People often quote Paul from 1 Cor. 15:31 when he says, “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily,” but they fail to keep it in context.  Paul often speaks of facing death due to persecution, and in Romans 8:36, he quotes Psalm 44:22, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  So what Paul is saying is he knows he’s risking his life and he’s willing to risk his life in order to do the will of God.

What did Jesus mean when He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”?  He had just begun to teach his disciples that the Son of man would have to suffer, then He admonished them that if they tried to save their lives, they would lose it, but if they were willing to lose their lives for His sake and the Gospel’s, they would save it.  Again, Jesus is talking about persecution and being willing to risk your life in order to do the will of God.  God’s will for Christ was to be born into this world, reveal the Father through miracles and teachings, suffer at the hands of man and bear all the sins for all time, be crucified in the most humiliating fashion paying our penalty for sin, be buried and rise again on the third day so we can be declared righteous and be reconciled to God.  Christ’s cross was to do the will of God, even though in His humanity He asked that it be taken from Him, that He wouldn’t have to go through with it, but He loved the Father so much, and He loves us so much, that He was willing.  Our cross is the same as His–to do the will of God wherever that may lead.  Will we do it perfectly like Jesus did?  Probably not, but praise God He doesn’t give up on us and cast us aside!

The obvious danger of dying to self is the risk of facing ridicule, loss, and even death, but the obscure danger of dying to self comes when the focus is still on self.  Scott, a good friend of mine and resident theologian for a large Christian ministry said, “One doesn’t pick and choose the topics, the moments or actions for which one ‘dies to self’–it is an abiding attitude.  Otherwise it is simply a legalistic act in the flesh to achieve recognition for pseudo-righteousness.”

Those whose focus is on self often think of themselves as martyrs.  That’s almost like wearing a ‘HUMBLE’ button!

As my pastor often points out, it is the heart that counts.  And one of the things I appreciate about his teachings on dying to self is he focuses less on dying and more on living for Christ and others.  Isn’t that what it’s really all about?  Steve Cobb, pastor of Temple Baptist Church in New Bern, NC said this, “You’ve given up your life without Christ in order to embrace your life with Him.”

Has God ever spoken to you through a dream?  I had a dream a few nights ago, and while I don’t remember every detail, I do remember the instruction given.  “Go and read what came before the High Priestly prayer.”

I’ve never received a message so clear and direct, so I got up and read the verse before Jesus begins to pray, but since it begins with, “These things I have spoken unto you,” I asked, “What things?” and started further back to Chapter 16, verse 1.  But it, too, starts with, “These things have I spoken unto you,” so I went back further to the beginning of Chapter 15 and read all the way through to the end of the High Priestly prayer in Chapter 17.  What was God trying to tell me?  It seemed to be a confirmation of the Spirit’s still small voice reminding me a few days earlier that I cannot bear good and lasting fruit on my own.  Only the Spirit can produce the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in my life.   But I sensed there must be more, so I continued to read and study over the next couple of days.

While browsing some posts in a social network, I happened upon a message by D.A. Carson entitled The Supremacy of Christ and Love in a Postmodern World, which centered around Jesus’ High Priestly prayer!  Coincidence?  I think not.  Interestingly as well, the subject of ‘glory’ had come up on another occasion, and it is one of the subjects Carson touched on.  I wish I could share his whole message in a nutshell, but I’ll simply share a few highlights that pertain to what I believe God wanted to communicate to me as a reminder and encouragement of His love and work in my life.

I love Him, because He first loved me.  (1 John 4:19)

Jesus wants us to be one as He and the Father are one.  “That all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”  –D.A. Carson paraphrasing parts of verses 20-23

Jesus is not only one with God and is Himself God, but He is also not the Son of God through DNA, despite what some sects may teach.  Besides being the only begotten Son of God because He came from the Godhead and added humanity to His deity, He loves the Father and does whatever He sees His Father doing, because He is the Son of God and no man has ever seen the Father except the Son.  We become children of God when we accept Jesus’ work on the cross, and we ‘prove’ our sonship by loving Him and doing what we see Him doing, when we do the work He has given us to do, just as Jesus did the work the Father gave Him to do.  Compare what Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees in John 8:38-45.

