Spiritual memes

That feeling that my brain may explode hit me again. I really should not read Facebook!  Seriously, if you hear I have had a stroke, you will know that there was something else ridiculous posted there. Let me be clear. The vulgar, inappropriate posts from unbelievers make me shake my head, but I expect nothing more from those who do not have a relationship with Jesus. What causes the blood to rush to the top of my head are things Christians post trying to sound spiritual. I just read one warning unbelievers (those who don’t like to talk about Jesus) to stay away from this particular believer, because they love to talk about Jesus. Yeah, right! That’s the way to be a witness that draws others to a saving relationship with Jesus. Not! These “I’m more spiritual than you” memes are off putting to those who don’t understand. I know. I’ve talked to people who are pushed away by these attitudes. I have one friend who is really truly searching for fulfillment in her life. She has been hurt so often by well meaning Christians. (I won’t even mention the times she has been hurt by not so well meaning Christians.) The name “Christians” was first used in Antioch and meant “little Christs.” We are to be like Him. He did not push the lost away. Do you know who He pushed away? The Pharisees. Do you know why? Because they thought they were more spiritual than regular people. The ones who were drawn to Him were the masses, those hoping for something that the Pharisees were not giving them.

Matthew 9: 10-13

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

We need to lead genuine lives, caring lives where non-believers see Jesus in us, not by our puffed up words, but because the fruits of the Spirit are evident in our lives.

Galatians 5: 22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Years ago, a very sweet young lady sang special music at church. Her face literally glowed as she worshiped through song. After the service, I told her she looked like Moses. For a minute, I think she thought I was insulting her. Then I explained what I meant. When Moses came down from the mountain, his face reflected the glory of God. I want to be like that. I want to be so close to God that I don’t have to tell people I am close to God. I want it to be evident by the look on my face, the attitude of my heart, and my actions toward others. I’m not there, but I want to be.

Exodus 34:29-30

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.

I know I’m not super spiritual. That’s why I am writing these posts. Every word I type is a lesson to myself. If it helps others, then good, but the things chronicled here are truths I am learning. Note: Am learning. Not have learned. Bragging about being spiritual shows that we are not.

Galatians 6:2-3

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

Romans 12:3

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Is there an easy answer? Is there an easy fix? I don’t know. I hope by just talking about this, we will be more aware of the times when we are careless with our words. I hope that we can lives more worthy of the gracious gift we have received in Jesus.

Ephesians 4: 1

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Colossians 1:9-11

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,

It seems that everything I write, every lesson I begin to learn, comes back to this one word that has been on my heart for years. “Wholehearted”. When we have wholehearted commitment to Him, we are not boastful or puffed up. We are filled with the Spirit and the result is a life that draws others to our Savior. This is my prayer. Pray for me. I pray for you.

Leaders and Followers

Everyone who works with children or has children in their home knows this child. The one with "leadership" skills who is very good at telling the adult what other children are doing wrong, but has trouble following directions themselves. 

When we line up to walk down the hall at school, I tell one child to be a good leader and the others to be good followers. And I have them take turns being the leader. Most children do well in either role. But, there are those children who want  to be the leader all the time, and have a very difficult time being a good follower.

What is the lesson to be learned in this? Don't we as adults have the same changing roles. We can't always be the leaders. Sometimes we are. Sometimes we are followers: employees, students, service providers where we can easily identify to whom we are accountable.  Other times, that accountability is more complicated, but still there. Even the CEO is responsible to the board of directors, who are accountable to stock holders. Several years ago, following a move, our previous phone provider had not removed our name from the account but had given the number to someone else, who made multiple calls to "900" numbers. We received a phone bill for over $1000 dollars. After a very long and frustrating conversation with the customer service representative, my husband asked to speak with her supervisor. She told him she didn't have a supervisor. He exclaimed, "Wow! I'm talking to the owner of A T and T?!" Whether she would admit it or not, she had someone to whom she was accountable. 

As a society we put a lot of emphasis on having leadership skills. We glorify the leader and minimize the follower. Does this sound familiar? "Be a leader, not a follower." I understand this phrase is used to try to steer children away from peer pressure to do things that are wrong. But just listen to the phrase. Isn't the concept much more than avoiding wrong doing? Are we telling our children that we want them to have more worth and value than someone else? 

In the spiritual sense we are all ultimately followers. We either follow Jesus, some false teaching (false god) , or our own selfish desires. We may be in earthly leadership positions of one kind or another, but our decisions and our actions are driven by who or what we follow. The quality of our leadership depends on who we are following. 

Ephesians 2:1-3

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Ephesians 5:1-3

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

We need to be more concerned about following Jesus than about leading men.  The only way to lead well is to follow God well. The paradox is that we can not be good leaders until we learn to truly be good followers of Jesus, humbly  acknowledging Him as Lord. 

Maturity

Philippians 3: 12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.


I Corinthians 3: 18 No one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness;

In absolutely no way do I consider myself wise or mature. Let's get that straight right now. Everything I say after this is meant as much for me as for anyone else.


