Make Up Your Mind

The root word for resolution is to resolve; to determine a set course of action.  A new year is quickly approaching.  Have you made up your mind to set a course of action? Have you made a decision to find a solution to some unresolved question in your life?   Have you decided to rectify a difficult situation? Are you determined to make right a bad relationship?  Before making up your mind, make sure it has already been renewed.

 

Romans 12:1-2New King James Version (NKJV)

Living Sacrifices to God

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 

The Apostle Paul lays out his doctrinal teaching in Romans chapters 1-11.  He delineates the mercies that God has bestowed on each of us.  Chapter 12 begins with, therefore, make up your mind.  After considering what God has done on your behalf, resolve to give yourself totally to Him.  Allow the Holy Spirit to transform you from the inside out.  Doctrine must eventually translate into a changed life.  Your mind needs to be renewed, replenished, revived and refreshed.  We can all enter 2015 with our minds made up by the power of the Spirit to do what God expects which is the least we can do.   Seriously, it’s time to make up your mind.

The Christmas Gift

Matthew 1:21

²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

The Christmas cards have arrived.  The tree is sparkling and brilliant.  The presents are wrapped and stowed beneath the tree.  One particular card struck put this season in perspective for me. 

Remember, the most precious gift was not wrapped in decorative paper, but in swaddling clothes!

How wonderful is that!  The Savior of the world, our Redeemer appeared to us in pieced together, used linen. Not gold cellophane or satin foil-lined paper but lowly rags.  The best gift we could ever receive came to us as a simple offering.  Before opening gifts this Christmas morning, take time to thank God for the Gift He sent over 2000 years ago.  Glorify God, because the greatest gift has already been open.

 

 

It Didn't Look Right

 

I was putting away eggs a few days ago.  This one did not feel right and upon further inspection, it didn’t look right either.  I have never seen an egg shell with ridges and a rough texture.  At first, it looked like a golf ball, out of place.  This could not be an egg, at least not one I would want to eat.  It may be an egg on the inside but the outside was highly questionable.  It just didn’t look right.

Ephesians 4:17-24

The New Man

¹⁷ This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of^[a] the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; ¹⁹ who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

²⁰ But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

In our former unregenerate lives, we had an outer covering that did not look right.  At salvation, the Holy Spirit came to dwell with us and changed us on the inside.  Our conduct should change so that our outer selves reflect who we are on the inside.  The world ought to be able to recognize us by our outer covering.  Let’s not let the world touch and look at us and not be able to recognize us as Christian.  They cannot know our hearts but they can examine our lives. 

You know what happened to the egg that did not look or feel like an egg.  I threw it out. Because it just didn’t look right.  Let that not happen to you.

 

Tears in Heaven

Tears are flowing all around me.  Death has come to my friends and family.  Hearts are heavy and hope is fading.  How much are we expected to bare?  Does God know and comprehend the pain?  Does He care?

Psalm 56:8

⁸ You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle
Are they not in Your book?

God numbers our tears.  Not a drop is wasted.  He records them in His book.  Each tear is significant to Him.  Every life, every death has meaning.  We can be comforted in knowing God takes notice of our suffering and will show compassion and concern towards us.  He never leaves or forsakes us.  Those precious bottled up tears will soon turn to joy.  We can be strong knowing our tears are in God's hand.

Time Change

Time passes quickly.  This tree had been full and green in September.  As I sat at my work station, charting, returning calls and reviewing lab and x-ray results, the tree outside my window turned to a yellow/orange hue.  The leaves fell away as the wind blew. It will soon be bare.  When did all this happen?  Had I done anything of consequence while the tree turned from green to yellow?

John 9:4

⁴ I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Time is short.  Time for us is finite.  What have you been doing with your days?  Can you honestly say your days have been filled with witnessing, teaching, mentoring, worshipping or praising the Lord?  One day we will look up and the leaves will have fallen and the night will have come.  Be aware, every day.  Look for an opportunity to minister, to be a change agent to be the catalyst leading someone to Christ.  Use your time wisely, before time is no more.

