The Wisdom Of Mothers

It's that time of year again and it always makes me think of my childhood days. Those days were filled with memories of my mother and some of the things she would say to us kids. Sometimes they were profound things and other times they were just plain funny. Some were very memorable and I think worth recording and sharing with others.

I'm sure you have some of these "Mother Quotes" in your growing up memories. These are some that I found from a newspaper article. I modified a few of them for my particular memories although these are most likely the ones you mother used to teach you about life as well, Please use the comment section below and add the one or more that stood out in your growing up life. Here are some of mine.

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. “If you’re gonna kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION. “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don’t straighten up, I’m gonna knock you into the middle of next week.”
4. My mother taught me LOGIC. “Because I said so, that’s why.”
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. “If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
7. My mother taught me IRONY. “Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to really cry about.”
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. “Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”
9. My mother taught me about CONTORIONISM. “Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. “You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. “This room of yours looks like a tornado went through it.”
12. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. “Just you wait till we get home.”
13. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. “You’re going to get it when your father gets home.”
14. My mother taught me about MEDICAL SCIENCE. “If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to stick that way.”
15. My mother taught me ESP. “Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you’re cold?”
16. My mother taught me about HUMOR. “When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”
17. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”
18. My mother taught me about GENETICS. “You are just like your father.”
19. My mother taught me WISDOM. “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”
20. My mother taught me about ROOTS. “Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
21. My mother taught me about JUSTICE. “One day I hope you have 10 kids and they turn out just like you.”

Are You Making Your Spouse Miserable?

OK, this list of ten things is certainly not all-inclusive but it definitely has the potential of helping your relationship with your spouse become better. Remember when you first met your spouse and there were things that you overlooked and thought quaint or mildly annoying? Well, with time, those little things can become big things (as all things grow with time) and those massive things can make you forget what is really important. 

It's good to check periodically on the important matters of life to see if something needs to be adjusted and changed. That is growth and maturity. Without a periodic checkup you can become weak, sickly and die. Best not let your relationship get to that point. Take this 10 point checkup and see where you may be needing to adjust you thinking and your life.

10 Things Every Couple Needs To Stop Doing

NOVEMBER 9 BY AMY MORIN IN COMMUNICATION, RELATIONSHIPSMost couples develop some bad habits over time that can wreak havoc on the relationship. Here are 10 things every couple needs to stop doing before they damage their relationship.
1. Giving Your Partner Your Partial AttentionChecking email, texting, or watching TV while your partner is in the same room doesn't constitute quality time together. However, many people have difficulty unplugging and giving their partner their undivided attention long enough to hold a real conversation. Give your partner your full attention so you can truly connect with one another.

2. Skimping on the Compliments

You can never give too many compliments. However, as a relationship matures, compliments often begin to dwindle. Give your partner plenty of encouragement. Offer praise and genuine words of encouragement to help your partner navigate each day with confidence.

3. Keeping Score
Keeping score and trying to ensure that everything is fair can make couples argue more like siblings. Everything doesn't have to be fair in your romantic relationship. Trying to keep a tally of who has done the most or who has earned something will only damage your relationship. Focus on giving to your partner rather than worrying about what you’re getting.

4. Not Being a Person of Your WordYour partner needs to know you are trustworthy. Make promises that you’ll follow through with. Don’t say things that you don’t mean and don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep. Building trust, loyalty, and security in the relationship means that your partner needs to know you are a person of your word.

5. Talking More Than ListeningCommunication should involve listening more than you speak. However, most people focus more on getting their point across rather than truly trying to understand what their partner has to say. Focus on listening to your partner and developing an understanding of your partner’s point of view before trying to express your opinion. Listening to your partner can reduce a lot of conflict caused by misunderstandings.

6. Listening Passively OnlyListening should be an active process. However, many people treat it like a passive activity. Not talking doesn't constitute listening. In order to actively listen to someone, you should ask questions, nod your head, and seek clarification when you don’t understand. Get rid of other distractions and focus on what your partner has to say by showing you are actively trying to understand what is being said.

7. Making the Relationship Lower on the Priority ScaleRelationships often top the priority scale in the beginning but over time, a relationship can slip down the priority list slowly. Kids, jobs, extended family, and friends can all take precedence over the relationship if you’re not careful. The lower the relationship falls on the priority scale, the more likely the relationship will suffer.

8. Offering CriticismGiving too much criticism can break down a relationship quickly. Offering your opinion about what your partner doesn't do right or should be doing differently can create a wedge in the relationship. Offer feedback in a way that is tactful and diplomatic and make sure you are giving more positive feedback than negative.

9. Nagging One AnotherNagging is an annoying habit that can make a relationship become more painful than joyful. It’s okay to ask your partner to do something but avoid nagging if the job doesn't get done according to your time frame. Treat your partner like a responsible adult, not a child who needs parenting.

10. Trying to Change Each OtherTrying to change your partner will only backfire on you in the long-run. You can change yourself only. Focus on changing your own behavior and it may or may not lead your partner to change. Accept that you can’t force your partner to change and accept that your partner does not have to do what you want.

Well? How did you do? Got some thoughts about what you want your spouse to change so your life is simpler and easy? 

I'm sure you do! Better read this again and this time look at you differently. 

It's not all about you! It's about caring for your spouse and making their life richer and blessed by being everything you can be for them. Our lives are not about making our life easier and better by everyone catering to our preferences and wishes. It's about giving up our preferences and wishes and taking care of those that are around us. Not the other way around.

There are some simple things we can do to change the way we look at others. You can get started today by thinking about someone else but yourself and focusing on doing something for that person you live with everyday, or that person you work with, or anyone you might run into who needs a kind word or a helping hand.