We live in an age of distractions. Jobs. Family, yes, even family. Television. Internet. Smart phones. Social media. Let's be honest. I enjoy all these things too. They distract me too. But more disturbing than the distraction factor are the unscriptural things we are exposed to through all these sources. I enjoy Facebook as much as anyone, way too much probably. It can be a way to keep up with and communicate with friends and family in other places. We can even encourage each other spiritually. But... what I often see are things that are so unscriptural. I won't even try to tell what these things are, because the point is not what these heresies are, yes, I said heresies. The point is that we should be growing spiritually to the point where we recognize untruths. We should not be posting, sharing, liking things that are contrary to God's Word. Period.


I was talking to a friend recently about the lack of spiritual growth in our churches. People who have heard the truth are leaving the faith to follow false teachings. People who sit in the pews every time the doors are open have virtually no deep understanding of God's Word. We are led away by every false teaching that hits the Internet. We are deceived by the glitz of well prepared websites. We believe what we want to believe, what sounds right to us, without searching the scriptures to see if our thoughts align with those of God.

Acts 1711 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Romans 16:17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

1 Corinthians 2:9-119 However, as it is written:


“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—


10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.


The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.




So, is the church, that is other believers, failing to teach and nourish our brothers and sisters? Is this lack of spiritual maturity because people are not committed wholeheartedly to Jesus? Do people make the effort to spend time daily in relationship with Jesus? I know from personal experience that spiritual growth does not come from going to church every time the doors are open. Spiritual growth comes from an intimate personal relationship with Jesus. Church attendance and Biblical teaching provide support, encouragement, sound doctrine, etc. Picture this: I want to develop physical strength and endurance. So, twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday, I go to the gym and watch other people exercise. Yeah! That works, right? Spiritual growth is about relationship. I can read about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Peyton Manning, Ted Cruz, Sandra Bullock, or anyone else, but I DO NOT have a personal relationship with any of these people. Relationship is built in spending time together. To grow in our relationships with Jesus, we must spend time with Him. Intimately. Just Him and me. Just you and Him. Personal.


My pastor has repeatedly told us some things that are necessary for spiritual growth. Read and study your Bible every day. Pray without ceasing. Be open and obedient to God. Love others. Share your faith. Fellowship with other believers. Not a complete list, but you get the picture. Are we as individual believers faithful to doing these things?


When we spend time with Him in a growing personal relationship, we will recognize the things that are false because His Spirit will bear witness with our spirit. Without Him we are tossed around by every false doctrine or cute saying. We lack reverence. All I can say is that my heart is broken. Broken because I know how terribly I fail. Broken because I see such strong evidence that other believers do not know what God's Word says and are seeking their own theology rather than basing their beliefs on what scripture says.


My ranting will not change anything. My words are only words. God can teach us truth, but we have to be willing to let Him. We have to acknowledge his Lordship and follow Him in obedient faith and commitment to growing our relationship with Him.

Thoughts about Prayer

James 5: 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.


This was the verse we talked about in Sunday School last Sunday. So, I'm confessing now. I get up every morning at 5:00 so that I can have time to read my Bible, shower, and leave for work at 6:30. Sounds pretty good, right? But I have been struggling. I get my coffee and sit down. Then I decide that my eyes aren't focusing well enough yet to read the Bible, so I get on social media for a few minutes. I do eventually read the Bible before I get in the shower, but it ends up being hurried with little to no meditation on what I am reading, and either a very quick prayer or no prayer at all. I told the children Sunday that prayer is not just telling God what you want Him to do, but also listening to Him, praising Him, thanking Him. That was like the blind leading the blind, or the pot calling the kettle black. I know the statement to be true but have failed to do that. I have confessed that to God, and now to whoever reads this.



1 John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.


I have been thinking about what it really means to pray, and how I should pray. Back before I fell into this back-slidden pattern, I loved to read and pray from the Psalms. I think all the elements of true prayer are expressed there. Praise, thanksgiving, worship, fear, anger, confusion, requests, confession, commitment...All these things are included in the psalmists' prayers/songs. Prayer is deeply personal conversation with God based on who He is and made possible by what He has done for us. Prayer comes from a wholehearted commitment to Him and involves complete honesty with Him. We can't lie to Him, so why try.






Psalm 139: 1-5


1 Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
You understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You observe my travels and my rest;
You are aware of all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue,
You know all about it, Lord.
5 You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me.
6 This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.






As James states, we are to pray for those who are sick. True. But it seems to me that sickness has been a primary focus of corporate prayer with most other elements of true prayer omitted. I have been in many churches where prayer requests have been made. Certainly not all, but most of those are for illness and bereavement, with an occasional "unspoken" request. Herein lies my confusion. What are we afraid or ashamed to pray about? I really don't know what other people are thinking, but I think we may be embarrassed to pray for lost family members to be saved, because we think their lost-ness reflects some failure on our part. I think we may be ashamed to pray for strength and forgiveness for ourselves because we are too prideful to admit our own sinfulness and weakness. (Before anyone thinks I am accusing others, I'm telling you the things that are my own fears and faults.) Are we ashamed to pray about financial difficulties because we are admitting failure? The list goes on.






