His is the Power and the Glory

Today we are going to fast forward through the Sermon on the Mount, to the last phrase of the Lord’s Prayer  - For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.  Yesterday, I was writing the homework for Matthew 6:13, the last verse of the Lord’s Prayer.  As I was looking up verses that described God’s power and glory, I was overwhelmed with a sense of awe of Him and a need to give praise to Him.  I finished the homework around 5:00, grabbed some dinner, changed my clothes and headed to church for our communion and afterglow service. 

As I typically do during the afterglow, I shoot up an arrow prayer to the Lord, telling Him I’m available for whatever He wants to do in me and through me.  Sometimes I think I do that more for me than Him.  It places me in an accountability to obey any words He might have for me.  Last night, I also told the Lord that I was so overwhelmed by the wonder of Him that I really just wanted to praise Him for His power and His glory. 

So, I lifted my voice in song, praising Him.  Our worship leader led us in a song that contained the words “I’m overwhelmed by You”.  Perfect.  Absolutely perfect.  When the song was over, I felt like the Lord wanted me to praise Him out loud in tongues.  I love using my prayer language.  But, for the most part, that’s just what it is – mine.  But, last night, I felt like He wanted me to praise Him so others could hear.  So, I did.  At first there was no interpretation.  Then, as Dale prayed for interpretation, he began praising the Lord for two things – His power and His glory.  Dale had no idea what I had been working on all afternoon. But, when He prayed - wow!  I knew.  The Lord had given Dale the interpretation!  I didn’t know what I had said, but I knew my heart was adoring the Lord for His power and His glory. 

Let’s use the comment section today to post verses about our awesome God.  I'll post one to get us started.  Looking forward to reading the verses that the Lord gives you to share.

Love in Jesus,

cathy

Search Me and Try Me

Matthew 5:4  Blessed are those who mourn,

        For they shall be comforted.

It is Jesus’ desire that we learn to mourn over our sin.  It is Jesus’ desire to comfort us when we do.

David understood this – and so he prayed:  

    Search me, O God, and know my heart;

    Try me, and know my anxieties;

    And see if there is any wicked way in me,

    And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23,24)

Search me, O God.  Will you stop right now and ask God to search you and reveal to you what He sees? It really doesn’t take Him that long.

Now respond to what He has shown you.

That’s it for today.  Just a few words, but if applied, they will have a powerful impact – and comfort – in your life.

Love in Jesus,

cathy

Good Mourning!

Matthew 5:4  Blessed are those who mourn,

  for they shall be comforted.

We will spend the next few days looking at the second beatitude.  This beatitude is linked to the first. We cannot mourn, as Jesus speaks of here, unless we first are poor in spirit.  It is realizing God’s holiness and our lack of it that brings us to that place where we mourn over our sin. 

First – what mourning is not.  It’s not  the definition of mourning that we are most familiar with. Weeping, mourning, and grieving is a part of life.  Everybody, saved and unsaved has experienced it.  Sometimes we mourn over something that has happened to someone else or we mourn over the condition and sins of our nation.  Not much comfort in that, except to know God’s got it all and He knows what He is doing and allowing.

Sometimes we mourn because we can’t have something that we think we should have.  Again, not much comfort in that. In fact, the more we mourn over what we don’t have, the worse we feel.  The mourning that Jesus speaks of here is none of these things.

So, what is it?  What is the mourning that leads to being comforted?  Paul described it.  Let’s look at it.  2 Cor. 7:9-10   Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. [10] For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Sorrow, that is godly sorrow, produces repentance.  The repentant heart receives God’s comfort.

It is not those who minimize their sin; it is not those who justify their sin; it is not those who ignore or deny their sin; or put off dealing with their sin, that mourn over their sin.  Therefore, we miss out on God’s blessing, God’s working in our lives, and God’s comfort when we minimize, justify, ignore, deny or put off dealing with our sin. 

What is your tendency?  We all have one.  Do you justify your sin?  Do you ignore it or deny it?  Do you put off dealing with your sin?  Maybe you quickly take the blame to avoid conflict, but you fail to confess your sin before the Lord.  If you asked those closest to you, what would they say?  What do you think you have avoided by not mourning over your sin?

Will you take a moment and bless those who are reading this blog by writing a comment and sharing the blessings you have experienced when you truly mourned over your sin? Let’s encourage one another.  

