Matthew 13:45-46 part 1

The last few months the Lord has been speaking to me about how he sees us and others and how we see Him and others. God gives us His Holy Spirit and His word to understand Him but I know we all struggle with this and this is a process. In God’s Word, I Corinthians 13:12, ‘Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.’ 1 John 3:2 states, ‘Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.’

Then the Lord, like he always does, just keep putting this in front of me in different ways. His Word, books, devotionals, studies, and people speaking.  It all started with a devotional I received a few months ago I received from The Berean.  It was based on the verse Matthew 13:45-46,  ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.’  The popular teaching of this verse is often looked at as Jesus is the pearl of great price, I’m seeking him with all my strength and giving up all that I have for to follow him and have a relationship with him. It’s not that we shouldn’t do all of these, there are a lot of scriptures that say we should.  But the devotional talked about the verse as Jesus being the merchant and seeking us and we are the fine choice pearl or pearls. The Lord kept putting the verse and concept in front of me from other well known people like J. Vernon McGee and others. Sure enough I was reading books and commentaries by McGee and in my reading ran into the scripture explained the same as the devotional.  Luke 19:10 states, ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.’  God gave his only begotten son Jesus to die for us the lost and he sees us as the choice pearls.

Regardless of which way you interpret the verse, I started a long process of thinking about how God sees us in a deeper way than before.  God just kept putting the concept in front of me. We all know He does the seeking, not us and we have nothing to buy or purchase our salvation with. It is a gift from God and his grace through the giving and sacrifice of his son Jesus because he loves us. Even though we are not worthy and full of sin he sees us like the very valuable choice pearl and comes after us. And how he does this is through Jesus, like the merchant seeking fine pearls.  In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says,  ‘God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.’  Ephesians 1:4 states, ‘Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.’  Again in Ephesians 2:10, ‘For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.’ We are saved by his grace through Jesus and because of Jesus He sees us holy and blameless.’ It also says we are His masterpiece or workmanship.  In the process of growing and God shaping and molding us through refining, trials and struggles to become more like Jesus, it is how He sees us that matters. He loves us always and through Jesus sees us holy and blameless and we never lose our value in how God sees us because of Jesus.  

Another point in the devotional was how a pearl is made.   When a clam is injured, it is through a process the awesome valuable pearl is made. Just like us, we are damaged by sin but through Jesus, God in His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience and power helps us become a new creation for His purpose and glory.  From when we are saved to be with Him to know His heart and to see through His eyes, will make a big difference in how we love, relate to others and understand them.  II Corinthians 5:16-17, ‘So, we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’  For me, it is important to understand how god sees people and how valuable they are to Him. He is the Vine dresser and He is in a long process of doing a great work in them for his purpose and glory.  Am I going to yield to the Holy Spirit focus on God and try to understand God’s heart and allow Him to give me the ability to see people through His eyes.  

 

 

