Feckless

My youngest is now six. This rerun from two years ago is one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy.

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

feck·less \ˈfek-ləs\ adj 1: WEAK, INEFFECTIVE


My four-year old drools in his sleep.

Some mornings, there's no damp pillow or cheek. Yet moms know. I'll cuddle him to wake up and catch a whiff of the telltale smell on his sweet face—and I hardly intend to quit cuddling to wash him. Later, an older sister may hold him and say, "Daniel smells funny." At some point, he'll get a bath to take care of all the funny smells which cling to four-year olds.

He's learned self-control where nighttime bladder issues are concerned. Yet when it comes to keeping his mouth closed during sleep, I can't help but like the word feckless.

"There is nothing covered that will not be revealed,
nor hidden that will not be known."
(Luke 12:2 NKJV)

I recently read a compelling line from The Sacred Romance by John Eldredge: "Unsettled, we turn and walk quickly away, like a woman who feels more than she wants to when her eyes meet those of a man not her husband."

Yikes.

I'd only noticed men who give women a slightly too appreciative glance before looking away. Are the secrets hidden in a woman's heart just as easily laid bare?

Men have the reputation for lust. I don't see their lust for sex much different from women's lust for romance, whether in frequency of thought or in the danger for compromise.

I've heard, "Feelings aren't right or wrong—they're just feelings." This lie from the pit of hell is the devil's tool to convince us that lust, wrath, pride, and an entire host of other emotions are justified. We think them our own secrets, which hurt no one. We see our hearts somewhat like our cars. We pass through the midst of hundreds of other cars but think of our space as private—while it's surrounded by glass.

Like the invisible dried spittle on my son's cheek, we unwittingly reveal our hearts and the evil emotions in them. We may dwell on such emotions and feed them, and eventually act upon them. If forced to confront those emotions, we justify them as no more than human.

The Creator indeed allows us anger, which can motivate us to defeat unrighteousness as it did David against Goliath. The Lord allows us enough pride to care about how we're perceived, so we'll work toward displaying the love, joy and peace He puts inside of us. God gives us sexual desire to unite ourselves with our spouses—body and soul—and to reveal more clearly divine union with us which is His desire.

Satan and flesh would use these good emotions for evil.

For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do,
that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who
do it, but sin that dwells in me... O wretched man that I am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—
through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:19-20,24-25 NKJV)

It's said sinful emotions are like birds: you can't prevent them from flying overhead, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.

We must indeed battle sinful emotions every day that we live on this side of heaven. We must remain aware of the dire consequences which follow if we fail to fight.

And we must remember to draw near to our loving Father, whose will is to continually wash us of sin's odor—even as He looks affectionately upon our humanity, which renders us feckless.


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Copyright 2011, 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Faithful Servant

"True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit.
It is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us."
~ Tryon Edwards

Faithful Servant

'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'
~ Luke 17:10 (NKJV)

'Well done, good and faithful servant ... Enter into the joy of your lord.'
~ Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)

Here in a world tarnished by selfishness and suffering, it can be difficult to see good around us.

Here in our hearts scarred by failure, it can be difficult to see ourselves as profitable servants.

God loves us no less now than when we stand before Him fully perfected. He already sees His good and faithful servants as we will be in heaven.

Heavenly Father, thank You for already loving us with Your full capacity. Help us know and share Your love.

Your questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Wise to Do Evil

"For My people are foolish,
They have not known Me.
They are silly children,
And they have no understanding.
They are wise to do evil,
But to do good they have no knowledge."
~ Jeremiah 4:22 (NKJV)

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."
~ Matthew 18:3-4 (NKJV)

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
~ Titus 1:15 (NKJV)

Any parent can appreciate a small child who emerges from a bath and runs through the house stark naked, innocently reveling in the freedom from clothing. All too soon, we acquire knowledge of good and evil, and such freedom is lost to us.

Our human nature inclines us to be continually sinful. We are wise to do evil without effort or training. We can point a finger at the world and say it has corrupted us. It is humans who first corrupted the world.

Jesus came to set us free from this burden of sin. Alone, we will continue to swerve toward evil—to be filled with pride, lust, anger. As we walk closely with the Lord, He continually cleanses our hearts and sanctifies us so that all things might become pure to us.

He converts us to again become as little children, innocently enjoying His good gifts.

