Category: Spiritual Formation

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The Spiritual Heart

“The spiritual heart of man is the Heart of the universe,and, finding that Heart, man finds the strength to accomplish all things. He finds there also Wisdom to see things as they are. He finds there the Peace that is divine. At the centre of mans’ being is the Music which orders the stars – the Eternal Harmony. He who would find Blessedness, let him find himself; let him abandon every discordant desire, every inharmonious thought, every unlovely habit and deed, and he will find that Grace and Beauty and Harmony which form the indestructible essence of his own being.  Men fly from creed to creed, and find – unrest; they travel in many lands, and discover – disappointment; they build themselves beautiful mansions, and plant pleasant gardens, and reap – ennui and discomfort. Not until a man falls back upon the truth within himself does he finds rest and satisfaction; not until he builds the inward Mansion of Faultless conduct does he find the endless and incorruptible Joy, and, having obtained that, he will infuse it into all his outward doings and possessions.

If a man would have peace, let him exercise the spirit of Peace; if he would find love, let him dwell in the spirit of Love; if he would escape suffering, let him cease to inflict it; if he would do noble things for humanity, let him cease to do ignoble things for himself. If he will but quarry the min of his own soul, he shall find there all the materials for building whatsoever he will, and he shall find there also the central Rock on which to build in safety.”  James Allen

Our spiritual hearts need to be right with God.  And not until we cease from carrying the weight of our sins; not until we cease from putting other things upon our heart’s throne will we become the men and women God designed us to be.  John 15:1-8

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The Rich

James Allen wrote, “if thou wilt be perfect, sell all that thou hast; but at these words the world turns away “sorrowful”, for it is very rich“; rich in money which it cannot keep; rich in fears which it cannot let go; rich in selfish loves to which it greedily clings; rich in grievous partings which it would fain escape; rich in seeking enjoyment; rich in pain and sorrow; rich in strife and suffering; rich in excitement and woe; rich in all thing which are not riches, but poor in riches themselves which are not to be found outside the Kingdom; rich in all things that pertain to darkness and death, but poor in those things which are Light and Life.”

Riches, true riches come when as we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.  Then our perfection, our purpose, our happiness, our heritage, our joy, inspiration, wisdom, compassion become solid gold – the real riches – the only ones we truly need.

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Too Much

In between watching the 2012 Olympics games, I watched an episode of Top Chef-Just Desserts where the chefs were asked to make a  “savor” dessert inspired by another country.  One chef prepare a dish resembling a Cuban Sandwich.  The beautiful plated dessert looked just like a sandwich with chips and potato salad.  The “Potato Salad” was actually diced Asian pears sprinkled with vanilla beans to resemble pepper.  It was so creative.   As the judges bit into the sandwich, the creme topping that looked like mayonnaise oozed out the sides and became very messy.  The filling overpowered the other components. The chef put too much in the sandwich.  It looked good on the outside, but when the “test” the sandwich did not hold.

Isn’t that just like us?  We spend time and energy creating our “exterior self” so it appears like a beautiful plate of good food.  But there is a problem.  Our execution is faulty.   We add too much of this world so when the “test” comes, our beautiful but poorly designed selves starts oozing out.  We overdo it; add too much, or add the wrong things trying to look good.

There needs to be the right balance of ingredients so lives not only appear beautiful, but beautifully reflect Him.   That right balance is more of Jesus and less of me and you.  He is the potter, we are the clay.  He knows just what to do, and say.  He knows our beginnings, our middle, and our ends.  He understand how much we can handle, and prompts us to let Him handle our lives.  Jesus said, “Come all of you who are heavy burden, and I will give you rest.”   As we make our way through this life, our first order of business is to go to Christ first, and obtain instructions on how to prepare and manage for this life.  Christ will provide the right ingredients in the proper proportions, and then show us how to prepare and utilize them.  So when our “test” comes, and it will come, we will have just the right stuff in the right proportions for any test.

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Staying the Course

“You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.

You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.” Psalm 119: 1-2 [MSG]

It is easy to get distracted by challenges, situations, circumstances, interruptions, or just life in general.  It can be downright difficult.  Staying the course results in reward.  If you desire the reward, you must understand what staying the course means.  First, it means discovering the road God revealed, not your road, but His.  Second, understand why you are on the road.  It is to discover the word, which is the ultimate expression of God’s mind and reasoning.   The word keep you steady in spite of all those distractions. It also point you in the direction of the one who created the road.   Third, follow His directions.  Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are Gods’ workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”   God already prepared the way for us.  He already revealed the course, the instructions, and the roadmap.   If we stay on the course, understand the process, and follow His direction, then we are the recipients of the blessing.  Ultimately, we get to do what He prepared us to do.  Wow!  As we stay on the course, we discover purpose, receive blessings, and find God.  What could be more wonderful?

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Order with Peace

This meditation by C.H. Spurgeon is powerful.  I am being lead to share it with you this morning.

“Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path.” Joel 2:8

“Locust always keep their rank, and although their number is legion, they do not crowd upon each other, so as to throw their columns into confusion.  This remarkable fact in natural history shows how thoroughly the Lord has infused the spirit of order into his universe, since the smallest animate creatures are as much controlled by it as are the rolling spheres or the seraphic messengers. It would be wise for believers to be ruled by the same influence in all their spiritual life.  In their Christian graces no one virtue should usurp the sphere of another, or eat out the vitals of the rest of its own support.

Affection must not smother honesty, courage must not elbow weakness out of the field, modesty must not jostle energy, and patience must not slaughter resolution.  So also with our duties; one must not interfere with another; public usefulness must not injure private piety; church work must not push family worship into a corner.  It is ill to offer God one duty stained with the blood of another.

Each thing is beautiful in its season, but not otherwise.  It was to the Pharisee that Jesus said, “This ought ye to have done, and not to have left the other undone.”  The same rule applies to our personal position; we must take care to know our place, take it, and keep to it. We must minister as the Spirit has given us ability, and not intrude upon our fellow servant’s domain.  Our Lord Jesus taught us not to covet the high places, but to be willing to be the least among the brethren. Far from us be an envious, ambitious spirit, let us feel the force of the Master’s command, and do as he bids us, keeping rank with the rest of the host.

…let us see whether we are keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, and let our prayer be that, in all the churches of the Lord Jesus, peace and order prevail.”

Amen.

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Burden-bearer

“Give me a stout heart to bear my own burdens. Give me a willing heart to bear the burdens of others.

Give me a believing heart to cast all burdens upon Thee, O Lord.” 

 John Baillie

Read the quote above again.  Do you see the difference, dear friend?  Baillie asked the Lord to give him a stout heart to carry his own burdens, and a willing heart to carry burdens of others.  There are two different types of burden-bearers.

First, I am to carry my own burdens with a stout heart.  Stretch my spiritual muscles, and lift those cares He wants me to carry as I work out my soul salvation.   Yes, we can do all things, however we still need to know which burdens to carry, how many and for how long.  Carrying burdens brings pressure, and that pressure, or the attention caused by the burdens may keep our minds on the burdens, and not on Christ.   Also, additional strength may be required due to the weight of these burdens.  So, you and I need to be fully aware of the weight of those burdens, the limitations and the risks involved in carrying those burdens.

Oftentimes, we are tempted to carry too many things at the same time, or carry the wrong things.   We need to stop, and drop some things before moving forward.  God is a “rewarder of those who diligently seek him“. [Hebrews 11:6]  Stoutness of heart requires not only strength, but wisdom also.   James wrote God gives wisdom liberally to those who ask for it. It is through a sound heart encased with wisdom that we learn the amount and types of things we are to bear.    Carrying our own burdens as directed by the Holy Spirit, turns us into effective witnesses of how to carry burdens, and also demonstrates the power of Almighty.

Don’t carry someone else’s burdens, no matter how tempting.  Don’t do it!   “Each one should carry his own load.” Galatians 6:5 tells us everyone has his own burdens to bear.  Stop trying to rescue everybody, or fix everything.  Prevention can be worst than the cure.  Some will have a Job experience, others a Jonah.  But each person has to carry their own load.   There is a Damascus Road encounter awaiting.  Don’t be like Sarah who created Ishmael, instead of waiting for the promise Isaac.  She tried to carry the burden of giving Abraham a son, instead of allowing God to complete the divine plan.  People stretch their spiritual muscles from carrying their own burdens.  They also learn to trust God if allowed to grow through the experiences.  Rushing in deprives them of the Damascus Road experience.  They need to meet the Lord, and learn from Him how to carry their own load with a willing heart.  Let them grow. Let them learn to trust the Lord and seek Him.  They must pick their cross daily and follow Him.  Besides, if we are burdened down with their load, then we will be unable or unwilling to successfully carry our own.

However, look at the second sentence in the above quote, “Give me a willing heart to bear the burdens of others.” Seems like a contradiction from what I just wrote. But it really isn’t.  God wants to bear the burdens of others, but by doing it His way.  Some believers’ spirits are being crushed by emotional and physical distress. They need us to fulfill the divine law by sharing God’s love.  However, sometimes, we are unwilling, or go overboard.  That is our lesson.  Ask God for a willing, and discerning heart to know when and how to bear another’s burden.   We must understand what it means to be a burden-bearer.   Show Christ to others with a willing heart, and as we do, we demonstrate His commandment to love one another as Christ loved the church.  The whole experience strengthens everyone, including ourselves, and brings Him glory.  Remember, the key is a willing heart.

Finally, with a believing heart bring ALL the cares to Christ, the Power that calmed the raging seas, gave sight to the blind, and healed the sick, and gave us new life.  In spite of our stoutness and willingness, we still need to bring all the cares, all the burdens to Him – our ultimate burden-bearer.  

So don’t hold those burdens.  Give them to Christ, and rest in the knowledge that He is fully capable of carrying all things, according to His perfect, divine plan far better than we ever could.

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Are You Prepared?

