Dirt is better than you

The Book of Job, Job 38 through 42, Revelation 20

Earlier this week, Mia and I were sharing within our virtual "Morning Brew with Alpha Women" group via Marco Polo. (We jokingly-not jokingly have named this for our group of two because we are both strong women of business as followers of Christ.) On Sunday October 3rd, Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 shared some facts about the crucifixion and Roman times that neither Mia and I had ever heard before. Not that these facts are questionable or fabricated by Joby but because, many teaching pastors neglect to provide contextual facts either because they don't know these facts or simply don't think the facts are important. Sadly, that decision to not convey facts, distorts the important meaning of the action. The profoundness is diminished. The communication is misleading. It puts punctuation to Revelation 22:18-19,

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll."

As we chatted back-and-forth about the two facts we learned through Joby, we landed on that people knew innately right from wrong; some chose right and some chose wrong. 

I also brought into the conversation something that impacted me in my daily reading. I was in Revelation reading 19 through 22 where Chapter 20 struck me in its contrasts of significance versus insignificance and by its brevity compared to the previous chapters. 

I was amazed that Revelation chapters 1 through 19 cover about seven years of the tribulation period along with Jesus's return to earth, and the end of Satan's reign on earth by throwing the beast and the false prophet into the lake of fire, and binding Satan, throwing him into the abyss and sealing that abyss for one-thousand years. In Chapter 20, Jesus ushers in the millennial reign of a thousand years, where the believers who died during the tribulation, will reign with Jesus during that millennial time; He gives these believers (these non-deniers of Jesus as Lord God) the position of authority for rebuilding and repopulating the earth, reporting to Him as Sovereign Ruler over earth.

What amazes me is that the millennial time - a one-thousand-year period - received one chapter of 15 verses to describe this time period and yet, the previous seven years received 19 chapters with 340 verses of explanation. 

Satan's end is just as poignant in its insignificance. The great enemy of God and mankind just ends. Once God decides "this is it," there is nothing more powerful than He that can alter that decision and, God provides minimal details in Satan's demise which highlights that sovereign power God has. When it's time for evil on earth to end, an unknown angel from heaven has the key to the abyss along with the authoritative power to seize, bind, throw and seal Satan into the abyss to remain there for 1,000 years. The angel wasn't named. We are not told if this angel is as an archangel, such as Michael or Gabriel, who are chief among angels with leadership power and authority vested on them by God. No. This angel appears to be an "ordinary" angel given this position with its tasks and authority to be carried out at the designated time and command by God.

And Satan cannot overcome this angel, even though Satan was created as an archangel himself. As powerful as Satan is, God's supreme sovereign authority, power and position are unmatched.

What also struck me was the response of the people born during the millennial time and their reaction at the conclusion of this time period when Satan is released from the abyss prison and allowed to deceive people once again. Consider what is said and not said in Revelation 20; what exists and does not exist during the millennial period on earth. The beast and false prophet have been permanently judged, sentenced and vanquished to hell's lake of fire. Satan is sealed within the abyss without the ability to roam the earth; he cannot influence any person, animal or environment - he no longer rules the earth. Jesus Himself is present on earth and the supreme sovereign ruling authority. People see Him, hear His voice, can spend time with Him; the people existing on earth during this time are in the very presence of Jesus. The resurrected people, who died during the tribulation for their faith in Jesus - their refusal to worship Satan's beast - are alive and are ruling over the restoration, re-population and rebuilding of earth. (This is the first resurrection.) The people born during this time are not exposed to evil whatsoever. At least not the external evil influenced by Satan.

And yet, in verses 20:7-9 when Satan is released from the abyss for an undefined moment in time, he is able to deceive "the nations in the four corners of the earth... to gather them to battle" (against Jesus and His people). The number of people deceived by Satan "are like the sand on the seashore". In other words, during the millennial period the population grows significantly to constitute nations. And following 1,000 years of Jesus ruling in person on earth, Satan is able to deceive so many millennial-born people that the amount is innumerable by human standards.

These three verses made me think. In a world where external evil does not exist. In a world where Jesus is present, visible and operating. People are still born with the ability to choose self over everything else. To think and cause evil, to be off of perfection, to sin - syn. People still choose to rebel. People still choose to want to solely govern themselves and not have God govern them whatsoever. People still want to usurp the authority of Lord God Jesus and take His authority as their own. People choose "I don't need you Jesus. I don't want you in my life. I am the ruler of my life." People still think they can live a life without God; a life given to them by God where they live in the very presence of God and yet choose self over God. People selfishly choose to follow a rebellion when everything has been given to them; everything they need is at their disposal. Thinking they want and deserve more. And what they each have, is not enough for them; for us. Not enough for we humans.

This made me think about the contrast of Job versus Satan outlined in the Book of Job. I wrote a piece about the Book of Job in November 2010 called Dirt Proves Satan Wrong. Job is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Although it's difficult for me to understand the first 37 chapters because it's sometimes difficult to know who is speaking - Job or one of his friends - and, what is said by Job and his friends is some truth, some misperception about God and, some false information all twisted together. These human conversations sound like the conversations that Satan had with Eve and Eve had with Adam causing the break in relationship with God. Yet, in Chapter 38, God steps into the conversation to correctly state the truth - His truth. Because He is the standard of truth. You can read God's sense of humor, his power, authority, and the details He provides about His act of creation with the joy that His creation brings Him. This is always mind boggling and amazing to me.

God enters the perceived educated conversation with sarcasm and correction telling a palatable description of His creation. 

