Psalm 122:
1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together.
4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the LORD.
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
Comment: As headlines cry, "Israel Under Attack!" - it's good to refresh our minds with God's perspective on current events. We may be caught unaware by news reports; but know that our God, who knows the end from the beginning, is never surprised by late breaking news headlines.
Bible prophecy will be fulfilled, God's promises concerning Jerusalem, both the judgments against her sinfulness and the overweening glory He intended for "her" from the beginning, will come to pass.
Jerusalem is a focal point in God's plan and purpose. He chose it. He calls it Zion. He also refers to it as the "city of David." It plays an integral part in His redemptive plan - toward Israel and toward all mankind. What's more, the earthly city is representative of the heavenly city, New Jerusalem. (See Revelation 21:1-3.)
Psalm 48:
1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.
2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
...
8 As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
9 We have thought of Thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Thy temple.
10 According to Thy Name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go around her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our Guide even unto death.
For further study...
Isaiah 24:23; 62:1-4; 66:10-20; Jeremiah 3:17; Joel 2:32; 3:16-17; Zechariah 2:7-13; 8:20-22; 12:10.
Showing posts with label Priorities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Priorities. Show all posts
Friday, July 11, 2014
Friday, January 03, 2014
It's a New Day! It's a New Year!
Wondering where 2013 went was where I began with my annual Christmas Poem. How is it that the 365 days we are given in one year fly by so fast? Wasn't it only yesterday that we were looking ahead to 2013 with high hopes and visions of what we could accomplish? Yet, we come to it's end and feel a let down because we realize we let many opportunities slip and as a result, have not yet seen those hopes and visions come to fruition. Perhaps all is not as it seems... perhaps some of our problem is our perception. We seem to have extremely narrow vision; mostly, it's an inward, "me" focus. As the old saying goes, "We can't see the forest for the trees."
Gaining a broader, wider view forces us to step back, to step up to a higher level. When all is said and done, the only perspective that truly matters is God's. We will be judged according to His set of books; not ours, and not anyone else's. At this transition between what's past and what's to come, I have tried to utilize my own "present" realities as a stepping stone; to stand on them and rethink them as manifestations of how God has brought me to this point in life.
I suppose age has something to do with it, because length of days reveals the aging process not only works on you, it's also working on your children and grandchildren. Both of my daughters are now in their forties. My oldest grandson has just graduated from Marine Basic Training. My youngest grandchild will soon be eight years old. I see signs of wear and tear in my own body as recently as yesterday, when an update of my medical records notified me that I have no less than eleven health issues, most of which are not serious, (thankfully,) but three of them bear close attention and affect multiple areas of my life, including my mobility.
From strong and able to do just about anything I set my mind to just a few years ago, to a cane, a walker, and a wheelchair betimes is a rude awakening to the unrelenting process of aging. Thankfully, the Lord has been right here throughout. He awakens me in the morning with songs and verses of Scripture that bring comfort and joy. He gives me thoughts that turn into letters and articles; words of encouragement for others. He gives me His grace and the strength to be faithful in my responsibilities. My children and grandchildren are learning and growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - I see this and feel an overwhelming sense of peace and great joy, knowing He is able to complete the work He began - not only in me, but in them also. This realization has me looking forward with great hope to 2014.
Happy New Year!
Maranatha!
Gaining a broader, wider view forces us to step back, to step up to a higher level. When all is said and done, the only perspective that truly matters is God's. We will be judged according to His set of books; not ours, and not anyone else's. At this transition between what's past and what's to come, I have tried to utilize my own "present" realities as a stepping stone; to stand on them and rethink them as manifestations of how God has brought me to this point in life.
I suppose age has something to do with it, because length of days reveals the aging process not only works on you, it's also working on your children and grandchildren. Both of my daughters are now in their forties. My oldest grandson has just graduated from Marine Basic Training. My youngest grandchild will soon be eight years old. I see signs of wear and tear in my own body as recently as yesterday, when an update of my medical records notified me that I have no less than eleven health issues, most of which are not serious, (thankfully,) but three of them bear close attention and affect multiple areas of my life, including my mobility.
From strong and able to do just about anything I set my mind to just a few years ago, to a cane, a walker, and a wheelchair betimes is a rude awakening to the unrelenting process of aging. Thankfully, the Lord has been right here throughout. He awakens me in the morning with songs and verses of Scripture that bring comfort and joy. He gives me thoughts that turn into letters and articles; words of encouragement for others. He gives me His grace and the strength to be faithful in my responsibilities. My children and grandchildren are learning and growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - I see this and feel an overwhelming sense of peace and great joy, knowing He is able to complete the work He began - not only in me, but in them also. This realization has me looking forward with great hope to 2014.
