Jesus Calling

I am a raving fan of Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling" Devotions.  I often can't get enough of the sweet richness just one day's devotional message brings to me, so I often read forward for several days and then read them over as each day occurs.  As a matter of fact, if you are looking for great gift ideas for Christmas, consider stocking up on these little gems.  They make thoughtful and valuable gifts that pack the weight of daily blessings to fortunate recipients of such a gift.  Take my word for it....I'm right on this:-)

I have given away at least five of my own copies of "Jesus Calling" in recent months because the Holy Spirit prompted me to do so on the spot.  Why?  I just wanted to bless someone with what I feel is a kiss from God through the pages of this devotional.  The forward to this devotional tells of how the author writes in a style that embodies the Holy Spirit speaking directly to her (or us as we read it).  She writes in a conversational style that speaks God's Spirit to our spirit and references bible verses that prompt the foundation of the devotions.  I'm 100% sure you will love it for yourself and everyone that receives this gift will love it as well.  You can thank me later...lol.

This brings me to my reason for speaking of this today.  I read forward to the devotion for November 6th.  This is a presidential election year and I found it interesting to see the devotion for this day.  It encouraged my spirit and reads as follows:

"Seek to please ME above all else.  As you journey through today, there will be many choice-points along your way.  Most of the day's decisions will be small ones you have to make quickly.  You need some rule of thumb to help you make good choices.  Many people's decisions are a combination of their habitual responses and their desire to please themselves or others.  This is not My way for you.  Strive to please Me in everything, not just in major decisions.  This is possible only to the extent that you are living in close communion with Me.  When My Presence is your deepest delight, you know almost instinctively what will please Me.  A quick glance at Me is all you need to make the right choice.  Delight yourself in Me more and more; seek My pleasure in all you do."  This passage is found in "Jesus Calling" and is based on scriptures from JOHN 8:29; HEBREWS 11:5-6; PSALM 37:4

Life is full of choices.  God gives us the freedom to make our own choices.  He leads us in paths of righteousness, but we always have to make the choice to go our own way or to follow His ways.  I'm so grateful He gives us a road map through His Word and a personal guide in the person of His Holy Spirit.  Jesus is calling.  I so want to hear Him and answer appropriately.

Are you full of IT?

We're all full of something.  What am I full of?  What are you full of?  Honestly, in and of myself, I'm full of a sinful nature.  But through Christ, I've become a new creation and God's Spirit lives in me.  I also choose to fill myself with more of His knowledge and truth daily.  Doing so helps me dispense more of His love and grace.  I cannot know how to love properly if I have not learned how to do so from my Master.

I told my cousin recently that God is my happy pill.  I need a dose of Him daily.  I need His Holy Spirit to fill me constantly.  I need to work with Him, so I can give Him operating room to have His way.  That leads me to my observation that we're all full of something. 

The most alarming thing to me in today's culture is a generation of idealists who have tried to re-define things like love, service and justice. The question shouldn't be, "What would Jesus do"? He's already done it.
The question should be, "What can I do to totally surrender my will to God's will?" It is only at that true surrender of my ideals to God's Truth that He can show me how to love Him better and, subsequently, I can learn to love others the way He does.

Our ways are not God's ways. In all honesty, our definition of His love is puny, at best. But God is willing to show us His ways if we're willing to lay down our arrogance and accept His wisdom. An idealist is full of pride. A surrendered servant of the Lord is full of His Holy Spirit. We're not fooling anyone but ourselves with our lofty ideals, because God knows what we're full of. 

God makes me grin:-)

Well, darn it, I had decided I could not take any more of the aggravation my keeping abreast of the pre-election political arena was causing me.  I decided that my only hope was to focus on God and His truths and to pray that He will have mercy on us and our nation in this election.  I know He knows best, so I reluctantly handed over any pre-conceived notions that my way of thinking was the right way of thinking.  Every day, I have to surrender such control to our sovereign God, who is still on the throne; who is still in control; who is still God; who just IS!