Journey part 4

Today I want to write about a scripture that I have looked at many times over the last I guess 6 years. I remember the first time I read it and it sort a grabbed me in a way. Then the Lord just kept putting the scripture in my life through books and devotionals. It is talked about and written in many different ways. After reading it and looking at other explanations this is what it speaks to me and ties in to what we have been writing. Psalm 84:5-7 ‘What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping  it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.’ The chapter is written by the sons of Korah, they were priest who every year traveled to the temple to come before the Lord and celebrate the Feasts of tabernacles. They were probably door keepers in the temple in service to the Lord during the celebration. They say it was an actual journey they took but is also a comparison of the journey each of us take to be with the Lord. A relationship with the Lord, knowing Him, His presence in our lives, and growing to become more like him is a believers greatest joy and is most important in our life. The scripture starts out with what joy and blessing in those who’s strength comes from the Lord. I have traveled 38 years without the Lord in my life and 8 with the Lord, I can tell you it is way different and a blessing and a joy. The next part is important it says who have set their mind or heart on this journey to be with the Lord. The Lord is in us and will help and give us what we need on the journey but have we opened our heart to him and is our thoughts and focus on Him and the journey. Are we committed and faithful or are we divided in our mind and heart. Proverbs 23:7  'For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Eat and drink!” he says to you,  But his heart is not with you.' Amos 3:3 'Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?' I think the big thing here is the Lord is going to take you on a journey, He is faithful, but how are we going to travel and we don’t control the journey. 2 Timothy 2:13 'If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.'  Quote by Frank N. Johnson. “The valley of weeping is not an option for God’s child, but a necessity and a certainty. Psalm 84 does not say “if they pass through the Valley of Baca,” but, “as they pass through the Valley of Baca.” The valley of Baca or weeping is a place we all go through for a reason and purpose from God. But when we go through are we going to encounter God come closer to Him and give more time and focus and intimacy with Him. Are we going to transform, change and grow, maybe it is to train us or discipline us or a place where we find our calling or Identity in a deeper way. Or will we go through the valley focused on our selves and our problems or the things of this world and close our heart to God and become further away from Him. It may be a very hard place and take time to adjust but I think it says if we focus on the Lord and come closer to Him and allow him to transform us for his purpose we will be refreshed and filled and become stronger in the Lord. I’m pretty sure the Lord has put some great people in my life who have been through this valley of weeping, maybe a few times and they are blessed and have grown in the Lord and became stronger. I know God also uses these experiences in people to bless others and pour what He has given them into others.  Psalm 126:5-6 'Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.' I have been able to give to others out of some hard situations I have been through and I have also been a recipient of blessings poured into me from others because of the hardships they went have went through. I Think Paul said it best, maybe one of the reasons we go through the valley of weeping is to become more one with him. Philippians 7-11’ I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ  and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.  I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,  so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!’ There is nothing wrong with being happy and enjoying life on the journey with the Lord. But I think the big thing is no will ever fully understand how God works in a person for his purpose. You can read all the books you want and some things you will never know. The main thing to focus on our relationship with God and trust him, we know as a believer  we will be with the Lord forever and here what ever we go through it is for a reason and he is in control and sovereign. He leads we follow by Faith, we are not supposed to know everything and be in control, He wants us to rely on Him deeply. Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 ‘But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.’ Luke 12:29-32 ‘And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.’ I think as a believer we will go through hard times maybe even more than a nonbeliever, I don’t know, but a believer has a relationship with God, the maker of you and everything is inside you and we have a hope, faith, love, and peace that a person who is lost can not even fathom. The only thing we take with us when we leave this place is Him, the relationship we have with him.  Hebrews 12:1-4 ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.  After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.’  Luke 9:57-58 'The Cost of Following Jesus As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” I don’t think God never intended for anyone in a relationship with him to set up camp and get to comfortable where they rely on their selves. It says to throw off everything that weights you down. I think the valley of weeping is a blessing even though hard and a place we all go and hopefully where we will experience God in a deeper way. I know some men think crying is for wimps and sissy’s but I think this may be a place when you go through you experience God in a way only you and Him will understand and have tears of Joy. Others may not understand these emotions. Job had as many struggles as anybody I guess and he questioned God many times, but this is what he said after he was restored.  Job 42:1-6 ‘Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.’

