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Archive for the ‘Experience’ Category

>More complicated than it has to be

Posted in Experience on April 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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“…how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” – 1st Thessalonians 1:9b-10 (KJV)

We make being a believer much too complicated and here Paul reduces it to three verbs: Turn, Serve, and Wait – in that order.

Being a Christian is simply turning from idols (the things we value more than God), Serving the living and true God (not accomplishing great things for God, just simply serving Him), and waiting for Jesus to return.

Pretty simple.

Fritz

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Recognizing Jesus

Posted in Experience, tagged , , , on April 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing … when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.” – John 21:3,4 (KJV)

Sometimes God isn’t recognizable by even his closest friends. This happened to the disciples, Mary, hikers on the road to Emmaus, Sampson’s parents; I think it continues even today. We sometimes encounter Him and don’t realize it until after.

Sometimes a complete stranger show up and gives us advice which is just the right word we needed.

As with Mary in the garden tomb, filled with grief, and thinking someone has taken away our faith (John 20:15), God speaks our name and we realize He has been with us all along.

Like the hikers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24), we hear the Word of God preached and the bread broken (communion) and our hearts burn within us and we know we heard from God.

Sometimes, like Sampson’s parents we grieve our children’s choices (Judges 14:4) but later discover God had a greater plan.

Prayer: “Jesus, help me to recognize you in the events of my life, trust you completely, and love you fully. Amen.”

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The "Aroma" of His Name (Song 1:03)

Posted in Experience, tagged on April 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. – Song 1:3 (KJV)

Smell uniquely ties memory and feelings together in a way the other senses do not. Smell enhances our experience, evokes a reaction on a subconscious level, and brings back memories long forgotten.

Driving south of Houston, recently, the scent of humid salt air flooded me with childhood memories of camping on the beach with my dad. One scent and I was there, in my thoughts, on the beach eating crunchy hot dogs and swimming in the surf.

The Song of Solomon compares Jesus’ name to the “savour (smell) of …good ointments” and says his name is “as ointment poured forth”. An ointment poured forth means the lid is off and it’s sending out its smell, like what we did in college when we wanted guests – pop corn and open the doors!

To some the name of Jesus evokes repulsion, but to others there is a feeling of peace and attraction. It is not a mental thing, it is deeper than that. The pure in heart (symbolized, here, by the “virgins”) love him.

The wonderful thing is that naturally dull and evil hearts can be changed; he paid for that with his life’s blood and gives it upon request.

– fritz

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