Check out this link for another thought about the way you think about the world around you.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/13-things-mentally-strong-people-dont.html

No Surprises….Please

It's been three months since I last shared a post on here. I have not been avoiding doing so but just overwhelmed with starting a new business. Please understand that turning 60 this year and starting a new career has taken most everything I have to keep up. I enjoy the challenges of life and sometimes take on more than I can do at once. I guess that's because of slowing down more. I could blame it on age or I could blame it on the dog but I don't have a dog, so I guess it's cause I'm getting older.

This post is in memory of George Macdonald and the wise contemplation's he has written about over the years he visited this earth. Please tell me what you think of this. I must say I agree with what he has written and feel we need much more of this in our lives.

Have you ever felt like King David…?

“God are you avoiding me? Where are you when I need you? (Psalm 10) “Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down; all the friends I depended on are gone. Everyone talks in lie language; lies slide off their oily lips. They double-talk with forked tongues. Slice their lips off their faces. The braggart tongues from their mouths. I’m tired of hearing… “We can talk anyone into anything.” (Psalm 12) Long enough, God, you've ignored me long enough. I've looked at the back of your head long enough. I've carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me.” (Psalm 13) …and are hearing… “Run to the mountains; the evil bows are bent, the wicked arrows aimed to shoot under the cover of darkness every heart open to God. The bottoms’ dropped out of the country.” (Psalm 11) From the Message translation of the Scriptures.

Times like those we wonder …do we really know God? Is He really there? Am I in unreality about all this? Is there a way to eliminate these doubts in such disturbing times? What does a real relationship with Christ consist of?

There are verses of scripture that should make Christians tremble a little….

Matthew 7:21-23…There will be some terrible surprises if what you thought was the will of God turned out not to be. Depart from me!!

Hebrews 10: 30, 31…He will judge His people...and it could be terrible.

2 Corinthians 11:4…If only 30 or 40 years after the church began there was other (false) versions of Jesus, His Spirit, and His message just how many do you think there 2000 years later ? False messages resulting in false concepts of Jesus resulting in false Spirits result in false ideas of the true Christ will. Who knows who the real Christ is? Who can we trust?

Colossians 1:13-20…reveals what God the Father knows about Christ. Are you following this one?

Luke 10:22 … No one can know the Father or the Son unless Christ chooses to reveal Himself to. So who does He reveal Himself and the Father to?

John 14: 21…here is the answer…if we obey him He will show us who He really is.

Ephesians 4: 17-24…But we must be careful ….for that did not come just by divine illumination…it also comes through divine learning as we depart from what we know is wrong and do what we know is right.

“Do you want to live by faith? Do you want to know Christ aright? Do you want to awake and arise and live, but do not know how? Get up, and do something the master tells you. The moment you do, you instantly make yourself his disciple. Instead of asking yourself whether you believe or not, ask yourself whether you have this day done one single thing because he said, “Do it,” or once abstained because he said, “Do not do it.”…It is simply absurd to say you believe, or even want to believe in him, if you do not do anything he tells you. If you can think of nothing he ever said as having consciously influenced your doing or not doing, you have no ground to consider yourself his disciple. To such he says, “Why did you not do the things I told you? Depart from me. I do not know you!” Yet you can at once begin to be a disciple of the Living One by obeying him in the first thing you can think of in which you are not obeying Him. 

We must learn to obey Him in everything, and so must begin somewhere. Let it be at once, and in the very next thing that lies at the door of conscience! Oh, do not be as the fools who think of nothing but Christ as a theological person to be discussed, and do not set themselves to do his words. What will they have to answer for, such teachers who have turned the regard of their listeners away from the direct words of the Lord himself, which are spirit and life, to contemplate instead various plans of salvation that they twist out of the words of his apostles! 

There is but one plan of salvation, and that is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ! And that belief is no mere mental acknowledgment about him, but involves nothing more, nothing less than to take him for what he is …our Master, and to take his words as it he meant them, which He did.”

(Knowing the Heart of God, p.30-31 George Macdonald).”

Judging Ourselves - Part 2

In looking at my life and pondering the question of whether I have learned anything of value at all, in my walk with Christ, I have had to ask myself a lot of questions. Most of those questions were birthed by God but delivered through the loving words of friends and family. Many questions have been initiated through the daily circumstances of my life; blogs I read, conversations I have with people, verses I read in Scripture, business decisions, etc. In all of that pondering and questioning I'm not always sure I have gained the insights God has intended for me and changed accordingly. I feel like I must again look at where God has me and judge myself in the reality of where He has me.

Through a long period of my life I felt like I was angry with God. I'm not even sure how I could have thought those thoughts but I carried a chip on my shoulders for a very long time. Even though I knew God, received His love and forgiveness, experienced His touch and walked after Him for many years, I came to this place of denial. Circumstances in my life were bleak, with regard to my marriage, children, the church and my relationships with people. I was not a nice person to be around.

This article with the words of David Wilkerson pretty well sums up where I have been at:

WHEN GOD NO LONGER SPEAKS by David Wilkerson

Isaiah faithfully prophesied to Israel that the "ears of them that hear"would one day be opened. But, sadly, his listeners had shut their ears to God's voice. They wanted to hold on to their sins!

"When I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed. Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit" (Isaiah 65:12-14).

How tragic it is to refuse to hear the loving warnings of the Holy Spirit. Whenever we shut our ears to God's command to mortify the sins of our flesh, we are doomed to experience every kind of sorrow and pain.

Please understand, I'm not talking about a servant of God who is overtaken by a sin he hates. Nor am I referring to the believer who won't allow himself any rest until the Holy Ghost sets him free. Rather, I'm talking about the believer who has learned to love his sin, who has laid his head in the lap of a Delilah. Such a person has a calloused conscience.

The servant who continues his sinful ways will hear voices but none of them will be God's. Instead, that person will be given over to delusion: "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes,and chose that in which I delighted not" (Isaiah 66:4).