Journey part 3

Last week we ended with this verse Psalm 16:5 ‘The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: you maintain my lot.’  No matter where the Lord leads us or takes us, who he makes us to be and the plan he has for us. We know the Lord will always be faithful to do what his word says he will do. 2 Corinthians 1:20 ‘For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.’ What ever happens in this life if we accept Jesus we know he will be with us and lead us to be with him in eternal life. ‘Psalm 16:11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.’ He desires to teach and show each of us the blessings, promises and joy of knowing and walking with him in this life and we will live with him forever. I want to share a paragraph from a devotional I read, it is written as the Lord speaking. Though I have brought many pleasures into your life, not one of them is essential. Receive my blessings with open hands. Enjoy my good gifts, but do not cling to them. Turn your attention to the giver of all good things, and rest in the knowledge that you are complete in me. The one thing you absolutely need is the one thing you can never lose: My presence with you. Psalm 116:12-14 ‘What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.’ Because of the Lords Love and grace salvation is a gift to all of us who accept him and he wants us to love him, have an intimate relationship with him, walk with him and learn his ways, and be faithful to him. Being faithful to the Lord means accepting not only all the blessings and promises from the Lord to each of us but also whatever cup or lot or plan he has for each of us. This is where the journey can get very hard and complicated. We have the Lord and eternal life but as fleshly humans we don’t want to suffer or go through hard things. Jesus always says in his word the flesh is weak. We will find our strength in the Lord to accept the cup, lot or portion he wants to give each of us in this life and do this journey. Romans 8:15-17 ‘So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.  Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.’ If your relationship with the Lord is just based on well if I do good I will get good from the Lord and if I make a bad choice I may be disciplined  from the Lord. That doesn’t sound like a relationship to me it sounds like a contract of works and maybe could lead to control and manipulation. Good luck trying to manipulate the all knowing and all powerful Lord to control the journey with good works. He wants us to abide in him and be obedient and walk with him and learn his ways. But it’s our relationship with him and who we become and doing his will. There are plenty of people in the bible who went through hard times that didn’t seam to deserve it. In Matthew 20:20-23 The disciples John and James and their mother came to Jesus and asked for the top positions of sitting at Jesus’ right and left in his kingdom.  ‘Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” James and John were very close to Jesus and went on to do great things for the kingdom. But they also had to humbly accept the portion, cup, lot, blessings, and suffering that came with following Jesus and wanting to serve their friend, master, and Lord and accept his will. Jesus was completely faithful accepting and asking for God’s will for his life. Mark 14:36 "Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." John 18:11 ‘But Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?" Even though we may fail many times we must want to be faithful like Jesus and ask for God’s will for our life. Though in his will there may be some suffering he promises to help and his faithful to his word. 2 Corinthians 1:5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 ‘It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.’ I will end on a quote from Francis Chan In the book Forgotten God. The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn’t normally want or choose to do. The Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross, as he lead Jesus to the cross, and that is definitely not a safe or pretty or comfortable place to be. The Holy Spirit of God will mold you into the person you were made to be. This often incredibly painful process strips you of selfishness, pride, and fear.

