A Wonderful Paradox!

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.  And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Philippians 1:12-14

Have you ever heard the term “paradox?”  A paradox is, according to one definition is a statement, proposition, or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory, but in fact is or may be true.  Whether you’re familiar with the term “paradox” or not, you are witness to them all of the time.  Have you ever ordered jumbo shrimp on the menu?  Jumbo means big; shrimp means little—totally opposite adjectives, yet combined, they form a delicious food.  What about the phrases “the beginning of the end,” “bittersweet,” and “deep down you’re really a shallow person?”  These examples represent things that are direct contradictions, and yet somehow they aptly describe the situation. 

I opened the bible this morning and I came across a paradox that I’d never noticed before.  It is in the opening chapter of Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi.  In verse 14 Paul states that most of the brothers, “having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear”.  If you didn’t see the painfully obvious paradox, please re-read it until you do.  I’m in no hurry; I’ll wait.  Got it yet?  Good!  Notice the words in italics.  Paul is telling the Church that the brothers there with him in Rome are becoming more confident because of Paul’s imprisonment and, consequently, are becoming much more bold to speak the Word without fear.  That’s not usually how it goes, right?

Usually, imprisonments are how authorities squash rebellions and uprisings.  I think anyone who has been halfway paying attention to the news this past year has seen what happens when the police fail to arrest rioters.  The rebellions get out of hand and the whole city winds up in complete chaos.  Conversely, when police take charge and arrest the instigators of public demonstrations-gone-awry, the rebellion usually fizzles shortly thereafter.  I’m sure that is what the Pharisees and Roman authorities were thinking when they put Paul imprison.  But, once again, Jesus proves to be the exception and not the rule.

Paul’s imprisonment, and a large dose of the Holy Spirit, only added fuel to the Christians’ fire.  What was meant to be a suppressor became a combustor!  The Christ-haters wanted to snuff out the flame of Jesus, but instead they only poured gas on it!!  Be encouraged my friends!  Remember what Joseph said: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”  God is in control and He will accomplish His will.  And He is no stranger to the paradox.  In fact, if you look at the entire story of the gospel, it’s nothing but a paradox.  A sinless savior died so that sinful man could live forever!  Praise be to God the Father!  Hallelujah!!

What Song Are You Singing?

Isaiah 40:10 “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth”

I’ve always loved music.  In fact, I always aspired to be a musician/songwriter while I was growing up.  So naturally, I was always walking around singing to myself (but usually loud enough for anyone who wanted to listen—and even for those who didn’t).  Well, one of the members of my audience was my mom.  And, needless to say, she didn’t always approve of my choice of music.  I usually listened to rock music with some country thrown in there simply by the virtue of having not one but two country music stations coming out of my little home town.  And, let’s face it, the Christian music of the 90s wasn’t anything like it is now (with the exception of Steven Curtis Chapman and DC Talk). 

On one occasion, Mom told me “Be careful what kind of music you listen to.  It can get stuck in your head.”  Well, of course to a 19 year old, it means nothing to hear your parents tell you something.  You have to figure it out for yourself, right?  So, I decided to run an experiment.  For one week, I would listen to my "normal music".  Then, for one week, I would listen to Christian music.  You know what?  Mamma was right.  I found that during the week, and especially toward the end of the week, that when I woke up and throughout the day, I would catch myself singing the songs that I had been listening too.  I also found that, not only was it in my head, but it affected my mood as well.  When I listened to sappy ballads about broken hearts, I found that I was more heartsick than normal.  When I listened to Praise and Worship music, I was normally in a better mood and more cheerful. 

Some of you might be saying, “Duh!  Now what does this have to do with this blog?”  Well, I’m glad you asked.  Recently, as I’ve been reading through the Psalms, one phrase keeps jumping out at me.  “Sing to the Lord a new song.”  That’s it, a simple little phrase, but it got me thinking about the song I sing to the Lord.  I'm not talking about actual lyrics and a music.  I'm talking about the spiritual song that I'm shouting out with my actions and my attitude.  In Luke 19:40, Jesus says, “I tell you, if these (His disciples) were silent, the very stones would cry out.”  He also says in John 4:23-24, "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."  So, even when we aren't speaking, we are crying out something to God.  For the next 15 minutes, I want to us to ignore the things we say, and think about what is pouring out of our minds and hearts as we go through the day.  As we look at Philippians 4:4-9, I want us to think about: (1) What song we should be singing to God?; (2) What song we shouldn't be singing to God?; (3) What influences the song we sing?; (4) How can we ensure we sing the right song?