What an awful thing it is when God no longer speaks! But how encouraging to know that the Holy Spirit will lovingly caution us and keep us from sin.
-Source-

This picture was the picture of my life. Knowing but not doing otherwise. Continuing in my sin and calling it something other than sin. Imagining myself as righteous in my mind but destitute of the truth, carrying around a sour and troublesome attitude that wanted to satisfy my own desires.

Some time ago I realized that I was indeed off center with God and wanted to be in His heart. I hated the way I felt and didn't know how to get out of it. Being reminded of how I first came to salvation I had to repent of my sin. Sin was what it was and I had to call it what it was and deal with it the way that sin has to be dealt with.

You see, I didn't acknowledge that my behavior was sin. The Scriptures called it sin but I didn't. God declared it sin but I declared it justified anger and grumpiness on the fact that so many people and things around me caused me to feel that way. I forgot that I had a choice. I was choosing to hold on to my sin and lay my head in the lap of Delilah.

Recently, I started to slip back into that state again. Justifying my thoughts about people and circumstances which caused me to take a sour and mean attitude. My vision of where God was leading me was fading and I couldn't see clearly. Sin was clouding my vision. God was speaking but my ears were stopped up and all I heard was a muffled sound that I couldn't understand correctly. My vision of the Church and people's behavior started to overwhelm me and all I could see was how badly it all looked. It was not the beautiful Bride that the Scriptures spoke of but a sullied and misbehaved child that needed a spanking; and I was the one who needed to spank her! I couldn't understand why He would let His Bride behave the way she was behaving. Couldn't He possibly be mistaken about the reality of His Church? Was I the only one who really saw the truth about her?

What I didn't realize is that the picture I was looking at was shaded and darkened by the sin I was trying to look at it through. The church was not the problem. I was the problem. I couldn't hear what God was saying nor could I see what He was seeing. God was perfectly capable of handling His church and He didn't need me in the midst of it stirring things up. He needed me to repent, receive forgiveness and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Once I did that, I could see again. I could hear what my Father was saying. I could see what He was seeing. I could behave as His child and not like the misbehaving child I thought I saw in the behavior of the church. What God was trying to show me was how awful I was behaving. Where was the mercy, the kindness, the love He had for his Bride? I was not looking at the Father, nor the things which were in His heart. I couldn't see how the beautiful His Bride was too Him.

I can tell you a lot of things that I saw and experienced that may actually be true about the Church, things that are not righteous or fruitful, but then I would be back to the same place I had to leave and repent of. It was not, nor is not, my place to stand in judgment of the Church. That is the right and duty of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am not Jesus Christ. I am hopefully His friend and disciple. My actions will tell the truth about that. He alone has the authority to judge and then to forgive. Not me.

So now I see. I see how much I miss when I am blinded and deafened by my sin. My thoughts betray me and my actions play out my thoughts every day. When I judged myself, I found myself as guilty. I needed salvation from my sin. I do every day. I need to continue to walk with God and do the things He is doing, see the things He is seeing and say the things that He is saying. That is what Jesus did and that is what a disciple of His should be about doing as well.

I leave you with the question of whether or not you are in the condition I was? If so there is a judgment that has fallen upon you and there is only one way out. Repent, turn from your evil thoughts and mind. Repent and receive the forgiveness that God has to offer you and be saved. Be filled with the power of His grace through the Holy Spirit. Walk with Him and look at what He is looking at. Hear what He is saying. Then do likewise.

Judging Ourselves

Often I find comfort and wisdom in other peoples blogs that I follow and this is one of them. This answers a lot of those questions about why things are the way they are with people who seemed to have no restraint and why I act the way I do sometimes. It isn't that I think Christ's disciples are trying to disobey God, (if they are truly Christ's disciples) it is that they forget, or haven't learned or been taught. If they are honest about following Jesus and obeying him they will cry out to Him and find grace to provide a way out of sin.

So, in this re-post of AOP's homeschooling blog I was made more keenly aware of the importance of judging ourselves. I believe you will be too.

You Be The Judge:

Let's face it. When you live together 24/7, a homeschooling family is bound to have disagreements and disputes. Our family was no exception. Daily, I found myself settling conflicts between my children over insignificant issues. While they were young, I realized my direct involvement was necessary in helping my children talk out their differences. However, as they grew older, I encouraged my children to resolve more and more of their own conflicts. Instead of me listening to their complaints and acting as a judge and jury, they learned to take responsibility for their actions and resolve their hurts and disagreements in Christ-like love. As my role became less, my children learned a valuable lesson — judging their actions honestly before God usually eliminated others from having to do so.

As Christians, the Bible also commands us to judge ourselves. To judge ourselves rightly, we must lose the total self-life that seeks only to please itself. Judging our actions and thoughts in the light of God's Word, we become Christ-conscious, not self-conscious. Just as importantly, we become Christ-controlled rather than self-controlled. All that is selfish is laid at the feet of Jesus as we recognize that in our self "dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18). Judging ourselves also involves valuing others as better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3) and becoming selfless instead of practicing self-esteem. What about you? Do you have trouble with your fleshly nature that cries out to please itself? Homeschooling can bring out the worst in our character as we face the daily pressures of raising a family and teaching them at home. If you find yourself demanding that everything go according to your plans in order to make your own life easier, you may want to follow some good advice: "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1 Corinthians 11:31). Lord, examine my selfish heart and reveal those things that fail to honor You. Please, forgive me when I fail to act like Your servant and show me again how I can consider the members of my own family as more important than me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

To find more daily devotions and posts of inspiration go to:

Alpha Omega Publications 

Feeling Homesick

This is the AIO hillside in Maui.

Is it possible to be homesick while you are home? I mean, that ache-in-the-stomach type feeling, that you know. something-isn't-right feeling? It gnaws at you and gnaws at you until you have a hard time thinking about anything else.