The Guest List

 

Weddings are by invitation only.  The engaged couple and or parents extend the honor of witnessing the uniting of the couple in Holy Matrimony.  Host of both small and large weddings expect those invited to acknowledge the invite and attend but many times the list of attendees looks like the one above.  Names are missing.  The invited did not respond.

Psalm 69:28

²⁸ Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

The Book of Life will have an infinite number of empty lines, names blotted out as a result of not answering the invitation.  Those who did not R.S.V.P. to “the call” will not attend the final marriage feast in heaven. They will not be among the righteous when the bridge meets the bridegroom. Respond to your invitation.  You would not want to miss the wedding of a lifetime.  Eternal life, that is. 

 

The Singe Life

Singleness is not a sin.  It is not a second-class state of being nor is it a sentence to be served. My departed Grandmother would beg to differ.  She called me when I turned 30 and asked me to come get the china she was saving for my wedding day.   It was taking up space in her cabinet so I might as well start using the stuff.  Still single at 30, she thought I was scarred for life.  I adored my Grandma Day. Although unmarried herself, vibrant in the community and a standard bearer at her church, she still considered singleness to be a burden.  Society, like my grandmother may consider singleness something to be scorned. .  God does not.

Jeremiah 16:1-2

16 The word of the Lord also came to me, saying, ² “You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place.”

God commanded the Prophet Jeremiah not to marry.  Judah was headed for destruction and exile.  God protects Jeremiah by sheltering him from the pain that would befall him if he had to endure the gruesome death of a wife and child.  Thus, God blesses Jeremiah with singleness. God’s commands are always for our ultimate good.  There is purpose in all His ways.  When we are obedient, God gets the glory.  Unhindered by the responsibility of a family, Jeremiah was able to speak boldly for God in preparation for the judgment to come.  Jeremiah’s singleness was a support and not a weight.  Consider singleness a blessing. The freedom to live a holy life, totally devoted to God is a privilege.  It is not a sin.  It is a precious gift.  Unwrap it and use it.

 

 

SINGLENESS

 

 

 

  

The Builder

 

Building a house can be an exhilarating yet arduous task.  Finding a realtor, a banker, a general contractor, a location, a floor plan and selecting the décor can overwhelm the best of us.  Choosing the right builder determines whether the final product will meet our expectations. 

Psalm 127:1

127 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Who’s your builder?  We are all working on a building be it our bodies, our family or the universal church.  There is a subtle arrogance that leads us to believe we are capable of pouring our own foundation and erecting our own frame.  Owners build houses and we own nothing.  We are God’s creation.  The church is God’s creation.  The family is God’s creation.  He does the building.  Allow Him to work in you as He works on you in the context of the family and through you within the body of the church.  There is only one Builder that produces a perfect product.  He not only builds the house, He provides security and upgrades are standard.  The best news of all, His houses are free!! Now, that's a deal you cannot pass up.

The Gift of Sleep

Soft music will not help.  White wine will not help.  Ambien, Excedrin PM, Melatonin or Valerian Root will not help.  After an exhausting day with every reason to fall into a deep sleep, you may stare at the ceiling all night. You can eat well, exercise and go to bed early and even that cannot guarantee a restful sleep. 

Psalm 127:2

² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

 

Sleep is a gift from God.  But we take sleep for granted.  We expect it and feel entitled to a good night sleep.   The kind of sleep God gives comes by no effort on our part.  This kind of sleep brings contentment with what we have and who we are.  This kind of sleep brings comfort in whatever situation we find ourselves.  This kind of sleep is refreshing.  God gives this kind of sleep to those He loves which enables us to start each day with Him, working for Him as we worship Him.  You cannot get this kind of sleep anywhere else.  The music is relaxing, the medicines can offer aid and exercise is important but look to God for the gift of sleep.  Remember to thank Him for the gift.

 

That's Mine

That’s mine.  The scenario is reminiscent of you guessed it. A three year old and a two year old fighting over a toy.  That job is mine. That man is mine.  That child is mine.  We hold dearly what we believe belongs to us and sometimes at the cost of suffocating what we love the most.  And that is the very thing God asks us to release to Him.

