Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?   (Mat 6:26)

Continuing His lesson Jesus gives us an example from nature.

He asks us to consider our "value," to our Father.

Birds can't sow, reap or gather - yet they are provided for.

If you can't sow, reap or gather - does thin not suggest that God will feed (provide for) you?

Is this just about food?  I think not!  This is about value.

Actually I believe it's about who we look to in order to determine our value.

Birds?  I'm of greater value that birds?  Actually the idea here is that we are "of so much MORE value" than birds. 

Birds have a role in God's creation no less critical to the sustaining of that creation than anything else.  God maintains everything they need to fulfill their role in His creation.  There are lots of birds - that takes a lot of maintaining.  It's not a simple thing nor is it insignificant!

Then there is "us."  We were God's viceroys in the Garden.  Note:

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 
(Gen 1:26)

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 
(Gen 2:15)

God's intention for us was to be His means of maintaining His creation.  We were to work and keep the garden which in turn would provide for all the creatures of the creation.  Pretty important stuff!  

Now, in this fallen world our role has changed.  Now we are called to show forth His glory, to be holy as He is.  We are his witnesses, living testaments to His glory and goodness.  How much value can we put on that?

Consider:

". . . . when He comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed."   (2Th 1:10)

Whose "value" do we choose accept?  His or the world's?  Who do we look to?  How do we measure it?  

The redemption of the creation - the birds - cost Him His Son.  However the price was demanded for our sin not for the birds' sins (birds don't sin they just suffer its effects).  So He paid the demanded price - for OUR sin - that He might redeems His creation.

Where in our fleshly spectrum of value do we really put that?  Is it first or just a close second?  Do we really accept that we are valuable enough for God to give His Son?  Are we willing to accept that his love for us was so great that he sent His Son to be a man, to suffer and be tempted as a man and then be killed as a criminal?  How valuable does that make us?

Are we willing to accept and live with Jesus as our total net worth?  Are we willing to be rejected and scorned and put down by the world so that we might live out His gracious gift for and to us?

Or do we play with the world's criteria for worth and value measuring our lives by their standards?  And how well have those standards served Him or His creation?  How cruelly have the standards of the world dealt with the world?

Think on what God has done for and in you.  Consider what you might be tempted to trade it for.  In times of weakness and suffering it is not uncommon for us to fall into "if only," and to see ourselves as worthless failures.  It is a struggle to cling to God's love and the value He has given us - He has made us ultimately valuable - He has given us a worth beyond words - Pray and think on that.

Father,

In these tough times I see my sin and my errors.  I see how I have been deceived and schemed by the world, the flesh and the devil.  Now, in my distress those three cruel enemies taunt me and pour shame upon me.  Help me Father, to cling to Your gracious gift as the only thing that matters.  Let the cruel accusations and aspersions of those three enemies drop from my mind and heart.  Deafen my ears to them, let me be comforted and let by Your Word and Your Spirit as I seek to  follow You in whatever circumstance I find myself in.

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.   (Pro 30:7-9)

In the name of Jesus and for His glory, amen.

Anxious?

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?    (Mat 6:24-25)

I am astounded at the "therefore."  Jesus has called His hearers to a point of decision, Mammon or God.  It's a hard choice in that our service to Mammon can be so very very subtle and has roots running deep into our flesh.  We can make the good choice but that only initiates the hard work of "rooting out" Mammon-ness.

But having called them to a point of decision He goes on as though they had indeed made the right choice.  He is telling us, "Having chosen God over Mammon do not be anxious about your life."  then he enumerates many of the things we do ge anxious about.  I hesitate to see this list as definitive (that is limited only to what is here) but rather I am tempted to expand it this way:

"Do not be anxious about those material things you need God to provide so that you may serve and honor Him while you are here."

I am reminded of Abraham when he was called to sacrifice Issac.  I can think of no greater "hard place" to be than the one he found himself in and yet he states:

Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." (Gen 22:8)

As i read this I wonder if we might consider that God will provide Himself with what is needed for His children to live in obedience and service.  The twist here is that God is providing it for Himself to us for His glory and honor.  Hope that's not too weird I don't want to start a theological fuss!

But if everything God does (and calls us to do) is for His glory - can't we see that he is providing it for Himself to us so we might glorify Him?

He KNOWS what we need - we THINK we know what we need.  See the difference?

Jesus asks a question we need to prayerfully consider and seek the Spirits guidance concerning:

"Is not life more than.....?"

Isn't it?  Really?

Please know I am aware of how tough a question that is and how so very much works to keep us from accepting this and living it out.  I am especially aware at how parents struggle so very much to raise their children to know this and live this.  We are in prayer for you all - please be in prayer for us as well.

msanders.bc@gmail.com

Finger Thinking 010513 A Certain Darkness

Finger Thinking 030513

There's a certain darkness
which some of us know.
It is just part of us
not flesh
but wounds
not sin
but the effects.
There is relief
but rarely
release.
We carry it
like a secret
ashamed
and afraid.
We pray
for healing
and yet
we hear "No."
So,
we keep going
forward
as best we can.
Walking towards the light
even if just on its fringe.
Wanting to know
it is OK
knowing it may not be
until the finishing is finished.
Most of us
hang on.
Some don't.
But we all know
He knows
and cares
and provides.
We can't escape the truth,
His truth.
We may not feel His love
but we know it.
We may not experience His joy
but His promise is enough.
It's harder
for us than for some
but we know it is harder
for others.
So we learn
to pray in a different way
for what we sometimes don;t know.
But we pray
knowing He hears
knowing He has a plan
and a purpose
and in that
we hope. 