The Journey part 2

I wanted to write about this journey that all who believe take with the Lord. I don’t have it planned, I just write and I don’t have any idea how many devotional’s it will be, that will be the beauty of it. Most of the awesome stuff God has done in my life sure wasn’t planned by any means. That’s the whole thing about the journey with the Lord, it’s not planned and you just don’t know and it takes faith. Think about it, all the things the Lord has done in your life was it you that did it or thought of it and our great planning?  He wants us to have deep intimacy with him in the relationship and rely on him. What a beautiful gift and journey why would we want anything different?  Hebrews 11:6 ‘And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him’.  I’m not saying not to get equipped, change, grow, and learn. I’m just saying we might want to watch the control meter and constantly check or have accountability in this area from other believers. Especially people who lead others, they can be very vulnerable in this area and need others behind to support and help and watch out for them. We all need each others that is why the Lord made the whole body and God intends to use the whole body. My life before the Lord was all about performance, control, planning, success, everything had to be done at a certain time and jobs had to be done in a certain time or I was shorted money or replaced with another contractor. Almost all that happened was out of my control but I was still responsible. Most of the relationships I had especially with family sure could have been better.  I was filled with fear, pressure, stress and all kind of weird stuff; it was kind of like Ground Hog Day. My marriage kids and family was very important to me so when I came to the Lord a lot of my focus and prayers was on the family.  I was enslaved in the world like God’s chosen people in Egypt and he freed me just like he did them. Why would I want to change this journey or what the Lord has for me to go back to anything that even looks like that. I would rather go on this journey or road the Lord has given me then sit and wonder what would have happened even though it is hard and I’m not sure what will happen. When I finally came to the end of myself and called on Him,  I was saved through Jesus and he freed me like he does all of us who believe in Jesus and accept him. We know from God’s word that when we accept Jesus we have eternal life Revelation 3:5, ‘He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.’ Our Inheritance or eternal life is given to us from God because of our belief and faith in Jesus and his death and sacrifice he made for us. 1 Peter 1:4-5, “and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.’  That is the most important thing we need to know and focus on is where we are going. But I want to try to write about the journey we all take after we accept Jesus to be with the Lord that is way different for all of us. I’m not saying to create your own journey and quite your job and make changes on your own for your own reasons or happiness or selfishness. What I’m talking about is surrendering to the Lord and asking him to be your Lord and what he wants that will glorify him and please him. Ask the Lord to take you to place of complete surrender and allow him to lead and create the journey. Giving him all your life and the mess and say, “what ever you want Lord”.  2 Corinthians 5:15, ‘He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them’. I find this to be both easy and hard at the same time. His sovereignty, strength, and power does it for us but we fight against it and if we actually want to do this and set our mind, heart and soul on doing this there are many things that will come against us. I have had many people even close to me in my own camp try to offer advice to me about how I need to get off of this beautiful journey the Lord has put me on. It’s simple for me like Perry Stone says, “some people are in my Holy place but only a few are in my most Holy place”.  But that is the beautiful part of the journey letting Jesus be our master and learning to trust him for where he wants to take us and do through us. If God wants me off the path I’m on it will be him doing it not man and I will gladly surrender to my Master because I know that is what he wants and he has something better me to glorify and please him, it’s that simple. Pleasing man over your Master is huge snare for all who believe. Galatians 1:10, ‘For do I now seek the favor of men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ’. I have been reading this book by John Foxe called the Voice of Martyrs and it is about a lot of people who were martyred for their faith. It talks about how all the first disciples were martyred, most were crucified, beheaded, stoned, and some by sword. But I will list others, Andrew was crucified on an ‘X’ shaped cross, Mark was dragged by rope and hooks on cobblestone streets twice, Bartholomew was flayed till most of his skin was removed, Thomas was baked in an oven, Simon the Zealot was sawed in half. The apostle John was the only one who was not martyred and died of old age although he had three different attempts at his life. One was he was scheduled to be dipped in a pot of boiling oil but escaped by divine intervention. Second, was he was exiled to Patmos Island till death where later he was released. Third, they tried to kill him by making him drink poison and it didn’t harm him. There are many more up till present time, these are people who to me have completely surrendered and suffered greatly but will be greatly rewarded in the next life, wow!  I know he has a plan for all of us but that makes me feel like not doing more and getting busy but trying to give myself to the Lord and attempting to do this and His will for my life and not get in the way, which I struggle with in many ways. I will end with a scripture and a quote. I think for me is to understand that on this journey who is taking me on this journey. The Lord is sovereign and he is our everything and has the plan for our life and is in control. He has us and won’t let go and is going to take us on this journey but I need to let him in my heart and intimately walk close and let him control me and trust him.  Psalm 16:1-8 “Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.” I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing. I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight. Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken’. We will end and start with this verse next time.  I like another quote from John Foxe, “It is not where we go and what happens to us that matters all that much. What does matter is how we respond when Jesus comes to us and says, Follow me”.  I thought this was a great quote. It’s more important who we become on the journey then what we do. God’s love and the way he values us is not tied to our performance. Becoming Christ like and who he wants us to be for him is what’s important. After reading this a few times I just want to say that this is not meant in a rebellious way, I have four great leaders in my life that God has put there and many other people that have helped me and I listen to. I am very humble and serious in this area, I need others that’s a fact. But the point I’m trying to make is to be respectful and submissive to elders, leaders, and others in my life but I have to listen to the Lord to find out what he wants to do in my life and follow through and finish the race. I will stand before him one day and have made many mistakes, even after coming to the Lord but I would like to give this faith journey I have been on a whole hearted effort, not just go through the motions to please others. I would like to stay in the hot range and not become lukewarm.  