Happy New Year!
Maranatha!
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
The Duke of York...
The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up the hill,
Then marched them down again.
And when you're up, you're up,
And when you're down, you're down;
And when you're only half-way up,
You're neither up nor down!
Ah, yes, the old nursery rhyme is undergirded with truth and common sense. David mourned at the death of Abner, (Saul's chief of staff,) saying, "How are the mighty fallen..!" and, "Died Abner as a fool dieth." Abner knew the rules. He knew he needed to stay in the city of refuge to be protected from the vengeance of David's chief of staff, Joab. In battle, Abner had killed Joab's brother, Asahel, (not willingly, but slew him just the same,) and that Joab was bent on revenge. Yet, he thought perhaps he could make peace with Joab and stepped outside of the walls of protection. And yes - Joab did what he'd set out to do.
How often do we read in the headlines of heroes, politicians, and other public figures who fall from grace? Their failures seem so foolish. How could they not know? we wonder. Disappointed and even disillusioned, we lose faith in even the good they may have done in the past. The wages of their misconduct is much more than monetary. The loss of trust on any and every level is costly indeed.
So what is it the bewitches humans into thinking they are somehow exempt from personal accountability? What makes them think they can escape public scrutiny - that somehow, their sins and misdeeds can be hidden? In this media-hungry society, there is always someone out beating the bushes in a hunt for a momentary lapse, or, better yet, a glaring error/sin. These take joy in exposing "feet of clay."
Public and political figures are not the only ones in such straits. Christians are the target of these "watchers" as well. The strange conundrum in all this is that while on one hand, they expect the child of God to fail, they hope deep down that he or she won't. Their mind and heart searches for something real enough to make it possible to actually overcome sin, to have the strength to live above it!
So how can we avoid this trap?
First, we must realize that the power we need is not found in human will or bootstrap determination. This strength is not human - it can only come from God through the power of the indwelling Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8).Trying to accomplish a victorious life through the power of the flesh is like an amputee with no arms or legs trying to climb Mount Everest. Like the Duke of York, human effort is a treadmill - expending lots of energy but getting nowhere.
Second, the strength we need to live an overcoming life comes over time and with experience. One does not suddenly become strong enough to resist sin - it's a daily thing. Isaiah said, "Line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, there a little..." (Isaiah 28:10) Paul said, "I die daily." (I Corinthians 15:31)
Third, part of this "daily" thing is prayer and immersion in the Word of God. The more you know of His Word, the more you know of Him. If you want to avoid the traps of the enemy and the lure of the flesh, you need to know what pleases God and what He expects of you. His Word is key to this understanding. As you open your mind to His Word, and submit your heart in prayer, you'll find your strength is renewed day-by-day. Fasting fuels holy fire that purges us from fleshly lusts. (See I Timothy 6:11; II Timothy 2:15-22.) Although Paul was addressing young Timothy specifically - his admonition is vitally important to every gender and generation.
Psalm 119 is chock full of nuggets proclaiming the importance of knowing and embracing God's Word. In verse after verse, the Psalmist says to value God's Word, making it the foundation of our very lives. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalm 119:9-11)
History tells us the Duke of York marched his army up the hill and set himself to the battle. Hopelessly outnumbered, (40,000 to his 10,000,) he lost the battle, marching his much depleted forces back down the hill in defeat. His position, his power, his importance,even his wealth meant nothing after that day
For those who battle in a war against sin and the flesh, going it on your own,in your own strength is going to end up in defeat. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" is the only way to victory!
.
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up the hill,
Then marched them down again.
And when you're up, you're up,
And when you're down, you're down;
And when you're only half-way up,
You're neither up nor down!
Ah, yes, the old nursery rhyme is undergirded with truth and common sense. David mourned at the death of Abner, (Saul's chief of staff,) saying, "How are the mighty fallen..!" and, "Died Abner as a fool dieth." Abner knew the rules. He knew he needed to stay in the city of refuge to be protected from the vengeance of David's chief of staff, Joab. In battle, Abner had killed Joab's brother, Asahel, (not willingly, but slew him just the same,) and that Joab was bent on revenge. Yet, he thought perhaps he could make peace with Joab and stepped outside of the walls of protection. And yes - Joab did what he'd set out to do.