Well, I have that. It keeps me from doing so many things. I want to be home with my friends in Africa, I want to be home with my Savior in heaven, I want to be home in my bed with my wife, I want to be home with old friends and family from the past, I just want to be home. But, I am home. So why does it continue to nag at me and cause me all this unrest?

I call it un-contented with the way things are fever.

This happens sometimes when you were young and you didn't get what you wanted from your parents or friends. You started feeling like you wanted to run away. Nothing could console you. You began to become depressed and unresponsive to those around you. You became withdrawn and quiet: contemplative of the life around you, looking for where you fit in.

That fever can strike you at any time and any age. I'm so familiar with it. It affects me at the most unusual times and in the most unusual places. It is a progressive fever in that it will continue to plague me and intensify if I don't find remedy for it.

And what would that remedy be?

I venture to say that it takes a shaking sometimes. A violent and aggressive shaking. It takes coming to terms with the fever face to face and dealing harshly with it. It is a form of depression in that it takes you inward and spirals down upon itself, sucking you into the vortex of its power. Sometimes it feels like it is going to tear you apart.

Whatever I find to shake me with, it begins with the sudden realization that I am spiraling down and start to begin to get dizzy. Not so much a physical dizziness but an emotional and intellectual dizziness. I can't think straight. I'm spiritually depraved and destitute. A complete loss of my senses.

So what to do?

Here are a few verses that come to mind.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

Psalm 34:4

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

James 5:14

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church: and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Sad and depressing thoughts are soon removed when we begin to think thoughts that are positive towards trusting God and exercising our faith in Him. Getting out of the environment of being alone and spending time with others takes your attention off of you and turns it upon someone else. Doing things for people will quickly take your attention off yourself.

So I will take my own advice and do something positive towards God and others around me. I will get out of the pity party I am hosting for myself and move into an attitude of service, joy and fulfillment based upon the love God gives me 24 hours a day. I'll share that joy with others and stop thinking about ME. 

Yes, there are other places I would like to be, at times, but I am where I am now and that is with a creator and savior who loves me and pours His favor out upon me continually. No matter where I go, there He is. How much better can I wish for that that? 

He is the joy of my salvation!

INDIVIDUALISM - ENEMY of THE CHURCH

Some of you may know that I follow the posts from Andrew Strom. I have for quite some time. He has a spiritual sense about him that I can relate to and appreciate. He tends to stand out opposed and ridiculed by some but never at a loss for things to say about Christ. He loves David Wilkerson and the old authors of the gospel. Circuit preachers and many more who have given their lives for Christ. I consider him to be a disciple of our Lord.

So from time to time I re-post his posts here when they are especially pointed in a direction I feel the Holy Ghost is leading me to go. This one today is timely at any time but especially so today. I am hoping that others (namely you) will re-post this as well or at least make mention of it to your friend on Facebook, Twitter or Google+. It is especially dear to my heart since we do live in community and we came from the individualistic ties of the world and the church years ago.

Listen to what Andrew is saying and judge yourself to see if anything in you is touched by this. If so, take some time before God and examine those feelings to see if it is true that you are thinking or acting in an individualistic way. It may be that you don't believe you do but sometimes we become deceived into thinking that we are OK when in reality we are not. It is good to examine yourself daily and let God shine the light in those places that are not always for apparent. Kinda like ticks. But that's another story, for another time.

Here is Andrew post and my Amen.

INDIVIDUALISM - ENEMY of THE CHURCH

We live in an utterly individualistic and "self"-oriented age today. I'm sure few would disagree. Every advertisement appeals to 'self' in some way. We are taught from childhood to be completely self-contained, reliant on no-one, living in our own little bubble where we decide exactly what will take place. We are often frightened to commit to any particular group or cause, any particular leadership. The modern man is an "individualist" to the core. "Don't ask me to join or commit! And don't tell me how to live my life!"

But all of this, of course, is the exact opposite of "Body". It is the exact opposite of  Community'. And thus the exact opposite of the true Church. And yet millions upon millions of Christians today (especially in the West) are just as "individualistic" as the next man. Sometimes even more so.

 As noted previously, the very first sentence used to describe the early church says: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42).
 

That is the very picture of a BODY - not a pile of "individualists". They have GIVEN themselves to a group and a cause - a group with real LEADERS who are anointed preachers from God. But it is almost anathema for a modern person to give themselves to any group in such a way. We are far too suspicious and individualistic and un-trusting to ever do such a thing. And thus the question must be asked: Is it even possible to have true "BODY" in our day? Is "CHURCH" (in the true sense) even a concept that we can understand? Or have the media and our entire culture so "individualized" us that true 'Body' is no longer possible?
 

You know, Christianity is not designed to be lived out by a pack of "individualists". And half-committed "building-attenders" on Sunday mornings are not it either. Christianity is designed to be lived out CORPORATELY - the "Body of Christ" - an entity that can be seen and observed by people - full of the glory of Jesus. A Body that corporately carries all the words and power and love and miracles of the King.
 

So how on earth can such a "gathering" take place? How can the scattered remnant of today come together to form such a Body? Well, it all starts with the anointed "word". You notice in the above verse that these people gathered around a very specific thing - "The apostles' doctrine and fellowship". It is an anointed apostolic "word" being preached that is a crucial element in all this. From such a 'word' everything else follows and comes into alignment.
 

But the big question is- Could today's "individualistic" types bring themselves to form a real 'Body' - even if such a word was being preached? Or is individualism so ingrained that even 'apostolic' preaching might not bring this about? These are questions that every one of us should be asking ourselves if we ever hope to be part of a true movement of God in these Last Days.

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Blessing to all! - Andrew Strom ( prophetic@revivalschool.com )
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WHERE THERE IS NO VISION . . .