Finger Thinking 122612

Luke 9:23 ESV
And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

"AND follow me"

Consecutive?  Concurrent?

How do we read this admonition?  Is it steps?  One big "happening?"

Can we "follow" Him without His call?  Without self-denial?  Without daily taking up our cross?

His call makes me His.  "It is finished."  But even though His work is finished for me it is not finished in me.  The denial and the taking up are both part and parcel of the journey - the following of Him.

At least in my experience they are.

Everyday I find that I forget that I am His and not my own.  Perhaps I do that because I know that such a surrender may result in a loss of comfort and ease in my life here.  Perhaps I am afraid of that loss to too great a degree.  Perhaps I am yet too attached to me and my material ease and comfort.  Well - we both know there is no "perhaps" in it.  There is little question of my attachment and my struggle with it.

A poor man can be proud and possessive of his poverty.  He can cling to and depend upon what little he has and hoard it jealously.  He can clasp it in an iron hand refusing to let God remove it so that it might be replaced.  He indeed has a "death grip" upon what little he has.

The rich man may cling to all he has just a passionately as the poor man clings to his little.

But for most of us there is a middle place.  We will "give up" just so much before we begin to balk and sulk.  I know I do.  I find that I cling to too much even if it's just a little.  That "little" is mine and as long as it is, I think I am OK.  Of course, that in itself shows me that I have a long way to go.

Remember the poster of the kitten clinging to the limb?  Remember the caption, "Just hang in there?"  Well, that's where I find myself all too often.  I'm clinging to the dubious security I have (the limb) and refusing so let it go so that I might trust Him.  My "hanging in there" smacks too much of "hanging on to."

Now, on the other end of that stick is a "letting go" that's just as bad.  It's a self-motivated letting go - a proud and resentful - "Well, just take it all then!"  It's an angry and proud surrender (??) to God that really is no surrender at all.  It is more of a throwing whatever I do have back into God's face.  It isn't a pretty or a useful thing.

Paul wrote:
1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, [7] for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. [8] But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

So, there is no gain and perhaps even loss in godliness without contentment?  Mmmm, Ouch!  There certainly can be no true value in contentment without godiliness.

Ahhh but then there is vers 8.  Food and clothing = content.  Am I willing?  I can say that, but will I accept that?  Or, do I have a few other "buts," I'd like to throw in?  Oh how I wish I didn't!!!!  But, I know I do - even if I'm being very effective at not seeing them right now.

Here's my quandry.  What, if anything (stuff, aspirations, feelings, associations, $), does God want me to give up?  It is clear from the Gospels that following Him carried with it the very real potential of giving up stuff - but what do "I" need to give up?

Then, is it actually "stuff" He wants me to give up or is it an attitude, thought process, false belief, sinful fear---------?  I think of Job and I shiver.  Job has got me beat hands down!  Yet in his loss he struggles with everything but trusting God.  It's almost viscseral to read, "Even if He kills me, I will trust in Him."

Maybe the struggle is between having everything we want and being dead.  I feel like a petulant child fussing over surrendering toys I haven't played with in ages - "Well just take it all - all of it - I don't want any of it.  Why don't you just kill me?"

Wow - are you as suprised at the depth of my shallowness as I am?  And you know what's even more disturbing?  So far I haven't "lost" anything.  Oh, we can see potential even probable loss looming ahead of us but so far - we really haven't "lost" anything we've noticed.

Ok - maybe that's not true.  We have lost (or at least are losing - letting go of) trusting in others, even trusting in ourselves instead of Him.  We have faced the fact that "chariots" are not the answer.  We've lost that, "I'm counting on you," attitude towards others and ourselves.  We've discovered that "faith" belongs only in Him - not in friends, associates - not even those with whom and for whom we've sacrifced and worked and prayed.  "Chariots," can't work when the other option is Him.  And making aliances with "Egypt" won't work ethier.

We, like so many of you, are waiting - or at least struggling to wait - upon Him to do what we should depend upon Him alone to do.  We are getting to know the feeling David must have felt when those about him mocked asking, "Where's your God?"

Do you feel like the only answer to that mocking is, "I don't know."  Or perhaps an overly cocky, "He is there."  Or do you just pray no one asks you that quesiton?

Times are tough and I believe that especially for believers it will get tougher.  Yes, I mean that in a material way but it will also be a tough time for our faith and our faithfulness.

Not naked and not starving.  If that's what He has for me will I be faithful in it?  Right now, all I can say is that I want to be - I hope to be - but I will not do it by my own ability or power.  So, like many many of you, I sit and pray and wait, fighting myself to trust only in Him.

Main and Plain - Denying self?!? Oops!

Matthew 16:24 ESV
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Jesus is quite clear here.  IF - anyone desires (wants) to come after me.

There is a "wanting" - and a specific wanting.

Oh, how I remember the times I wanted - really wanted to go after Him.  Oh, how I wanted to live for Him and love for Him - indeed to live as simply as possible so I might not be encumbered as I sought to go after Him.