Good Father, You shower us with good gifts. How many are lost to us because our hearts still gravitate toward evil? Please do whatever it takes to make us so humble and pure that nothing must be restrained from us. Incline us to hate everything that is evil, to love all that is good.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Naked

Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God! ...
So pursue them with Your tempest,
And frighten them with Your storm.
Fill their faces with shame,
That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
~ Psalms 83:1,15-16 (NKJV)

"I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
~ Genesis 3:10 (NKJV)

"You say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked ..."
~ Revelation 3:17 (NKJV)

Sin blinds both the best and the worst of us.

Those who do not know Christ cannot believe they need Him unless they first believe that their sin condemns them. They stand naked before God, who sees all. Their shame—whether understood or not—permits them no peace. And they have no clue what the problem is.

Those of us in Christ are clothed in righteousness, free of condemnation before God. But we still walk in sinful flesh through a world of sin. The Lord called some within His church "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."

God forbid that we should be blind and know no shame for sin! The Lord asks His people to "humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways." It is tortuous to live amid our nation's sin, but repentance starts with us.

O God, please let us see ourselves as You do—beloved beyond measure, and still in need of washing. Even as You give us peace beyond understanding, please do not hold Your peace about sin which repels You. Break down strongholds! Let us be sanctified and pleasing to You.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to
BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Have Faith

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."
(Mark 11:22-23 NKJV)

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. (Mark 6:5-6 NKJV)

If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
(Psalms 66:18 NKJV)

"Have faith." How often is encouragement offered using this platitude, without distinguishing where to place that faith? Jesus said, "Have faith in God." He then said faith can move a mountain into a faraway sea—assuredly. And at one time, lack of faith actually limited Jesus' power!

This is consistent with His other astonishing statements: "He who believes in Me will do greater works than I do." "Ask what you desire and it shall be done for you." And, "With God all things are possible."

Of course, Jesus put qualifiers on His promises about the power of prayer to move the hand of God. We must abide in Him, and His word must abide in us. We must ask in His name, that is, consistent with His character. We must forgive others. We must forsake sin both in deed and in the heart. We cannot doubt in heart what we ask for in word.

The heart's attitudes affect God's answer to prayer. Imagine the power behind abiding in Jesus closely enough to know His heart, and making His will our own.

Heavenly Father, Your goodness is without limit. Your compassion and mercy are unfathomable. Your grace abounds far above what we might ask. Please make our hearts right with You, so that we may ask for what You long to give us and unleash Your power in our lives. Please increase our faith!

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

A Great Name

"I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:2-3 NKJV)

There shall be no more curse ... and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. (Revelation 22:3-4 NKJV)

Abraham did not exalt himself. The Lord made Abraham’s name great, and made his faith great—faith by which he attained righteousness, demonstrated in sacrifice and obedience. All who attain righteousness by faith are called children of Abraham, and we inherit a name which God makes great. It is the name of our own God upon us, our identity now in Him.

In the days when the prophecies of Revelation are fulfilled, there is room for only one name on our foreheads.

YHWH our God, You are merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. We are undeserving of Your great name upon us. Please conform us to Your likeness.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. © 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

God’s Kids

So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? ... If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." ... And it came to pass ... that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?" (Genesis 4:6-9 NKJV)

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. ... My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:10,18 NKJV)

By whatever doctrine we call ourselves adopted children of God, we wear I.D. cards showing who we are called Love and Righteousness. Righteousness is not found in conformity to law, but in identity with Jesus Christ and His righteousness. I share His rule over sin and make it my practice to ignore its knock at the door. My heart thus united to Christ, I feel His bond to all others united to Him—and share His love for them. And genuine love is not hidden.

Our Father, thank You for purchasing us from the devil and death, and making us Your own children, loving righteousness. Please lead our hearts to show our love for the many sisters and brothers in our big family.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. © 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

Vindication

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But [Jesus] answered and said, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’" (Matthew 4:3-4 NKJV)

I would like to have a good name and reputation, based on being blameless. If my integrity suffers false accusation, I want to be vindicated. The words of another will be more compelling than my own to defend me. Yet in the end, I need to be justified only in the eyes of God. If the Lord Jesus—God’s Word made flesh—has vindicated me by His blood, I am without condemnation. The Word that gives eternal life feeds my soul more surely than bread feeds my body.

Father, I can live without bread, but I cannot live without Your Word. Thank You for providing my sustenance. Thank You for the immense satisfaction I receive from feeding upon it.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy