Fellowship With God

Do you ever think about what it would have been like to be Eve before the first sin?  Walking around in the garden of Eden, not a care in the world, just enjoying the beautiful creation and enjoying talks with God and spending so much time with Adam.  Doesn't it sound wonderful - before the fall? It sure does to me! I can't even imagine how it must have been.

As Christians, we have a fellowship with God, as well. It's different than Eve's was, of course, but it's still a closeness, an intimacy, that is there for us if we take advantage of it. 

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

 1 John 1:5-9

But just like sin got in the way of Eve's fellowship with God, it gets in the way of our fellowship with God, as well.  However, the blood of Jesus was shed for our sins, and though we will still mess up from time to time, we can continue in that fellowship with God by following out His commands:  Walk in the light and by confessing our sins.

God WANTS us to walk in the light! He longs for us to have fellowship with Him!  Isn't that wonderful news?!  He's not putting guards at the entrance with flaming swords denying us further access from Him.  Jesus did away with all barriers between us and God. He was and is our bridge to Our Heavenly Father!

Below is a breakdown of the words above from the original Greek meaning (www.blueletterbible.com) and from the Vine's dictionary on that site.  It's great seeing the original meaning to gain further understanding into the scriptures.

Fellowship: fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation

Walk: To make one's way, progress; to make due use of opportunities

Darkness: of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality

The light: God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality of truth and its knowledge...together with the spiritual purity associated with it....that which is exposed to the view of ....all, openly, publicly reason, mind....the power of understanding esp. moral and spiritual truth

We have: To have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as

One with another: with, after, behind

Cleanses: In a moral sense: a) to free from defilement of sin and from faults, b) to purify from wickedness, c) to free from guilt of sin, to purify, d) to consecrate by cleansing or purifying, e) to consecrate, dedicate

Sin: that which is done wrong, sin, an offense, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act

Deceive: to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way, b) to go astray, wander, roam about...to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive...to be led into error...to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin...to sever or fall away from the truth of heretics...to be led away into error and sin

Truth: what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth...the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians

Confess: to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of...to profess...
to declare openly, speak out freely

Faithful: of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties...one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust...that can be relied on

Just: righteous, observing divine laws...innocent, faultless, guiltless

Unrighteousness: unrighteousness of heart and life...a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness

LIVE AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT!

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 

Ephesians 5:5-9 NIV

Before the boys head out for school, we have a devotional with them. This was the passage for this morning, and it was a great one to send them into the "world" - where they could be tempted and persuaded.  It's a good reminder for all of us to LIVE AS THE LIGHT! 

If we are Christians, we are His children.  He wants us to live as His children, and sometimes it's hard for us to do that.  But He is there to help us. He will be right there with us! His Spirit lives within us, teaching us to say no to things we need to, and helping us to say YES to what is best.  

What a wonderful thought!  Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

ARE YOU GOING OR BEING?

This morning's post is very simple, but quite profound.  Many of us.....even those who know better......think of the "church" as a building.  However, it's NOT!  God never intended for it to be, either!  Would He have sent His Son to die on the cross for a building?  No!  Absolutely not!  Jesus died on the cross for YOU and for ME!  If you are part of God's family - one of His children - then YOU are the church!!  A quote from our preacher Sunday morning reminded us, "Don't allow the church to be a building any more!" 

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

When you look at it that way, it puts a little more importance on being a member of His church, doesn't it?  You're not just "attending" and "sitting on a pew"....checking it off of your to-do list.  YOU are an ACTIVE part of HIS family!

Recently a missionary spoke to us about being the salt and light of the world.  He reminded us that it says "You ARE the salt!" and "You ARE the light!".  The thing is, if you are a Christian, you have made a commitment to God and to Christ to be the salt and light.  

So are you being salt that hasn't lost its flavor?  

Are you being light that is bright or dim?  

As part of the CHURCH, what kind of member are you?  

If everyone was just like you, what kind of church would it be?

Are you just "going to church" or are you "being the church?

Let Your Light Shine

Last year I posted a picture about two basketball teams coming together before a game to pray.  Our team was in the playoffs and when we traveled out of town to play the opponent, we were inspired by the leadership and example of one girl on their team.  She would lead the girls from her own team, as well as the other team, in a prayer before the game.

About a month ago, a few girls on our team (including our daughter), decided to begin the basketball prayer circle before each of their games, inviting the opponent to join them.  All of the teams have been willing participants in the prayer before each game.  It's a great thing to see!  God is definitely being glorified by the hearts and examples of all of these girls!