Ah, there have been many such times.  They came and when and my walk was up and down (mostly down).

At this late stage of my life, I have to wonder why and in wondering I have sought an answer.  The answer was embarrassingly simple once I found it.  And it was embarrassing once I found it.

There is a plain and main process we can see and make use of in fulfilling our desire to go after Him.  It's not a process that ends - actually it's more like a "loop" command in old DOS.  The plain and main of it is that we begin and keep doing the same old thing over and over and over.  

This "loop" is so simple that it puts all the "how to follow Jesus" books and tapes and seminars to shame.  I put me to shame.  Please understand that this "loop" is not easy and it can be very very tedious but it's simplicity along with the promises of God to fulfill in us what He has started makes it an exciting and hopeful "loop."

Step one:  "let him (or her) deny himself."

Ok - there we go!  --Yes In know all about the calling and claiming that God does in and upon us - but that's where the "desire" comes from.

We hear the Word and the "gospel power" is unleashed, the Spirit works in us and we really really want to go after Jesus.  Ok - job #1 - deny your self.  

Really, go ahead, do it!!  Huh?  Ahhhhh, there's the rub.  Anyone out there ever been taught to deny their self?   Quit sinning - oh yeas we were told that.  Pray and read the Bible - yep.  but denying my self?  Oops---

I find it very interesting and quite distressing that so many so-called and self-proclaimed "answer men and women" have written so much which actually focuses our attention on the self.  Self-worth, self-esteem....  Being who YOU are in Jesus.  Claiming His promises for YOU.  Oh yeah - we have a lot of real helpful anti-christs out there keeping our eyes, hearts and minds OFF of step number 1.

Deny - your - self.

Hey - I'm not picking on you!!  Your getting to suffer this because I did  ;-}}}}.

Nobody ever taught me I needed to deny me.  No one ever helped me see how to live with Jesus coming before me, my, mine and I.  I am minded of the Monopoly card - "Go to jail, go directly to jail, do not pass Go and so not collect $200."

A.W. Pink says the first step is the, "denying of self itself."

Here's just a smattering of what Pink means:

- abandoning my own righteousness

- refusing to rest on my own wisdom

- repudiating my self

- ceasing to consider my comfort, pleasure, ease, benefits, aggrandizement

Look at Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Catch that - "present your bodies as a living sacrifice," thing?  Folks - in most pagan cultures once your were tapped to be a sacrifice it was really all over.  Even in Jesus' day, once you took your lamb or birds etc. and presented it for sacrifice - it was all over for the bird/lamb.

Offering your self for sacrifice means that all the "me" stops.  There is no "me."  There are no plans, desires, want, wishes, etc.  You are offering yourself for death.

Plain - main and tough - huh?

Paul gets really tough on this:

Romans 8:13 ESV

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

My "flesh" in not some bogaboo that lives in me.  My "flesh" is my self - my nature has changed in Christ but my self (flesh) is well versed in taking care of itself and quite

sneaky at getting its way/

Also, and if you don't agree then ok, but for me the "deeds of the body," are not limited to my eyes, hands, feet, etc - but include my thoughts, speculations, - in short my brain and heart where all the bad stuff comes from.  It is my "me" thoughts and affection I have to deny - to fight - and with His power, defeat.

But nobody told me this when I was in the first exciting days of my faith.  And to be honest, no one told me about it (clearly) since.

The good news is that it's not too late for me to learn.  The cost will be very uncomfortable but we are not amphibians - we either live in and for His kingdom or we live in and for the other.

This means war - and don't think that it's just a war within.  As you learn and begin to deny self you will make others very uncomfortable.  They will begin to see you as a fanatic, some kind of religious nut.

"Let him deny himself."  Go for it!  Need resources?  Write me and I'll send you some titles that will help.

God bless you all!!

Finger Thinking - On Me

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Gal. 5:24  ESV

Have we?  Have we indeed nailed "our" fleshly passions and desires to the cross?

Paul says that we have done this, not that it has been done.  This is an engagement the believer will be involved in until He comes.  But are we engaged in it?  Do we, with willfull intention and humble dependence actively seek to crucify the flesh - to kill it?  Or do we merely swat at it and/or just battle those desires and passions for which we would suffer some public shame?

The life of the believer is an up-stream journey.  The world, the flesh and the devil ae the river in which we journey.  We don't just float up-stream.  Nor may we tie ourselves to the bank and wait.  We are called for a purpose and in a specific direction.  Plainly put we are to glorify God - now that it is possible through the sacrificed of Christ.
We are not "saved' for ourselves but for His glory and praise.  For His good pleasure.  And yet we seem to miss that point.

In this river there are rapids and rocks and eddys.  There are dangers.  There are calm places where the progress is pleasant and there are those places where we must paddle with every ounce of energy we have.  Why?  To "gain" something?  No!  We paddle becasue we have gained something by His grace and in humble submission and thanks we live appropriately and intentionally for the purpose of the gift.

Consider whether your salvation is of such great value as your glorifying of Him.  Do you not see the connection?  Do you not see that it is a horror to assume the gift was only about or for you?  Indeed it is a great gift but it for His glory and righteousness first and foremost.