Recently a good friend was sharing a devotional from Oswald Chambers for May 9th and I wanted to see more about this verse in Proverbs. Mostly because I am concerned for the people of God who have lost their vision or never had it. Just the word vision and its meaning is distant to many in Christian realms. Vision is sometime referred to as imagination or the ability to think outside the box. While "thinking outside the box" may be a good thing in itself there is a larger and more specific meaning to vision that I am concerned about.

"There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does. People who are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything. A person’s own idea of God and His attributes may actually be used to justify and rationalize his deliberate neglect of his duty." Oswald Chambers

 When I became a Christian, rather when I finally saw God for who he is, I was radically and permanently changed in my understanding and actions. It was a deep and inspired action that took place in me and God was the author of that action. He looked into me and saw who I was. He saw in me that which was to be of Him and set His spirit in me. I knew without a doubt that God had touched me. I knew He had planted His Life in me. There was no doubt.

Over the years, I have not lost that vision. I have not always acted in accordance with that vision and found myself in sin against God, repented and came back again. But I have always known Him to be the author and finisher of my faith. It is more than ideals and principals. It is beyond explanation at times, but there is the life of God that leads me on to do those things that please him.

Today, we face the moral decay of our nation and the world at large. Christianity is a joke to most of the world. They see the pretense of many who hold themselves in positions of high esteem and prideful arrogance. Some work for positions of notoriety in the public and church. They set themselves above all those around them. Yet privately they are morally deficient. And then one day it creeps out into the light and they are exposed for who they really are. They are called hypocrites and impostors. They are Christians in name only. They mentally ascent to knowing who Jesus Christ is but they never relinquish their lives to the service of Him. Instead they find a nice little place for Him to hang out in their lives. Not one that is too imposing because that wouldn't work with the life style they want to live in. No, they need to be in control of their lives and can't be bothered with too many things that He may require of them. It just doesn't work well for them.

So there are part-time Christians, social Christians, fake Christians and real Christians. Which is which? Can we judge who is who? Are we allowed to say anything and disturb the unreality of un-Christian lifestyles? Are we not judged for judging?

The world has crept into the church  We are becoming (should I say have become) morally corrupt. We accept the things we should not as being OK because "it's not that bad." Everyone else is doing it. 

How "bad" does it need to be before it is recognized as sin? Or are there some things we are just "judging too harshly"? 

How many cuss words and sex scenes and violent acts need to appear in that movie you sent your kids to see, to be considered "bad"? How much of your wife's or daughter's legs, skin and cleavage need to be exposed to become lewd and sensually inappropriate? How much of the world's music, video games and social networking do you have to consume before it is "bad" for you? How many toys, cars, vacations, clothes, electronics, movies, music and money can you have before is it excessive or "bad" for you and those around you?

I know this may seem over the top and nit picky but where do you draw the line between morally righteous and immorally wrong? Who says what is right and wrong? You? The media? Your neighbors and friends? Ann Landers? or Does God have a place in your life where you know what He thinks about what you are doing and judges your actions appropriate or not, good or bad, profitable or not?

Does your behavior represent that which honors God and gives glory to His nature? Does it line up with the vision God has given you for Life? Is there anything that you know of that says "STOP", "Don't do that!", "Run away!" loudly enough for you to pay attention and comply? Do you see what God sees? Do you hear what He says?

Oswald Chambers says at the end of the devotion for May 9th,

"Once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless. We cast off certain restraints from activities we know are wrong. We set prayer aside as well and cease having God’s vision in the little things of life. We simply begin to act on our own initiative. If we are eating only out of our own hand, and doing things solely on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on a downward path. We have lost the vision. Is our attitude today an attitude that flows from our vision of God? Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done before? Is there a freshness and a vitality in our spiritual outlook? "

We need the vision of God for living this life we live inside of the church. We need the vision that God ordains as true and righteous. We need all He has to give us in that vision of who He is and what He does. If not, we will perish. We will become lawless and corrupt as the world around us. It is time to do something about the lack of vision. It is not time to just sit and talk about how bad it is. The vision begins with you and I. We must recapture the vision God has for us.

Proverbs 29:18"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

Where there is no vision, the people perish,.... That is, "no prophecy", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; and which is often the sense of the word, as the vision of Isaiah is the prophecy of Isaiah; and, in the New Testament, prophesying is often put for preaching; and here vision, or prophecy, signifies the public ministering of the word and ordinances, and want of persons to administer them; no expounder, as the Septuagint version; or interpreter, as the Arabic. 

This was the case in the latter end of Eli's life, 1 Samuel 3:1; in Asa's times, and before, 2 Chronicles 15:3; in the Babylonish captivity, Ezekiel 7:26; in the times of Antiochus, Psalm 74:9; when John the Baptist and Christ first came preaching the word, Matthew 9:36; and now is the case of the Jews, and will be till the time of their conversion. So it was in the Gentile world, before the Gospel was brought into it, Acts 17:30; and so it now is in those places where the seven churches of Asia were; and in all Asia, which once heard the word of the Lord, even all that large country; and now it is not heard at all in it, but covered with Mahometan darkness. 

And this is the case in all Popish countries, subject to the see of Rome, where the word of God is not preached to the people, nor suffered so much as to be read by them; and even in reformed churches, for the most part, only a little morality is preached, and not the Gospel of Christ; so that here the people are perishing for lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6; and when the witnesses will be slain, who now prophesy in sackcloth, there will he an entire stop put to prophesying or preaching for a while; but, when they shall rise, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God, through the ministry of the word.

Now, where there is no preaching, men perish in their sins; the word being the ordinary means of grace, of regeneration, conversion, faith, and salvation; without which, men know nothing of Christ, of peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life by him: and where there is preaching, yet it not being of the right kind, there is no spiritual knowledge spread by it, no food for souls under it; they perish with hunger, as the prodigal did, or are in starving and famishing circumstances; no comfort for the people of God, who perish in their comforts under such a ministry, 1 Corinthians 8:11; and poison is spread among others; false doctrine eats as a canker, and destroys souls. Again, where there is right vision and prophecy, or true preaching of the word, and that is despised and neglected, men perish notwithstanding; as the Jews of old, and all deniers and condemners of the word now,Acts 13:41; and this seems to be intended here, as appears by the following clause. 

