly the ruler was a fair and just, but he was more than that.  He was respectful “a man (the ruler) ran up to him (Jesus)  and knelt before Him.” To run up to someone implies a need, a respect, affection or “all the above.” To kneel before that same person implies homage, worship or reverence. This man’s heart was in the right place in the sense that his reputation or his wealth was not what he lived for. He had a deeper more pressing need. “Good teacher what ‘good thing’ shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Would to God be that more of us were as concerned about eternity as this ruler. Truly even in our time he is a rare and genuine soul.” He called Jesus “good” (agathos) meaning virtuous, upright, best of persons, outstanding. Sounds great, but Jesus called him on it. Jesus immediately deflected the praise to God, “no one is good except God alone.” Why did Jesus say this? Because the final words that Christ would share with him would make the difference between this man receiving eternal life or not, and it would hinge upon how he viewed Christ. Was Jesus just an outstanding human being, or was he truly God in the flesh?

“You know the commandments, do not steal, do not…, Teacher I have kept all these things from my youth up. What more do I lack? And Jesus looked (as if Christ was looking straight into his soul) and loved him. One thing you lack,” or translated, one thing stands in the way of you and me, of inheriting eternal life or not. And here hinged all of eternity for this young ruler. Would he see Jesus as God or just as a good man?  “Go sell your possessions, give them to the poor and come follow me.” This would be the final time Jesus would invite anyone to follow him. This man’s soul was of a composite, a blend of reverence, humility and a desire for truth that was moldable into an apostle. But could he do this? Could he forsake his wealth to follow Christ? Sadly no “But at these words he was saddened, and went away grieving for he was one that owned much property.”

He stood at the door of eternity. Right there and could not step through. His security and his sense of worth was held fast in his wealth. The jump was too much, and broken hearted he returned back to a life that could not fill his void. What about us? What keeps us from wholeheartedly seeking The Lord? If Jesus spoke to us – change your lifestyle,  sell your possessions, give up this practice or habit, and you stood at eternity’s door could you do it? Would you do it? Do you know Jesus well enough to know that with one step forward you would fall right into His heart; or does fear grip your heart? We will continue after Christmas. Next week I hope to write a Christmas poem – we’ll see.

Father God,

Thank you for this study and how it was because of your love for him that you asked the him to sell his possessions knowing that they were obstacles that prevented a relationship with you. Even if a man owned the whole world you would ask him to sell it to gain eternity. Eternity cannot be compared, equaled, or compensated for with any lifestyle, ambition, be it good, or wealth found in this world. Our days are numbered Father, let us be wise stewards of them. Thank you and Amen

 Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur

 

“and she (Martha) had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou, not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39 – 42.

“Oh come and taste and see that The Lord is good” Psalm 34:8

 Trust everyone’s Thanksgiving went well. We had my mom from Orange County, our new grandson and granddaughter, so it was pretty neat. A great opportunity to give God thanks.

As we start our series again I would encourage you to reread part II. In it we established the core problem that exists in man and between him and God. In brief the problem that exists is both God and man are trying to right the wrong created in us via the fall. The Lord has His way. Seeking to reestablish a relationship with us via the Cross, and man seeking to fill his void via things, relationships, beliefs, pleasures or duties, and the two ways don’t meld. They are completely contrary to one another. From our perspective it appears that God’s commands are stern. That He has no compassion or love because he opposes the choices I make. Choices that I believe would make me happy. Yet as shared in last week’s Thanksgiving prayer He tears down the idols we build to show us the shifting sand we call a foundation. In other words He allows us to do “our will,” (as opposed to His will) and reap the consequences until we come to an understanding that in our “Father’s house” we have all we need.

 Such was the conclusion of the prodigal son. He left the Father’s house lured by the world only to realize that he had it best when he lived in relationship with his father.  (Luke 15:11-32 ) That is true with us! To be in relationship with The Lord is to be “home.” There are no negative “hooks” or surprises, or ” end of the road consequences,” such as addictions, “excess baggage” or a string of broken relationships to name a few. Even given this God is able to turn it all around and use it for our good. Walking in faith is a life changer and rightly should be. We are surrendering the “reigns” (control) of our life over to The Lord. Instead of being driven by passions, fears, and insecurities we are now learning to trust in our Heavenly Father. My all time favorite verse Proverbs 3:6&7 “Trust in The Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto your own understanding (or “our own way”) rather in ALL your ways acknowledge him (put Him first) and he will direct your paths.” I have not found a life trial or event that I have not been able to lean on this verse and find strength and comfort. This verse encapsulates what it means to be in a relationship with The Lord.

