Life In Return

Do not begin to be careless with the truth. Do not “take pleasure in unrighteousness” and forsake the “love of the truth.” If you do, you may be abandoned to a strong delusion and never be able to see again.
John Piper

In light of the circumstances going on in my life presently, I’ve become discouraged and down. As I was sitting at my desk, feeling tearful, this song came to mind.

My joy and peace should not be affected by circumstances. I have the Lord Jesus in my life. He is the source of the most important thing I could ever have - a right relationship with God… yet I find myself saddened and discouraged, but grateful that, even in this, I desire to look to Christ. That is nothing but the work of the Holy Spirit!

In Christ is my all… my everything. May I speak that to my soul and respond accordingly.

I sing for joy in my remorse.
A well within prosperity’s curse.
That drowns the mighty oak of pride but feeds the root of God inside.

In You.

My desire is to memorize 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 this week. While looking at the passage, I thought it would be good to dig a little deeper, to break the verse apart. This is a very frequently quoted Scripture, but sometimes I think they are done a disservice when they are given and not though about. Even with verses like John 3:16, we all know that, but it would be great to really meditate on it… Savor it, let it roll around in your mind, and really think. These are my observations and thoughts on this verse.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

All who are in Christ are new, whoever it may be, regardless of one’s past. What does it mean to be ‘in Christ’? This shows that there’s a union there. We’re in Him. Christ surrounds us, envelopes us… We’re hidden in Him (Col. 3:3 - For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God). This also makes me think of John 10:28-29 where it shows the believer being in the hands of the Lord Jesus then being in the hands of the Father. We’re secure in the Lord Jesus. New creation = as opposed to not being changed. When the believer is saved, they are not who they used to be. I’m not the old Jenn. I’m new… The old man is gone, the new man has come. There’s no need to attempt to old on to ANYTHING from the past. To do so would seemingly be sin and a contradiction of what the Word of God says we are. It makes me think of Psalm (Ps. 66:18 - If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened). Since Christ has saved me, the believer, from sin, why hold on to any part of the old me? This includes attitudes, protective measures (such as in friendships or even any future courtship), everything. It is no excuse to say that this is just the way I am. That may have been true of the past, but is no longer true. God’s Word is true - I am in Christ. I am new.

Beautiful!

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Psalms 84:12 ESV

It is humanly impossible for me to free myself from sin. A divine rescue is necessary. I need a Savior!
CJ Mahaney

I have been thinking a lot lately, so here are a few of the things I have been thinking through.

The key to evangelism is constant communion and conversation with the Lord through prayer and through His Word. This is important for the Christian life regardless, but I don’t know - I was just thinking as I was driving to work last week. In Luke 6:45, you see:

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45 ESV

In line with the above Scripture, if I am constantly feeding on God, if I am constantly feeding on the Scriptures, I can’t HELP but to speak about the love of the Lord to men. It becomes natural because that’s what in my heart. So the intent becomes not to just try and ‘convert’ men, but to just share with them the beauty of Jesus Christ and His glorious Gospel.

I’ve also been thinking about the art of observation when it comes to Bible intake. There’s something I printed out recently (can’t remember where I got it) and it says:

8. Note any significant omissions as well as the events and ideas which are included. Sometimes what’s not said is as important as what is said.

So, I have been noticing things as I have been reading through the Gospel of John, things such as:

In the beginning of John 1, Jesus is referred to by many descriptions and attributes (the Word, light, true light) but not by His name / title until verse 14 (referred to as the only Son of the Father), verse 17 (Grace & truth come through Jesus Christ).

In verse 29, John doesn’t say ’sins’, he says ’sin’… so what is the sin of the world? I think - Rebellion against God and a living out of Romans 1:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Romans 1:18-23 ESV

So, the sin of the world.

In John 2, Mary is referred to as the mother of Jesus, and not by her name.

Then, looking at why the people believed in Jesus later on:

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.
John 2:23 ESV

I love in John 3 how Jesus gets to the heart of what Nicodemus is REALLY seeking! I LOVE IT! I love the mercy of God shown in John 3:17:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:17 ESV

I love how He went through Samaria, which Jews at the time would take great lengths to avoid. Christ was the epitome of being missional! I think it’s hilarious at how, when Jesus tells her about herself (The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”), the woman QUICKLY changes the subject (Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship)… lol!!!

I love the Gospel of John!!!

More thoughts?