I wonder......Is this example continuing on and other teams doing so at their own games?  Will it cause other teams to decide to do next year for their own teams?  Are the fans in the stands being inspired to go and let their light shine in a different way because of this example?  Is the prayer changing the hearts of some of the players?  It's interesting to me that it's been only with girls' teams, so far.  Will boys' teams begin to do prayers, as well?

Each of these questions is something that really may be happening.....all because of one girls' example last year.  We never know where our influence will go and the good it will bring to the lives of others.  We will never know how far our example may reach.  

Let your light shine today!  Someone is watching for your example!

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praiseyour Father in heaven. 

Matthew 5:16

Be Kind......Always

This quote came across Facebook a few days ago:

Always be kinder than you feel. - Unknown

It just so happened that day that I had a headache, allergies were in high gear, and it was the day before school started.....not a good combination.  I'm pretty sure I wasn't being kind at some points during the day.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I was just being plain grouchy!

After I read that quote myself, I read it to my kids.  They didn't understand until I explained it to them....explained my own circumstances of the headache, allergies, and the fact I don't like it when they  have to go back to school because I miss them being home.....all things that were making me grouchy.  Then they got it.  But then I had to explain something that I try to teach them all of the time.  I was ALLOWING those things to bother me and I was ALLOWING myself to be grouchy.  Those things can't MAKE me that way!  Hmmmmmm.......I suppose I wasn't "practicing what I preach" to well, was I?  Nope.  I wasn't.  So, I apologized to them and took an ibuprofen and allergy medicine :).

Sometimes it isn't easy to be kinder than we feel.  Sometimes we hurt physically.  Sometimes we hurt mentally.  Sometimes we hurt emotionally.  And sometimes we hurt spiritually.  We don't want to be kind.  We don't want to be loving and caring.  But we must.  We must because God is kind to us.

Even in our pain and trials, headaches and allergies, we may be the ONLY light someone may see.  If we're not shining brightly, we're missing a wonderful opportunity to share Christ with others.

Be kind.  Be kinder than you feel.  Always.

Shine Like Stars, friends!

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

1 Thessalonians 5:15

Perspective

Why do you see what you see?  Why do you not see what you don't see?  Many times it may because we're looking at something the wrong way.  Perhaps we're looking at things just from our bias point of view.  Maybe we're looking at it from a warped perspective.  Maybe we're not seeing the whole picture.  Either way, sometimes our own thoughts get in the way of what is true and what is real.

Rose Colored Glasses:
Have you ever heard the phrase that someone is "looking through rose colored glasses"?  It's great to be positive, but if we're looking at something with rose colored glasses on, it probably means we're failing to see the truth - that something may be wrong or that there may be a problem.  Our rose colored glasses may keep us from seeing people in need, people who are hurting, or dangerous obstacles that are in our way.  They may keep us from seeing our own faults, as well.

Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.

Jeremiah 5:21

Shades:

Wearing shades or sunglasses shields the brightness of the sun, but if we wear them all of the time, the whole world will appear dark and we might fail to see the light.  As Christians, we should be living our lives as lights of the world.  Our lights should shine brightly - even brighter when we're in the darkness of the world, but if we're wearing shades all of the time, we will get a distorted view of the world.  We may see nothing good, but only see bad.  Our attitudes might become negative.  We might get down and feel like giving up....that our efforts are worthless because darkness surrounds us everywhere.  Our negative attitude will begin to affect our minds.  Then our negative minds will cause us to have negative actions.  When everything seems dark, we may get the idea that sin is okay.  We may say, "everyone is doing it" or "no one will know".  With shades on, the world is a gloomy place.

When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up and kills the poor and needy; in the night he steals forth like a thief. The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk;  he thinks, ‘No eye will see me,’ and he keeps his face concealed. In the dark, men break into houses,  but by day they shut themselves in;    they want nothing to do with the light. 

Job 24:14--16

Blinders:

When blinders are put on horses, it is done so that they can only see what is right in front of them.  They aren't distracted from things all around them and also can't see what might be right next to them.  When we wear blinders, we fail to see what is obvious.  We look in front of us and see what is going on there, but we fail to see what may be near to us.  It's easy for us to see the faults of others with blinders on, but we don't look at ourselves and see our own problems.  Our blinders will cause us to blame others, without seeing the bigger picture.  We don't get the whole perspective on things, but only what is right out in front of us.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:3-5

Wrong Prescription:

Wearing glasses or contacts that are the wrong prescription is not only aggravating, but can keep us seeing things that are either far off, or things that are very near.  We're not seeing clearly when wearing the wrong prescription.  When were looking at things with distorted or blurry vision, we may believe things that aren't real or may fail to see things the way they really are.  Things may seem terrible when they really aren't that bad or things may seem good/safe when they are really dangerous or bad.