It is evident that Job has not been suffering away from the presence of God. On the contrary, God was present with Job and heard Job's prayers and the conversation between he and his friends. It's almost as if Job and his three friends were talking about God forgetting that God was sitting there listening. Like those times when you're with a group of friends who forget you're sitting with them and they begin to talk about you and something you experienced, changing the details to suit themselves and then when you enter the conversation to correct the shared details, they rebuff you because they like their version better.

God starts with, "Where were you when I created the world. Certainly you were there. Go ahead; tell me how I created the world and everything in it while the morning stars sang." (Rose's paraphrase) And then God describes the environment during creation and some of the aspects He created and why.

I love this because you see the artist within God. Prior to creating the universe and everything in it, God created the angels, gave them roles, duties and responsibilities. One of those duties is to witness God in the very act of creating while corporately cheering and providing the creation music. The angels sang worship music and that worship music provided an artistic environment for God as He creates all of creation.

As an artist, when I create art, I set my environment to foster creating. I pull out my tools and supplies, arranging them to see everything I need, know where everything is and can grab what is needed while creating. I set up my canvas or tape my paper onto my drafting table. I ensure the room has enough light, both daylight and man made light. And, I select a playlist of music, set up the speakers and volume to create a room of sound to inspire and set the rhythm for creating. While I create art, I use both hands, sometimes sing along, my body moves to the rhythm of the music and sometimes I dance. I see, hear and feel the art of creation stepping into it to become one with it. The experience is amazing.

It seems God does the same thing. And why not? If I am created in the image of the Triune God. If God has gifted me with the ability to create art. If God allows me to taste the art of creation as He is the master creator. Then why would not the innate desire to create an atmosphere to foster creation not be a part of that process? Not mimic God's act of creation?

In Job 38:6-7, God tells Job and his friends that the morning stars sang and the angels shouted for joy, as God created all of creation. I think that is really significant and inspiring. I can almost hear God say, "Watch this!" and as He creates, the angels shout in awe and sing joyfully because of what they witnessed.

However, the overall theme of Job to me is the reality that some beings choose God and some do not. Some people, faced with insurmountable pain and suffering, choose God while others who live a blessed life choose self over God. And the same thing can be said in reverse. Some people (and angelic beings) ultimately choose God as God. They believe in Him - who He is, who He says He is - at their very core of self. And whether life is easy or hard, they know God is God and choose a life with God rather than a life without God. While others choose a life where they are the gods of their own lives.

Revelation 20 and Job illustrate that difference to me.

The one thing that really strikes me is the difference between angelic beings and human beings. The angelic beings were created before all of creation with the purpose of witnessing God creating while also providing the musical environment with which God enjoyed creating. They saw God create the seen and the unseen. The stars, planets, moons, suns, galaxies. The earth, the atmosphere, the land, the seas and the fresh water bodies. They saw God step onto earth, dig into the dirt He just created and model a man out of clay; a piece of artwork that in someway resembled God Himself. They saw God stoop down to this clay model of Himself, cup His hands around the head of this clay figure and kiss it while breathing into it. Suddenly, the clay softens and bends transforming from dirt to flesh and the artwork becomes alive. Human being is created and, when that being opens his eyes and takes in his first breath, he sees God Himself looking back at him. Adam's first breath and first sight is of God looking back at him, lovingly holding him in His arms.

The angels stand in awe. They shout for amazing joy! They sing praising God for what they just witnessed and for God being God of all creation including themselves and now this being.

Since Satan was also called the Morning Star and an archangel in charge of leading the angelic worship team, perhaps he asked God if this human being would be under his authority. The angelic beings reported to him so maybe Satan thought man would report to him also. Maybe he asked God, what is that and is he mine?

We do know that one-third of all of the angelic beings, who see God face-to-face and live in his presence at all times, chose to rebel against God following Satan's lead. They all want to be there own gods. These angels witnessed God creating, see Him on His throne, know His love and power and yet they choose to want to usurp God's supreme authority over them. After all, they are created beings as well and yet they think they can attain a God-like status above Him, instead of Him, replacing Him.

And here is man, where aside from Adam and Eve, we don't see God. Unlike those that saw, heard and walked with Jesus, we don't see Him. We see the evidence of God yet we don't see Him. We don't hear God's voice audibly speak to us. We don't smell God's presence. So when we choose to believe, trust and follow God, our faith is in some ways greater than the faith of angels.  

Yet, even though Satan rebels, is thrown to earth where he roams and influences the earth - seeking to kill and destroy, trying to take as many of God's beloved human creation with him. It's an, "if I can't have them then you can't have them," bent on destruction. Even though Satan is quite powerful, he has no authority over God. He cannot attain the power God has. He must ask God for permission to do anything.

In Job, Satan asks God if he can harm Job and he's given permission to take Job to the edge of death itself. But God knows that Job will choose God over self. Even in Job's misperception of God. Even in Job's amazing pain, anguish and suffering. Even when there seems to be no reason to believe in, trust and choose God.

To me, it's as if God is saying to Satan and the rebellious angels, "You see me all the time. You were there with me when I created the universes and everything in it. You know who I am and yet, you choose to walk away and try to take what is mine claiming it as yours. Here is my beloved Job. A man, created out of the dirt. You have thrown everything you can at him and yet, Job still chooses me. Job still knows I am God. Dirt is better than you."