The Journey part 1, scripture from God's Word.

These scriptures came to me today that speaks to me about letting the Lord into our hearts submission to his will and the journey we go on to train us and shape and mold us to become Like Christ. This is not a easy journey that is filled with many blessings but also many trials and much joy and suffering. I’m sorry I have not written of late I have had things to take care of. The Lord has been putting on my heart this last month to write about this journey we all take which is different for all of us to become like Christ and be with the Lord.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Jeremiah 18:1-5 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Then the Lord gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.

2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Jeremiah 12:5 If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

Psalm 144:1 Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.

Psalm 84:5-7 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, 

and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing.

Matthew 11:28-30 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.

Philippians 3:13-14

I am going to write today about a verse that was and is very clear for me to understand but at times hard for me to live out or react to in a correct way. Philippians 3:13-14 ‘No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us’. When we come to Lord and start walking with him and have a relationship with him we are reborn spiritually and start a new life. When this happens most of us come to the Lord with an interesting past with a lot of sins, failures, and some bad experiences. It took time for me to adjust to this new way of life and to look forward and let go of some off the past things that happen to me. What helped me was time with the Lord, reading his word a lot, and being around people to teach and encourage and strengthen me. Listening to good sermons on the word of God, Romans 10:17  ‘So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ’. But reading the Word of God after accepting Christ I think is the thing that helped my faith grow the most. You know when you are a believer the Lord teaches you very quick and clearly that every Word written in his Word, the bible is alive and true and every scripture is a part of your life. It’s not just a bunch of stories years ago every part will play into your life, very powerful. Its one thing to read but when it plays out in your life everyday that is something that is hard to explain or put into words. The number 3 is a number in the bible I can relate to in my walk. The disciples spent 3 years walking with Jesus and Paul spent 3 years with the Lord after his conversion.  Galatians 1:15-20. I’m not the disciples or Paul but I found the Lord in a deeper way 2007 to 2010. We built this house up in the mountains and while we was up there a lot of things changed in my life, marriage and family. The Lord gave us time and he taught us his ways. In the 3 years up there we became completely different people, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! It was in this time that the Lord stripped us from our old way of life and gave us a new life. In that time he showed us his love and a different way to live, he showed me I was forgiven for all my past whatever it was and gave me a new life. Psalm 103:8-13 ‘The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him’. When we went up to live in this place we had the job we had for the last 20 years and investments and a lot of worldly things and a lot of feelings and worries we were packing and carrying around in our marriage mind and heart. When we came down from this place we didn’t have as much of the worldly things, we don’t feel and look at all those things that happened in the past like we did before. We have been freed from the past sins and failures and experiences. When we look at the past we are thankful for that time and use that experience for where we are going. During that time the Lord changed the job we were doing for the last 20 years. About the time we built the house the Lord led me to a guy named Roy that was starting a ministry. I prayed one Sunday and the next day a pastor was put in my life and led me to Roy. I didn’t go there for a job I went there to grow in the Lord and to help my family. After he mentored me I stared mentoring men and my wife Julie was mentored by Sarah, Roy’s wife. After the 3 years we ended up in this ministry full time. It’s just the way the Lord has moved in our lives and on this journey we continue to see him work. To be honest sometimes we have made the journey harder then it is in our mind. We know the Lord put us on this path and he will take care of us, we are learning not only to trust but to be joyful in the process. Sometimes it’s the things that happened   yesterday or last week that you have to forget or move on from. It is not easy for anyone to walk with the Lord and the journey he has for a person. I don’t know what is going to happen from day to day on this journey I am on with the Lord but he has given the ability to look forward, not behind and trust him. The most important thing for me is my relationship with him, nothing can take that away and where I am going. 1 Peter 1:1-3 ‘All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see’. 