Our redemption glorifies Him and so everything the redeemed think, feel or do is to glorify Him.  Yes, He is passively glorified in what He has done in and for us BUT He will be actively glorified in and through our lvin for Him.

Note the subtle difference:
"Jesus saved me."
"God has glorified Himself in redeeming me through Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.

Can you see the difference?

Our salvation is all fo His glory.  Certainly we benefit - we benefit worderfully - but it is for His glroy we do so.

This is not something I have understood for most of my life in Him.  Like many I was just happy to be saved.  But as I learned more, studied more I was greatly convicted that there was something missing in my understanding and appreciation.  I was more focused on what was in it for me than what His purpose is in my salvation.  I can best describe it as finally seeing salvation from His point of view as opposed to the common view most of us have.

The greatest change this has had for me is in my prayer life.  As the model prayer teaches us to begin with Him and His glory so I find myself stuck in my prayers glorifying Him and fighting what I see as my fleshly supplications and requests.  Somehow, what I need or want has grown smaller compared to my need to praise and glorify Him.

Oh, I want to eat and have a roof and enjoy the blessings of His creation but more and more I find that my desires are based upon wheher or not my "getting" is for and to His glory.  I am growing in my desire to glorify Him over and above my desire to be comforable and satisfied by anything here.  It has made many many of my requests suspect in my mind and heart.

He is my God - I am His servant and His child - I want Him and His glory to be he focus of my life and living.  Yes, that is kind of scary.  When I read in the Word and in the history of His pepole what the probable cost of that is - it is scary.

I want to forsake all for His glory and yet my flesh is terrified of what that might mean.  Of course my flesh would not have me glorify Him at all - but, except for what little I can do about it - my flesh is His problem.  Certainly the God who defeated sin and death can and will ovecome my fleshy parts.

Examine yourself - Contentment 001

I'm beginning a series on Contentment.  Why"  Well because "things" are tough for a lot of us right now and if you're like Patti and I, it's is really easy to get bogged down in them.  I'm not writing form some ivory tower but from the trenches where "hand to mouth," is a very  uncomfortable reality.  We are struggling on living "God to mouth," and it's tough - contentment is a real challenge.

Examine yourself - Contentment  001

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

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.   (1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" 

(Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV)

One of the signs of our maturing in the faith is contentment.  I don't know about you - but for me that's a tough one.  From my studies I see contentment as the resulting sense or composure of trusting in God's goodness and the goodness of His providence.

If you read the verse above closely it is obvious that what battles against contentment is - well - stuff.  By stuff I mean everything in this world from food to all that neat goodies.  Regardless of the stuff we look at (food or cultural signs of prosperity) contentment is tough.

Contentment is not just sucking it up and carrying on.  There is a definitive element of satisfaction in true contentment.  It's a "This is fine," perspective on our present conditions and provision.  Like I said, it's tough.

Of course the clearest demonstration of the lack of contentment is seen in Israel's exodus from Egypt.  Once they were out they immediately began to grumble and mummer against God.  Basically they felt that all He had done was not sufficient for them to trust Him and they didn't see what He was doing as "good enough."

They "murmured," or "grumbled," against God and His provision.

They were DIS-contented.  Discontent has within it elements of bitterness and anger so we may assume that contentment is, at least in part, an absence of bitterness and anger.

But here's my conundrum.  I find that event though I don't express bitterness and anger at God's provision I am still anxious and fretful about it.  I also have to admit that when His provision is not what I wanted or expected I fall into a rather grudging "suck it up and take it," mode.

What I want to do is to live with praise and thanksgiving in my heart for what He has given me right now.  That is number one.  Then, number two is to joyfully and expectantly look forward to whatever He has for me in tomorrow.  

I find the worst word that can com to my mind is, "but."  

BUT;

It's not what I wanted

It's not what I expected

It's not what I needed

It's no what "I" ---------

BUT:

Will He provide for this need I know it coming and what do I do if He doesn't?

Will He give enough?

Will He determine that I am to go through a trial concerning this?

Then there are all the possible negative scenarios that may result.  Then there are all the possible ways I can fix it.  The there are all the reasons that He should just ell me that I made my bed and I'll have to lie in it - alone.  Then there are all the reasons I know I don't deserve for Him to do anything.

Yeah, it kind of snowballs in your head and weighs heavily on your heart.  

Working backwards, the passage from Hebrews is a help.  The writer begins with the admonition to, "Keep your life free from love of money,"  Nice translation but a little short.  Actually the word means "unavoritious," or "un-coveting."  of course the idea is to not love money but it is bigger - much bigger than that.

Money is a means - a means of power and a means of provision.  This is why Jesus tells us we can either love Mammon (money) or God but not both.  We can get want we want and need via money (a mere means)- or we can get what we truly need (wants are another matter) from God.

Here's the conflict.  Money I can "get" or God I must trust.

So this is where we begin - hope you'll follow along!

This and That - Worth reading

As a Biblical Counselor and Teacher I have the the wonderful opportunity of working with men and women who struggle with what we call "mental-illness."  I really don't like that designation because - fundamentally they either have a neuro-chemical imbalance (a physical condition) or an emotional wound (a "soulish" condition).  Apart from their physical or soulish dis-ease (not disease) they are just like us, struggling saints seeking to live their lives to the glory of God.