Wearing the wrong prescription may also keep us from seeing what is real.  We may forget what God and Jesus have done for us because we get caught up in sin again.  The lines of what is right and wrong begin to blur.  We begin to believe that our Christian walk doesn't really matter.....that we're all okay and God doesn't care.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

2 Peter 2:5-9

So, let's take off the rose colored glasses, the shades, the blinders, and the wrong prescriptions.  Let's look at things in our life - around us and in our own lives - with clear vision and with un undistorted view.  Let's see what's real.  Let's see what's truth.  Let's see our lives and the lives around us just as God sees them.

Banging on the Window Pane

Saturday night I stayed up kind of late working on food for our Sunday lunch.  I kept hearing a really loud banging noise coming from the den.  I was a little worried about the noise, so went and checked it out.

We have two big windows side by side on the back of that room facing the back yard.  They are without window coverings. I had the big lights on in the room and so I quickly realized that the noise was bugs banging the window panes, trying to get to the light.  It seemed so strange that the bugs were harming themselves by trying to get to the light, but then, of course, the window pane is clear and bugs don't have thought processes that would warn them of danger, so they don't know any better.

But then I wondered why bugs do that?  Why are they attracted to light, anyway?  I found the following explanation from authors Mark Leynor and Billy Goldberg:

Phototaxis is an organism’s automatic movement toward or away from light. Cockroaches are negatively phototactic. Turn on that kitchen light and off they scurry to their dark little holes. But many insects are positively phototactic – as evidenced by teh mass bug graves in your light fixtures. Many people are also phototactic, especially for the “limelight” – those of us who secretly crave the strobe fusillade of paparazzi flashbulbs and murmer, “Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up” in our dreams… But, back to bugs. There are a variety of reasons that various insects are positively phototactic. Many insects, including bees, orient themselves in relation to the sun. Certain nocturnal bugs – moths, for instance – use moonlight to navigate, flying at a certain angle to the moon’s light rays to maintain a straight trajectory. When it approaches a source closer than the moon – say, a lightbulb – a moth perceives the light as stronger in one eye than the other, causing one wing to beat faster, so it flies in a tightening spiral, ever closer the the light. Some bugs are sensitive to ultraviolet light reflected by flowers at night. Artificial lights that emit UV rays will also be attractive to these guys. Other bugs are drawn to the heat that incandescent bulbs produce at night. Fireflies are bugs and bulbs all in one. They use their bioluminescence to attract each other.


Pretty interesting, isn't it?


You know.....we should be like bugs that are attracted to the light because Jesus is the light.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

John 8:12

If we're not attracted to the light there is something wrong in our spiritual lives!

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:6-8

But sadly, some of us are attracted to the light, but like the bugs I watched last night.....we keep bumping into window panes.....or getting side-tracked in other ways.  Maybe we're allowing the things of the world to get in the way of our reaching the light.  Maybe we're giving in to sin....treading closer to darkness than to light.  Or maybe God is testing us with obstacles to strengthen our faith, but we're having a hard time facing those tests.  Maybe we keep banging on the window pane...unable to reach the light we are wanting to.

God can help us reach the light - the light of His Son and Our Savior.  He is the solution to banging on the window pane!  Our reliance on Him, our faith in Him, and our faith in he fact that His Spirit can work in us can get us past the window panes and get us to the light.

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

Psalm 18:28

"This Little Light of Mine"

Typically this sweet little song is sung by children, but have you ever thought about the word and how applicable they are to all Christians of any age?  Here is chorus in the song:

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine.

Let it shine.

Let it shine.

In our busy, and sometimes crazy lives, it's easy to get so wrapped up in the "stuff" of life and forget what it is all about - eternity.....specifically eternal life in heaven for those who are saved.  We get down, depressed, stressed, tired, grumpy, grouchy and all kinds of things that aren't always appealing to the outside world.  It's in those hard and difficult times that, instead of looking and turning inward, caving in to the pressure that is weighing down on us, we should let our lights shine even brighter.  That is when our faith should be evident even more.  If we're not trusting in God during those times, as well as during the good times, it's as if we are telling God that we don't believe Him.  It's like we don't believe He will do what He has said He would do.  It's like saying we are all alone, without any higher power to give guidance and support.

