“Artistic Sketches”

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit”. Jeremiah 17:7-8 

in Jeremiah 17:7-8 it is saying, don’t be discouraged if you feel shaken, but remember that you can stand unshakable because the Lord is the source of your strength and the source of your righteous. By way of Him, we can stand unshakable like the tree. It also reminds me that no matter what is happening or coming my way, I will not be knocked down. I can feel the arrows of doubt and disbelief trying to penetrate my heart to shake me up, but I sense a strong fortress, that is rock hard, protecting me.  With each trial I go through, the Lord changes me and strengthens me.

Have you ever thought about, the benefits or detriments of a root fully meaning onlife? How do we join in the situation where we are able to reach a better steadiness in our spirited growth”? A desire to play the part in which the existence of brilliance as opposed to something whose future is going to be limited or terminated. Simply speaking"What does the Bible say about the brilliances of being Artfully rooted in Christ?"

You see the first mention of this root of art in the Bible is in Exodus 31.God is instructing Moses to create a tent for the ark of the covenant, and God mentions several artisans whom He has chosen to create “artistic designs” to beautify the tent. God says, “In the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill.” We learn two things about God’s view of art in this passage: He likes it, and He is the source of it. He wants man to create beautiful things, and their skill in doing so is from Him.

Art that glorifies God must have the same two properties as the designs created in Exodus 31. First, it ought to be “artistic”; that is, it must be creative, well executed (a good representation of the object) and well crafted (well made). It must have worth as an object of value centered in Christ. Second, plus, I think it should be something of which the artist can say, “God put it in my heart to make this.” God dwells in “the perfection of beauty” which created as a “God-glorifying art, rooted in his glory. (Psalm 50:2), and His holiness is beautiful (1 Chronicles 16:29 and Psalm 29:2). 

It's human nature to be intrigued by the origins of things. Centuries have been spent investigating the origins of life, behavior patterns and genealogy, and this fascination with beginnings isn't limited to theological or scientific study. Plants are a recurring motif of significant metaphors about spiritual growth and our relationship with Jesus throughout the Bible. The use of plants and roots in these instances are symbolic of our connection to Christ, the necessity of it, the advantages of being rooted and what happens if we're not rooted in Christ and are rooted in something else. The language of origins has long formed part of our everyday conversations and continues to do so. 

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and over flowing with thankfulness.” Col 2:6-7

At this point during our mission with Christ, I am thinking about two “Christian Flower Gifts” today. One of the flowers is a cut flower. It is a normal gift that is meant to be placed in a vase with water. The other flower is a potted plant. One of these flowers will last much longer than the other. It will also be able to hold up better under bad conditions. The mystery is, do you know which one is in my heart? If you are thinking as I, it’s the potted plant that will last longer. You would be right. It is better off because it has roots! The cut flower will only last a few days and then will have to be thrown out because it has been cut off from its roots.

The Bible says that if we want to be the good and wonderful people God intends us to be, we must be rooted-rooted in Jesus Christ. Now of course the Bible doesn’t mean we should have actual roots. It means that we should be very close to Jesus, sticking by him at all times. Being rooted in Jesus means we depend on him. Jesus will give us the strength to handle problems. We won’t have to wilt in tough situations like this cut flower and keep on living the good life God wants us to because we are rooted in Jesus.

“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me”. Psalm 16:8

I’m sure we all have some problems right now. Your problems may have to do with friends, illness, marriage, when we hear bad news or doom ahead or finances,all of us have trials including me. But if we stay close to Jesus-stay rooted in him-we’ll turn out ok.

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world”. 1 Peter 4:12  

God Bless You and This Ministry!

The Inner Life

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”. 1 Peter 2:9

By what right have we become “a royal priesthood”? It is by the right of the atonement by the Cross of Christ that this has been accomplished. The continual inner-searching we do in an effort to see if we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, sickly type of Christianity, not the vigorous and simple life of a child of God. Until we get into this right and proper relationship with God, it is simply a case of our “hanging on by the skin of our teeth,” although we say, “What a wonderful victory I have!” Then don’t worry anymore about yourself, but begin to join Jesus and do as Christ has said, in essence, “Pray for the friend who comes to you at midnight, pray for the saints of God, and pray for all men.” Pray with the realization that you are perfect only in Christ Jesus, not on the basis of this argument: “Oh, Lord, I have done my best; please hear me now.”

But that would have you notice things about yourself, like not wanting to be told what to do? Especially when it comes to directions or that all Christians are to be priests; you see the Christian church is actually a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6) We must mediate Christ’s love into a dark and troubled world. Just as priests are agents of reconciliation to God and others, so are we to be such mediators not just “Fans in the Stands”?

Some people will wander around for hours, complaining aimlessly and totally be lost before stopping to ask for directions and use the status given to us by God to carry a message to minister to others in a way that leads people in the Church and in the world to be reconciled to God and to each other.
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The same thing happens when putting things together. Usually when we get a new piece of furniture, or new computer software, the first thing we do is take out the parts, or the disk, and start working. Look at the manual? Forget about it! Often, we end up with odd parts left over or haven’t the faintest clue how to use the new program once its installed. If we had just used the manual we would have saved so much trouble, and gotten a much better result.

When it comes to life we often react the same way. We don’t want anyone telling us how to live, especially if it is of a different philosophy, tradition or family upbringing. We just go on living as we always have making it up as we go. We have a manual, a book of directions it’s the Bible. We should read it; understand it, live by it. But it’s a pretty big manual and many of us don’t take the time to read the whole thing. Just like when we buy a program we don’t look for the manual, we reach for the little card labeled Quick Start. It gives us just what we need to get by until we are ready to delve in deeper.