It's tough to find good solid biblical perspectives on the conditions faced by these brothers and sisters.  Too much of the contemporary material is shallow or judgmental (not all, just most).  There seems to be a supposition that these folks deserve a special and on the fringes place n the Kingdom which, as well as being sad, is sinful.  In relegating these saints to the fringes the Kingdom does itself a grave harm and makes itself poorer by not having the gifts and insights of these believers available for the whole Body.

Yes, my experience has been that these brothers and sisters have a great deal to contribute to their faith family but because it comes packaged in an unusual wrapping they never get the opportunity to serve.  Yes, it can be difficult and it can, at times be  disruptive - but so????

One work I have found to be a real blessing is Richard Baxter,s work, The Cure of Melacholy and Overmuch Sorrow by Faith.    Though the reader must keep in mind the time in which it was written and the limited understanding of these issues it is a wonderful work.  The tenderness and depth of understanding that Baxter brings to the table is well worth the effort of getting through a 17th century work.

In particular I was blessed by his treatment of those who suffer depression (of various types).  There is an implicit demand in the work that we seek to understand and minister to these brothers and sisters.

When he is dealing with those whom we would see as "clinically" or "chronically" depressed there is not condemnation nor even judgement.  He basically says that they are as they are and that although none of us is free from the effects of sin we must not simply ascribe their condition to their sin or lack of faith.  Actually, he pretty much rejects that whole idea.

What he does do is give us insights that enhance our understanding and appreciation of what they struggle with and what that struggle looks like.  Their condition is not a "spiritual" problem but rather a problem that adversely affects their spirits.  They do not have some "lack of faith' but rather a condition that obscures or weakens their ability to recognized the faith they have.

He tells us that though we may feel that we, in a depression, are condemned by God he states;
"nor will He condemn you for those ill effects which are unavoidable from the power  of a bodily disease."

He also writes:

"But so far as reason yet hath power, and the will can govern passions, it is your fault if you use not the power, though the difficulty make the less."

This is something all of us who struggle with psychiatric/psychological dis-eases (not diseases) need to take to heart.  Baxter is telling us that whatever our condition, it is not what we can not do that we are accountable for but rather what we can do that we do not do.  This should encourage all of us!

God does not expect a lame man to run or a deaf man to enjoy opera but He does require that they do - for Him and His - what they CAN.

We can listen to or read the Word.  We can attend worship (some of us have to sit on the back row ready to bolt - but that's OK).  We can listen to and sing praises.  We can pray - there is no one acceptable method - but there is a model.   We can all give - something.

That which, as a consequence of our condition/issue, we can not do we are not held accountable in.  But, and it's only right, that which we can do is acceptable to Him regardless of how "well" (whatever that means) we do it.  He wants you to serve Him right where you are.  For some of us the hard part is finding a place where we will be allowed to serve Him. - Ouch!

I encourage you, whether you struggle with these issues, know someone who does or are just moved with compassion by the Spirit - to get a copy of Baxter's work and read it slowly.  He does chide those who engage in overmuch sorrow out of ignorance and sin - but those he sees are only two of the categories of people who struggle with overmuch sorrow.

It is my hope that in this work you will find understanding, sympathy and compassion with all of those in our faith family who so struggle.    

This and That 110912

"Preserve my understanding from subtilty of error, my affections from love of idols, my character from stain of vice, my profession from every form of evil. May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore Thy blessing, and in which I cannot invite Thy inspection. Prosper me in all lawful undertakings, or prepare me for disappointments.  give me neither poverty not riches. Feed me food convenient for me lest I be full and deny Thee and say, Who is my Lord? or be poor, and steal. and take Thy name in vain." Puritan Prayers

My heart aches to carve this prayer upon it.  Oh, how I desire to make it mine and to slowly and deliberately let it, with the help of the Spirit, so alter my mind that I care for nothing but Him and His.

How far have I come that such a prayer seems alien to me?  How far have I to go until such thoughts come to my mind and such words to my lips.  My failure in this overwhelms me and troubles my soul.  I may pray it or the like - but words are words - it is the Spirit in and of this prayer I crave.

Michael "sheepdog" Sanders
ms@tc2v1.com

John Flavel + Me - Keeping the Heart

Duties Included in Keeping the Heart

Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart. Kindle Edition.
Frequent observation of the frame of the heart.  The heart can never be kept until its case be examined and understood.

Proust wrote, “No man is a mystery, except to himself.”

How many times have you thought, “I can’t believe I did/said that!”  Well, there ya go.  We need to examine our hearts regularly.  But we need help to do it well.  We talk of being able to do all things through Christ who is our strength.  Well, here’s one of the “all things” we 
avoid.  

Means:  Make a list.
What makes you laugh?  What makes you cry?  What hurts you and provokes anger?  What brings you satisfaction?  What brings you security?  What do you ache for?  What do you fear?
Which of those things are in line with your profession – or not?
Why?

It includes deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders.
OK, “humiliation” is a tough word – but it is also a good intervention word.  Flavel is talking about what you may have just discovered in the above exercise.  These “evils” and “disorders” have to be robbed of their power in your heart and the best way for that to happen is to lay them out before God.

Consider the sacrifice Christ made for those things.  Consider how He did so to enable you to humiliate them – to see and acknowledge their shameful presence in your heart.  BUT – do so ONLY if you are firmly aware of the fact of God’s grace in your life.