(1) What songs should we be singing?

      From Phil 4:4-6 I think there are three songs we should be singing.     

The Song of Rejoicing—“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

            Def of Rejoice: to feel or show great joy or delight.  We should be demonstrating our great delight in God for all that He has done for us.  

           --Deuteronomy 12:7 “And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.”

           --1 Chronicles 16:10 “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!”

The Song of Peace—“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.”

           I think that the reasonableness here translates to peaceful.  Someone who is known as reasonable doesn't come across as hot-headed, ill-tempered, or divisive.  

Def of Peace: a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors. I think there are three elements of Peace here:

Be still before the Lord--Stop trying to do it all on your own time table.  Rest in mental and spiritual stillness.

           --Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”

           --Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”

Be at peace with God--Stop trying to reconcile the sin of your past with God or earn an audience with Him.  Come to him as a completely forgiven child.  

           --Psalm 103:12 “as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”

Trust God--He is in control anyway.  Yield your life to Him and trust His sovereignty. There is no actual control to be had beyond the control we have to lay down our life.  Any control we think we wrestle away from Him is illusionary. The struggle will only drive us crazy.

            --Prov 3:5-7

            --Jeremiah 29:11

The Song of Thanksgiving—“but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”

           Def: self-explanatory.  All of our conversations with God should stem from a thankful heart.  Regardless of whether we are in want or plenty, we should always be thankful. We should recognize that God gives us what He wants us to have, not what the world tells us we should have.  That's a key distinction there. 

           --Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me”

(2) What are some songs we shouldn’t sing?

      From Phil 4:6-7, I see three songs we should not be singing.     

The Song of Fear—“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything”

This one kind of goes without saying.  If we're living in constant fear of the bad that might happen, what good might not happen, or the fear that God will forgot about us, our song is going to sound just like the songs of the lost.  How then will we ever convince anyone of God's goodness.                   

            --Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you”

--Matthew 7:9-11 "Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

The Song of Indifference--"but in everything by prayer and supplication"

God wants our everything.  He doesn't want to us be on autopilot living with no intention at all, just headed whatever direction we're pointed.  Nor does he want us to live life like a pinball, bouncing around from one experience to the next.  He was us to passionately pursue Him.

              --Revelation 3:16 “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth”
The Song of Why—“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I've heard it said that you'll always get the wrong answer as long as you're asking the wrong question.  We spend too much time asking "Why?" in our lives.  We want to know why bad things happen, why God hasn't answered a prayer yet, and why He does what he does.  We aren't asking for understanding.  Instead, it's as if we are saying, "God, I need you to tell me what you're up to so I can let you know if I approve or not."  God doesn't need our approval.  And we don't need to know why.  We just need peace.  God knows what He's doing.  We just need the peace that surpasses understanding.  This will carry us much farther than knowing why.  

            

What influences the songs we sing?

Our Thought Life--Don't buy the lies that satan is telling you.  Use the shield of faith to defend your mind from the fiery arrows of the evil one.  Discipline your mind to focus on God and his truths.  This goes back to the not being on autopilot.  Take charge of your mind and fight the evil one.

           --Philippians 4:8-9: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Our social life--"If you lie down with dogs, you'll wake up with fleas"  It's easier to fall down than to stand up.

            --2 Corinthian 6:14: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness.”

             --2 Thessalonians 2:6: “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.”

What we Pursue--You can say you love God all day long, but your day planner, checkbook, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest will shout louder about what you truly worship.

            --Matthew 6:19, 24: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

             --Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

  

(3) How can we ensure we sing the right songs?

Fellowship--Surround yourself with people who desire to worship and serve God and who are singing the right songs.