In the past, have you ever thought about the following questions: What is an intimate relationship with God? Are we prepared to purposely disregard ourselves and launch out into the priestly work of prayer? Why isn’t there a little Quick Start guide to those question in the Bible? Not for only answers to that question, but ones about our relationship with ourselves, and our relationships with others, both in the community of believers and in the world. Realizing that there is no “quick start” to a deeper life with God. When we listen, follow Gods plan, and look for answers inwardly (the Bible), we no longer give people, institutions, or traditions authority to define who we are or what we can become. Those relationships aren’t like a packet of microwave popcorn that you can pop and enjoy three minutes later. Christian spiritual relationship takes time, effort, and most of all trust in God to grow deep. Remember we Christians are appointed, chosen, and ordained to this role of ambassador or priest, we might be reluctant to take the responsibility that is ours but He has given us a ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18).
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Ultimately, we have to remind ourselves that it takes great listening, maybe a different style, risk, as well as study, to develop an inner life with God. As we worship together each weekend, as we share our lives in small groups, as we serve together, and we give together, God helps us put down deep roots and understand there is only one place where we are right with God, and that is in Christ Jesus. Once we are there, we have to pour out our lives for all we are worth in this ministry of the inner life.

In summary, believers are called "kings and priests" and a "royal priesthood" as a reflection of their privileged status as heirs to the kingdom of the Almighty God and of the Lamb. Because of this privileged closeness with God, no other earthly mediator is necessary. Second, believers are called priests because salvation is not merely “fire insurance,” escape from hell. Rather, believers are called by God to serve Him by offering up spiritual sacrifices, i.e., being a people zealous for good works. As priests of the living God, we are all to give praise to the One who has given us the great gift of His Son's sacrifice on our behalf, and in response, to share this wonderful grace with others.

May God never allow us to settle for anything other than authentic community relationships being intentional and join Jesus daily in our 100 foot circle of friends and neighbors, so we can grow deep together and be reminded it’s not about “self”. It’s about God!

God Bless You and This Ministry!

Does God Feel Far Away

“Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant and whoever of you desives to be first shall be a slave of all.” Mark 10:43-47

It’s one of the most common or uncommon experiences of my Christian life. How about you? God feels far away, like he’s hiding himself, or at least withholding his reviving presence. You feel deprived, dry and anxious for a sense that he is still there, still listening, still caring. But you can’t seem to eke out a prayer because sometimes those songs of prayer feel empty, and they seem to return with an echo sound of setbacks fueled with a suffering heart. 

Let me point you to the biblical pattern in answering to that question. It is as if the Bible hears you ask the question and answers it. And the sum of the answer is: Seek him continually and wait for him. Seek him and wait for him. So here is the seek part from Psalm 27:8-9,“You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, O Lord, do I seek.’ Hide not your face from me.” 

Sometimes my inner recesses are projected with a zeal to seek that happiness so much for the Lord That often it is shown by the way I ask questions or when I get fearful, my silence. Especially when I’m reflecting about scripture. I’ve notice as I join Jesus on his mission as I interact with others, I’m left with the songs of suspected sorrow (where are you, Lord?) Why are you hiding yourself from me? I am your child, so why, does it feel like you are ignoring my cries, I need your words. How long will I seek you, only to find silence? My languishing, O Lord the delay makes me fearful. O my God!  Does that resonant with you!

If this sounds like the cry of your heart. Be comforted-you’re not experiencing anything new or abnormal. You’re in the same boat as a multitude of other Christians who have gone before and now walk with Jesus. A comfort in this reality.

Yet I’m unable to put my finger on it exactly because it happens a lot even at church. Noticing an effort of modeling which is rare courage these days as this Faith Journey happens, trying to show true grit, inviting people on this trusted benefitable spiritual trial is a truth of witness that needs an awakening.

Being a former athlete, my metaphor would be,” Having a Bad attitude of self in mind” which can ruin the team or in this case the Body of Christ?

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:6-10

Just recently a young man was riding a stationary bike next to me at the gym. The young man’s agitation, abnormal focus was apparent by his posture, and high frequent pacing on the bike. With the help of the holy spirit, I noticed he had a Green bay Packers shirt on and I asked him if he was a fan. He responded no, I’m just wearing the shirt. You seem to have a lot on your mind, would you like to tell me about it?

He began to share his story; you see for me, not fully being able to cradle his fragile heart, since my experience’s, feeling far from God was a frightening experience as well, I asked him if we could pray first, he said yes. Listening intently. His cry was that he has always been a rebellious and argumentized person. Apparently, he had argued with a dear close friend and his friend told him to leave and never to contact him again if he is just going to argue. Because of pride it drove him through the door. Days pasted by. But today on social media he read his friend had committed suicide. Without saying a word, I listened to his songs of suffering and at the end we prayed shock hands and I could see his temporary relief in his smile(I see the young man often at the gym and we talk often).

After the young man left all I could think of was Psalm 22. You see David’s cry in psalm 22 sounds a lot like ours: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Ps 22:1-2

Man, first of all, when you don’t feel God’s presence, rely on his character. His reign reminds me that he’s presents everywhere. While I may not feel he is near. He is Yet his holiness tells me I don’t deserve to be near him. But our reigning, holy God has given us the free gift of access by Christ’s blood. He’s given us what we don’t deserve-the freedom to draw near to his throne of grace with confidence.

So, when we feel God has forsaken us, we rely on what we know to be true: God’s holiness reigns, and he has granted us endless access to his presence. May we persevere with hope by running to God’s Word. In his perfect timing, may we let his truth transform our feelings, especially when the question,” Does God Feel Far Away?”. Let his truth transform our feelings, that we may be able to sing to others: 

God has heard when I cried to him.”

God Bless You and This Ministry!