The word translated "perish" has various senses, which agree with the text. It may be rendered, "the people become idle", or "cease" (s); from the performance of good works, grow dissolute in their manners, and licentious in their practices: or "they become refractory" (t); fierce, obstinate, and ungovernable, and rebel against their superiors: or they are "made naked" (u); stripped of their ornaments; of their privileges, civil as well as religious, which is often the case where no vision is; as well as of all virtue and morality, and of the blessing and protection of God; 

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he: not the moral law, which no man can keep perfectly, but the law of faith. 

It may be rendered, "happy is he that observes doctrine" (w); the doctrine of the Gospel, where it is preached; that attends to it, values and esteems it, receives it by faith, and with meekness; blessed is he, blessed are his eyes and ears; he sees wondrous things out of this law or doctrine, and he hears and knows the joyful sound, which brings salvation and eternal life unto him!

TRUE LEADERS

There seems to be a lot of varying thoughts and opinions about leaders. We sometimes call them elders, pastors, etc but they are the ones who are demonstrating the way to go and convincing people to think or act in a certain direction. They are referred to, by the apostle Paul, as the "leading ones among you". 

Today there is a dissenting opinion of who these "leading ones" are and what they should be doing. It seems there are some who would prefer no leaders. They want to be able to make their own decisions and do what is right in their own minds. Then there are those who only want to be told what to do all the time and never have to make a decision on their own. Finally, there are those who are in between those two extremes somewhere.

I believe God has been quite clear on all those matters and we can find our way through the varying opinions. I say through because I believe the truth is on the other side of opinions. Rather outside of our opinions. I believe discerning what is true is a matter of spiritual and experiential revelation in our lives. We live through the life God brings to us in order to  develop of our Godly character. The result of that produces leaders in those that submit to His hand.

Being an elder is a good goal. 1 Timothy 3:1  It is a true statement that anyone whose goal is to serve as an elder has his heart set on a good work. Paul sets in place the guidelines for elders, deacons and godly women in 1 Timothy 3:1-13. You should read this if you believe God is calling you to lead. Also read Titus 1:6-9. Maybe it would be good to read all of Timothy and Titus. There is a lot of truth there we all need to understand and obey. It's good to be reminded.

If I desire to serve God and aspire to be used of Him as an elder or deacon, then I really need to understand what that means. I need to be prepared to do the things that are required of an elder or deacon. Those offices of the church are ones that come with maturity and wisdom from God. They are not to be taken lightly for it is through those offices that God is able to lead and guide His church. We need examples and guides that can demonstrate the life of Christ and the obedience to God in our lives. We learn best by doing. Leaders are doers. They hold up a standard and shout, "Follow me, as I follow Christ!" 1Cor.11:1  (You must follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.) If you are in the office of an elder or deacon then I ask you to carefully consider what Paul teaches about who an elder or a deacon is and what they should do.

With that, if you are wondering about the questions I raised towards leaders above, I would ask you to read the following article by T. Austin Sparks. If you believe you are needing more, please write me and I will be available to help you find the answers you need.

THE MAKING OF A TRUE LEADER

-by T. Austin Sparks.

We gather from this book of Judges that those who are going to be

instrumental in the Lord´s hands in helping others out of their bad

condition must themselves have shared that bad condition… It is

necessary for a spiritual leader to have suffered in the same trials

as those being led; to have known the same depths of misery, to

have been in the same complicated circumstances, to have passed

through those very problems, and to know what it is to emerge

from a dark, dismal and wretched state. All that makes a leader,

but that also represents the cost to begin with.

The cost of leadership is…

a) …By what course, by what road, is this transition made? Always

through the grave. Before we ever come to spiritual understanding

we shall have all our own understanding pulverized, ground to

powder, so that we do not understand anything, and we know it. If

we are asked to explain we can give no explanation. It is not in us

to explain. All understanding has gone. God breaks down the

natural to make way for the spiritual. That transition is through

death, through the grave. Then presently we emerge, and we are

seeing things now from God´s side, we are understanding with a

faculty and capacity that we never before possessed. Somehow

or other a resurrection work has been done; that is, something has

been quickened which we never had before. We are made alive to

that of which we had no knowledge before. We have a new standard

of judgement now, a new standard of values, a new sense of

differences. It is just something done, not something which we

have created or made. It comes, as it were, to birth, and we know

it, and as we move accordingly, in obedience to it, it grows.

There is all the difference between natural understanding and

spiritual understanding, and the difference is between death and

life, and a grave is between. Oh, those dark days, when we lost

all natural understanding and there was no light. It is a terrible cost.

We are not speaking about just understanding certain events. It

may have to do with trials of a certain nature through which we

pass, but it is the general faculty to which we are referring. There

is all the difference between a natural faculty for understanding

things and a spiritual faculty for understanding the things of the

Lord, which cannot be defined, but can be declared as a fact.

That cost is the cost bound up with spiritual leadership.

b) The assurance of understanding

There was a time when some of us were most sure. Oh yes, we

knew, no one could tell us. We were the most sure people. We

could lay down the law to anybody as to what they ought to do.

The Lord has taken in hand and has ground to powder, made pulp

of all that assurance. We have lost all self-assurance. We have

come to the place where we feel that we could question everything

in ourselves, doubt everything about ourselves. We have come to

the place where, when we tell the Lord that we mean to be all for

Him there is something inside which says we meant it, but come

up against the test and we find that we are not that. Peter was a

most self-confident man; “Lord, I will follow thee even unto death.”