Genesis 22:9-14

⁹ Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. ¹⁰ And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son

¹¹ But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

So he said, “Here I am.”

¹² And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

¹³ Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide;^[a] as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Isaac was Abraham’s long awaited child.  Twenty five years of expectation then finally his son is born.  He’s mine.  God calls Abraham to sacrifice Isaac thereby giving back his cherished possession.  As Abraham prepares to obey God, a ram appears in the bush.  God had already provided what Abraham would need.  Will you let go of that job or position that you should have released five years ago?  Will you let go of that toxic relationship that has contaminated your world?  Will you let go of that child that has been on loan to you from God for a season?  Trust that God does have a ram in the bush.  He always provides and He is more than able to replace what you thought you lost.  It was always His anyway.  Not yours.

This blog was inspired by Dr. Charles Swindoll's message, "Let go."  Click the link to listen.

http://www.insightforliving.com/3/ArchivePlayer.asp?id=1012636&date=10/17/2014

Zombies Are Not Real

                                                                  EZEKIEL 37:1-14

 

 

Can these bones live?  Bodies devoid of spirit are dead.  Without breath, they are just a pile of bones.  Ezekiel’s vision in chapter 37:1-14 symbolizes the plight of Israel, scattered among the nations after years of flagrant sin.  They had become like dry bones disengaged from one another.  Their exile and helplessness caused God’s name to be profaned before the heathens. Their hope was gone, unable to put themselves back together again.  God asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?”  In other words, “Can Israel be restored?”

We were all at one time, the walking dead, dry bones existing without hope.  We were unable to get ourselves together.  It was by God’s grace through the preaching of the Gospel that we were restored.  Just as Ezekiel prophesied to the four winds to breathe on the slain to become alive again, God will put His spirit in those who were once dead to Him.  We are born again and that gives God glory. We are not turned into Zombies.  Zombies are not real.

The Crutch

 



Have you ever had to use crutches?  They come in handy with severe ankle sprains, broken bones and knee or hip replacements.  When you are in pain or have reduced mobility, it’s great to have a crutch you can lean on.  You may get around slower and expend loads of energy, but you finally do get to your destination.

Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

What’s better than a crutch?  A God you can lean on.  Crutches move with you but we have a God who does not move.  When or wherever you need to lean on Him, He is there.  What a relief to know we are not limited by our own wisdom and understanding.  When we acknowledge that He is actually the best crutch, He will direct our path.  We will finally get to where He wants us to be.

Cold or Hot

Blog Cold or Hot

 

Which is it, cold or hot?  What’s best for sore muscles, ice or heat?  The name of this cream lends to the confusion.  .  I even forget if it is HOTICY or ICYHOT.  Both ice and heat are used in the acute care and rehabilitation of a muscular injury and are integral to the healing process.  We use cold water to control the pain of inflammation and hot water to reduce muscle spasm.  If water is not hot or cold, it is thrown out.

Revelation 3:15-16

¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot^, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

In other words, be zealous for God or go to hell.  It’s just that simple.  If God is real to you then live like it.  If not, reserve your place in hell and do your own thing.  Be hot for God or turn a cold shoulder.  Indifference is not an option.  Do not try to offer Him lukewarm service or worship.  Why halt ye between two opinions?  If God be God follow Him, if Baal, follow him I Kings 18:2.   There should be no confusion.  Are you cold or hot? You choose.

It's Free!!

 
Why pay for something that is free?  We buy Evian, Dasani, Aquafina, Smartwater, you name it.  In my office, we have an Ozarka bottle water dispenser setting right next to the water facet.  Does it make sense to pay a SAWS and Ozarka bill every month? We will walk pass a water fountain to buy bottled water at a concession stand.  We will even order Pellegrino from the menu as our fellow dinner patrons drink free tap water.  Of course, our special water is poured into a sparkling goblet. Let's face it. Water is free!