             --Acts 2:42, 46: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God

              --Hebrews 13:15 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God”

Discipleship--Be involved in bible study with fellow believers that will help you dive deep into God's word.  

              --Proverbs 27:17: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another”

              --1 Thessalonians 5:13b-18: “Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Study--Learn God's word and consume it like your favorite food.

               --2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for  reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

To close I guess I just want to encourage you to be aware of the song you sing to the Lord.  We need to constantly check ourselves.  Sometimes we may be humming a tune our of habit and not even be aware of what we're singing.  Make sure your song is intentional.  And, just like my music experiment, make sure we aren’t just mindlessly singing worldly songs and complaints, always asking “why?” or for more “stuff” or for relief from situations we’ve gotten ourselves into by making bad choices.  We can call ourselves a sparrow or an eagle, but if we quack like a duck…I guess we’re a duck.

Witnessing

Christ witnessed in every moment of his life.  His every conversation, his every touch, his every response was a witness to how Awesome God is and how much God loves his people.  It sounds like it should be easier than I make it out to be, huh?  I think that's a trick that the devil and our culture play on us.  The devil, the great accuser, points out our flaws and sin and attempts to convince us that our life is inadequate and incapable of pointing someone to Christ.  He tries to shame us into silence. If he doesn't win, then the culture will definitely try to intimidate us.  The PC-ites will tell us that we can talk about Christ because He's "offensive" and "intolerant" so if we want to be liked and not make waves, "we should just keep our religion to ourselves."

Unfortunately, between the two, most of us are nullified.  I read a bible study today that had a great quote in it: "Too often we are more afraid of men than we are of God.  Most men (and women) dread being ridiculed by others."

I'd say that's a pretty fair assessment of our Christian culture.  We lied to by the devil and the world and we back down.  We're content to "let our actions tell our testimony."  While that is true, we should live with integrity, if we truly get who Jesus is (the greatest treasure ever.  Period), then there's no way to be silent about Him.  I'm not saying that we have to wear a sandwich board on the sidewalk and hurl insults at people.  Nor am I saying we have to follow some kind of step-by-step program to "sell" Jesus.  I'm saying it's more simple than that.

I have the ability to share my story in every conversation, every touch, and every response today.  I don't have to hand people a track and read them the Romans road in order to witness to them.  I just have to offer them love and verbalize my gratitude to God for all that He has done for me in my life.  Think about it like this:  If I was on trial as a key witness, I would not be responsible to convincing the jury of anything.  I just have to tell them what I saw.  I just have to tell them my story.  It's up to them to interpret my story.

My point?  Live a life of integrity where your actions line up with your values by all means.  But don't neglect vocalizing all that Jesus has done for you, especially the little stuff, to those you come in contact with.  Our joy in Christ should be spilling out all over people.  If they hate us for it, so be it.  Someone hating us for loving God does not nullify God in our lives.  In fact, I think Jesus said that it magnifies it.

Be blessed today!

The Struggle for Peace

Peace must be pursued.  It doesn't just come to you.  There is nothing passive about a life of peace.  You can't gain peace by osmosis.  You can't inherit peace.  You have to reach for it, chase after it, and hold on tight to it as you live your day-to-day life.
It isn't because the peace itself is fleeting or untamable.  On the contrary.  Peace is readily available for us through the Holy Spirit.  However, it's our own nature and disposition that will try to rip peace away from us.  Our attitude will do anything it can to distract us and keep us from trusting in Christ to be our peace.  Our self will scream for control and constantly tempt us to grab the reigns of our lives.  The problem is, unfortunately, you can't hold onto the reigns and to peace (that is Jesus).  Hence the struggle.
Peace is there, ready for the taking as a result of the Holy Spirit in our lives provided through our relationship with Jesus.  But, we have to be willing to step over the "dead man" (our former selves) to reach it.  Every day, we have to make the choice, do we hang on to us or do we grab on to peace.  Do we consistently and repeatedly drink from the well of life-- the scriptures--and bask in the presence of the author of life--Jesus?  Or do we rely on ourselves from situation to situation?  The choice seems obvious to me.