I am certain that if we had met Peter later on, after the cross, we

should have found him a man who would never for a moment say

a word about his own certainty or self-assurance. Yet you find the

man marked by boldness; there is nothing more sure than his

statement on the day of Pentecost; but he is a different man. He

has gone through the grave, and self-assurance has been broken

in him and replaced with the assurance of God. There is the full

assurance of understanding of the Lord. It is costly, but it is the

way of spiritual leadership, the way to spiritual values.

c) Active faith

We spoke of active faith. It comes the same way. The time

through which we pass is a time when we lose all. There are

times when we feel that the bottom has fallen out of everything.

What have we to rest upon? Faith. Where is our faith? If God is

not merciful to us it is a poor lookout for us. If this whole thing

depends upon our faith today, the Lord help us!

Yes, these are dark, strange experiences, things you may not

say to the unconverted. They are not bound up with our salvation,

our acceptance before God. It is another side, the side of our

usefulness to the Lord, the measure of our spiritual value to the

Lord for the sake of others. The cost of spiritual leadership and a

faith of this true, pure kind is borne out of a grave. It grows like a

new child; it is quiet, steady faith in God. You have been through

the depths, and you have found the Lord faithful, and you have

had to say, “It was not because of my wonderful faith in God, not

because of my saying I am able to hold on, to persist! God was

faithful to me when I had nothing of faith as far as I was concerned.”

That comes back from the grave. It is the cost of leadership.

d) Initiative

This is quite true also in the matter of initiative. Naturally there

was a time when initiative was not difficult to some of us. The

bigger the proposition the more we gloried in tackling it, and

lacked no initiative in these things. Then the Lord took us in hand

and broke all that natural force, or began to break it, and we came

steadily to the place where, so far as we were concerned, the

initiative left us: that is, the natural initiative, the taking of big

responsibility, and we became deeply conscious that we were

needing a divine energy to move in relation to the Lord´s interests.

And now to some extent we do know that energising of God in

relation to His interests. When we have no natural energy, when it

does not spring from ourselves, and if it were left with us, we

should not do it, we would not move, but just lie there, refuse,

decline, and yet we know that for the Lord´s interests there is an

energy which we have not got. We lay hold of that divine energy,

and the initiative of God is appropriated by faith, and there are

accomplishments.

There is all the difference between that natural go-ahead attitude

in the work of God, and that energising of the Holy Spirit; that

initiative which is of the flesh, and that initiative which is of the

Holy Spirit. You have to pass from the one to the other in a deep

experience, when all that is of nature is broken down, and you

come on to the ground where it is all and only of God. It is a new

creation in Christ Jesus, where all things are out from God, as

manifested in the Lord Jesus Himself.

e) Humility and dependence

The same law holds good. We may have been very independent

or self-dependent, or dependent upon others. The Lord has dealt

with all that, or will deal with it in us, and bring us to a place

where every other kind of support is removed, where all our

independence is dealt with, where our self-dependence is

destroyed, where our dependence upon others is cut away. And

we come out to a place, through trying and painful experiences,

where our dependence is upon God.

Paul is an outstanding illustration of this. There is no character

more self-confident than Saul of Tarsus. In the long-run there is no

one more dependent upon God, and confessedly so. He said:

“We despaired of life.” The sentence of death was upon him, so

that he should not trust in himself, but in God who raises the dead.

The way through is a deep, dark, and painful way, but this is all

the way to spiritual leadership. It is all that is involved in the

transition from the natural to the spiritual, and it all leads to values

for others.

Your value to others in the Lord entirely depends upon your own

measure of knowing the Lord for yourself as your very life, your

wisdom, your strength.

There may be a little weakness in what we have been saying, that

we have dealt with positives rather than negatives. Some are not

in much danger of strong, natural, go-ahead-ness. Perhaps some

are lacking altogether in any kind of strength like that, and may

be saying, “Well, I do not have to be broken down very much,

therefore I cannot come through to very much for the Lord.” Do

not say that, because your painful experience will probably be

from a negative to a positive, not from one positive to another

positive. We mean this, that some timid people will go through

an agony when God brings them out to take initiative. It is an

agony for reticent people to be made to stand on their feet and

take responsibility. They would sooner shrink into a corner, but

the Lord will not let them get away with that. In effect He says,

“You have got to be of value, you have got to count; it is no use

your hiding in a corner, I want values in you for My people.” Then

comes the agony of perhaps having to talk to someone, having to

take initiative for the spiritual help of somebody, when you would

rather be somewhere else, doing something else. It is the

transition from the natural, whatever the natural is – whether

positive or negative – to what is spiritual. It is costly, but it is the

price of leadership, and after all, it is that the Lord should have

His full measure in us, “…each several part in due measure”

(Eph. 4:16). There is a “due measure” from each several part.

f) Loneliness

The cost of leadership is always loneliness. When you are going

through a thing in the hands of God, your one sense is that no

one has ever been through this before. The Lord sees to it that

you do not escape by having someone come along who has just

been through it so that you may throw yourself on them and they

carry you. The Lord allows isolation. But, however it is, it is

always loneliness. That is bound up with leadership. It is as

though you were pioneering and no one has ever gone this way

before; you are alone. It is part of the price, but it must be. No

doubt you have longed for somebody who has been that way to

be alongside of you while you are going through, but the Lord has

not allowed it. We say in effect, “If only we had t heir experience

in this thing to appeal to!” But somehow or other the Lord cuts it

all off from us, and takes us through with Himself alone. If we

refuse to go through with Him alone, we are going to miss the Lord´s object.

g) Misunderstanding

So often accompanying the loneliness is misunderstanding, and

that is the more bitter side. It is the more positive or active side.

Think of Nehemiah. He had to take the lead, the initiative. But it

was not long before not only in his loneliness, but in

misunderstanding and misrepresentation he discovered the cost

of that leadership. All around things were being said: “He is

building this thing to make himself a name! He is going to appoint

prophets to preach about him! He is starting a new movement!”