This isn’t about beating yourself up.  It is about beating the bugs out of the rug – the evil and disorder out of your heart.  Denial is so easy and so seeing becomes hard.  Denial is so easy and so dealing with evils and disorders is so messy.  The longer the evil and disorder remains denied the longer it works against your growth, stability and comfort.

I knew a man who after a year of literally living on OTC indigestion medicine finally went to the doctor.  To his horror, he had stomach cancer and it was too late to really do anything curative about it.  So it is with the evils and disorders that live in our hearts – though we are alive “in” Christ these things make our hearts dead to Him.  They are like the veil in the Temple were it to be repaired.  We cannot fully know the comfort and security of being His because of these things.

Means:  From the list take the evils and disorders you find to the throne of grace.  
Confess them and confess their hurtfulness to your spiritual health.  
Ask God to help you to begin to remove (humiliate) them.  
Ask Him where to start.  
Perhaps even keep a list in your wallet or purse so that when you pray you can always have a reminder of your deep heart need

It includes earnest supplication and instant prayer for purifying and rectifying grace when sin has defiled and disordered the heart.  “Whatever thou deny me: give me a heart to fear thee, to love and delight in thee.”

This is praying “for.”  Above we took the load to Him.  Here we ask for what we need, “purifying and rectifying grace.”

Means:  Good ole regular and strong, “on your knees” prayer.
Make use of David’s prayers such as we find in Psalm 23 and following.
Make use of the recorded prayers of others as can be found in the book, Puritan Prayers.

Thou hast struck a heavy blow at my pride, at the false god of self, and I lie in pieces before Thee. But Thou hast given me another master and lord, Thy Son, Jesus, and now my heart is turned towards holiness, my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards complete obedience to Thee. Help me in all my doings to put down sin day. Grant me grace to bear Thy will without repining, and delight to be not only chiselled, squared, or fashioned, but separated from the old rock where I have been embedded so long, and lifted from the quarry to the upper air, where I may be built in Christ for ever.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 105-110).  . Kindle Edition.

Write out your prayers.

It includes the imposing of strong engagements upon ourselves to walk more carefully with God, and avoid the occasions whereby the heart may be induced to sin.

This is head work.  How do you avoid those things which encourage, sustain or implant evils and disorders in your mind?  It is not only a matter of what you decide to forego or abstain from, but a matter of what you will take up, engage in and practice.

What will you choose to replace that which you find to your detriment?  How will you fill the minutes, the hours?  What will serve you to your benefit and growth in godliness?
These are not “laws,” but choices.  These do not determine “if” you are His but rather “how” you are His and how you give His Spirit the means and opportunity to heal, restore and strengthen you.  It can be as simple as not watching a TV show to as complex of breaking off an relationship.

Where upon your path do you stumble?  What is it that you stumble over?  Who is it that is a stumbling block to you?  These are the things concerning which you need to make strong resolutions – choices.

Though God can use these things, He cannot bless them.  Their use is limited to His conviction of your heart.  The blessing comes from taking the medicine He prescribes.  Though the medicine taste bitter, even nasty, we know it is all and only for our good and His glory.

Means:  Make a list, pray about where to begin and then begin.  Do so being as gentle and gracious with yourself as is He.
Who
What
When
Where

Choices have two ends: the choice to “not,” and the choice "to.”  As we choose to not we must choose to do.  In that list, make a column of what will replace that which you have marked for elimination.  Prayer, study, fellowship with other believers, worship – all these are good and godly replacements.

Our modern age supplies us with countless opportunities for choosing good things (as it does for evil).  I know that when all else fails I listen to sermons by Alistair Begg or read books written by one of the Puritans.  These choices may not be for you, they are but two options.

It includes a constant and holy jealousy over our own hearts.  He that will keep his heart must eat and drink with fear, rejoice with fear, and pass the whole time of his sojourning here in fear. All this is little enough to keep the heart from sin.

This is a choice as well.  You must choose to save your heart for God and godly things and resent that which works against it.  

You who are fathers – would you have less concern for your heart as you would for the safety and purity of your children – your daughter?  You mothers, would you feed your newborn from a dirty bottle?  Young people, would you allow harm and evil to come to your dearest friends?  So, as you would wish yourself to be in regards to these who are so dear to you – be so to your own heart.

Pray to live knowing that it is not only your heart, but it is His as well.  Think of the price He has paid so you might walk after Him in security and confidence.  Would you cheat on one who was so dedicated to you, who had given so much for you?  Consider those times when someone you considered close shunned or betrayed you – what was that pain like?

Or think of something in which or of which you place great meaning.  Would you allow someone to damage or destroy it?  Are you cautious about who uses it – perhaps even who sees it?  What greater meaning can any “thing” have than the redemption of your heart and His promise of His provision?

It is not sin to be selfish with your heart which He has redeemed.  It is sin to allow it to be used and abused, tarnished or torn by sin and the agents of sin.  We may give our hearts to others through Him but for no other reason than His service.

Means:  Who or what would draw your heart from you – from Him?  They have no such right, no such authority.
Keep your heart from their influence and certainly from their grasp.

It includes the realizing of God’s presence with us, and setting the Lord always before us.