How often do we read in the headlines of heroes, politicians, and other public figures who fall from grace? Their failures seem so foolish. How could they not know? we wonder. Disappointed and even disillusioned, we lose faith in even the good they may have done in the past. The wages of their misconduct is much more than monetary. The loss of trust on any and every level is costly indeed.
So what is it the bewitches humans into thinking they are somehow exempt from personal accountability? What makes them think they can escape public scrutiny - that somehow, their sins and misdeeds can be hidden? In this media-hungry society, there is always someone out beating the bushes in a hunt for a momentary lapse, or, better yet, a glaring error/sin. These take joy in exposing "feet of clay."
Public and political figures are not the only ones in such straits. Christians are the target of these "watchers" as well. The strange conundrum in all this is that while on one hand, they expect the child of God to fail, they hope deep down that he or she won't. Their mind and heart searches for something real enough to make it possible to actually overcome sin, to have the strength to live above it!
So how can we avoid this trap?
First, we must realize that the power we need is not found in human will or bootstrap determination. This strength is not human - it can only come from God through the power of the indwelling Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8).Trying to accomplish a victorious life through the power of the flesh is like an amputee with no arms or legs trying to climb Mount Everest. Like the Duke of York, human effort is a treadmill - expending lots of energy but getting nowhere.
Second, the strength we need to live an overcoming life comes over time and with experience. One does not suddenly become strong enough to resist sin - it's a daily thing. Isaiah said, "Line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, there a little..." (Isaiah 28:10) Paul said, "I die daily." (I Corinthians 15:31)
Third, part of this "daily" thing is prayer and immersion in the Word of God. The more you know of His Word, the more you know of Him. If you want to avoid the traps of the enemy and the lure of the flesh, you need to know what pleases God and what He expects of you. His Word is key to this understanding. As you open your mind to His Word, and submit your heart in prayer, you'll find your strength is renewed day-by-day. Fasting fuels holy fire that purges us from fleshly lusts. (See I Timothy 6:11; II Timothy 2:15-22.) Although Paul was addressing young Timothy specifically - his admonition is vitally important to every gender and generation.
Psalm 119 is chock full of nuggets proclaiming the importance of knowing and embracing God's Word. In verse after verse, the Psalmist says to value God's Word, making it the foundation of our very lives. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalm 119:9-11)
History tells us the Duke of York marched his army up the hill and set himself to the battle. Hopelessly outnumbered, (40,000 to his 10,000,) he lost the battle, marching his much depleted forces back down the hill in defeat. His position, his power, his importance,even his wealth meant nothing after that day
For those who battle in a war against sin and the flesh, going it on your own,in your own strength is going to end up in defeat. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" is the only way to victory!
.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Gathering Our Thoughts
We live in a fractured world. Current happenings conspire on a daily basis, keeping our minds so occupied with the here and now that we have no time (or even the inclination,) to ponder much of anything past the present moment. Conider these...
From the beginning, this rat-race mentality was never God's intent. And while He knows the circumstances of this present world, it is still not His intent for us. He told His disciples, "Come ye apart and rest a while." He spoke to us all when He said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Tom Fred Tenney said, "Keep the main thing the main thing." Therein lies the key! A magazine article entitled, "Must.Focus" listed five reasons for distracted thoughts; 1.) Stress, 2.) Multi-tasking, 3.) Life change, 4.) Getting older, and, 5.) Too much on my plate. [Source: Ladies Home Journal,"Must.Focus," December 2011/January 2012, pg. 54.] The author said sensory overloads are common today. So much so that a national magazine considered it a worthwhile topic. We all get into trouble when our priorities schedule us. What we should be doing is scheduling our priorities. This is not just a semantic difference.
"The tyrany of the urgent" is mentioned in the bullet list following the first paragraph. Urgent, my friend, does not mean what we seem to think it means. Urgent is not an emergency! It may be important, but it's not life or death. Too many times we allow what is merely urgent to usurp the crucial. An old song says, "...for one-hundred years from now, it won't matter anyhow..." It's the truth! In the light of the eternal, Adam's walks and talks with God in the cool of the day were far more important than the momentary pleasure of forbidden fruit. That one choice changed everything; yet, nothing changed - for that same choice sits before us today.