The disciples argue about who is the greatest

The disciples argue about who would be the greatest.

Mark 9:33-37 After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else. Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” This is an interesting scripture and is important to us today. Jesus had to remind the disciples that it is not about how important or great we are. He says if you want to be great, be the least and serve everyone else. And don’t look down on anyone and welcome everyone, love everyone, and teach everyone about him. It’s about a relationship with Jesus and serving and helping the kingdom grow. It is not about who does more or who’s the best and we are not in competition with each other. Look, there is nothing wrong with using your gifts to help others and the church and being fruitful and have zeal and want to please the Lord. It talks about using your gifts and what the Lord has given each of us in Matthew 25:14-30. This is a serious scripture and we will be judged for how we used all that God has given us. The apostle Paul took the work he did for the Lord very seriously and it’s amazing all he did and how hard he worked. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ‘Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.’ They had athletic games where people competed every 5 years in Corinth. I think Paul is saying to the church in Corinth look I train harder and longer to become like Jesus and do the work he has given me for the kingdom then these guys in these games do and so should you. I like this translation because it uses the word temperate in all things meaning you have your desires and passions under control. It’s not just running the race to win or doing good, it’s how you run the race. You’re not like a wild animal running around just thinking about yourself and how much you can have and do. You are doing your best to glorify God and to help others with the love from God and the Holy Spirit in you. 2 Timothy 1:7, ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.’ This next line is a quote I picked up from a study a while back that I thought was good: ‘The disciples fell into the same trap of getting so "busy" with running the operation of "The Way" and competing for a higher place in heaven that they forgot why they were chosen in the first place’. I think it is easy to take what the Lord gives and the zeal and power from the Holy Spirit and end up forgetting what the most important thing is and end up maybe hurting people. Galatians 5:15 ‘If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.’  Honestly, I think I will be hurt and as bad as I don’t want to, I will probably end up hurting someone. But here is the big thing for me after writing this; we are all different with different experiences.  In my past, from 1^st grade to probably around 2005, being 40 then, I was always in very competitive situations. I was in athletics and then owned a business and was taught by the world how to compete. I didn’t know the Lord until 2003 and didn’t know God’s word, so I was taught at an early age if you don’t win you loose. And there is no prize or pats on the back or not many second chances if you loose. That’s what the world teaches and how it trains people and our kids to be. But the Lord had started stripping me of this way and attitude way before I came to him.  It was quite painful because I didn’t have an understanding of why things were happening to me like they were till about 10 years later when I accepted Jesus and started reading God’s word. When I came to the Lord I was very tired of this way and being like I was and he changed me. I am very different person in this area than I was before, completely different. I was a very competitive person in all I did and it was hard on me and a lot of people. I am far from what I hope to be and have a long way to go, but I am very thankful and grateful to the Lord for this change in my life. So I have no excuses not to understand this teaching because of my past and what the Lord has done and taught me and he will hold me accountable. Luke 12:47-48 ‘And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.’  When a person comes to the Lord, the last thing a person wants to see is people competing with each other about who is the greatest, the best leader, or who is more fruitful. They have had that shoved down their throat their whole life from the world. They need love and a place to heal and learn about the Lord. The kingdom, church, or body of Christ is a special place where everyone is loved by the Lord and everyone is valuable and needed. The church is held to a higher standard, it is responsible to the teaching of the Lord and God’s word. It’s not just about a good performance and running a race it’s about how we run, how we love and treat others, how we live by these examples. Romans 12:2 ‘Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.’ John 13: 34-35 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”