A couple of blogs ago, I asked the question what should be in your Emergency Preparedness Kit.  I did not receive any responses, so I thought I would share with you what I would pack.

Beloved, we must be prepared each day for the multiple assignments given us.

First, I would get ready with prayer for myself, family, leaders, the lost, wounded and hurting, and those of the household of faith. Packing prayer gives insights.  Prayer also provides peace which passes all understanding, and the power to stand against the enemy.  My clothes would consist of the whole armor of God.  His armor carries the light of His glory.  Preparation requires commitment, and the courage to stand;  firmly rooted in the hope which comes from our relationship to Christ. The other essential items for our Emergency Preparedness Kit are referenced in the Book of Ephesians.   Ephesians 6:10-17 cf [NIV] tells us … “Finally, be strong in the Lord  and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God,  so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,  against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation  and the sword of the Spirit,   which is the word of God.

Our God wants us prepared like the five wise virgins whose lamps were ready for the arrival of the bridegroom.   Are you packed and ready for today’s journey?  If not, review and re-pack your Emergency Preparedness Kit.  You’ll be glad you did.

Peace and blessings.

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If I Were The Devil

This comes from a radio broadcast aired October 13, 1964 by Mr. Paul Harvey.

If I were the Prince of Darkness I would want to engulf the whole earth in darkness.

I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree.

So I should set about however necessary, to take over the United States. I would begin with a campaign of whispers.

With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve, “Do as you please.”

To the young I would whisper “The Bible is a myth.“ I would convince them that ”man created God,” instead of the other way around. I would confide that “what is bad is good and what is good is square.”

In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be “extreme” in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct.

And the old I would teach to pray — to say after me — “Our father which art in Washington.”

Then I’d get organized.

I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull, uninteresting.

I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies, and vice-versa.

I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing, less work. Idle hands usually work for me.

I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could, I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction, I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

If I were the Devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions; let those run wild.

I‘d designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts and I’d get preachers to say, “She’s right.”

With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to vote against God and in favor of pornography.

Thus I would evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, then from the Houses of Congress.

Then in his own churches I’d substitute psychology for religion and deify science.

If I were Satan I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg, and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

If I were the Devil I’d take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. Then my police state would force everybody back to work.

Then I would separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines and objectors in slave-labor camps.

If I were Satan I‘d just keep doing what I’m doing

~~ Paul Harvey

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Emergency Preparedness Kit

My husband and I lived in New Orleans Louisiana Post Katrina.  Each hurricane season, emergency preparedness messages were broadcast to get people ready just in case another hurricane hit the area.  After Katrina, and Rita, officials encouraged residents to have their “Emergency Preparedness Kit” ready in the event of an evacuation.  The kit should contain batteries, water, non-perishable food, money, battery operated radio, clothing, medicine, and personal records.  Also, information and instructions on evacuation procedures, and what to do upon returning home.  The kit came in handy when we experienced two hurricanes after Katrina.

As a believer, do you an Emergency Preparedness Kit?  How prepared are you for this life? For its challenges, and crisis? What should be in your Emergency Preparedness Kit?

There are lots of things the world wants to have, but only those things provided by our Lord and Savior will help us navigate these last days, and get us home safely.

 

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Loving Eyes

Yesterday, as we prepared to leave to attend our uncle’s funeral, I thought about how we look at each other.  Although we are made in the image of God, we look at each other differently.  There are eyes of compassion, love, judgment, joy, sorrow, pain, celebration, and yes even hate.

Press the pause button for a moment, and recall someone special in your life.  Maybe it is your mother, father, grandparent, spouse, friend, or a child.  Bring that person into your mind’s eye.  What and how do you feel?  Are you smiling, right now?  Does the very thought of that person brings joy to your heart?   When we look at these special individuals, we look at them with loving eyes.    My uncle looked at me with loving eyes.  I knew his look.  It was a look of acceptance and appreciation.  I was valued, and important to him.   Everything about me was okay, and in return I looked at him with loving eyes.

Our Lord looks at us with the most indescribable loving eyes.  Everything about us at divine levels we can’t even imagine is filtered with love.  He looks at you and me with eyes of love – smiling eyes, hopeful eyes-grace filled eyes.  Only His loving eyes could look at us and say yes I will go to Calvary. [John 3:16] Only His loving eyes could see our sins, and love us anyway. 1 John 4:8 “God is love.”  Only Jesus could look at us, and despite our mistakes, flaws, challenges, see the beauty of our destiny with Him.  Jesus loving eyes looks at us daily, and sees God the Father’s crowning achievement in creation with love and compassion.  [Proverbs 10:12 (b) “…love covers all sins.” NKJV.]  What a glorious thing it is to know our Savior looks at us with those loving eyes.

I challenge you to look at others with the loving eyes of Jesus.  It is our role as His ambassadors to demonstrate His love to this hurting world. They need to see His loving eyes through us.  So look at someone with His loving eyes, and let them experience being appreciated, and accepted and loved.