Not When it Becomes a Ritual

So I haven't been posting anything lately.  Not because I'm not reading and meditating on the verses given in The Joshua Code...but because my writing had started to become more about the ritual of it than the relationship growing from it.  So I stopped.  My heart wasn't in the right place.

After taking this break, I can feel a little tug at my heart to start again.  This is what it's all about, for me,  in doing this.  I'm glad if anyone else enjoys what I write, but I'm most happy when all this spurs on a deeper relationship with Jesus...by getting to know Him through His Word.

Here's the verses that we've missed over the last 5 weeks on the blog here.  I encourage you to go into your Bible, read them, pray about them, and let them touch your heart.

1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".

Luke 10:27
" 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself'."

John 13:34
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

1 Corinthians 10:31
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God".

1 Samuel 16:7
"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Follow Him

I love reading Mark 1:17 "Then Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men'."  Jesus didn't say "Hey, guys, you look like you could learn a few things and then come work for me...ya know, when you've cleaned up your act".  He didn't ask "Got any good character references?".  He just said "Follow Me".  Like, now!  Jesus wanted them just as they were.  He didn't wait for them to go clean up their appearance or their lives.

He doesn't ask us to do that either!  The invitation is always there - just waiting for us - to Follow Him.

I know a few ladies who did just that.  They chose, at various times in their lives to follow Jesus.  They each have their own stories and backgrounds and, from what I've come to know about them, none of them were perfect at the time they said yes to His invitation.  But they were open, they were real, and they fished me out of the deep waters I'd gotten myself into.  They showed me what life was like with Jesus vs what my life was like without Him.  I am forever and eternally grateful for their example to me, and how they - by following Him - showed me how I could do the same.

God is Love, So I'm Okay - Right?

I used to think I was a pretty good person.  I didn't steal, I tried not to lie, I helped other people.  I certainly didn't murder anyone.  I was a good person, more often than not.  I used the think that was enough...God is love, so I was okay.  Right?

What I never thought about, was Jesus.  If I could be "good enough", then why did He have to die on the cross?  The problem with my thinking was that I could never be or do enough good to make myself acceptable to God.  I didn't lie much, but if I'm honest with myself, I still lied now and then.  I didn't always help other people...I wasn't always nice to my parents, let alone honoring to them.  Sometimes I got really jealous when someone else had something I wanted for myself!  I was/am/always will be far from perfect.  I can't possibly keep all of the rules that God laid out for us in Exodus.  Nobody can.  That's why He gave them to us...to show us our need for Him.  For Jesus.

In Galatians 2, we can see how dangerous it is to believe what I used to...thinking I could earn God's love through my actions.  Verse 21 lays it all out on the line "...for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

But He did die.  On the cross.  For me, and for you!  Our verse this week is actually Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  Our sins died with Him on the cross.  He paid it all.  Our debt, the cost for our sin, should be death (Romans 6:23).  God is love, though, and He made a way out...to redeem us with Christs blood on the cross.

I am no longer who I used to be...struggling in my own efforts.  Christ is in me.  The resurrection power of Christ - it is my strength to live this life in a new way - for Him.  I'm not saying all of a sudden I am perfect because I live by faith in Jesus - not even close!  But He is at work, in me, changing my heart, my mind, and my actions through His great love.

God Calls Us His Own.

It all goes back to a relationship.  God calls us His own.  He calls us by name.  He asks us to seek Him, to forgo our selfish desires, to pray.  He promises He will hear us.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

So, Do You?

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.  Do you believe this?""  John 11:25-26

Ask yourself this.  Then replace the word 'believe' with the word 'trust'.  It might be the most important questions you ever have to answer.

He Cares for You

In an attempt to get caught up - here is last week's verse.

John 11:35 "Jesus Wept".

It is true - He cares for us.  He mourns with us, He feels our broken hearts of sadness.  He is there in our struggles and in our worry.  We don't have to carry these burdens on our own.  Trust God, because He cares for you, just like it says in 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you".

