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Archive for the ‘Christ’ Category

Bible Opened

Posted in Christ, Podcast, The Bible, tagged , on January 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Apostle, Paul, pointed his protege, Timothy, to “the Scriptures” as the source of faith, encouragement and correction.  We know these scriptures as The Bible.

The next three Wednesdays I plan to focus on the Bible itself.  Where it came from, how it can be applied and correctly understood

What is the very first thing that has to happen when you want to know what’s in the Bible and what it means? 

It has to be opened; opened not just to see it and read it but opened to your understanding.  Before then, it is just a disjointed, isolated, collection of stories and letters other people have quoted. And the quotes are often confusing, contradictory, and not making much sense.

Seeing something is more than its light hitting the eye; there needs to be mental activity to understand what is seen. It has to be into context.

where's waldo

Ever been in a crowd of people and suddenly recognized someone you knew?  What a shock.  They went from being a faceless person to a good friend.  They hadn’t changed, you changed.

The Bible is like that, just words on a page until something happens.

That something has nothing to do with intellect; a lot of smart people are clueless when it comes to the Bible.  To others, smart and simple, those words touch something deep inside and make perfect sense.

After his resurrection, Jesus had a message for his followers:

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “When I was with you before I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.

Luke 24:45

The first step in understanding the bible is to ask Jesus to open it to you like he did to the disciples.  Don’t tell him what the Bible means, let him tell you.  Tell Jesus you want to know the truth and will accept what he shows you. 

Thank you, Jesus, for offering yourself on the cross for my sins, my pride, my self-sufficiency. Thank you for leaving my sins there, in the grave, when you rose from the dead.

I surrender to you and want to know your book, the Bible. Please open the scriptures to me like you did to your disciples. Let the scriptures come alive to me as I read them, fresh, again.

Amen

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Joy is Medicinal

Posted in Choice, Christ, Joy, Podcast, tagged , on January 10, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Choose Joy

“A joyful heart helps healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22 (CEB)

I heard someone say, recently, “If you’re not angry you’re not paying attention!”

A lot of seriously, wrong things are happening all around us.  There’s a lot to be angry about, a lot to be afraid of.  It’s enough to make you sick, if you let it, so don’t let it.

But the Bible tells us that having a cheerful attitude promotes health just like taking medicine.  

How do you do that?

The Apostle, Peter, tells us how, “God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him. Be on your guard and stay awake (1 Peter 5:7-8a )  

I’ve found cheerfulness is a choice.  It’s not a denial but a choice; a choice to believe that God cares for me and is in charge of my life; a choice to be grateful for his care.

It’s not closing my eyes and ignoring what’s happening but it’s not letting what’s going on push me from my trust in God.

Choose to pick up a Joyful heart this week and trust God; it will make a big difference in your attitude, and that will make a big difference in your health.

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Where Joy Lives

Posted in Christ, Joy, King David, Paul, Podcast, tagged , , on January 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Podcast

In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalm 16:11b

The Jewish King, David, was a passionate man with strong emotions.  Anger, Love, Gladness, Fear.  He was 100% everything he felt.  And Joy was a big part of his life and faith.

Writing to God he said, “in your presence is Joy!”, and “at your right hand is constant and forever joy”.  Term, “at right hand” in ancient times was a special place of honor.  

Jesus, when he arose from the dead, after paying the price for our sins, was seated at God’s right hand.  In fact, many think the 16th Psalm was written about Jesus’ resurrection, from his perspective.

That’s great for Jesus, seated where there is eternal Joy, but what about us?

The Apostle Paul wrote,
"God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" - Ephesians 2:6

How could he say that?  Paul was a logical man, where was the logic in this, we are on this side of eternity.

The thought process is this…  When we give our lives to Christ, he enters us, literally, and we enter him.  Where we go, he is there in us, AND where he is, we are there in him.  The first part is fairly easy to understand, but the second part is also true!

In Christ we live at God’s right hand where Joy is, and, if we let ourselves believe it, we can feel it this side of eternity.

Sometimes, here, we get knocked around a bit and stop feeling very joyful, but that is not where we stay. 

King David wrote 

These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul: 
how I used to go to the house of God
    under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise (Psalm 42:4)

The king was not feeling it, so what did he do?  He gave himself a good talking to!  He told himself this…

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.
    among the festive throng (Psalm 42:11).

Give yourself a good talking to!  Embrace it by faith!

Life is intended to be lived in Joy; it is found in God’s presence.  Surrendering to Jesus put us smack dab in the middle of it.

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