Love in Jesus,

cathy

God Lifts the Lowly

What is the result of being poor in spirit?  It’s the kingdom of heaven.  Ephesians. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

We have access to spiritual blessings – grace, peace, joy, wisdom, power, comfort, purpose - connection to the very throne room of God.  The ability to live in a realm far above and far better than the best of what this world calls happiness.

How do we get it?  First, compare yourself to God and stop comparing yourself to others. That’s all it took for Isaiah.  We have the story in Isaiah 6.  Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on the throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.  And the seraphim stood above Him and one cried to another and said:  Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.

And Isaiah said – Woe is me. I love this quote from Martin Lloyd Jones ”If one feels anything in the presence of God save an utter poverty of spirit, it ultimately means that you have never faced Him.”

That’s how Peter got it.  He watched Jesus calm the storm.  Peter’s response Luke 5:8 ^… he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" Peter’s a great example, because Peter’s response shows us that this realization is not just a one-time thing.  How many times did Peter take his eyes off Jesus and look to himself?  We are like Peter.  We need to be looking at the face of God constantly.

Secondly, ask God to show you your pride.  Remember David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; [24] And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

One of the most wicked ways we can have in us is pride.  I found 92 verses in the Bible that address how much God hates pride. James 4:6 … "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 

Thirdly, pray.  Pray for mercy.  It’s a reminder that we need it.  The publican prayed Lord be merciful to me a sinner.  Jesus said, this man went home justified.  That’s God’s response to our confession of our need for mercy.

Isaiah 66:2 ...  "But on this one will I look:   On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,  And who trembles at My word.

Psalm 34:18  The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Isaiah 57:15  For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy,  "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble,   And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Self-confident?  Do you think you deserve the privileges of the kingdom?  Feeling sorry for yourself?  Feeling like you have rights or you deserve better?  Thinking that life is not fair?

If so, you are missing out on kingdom living.  Go back to step #1 and discover that God’s kingdom is far better than anything you think you have been shorted in this life.   

God’s touch upon your life is best.  Enjoy Him.

Love in Jesus,

cathy

Challenged to Depend

I will readily admit that I am poor in directions; I am directionally challenged.  I can remember the street address of a house easily, but I can’t find my way to it.  To add to that, I don’t like the feeling of being controlled.  So, I have fought the idea of getting any gps navigation system where some voice tells me when to turn and where to go.  But, it is free with my new phone.  So, I thought I would try it out – and you know what?  I am living in the blessings of directional freedom.  Now, admittedly, my navigator is not 100% accurate like God is. But I trust it anyway.  I’ve come to realize that given the odds, I have a better change getting to my destination using the navigator than I do without it. The pressure to find my way has been just about eliminated and I am so much more relaxed.  This thing that tells me what to do has not brought bondage into my life, it’s brought freedom.  I have the right or power to ignore it if I want to, but that’s when I get in trouble.  There is true freedom and liberty in obeying its commands.  I type in my goal and then I do what it says.  If I’m told to turn, I turn.  If I’m told to take a street that doesn’t make sense to me, I do it anyway.

And in just a few weeks, it has shown me ways to get to places that are different than the ways I have always gone – and theyr’e better.  So, when it says to take a way that isn’t the way I have gone before, I do it, and I find its way is better.  I’ve always taken Mission Gorge to go to Kaiser’s Zion Hospital.  Maybe you have too – and you have stopped at red light after red light after red light.  My navigator told me to take Waring Road – it’s better and faster!  What do I do now?  Do I try to figure it out myself and then when I get lost turn on the navigator?  No.  I’ve learned to admit the navigator knows best.  So, I seek it first.

That’s recognizing that I am poor in directions.  Poor in spirit is much the same.  Only the One we depend on has absolutely precision directions.  Remember the rich young ruler who wanted eternal life, but not at the expense of giving up his riches?  Jesus spoke of how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Well, for those of you who seem to be able to make it through life fairly well, you are challenged in much the same way.  You have understanding that is pretty good. So like the rich young ruler, you lean on what you have, rather than God.

You see, as women, we sometimes don’t understand why guys won’t admit that they don’t know where they are going, and certainly won’t admit that there might be a better way.  But, we reveal our poverty of spirit every morning when we don’t start out seeking the Lord in prayer.  That reveals that we think we can handle the course of the day in our own strength using our own personal resources of wisdom and understanding and common sense.  Ever think about that phrase, “common sense”?  It’s too often just that – common – what anybody would do, but not necessarily what God would do.  Do you really want to settle for common sense when you could have the wisdom of the Creator?  The poor in spirit get that.