Innately, we all know the difference between right and wrong. Innately, we know the difference between truth and not-truth. Innately, we know God is God and no one can usurp God's authority and sovereign position. Innately, we know God is the very definition of love. And yet, God allows us to choose to love, follow and believe Him at His very being and word. His love for us is so deep that He is willing to allow us that choice. A choice with profound implications yet, we are given that choice. 

Perhaps because those of us who choose God whether we are angelic beings or fashioned from the clay of the earth, we choose God out of love for Him. With everything stripped down - both blessings and sufferings removed - we choose God so therefor, our love for God is pure.

And perhaps this is the ultimate outcome God seeks. Pure love for Him. So we can experience pure love from Him to us for ever and ever. 

After all, this is why we were created. 

 

Valuing what's been given to Us

When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. ~John 17:1-3

God blessed them (man and women) and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." ~Genesis 1:28

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This weekend in church (Eleven22), we were in John, chapter 17 verses 1 through 26 and immediately, I was struck by a realization of comparisons. 

Pastor Joby Martin explained "...glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You," which only added punctuation to that comparison. Joby said that when Jesus prayed, "glorify your Son," the context does not lend to what we consider the act of glorifying. Where people laud over and gush about us, shining the light on us. No. This "glorify" was more aligned with, "The time has come for You to use me, Father, for Your purpose. Bruise me. Do whatever is necessary that fulfills Your purpose of saving human kind. Complete Your purpose through me so, I bring You the glory You deserve."

What struck me is that Jesus recognized that God gave Him authority over all human kind, and yet Jesus valued that authority and its specific purpose without challenging God about that purpose, in order to fulfill the responsibility given to Him. 

In contrast, God gave mankind the authority to rule over creation - everything in the sea, the skies and on the earth - and yet we not only challenged that responsibility, we thought we could rule over all creation without God. When we decided to disobey God and eat a forbidden fruit - the only thing in all creation that was forbidden for us - we did that (and continue to do that) with the mindset of wanting to take God's sovereign ruling authority from God, claim that authority as ours, claim ourselves equal to God, and dismiss Him as not needed or necessary. 

And yet Jesus valued that God-given responsibility, knowing He was given all authority over mankind to provide the ability to live with God eternally, and knowing that in order to give eternal life, His life was to be given in exchange. He valued that deemed authority in such a way as to not deviate from his charge. Even though Jesus is equal to God. Even to complete abandonment by all who knew Him. Even to public humiliation. Even to brutal force used against His body. Even to allowing people to torture Him to death.

Our authority was to live in a perfect creation where God Himself would join us to share our days. We were able to enjoy being with God in His physical presence. We were to live in this gorgeous abundance and have authority over everything God created to be in this environment. We were to live and multiply and everything associated with the act of multiplying. We were given the authority to live and be joyful and we chose (and choose) not to value that responsibility. We challenge God. We are not satisfied with the level of authority He has given us and attempt to grab His authority, claiming it as ours; taking His creation as our possession and dismissing Him from life. 

Who are we that God gave us authority over His earthly creation? Who are we that God cares for us and, wants to save us from our self-created destruction? Who are we that God pursues us even in our defiance? Who are we that Jesus valued the God-given responsibility to fulfill the critically needed actions to save us from our self-created destruction? Who are we that God loves us?

Perhaps (Jacob), we should value God and what God has given us.

Oneness with the Sovereign God of All; Living within the Peace of God

 Isaiah 30:15, 52:1 and 56:1-2

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says. "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, ..." ~Isaiah 30:15

Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. ~Isaiah 52:1

Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. ~Isaiah 56:1-2

Sometime at the beginning of 2020, I began wanting to be one with God. Perhaps because the pandemic slowed down the actions of my life, and I was able to hear God once again. Perhaps because I realized I had starved God out of my life having prioritized myself as important over God.

I'm so busy.

I need to do this work; I have so much to do.

I need to fix this; perform better...

I, I, I; me, me, me...

Perhaps because the pandemic grounded us from work and personal travels forcing my husband and I to face our lives in Gainesville, realizing its growing, suffocating darkness and oppression. (It was time to go.) Perhaps because the symptoms from a (then) two-year battle with unknown illnesses or illness, were cranking up again; the symptoms had waned at the beginning of 2020 but by mid-year, had cranked back up again demanding attention. Perhaps all of these things played a role or maybe God was just grabbing my attention.

During this time, I completed a painting called Testimony; God is in the Waiting (the first in a forthcoming two-part series called Crushing). Testimony was the visual representation of everything I had experienced with my job, family and life in Gainesville and now it hung on my kitchen wall, testifying to the presence of God in my life. And with my last journal entry of 2020, which touched on this wanting, I renamed my online journal Testimony... One with God to reflect the evolution of my relationship with God (what I realized about my relationship with God; He already knew.)

Whatever was the basis for the longing, it was a realization that I am in deep need to be one with God. To enter into His community with Himself, His Son, His Spirit, and eavesdrop so to speak, on their conversation; witness their remarkable love; their Oneness. Hear them talk to one another and to me. Leading me through and to what is next. Smelling their cologne of frankincense and myrrh; seeing their glittering, radiant glory as they interact. The fullness of being three in One while inviting me into sharing that relationship.

I knew I needed to relinquish control-over and re-prioritize God-in my life, giving Him full control. And yet, I piled on top of that desire, all that is me, myself and I, smothering that longing.

Me, Myself and I, De La Soul

Relocating out of Gainesville became a focus, thinking we needed an escape from the darkness that encroached on life there; and we did. 

Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Sir Elton John

Starting a new life. Settling into our new home and community. Continuing the life that came with us - family, friends, jobs, finances, chores and health.

