I was talking to Mommy a while back and told her that my Crew don't like biscuits. They all began to loudly protest that they do like biscuits, "just not that often". I responded that if you complain about a food (or ask for something different) nine times out of ten, you don't actually LIKE that food. On the other hand, if you do REALLY like a food, you will choose it.
When I was a kid, our staple breakfast was eggs. I hated eggs, so anytime breakfast was not-eggs I was happy. But pancakes were my favorite. I LOVE pancakes! When we went to a restaurant, the first thing I checked was whether they served breakfast all day. I was the weird kid that chose a short stack for dinner at the Mexican restaurant!
These days, Thursday is pancake day. I've made pancakes so often that I have the basic recipe (and several variations) memorized. Since the syrup can make or break a good pancake, we have two different kinds on hand most of the time. The Crew like one variety, but I think it's gross. They feel the same way about my preferred brand. Even though pancakes are the standing plan, sometimes I don't realize I'm out of a necessary ingredient until the moment I need it. I have made a number of flying trips to the store for one item rather than making something else.
Friend, do you claim Christ? If you do, are you like my Crew who claim to like biscuits while consistently choosing something else? Do you pursue pleasure and comfort and joy and rest in any of the other good things in your life? Or do you plan to consistently taste of the goodness of God in His word? When your plans are interrupted, do you put in the extra effort to spend time with Him? Do you know what pleases Him, and do you diligently seek to do those things? Do you choose Him for pleasure above your favorite hobby? Do you choose Him for comfort above your favorite TV show or book or food? Do you choose him for joy above a chat with your best friend? Or do some or all of those gifts rank above your Creator? And are you okay with that? Friend, I beg you, taste and see that the Lord is GOOD! Taste and see that He can satisfy the deepest cravings of your heart!
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."
Lamentations 3:24
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:1-3
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
Fingerprints
You don't have to be around little people for long to know that if there is something messy to be had, they will find it. Not only will they find it, they will wear it. And soon it will be EVERYWHERE! My Crew are no longer tiny, but I am amazed at how many fingerprints still color my fridge, and my cabinets, and my walls. But even as adults with clean hands, we can't avoid leaving our prints on the things we touch. It may take some extra light or special dust to reveal them, but they are there.
So it is with God's hand in our lives. Once He has touched you, His fingerprints show. Sometimes clearly and sometimes only upon close inspection. But they are there.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
So it is with God's hand in our lives. Once He has touched you, His fingerprints show. Sometimes clearly and sometimes only upon close inspection. But they are there.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Monday, March 14, 2016
Spreading Stickiness
At breakfast this morning, my youngest asked me to open the jelly jar for her because the lid was kind of cemented on. I took the jar from her and received a sticky hand. My Crew tend to be fairly messy, and had dribbled jelly around the rim and down the edge of the jar. So I told my son that when he cleared the table he needed to wipe off the jar. His response was, "It's only going to get sticky again, so why should I?" I explained that first, he needed to obey because I had told him to, but also because if he didn't the stickiness would spread. If left alone, the stickiness would spread to the other dishes in the fridge, hands, refrigerator handles, around the kitchen and dining room, and beyond.
Even as I was speaking to my son, I was thinking about how sin is like that sticky jar. It doesn't stay in one place, but pollutes and corrupts everything it touches. So that my anger towards my children tends to yield in their lives anger towards me, or towards their siblings. Or my struggle with worshiping sugar teaches them unhealthy eating habits. And beyond the family, my selfish lack of interest can cause much hurt to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Or that piece of gossip veiled as a "prayer request" can wreak absolute havoc on the love of the body.
As I was writing this, another aspect hit me. Do you ever feel like it's hopeless to fight against your sin because there is just so much of it? Like even if you do win the battle today it'll just be back tomorrow? Maybe even later today? I want to encourage you, Christian, to keep fighting. First of all, Christ died for your sin. He satisfied God's wrath, so that when God looks at you He sees the righteousness of Jesus. Second, He didn't just die to save you from wrath, but to save you from sinning. Sin is a hateful, deceptive master who promises the world and delivers death. Dear Christian, you were created for more than sinning. You were created to worship and serve the God who made you and loves you! And third, the Holy Spirit lives in you to help you grow in obedience and worship. So keep fighting!