Where are our priorities? Are they temporal? or eternal? after the flesh? or after the Spirit? When our priorities are set, our choices align themselves accordingly (and our "to do" list will follow suit). Daniel "purposed in his heart not to defile himself..." That purpose affected the rest of his life. Rehoboam was the last king of all Israel (the twelve tribes). Grandson of David, son of the wisest man who ever lived, yet he did not "prepare his heart to seek the LORD." That choice made all the difference - and as a result, Rehoboam lost it all! [See Daniel 1:8; & II Chronicles 12:13-14.]
Now more than ever, we need to gather our thoughts, prepare our mind, purpose in our heart, and focus our attention on what's truly important. Majoring in minors is a tool used by both the flesh and the enemy. Jesus said tithing of mint, anise, and cummin (seeds) wasn't wrong, but omitting the weightier matters, (justice, mercy, the love of God and your fellow-man,) was a critical error. When our mind is preoccupied with the mundane, it can't recognize the glimpses of glory God sends our way. Distracted thinking prevents us from gathering our thoughts and lofting them into eternity's flow.
Here's the remedy...
- sound bytes, newsflashes, 15-second commercials, abrupt segues, streaming, tweets, the internet,
- multi-tasking, cellphones, call-waiting, crowded/conflicting schedules, the tyrany of the urgent,
- media blitzkrieg, assaults on the senses; eyes, ears, nose, tastes, touch, distracted thinking,
- double-speak, hidden agendas, mind games, political correctness,
- catastrophic events, disasters, and tragedies occuring simultaneously around the world,
- nature's rampages; earthquakes, hurricanes, pestilences, tornadoes, tsunamis, typhoons, volcanoes,
- man's rampages; crime, hatred, predators, revolts, riots, suicide-bombers/bombings, vengeance, violence, wars and rumors of wars...
From the beginning, this rat-race mentality was never God's intent. And while He knows the circumstances of this present world, it is still not His intent for us. He told His disciples, "Come ye apart and rest a while." He spoke to us all when He said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Tom Fred Tenney said, "Keep the main thing the main thing." Therein lies the key! A magazine article entitled, "Must.Focus" listed five reasons for distracted thoughts; 1.) Stress, 2.) Multi-tasking, 3.) Life change, 4.) Getting older, and, 5.) Too much on my plate. [Source: Ladies Home Journal,"Must.Focus," December 2011/January 2012, pg. 54.] The author said sensory overloads are common today. So much so that a national magazine considered it a worthwhile topic. We all get into trouble when our priorities schedule us. What we should be doing is scheduling our priorities. This is not just a semantic difference.
"The tyrany of the urgent" is mentioned in the bullet list following the first paragraph. Urgent, my friend, does not mean what we seem to think it means. Urgent is not an emergency! It may be important, but it's not life or death. Too many times we allow what is merely urgent to usurp the crucial. An old song says, "...for one-hundred years from now, it won't matter anyhow..." It's the truth! In the light of the eternal, Adam's walks and talks with God in the cool of the day were far more important than the momentary pleasure of forbidden fruit. That one choice changed everything; yet, nothing changed - for that same choice sits before us today.
Where are our priorities? Are they temporal? or eternal? after the flesh? or after the Spirit? When our priorities are set, our choices align themselves accordingly (and our "to do" list will follow suit). Daniel "purposed in his heart not to defile himself..." That purpose affected the rest of his life. Rehoboam was the last king of all Israel (the twelve tribes). Grandson of David, son of the wisest man who ever lived, yet he did not "prepare his heart to seek the LORD." That choice made all the difference - and as a result, Rehoboam lost it all! [See Daniel 1:8; & II Chronicles 12:13-14.]
Now more than ever, we need to gather our thoughts, prepare our mind, purpose in our heart, and focus our attention on what's truly important. Majoring in minors is a tool used by both the flesh and the enemy. Jesus said tithing of mint, anise, and cummin (seeds) wasn't wrong, but omitting the weightier matters, (justice, mercy, the love of God and your fellow-man,) was a critical error. When our mind is preoccupied with the mundane, it can't recognize the glimpses of glory God sends our way. Distracted thinking prevents us from gathering our thoughts and lofting them into eternity's flow.
Here's the remedy...
- "Let [allow/permit] this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..." (Philippans 2:5)
- "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" (I Peter 1:13, see also 14-16.)
- "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing [every misplaced priority] that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (II Corinthians 10:5)
- "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." (Isaiah 26:3)
- "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2)
- "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
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