Busy-ness

More me, me, me.

My morning time with God was being squeezed by other "more important things," because, "I have things to do. People depend on me. I want to spend time with you God but, I have emails to do, calls to take. Morning chores. Dinners to plan. Time for exercise and getting ready. Time with Chauncey. News feeds to read. Text messages. Social media. Solitaire to play. I, I, I; me, me, me."

And yet, God kept impressing One with Him. Being. Living.

2020 ended with the "covid Christmas" where one of my daughters - Sarah - Chauncey and I all contracted the virus. We each experienced the virus differently and I ended up with vertigo for three months which stopped me in my tracks. It almost appeared as if God used the virus and its effects, to grab my attention.

A year later, realizing I was still squeezing out God while He was still pursuing me, and with no ability to physically move through my day, I made the concerted effort to re-prioritize God as first in my day. Although not as dedicated to that prioritization as I think I am, I try to limit the non-God activities in the morning to making tea and brushing teeth so I can focus some of my first thoughts of the day on God. Moving upstairs to isolate myself, my days start with God through quiet time of conversations (prayer), reading, listening and digesting His Truth.

Give Me Jesus, Jeremy Camp

Morning has Broken, Cat Stevens 

Several things propelled this focus. We began attending a new church with a dynamic lead pastor - Church of Eleven22 with Joby Martin. Our friend Max Wilkins launched a podcast series called Brilliant Gaze which referred to the book of Isaiah, regularly through the first season. This encouraged me to read through Isaiah because it had been a while since I fully read Isaiah. My sister-in-law Mia, who loves Isaiah, uses the app Marco Polo to share regular video messages discussing what God was saying and doing in our lives, creating our version of a small group. My father temporarily moved in with us, was quite broken, and through Eleven22 and its messages, Dad surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. And I grabbed an old school, paper tablet with pen and began noting what God was teaching me. Our home and my life started to fill with acknowledging the presence of God once again. 

It was welcoming to be sharing-with and about God through Isaiah. One of my life verses comes from Isaiah - chapter 1, verse 18, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord..." I love to reason. God wired me to reason. And this portion of the verse provided me permission to reason life with God because God Himself invites me to do that with Him. To be one with Him; transparent, honest, together thinking through the things of life. I love that.

Come now let us reason, is actually the basis of the reflective and redemptive life with God. Jacob wrestled with God, trying to understand God and the impacts a right relationship with God would have on his life. When God deemed that the wrestling had accomplished its reflective work, He renamed Jacob to Israel. The name Jacob means "heel grabber or usurper" as in someone who usurps authority and grabs what isn't his, and Jacob means "deceiver" as one who is deceived, continues to deceive self and others. While Israel means "one who wrestles with God" or one who reasons his life with God and acknowledges God as sovereign. The renaming of Jacob to Israel also reflects the adoption by God into this family; into relationship with Him. "You used to be this person belonging to this people group but you are now this person and belonging to My people group."

The full verse of Isaiah 1:18 is actually, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white a snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Which means, in the process of being in an honest and transparent relationship with God, realizing you cannot hide what is wrong with yourself, wrestling and reasoning what you are with-God and without-God, the Sovereign God Himself will clean you of your wrongness; clean you of the impacts of not being in relationship with Him. In that process, you go from being a deceiver and usurper who is out of relationship with God - out of a familial relationship with God - to being invited and welcomed into a right and familial relationship with God who cleans you of your sinful nature, deems you restored and acceptable, and renames you as belonging to Him. The act of salvation - God saving us.

As we turn from ourselves - turn from me, myself and I - and turn towards God to be present and live in community with Him, we wrestle with the parts of our lives that control our wants, desires and demands to be masters of our lives. Our human nature is to control our lives, think and tell God that we don't need Him in our lives. Taking what is God's and claiming it as our entitlement, our accomplishment. Wrestling with the basis of sin - syn - missed-mark, not perfect. Wrestling with the deceived nature that is within us. And God not only wants us to be engaged in that process, He invites us to join Him as He wants to join us and be a part of that wrestling. He wants to be right there, reasoning, challenging, correcting, rebuking, disciplining, training, exercising, encouraging, coaching, loving... in active relationship, one with us; one with me.

"Even now," says the Lord, "Turn and come to Me with all your heart (in genuine repentance), with fasting (from life) and weeping (from overwhelming reflection) and mourning (until every barrier is removed and the broken fellowship is restored); ~ Joel 2 (amplified)

When I arrived at Isaiah 30:15, the verse birthed fresh meaning in me that rolled in my head for months. It was one of those verses that previously had not meant anything to me. Now, it caused me to think, to reason. I talked it out with God during reading, praying and writing. As I did my morning walks or drove to appointments, I would Marco messages to Mia working through the verse's definition for me. Talking it out loud with, "If this is this and this is that and that is that, then this means..."

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says. "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, ..." ~Isaiah 30:15 

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In turning away from self, wanting to control yourself and life, making self a priority above God and others, acting to always benefit self, taking what is God's or what God gave others and claiming it as self's...

Resting in God is strength. Not controlling something or someone is strength. But strength is relinquishing self focus and prioritization, and resting in, and knowing God has your best interest and the best interest in others. That is strength.

Quieting your mind, body, soul and spirit from your loudly and constantly demanding self. I must control, perform, solve, win. Quieting that self cry for being top, best, first.

Trusting God with your life, knowing He has your best interest, plans for you, will finish what He began in you, has the ability to fulfill those plans, better than you can; will protect, guide, reconcile, restore, renew, show the way, complete and meet you at the point of perfection in the future, you just need to walk forward trusting He will not only meet you there but solve and renew everything in the process.