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
James 1:13-15
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
1 Peter 1:13-16
Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on a level ground! For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.
Psalm 143:9-12
Even as I was speaking to my son, I was thinking about how sin is like that sticky jar. It doesn't stay in one place, but pollutes and corrupts everything it touches. So that my anger towards my children tends to yield in their lives anger towards me, or towards their siblings. Or my struggle with worshiping sugar teaches them unhealthy eating habits. And beyond the family, my selfish lack of interest can cause much hurt to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Or that piece of gossip veiled as a "prayer request" can wreak absolute havoc on the love of the body.
As I was writing this, another aspect hit me. Do you ever feel like it's hopeless to fight against your sin because there is just so much of it? Like even if you do win the battle today it'll just be back tomorrow? Maybe even later today? I want to encourage you, Christian, to keep fighting. First of all, Christ died for your sin. He satisfied God's wrath, so that when God looks at you He sees the righteousness of Jesus. Second, He didn't just die to save you from wrath, but to save you from sinning. Sin is a hateful, deceptive master who promises the world and delivers death. Dear Christian, you were created for more than sinning. You were created to worship and serve the God who made you and loves you! And third, the Holy Spirit lives in you to help you grow in obedience and worship. So keep fighting!
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
James 1:13-15
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
1 Peter 1:13-16
Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on a level ground! For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.
Psalm 143:9-12
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Dulled Sweetness
I grew up in the south in the days of frequent church potlucks. And potlucks were my FAVORITE!!! Meat and potatoes, dessert, kool-aid, and sweet tea were the staples, and I got as much as I wanted! All that sweetness felt like heaven to me. Like most kids, it didn't take me long to realize that after drinking my kool-aid, my chocolate cake didn't taste quite as sweet. Or after that bowl of pudding, the kool-aid didn't have quite the same pop.
I was thinking this morning about how easily I lose my taste for the Word. If I've been consistently having my devotions, and engaging in corporate worship, I feel like I can't get enough. But take me out of my routine for a week or two, and my interest in spiritual things begins to fade. Since this week was spring break, we've taken a very laid-back approach to life, lazing around most of the mornings, and probably staying up too late most evenings. (The time change is going to be a killer!) But in spite of my surplus of time, I've spent very little time in the Word. And far too much in various entertainment. So this morning, I found myself not really caring whether I crack open my Bible or not. Which made me think of sugar.
A relationship with God is the greatest sweetness a person can experience. But because we are corrupted by sin, we crave and pursue every other sweetness there is. I love to read stories. I love to play logic games. I love to cook. I love to eat. I love to watch movies with my Crew. And all of these can be good, sweet things. But if I do not pursue the sweetness of God's presence first, or most-- as my highest priority-- the sweetness of the good things dulls my taste for Him.
I watched a sermon by John Piper in which he says, "You have taste buds on your soul's tongue that were made to lick the lollipop of the gospel." You can see the message in it's entirety here. I struggle to pursue the sweetness of God above all else, but I need to. And so do you.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11
I was thinking this morning about how easily I lose my taste for the Word. If I've been consistently having my devotions, and engaging in corporate worship, I feel like I can't get enough. But take me out of my routine for a week or two, and my interest in spiritual things begins to fade. Since this week was spring break, we've taken a very laid-back approach to life, lazing around most of the mornings, and probably staying up too late most evenings. (The time change is going to be a killer!) But in spite of my surplus of time, I've spent very little time in the Word. And far too much in various entertainment. So this morning, I found myself not really caring whether I crack open my Bible or not. Which made me think of sugar.
A relationship with God is the greatest sweetness a person can experience. But because we are corrupted by sin, we crave and pursue every other sweetness there is. I love to read stories. I love to play logic games. I love to cook. I love to eat. I love to watch movies with my Crew. And all of these can be good, sweet things. But if I do not pursue the sweetness of God's presence first, or most-- as my highest priority-- the sweetness of the good things dulls my taste for Him.
I watched a sermon by John Piper in which he says, "You have taste buds on your soul's tongue that were made to lick the lollipop of the gospel." You can see the message in it's entirety here. I struggle to pursue the sweetness of God above all else, but I need to. And so do you.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11
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