I thought I'd have some coffee today with devotions, but God gave me so much more.  Today's reading and study took me to Deuteronomy 32:28-29, "They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them. If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be"! NIV 

I realize this passage is referring to the Israelites, but I'm also cognisant that we, as a people, have mimicked the behaviors of the Israelites more times that we would care to remember.  We're a repetitious people with short memories and even shorter focus.  God laid out a history; He laid out a play book for the future.  Unfortunately, we don't like to play by the rules.  We ignore direction and we keep making the same mistakes over and over.  Yes, we are no better than Israelites at heart.  Our sins parallel theirs, but sometimes I wonder if we aren't trying to surpass their level of rebellion and ungodliness. 

But, I do digress from my main point, which is this: My devotion today was entitled "Making Wise Decisions".  It talked about the people of Israel having little discernment and lacking wisdom.  In contrast, Moses was intimately acquainted with God and sought His will in all things.  It is said that the wise person knows the will of God but the successful person knows and does the will of God.  The devotion gave the following questions for Christ followers to consider when trying to discern God's will and make wise decisions.

• Have you prayed about it?  You might recall that the Lord's prayer begins with a petition to establish His kingdom and do His will.
• Is it consistent with the Word of God?  We should consult the bible when making decisions.  The major part of God's will for our lives has already been revealed in His Word.
• Does this decision or choice compromise my Christian witness?  If any choice we are considering requires us to compromise our integrity or christian witness, then that choice is the wrong choice.  The end does not justify the means.  My thought is, "What good is our life if we sell our soul to the devil?
• Will the Lord be glorified?  Are we seeking the glory of humankind or the glory of God?  Can we make this choice and know that it honors God?  Are we concerned about building God's kingdom or ours?
• Am I choosing and acting responsibly?  What are my responsibilities and how can my actions carry them out honorably?
• Is it reasonable?  God expects us to think with the wisdom He provides.  He is a rational God and His ways are reasonable.
• Are unbiased, spiritually sensitive associates in agreement?  We should be careful not to consult only with those who are inclined to agree with us or with those we know are afraid to be honest with us or disagree with us.  We should give people permission to ask hard questions and be ready to reconcile our hearts and actions to God's Word.
• Do I have a sanctified desire to do it?  The greatest joy in life is to serve God and be in His will.  We should feel good about doing God's will, and we should want nothing less.  If we delight ourselves in the Lord, His desires will be our desires.
• Do I have a peace about it?  If we are within the boundaries of God's will, we will sense an inner confirmation from Him.  Sometimes we have to wrestle with God's will verses our own will.  His conviction always leads us to surrender our will to His and, when we do, He gives us peace that surpasses understanding.

I think God showed me this passage and these truths today to remind me that my decision to focus on Him is the wisest decision I can make.  I should run my decisions through the grid of truth He has given me in His Word and the peace and guidance His Spirit provides to me.  I am to pray about it, seek Him and His ways first in all things, and leave the results to Him.  Thanks God, for giving me peace to know that You are in control and that the best person I can talk to about the upcoming election is YOU!  You do make me grin!

Why I drove an hour to show support for Chick-Fil-A

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I love Chick-Fil-A.  I have shared my sentiments toward them for years.  So today, when I was able to drive an hour to the closest establishment to show my support for them, I did so for many reasons.  The first reason is that I do have a genuine affinity for the organization and their products.  I have admired the founder of Chick-Fil-A for years for his integrity and character.  I love that encouraging Christian music is always playing in their restaurants.  It's just an atmosphere I love being in.  And the chicken and sweet tea take me to a happy place.  Today, the crowd was delightful and no one was hateful or ugly. A good time and good food was had by all. No harm done.