I am amazed at what the Lord does when He transfers people from one kingdom to another (1 Peter 2:9, Colossians 1:13). I was talking about this with a dear brother in the Lord. I look at my past, his past, and many others’ pasts and I’m like, WOW LORD! It causes me to think:

“Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
Exodus 15:11 ESV

Seriously! I love it! I love what the Lord does! I love what He has done, is doing, and will do!

This concludes some my thoughts… for now :o)

“The Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges is doing a number on me. I read it and am driven to tears at the deeper realization of my own lack of holiness, at the deeper realization of my sinfulness and how short I fall of the glory of God. Tonight, I read chapter 4 on the holiness of Christ. In it, I read so much that made me squirm uncomfortably on the living room couch, things such as:

Our thoughts should be holy, since they are known to God even before they are formed in our minds.

His (Christ’s) moral purity serves to magnify our impurity.

Clearly then, the sinless holy life of Jesus Christ is meant to be an example for us. Consider then His statement, “I always do what pleases Him.” Do we dare take that as our personal goal in life? Are we truly willing to scrutinize all our activities, all our goals and plans, and all of our impulsive actions in the light of this statement: “I am doing this to please God”?
If we ask that question honestly, we will begin to squirm a bit. We know we do some things, good things in themselves, to gain admiration for ourselves rather than glory for God. We do other things strictly for our own pleasure, without any regard for glory of God.

How do we view those who do not show love for us? Do we see them as persons for whom Christ died or as persons who make our lives difficult?

Neither does holiness mean, as is so often thought, adherence to a list of “do’s and don’ts,” mostly don’ts. When Christ came into the world, He said, “I have come to do Your will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7). This is the example we are to follow. In all of our thoughs, all of our actions, in every part of our character, the ruling principle that motivates and guides us should be the desire to follow Christ in doing the will of the Father. This is the high road we must follow in the pursuit of holiness.

This book is dismantling me. Since I have started reading it, the Lord has been gracious. Overall, He has been MOST gracious! These past few weeks have been great! Due to 2 people being in my life, a brother and a sister, the Lord has ignited this crazy passion within me. Both the brother and sister have been true examples of Proverbs 27:17 and Hebrews 10:24:

Proverbs 27:17 ESV
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Hebrews 10:24 ESV
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…

The brother, a good friend of mine, has this ridiculous passion for the Lord that is clearly heard and seen. I remember he said once, “If it’s not about the Lord, I don’t see a need to talk about it.” His desire to have the Lord supreme in every area of his life is admirable and I love seeing that. The sister always encourages me to to handle all things through Scripture. Last Saturday, I was feeling a particular way about a particular situation. She rebuked me and showed me I was being anxious and challenged me to go through God’s Word to see what it says about how I was feeling. Although at the time I just wanted to feel the way I felt, I am grateful that she wasn’t having that. I love them both and am grateful for the blessing that they have both been in my life. I love them dearly!

So, holiness… reading about it has been throwing me, but by God’s grace, He has me in a place where this is perfect timing in so many ways!

Psalm 84:12 ESV
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

I was standing in line at a bangin’ (bangin’ = extremely good… yes, I have been Philly-ized!) vegetarian spot at Reading Terminal when this popped into my head… It’s been awhile since I have been able to write… I wrote this down in my Treo and came back to work and typed it up and added a little more.

You’re beautiful, gracious, amazing, You saved us / O Holy Lord Jesus we were dead and You raised us! / You bought us with blood, was your bleeding that saved men / Perfect Lamb of God! Praise the Spirit who changed men! / Precious Redeemer You washed me and bleached me / I received Your righteousness and the Spirit - He ‘teached’ me / My Father - He chose me to be redeemed and made clean / To glorify Him through my life / So His grace could be seen! / Called to be pure, called to show His magnificence / All praise to the perfect One and His perfect obedience!

John answered, A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
John 3:27 ESV

But if we truly grasp the significance of God’s perfect holiness, both in Himself and in His demands of us, we will readily see we can never justify before Him even the slightest deviation from His perfect will. God does not accept the excuse, “Well, that’s just the way I am,” or even the more hopeful statement, “Well I’m still growing in that area of my life.” No, God’s holiness does not make allowance for minor flaws or shortcomings in our personal character.
Jerry Bridges