"Keep moving forward"

Exodus 14:10-15 ESV "When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward."

Background:  God has just performed all of the miracles of the plagues in Egypt through Moses his prophet in order to set the Israelites free from their captivity.

What were the plagues?
1. Plague of blood: Ex. 7:14–25
2. Plague of frogs: Ex. 7:25–8:11
3. Plague of lice or gnats: Ex. 8:16–19
4. Plague of flies or wild animals: Ex. 8:20–32
5. Plague of pestilence: Ex. 9:1–7
6. Plague of boils: Ex. 9:8–12
7. Plague of hail: Ex. 9:13–35
8. Plague of locusts: Ex. 10:1–20
9. Plague of darkness: Ex. 10:21–29
10. Death of the firstborn: Ex. 11:1–12:36.

During these miracles, none of the destruction or devastation affected the Israelites. And, when Pharaoh finally let them go, the Lord gave the Israelites favor in the Egyptians’ eyes to the point that the Israelites were able to plunder the Egyptians on their way out of the land. (Exodus 12:36).

So now, they are marching out of Egypt. God led them as a pillar of smoke in the day and ball of fire at night. And, interestingly enough, He could have lead them on a short cut through the land of the Philistines.  Instead, knowing that if the Israelites encountered war along the way, they’d lose their resolve and want to return to Egypt (Ex 13:17-18), God took them the long way around. Oddly enough, the Israelites left equipped for battle. Maybe they just thought they were prepared, but undoubtedly God knew better.

Have any of you ever looked back and thanked God for taking you the long way around? Did you realize you weren’t as prepared as you thought you were when God started moving you? I know I have. 

So, God is leading them through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Then, he tells Moses to camp between Migdol (which means large hill, tower, or fortified place) and the Red Sea. God literally stuck them between a rock and a hard place. And, wouldn't you know, He did it on purpose. (Ex 14:2-3)

Why do you think God did that? He was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he would change his mind and pursue the Israelites, thinking they are wondering aimlessly about in the wilderness, and exact revenge for the death of his son and for all the other plagues. Why is this a necessary piece to the story? After all, the Israelites were set free from their slavery. Problem solved, right? Ha, ha...ha

Present:  So, now we come to our passage. The Israelites are sandwiched between the Red Sea and the Migdol. And all of a sudden, here comes 600 of Pharaoh’s chariots, bearing down on them, loaded for bear.

Our Response: How did they respond? Do you think they lost their perspective, and forgot all that they had just witnessed first hand from God? How would you respond? Be honest. Do you think you would be like the Egyptians and forget all of the suffering back in Egypt and all of the miracles that God had done, and wish to be back there in captivity? I can honestly say that I have.

Moses Response:  How did Moses respond to their complaints and fear? What did he tell them to try and shift their perspective? Did he say work harder and try to figure out a way to escape? Did he tell them to prepare for the fight of their lives? Did he tell to save them selves? No! He reminded them who was fighting for them and who was in control. He basically told them to sit back and enjoy the show.

That is the perfect response! Why is it so easy for us to get wrapped up in the obstacles in front of us, even when we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has brought us to the place in which we’re standing?

What does James say about our trails? “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

Why is our amnesia so quick to set in? Luckily God knows our condition. That is why Moses gives the Israelites the command in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. (Look it up. It's too long to type out.)  We cannot afford to ever forget who God is and what all He has done for us. If we do, we will immediately lose our perspective and put our eyes on us.

Think about Peter and how he walked on water in Matthew 14:28-31. (Come on, look it up already!).  When did he start to sink? When he took his eyes off of Jesus. Didn't he get the answer to his prayer (request of Jesus)? Why did he fear then? Because he took his eyes off Jesus, literally.

God’s Response (the best part):  Does God get mad and punish the Israelites for their instant fear and lack of trust in Him? Does He decide to send them back to Egypt as slaves and revoke their salvation? Nope. Not this time. What does He tell Moses instead? Verse 15 says, “The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.” He’s already told them that He’s leading them out of captivity. Their job is to keep walking and not to get bogged down with fear, thereby losing focus on the path ahead (aka their PERSPECTIVE). 

