Laying Hold of God's Strength

The theme for today’s blog carnival (hosted by Bridget Chumbley) is "Strength." You're invited to visit her site for other related thoughts. :D

"God wants you to ask Him for things
that are bigger than yourself."
~ Jentezen Franklin

Laying Hold of God's Strength

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled."
~ Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)

We are physical beings, limited by the weakness of human flesh. Worse, the flesh asserts itself in ways which fight against the work of the Holy Spirit. We may not even be aware of the ways we struggle against God.

Abstaining from food for many hours—or a number of days—has a way of weakening the flesh and enabling the Lord's Spirit to become strong in us. When even food is not our priority, the things we once thought were priorities are seen with a different perspective. When we make clear to ourselves and to the Lord that His will is more important than our appetite, He can reveal it with startling clarity. When we tell the flesh it needs God more than food, we will indeed receive more of God.

By saying, "When you fast ..." Jesus omitted "if," indicating an expectation that we would do so. By saying of a demon, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting," Jesus indicated that spiritual warfare might require fasting for success.

If there is a situation in your life which requires divine power to understand the Lord's will, for overcoming weakness or addiction, or to defeat an attack of the devil, consider boosting your prayer with fasting as a means to humbly lay hold of God's strength.

He longs to feed you with spiritual food finer than any available from the earth.

Father in Heaven, we are feeble children of flesh. We do not know how to pray as we ought. Please give us a desire for You above our desire for all else. Please give us a desire to know and fulfill Your will at any cost.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#fasting
Image source: mydebtregret.com

Refiner's Fire

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.
~ 1 Peter 1:6-8 (NKJV)

These brief hours on the earth aren't about me, and not even about now.

It's all about Him, the glory we can give Him now, and the glory shared with Him for our eternity together.

He's irresistibly drawn to the holiness in us which is like His own, and He makes us increasingly like Himself. The more we are like Him, the more we know Him, the more we love Him.

Here am I, Lord.
Have Your way with me.



Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Music and Lyrics of Refiner's Fire by Brian Doerksen Copyright 2004 Integrity Media, Inc.

Lie of Hell #5: Loving People is Enough

A recent "Question of the Week" at Bullets & Butterflies listed five of the devil’s lies which sound close enough to the truth to make them believable. This week addresses them in more detail:
• Monday – "You'll never be worthy of God's grace or love."
• Tuesday – "If you have faith, it doesn't matter if you sin."
• Wednesday – "Following Jesus solves your problems."
• Thursday – "Problems indicate God's condemnation."
• Friday – "If you love others then you're loving God."

: : : : :

"God wants us to love Him more,
not to love others less."
~ C.S.Lewis

Lie of Hell #5: Loving People is Enough

We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
~ 1 John 4:19-21 (NKJV)

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:29-31 (NKJV)

The devil wants you to believe that if you love others then you're loving God and don't need to love Him first. This message of humanism elevates people above God.

Some people argue that the above passage from John says we must love others first before we love God. (Three posts in April elaborated on learning love and agape love in more depth, and can be found here.)

While our love for God is made more complete in our love for others, and we first learn love by being loved and loving others, we cannot truly love others—love unconditionally with agape love—until we first experience the love of God and love Him.

It may seem that God is too big or distant to be loved and people are easier to love. It may seem that divinity does not need our love as much as humanity does. It may seem much more scary to love Almighty God than to love a simple person.

But if we are honest, people are difficult to love. Humans can be very unpleasant. They either reject or are indifferent or fail to adequately return our love. When we place love of God first, He lives in us more fully and empowers us to love unpleasant humans, even the ones who hurt us. And in passing on His love, we really do love God as described by John.

Such love is Real Love.