“You are not what you think you are, but what you think, you are,” a quote by Norman Vincent Peale that parallels Proverbs 23:7a, “For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he…”  “In terms of social interaction we’re pretty nice people, reasonably disciplined, don’t blow up too often.  But would you really like everybody… to see a transcript of every thought you have thought today?”  –D.A. Carson

Jesus wants the full measure of His joy to be in us.  He wants us to be with Him forever and to see the glory He had from before the foundation of the world.  When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God said, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee…”  (Exodus 33:19a)

While I was walking the treadmill at the gym last night, Criminal Minds was playing on the monitor in front of me.  Although I am fascinated with human behavior, watching evil being portrayed and knowing it actually exists is very disturbing.  Oh!  To be where Jesus is, to experience the full measure of His joy, to see His glory and be in the midst of goodness and be one with God who is love!  As Juba says in Gladiator, “Not yet,” at least not in its fullness, but we can catch a glimpse of it when we do what we have been created to do.  But unless we open our eyes and ears, we may miss seeing and hearing what the Father is doing and miss His invitation when He invites us in.  Do you understand that?  If we can only grasp what we have available through the Lord Jesus — perfect communion with the Father, perfect reconciliation — we can rest in grace.  He has invited us in.  We don’t have to knock down the door.  We don’t have to beg, plead, clean ourselves up, or offer bribes.  Jesus Christ has already provided the perfect offering, and He invites us in.

It’s funny, but I have another post I’ve been contemplating, and as I was trying to decide which to do first, I thought, “Duh!  Where do you see God working?”  Thank you, Father, for inviting me in.

I attended my 30th class reunion last month and was also able to spend some time with my mom, as well as a week on the beach by myself.  A business associate owns a condo right on the beach, so I took the opportunity to stay there and use the time to reflect on things.

One day while strolling down the nearby pier, I noticed the beach seemed to end in the distance, so I decided to check it out the next day.  It was cloudy when I started, so I didn’t think I’d need sunglasses.  But by the time I was nearing the inlet where a few fisherman had driven their four-wheel trucks to take advantage of the location, the sun was peeking through the clouds and creating some glare.  I wished I’d brought my sunglasses.  As I reached the inlet, I spotted a pair of sunglasses in the waves!  They were women’s sunglasses!  While I hadn’t offered up a prayer for them, I thanked my Father all the same.  What a pleasant and unexpected surprise!

The next day I decided to walk in the opposite direction to check out the boardwalk.  I wanted to feel the sand between my toes, so, with a little red plastic child’s bucket in hand for shells, I started off with my flip flops in the bucket not knowing if I’d need shoes in one of the shops.  A short way into the walk, the bucket handle developed a crack which eventually turned into a break.  I attempted to hold the handles together and carry the bucket normally, but the broken ends kept sliding apart.  How inconvenient.  Remembering God’s provision of the sunglasses, this time I prayed and asked if He would send something to hold the handles together.  I kept watching for some twine or seaweed or something similar as I continued to walk.  Suddenly something red in the waves caught my attention – a small deflated red balloon matching my little red bucket!  I chased it down and tied it to the broken handles; the stretchy rubber was the perfect material to hold the handle halves together and keep them from slipping.  Thank you, Father, for expressing Your love to me during a time of physical, emotional, and spiritual need.

If you wonder why similar things have never happened to you, or maybe think I make far too much of ‘coincidental’ provision from God, perhaps it might be good to consider the Person of the God of the Bible.   The song You Love Me Anyway by Sidewalk Prophets comes to mind… “With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace, And then alone in the night, I still called out for You, So ashamed of my life, my life, my life, But you love me anyway…”  And like Casting Crowns wrote in Who Am I?, “Not because of who I am.  But because of what You’ve done.  Not because of what I’ve done.  But because of who You are…”

God loves you, too, and He’s waiting to express His love to you.  It probably won’t be in the same way or even a way you expect, but maybe you should go for a walk or take some alone time to reflect on things, and keep your eyes… and ears open.  “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”  (Psalm 34:18)

However, I went to a perennial garden on an outing with a ladies’ Bible study group and I was so blessed to find some tomato plants being given away… FREE!  They looked a bit ‘leggy’ but they already had fruit and they were  f-r-e-e!  I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth but rather saw them as a precious gift from my heavenly Father.  He sends rain on the just and on the unjust… on compulsives and procrastinators alike… even procrastinators like me who have proven to be less than diligent stewards.

Anyway, when a friend and I were talking about gardens and veggies before I’d gotten the free plants, I’d mentioned my tiny seedlings and lamented about the probability of not harvesting any fruit.  He’s an experienced gardener and told me to use 10-10-10.  I reasoned it must be fertilizer, but I asked if it was like Miracle Gro®.  He confirmed it was fertilizer but that I shouldn’t use the miracle plant food because it tends to produce a lot of foliage and little fruit.  After doing some research I learned that too much nitrogen will produce lots of leaves but the plant will either not blossom at all or it will produce very few.

Hmm… we can be like that as Christians sometimes, can’t we?  We do things to make ourselves look very mature, but without the right heart attitude and being guided by the Spirit we end up like a lush tomato plant with lots of leaves and little fruit.  I’d rather have fruit and few leaves than no fruit at all, just like my free tomato plants.  I mean, after all, what’s the purpose of having tomato plants anyway?  To make my garden look good so I can show others what a great gardener I am, or to enjoy its fruit?  So… are we nourishing others with our fruit, or do they go away hungry?

The book is a blank journal in which he has begun a tradition of writing a letter to her for each birthday.  For her first birthday he recorded some of her favorite things, her accomplishments, her characteristics, and an exhortation to always remember not only that he loves her and thinks she is beautiful, but God does, too, “and His opinion is what really matters”.  What a rare and precious gift.  Did I already say how proud I am of him?

Yesterday, my oldest son, Chris, came across this heart in a piece of lumber while he was working.  As I came out of my room after taking a nap, he said, “Mom, I have a present for you,” and he proceeded to pull it from his pocket.  Wasn’t it sweet of him to think of me and take the time to cut the piece of wood down to size?  I heart you, too, Chris.

I’ve been thinking a lot about love lately.  I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that there are different forms of love for the one English word, but the Greek language has four words:  storge, a natural family affection; phileo, a brotherly love; eros, an erotic love; and agape, the highest form of love because it is given unconditionally and is the most difficult one to give.

One of the ‘Beatitudes for Homemakers’ says, “Blessed is she whom children love, for the love of a child is of greater value than fortune or fame”.  I feel so blessed to be loved by my children… and now by my granddaughter.  When she holds out her arms to me, it just melts my heart.

Have you ever found strength and courage in love?  Laozi, a Chinese philosopher said, “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”  In times of distress when you feel like you cannot go on, have you ever looked into the face of a child and found the strength, courage, and determination to persevere?  I’ve heard so many people express strength to accomplish something difficult for the love of family… a wife, a husband, or children… or even for the love of country.

Have you ever been afraid to love?  Ann Radcliffe, an American author, wrote, “Such is the inconsistency of real love, that it is always awake to suspicion, however unreasonable; always requiring new assurances from the object of its affection”.  Really?  The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  The context speaks of God’s love for us expressed by the sending of His Son as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins in order to be reconciled to Him.  God’s love is perfect, and we should have no fear in loving Him and receiving His love.

In the monologue The Woman at the Well, Chris Kinsley and Drew Francis expressed, “To be known is to be loved, and to be loved is to be known”.  Isn’t there a phrase that says we fear what we don’t know?  Although we also fear what we do know by experience, sometimes we fear what we think we know and have imagined, instead of seeking to know what is true.  We judge unrighteously and without knowledge and may miss out on love and happiness as a result.

I recently watched a short, humorous video by The Skit Guys called Romantically Challenged.  In it, one of the questions asked was, “How many of you have ever done anything for your wife without desiring anything in return?”  Is that a guy thing?  Not that women don’t ever do things without expecting something in return, but the video seemed to portray it as a common thing among men.  Did you know the Bible commands husbands to love their wives?  I know part of the reason is because feeling loved is one of the most basic needs women have, just as being honored and respected is one of the most basic needs and expression of love that men have, but I find it interesting that the Bible often instructs us in the area of our weaknesses.  Hmm…  Leo F. Buscaglia said, “Love is always bestowed as a gift —freely, willing, and without expectation.  We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.”

While there is no formula for love, and if you’re looking for a formula, your focus is misplaced, nevertheless, it’s always nice to get some ideas of how we can express our affection to someone we love.  First and foremost get to know them, what they like and don’t like, and what’s important to them.  David Augsburger, an American Anabaptist author said, “Being heard is so close to being loved that, for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”  My son knows that I love photography and finding shapes, especially hearts, in everything from clouds to reflections of light and from wood to cracked asphalt.  He knows me.  He has taken the time to listen.  And when he saw the heart-shaped knot in a rough piece of lumber, he knew that although it may mean very little to someone else, it would be very meaningful to me.  Some people like gifts, while others like acts of service such as helping with housework, and still others need a physical touch.  Amy Carmichael, a Christian missionary said, “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”

And one more thing.  Love is like a Ninja, popping up when you least expect it and turning your world upside-down.  (^_~)

Anyway, here is a link to a bit of inspiration from a friend:  Cracked Pots

And if you’re interested, here’s the link to my other blog:  Sweet Capture Photography

Thank you for visiting.