So.....when you're troubled....let your light shine!

When you are sad....let your light shine!

When you are worried....let your light shine!

When you are lonely....let your light shine!

When you are grieving....let your light shine!

When you are scared.....let your light shine!

When you are stressed...let your light shine!

When all is good....let your light shine!

Whatever you are and whatever you are doing....let your light shine!

Why?  Because in doing so, you are advancing Christ and to advance the gospel (The gospel is the good news:  The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus!). (Read how Paul advanced Christ here.) You may be the only light that someone sees today!  You may be the only example of Jesus someone sees today.  And maybe, because of that example, someone will decide that they need Jesus, too.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Shine brightly, friends!  SHINE LIKE STARS!

The Beautiful Sunset

My friend, Jan, posted this picture on Facebook tonight, along with the following status.  She gave me permission to share it and the status.



I love the westward trip to Lubbock at sunset. God's sky is always so amazing, but one thing I have noticed is that the sunset is so much more spectacular when there are clouds present. The colors reflected and the light that shines through reflect the glory of God in a stunning way. This causes me to wonder, ---Do we allow the clouds in our lives to reflect God's glory to those who are watching? Do we let the love and the grace of God shine through our struggles and our trials to the world around us?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:3-7 (underlined in places for emphasis)

Thank you, Jan, for your thought-provoking status!  Sometimes it's hard to "Shine Like Stars" or like the light in the sunset with those clouds in the way, but we must always remember that, at those times are when our lights are shining the brightest! The world is watching how we react in the storms....and so are our fellow-Christians and our families.

SPARKLE!

                        

Sparkle is one of my son, Tyler's, spelling words this week.  As I gave out each word this afternoon (all ending with "le" this week), and we got to the word, "sparkle", I just kept thinking,
"I LIKE THAT WORD!" 

Sparkle! Sparkle! Sparkle!

As Christians who are striving to "Shine Like Stars", how can we SPARKLE?

1.  S - SMILE
A simple and easy way a Christian can sparkle is by wearing a smile.  A smile shows love.  A smile shows that you care.  A smile is understood by all languages.

2.  P - PRAY
Prayer releases any worries, troubles, and concerns we may have, by giving those worries, troubles, and concerns to God.  He lifts our burdens and keeps the sparkle in our lives!

3. A - ATTITUDE
Having an attitude that sparkles is very important for a Christian.  This attitude will submit to others instead of being selfish.  This attitude will be kind and not rude.  This attitude will build up instead of tear down. A sparkling attitude reflects Christ.

4. R - RELATIONSHIP
Our commitment to God and Jesus should be one that results in a close relationship, not just something superficial.  When others see that we rely on God, that we live for Jesus, and that we strive to pattern our lives after His example, only then will they see that our sparkle comes from Jesus being in our hearts.  Our spiritual lives must be built on a relationship with Him and not on a man-made religion.

5. K - KNOWLEDGE
Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov, said, "Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice."  Reading and studying the Bible will give us knowledge, but unless we live it and share it, it is of no use....it's of no value.  When we sparkle and share our knowledge of God and His Word with others, they will sparkle, too! Then our lights will be shining brighter and brighter for Jesus.

6. L - LOVE
Just as knowledge should result in action, love must also result in action.  For Christians to truly walk in the steps of Jesus, we must love one another as Christ did.  It's not enough to just say we love others.  We must show that love to others.  That's how we share Jesus! In showing Christ's love to others, our lives will sparkle!

7. E - EXAMINE
To sparkle as Christians, we must take the time to examine our lives.  Maybe our sparkle has dimmed.  Maybe our sparkle is hidden to the world.  Maybe it's time we take a look at ourselves and evaluate the image we are sharing with others.  Is my sparkle reflecting Jesus?  If not, maybe I need to make some changes. 

As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:4-5

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10

"This Little Light of Mine!"

One of the favorite songs for my Pre-K and Kindergarten students to sing in Bible class is "This Little Light of Mine". They put their little finger up in the air and move it around in a big circle showing that their little lights are shining. They sing that they "won't let Satan "blow" it out". They sing "hide it under a bushel? NO!". They sing "shine it all around Tipton!"

It's a simple song, but just think about how big those words are! If we let our little lights shine, we are doing just what God has asked us to do. We won't let Satan get in the way and snuff out our lights; in fact, we won't hide it at all. We'll put it up on a hill to shine brightly. We'll let it shine wherever we are. Right here. Right now.

How can you shine during this next week? Let your light shine for God! Let your light shine for Jesus!

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16