That is God's salvation, His rescuing from a life that ends in misery and death. That is true strength. True life.

This is what the Supreme Ruler, the Supreme Monarch (needing no one to advise Him in order to rule; independent of His creation, operating outside of His creation without interference or influence), the Holy One of Israel (God intact, set apart, whole and complete, needing no one to complete Him; Israel - the deceived one who wrestles with God) says, in turning away from your desire to satisfy self over all else and control your life, relinquishing that control and resting in God - leaning your weight on and into God knowing He has your best interest in mind and allowing Him to work the details of your life leading you forward - is salvation from your life without God. By quieting the desire of self screaming within you - me, me, me, I, I, I, mine, mine, mine, I want, I want, I want - and completely trusting God with your life, this is true strength. 

This is what God says to you, "Turn away from yourself and trust that I will care for you better than you will care for yourself; believe that I am who I am. This is the definition of salvation. Quiet your inner being from its continuous noise demanding attention and rest yourself against and in Me, allowing Me to care for you as Father. This action is your strength."

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Although I moved forward from 30:15 in my reading, daily I returned to reread the verse and repeat what it means to me. Rest, quiet and strength resonated.

Next, Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 1, seemed to reinforce what God was saying about strength and brought other scripture and images to mind. 

Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. ~Isaiah 52:1 

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The City of Zion - Jerusalem, the Lord's City - is sleeping and unaware of something urgent and of God's calling for its purpose. The city that is home to God's family, His people, those that are to reflect Him and live in relationship with Him. "Wake up! And clothe yourself in strength!" Clothe yourself in quieting your incessant demands from your inner being, and the pull from everything that is not God. Rest in the One, True, Sovereign God and trust in Him completely. Rest from the life without God. Clothe yourself in that garment of rest, of trust. Put on the garment of strength I have provided you, your garment of splendor.

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Suddenly, all of the Scripture that speaks about garments of protection, identification, royalty, authority all came flooding to mind. Joseph. Jesus. The people invited to the wedding. The armor of God. Those of us invited to the Lamb's wedding. 

It seemed that to God, the act of walking away from self, quieting the sinful nature demanding attention and action, fasting from life's pull, remaining in relationship with Him, resting peacefully in His ability and trusting Him with your life's outcomes, is like putting on a robe over your naked self. Clothing yourself in a fine and precious garment that God gave as a gift expecting and wanting us to wear it continuously. Wearing that garment as protection and identification. And wearing it as a witness to yourself as to who's you are.

Strength.

And yet, part of strength is living in God's peace, His shalom. Peace from worry. From fret. From anxiety, control, demands, busy-ness. Life pulling, self calling, people confronting. Peace. The peace that transcends the clamor ringing in your ears, in your mind. Shalom. Wholeness. Harmony. Completeness. Oneness with God. Daily living Sabbath from self and world. Daily being in relationship with the Triune God. Daily clothing yourself in the strength that comes from quieting, resting, trusting in God. In who He says He is and His ability to do what He says He is doing and will do. Peace.

Tremble, by Upper Room (Mosaic MSC)   

(A song that we have sung many times at Eleven22 during all of this reasoning and wrestling.)

While Mia and I were working through Isaiah and our lives' happenings, we got to the place in the conversation of uttering we each needed God's peace, His shalom. And how to ask for it, how to live in it. It became evident that God's peace would be a byproduct of relinquishing that control over self and life. And that Sabbath was more than resting from daily life, one day per week but, an ever portable, ever present opportunity to rest from self and world, and rest in God.

Isaiah 56:1-2 seemed to outline that concept.

Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. ~Isaiah 56:1-2

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While living, continue to do the right thing for others and self, maintaining justice. Doing the right thing for people in your life, in your path. By doing this, you reflect God's efforts with you in your life and, you replicate that action for others. You show them the true God by doing what is right and just for their benefit. You turn from benefiting yourself and work to do what is right for others, all while resting in God knowing that He sees you, knows your needs and will care for you as you care for others, the way He cares for you. Laying your life down, laying it aside, to benefit others. This is salvation and it's close by to you, revealed in you, revealed to others. You are blessed by God when you rest from the cry of self and work to benefit others. When you Sabbath from self and your life, fasting from the world. Living in Oneness with God. Keeping yourself from harming yourself and others. Keeping yourself from claiming, taking, usurping, hurting, shaming; benefiting self over all things. You will live in the shalom of God, His peace.

________________________

When you turn from self, rest and trust in God, you see God's salvation in you at work. When you quiet self and rest-in and trust God to take care of you completely; when you do what is right and maintain justice with others, keeping yourself from taking the upper hand. When you clothe yourself in that garment of strength God gave you. When you let go of control, and fully trust God, able to stay in open and continuous relationship with Him, you fast from the life of not-God. You sabbath from self. You stand in awe of God. All He is. Who He says He is. Who He says you are to Him and in Him. You continue forward in life meeting Him at the designated point of solved, reconciled, restored. And the completeness of God rests on you, operates within you. Shalom.  

Oneness with God is not a once-and-for-all act. It is a continuous invitation to be in constant and active relationship with God. And in the act of living with, reasoning, wrestling, following, believing, quieting, resting, trusting, preventing, refraining. Walking forward. Maintaining and doing what is right. Listening. Caring. Protecting. A whole, complete and true relationship with the One, True God. You see your salvation. You live in Sabbath, in the freedom God provides. You know the peace that operates even within the chaos of life. You know God is near, with and for you. Oneness.