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

 
Salvation is also free.  What we do for God will not erase our sins.  The tithes and offerings we give cannot redeem us from hell. You cannot pay your way or work your way into heaven.  Salvation is offered through God's gift of grace, and by definition, a gift is free. There is no way to pay for what has already been purchased.  Jesus paid it all.  Why keep trying to pay for something that's already free?

 

Follow Him

You will arrive late to the show when you follow the wrong person. I was headed to the Tamala Mann Concert with friends.  We were driving two cars.  I was riding shotgun and was tasked with keeping an eye on the lead car.  Somewhere between I-37 and I-35 we both switched from following a black BMW to following a royal blue BMW.  This was in broad day light. When the blue car passed Convent Street headed toward Houston Street, I knew we were in trouble. To top it off the lead car was now behind us. We arrived after the concert was scheduled to start because we lost track of the lead car.  We were trailing the wrong person.

1 Corinthians 11:1

11 ¹ Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

So many of us are not where we should be in life because we followed the wrong person.  We have been stuck on the wrong freeway, took the wrong exit, ended up at the wrong house and it took us twice as long to get the place God wanted us because we switched from following those who follow Christ to chasing after the crowd.  I took my eyes off the road and lost track of the black BMW.  When we take our eyes off Christ, we will show up late to our divine assignments.  It was grace that allowed us to see the opening performers because the concert started late.  If you are on the wrong road and lost, God gives us the grace we need, He directs us back to Him.  And, by the way, He will get you there on time.

The Rules

I saw this sign while on vacation this summer.  No alcohol, no glass containers, no smoking, no littering, etc.  How negative can you get?  We were at the beach to have fun.  At first glance, the sign was confining and not very welcoming.  I later realized the sign was there to make sure our time in San Diego was safe and considerate of others.  Because of the rules, we were free to enjoy ourselves knowing the authorities had our best interest at heart.  I was thankful for the sign.

Galatians 3:23-25

²³ But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

The law given to Moses looked ten times worse than the beach sign.  Do not steal, do not kill, do not covet your neighbor’s wife, etc.  The Jews had 613 laws!  They must have wondered, does God not want us to have fun?  Just as the sign in San Diego served as a guard to keep everyone safe, the law was given to guard man until Christ would come.  We are now justified by faith in Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and not by following the rules (law).  Now we should follow the rules because we are thankful for what Christ has done on our behalf.  The rules keep us safe, not saved.

I'm Excited

The Cavalcade of Stars is just around the corner. Last year, Jeffery Osborne, Peebo Bryson and Howard Hewett gave an over the top performance. 

The audience was engaged, rocking and rolling together in song.  On October 25^th, Eddie Levert, Dennis Edwards and Gerald Alston will bring their timeless voices to the Lila Cockrell Theatre.  I’m so excited.  I expect another riveting night.

I can hear you now. Where is Linda going with this?  Is she selling tickets?  Nope.  I do not have any affiliation with the Carver Development Board except as a patron.  My excitement about a great show pales in comparison to the joy I have each Sunday, gathering with other like-minded believers to worship, to lift up praise; hear the word of God and to fellowship.  I can attend a praise party at the beginning of every week and not just once a year.

Psalm 122:1

122 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

Are you glad about the opportunity to attend church this Sunday?  Are you eagerly anticipating what God is going to do in your life, in your family and in your church?  Worship service is free and open to the public.  Reserve your seat now.  Take it from me, it’s going to be exciting!!!

Good Morning

 

 

Psalm 107:8

⁸ Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

 

My birthday is approaching. After fifty, birthdays take on a whole new meaning. It means any morning that you wake up in your right mind is a good morning. Give God thanks!  The ability to stand on two feet (not everyone has two feet) and not be in debilitating pain is a good morning.  Give God thanks! To be able to brush your own teeth even if you had to buy them is a good morning.  Give God thanks! To be able to eat breakfast, taste it and keep it down is a good morning. Give God thanks! Every day is a day of thanksgiving for the good days God gives. If you read this blog with or without glasses, it's going to be another good day so give God thanks!