This well could have been the first on the list for it is certainly the most important.  The old quip that “character is what a man is when no one is watching,” is not off the mark.
God is always watching – and He knows our suffering and difficulties.  He knows our grief.  He knows our needs.  He knows our weakness.

He wants His highest good for our lives here as well as in heaven.  

It is hard to really understand, but true that God is our truest friend.  He will never forsake or abandon us.  He is always at work for our betterment in His grace and glory.
He is the one who can not only search our hearts, but heal them and strengthen them as well

Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises, called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence, worshipping Thee with godly fear, awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Thy love.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 121-122).  . Kindle Edition.

Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest untiI Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 125-128).  . Kindle Edition.

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:11

1Pe 2:11  Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

In this verse, Peter begins to guide us in the living out of the proclamation of His excellencies.  It all starts with Him but we are next.

But be warned !!!!!  You can only do this as you - - well as you draw close to and depend upon Him.  I have to struggle to keep in mind that my need for Him is the complete opposite of His need for me.  Perhaps memorizing the following verse will benefit us all:

Joh 15:3-5  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  (4)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  (5)  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

God isn’t silly.  He does not expect us to go out and show Him what we can do.  He knows us much better than we do.  He knows what we don’t know – about us.  He has commissioned us to be His in this world, to proclaim His excellencies in a world that hates Him and His.

He does not send us on our own.  We may charge out without taking Him with us – but even as we crash and burn He is with us.  God does not need us to prove He made the right choice!

But, like a loving Father and a masterful tutor, He provides us with guidance in His Word and through His Spirit so we may be prepared for Him to work in and through us.  Here in verse 11 we have the start of our tutelage – our discipleship.

First, we must accept that here we are: sojourners and exiles.  We are aliens in a foreign land, separated (somewhat) from our King and country.  As such, we need to:

Abstain:  To hold back oneself from.

Friends, it is just NOT our party!  We’re here, but we are only passing through.  While we’re here we just can’t party with everyone else.  Even though everyone seems to be having a great time, we know better.  Read Daniel – wow – what an example of this truth!!!!!!!!

But, Peter gets specific when he refers to our lusts – fleshly (as opposed to spiritual) lusts.  Lust is a strong desire, a longing.  Lust can be directed by and towards something good (righteousness) or something bad (the flesh) – I can “lust” over God’s pleasure or my own selfish pleasure.  It isn’t the “lust” that’s the problem, it’s the what or who – the object of the lust!!!

We are to hold ourselves off from OUR fleshly lusts.  Come on guys, we all want to be liked, we all want to be popular, we all want to be considered a success – nothing wrong there until we step our of His sheep-pen and wander our own way.

God knows we have lusts (desires) but He wants us to trust Him for meeting those desires.  So, we need to look for His provision.  We are clearly told:

Psa 37:3-5  Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.  (4)  Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  (5)  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

Like Daniel and the gleesome threesome, we are exiles in a foreign land under a corrupt, unbelieving “system.”  But we must abstain, hold off from all the answers to our desires that this corrupt system offers us. 

We cannot forget that the prince of this age is the Serpent – and he’s no slouch.  Like the Inland Taipan snake which: “has the most toxic venom of any land snake in the world. The maximum yield recorded for one bite is 110mg, enough to kill about 100 humans,”  Satan’s bite is deadly.  Even the smallest amount is death.  It is nothing to play with!

But let us not forget that it is the passions/desires/lust of OUR flesh that we must hold back from.  Again, OUR flesh! (SEE Romans 7&8 PLEASE!!)

We need to examine what we seek and who we seek meet our needs and provide our pleasures .  We live in a world with a frightening number of offerings to meet our needs and pleasures.  So let me ask, What makes you feel secure? What makes you happy?  What makes you afraid?  What makes you laugh?

For me it had a great deal to do with what makes me laugh.  I discovered that what was making me laugh was not spiritually beneficial – and it soon became unfunny.  I also discovered what I feared and that taught me a lot about why I sought out certain things and struggled so in prayer and other duties to my Master.

I’ve found that the following verse helps me discern what to hold back from.  I pray this often.

Php 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Not junk - art!

A creating power can, not only bring something out of nothing, but contrary out of contrary.   Sibbes, Richard (2012-04-24). The Soul's Conflict With Itself: And Victory Over Itself By Faith. (p. 296). A Puritan At Heart Press. Kindle Edition.

If of nothing, God created everything, then out of coal He can create a diamond. 

In our struggle – nay battle against the flesh we do not always win.  Indeed we fail often.  In those times I am threatened with a sense of futility and frustration.  Will I ever, “Get it right?” is just one of the hopelessness inducing thoughts.  When my attention is forced upon my utter unworthiness either by my being prompted to look of my nose being stuck in I default to everything that ever made me feel, “not good enough.”

I don’t know about you but I do know that I don’t like seeing my sins.  But see them I must for if I do not see them what value does His sacrifice have in my heart.  If I am folled into thinking I’m “Ok,” I am fooled indeed and I lose sight and sense of the great grace He has called me with and to.

Out of utter nothing He brought His creation.  Out of my corruption and sin He brings a saint.  Nothing can stop Him.  His intention is never to be thwarted.  We may think we can resist but we can’t.  We may think “we” fail but we must know He cannot.