When I was a teenager, my struggle with depression began. Out of it self mutilation was birthed. This was not a learned behavior, I hadn’t seen it anywhere, but one day, I grabbed a blade from my brother’s box cutter and started to cut myself. I’d cut then cry myself to sleep. Sometimes, I’d rub hydrocortisone on them (I’m not sure why) when I was done. As a result of those times in my life, I have 15 cuts on my left arm and a few on my left leg. I was surprised when I found out a few years later that I wasn’t the only one doing it, but millions of people. How did I know to do this? Again, I’d never seen it, read it, or heard of it. It felt like a natural response to the pain I was feeling at the time. I’d cut, bleed, cry, then feel ‘better’… only to do it again. I was so numb to what was going on at the time. It hurt, but obviously not enough to make me stop because I felt, in a sense, that I was bleeding out the pain and hurt that was inside me. As I got older, I’d wear long sleeved shirts, even in the summertime, to hide the scars and to avoid the looks. When the next wave of self mutilation came, I ventured into the world of tattoos and piercings. As a result of that, I have 3 tattoos which I wish I didn’t have, including 2 which are very telling of my mindset at the time.

Even now, over 10 years later, I get self conscious. People ask what happened and I cringe as I begin to tell them that I cut myself. And I still have to fight the urge to respond to pain in a wrong way. I have to examine my motives. Before the Lord saved me, one of my many piercings included my nose. Shortly after the Lord saved me, I removed the nose ring along with my other piercings. In February of this year, I got my nose repierced. It was a decision that took a very long time to make. I’d been thinking about it for over a year before I finally got it done.

With all that said, I cannot lie and say that the temptation has been fully removed from me; it hasn’t, but God, in His perfect grace, has given me the ‘tools’ to fight that temptation with. I’m no longer a slave to self mutilation… for it was ‘for freedom Christ set us free’ (Galatians 5:1)

I’m not sure why I decided to blog about this today, but maybe it will help someone.

I am planning to start on Jerry Bridges book, ‘The Pursuit of Holiness’, this week. As I was flipping through, observing the Scriptures at the beginning of each chapter, I came to the chapter ‘Putting Sin to Death’. In it, Jerry says:

Years ago a friend gave me what he called his “Formula: How to Know Right from Wrong”. The formula asks four questions based on three verses in 1 Corinthians:

• “Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial” (1 Corinthians 6:12).
  Question 1: Is it helpful - physically, spiritually, and mentally?
• “Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).
  Question 2: Does it bring me under its power?
• “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall” (1 Corinthians 8:13).
  Question 3: Does it hurt others?
• “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
  Question 4: Does it glorify God?

As simple as this formula may appear, it is powerful in developing conviction - if we are willing to use it. These questions can get rather searching. But they must be asked if we are to pursue holiness as a total way of life.

He then goes in to give some examples of situations in which the principles can be applied. Very painful, but I thank and praise God for using Jerry Bridges to expound upon God’s Word as he has in so many books. Personally speaking, I know that if I were to truly live by the above principles, my life would change DRASTICALLY, and man - it’s scary. There goes that ’self denial’ thing again. Who said this life would be easy? God sure didn’t.

And even in light of this - I’m going through a really dark period in life right now, and so many things are involved. It’s so much easier to be comforted by television or internet or even brothers and sisters in the Faith. Sometimes dying to self is the last thing I want to do to be honest… but… it’s necessary and God calls for it. So, Lord, help me to please, obey, honor, and glorify You through denial and discipline.

When I read this on NBC10, I felt something for this sweetheart. I was born with multiple holes in my heart and had closed heart surgery and open heart surgery, both before I turned 3, to fix this defect. I pray that little Adrian can have his surgery as well so that he can experience life without defect, and I pray that he comes to know the Lord so that he can experience life in TRUE freedom! If you can donate, please do - even if it is only $1 because that will bring them $1 closer to the necessary $85,000. If you cannot donate (and even if you do), the BEST thing you, we, anyone, can do is pray and seek the Lord God on behalf of little Adrian.

————————-

Name - Adrian Raheal
Age - 2 Years Old
Origin - Trinidad & Tobago
Estimated cost of treatment - $85,000

MIAMI, Fla (July 1, 2008) – The International Kids Fund (IKF), a program of Jackson Memorial Foundation dedicated to helping children throughout the world overcome serious illness, today is kicking off a fundraising campaign seeking the community’s support for a surgery that will enclose the heart of a twenty month-old toddler. Adrian Reheal lives with a very rare congenital birth defect known as ectopia cordis, in which his heart is located on the outside of his chest. This condition affects only eight in one million births, but usually results in still birth or death shortly after birth. As a result of the defect, Adrian’s parents are forced to monitor him around the clock to ensure he does not damage his unprotected heart.

“Babies that are born with ectopia cordis usually don’t survive birth or die shortly thereafter however, Adrian is defeating the odds. With surgery and treatments we will be able to provide a protective covering around his heart and repair his heart defects so that he will likely live a long and productive life,” says Dr. Eliot Rosenkranz, cardiothoracic surgeon at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center.