Heeding Wisdom's Instruction

Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction."  (Some versions use the word perish in place of cast off restraint)

Pretty simple message - without God's word we are lost.  When we treasure up God's word in our hearts, listen to what He says, DO what He says - we are blessed.  He knows the plans already, so why not trust His vision for our lives?!?

(Sorry for not posting this last week!)

Know What You Believe

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17

What do you believe?  Did a bunch of random people write the Bible?  Or, is it more than that?  Did God divinely inspire every word?  I think this is a huge faith building or busting deal to consider and know what you really believe about this.

Food for thought:  If people wrote the Bible, on their own, how on Earth can you trust what it says and what it means?  Not just bits and pieces - the whole Bible.  Do you believe that it is, in it's entirety, the divine inspiration from God himself?

Saying I'm Sorry Isn't Always Enough

My son argued with me, again, over picking up his room.  We both got upset, he got a time-out, after which he ended up cleaning his room like he needed to...then he apologized to me, again.  My other son refused to turn off the video game, again.  We both got upset, he got a time-out, after which he wasn't allowed back on the video game...then he apologized to me, again.  Both situations, again and again.  Were they truly sorry afterwards? I believe they were.  However, they did not change anything about their behavior the next time I asked for the bedroom to be cleaned or the video game to be turned off.  It happens again and again and again. They're sorry, but they never did what I was hoping for - to repent.  They never changed their behavior, and we all had to endure the power struggles and frustration that go along with it all.  Sometimes, saying I'm sorry isn't enough.

Repent.  Exactly what God graciously waits for us to do.  To turn from our sin, not just be sorry for what we've done - to change our behavior!  Matthew 4:17, our verse this week, "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near' ".  He tells us specifically - change our hearts and minds...not to stop at being sorry when we sin.  Repent - turn from our sin - and for good reason.  He is near.  He wants our lives to be better than what we can have on our own.  When we are obedient and tune our hearts to God's desires, we experience the grace He has waiting for us.  The peace, joy, and loving relationship He offers us freely.

Confidence in His Promise

A tomato can't plant itself.  Seems like a logical statement, right?  Think about it.  A gardener has to seek out the seed first. Then carefully and at the right time, sew the seed into the right kind of soil.  Provide protection. Provide water.  Provide sunlight. Under these perfect conditions, the seed will germinate and start to grow. But it still can't grow on it's own.  It is completely reliant on the same protection, water, and sunlight that is provided by the gardener.  As the seedling grows the Gardener provides a larger pot with more soil so the plant can spread it's roots, and provide a good foundation for the plant.  When it is time, and the plant has matured a little more, the Gardener can then bring the plant outside to be transplanted into a sunny spot in the garden...where it will grown even more and eventually bear fruit.  But the fruit only comes because the Gardener never stops providing the same protection, water, and light.  The tomato can do nothing without the Gardener planning it out first, and doing the work needed to see the plant through to the harvest.

"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ."

Philippians 1:6

In the same way, what can we do that God hasn't already planned for and prepared us for?   God didn't send Jesus to the cross when we came to Him for salvation.  That was already done - He began that good work.  When we accepted Christ, we became like the seedling...growing because of everything the Gardener had already planned for and worked hard for.  But we don't grow on our own strength...we rely on Him to carry out His work until completion.  He is faithful.  He planned for you.  If you feel lost or discouraged, turn your head up - soak in His light.  Stretch out your hands, and let His Word be the water you need.  He is your protector.  Study the Scripture he has waiting for you...grow those roots in the foundation of His strength and power.  Be confident of His promise.

My Way or the Most High Way?

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

1 Corinthians 10:13

Anyone ever heard that one before?  I know I did...and it may raise a few questions - especially for the new believer.  For instance - who tempts us - God or the Devil?  Quick answer - James 1:13-14.  A resounding NO, God does not tempt us.  But keep in mind, that's no excuse to say "the devil made me do it".  WE have our own choices to make whenever we are tempted by the devil.  We're all going to be tempted, "it's common to mankind".  Jesus was also tempted, so He's not surprised when we are.  We should expect it (the verse says "WHEN you are tempted", not IF)...and therefore we should be prepared for it.