In our study of Martha we find that she is much like us. She was outwardly doing all the right things, but inwardly she was substituting service or doing for a relationship. The Lord, because he loved her, called her on it. “Martha, Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needful.” Christ revealed to her that she was burdened with her perceived sense of duty, but more than that Christ was not first in her life. Had he been she would have been seated next to Mary. Instead she was upset with Jesus for allowing her sister to sit listening to him teach. Wouldn’t you think that when God walks into the room that everything should stop? Mary recognized who Christ was, but not Martha. She had the “its all up to me, I’m carrying the whole world on my shoulders” complex. That nobody else cares. Such a heavy cross to carry. Surely it is not the one that Christ has called us to carry, “my yoke is easy and my burdens are light” (Matthew 11:30).  Food can wait. Jesus can even speak it into existence. Only one response was right in that moment, “and Mary has chosen that good part, that shall not be taken away from her.” The Lord was not saying that her service was wrong. The Lord was saying that her priority of worrying and fretting over the service not getting done was wrong. Fretting makes God small. Faith makes God big. A big God equals small problems, a small God equals big problems. We choose the size of the God we want to believe in by either spending time with Him and growing our faith like Mary, or else being Martha’s and carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders.

 So what does The Lord want? A question we’ve answered, but this verse answers it better. “Oh come and taste and see that The Lord is good.” First and foremost that is what it means to walk with God. My self esteem, my inner self, my good thoughts as well as my not so good thoughts, and more belongs to Him now. It is surrendered over to him for Him to do with as He please. My new message to myself is “I can do (overcome) all things in Christ Jesus who loves me and gave himself as a ransom for me.” (Phil4:13)  I have been captured in love, and “I am no longer my own. I have been bought with a price and that is the precious blood of Christ. (1Cor 6:20)” Our identity must change and can change as we spend time with The Lord in prayer and study.

Father God,

Thank you for challenging me to grow in a deeper walk with you. Being a Martha is trying and wearisome. It is a burden that I would like to lose and learn to trust you for the work and duties that are required of me. To see you as a Big God, so that the problems are small, and to “come and taste and see that you are good,” instead of substituting idols of my imagination to falsely satisfy me. Help me Father, for this is a big step.

Thank you and Amen.

 Move Forward  in His Grace – Arthur

 

“and she (Martha) had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou, not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, ” Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39 – 42

 “Oh come and taste and see that The Lord is good” Psalm 34:8

In the first Vida of this series we discussed the “fallout” of what happened when man chose to disobey God. The following is a portion of that account. “And the eyes of them were both opened (after eating the forbidden fruit) and they knew they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” They became self conscience because insecurity was the result of the sin. It is my opinion prior to the sin that God’s glory clothed them. What that felt like we will never know, but it must have been amazing. Therefore when they sinned, God’s glory departed from them. That feeling would be an indescribable void, but the best picture I have is the after effects of a tornado or a hurricane. The devastation was unmeasurable. They were naked on all three levels, spiritually, emotionally and physically.  What they felt on the physical level they felt on the other two levels as well – totally exposed and helpless.

“And they heard the voice of The Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves (shame, fear, guilt, insecurity, – the joys of knowing evil)  … And The Lord God called unto them saying where art thou… And he said, I heard thy voice, …and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”  Genesis 3:7- 10. I’m sure God’s voice did not sound any different than all the others days when it was a welcoming sound. Is it not interesting how OUR perception of God changes when sin is involved?

There are not too many verses sadder than “… I heard your voice and hide myself.” What did satan tell them for them to risk so much and disobey God? “… your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3: 5). He told the truth sort of, but he spun it in such a way that he made it sound as if they were lacking something. As if God was holding out on them. Their eyes were opened, but it was not a good thing. Satan knew that they had no concept of evil having dwelt solely in righteousness. He beguiled them and they bought into it because he was able to defame God’s character. Like Jesus said, ” a little leaven (sin) leavens the whole bread (spirit).” They considered the lie instead of rejecting it and that caused the separation, and the willingness to disobey. It only takes a crack in the armor for the arrow of sin to find its way. We were never meant to know evil. It is a perversion to our spirit, soul and body. We were only created to know righteousness and not evil. Furthermore evil is not what we think it is. We think of it being a hideous deed. It is! But before it’s a deed, way before there has been a separation between God’s Spirit and mine.  What God, and even satan consider as evil, is the separation that exists between me and God. For now sin has free reign from thoughts, to lusts, to ultimately action, it finds its way out.

Not much has changed from then till now. Satan still spins a bad thing making it sound good. Knowing that we have no idea of the consequences we are about to reap. Instead of listening to God’s Word, our shield, we buy into the lie/ temptation because our sin nature can justify anything, even defaming God. In two devotions past when we started this series, we dealt with how “materialism” has become the “god of happiness and security.” In rejecting God’s claim of love over our life, the void has to be filled with something and materialism makes a great trap. However this trap is only for some personalities, not all.

There are many traps or lusts  to entice each and every soul. Next week we will discuss the “Martha Complex.” A definite trap for all the Martha’s.

Father God,

Thank you for this study, and for making me aware of what makes me whole and heals me. I now understand how the enemy spins a temptation and how because of my deficit it appeals to me. However my security is in your love not in trying to fulfill my own needs. Help me to keep my devotions regular so that I am renewed by your Spirit. Thank you and Amen.

Move Forward In His Grace – Arthur