Aside from surgery to repair his ectopia cordis, Adrian will have to undergo additional procedures to help repair a large artrial septal defect, which is a heart defect in which there is a hole in the wall that separates the upper chambers of the heart; and a defect in the center of his diaphragm.

Since Adrian is not a U.S. resident and a public hospital cannot use taxpayers’ money to pay for his treatment, IKF is seeking the community’s support in raising $85,000 to help cover the cost of his procedures. Specifically, he will need a sternal reconstruction to restore the normal bone protection surrounding the heart. Holtz’s Children Hospital, Jackson Memorial Medical Center and the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Medical Center have offered to perform the surgery at a charitable rate through their partnerships with the International Kids Fund (IKF).

“Adrian is young but you can already see his personality shining through. And with our help, we can extend the chances for him to develop his personality even further,” says Janelle Prieto, assistant director of IKF. “This little boy deserves a fighting chance, and with the community’s help we can help provide it.”

How to help
Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation for Adrian can mail a check or money order payable to International Kids Fund at the address below. Please include “Adrian Reheal” in the subject line of the check or money order in order to ensure credit to the appropriate account:

International Kids Fund
Re: Adrian Reheal
P.O. Box 2020
Miami, FL 33101
Toll Free: 1-877-IKF-KIDS (1-877-453-5437)

Donations can also be made online by visiting www.internationalkidsfund.org. For further information, potential donors also may write to info@internationalkidsfund.org.

About the International Kids Fund (IKF)
The International Kids Fund (IKF) at Holtz Children’s Hospital, a program of the Jackson Memorial Foundation, seeks to provide medical care to needy children from around the world who suffer from serious illnesses that cannot be treated in their countries. The fund ensures these children receive the best care possible at Holtz Children’s Hospital of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, one of the nation’s premier teaching hospitals. For more information or to make a contribution, please visit www.internationalkidsfund.org or call 1-877-IKF-KIDS.

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
Psalms 104:24-30 ESV

Nothing is ever what it seems. Nothing is really ever surface. This point is demonstrated by the Scripture in Ephesians:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…
Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV

We do not war against flesh and blood. I don’t believe it is as simple as a surface dislike. For instance, on the block where my church is located, Muslims have been telling the children that God is not in our building. They have been vandalizing, breaking windows, dumping on our lawn… That is definitely not a simple matter of them disliking us. There’s a spiritual component. My conflicts with my boss are not just conflicts. I believe that it is much deeper - it’s not people against people.

What’s behind the dislike? What fuels the fires?

It’s not just sex on the television. It’s not just about gay marriage being allowed in California. It’s not just about gay couples being allowed to adopt. It’s not just about babies before (or even without) marriage in Hollywood. It’s not just about sexual lyrics in songs. It’s not just a porn addiction. It’s not just a rapist or a murderer. It’s not just about the things that we see, and never is.

There’s a point to EVERYTHING that goes on in this world. It’s never without aim; there is always some target. It seeks either to glorify God or to defy and snatch glory away from Him. If we take a look at everything through that scope, it becomes easier to see. C.S. Lewis has a great quote about this:

There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan.
C.S. Lewis

I recently had a conflict with my Catholic unsaved boss. As I was speaking about it with a sister, she helped me to see some things. It wasn’t simply a conflict; it was much deeper. What you see on the stage will never truly reflect ALL that goes on backstage. There’s much hustle and bustle, much preparation, much work. And so it is in life - what we see is never a true reflection of what is going on behind the scenes. The spiritual world is extremely real. Many times, we dismiss it or it simply seems too scary to think about, but in doing that, we short ourselves of understanding of Scripture, especially with Scriptures like this:

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 ESV

When we consider all of what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ that we cannot see, we can truly ‘get’ that passage… because indeed, there’s much going on. I’m no high expositor of Scripture, but God’s been gracious in giving me friends lately who have been an extreme blessing and quite the pieces of iron, causing me to really reflect on His Word. It’s so real. Everything in God’s Holy Word is real! Just as the angels take part in their beautiful antiphony of HOLY HOLY HOLY!!! - so are Satan’s demons at work…

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience– among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV

Instead of simply reacting to something on the surface, lets take the time to consider the totality of what is really going on, and be led to seek the Lord on the behalf of the situation. Whether it’s believer against believer, believer against unbeliever, unbeliever against unbeliever, there’s always something at work. Let’s not do ourselves a disservice by NOT acknowledging it. Because God’s Word acknowledges the spirit world, so should we.