..I can’t do anything              I can do all things through Christ                                Philippians 4:13

..I am weak                            His strength is made perfect in my weakness         2 Corinthians 12:9

..I lack wisdom                       He gives wisdom liberally to me when I ask In faith             James 1:5
We can’t lay hold of His enabling, His strength or His wisdom without first admitting our need for them.  What a glorious privilege only the poor in spirit have. 

Please be encouraged to share your comments.

Love in Jesus,

cathy

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

The Sermon on the Mount begins with the words: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God (Matthew 5:2).  Jesus was not speaking about financial poverty; He was speaking of being poor in spirit. As we study these beatitudes, you will notice there is a progression.  It is crucial to note that Jesus began with poor in spirit. We can’t have the kingdom of God and we can’t be or do any of the following beatitudes if we are not first, poor in spirit.  We cannot experience the kingdom of God unless we are first poor in spirit.  There are two Greek words translated as “poor” in the New Testament – one describes a person that has been reduced to begging; the other describes a person whose poverty demands that they work diligently every day to survive; someone who doesn’t have a stockpile or a savings account – if they don’t work, they won’t eat.   Which poor is used by Jesus in this Sermon?  The first one – the one that describes the beggar.  The one that sees herself as having no means of survival or fulfillment has got to come from an outside source. 

Consider these two statements: “Isn’t “Christianity a crutch for people who can’t make it on their own?” and “God helps those who help themselves”.  Now, neither of these is written in the Bible.  But, the truth of one is in this first beatitude.  Which one is it?

Christianity is a crutch for people who can’t make it on their own.  Doesn’t that just grind against our flesh?  Against our pride?  How contrary can one get?  It’s so offensive to our self-sufficiency to label Christianity as a crutch. But Jesus said Mark 2:17  … "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

What is Jesus saying when He says “Blessed are the poor in spirit?”.  He is saying happy are the destitute; happy are the beggarly, happy are the hopelessly dependent; happy are the people who know they have nothing in themselves to gain God’s blessings.

Happy are the people who realize I can’t get it right, do it right, understand it right, know what’s right without God showing me and empowering me.  But – but, then I can.

In this first beatitude, we can see the “ledger” that I wrote about yesterday – poor in spirit on one side and the kingdom of heaven on the other.  It is only when we recognize the left side, that we can enjoy the benefits of the right side. 

It is my desire to have a daily post ready for you to read each morning.  Today’s is late.  It is also my desire that we would interact by using the comment section of this blog.  So, I encourage you to post your thoughts.  So, for starters, what are your thoughts when you consider your personal ledger and what God has done for you?

Love in Jesus,

cathy

Black Friday

Black Friday – the day retailers hope that their income statement will transition from red to black, loss to profit. For, us, as believers, we each have a “black Friday” in our lives. It became available for us over 2,000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross in payment for our sins. The day you surrendered your life to Jesus became your own personal “black Friday” - the day you surrendered your life to Him. On that day, your life went from loss to profit; from debtor to free. On that day, Jesus blotted out all of your sins and failures. There is absolutely nothing written on the debt side of your ledger. And then, and then, Jesus didn’t stop there. He wrote many, many things on your credit side – all the privileges you now have access to because you asked Him to pay the debts you couldn’t pay. And He made a deposit as His guarantee – He placed the Holy Spirit inside you as His guarantee of payment. (Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.) Many of the stores charge extra for extended guarantees – Jesus does not. 

On which side of the ledger are you living? Do you still see debts that Jesus blotted out? Satan remembers them; you probably do too. He loves to remind you of them. But, Satan has no access to your ledger. He can’t rewrite what Jesus has erased. His marker doesn’t work, but his voice does. Colossians 2:14 reminds us that Jesus nailed our debts to the cross and declares them paid in full. Satan is like an old creditor who calls and claims you still owe. Hang up on him. He has no claim on you. 

Whether you venture out to the malls or not today, enjoy Black Friday. Take a moment and draw a ledger sheet with the left side labeled “debts” and the right side labeled “credits”. Leave the left side blank (because that’s how God sees it). On the right side write out just some of the things Jesus has placed on your credit side. Or just bow your heart right now and thank Him for those things. 

Tomorrow we will begin our holiday journey through the first sections of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. 

Love in Jesus, 

cathy