Shalom.

 (You are My) Rescue Story, Zach Williams

 

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As always, God confirms what He is speaking in many ways. On Sunday, September 5th during service at Eleven22, we sang a beautiful song that reinforced all that I learned.

Make Room, by Elyssa Smith

And we were in John 15:1-17 which reinforced further especially 15:12-17.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.

September 9, 2021

Heard two songs today that reinforced what I learned.

He is, David Crowder

Human Nature, Brandon Heath

 

One with God

Luke 11

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. Luke 11:1 NIV

..Jesus was praying...

                                                ...praying...

                                                                                       ...Jesus was praying...

When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray..." Luke 11:1 NIV

Jesus was praying. Obviously, He was audible, as He prayed because His student followers wanted to pray like Jesus and, asked that He teach them how.

What did Jesus's prayers sound like? What made His prayers so compelling to those that heard Him? What did He say? Ask? Be thankful for? Was He reverent? Was there an intimacy between He and God that had not been heard before? Was there love and thankfulness? Joy? Sorrow? Tears? What was His posture; standing? Kneeling? Prostrate? Arms raised towards Heaven? Head bowed? Eyes opened or closed? Was there a feeling that God is listening? Has listened? Will answer? At the conclusions of His prayers, did Jesus move forward knowing His prayers were heard, valued and would be answered? Maybe He didn't ask for anything. Maybe He simply spoke. Had a conversation.

Whatever constituted Jesus's prayers, He spoke in such a way that His prayers were uttered differently than normal. Different than other people had uttered; different than the religious leaders who led prayer. So different, that people around Him who heard Jesus praying wanted to pray like He did. They witnessed the impact of His prayers. The sick and crippled healed. Demon possessed people freed. The lame walked. The mute spoke. The blind saw. Dead raised. Multitudes of people fed. Hearts changed. Lives changed, for the good. There was never a curse. Never a punishment. Never retribution or inflicted vengeance. He removed barriers between people and God.

And the people around Jesus wanted to pray like He did. They wanted to be as close to God as He displayed. As He lived. Although they couldn't comprehend what Jesus displayed, it seemed as though He touched God in the process of prayer and that God, touched Him back. Whatever it was, "it" was different and people wanted "it".

"Father, I thank You that You have heard me. I knew that You always hear me, but I said this (aloud) for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent me." John 11:41-42 NIV

"Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work." John 14:10 NIV

And this is what His disciples asked; to be close to God in such an intimate way that prayers mattered. That they were intimate with God. That they could communicate with God, and hear God respond, as frightening as that sounded.

And what was Jesus's answer to the "it" they wanted? You need the Holy Spirit in you.

The remainder of what we read in Luke 11, is Jesus explaining that answer to that request - teach us to pray - and His answer - you need the Holy Spirit.

There isn't a formula to follow for prayer or a rote process. First you say this, then this, then stand this way, close your eyes, bow your head... Or acknowledge God, thank Him, then position your prayers this way. Jesus's striking difference with His prayers compared to those before Him who led prayer, is presence with God. God with Jesus. Jesus with God. God hears Jesus. Jesus hears God.

How can God be with us? How can Jesus be One with God? How can we be one with God?

And Jesus answers almost as a matter of fact, as if everyone should know this answer.

To pray in such a way as to be one with God, you need the promised Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit. The good things of God. God's good stuff. You've heard of this, right?

After the unnamed student follower of Jesus, asks the question, "Lord; teach us to pray," Jesus shares the explanation deemed "the Lord's prayer" as if this is how we should pray. Instead, perhaps we should consider Jesus is saying something that should cause us to reflect, and realize what we are missing in this opportunity to be one with God.

Father,

hallowed be Your name,

Your kingdom come.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

for we forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.

-Luke 11:2-4 (NIV)

For someone who claims to be the Son of God, the Son of Man and the Messiah from God, this is an odd prayer and, would it make you want to "pray like Jesus"? (Not really.)

Perhaps, try focusing on the words Jesus said and ask yourself, "why?".

After spending some time contemplating Jesus's words then reading Luke 11 over and over for several months, it seemed that placing myself in the shoes, eyes and ears of one of Jesus's disciples present that day, would help me understand what Jesus was saying.

Let's start with Father. Seems normal; right? Yet, no one outside of Jesus and John the Baptist referred to God as Father (John 3:35). In fact, the Jewish people called God by many names but, never Father. And the main name given to God was/is Yahweh of which they spelled it YHWH because Jews rarely said God's name believing His name was too sacred to be said aloud. When Jews wrote the name of God, they intentionally eliminated the vowels to ensure people didn't read and say His name - Yahweh - aloud. Jewish people have a strong belief that God's name should be revered completely, not taken in vain, and not said in a casual way. In many ways, that is an admirable belief because over the years, we have taken reverence away from God's name making it so casual and using His name to associate things not of Him.

And yet here is "this charismatic, itinerant, wanna-be prophet," calling YHWH by the name Father. Abba. Daddy.

This was shocking! Jesus was associating Himself as knowing God so intimately, that He called Him Daddy. How dare he! Who does he think he is?! God is not Father! He has no individual children! He has a favored people group, we Jews but, Father! He is.... YHWH!

And yet, Father... why?

Outside of the fact that Jesus is the begotten Son of God and, part-and-parcel with the Triune God, Jesus tells us to refer to YHWH as Father, Abba, Daddy. We are invited to know God in such an intimate way that He becomes Father to us. Not just Lord. Almighty God. Omniscient. Healer. Creator of everything. But, Daddy.