All the things which were said were lies, false; it was

misrepresentation, misunderstanding. That is simply because a

man or woman has come to know the will of God as it applies to

them, and they are going on in that way of God.

It is strange how people will very rarely give another credit for

walking with God. Others always seem to interpret their

movements as though they had been captured and led astray.

They never give them credit for really walking with God

themselves. They blame someone else, and then blame them for

getting into the hands of someone else. It is a part of the price.

h) Selflessness

It is necessary when counting the cost of leadership to be

selfless and disinterested in the matter. Leaders may labour for

perhaps another generation, for others to enter into their labours,

and they may never see the fruit of their own labours.

Look back over the history of all who have really been used of

God in the lives of His people. Very rarely has their life borne fruit

until they have gone. They have laboured, and other men have

entered into their labours. It means that there is to be no present

glory, nothing for self, no present reward. It is a Moses leading

through the wilderness, up against the real hard, tough side of

things, and then passing out without seeing the fruit. That is the

price of leadership so often; selfless disinterestedness, being

willing to labour, to give one´s life, to suffer, to come to a place of

value for others and never see the full result of it.

That is all we shall say for the time being. It has all come out of

that expression of Deborah: “For that the leaders took the lead in

Israel”. That is the explanation of such deliverance, of a mighty

emancipation, of glorious victory, the changing of the whole face

of things from servile slavery, depression and oppression, to

ascendancy, liberty and progress…

-Original Source-

http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/004231.html

What is the Capacity of God's Forgiveness?

By now most of us have failed at our New Year's Resolutions and repeatedly found ourselves in a state of remorse about it. For those of you that have not, I applaud you. Keep up the good work. For those of us who find ourselves in that failed state I offer the thoughts of David Wilkerson. 

No matter what you may think or feel about yourself, failing and struggling with overcoming sin is a real and often dealt with condition we live in. Not that there isn't forgiveness or mercy, there is an abundant provision of grace God has for us. We seldom have the same capacity of forgiveness of ourselves or others. We tend to judge ourselves and others much more harshly than God does.

Consider the relationship you have with God and ask yourself if you are interested in what God has to say about you or not. If you are not interested in what God thinks about you, then you can stop reading this now. If you are interested in what God has to say and your relationship with him, keep reading. Listen to what David Wilkerson has to offer with his thoughts about the capacity of God's love and forgiveness.

An UNUSUAL WORDby David Wilkerson

Recently the Holy Spirit gave me an unusual word, one that I did not want to hear! He said, "You are bound to a very limited vision of the Lord´s ocean of tender, loving mercies. You have endured much guilt, condemnation and fear because you have not allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal the vastness of My forgiving, healing, reconciling mercies. You do not know Me for My tenderness!"

God showed me that this is a root cause for many giving up and falling away. When sin strikes-when Satan comes in like a flood, when you fall into some old habit or sin-the devil creates a bondage. First, the guilt comes flooding in, then fear fills your heart. A sense of total failure and helplessness overwhelms your soul. At this point, most believers run out of grace-because their view of God´s mercy is so limited.

Satan comes to you and says, "You´ve reached your limit. You´ve confessed your sin time after time. There is no way God will forgive you now, because you´ve sinned against the light. If you return and confess once more, you´ll turn around and sin all over again. So quit now!"

The devil does not want you to see God´s ocean of mercy; he wants you to see only a trickle! Because of our ignorance of the forgiving, restoring power of Christ´s love, we are destroyed. We run out of mercy for ourselves because we are horribly bound by a limited vision. Our eyes have not yet been opened to the endless mercies of our tender Father! We are so bound by a false, limited view of His mercies, we find it almost impossible to believe or accept what James said: "[We] have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful (full of compassion), and of tender mercy" (James 5:11).

This verse means, "God is easily crushed by our troubles and hurts. He feels our pain and our failures, and He is kind and compassionate to us. He loved us even when we were His enemy. Even when we offend Him, He is quick to help, restore and forgive us."

The word mercy means "kind and compassionate treatment of an offender under one's power." God has the power to damn us to hell every time we sin; He has us under His control and can do with us as He pleases. And it pleases His tender heart to be compassionate, loving and kind toward those who have failed Him the most.

-PLEASE COMMENT on this article at the following website-
 http://www.revivalschool.com/-Source-http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/22159© 2013 World Challenge - a registered trademark of David Wilkerson

Consider the relationships you are involved with presently. Do you have friends that love and care about you? Family members? Spouse? Children? IS there someone out there that can love you more than them? 

There someone that you can love more than all of them and He can love you much more than you can love Him. His capacity for love and forgiveness far outweighs your capacity. His love and forgiveness is limitless  He loves with a love never ending. 

What is it that keeps us from entering into that boundless relationship of love? Guilt? Fear? No matter what it is, He can erase the past and give you a new beginning. 

The one that limits you entering into that forgiveness and love is YOU! This is where the problem begins. And the solution is so simple. 

Are you stubborn and pig-headed enough to pass up the opportunity to be forgiven and loved by a father like He is? There is nothing but you that can keep that relationship from happening. Be restored. Be forgiven. Be loved. Be humble and soft towards Him. Give up your stubbornness and rebellion and submit your thinking and feelings to Him. He will take you into His heart and love you. He will forgive you, no matter what the offense is. There is nothing too large, too deep, too sinful that cannot be forgiven and forgotten by Him.

God's mercies are new every morning. Make a new start today by giving all your concerns, fears and doubts to Him and ask Him to forgive you. Ask him to demonstrate His love to you and you will find a fresh start and a new love you never new possible. Then rejoice and be glad! Because He loves you with a limitless capacity of love never ending.

Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Little Bits for the use of the "New Year's Hat" picture.
Thank you to Hospice of the North Coast for use of the "Heart" picture.