We are, as much as DNA and the cosmos, His workmanship. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

As a friend of mine says, “God doesn’t make junk!”  I have a friend who works at a place where they forge metal.  There’s lots of scrap and “junk.”  This friend of mine takes these objects and created really fascinating and beautiful work of art with them.  I a human can do that, imagine what the God of all can do!

Oh if only we would accept the truth – all the truth of the Gospel and not pick and choose.   Yes, we sin, that is our battle – our battle against the flesh – the “body of death.”  Oh how I pray for you and I that we might come to the place where Paul found himself where he was able to proclaim with great sincerity and much joy:

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then,

I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.   Rom 7:24-25

Peace - Be still.

My heart looks back to the time when I was under a sense of sin, and sought with all my soul to find peace, but could not discover it, high or low, in any place beneath the sky; yet when "I saw one hanging on a tree," as the Substitute for sin, then my heart sat down under His shadow with great delight.  My heart reasoned thus with herself,--Did Jesus suffer in my stead? Then I shall not suffer. Did He bear my sin? Then I do not bear it. Did God accept His Son as my Substitute? Then He will never smite me. Was Jesus acceptable with God as my Sacrifice? Then what contents the Lord may well enough content me, and so I will go no farther, but: "sit down under His shadow," and enjoy a delightful rest.”  Till He Come, C.H. Spurgeon

As I read that I wanted to curl up in a ball and get as small as I could.  Oh to grow into such a state!  Oh to have my affections so informed by His love and sacrifice.  But self- pity is such a low thing – such a toxic thing. It will only consume – it will never heal or help.

Oh how I long to love Him as I see here – to know Him and have that strength in Him.  My first impulse is to run about “doing” for Him as though (1) He needed my help and (2) my works to win Him would ever work.  Such is the battle with what the Word tells us is the “flesh.”  It seeks desperately to solve the problem to fix whatever seems to need fixing. 

It also refuses to sit down and shut up.  I balk at the very idea of “not doing.”  I want the plan, laid out plain and clear so we might know and not need to trust.  And yet – trust is exactly what we need.  The flesh stacks up our smallness and weakness and unworthiness and then pushes it over crushing us – or at least seeming to.

Do you, with me, long to rest in Him?  To release your hold on it all – and to trust His grace?  Does His grace seem distant and dark?  Do you have the sense that you are being punished, that there is no place for you at the table?  Or perhaps you sit on the floor at the far end of the table thinking, “If He sees me, He will throw me out”? 

That is the flesh – my flesh, your flesh – the flesh.  Satan, when he can do nothing else, uses the providences of God to stimulate our flesh and bring us to be afraid of our Lord and friend, Jesus.  Oh, that like a tumor God would excise it from me and you.  Oh, that we would not flinch at the sight of the savior surgeon’s knife.

I have learned, from Him, that when one stays in a dark and dismal place and thinks they can survive there, one is resistant to all attempts at rescue.  Oh, how painful and joyful it is to even begin to sit still for our Savior’s attentions. 

I have learned that my doubt is truly idolatry for I look to my doubt and not that little grain of faith He has planted in me.  I know the darkness, I know the rejection and though it presses cruelly, I find I fight to let it go. 

Having put (and fighting doing it more) my faith in me and others and my ideas and schemes, I am cast down – but the voice of the flesh still bellows.  Oh, for the blessed silence of being in His arms, hearing the beat of His resurrected heart.  Oh, to feel the warmth of His embrace, to see the light of His radiance and be at rest under His hand.

I pray that He will overwhelm my resistance, my self - my flesh that fights His love and care -  that seeks to “show Him I am worthy,” of his blessing.   Oh, that He would quiet - silence that voice that so deceives enticingly.   Oh, that I could hear none but Him – that I would be silent and the world inaudible.

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 1:6 & 7

1Pe 1:6-7  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,  (7)  so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Remember the “exiles” thing?  Well here it is again in another way.

Notice Peter starts by acknowledging the effect what he has just written would have on his readers.  The word rejoice refers to singing, dancing (Oh?), etc.  There’s a subtly here.  It is “in this” – what Peter has just shared – that we find something to rejoice about.  It is “in Jesus” we have the reason to rejoice.

though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

Well, exiles can expect that.  We’re not “home” yet. 

We are grieved both by being here and by not yet being there.  We experience sadness and sorrow.  “Put on a happy face,” is not found in the Bible.  Neither is “Grin and bear it.”  Sorrow and sadness are not inappropriate for the believer!

Paul wrote:

2Co 1:8  For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

Yet he followed it with:

2Co 1:9  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Note the end of verse 9.  There was a reason.  Peter expresses the same thing in this passage:

so that the tested genuineness of your faith—

more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—

may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ

The ‘tested genuineness of your faith,” really causes some believers a lot of worry.  They read that and have a sense that they have to prove their faith to God.  First, that’s impossible.  Second, that’s not the point.  Third, that’s exactly what the devil wants us to think.

God knows our faith – mustard seedy as it is.  We don’t need to prove anything to Him.  Remember – He made us His – He guards us.

What Peter is saying to you and I is that through various trials God proves He is faithful.  It’s His trustworthiness that is proven – His faithfulness to us as His children.

The, praise and glory and honor Peter writes of is what we will explode into when that glorious day comes when we are “home” with Him.