Another reason is that there has been much "distorting", not real reporting, going on surrounding the circumstances that led to why Gov. Mike Huckabee called for people to show their support of Chick-Fil-A.  I also admire Gov. Huckabee as a man of character and integrity and am thankful that he was brave enough to speak out against the campaign that was waged against Chick-Fil-A and their owners.  What actually happened was that the president of Chick-Fil-A, a southern baptist - mind you, was being interviewed by the Baptist Press and was asked about his views on marriage.  His answer was predictable.  He supports traditional marriage between a man and a woman.  From that interview, the liberal media and those in opposition to traditional marriage called for a boycott of Chick-Fil-A restaurants.  There never was any discrimination on Chick-Fil-A's part; they always treated both employees and customers with equality and respect.  Gov. Huckabee called on people to show their support of Chick-Fil-A amidst all the unfair accusations and threats (some by political officials) that resulted from the media and groups falsely reporting the facts.  There was a lot of hate being spewed....but it wasn't by Chick-Fil-A; it was by people who opposed the president of the company's answer to a question.  The discrimination was against Chick-Fil-A.

Something about the whole thing just made me realize that our culture is upside down.  In today's culture, what is right is purported to be wrong and what is wrong is considered the new normal.  Many people may sit back quietly and just let it play out, but I don't have to be one of them.  I have to pray and be led by God as to what is right for me to do in the situation.  What is interesting is that, like mine, there are any number of opinions out there supporting or opposing, analyzing or condemning why people should or shouldn't be supporting Chick-Fil-A.  They are entitled to their opinions.  What I will speak out against though, is the view that we are somehow in error for showing our support.  Our support has been called everything from judgemental to hateful.  People have perched themselves upon their well constructed self-righteous thrones and accused us of not "loving" the way Jesus would.  I have considered all of these diatribes and I respectfully say, "Rubbish"!  Here's why....

I am a believer in Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit lives within me.  He is the same Holy Spirit that lives within each believer, but He guides all of us differently, according to the passions He has placed within us.  It may be okay for one person to lay low and never show support or dissent for anything, but it is also okay for others to show support and dissent when it is warranted.  Anyone suggesting differently may be assuming that they know only what God can know.  As I was driving home today I was listening to a radio program wherein a gentleman was passive in showing support for Chick-Fil-A.  He liked the company, but thought showing support for them would hurt the cause of Christ.  He is entitled to his opinion and it may be right for him.  It may make him feel better to think that he is loving people better by not ever putting his beliefs out there enough to offend anyone.  That doesn't mean it is right for me or that his opinion is God's will for everyone. 

My understanding of culture and truth is that the way and cross of Jesus Christ will be offensive to some.  They will be opposed to the discomfort of truth and will only be comfortable with grace.  Jesus hung out with sinners, thank goodness, or I would have never had a chance to know Him.  However, once we are in His presence, He loves us too much to leave us where He found us; He commands a change that reconciles with His truth.  I view that as grace.  I call that God's best for us.  I also believe that we should do our best to create environments wherein grace invites people in so we can show them the love of Christ.  The hope there is that they recognize God's love for them and want the balance of His truth in their lives to live out His best for them.  Reality is, that it doesn't always happen that way.

Another thought struck me today, as I was trying to get inside this passivist's head and understand where he was coming from.  First of all, I failed to do so - I couldn't agree that his viewpoint was a universal "right" thing to do.  Right for him, maybe, but not for everyone.  I started thinking about the all but non-existent church in England.  It was once a vibrant, thriving church that has become, at best, lukewarm, but more probably, ineffective.  I wondered if, when there was a crossroads in the culture, the people allowed the Holy Spirit to guide them with passionate grace and truth ,or if they just decided to sit on their hands and take a passivist stance.  I think the answer is obvious.  The culture took over and the church diminished into little or no influence.  I would say that passivist approach hurt the cause of Christ. 

I know many will disagree, but I'll ask them to consult with their Holy Spirit and I'll remain perfectly content to consult with mine.  After all, I don't want to find out what our country would look like in the future if we all maintained the same view.  It's not an option for me.  I'm completely at peace for supporting Chick-Fil-A today and I'm quiet sure God is not upset at me for doing so.  We aren't all puppets wherein God is the Great Puppeteer who maneuvers all of our strings equally.  He gives us all different passions and allows us to use them freely.  We can either use them, or not - for fear of insulting someone.  I choose to use my passions for His glory and I am not ashamed.  I'll leave the results to Him.