God is faithful.  I have experienced this so many times, in many different ways.  The foundation for understanding God's faithfulness has always been grounded in my trust for Him.  This is based on my knowledge of the Scriptures (or desperately seeking wisdom and guidance there when I need immediate help), and is reliant on the closeness of my relationship with Him.  When I am tempted - the memory verse above is a strong foundation to put your trust in.  But when I was in the midst of temptation - I needed to know HOW would He provide a way out.  In His faithfulness, and in my desperation, I found another verse - "Flee from the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22.  My way out was to flee and to pursue. God provided a way out - but it was still up to me.  I had to go my way or the Most High way.

There are so many helpful scripture verses, if you're looking for wisdom, strength, and hope.  Search for them, write them down, hold onto His word tightly...and He will be there ready when you need Him.  Here are some examples that I've drawn strength from, sometimes in my immediate time of need - and others in preparation for temptations to come.  Please feel free to share yours in the comments!

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  (Wisdom!)

Philippians 4:12-13 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned to be content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.  (Strength to do His will)

Romans 15:13  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"  (catch that - hope through His power!)

The Unsearchable Things

What are you going through today?  Have anything that's not easy to understand...starting to bring up any thoughts like "WHY...?"  Maybe even "If God is Love/Good, then WHY...?"   Sometimes there are no easy answers when life situations call up these hard feelings.  However, we must be careful not to rely on our feelings - which so easily change like the direction of the wind.  In our finite minds, sometimes things just don't make any sense!  And, when things do not make any sense, we can lean into this verse "Call to me, and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know".  Jeremiah 33:3

This verse is one giant open handed invitation for us to meet with God, right where we're at, in prayer.  In relationship, with the Most High...the Lord over both calamities and good things (Lamentations 3:37-38).  It's easy to see God's love when things are easy.  However, if we back up a few verses and look at  Lamentations 32-33, we can rest in the fact that "though He brings grief, He will show compassion".  It might seem contradictory, but I hope it would bring you rest and peace in knowing that - whatever you're going through - God has a loving purpose through it.  "In ALL things" (Romans 8:28).  The good, the bad, and the ugly - He is in it, right there with us...and He's holding out His hand, offering us relationship through prayer, and His promise to answer us.  Knowing God intimately through prayer and relationship will be a comfort, even when we don't understand how He answers prayer, or what His plans are through our circumstance - in those unsearchable things.  Call on Him.

Growing. Living and Active.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness,goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23

Don't miss that part..."of the Spirit".  Not through my own efforts.  Not through my hard work.  I am naturally disinclined to be most of these!  The Word isn't saying that I need to change myself, by myself to be what Christ planned for me.  It IS saying, however, that when I am connected to Him - the fruit of that relationship is - love, and all the rest draw from it.  My relationship with God is living and active.  It grows and develops in the changing seasons of my life.  And, through that, my character in Christ also grows and develops.  Sometimes I go in the wrong direction...and what do you think suffers first?

Sometimes the Truth is Hard to Swallow

Ephesians 5:18 tells us "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit".

So what does it mean to be filled?   Webster's has a few definitions, one of them being "to spread all through (an area, the air, etc.)".  Interesting.  When I'm having a bad day and my mind is full of complaining and negative thoughts, guess what spills out?  When I'm overwhelmed and stressed, how do I treat people?  But really, you don't even have to get that deep to understand this.  Picture a glass of milk.  It can be empty, have just a little bit inside, be half empty (or half full, depending on your personality), or it can be filled.  However, unless it's filled - there's always something else in the glass.  Even if we're just talking about air (nothing is still something).  You can also add things to the milk - let's say some chocolate syrup...go with me here.  If I have a pretty full glass of milk, and I add syrup to it, it's still just syrup and milk till I mix them together.  But when I do that, I can't get the milk back to it's original form - I've got to dump it out and refill it with the real thing

If I'm filled with the Spirit (the milk), there's no room for anything else, and the only thing that can be poured out from me is the Spirit.  If I'm only half full, then part of what's going to come out is empty - air - nothing.  Additionally, if I mix anything else in with the Spirit (even if we're talking something "good" like chocolate syrup), then I don't have the pure Spirit to be poured out.

Did you ever hear something that sounded like the the Truth, but was sweetened up?  Gotta be careful with that.  Sometimes the Truth is just hard to swallow.

Make sure what you're filled up with is the pure Truth, the true Spirit.  Only then can we be truly filled, so that we can do what comes in the next verse "speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.  Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord."   And isn't that how it feels when you are filled with the Spirit - filled, as in it spreads all through you.  When there's no room for anything else, it just spills out and makes me overflow with joy and praise.  (And you don't need to worry about the nasty hangover that wine can bring!)

Active. Persistent. Prayer.

Have you seen the movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?  It's a movie I could watch countless times over and over...and still pick out things I've missed before.  I was thinking about the bible verse for this week (Matthew 7:7):

"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you."

It made me think of the scene when the blind seer says something about seeking a fortune, although it might not be the fortune you get.  I had to Google it, but here's the whole quote from the movie:  "You seek a great fortune, you three who are now in chains.  You will find a fortune, though it will not be the one you seek.  But first...first you must travel a long and difficult road, a road fraught with peril.  Mm-hmm.  You shall see thangs, wonderful to tell.  You shall see a...a cow...on the roof of a cotton house, ha.  And, oh so many startlements.  I cannot tell you how long this road shall be, but fear not the obstacles in your path, for fate has vouchsafed your reward.  Though the road may wind, yea, your hearts grow weary, still shall ye follow them, even unto your salvation."

Going back to Matthew 7:7, we're told to be active in our prayer.  To "ask, and it will be given to you".  How many times have you done that - only to get either nothing like what you wanted or even nothing at all?  It might even make you want to give up sometimes - why bother asking?!?  However, what about those times when you asked and, although what you received wasn't the fortune you hoped for, oh what a fortune you were given!!  

We're told not to just ask - but to seek!  When we receive God, His grace, His blessings - we are told to seek, and we will find.  To follow hard after God and His will for our lives...it may take a long time, and there are sure to be bumps in the road.  But He promises "we will find".  Yet don't stop there!  We are told to be persistent - to "knock and the door will be opened".  Active.  Persistent.  Prayer.  Connection and relationship with the One who gives and takes away.  Asking, seeking, knocking - continuously - as we follow our Lord and His will for our lives.  Though it may not be what we had planned or hoped for...follow Him, and it will be given, you will find, and the door will be opened.

It was the Lord's Will

I love reading The Joshua Code and the insights it brings to the memory verses.  But sometimes you just have to go to the source in the Word and really get a sense for the context and what is there for us to learn, absorb, and hold onto.  So I'd encourage you this week, as we focus on Isaiah 53:6, to get out your Bible and read through all of Chapter 53.

I consider what Christ endured for me: the rejection, the judgement, the oppression, the suffering.  I read that all of these things happened because (in 53:10) "...it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer..." and it brings me to a quick halt when I remember that:

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."
(Isaiah 53:6)

It makes me pause in wonder that even though I turned away from Him, Christ died for me.  He was judged - for me.  He suffered - for me. It was the Lord's will to "lay on Him the iniquity of us all".  Iniquity is a fancy word, but it is defined as 'the quality of being evil' and 'wickedness' and 'gross immorality'.  It was His will that Jesus, in his complete absence of anything evil, wicked, or immoral, get the punishment, pain, and death that I deserve for my iniquity.  He knew what I needed before I ever did, before I could try to "earn it" and when I foolishly thought I was somehow able to be "good enough" for that kind of love.  

He did all this for you too.

Seek Righteousness

Did you know there are 92 verses in the Bible that mention the word righteousness?  Being made correct by divine declaration...it's that important!  Zephaniah 2:3 tells us "...Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger".  Romans 3:21-22 goes a little further "But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known...This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe".  Our verse this week goes one step more:

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled"
Matthew 5:6

With these words, Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst for this righteousness will be filled.  We will be blessed.  However, we do not obtain wealth and happiness as blessing...but hope and joy that are not based on the circumstances of this world.  They are not temporary, but everlasting!  We are blessed with the Kingdom of Heaven.

Take Care of Your Coat!

On New Year's Eve I wore my favorite coat to our friend's house.  When we got there, I didn't take the time to hang it up properly, and through the evening it fell to the floor and got stepped on by all the kids running through the house.  When it came time to leave - I realized that the white fur collar was matted grey and full of salt and dirt.  Unwearable...I'd have to get it cleaned.  That was four weeks ago now, and finally last week I took it in and picked it up today from the cleaners.  While I was there, the woman behind the counter said to me - twice - "take care of your coat"!  As I was walking through the parking lot, I noticed that I held my coat high above the wet and salty pavement.  When I got to my truck, I placed it carefully on the seat and made sure it was secure.  When I got home, I was so excited to put it back on so I could look my best when I went shopping with my husband.

The way she kept repeating "take care of your coat" made me think of Ephesians 6:11 "Clothe yourselves in the armor of God..."   And the thought struck me - we all need to take care of our coat - to always be ready with our full armor of God so that we can stand our ground.  It was a good reminder why it's so important that I keep on with my scripture memorization..to treat this learning as special...and take care of my coat (of armor - see what I did there?).

"And we know, that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28

This verse has strengthened me in many ways.  I keep it in mind at all times...I even wear it on a ring on my right hand as a reminder.  It's helpful to know - in good times and bad - that we know He is working things out for His purpose and our good.  Even when things don't happen in my desired timing, my desired outcome, or my desired method.  He is sovereign and, when I'm struggling to be in control of my circumstance, it brings me peace to know what is happening is all under God's perfect loving control.

Just me. Just God.

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want"

Psalm 23:1

I was pondering this verse today and it struck me how personal it is.  Look at it for a minute...read it slowly to yourself.  Just me.  Just God.  Nobody else is mentioned.  With the Lord God leading me, I have everything I need.

Yet, where would I be without Him leading?  (After all, a good shepherd doesn't drive his herd from behind by swatting them along their way).  I was looking into this and, in the following verses of this Psalm, the word "leads" was translated from "nāhal", which means to guide by walking beside.  When I try to explain what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus, this would be a great verse to talk about!  The Lord, walking right next to me, leading me.  The one and only Lord!  That's my Shepherd (and yours too).  With Him  - I want for nothing.

What a connection to have.  What a statement of trust!

This is Amazing Grace

New year...new home, new school, new chance to get back into God's word.  The past few years we've done year long Bible reading plans, usually a chapter each day.  If you've followed along from the beginning, we've completely read through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice.  Last year, I tried to introduce something new...but I couldn't keep up with it in addition to everything else.  However, I didn't forget about it...and now I'm going back into my plan for this year.  Are you ready for it.....I know I am (finally).....(insert drum roll and musical dramatic effect here - daaaa, daaaa, DAAAAAAA)

Scripture Memorization

I'm going back to the book "The Joshua Code" (you may have noticed the gigantic link over to your right).  You're welcome.  Yes, that's the book!  You can click on the little arrow pointing down (next to the word Scribd) download the entire PDF version of the book for free...and it's snowing outside today so now you don't even need to go to the bookstore to buy it.  Like I said - you're welcome!  All the work has been done for you...

Which brings me to the verse for this week.  Yep - this week.  Not every day...just one verse each week.  One verse to meditate on, study, research, pray on...letting the Word soak into our minds and our hearts so it can become our strength.  If you'd like to join me on this journey, you can go into the book and look up the last two verses to get caught up (you probably already know them).  But I'm jumping into this week, so here we go!

"For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that is not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God."
Ephesians 2:8

God is telling us "You're welcome" too.  It's all been done for us!  We've been singing a song in church the past couple of weeks called "This is Amazing Grace".  Here's the chorus (sing along if you know it)...

This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That you would take my place
That you would bear my cross
You'd lay down your life
That I would be set free
Jesus I sing for - all that you've done for me

Grace:  Getting what we do not deserve.  Amazing Grace.