 

 

EVERYDAY IS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING

Trust God

Proverbs 22:6

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

I wonder how much training occurred between the first and second picture.  According to scripture, we are tasked to set a direction for our children.  Just as a gardener ties a young plant to a stick to direct growth, we are to provide the spiritual truth of God’s word when our children are young. As children mature, they grow in the way of the Lord. It may be heart wrenching when they must leave but you have the promise that when they are old, the training will remain.  The tears might flow.  Trust God and let go.

A Good Marriage

This may seem strange but I gained surprising insight about marriage from an address President Gerald Ford gave before a Joint Session of Congress in 1974. Upon ascending to the Presidency after President Nixon’s resignation, President Ford spoke these words:

 

“With due respect to the learned Justices—and I greatly respect the judiciary- part of my heart will always be here on Capitol Hill.  I know well the coequal role of the Congress in our Constitutional process.  I love the House of Representatives.  I revere the traditions of the Senate despite my too-short internship in that great body.  As President, within the limits of basic principles, my motto toward the Congress is communication, conciliation, compromise and cooperation.

This Congress, unless it has changed, I am confident, will be my working partner as well as my constructive critic.  I am not asking for conformity, I am dedicated to the two-party system, and you know which party I belong to.

I do not want a honeymoon with you.  I want a good marriage.”

 

In his speech, President Ford essentially enumerated the building blocks of a good marriage. 

1.      Coequal partners in the sight of God are joined together for the purpose of building a lasting union and to symbolize the relationship of Christ and His church to the world.  Marriage is a work in progress.  This partnership does have a God ordained head which is the husband.  He leads the team as the President leads the nation. (Ephesians 5:23).

2.      Communication, whether it be verbal or physical promotes intimacy, understanding, direction and care for one another.

3.      Conciliation is not conformity or agreeing on all the issues but it means to willfully decide to concede on some of your wants for the good of the relationship. Begin with the lesser priority moving to the greater.

4.      Compromise might be one person doing the work of the marriage 90% of the time for several months then the other takes the load the rest of the year or changing from day to day  with no one keeping a record.  There is no such thing as 50:50 in marriage.

5.      Cooperation requires marriage partners to work together and not against one another for the common good of the marriage.  God gave Adam a job first then brought his wife to him as a helpmate.  Wives work in conjunction with their husband as he follows God’s direction .  Whom you choose to marry determines where you end up going.

6.      Confidence is integral to a man’s wellbeing.  A husband needs to be confident that his wife is in his corner.  He desires and thrives on your respect which God commands wives to give.  Ephesians 5:33b

7.      Constructive critics pray for guidance to know what needs to be said, when it needs to be said and how it needs to be said.  And never say it in public!

To build a good marriage, all seven building blocks are required with Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone.  Anything less and you end up with a honeymoon that may thrill you for a moment but craters quickly.  Like President Ford, aim to build a good marriage that lasts for a lifetime.

Warning, Warning

Why do we ignore warning signs?  We cross railroad tracks just before the arms go down. We speed through yellow traffic signals.  We make U turns where it is prohibited.  We are all guilty.  I received an email from a friend requesting my cell and home phone numbers because her phone had crashed.  She lost all of her data.  In retrospect, she said the warning signs were there.  I think I have been ignoring those same signs.  Dropped contacts, needing to reboot frequently and avoiding places that do not have charging stations all feel like premonitions of oncoming doom.  Paying attention to warning signs and responding accordingly leads to a good outcome.

 

                                                                                    ^{Matthew 2:12}

¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

 

The wise men had been asked by Herod to inform him of the location of this child who would be king.  After worshipping the baby Jesus, they were warned in a dream not to comply with Herod’s request.  They took heed of the warning and returned home a different way.  What if we took notice of the warnings God graciously places in our lives.  What if we responded to warning signals by actually changing direction, make a course correction and without hesitation head down the correct path.  We lose a lot more than data when we ignore God sent warnings.  Let’s all agree to comply with the signs.