He didn’t bring them out to fight and die. He brought them out to be free. All too ofter, we miss the freedom because we're consumed with the fight. Did Jesus die so we could fight? No, he died so we could be free. God will do the fighting for us!!!

Also, He has a purpose for their current situation as well.  He wanted to finish Pharaoh for good as a sign to the Israelites, as well as the surrounding nations, that Israel belongs to God, they are His children, and if anyone mess with them, they will have to deal with Him. It’s important to remember that God does not allow anything to happen, either bad or good, without a plan to redeem it for His glory.

Summary:  No matter what happens as we walk with God, we have to maintain our perspective. "How?," you ask. This is done by always remembering that through Jesus, you are a child of God, and remembering all of the things that God has done for you. That perspective is what will keep you attached to Jesus. Without the perspective that all of whatever is happening in and around you is ordained and purposed by God for His glory, the tendency and instinct will be to sink into self-centered, self-preservation mode. It keeps you looking inward instead of looking upward. If you’re not looking upward, you’re not going to see God. By looking inward, the only little-“g” god you’re going to see is yourself.

So, quit looking down at your trembling knees and...wait for it...KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

 May the Lord bless you with a renewed memory and perspective today and always.

I wanna be in the light!

John 3:20 "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works be exposed." I don't know about you, but I don't like it when I get called out for messing up. Whether it's by accident or as a result of missing the mark in my life, I hate that feeling I get when someone says, "Hey buddy, you sure dropped the ball on that one." My face gets red, my pits get sweaty, and my stomach thinks I'm on the steep drop of a roller coaster. It is humiliating. There is nothing pleasant about having to be corrected. So much so, that lots of people will avoid accountability at all costs. They'll point to others as the cause of their errors. They'll avoid spending time with those loved ones that aren't afraid to confront them. Some will even use drugs, alcohol, or promiscuity to dull their senses to that humiliating feeling of correction. These people would be called fools by proverbial standards. They avoid correction, and thus only compound their folly by continuing to walk in it. I think it's interesting that we often avoid correction that we so desperately need to fix our lives. John refers to people that do wicked things as ones who avoid the light. Of course, his reference to Light means Jesus, who is the light of the world. He is also truth, and not just any truth. He is the truth that sets us free. "Free from what?", you might ask. Free from the fear of humiliating correction. There is nothing to fear in bringing your mess-ups and mistakes to Christ. He won't meet you with ridicule or make you a laughing stock, much like the world will. He will embrace you, and love you. He will correct you through the Holy Spirit's conviction, but it is all in effort to restore you. It is interesting that John talks about hiding from the light and staying in darkness. Light will always overpower darkness. Even the tiniest pinhole can let enough light in to illuminate a pitch black room. In fact, the thicker the darkness, the more pervasive even the most minute beam of light is. And usually, it's that light to which we are drawn. As anyone that's ever been in a pitch black place, searching for a way out can attest, that tiny glimmer of light brings the greatest feeling of hope, relief, and freedom. So it is with the Light of this world. That thing you're doing to numb the nagging feeling (I know it's there because we all have it) that something isn't right isn't going to save you from anything in the long run. It will just prolong the inevitable. Let Christ be your light. Let Him shine in your life. If you've never trusted Christ with your entire life, or just certain pieces of it, what's holding you back? What's the worst that could happen? Christ never killed anyone. He only healed. Be healed and be encouraged! "If Christ is for us, who can be against us?" Have a blessed weekend.

Family Photo Shoot

One of the things I wanted for my 30th birthday was family photos taken. A friend of mine does photography & is fabulous so we finally got in with her (did I mention she was fabulous?!) You all know that a semi-pro photographer is what I want to be when I grow up- or my babies do a bit, for that matter, so I had researched my little heart out for poses & outfits & such leading up to it.

I was so pleasantly surprised due to the fact that little Miss Annsley was loving the wide open space & wanted nothing to do with posing for pictures (unless of course, we didn't want her in the shot) Ahh, the twos are beginning all ready... Anyways, here are a few of my faves!