Lord God, You are love. Thank You for the forgiveness which enables us to know Your love. Please help us to forgive others and love them as You have loved us.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Lie of Hell #4: God Doesn’t Like You

A recent "Question of the Week" at Bullets & Butterflies listed five of the devil’s lies which sound close enough to the truth to make them believable. This week addresses them in more detail:
• Monday – "You'll never be worthy of God's grace or love."
• Tuesday – "If you have faith, it doesn't matter if you sin."
• Wednesday – "Following Jesus solves your problems."
• Thursday – "Problems indicate God's condemnation."
• Friday – "If you love others then you're loving God."

: : : : :

"Sometimes I think, when it gets too quiet up there,
You say to Yourself, "What kind of mischief
can I play on My friend Tevye?"
~ Tevye to God, from the movie Fiddler on the Roof

Lie of Hell #4: God’s Doesn’t Like You

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives."
~ Hebrews 12:5-6 (NKJV)
[Full context: Hebrews 12:5-11]

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
~ Romans 8:32 (NKJV)

Christian, the devil wants you to believe that your problems are because even though your sins are forgiven for eternity, you're still condemned for them while you're on earth; that God is angry, unfair, mean, and picks favorites for His blessings and curses; that He plain doesn't like you.

My five kids have thought the same of me. My youngest's latest response to most every situation that doesn't go his way is, "You're being mean!" Any of my darlings can unfavorably compare their circumstances with one of the other's.

Our sense of entitlement will continually trip us up.

Yesterday's post established that yes, Christians will have problems, which God uses to show His might and grace, and to bring praise to Himself. But it's not about Him alone. The Lord is continually at work to bring us into closer relationship with Himself so that He can bless us more abundantly. He is a good Father willing to use whatever means necessary.

It's said the Lord accepts you as you are and loves you too much to leave you that way. Fair enough. So how easily do we change? We tend to follow the path of least resistance unless we face unpleasant consequences which compel us to do otherwise.

There is a coming day of judgment for those who are condemned because they have not reconciled themselves to God through Jesus Christ. In the meantime, our God adopts those with faith in His Son as His children. Then He disciplines with difficulty and uses it for our benefit.

And it really does hurt Him more than it hurts us.

Father, I don't understand everything You allow in my life which causes pain. I know I'm responsible for some or most of it myself. I really am sorry for the grief my sin causes You. Please help me to always trust Your love for me and cooperate with You. Please do the same for everyone reading this post. Please open our eyes to how loving You really are, and how much You long to bless us, even when tough love hurts.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Lie of Hell #3: Faith Eliminates Problems

A recent "Question of the Week" at Bullets & Butterflies listed five of the devil’s lies which sound close enough to the truth to make them believable. This week addresses them in more detail:
• Monday – "You'll never be worthy of God's grace or love."
• Tuesday – "If you have faith, it doesn't matter if you sin."
• Wednesday – "Following Jesus solves your problems."
• Thursday – "Problems indicate God's condemnation."
• Friday – "If you love others then you're loving God."

: : : : :

"When it is dark enough, men see the stars."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lie of Hell #3: Faith Eliminates Problems

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
~ John 16:33 (NKJV)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed ... that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
~ 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (NKJV)

The devil wants you to believe that once you make Jesus Lord of your life, your problems are over.

The devil even manages to put that message in the mouth of many misled Christians. Then when difficulties or sickness or hardship occur, a Christian will be told that they just need to pray harder or have more faith or claim one of God’s promises.

The truth preached by Jesus is that Christians will have tribulation.

If being a Christian meant the end of our problems, what kind of opportunity does God have to manifest His power? If He makes life easy for us, how valuable is our love and praise?

Praise comes easily when all is well on the outside. But we praise because all is well in our souls, even if body, mind and heart are in agony. Our praise is more valuable when it defies hardship. Like the moon, we reflect Sonshine with the most radiance in darkness. God is glorified in our lives when we face adversity of the worst sort and He proves His grace greater yet.

For now, Christians experience the kingdom of Heaven spiritually. Jesus reigns in our hearts, not on a throne made by human hands. The time to experience the full and physical presence of Christ's Kingdom is coming.

Lord, Your grace is sufficient for our weakness, for our greatest hurt, for our darkest despair. Make us willing to pay the cost of making You manifest on the earth with all we are, have, do.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Lie of Hell #2: No More Worry About Sin

A recent "Question of the Week" at Bullets & Butterflies listed five of the devil’s lies which sound close enough to the truth to make them believable. This week addresses them in more detail:
• Monday – "You'll never be worthy of God's grace or love."
• Tuesday – "If you have faith, it doesn't matter if you sin."
• Wednesday – "Following Jesus solves your problems."
• Thursday – "Problems indicate God's condemnation."
• Friday – "If you love others then you're loving God."

: : : : :

"Sin and the child of God are incompatible.
They may occasionally meet;
they cannot live together in harmony."
~ John R.W. Scott

Lie of Hell #2: No More Worry About Sin

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment ... Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
~ Hebrews 10:26-29 (NKJV)

The devil desperately wants all humanity (saved and unsaved alike) to believe that grasping the faith of salvation means sin is no longer an issue to worry about.

Salvation is received by faith—but not all faith is saving faith. If faith is held in the mind as intellectual assent or in the mouth as verbal assent or in the hands as outward display of works, it is "first faith" rather than saving faith. Such "faith" produces the illusion of eternal security, evidenced by continued practice of sin. (See Luke 8:13; Matthew 24:12; Galatians 5:19-21; Hebrews 6:4-6; 2 Peter 2:20-22.)

Jesus speaks to His church with strong language, warning that failure to repent of sin will result in being vomited out of His mouth. (Revelation 3:16) He said He does not know and therefore rejects those who call Him "Lord" without obeying Him. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure ... for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
~ 2 Peter 1:10-11 (NKJV)

Faith held outside the heart is not secure. It must take root in the heart to cover with Christ's blood the sin lying there which condemns us.

Once heart-faith takes root, it will begin to produce spiritual fruit and works of righteousness. We are neither saved nor made "more" righteous by works. We are saved by the faith which is evidenced with the Holy Spirit's works and fruit. (James 2:14-26; Galatians 5:22-23; John 14:12; Matthew 7:17-20; Luke 6:45)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
~ Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV)

It was necessary for Jesus to die as He did only because sin is thoroughly intolerable to God. If we wear Jesus Christ on only the outside, we remain condemned sinners. If we are in Christ, we will walk in His Spirit—in freedom from condemnation.

If we are in Christ, we will seek to make not converts holding fleeting first faith but disciples holding saving faith.

Father in Heaven, thank You for the gift of Your Beloved Son. May our hearts hold unceasing gratitude for the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please help us cooperate with Your Spirit's work and yield to Your Spirit's fruit.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Lie of Hell #1: You’re Not Worthy of God’s Love

A recent "Question of the Week" at Bullets & Butterflies listed five of the devil’s lies which sound close enough to the truth to make them believable. This week addresses them in more detail:
• Monday – "You'll never be worthy of God's grace or love."
• Tuesday – "If you have faith, it doesn't matter if you sin."
• Wednesday – "Following Jesus solves your problems."
• Thursday – "Problems indicate God's condemnation."
• Friday – "If you love others then you're loving God."

: : : : :

"His love for me is utterly realistic,
based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me,
so that no discovery now can disillusion Him about me."
~ J.I. Packer

Lie of Hell #1: You’re Not Worthy of God’s Love

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
~ James 2:10 (NKJV)

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
~ Timothy 1:15 (NKJV)

Does the devil tell you your sin is so bad that you'll never be worthy of God's grace or love?

The truth is that we are not deserving of God's grace or love. We deserve something as a entitlement—perhaps because we earned it—when we are wronged by not receiving it.

The Lord's love and grace are not our right, but His gift to us. And like any true gift, they are freely given regardless of our lack of merit.

We are all undeserving sinners. The penalty for being a sinner is eternal death—end of discussion. The payment for all sin of all the world for all time has been paid by Jesus' blood. His sacrifice is greater than whatever could be called the greatest sin. The only unforgivable sin is to blaspheme, or deny, the testimony of Holy Spirit which speaks to us of salvation's power.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
~ Romans 8:31 (NKJV)

To be worthy is completely different than being deserving. God has made us in His image, desires fellowship with us, and delights in our love. He offers forgiveness from the sin which separates us from Him because He declares us worthy of forgiveness. No matter how horrific our sin is in our own eyes, the blood of Jesus is sufficient to cover it.

Father in Heaven, thank You for declaring us worthy of the cost of Your precious Son's blood. Please help us not to argue with You and say we are less. Please open our eyes to the truth of Your declaration that we are worthy of Your love, that we may resist the lies of satan.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Living Messages

"Every child comes with the message
that God is not yet discouraged of man."
~ Ravindranath Tagore

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
~ Psalms 127:4-5 (NKJV)

Living Messages

I think it lovely to look into the face of a child and see the image of both father and mother, melded into one. It testifies to the privilege in co-operating with our Maker to create the wonder of life.

I think it lovely to look into the face of a child of God and see the image of Jesus, contained in the light of being born a new creation.

I think it loveliest of all when a child of man becomes a child of God and becomes the message of all that is good in the world.

Father in Heaven, thank You for the father of my children. Please bless him. Please enable him and fulfill his desire to be a good father—like You.

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see."
~ John W. Whitehead

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Question of the Week: Why No Healing?

'Now see that I, even I, am He,
And there is no God besides Me;
I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal;
Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.
~ Deuteronomy 32:39 (NKJV)

: : :

[In praying for healing], should we really be demanding our way, thinking we know what is best? Or should we strive to learn whatever lessons are hidden in the sickness and trials we may be going through? [I’ve been] told that because healing was not granted, the prayers ... were not earnest, fervent, or persistent enough. ~ Hannah Meyer

The short answer? Ask in faith without presuming upon God's answer. But there's a mighty fine line between faith in God's perfect will and presumption of God's sovereign will.

It's been explained this way: Between God’s perfect will and God’s sovereign will is the place to exercise human free will.

If you ask ten theologians to explain the intersection between divine will and human free will, you'd likely get eleven answers. I won't pretend that I can best them or that I have all the answers. Today's question falls into the category of my adequate but imperfect understanding, and that's what I'll share.

Almighty God does not allow human will to trespass His sovereign will. But God’s perfect will requires our cooperation. If we walk closely with Him so that we understand His will in a situation, if we rely upon Him so that He empowers us, and if we are submitted to His Spirit so that He has His perfect will—then we will experience His best.

There are a lot of ‘ifs’ and a lot of yielding that must occur for us to obtain God’s perfect will in our lives. We are nonetheless assured that we will not fall short of His sovereign will and promises.

Prayer is an opportunity to cooperate with God’s perfect will and seek to obtain His best while still acknowledging His sovereign will.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
~ Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Those who belong to Jesus Christ are assured of healing. But we are not assured of when it will occur, or if it will occur at all before we are resurrected.

Jesus spoke of "sickness unto death" because death and therefore sickness are a continued part of our existence for now. If sickness is a means of testing or character building, it may be healed when those are achieved—or it may be the Lord's intent that it continue throughout life (as was the case with the apostle Paul). When injury or sickness exists as a direct result of our actions—whether spiritual, emotional or physical—perhaps it will be healed when those conditions cease. If sickness exists for the purpose of glorifying God, it may be that miraculous healing is ours for the asking.

For more information on the reasons for sickness, see "Your Healer."

A similar question was previously answered in the post "Why Pray."

© 2010 Anne Lang Bundy
Image source: sacredpursuit.com

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This post originally appeared at Bullets & Butterflies. To see additional comments, click here.

To One I Love

Many people have spoken with me in their times of pain. Someone I love dearly has recently shared details of personal grief I think anyone might understand. My open letter of sympathy is for the blog carnival hosted by Bridget Chumbley on the one-word topic "Compassion."

(com=with; passion=pain/suffering; com+passion=suffer together)

"A friend is someone who helps you up when you're down,
and if they can't they lie down beside you and listen."
~ Unknown

To One I Love

First, I'd like to say thanks for sharing with me. I understand that while joys may be openly announced to the world, our hurts are made known to fewer souls. Your trust is something I value and hope I prove worthy of receiving.

Your pain is something I wish I could diminish. I understand that I feel only a fraction of it. But that tiny amount has brought me to tears with its intensity. You do not deserve the rebuke, the unfounded accusations, or the public slander. I can only imagine what's been said privately, that I don't know about.

Your heart was pure. You did everything possible to create a meaningful relationship. You expressed love beautifully, holding back nothing. It was misunderstood and rejected in the worst way. I understand the sting of rejection—especially hurtful when one has loved so deeply. I'm not sure there's any pain worse than loving someone with such abandon, then having it returned with indifference, rebuff, or even outright scorn.

Your hurt of unrequited love will one day be put away. In the meantime, I hope the love I've expressed when we've talked has been of comfort, however little.

I wish I could promise to never fail You. I ask Your continued forgiveness for all the ways I've been the one to hurt You. I'm trying to remember that whenever I'm ignored, rejected, or unjustly accused—whenever my love goes unreturned—that You're allowing me the privilege of sharing Your personal pain.

However imperfectly I do so, I promise I'll never stop loving You, my Beloved Lord.

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. (John 1:11 NKJV)

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.' "
C.S. Lewis

Your feedback is appreciated.
Post to BuildingHisBody.com

Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: frtim.wordpress.com

Heaven's Strength of Joy

This is a rerun. But if it makes a difference, I wrote it when I was entering the most difficult time I've experienced in my life.

"Joy is the serious business of heaven."
~ C.S. Lewis

"This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
~ Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

"The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
~ Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV)

Whatever else we imagine Heaven to be, we know without a doubt that the business of Heaven is Joy. It is other things such as Peace and Love and the Presence of God. And all those things come down to Joy.

If we have been born again into the God's Kingdom of Heaven ...
If eternal life is not something we wait for but something we have ...
If the kingdom of God is something not searched out but found within ...

... shouldn't we be employed in Heaven's business of Joy?

The Power to manifest Joy resides within the heart where Jesus is enthroned. In yielding to His Joy we have strength.

Lord Jesus, You taught us to pray for Your Father’s kingdom to come. We long for Your kingdom on earth when You return some future hour. Please shine through us so that Your spiritual kingdom is visible in us for this present hour.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Question of the Week: What Exactly is the Gospel?

"The recognition of sin
is the beginning of salvation."
~ Martin Luther

"What exactly is the Gospel? I hear that term all the time."
~ Anonymous

The word "gospel" means "good news." The Gospel is the best news ever shared.

The Gospel's good news comes with bad news. The devil doesn't want you to believe either one.

The Gospel is this: God sent His Son Jesus to the earth to die for our sins. His death may be credited to us so that we ourselves need not pay the death penalty for sin. We obtain that credit as righteousness, through our faith in Jesus Christ, by God's grace as His gift.

The bad news is that the Gospel's value to a person diminishes in proportion to how lightly one looks at sin. Here are three common views.

1) If I believe I am not quite bad enough for God to actually send me to Hell, I will neither fear God nor understand my genuine need of a Savior. Grace and Heaven will be considered an entitlement rather than a gift. I will believe I posess salvation because of my intellectual agreement or association with religion. My life will be lived for myself rather than for God. If I claim to be a Christian, my failure to bring God glory will defame His name.

The Bible says such belief, without fear of God and Hell, is less than a demon’s:

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
~ James 2:19 (NKJV)

2) If I understand that I am a sinner who needs salvation to avoid Hell, I'll accept God's gift of salvation. But if I think I'm not all that bad a sinner—that my sin is simply human nature—then I'll be inclined to see salvation as something collectively bestowed upon a portion of deserving humanity. I'll likely retain the self-righteous pride which looks down on the “real” sinners, struggles to extend forgiveness, and is selective with love.

I cannot love God until I get past such pride:

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
~ 1 John 4:20 (NKJV)

3) If I believe Almighty God created me, laid down commandments which I've violated, and is offended by my sin; if I see my sin as a filthy stench which covers me and makes me offensive to a good God; and if I understand that Holy God provided the precious blood of His Son to clean away the filth of my evil because of His great love for me—then I will consider the Gospel the greatest of all good news, gratefully bow the knee before God and humbly accept His Gift, and love my Lord with all my heart forever:

"Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
~ Luke 7:47 (NKJV)

Here are some lies the devil does want you to believe, covered in more detail in next week's posts:
• Monday – "You'll never be worthy of God's grace or love."
• Tuesday – "If you have faith, it doesn't matter if you sin."
• Wednesday – "Following Jesus solves your problems."
• Thursday – "Problems indicate God's condemnation."
• Friday – "If you love others then you're loving God."


© 2010 Anne Lang Bundy
Image from the movie Passion of the Christ © 2004

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This post originally appeared at Bullets & Butterflies. To see additional comments, click here.

true meekness

"Some glances of real beauty may be seen
in the faces of those who dwell in true meekness."
~ Henry David Thoreau

Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga, left,

smiles as he walks away from first base umpire Jim Joyce, right.

true meekness

The meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
~ Psalms 37:11 (NKJV)

Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him ...
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret ...
~ Psalms 37:5-7 (NKJV)

If not for my son Joshua (age 11 and a Detroit Tigers fan), I'd have likely missed watching one of baseball's finest events unfold; I'd have missed true meekness shining more brightly than pinnacle of achievement ever could.

Sports fans are by now familiar with Armando Galarraga, age 28 pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. Last Wednesday he pitched a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians. A perfect game is so difficult to attain that it has happened a mere 20 times in the history of Major League Baseball.

But Galarraga did not receive credit for a perfect game. On what should have been the game's last play, Galarraga sprinted to cover first base while the first baseman grabbed the Indians' 27th batter's hit. The replay shows that with ball in glove, Gararraga's foot stepped on the bag before the runner's did. It was a clean out. But umpire Jim Joyce declared the runner safe.

The game would not go down in the annals of baseball history as perfect. Galarraga's moment of a lifetime evaporated. Yet he didn't argue. He didn't pout. He didn't lose poise, but calmly went back to the mound with a peaceful smile, ready for his 28th batter of the night.

When later interviewed, he shrugged off Joyce's mistake as just that—a human error. While sports fans slandered the umpire with a variety of epithets, the one man who might be justifiably upset did not complain that he'd been wronged.

After seeing the replay, a distraught Joyce readily admitted he'd made a bad call, visibly shaken. He cursed himself, grief evident for what he'd inadvertently taken from the young pitcher. Galarraga responded by saying that he felt bad for Joyce—and he displayed it with exceptional dignity.

When the two meet at home plate the next day to play another game, Galarraga pauses to shake Joyce's hand before handing him the lineup. While Joyce attempts to focus on the lineup and wipes away tears, Galarraga puts a warm hand on Joyce's shoulder and rubs it briefly. Joyce reciprocates with a friendly cuff to Galarraga's arm, and a new game begins.

Armando Galarraga is both a perfect pitcher and a perfect gentleman. He has earned respect far beyond what he might have received for the perfect game alone. And the world has witnessed one of the finest examples of meekness it might ever hope to see or emulate.

Lord, please be patient with us as we learn to meekly wait for Your perfect purposes for everything You allow in our lives. Alllow us no sense of entitlement. Enable us to return injury with grace, delighting in Your abundance of peace.


The play:




The meeting:



Your feedback is appreciated.
Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source, Galarraga & Joyce: blog.pennlive.com

My Lord and My God

Yesterday a comment was posted to Thursday's Father, Son, Spirit, inviting the viewing of a two-hour video to "aid the quest for truth" on the identity of Jesus. I verified that the video is by Unitarians and sought to prove Jesus human alone and not God. The comment was deleted. I offer not apology but the following apologetic.

My Lord and My God

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
~ John 1:1,14 (NKJV)

In 1985, after 23 years of hearing and reading the Bible—of believing Jesus to be the divine Son of God—I met Jesus the Word of God. The experience of hearing the Word speak with authority was love at first sight. In the 25 years since that day, the Bible has been my first and last authority for faith. It has yet to let me down. It has sustained me through every dark hour. It has lifted me up to pinnacles of love for God and neighbor of which I am otherwise incapable.

And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
~ John 20:28-29 (NKJV)

Having the Bible turn my world upside down made me willing to question everything I'd been taught and measure it against Scripture. When it was proposed to me in 1990 that Jesus being the Son of God did not make Him divine, I readily examined it with an open mind, in search of truth. The texts throughout both Old and New Testament which declare Him God are numerous. The voice of the Holy Spirit has confirmed them repeatedly. The testimony of countless Christians matches what I know by personal experience beyond a shadow of a doubt: Jesus could not do for those He touches the miracles He performs if He were less than God.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
~ Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV)

No entity but Almighty God may be worshiped. To Him alone do we bow the knee in prayer, in faith, in worship. To Him alone do we lift up voice and hands to praise, to exalt, to magnify as Lord. Angels refuse such worship and praise. True disciples of Jesus refuse such worship and praise. Yet Jesus accepted such worship and praise not only because He is worthy of it, but because it brings glory to the Father. Those who wish to exalt God do so by exalting Jesus.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist... He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him.
~ 2 John 1:7-10 (NKJV)

For as long as I host this blog, it will not welcome or give space to those who masquerade as "Pastor" and declare on behalf of satan that Jesus is anything less than God made flesh in order to deny Him homage.

If I use two of the precious hours Jesus my Creator lends me in quest of truth, I will praise Him for the beauty of His creation. I will search out Jesus the divine Word of God in the Bible. I will bow the knee in prayer to Him Who is Savior of my soul, Lord of my life, King of my future.

Father Almighty, for as long as I draw breath, I will exalt Your Son Jesus Christ as my Lord and my God.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#knowingGod
Art image by Riek Jonker

Question of the Week: Why Separation?

The triquetra (from a Latin word meaning “three-cornered”) is an ancient symbol for the Trinity. It comprises three interwoven arcs, distinct yet equal and inseparable, symbolizing that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct yet equal Persons and indivisibly One God.

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When we speak with words such as "return" or "reconciled," we do imply separation. Is it possible that we both hold and not hold God within ourselves? Or that He does and does not live in us? And if God dwells in us, how can we be separated from Him and be empty?
~ Maureen

There are various kinds of separation. And since one God is expressed in a Trinity of three distinct personalities—Father in Heaven, Jesus the Son, Spirit Counselor—our types of separation with each Person is different.

"Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father."
~ John 6:45-46 (NKJV)

There is an order within the Trinity. The Father holds supreme authority above creation and creatures, over humanity and angels, and above the other two Persons of God. No one of the earth may see His face. The ugliness of our sin, however small we think it, separates us completely from His absolute goodness (or holiness), and makes us His enemy—with no permission to enter His presence. Accompanied by Jesus, we have the right to enter the Father’s presence in prayer, make peace with Him, and be adopted as His child. We are then fully reconciled to Him spiritually and have the privilege of as much time in His presence as we spend in prayer. But we will not see His face before the day we go to where He is, in Heaven.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
~ John 1:14 (NKJV)

Jesus is fully God. He expresses the Father in logic as the Word of God, in creation as its Maker, and in human flesh as God become Man. When we take in Scripture, we are in the company of Jesus the Word. In perception of creation (including of ourselves), we know the Creator. But Jesus the God-Man now resides in the Paradise of Heaven. We are physically separated from Him until we meet in Paradise upon physical death, or when we meet Him in the sky at the rapture.

"It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."
~ John 16:7-8 (author)

No one is separated from the Holy Spirit. Named Paraclete, or Counselor, He is present in the voice of conscience which convicts any person of sin. The Holy Spirit may come upon a person in more strength and give the power to do what pleases the Father. The Holy Spirit comes into the person who entrusts himself or herself to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will occupy as little or as much place as is given to Him. When He fills a person, His presence cannot be missed. When He is given a small measure of trust, He occupies a small space, and may even seem absent.

Yesterday’s post on my blog is titled “Father, Son, Spirit.” Those interested in my personal experience of relationship with these three Persons are invited to read more there.

© 2010 Anne Lang Bundy
Image source: anglicancatholic.ca

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This post originally appeared at Bullets & Butterflies. To see additional comments, click here.

Father, Son, Spirit

To the pilgrims ... elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience
and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
~ 1 Peter 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Father, Son, Spirit

I readily confess to obsession with God's Word, as well as to the drive to understand it for this primary purpose: to know God.

My “sub-obsession” is the names of God, because He is known in His names. While hundreds of names capture various dimensions of one God Who longs to be known, His inherent nature is of three distinct personalities: Father, Son and Spirit. He's simply too big to fit into one Person.

May I today share Whom those three Persons are to me personally?

The Father is mighty and majestic King. He created me with a purpose and plan for me, and to share mutual love. All I have is a gift from His hand, and I need never go without anything I truly need. He blesses me with direction and disciplines me. He can be stern but usually isn’t, because of His deep underlying affection for me as His little child. Though I may disappoint Him at times, He is never, ever disgusted with me, because He sees my icky thoughts, feelings, words and actions through the rose-colored glasses of His Son's blood.

His Son is the King's Prince Regent. He is in Himself exactly all the Father is, and makes the Father personal to me by both telling me and showing me. As the Word of God, Jesus uses logical words I can understand. As the Creator, Jesus speaks in pleasurable sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations. As the Son of Man, Jesus didn’t just live inside flesh, He actually became as human as me without losing any of Who He is—and demonstrated how to touch and talk with and love people. My Friend Jesus came searching for me where I sat imprisoned on death row, set me free, brought me to His Father, and asked that I be adopted into His family. He is my someday Bridegroom, residing in Heaven until our wedding day. He left behind the Bible as His love letter, His church as the part of Him I can still touch, and His Holy Spirit as His heart.

Called Paraclete (“Counselor”), the Holy Spirit is as gentle as the most compassionate mother. From the inside of me, he breathes into my soul desire for the Father’s plan for my life. Though Jesus set my spirit free, my soul lives with the lingering filth of sin which the Spirit tenderly burns off and washes away, refreshing me and making me radiant as gold. As divine Valet, He clothes me with works attractive to my Bridegroom—the labor of love, the sacrifice of joy, the cultivation of peace. His flames singe without burning, His waves billow without drowning, His breath fills me without forcing.

All three are one God. All three are marked by personality of soul and are as tangible as the elements. If the Holy Spirit is formless wind, fire and water of God, Jesus is the earthly and physical expression of God. The splendor of Father in Heaven is as untamable and untouchable and real as magnificent thunder which reverberates in my ears and heartbeat.

My God, how I love You. Thank You for making Yourself so indisputably real in my life. Please use my words to make Yourself more real and better known to others.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#knowingGod
Image sources:
bostonherald.com/blogs
agnostichicagokie.blogspot.com
health.utah.gov
newamsterdamrecords.com