First, we need to recognize who God is. A realization that He is the all knowing, all powerful, always present, indescribable God allows us to know with certainty that we can really talk to Him and that He will answer us in real and personal ways. We need to praise and thank Him. We need to worship Him. We need to be wholeheartedly committed to Him. We need to be willing to pray about everything that burdens our heart. Everything.






Imagine individual believers truly committed to Him in honest, open conversation with Him. Imagine bodies of believers who join together in worship and in true prayer for all areas of need. What miracles can our indescribable God do with that kind of commitment to Him and each other?






Think about it. Pray about it. Hope for it. Pray for it. Do it. And I will do the same.

Friendship

There are lots of memes being posted. Some are funny. Some are vulgar and offensive. Some are very unscriptural. Some reflect my political views. Some are just the opposite of my views. Some are way too close to the truth to be amusing. Then, there those about true friendship. I love these because I do indeed have one of those friends who is the David to my Jonathan. (If you aren't familiar with the term, it comes from the Bible.) We have been consistent friends across 20+ years and 4 states. She is my friend, sister, mother, mentor all rolled into one person.  We have shared triumphs, trials and tragedies. We have cried together, prayed fervently and laughed hysterically. I jokingly say I know everything about her except how old she is. She is one of the many blessings for which I am immensely grateful to God for providing for me in His grace.

Last night I received a message that she has been very sick. The details don't really matter. When she is hurting physically, emotionally or spiritually, my prayers are with her even when we are miles apart.

I am writing about this because there have to be scriptural truths in this.  There are lessons to be learned and encouragement to be shared. The most obvious is that scripture speaks of a friend who sticks closer than a brother. The ultimate fulfillment of that prophetic verse is Jesus. He is the only One who is always available for us, and loves us sacrifically and unconditionally. There is also the earthly application of true human friends. It is my belief that this kind of friendship does not exist with out a mutual relationship with Jesus Christ. When the Spirit of God dwells with us, we can have the kind of true fellowship with others that is indeed supernatural, not in a creepy horror movie way, but in a way that brings encouragement and peace. When God blesses us with that kind of friendship, we need to give Him the glory. It is not something that we achieve ourselves.

I don't know the depth of your friendships. Sometimes the way relationships look on the outside are not the way they really are. But I do know that real friendship is a blessing from God. When your friendships are rooted and grounded in your relationships with God, then you have a true friendship.

Even with all I have just written, I am finding the desire to let her know again how special she is to me to be in conflict with a fear that what I say might be just way too mushy. I know she knows how I feel. I know she feels the same way. (We have sent multilpe memes to each other. :-D ) Maybe another lesson to be learned is to tell your friends and family how you feel about them when there is not a crisis or illness. So, even though she may be too sick to listen to me being mushy, she knows that I am praying for her, that I will do whatever I can to help her, and that her friendship is beyond value to me.

Expressing my Thoughts

I'm not really sure if I even have this blog set up for anyone else to read. I'm not even sure if I can go back and read it. :-) But that really may not matter at all. During the day,  I often have totally random thoughts that I half way wish other people could know and understand. I know I'm not extremely wise. I know my thoughts may prove to be just plain confusing to others. A common phrase my children say is , "Mama, you're so random." All that to say that the primary reason for starting this blog is simply to express my own thoughts. Any benefit or amusement to others would be, as my son used to say, "All gravy". Just writing them down may be all I need to do.

As a speech pathologist in the public schools, I work with some very sweet children. One of the benefits of my job is working with them in small group or individual therapy sessions. Walking them to each therapy session, they immediately start talking about the things that are on their minds. I try to make it a practice to give them a few minutes before each session to "tell me one thing". Sometimes that ends up being several things. I hear the things that make them happy, exciting things, weird dreams...But I also hear that they won't get Christmas presents because their parents don't have any money, that they couldn't sleep because there was too much yelling going on in the living room, that they don't have food because their mom's friend used their grocery money to buy drugs. And they tell me things that I can not and will not write here. These thoughts they share break my heart. They also motivate me to live out a scripture that has been foremost in my mind for years. Whatever I do, I must do wholeheartedly, for the Lord, and not for men. I can't feed them all. I can't make their parents argue quietly when the child is trying to sleep. I can't protect them from the life they were born into. But I can pray that God will use me to love them the way He loves them. I can listen with understanding. I can be compassionate and caring. I can pray that God will use me or someone else to enlighten them to the possibility to escape and overcome their circumstances. And maybe, just maybe, the window of knowledge that I am sharing with you will give you more understanding of the world that is totally foreign to our "churchy" world. Maybe you will pray with me for the children who don't have the privileges and opportunities our children have. Maybe you will be that special person God uses to change their lives.