This is a term of endearment. A term of love. This is the beginning of Love God (with all your being and ability). It's also a term recognizing from whom you came and from whom you belong. Think of the visuals you consider when you refer to someone in a familial way. Everything that comes to mind in the image of a good Dad. This is no longer (or just) Almighty God, someone who will fight for Israel His people, freeing His people from Roman occupation and leading His people to a promised land. This is Daddy who will raise you, watch over you; care, nurture, protect, provide for, discipline you, teach and lead, launch you into life, among other things a good Dad does for his children. Most of all, He will love you for you. Who you are now and who you will become. God as Father... God is Dad.

Hallowed be Your name...

For we who are western Christians, this ascription of God should cause us to stop in our tracks. "Your name is Holy. Your name is honored." Do we honor God and consider Him, everything He is, and His name to be revered as holy? He is complete, without flaw, worthy of full devotion. It's rather amazing that the first two statements that Jesus gives describing God reflects the image of the Alpha and the Omega. The first and last. From one definition to the other at 180° apart. From Daddy to YHWH and everything in between. Arms wide open, to hug His kids.

Your kingdom come...

Jesus spent so much time during his life and, will throughout Luke 11 conveying what constitutes God's kingdom, what it looks like, what are the expectations of His kingdom, that it had come and it was near, as in nearby you. Not far away in heaven. Not some distant future. Not a political rule. Present. Now. This is the very reflective statement, "Does God rule your life?" Is His presence shaping your decisions, your intentions, your thoughts and desires? Is it possible to have this type of impact within and upon your life to allow God to rule over your being and for that rule to cause you to Love God completely while being thankful and appreciative of His ruling?

Yes. With the presence of His Holy Spirit living within you.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Jesus calls Himself the bread of life and, relates Himself to the second piece of bread during the Passover meal.

"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed His seal of approval." John 6:27

"I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from Heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is He who has come down from Heaven and gives life to the world." John 6:32-33

"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry, and he who believes will never be thirsty." John 6:35

The most powerful statement Jesus gave connecting the Passover bread to whom He is as the bread of life, was given at the final Passover meal and sadly, our Bibles do not have the Hebrew blessing traditionally given at the Passover meal associated with that second piece of bread and relating it directly to Him. My friend Pastor Max Wilkins connected the two, during a Maundy Thursday message over 10 years ago, and that provided so much clarity and impact. Jesus said the following prayer as He broke that bread,

"And He took the bread, gave thanks... "Blessed are You, oh Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the bread of life from the earth." ...broke it, and gave it to them saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."" Luke 22:19

When Jesus was asked, "Teach us to pray," and one of His recommendations is to ask for God to give us the bread of life daily, we should understand that meaning, then reflect to understand who we consider Jesus to be. This harkens-back to the Israelites journeying through the desert with God and Moses, where God provided daily "bread from Heaven" to sustain His people so, they could live within His presence. So, He could camp among them which is what God desires.

We should consider who is Jesus to us. For without believing in who Jesus is and said He is and, who God said Jesus is, that God sent Jesus and Jesus speaks on behalf of God, then we are not accepting the bread of eternal life. And without the bread of eternal life, we cannot receive the gift of the presence of God through His Holy Spirit.

This is, receive the Bread of Life that sustains us (the cup of redemption - Jesus's blood restores us to God), and then God gifts us His Spirit so we can live in the presence of God... starting now and not some day in the future. 

The next statements that Jesus provides seems to be associated with, "Do I live like God?" This is, "Do I reflect God the Father of me?" Do I "forgive people who have sinned against me"? Do I, "rely on God to keep myself from straying away from God and towards something that pleases me only?"

Forgive us our sins, for we forgive everyone who sins against us.

Really? We forgive people for the ills they have thrust upon us, all the time, therefor God should forgive our sins we have thrust upon Him? Hardly. This statement when read makes it seem like we are asking God to recognize our benevolence and therefor act as graciously as we do. Yet, the translation is off  and this statement really should read, "God; forgive me of my sinning against You, at the same level that I forgive others who sin against me." Do to me as I do to others. This is frightening, actually. If you really contemplate that request, your prayer would be shaped as, "Father; help me to forgive others who have hurt me, like You forgive me for hurting You." The prayer should shape us to reflect God, not the other way around. We should become aligned with God, His love for His created children, and choose to forgive offenses committed upon us, as He does the same for you and me. This is "love others as you love yourself." Reflect God your Father outwardly.

One of our Anthem Church pastors (Jon Birkmire) quoted C.S. Lewis during a message and, the quote perfectly describes what prayer ultimately is.

"Prayer isn't about changing God. It's about (God) changing me."

-C.S. Lewis

By forgiving others, God is freeing us from a prison of mental anguish that will be a barrier between us and God, and us and others. Nelson Mandela once said, "As I walked out the (prison) door toward my freedom, I knew that if I did not leave all the anger, hatred, and bitterness behind, that I would still be in prison." This is really what Jesus is conveying. You've been hurt by someone. Don't allow that person or that hurt to continue to control your life; to continue to impact your thoughts and actions. Choose to forgive them and be free from that mental pain; realize that person is a feeble human being incapable of doing good all the time.

For all of us, we know how difficult forgiveness truly is. Through God living within us by His Spirit, we can overcome that grip on our lives. However, it's not once and for all because emotions have a memory. Forgiving needs to happen consistently and, is a daily choice. This means, "I choose not to hold your offense against you. Instead, I choose to move forward in life with you, from this point forward. How I treat you will not be clouded by your offense on me."

Likewise, God doesn't lead people astray or into tempting circumstances. We do that to ourselves or, others do that to us, for their own reasons. Avoiding tempting things is very difficult and post-action, when your sanity returns and many times regret sets in, you can reflect and realize that action was based of a strong human desire to be ruler of your own life. "I am king of my life. I make the rules for me to follow. I don't need anyone ruling over me and my desires, thoughts and intentions. I want... I want... I want..." This desire is the basis of sin itself. This is life without God; life separated from God. The punishment of sin is to be separated from God forever. And God, defined by His ability to love without reciprocation, and His love for mankind, didn't want to lose us eternally. We don't comprehend what "eternal separation from God" really means; He does and He has taken measures to ensure that outcome doesn't happen.

This is what Jesus solved with His life. Reconnecting and restoring that relationship between mankind and God the Father, which also gives us the ability to be restored as mankind with mankind. Love God; love others. Jesus, in agreement with God, accomplishes this for us.

To return to, "Lord; teach us to pray" and considering the statements Jesus gives as His response, this should cause us to reflect on the condition of our hearts. Do we believe in God, and in whom He says He is? That is the basis of everything; belief in God versus our desire to rule over ourselves. Jesus's word are about the condition of our thoughts and hearts towards God.

Next, Jesus seems to pivot to something completely unrelated when He follows His prayer explanation by telling some parables. However, Jesus never tells stories that do not relate to a given explanation. So why does He tell these parables and how do they relate to "Lord; teach us to pray."?

The first parable immediately follows Jesus's statement on prayer and is found in Luke 11:5-9. I always thought this parable to be strangely odd and unsure why Jesus tells the story immediately following His "Lord's prayer." It was almost as if, the prayer answer was completed, the chapter should have ended and, the next lesson begin and starts a new chapter. However, now it appears to be relating and, a further explanation of "Lord; teach us to pray."

The parable is of two men who are likely friends and neighbors. It's midnight. One friend is asleep at home - which is what most people do at midnight - and one is entertaining a friend who traveled far to visit this other friend - which is also what people do if they stay up late. Consider that the sleeping friend has probably been sleeping for several hours and, when awoken by his neighborly friend, would be out of sorts, drowsy and a bit put out. "Why in the heck are you waking me up at THIS hour? You know I'm sleeping! And so is my family! Go home, you lush!" (A cleaned up version of what I would say.) However, the neighborly friend continues to knock on the door because, he and his visiting friend are hungry for what he assumes the sleeping friend has in his house and, the neighborly friend is caught unprepared. He knocks and continues to knock until his persistence has become boldness and his sleeping friend gives him what he asks just to send him home, so the sleeping friend and his family can return to sleep.

Jesus's answer is, even though you’re asking someone familiar for something, that person will answer you because of your persistent boldness and not out of friendship.

Again... odd. Our brains can understand what Jesus is saying but, why? What does this mean and how does it relate to "teach us to pray" and "you need the Holy Spirit"?

This story concludes with statements and thought prevoking questions Jesus makes to underline the point of the friend's boldness. Because the neighborly friend likely knocked several times, and continued to knock, to rouse his neighbor from bed and provide him with bread for he and his journeying friend. Jesus says, "...so I say to you,

Ask and it will be given to you;

seek and you will find;

Knock and the door will be opened for you.

For everyone who asks receives,

and he who seeks, finds;

and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." -Luke 11:9-10 NIV

and He continues with...

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead. Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" -Luke 11:11-13 NIV

The point made is, "If you who are mortal know how to give your children good things when asked, how much more will the immortal and perfect Father provide His children His best stuff when asked?".

And there "it" is... the Holy Spirit mentioned by Jesus. But, when you jump back to the beginning of Luke and reread the chapter through this point, there was no question posed concerning the Holy Spirit and, this is the first time Jesus mentions the existence of the Holy Spirit, as told by Luke. This begs additional questions from the reader. Did the people of that time know about the existence of the Holy Spirit? Why would Jesus answer a question about prayer with ask for the Holy Spirit and God will give you Him?

Keep in mind what our Bible translations miss is the way Jesus said those points about requesting the Holy Spirit. He said, ask and continue to ask. Seek and continue to seek. Knock and continue to knock. Just like the neighborly friend did in Jesus's story.

However, this is not stating that God is un-listening and we must continue to ask, seek and knock to gain His attention. Jesus gives a parable with a human reaction to a request for a need and, contrasts that with a truth about God Himself. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and, Jesus says ask for the source of prayer; the source of being one with God.

This story and following points seem to relate to, "Give us our daily bread." Not just one time but, daily to meet our needs of that day. As if, "God; You know what my day entails and what I need in order to remain one with You so, provide me what I need to live within Your kingdom. To live representing You to the world."

It's recognizing God, who He is, our relationship to and dependence upon Him for life with God; for life as God wants for us; for life representing God to others. This is also the fulfillment of God being both Father to us and, revered as Holy deserving our ultimate respect and honor. Without the Holy Spirit gifted to us, we cannot be God's children and, we cannot live in such a way as to forgive others there sins, while remaining under God's authority over our lives.

In all honesty, this is what the disciples asked for. They saw Jesus represent God and, knowing Him so well that He heard from God. Jesus lived in such a way as to love all people and, removed the barriers between them and God. He likely prayed before His actions and, the disciples noticed that correlation. Which is probably why they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray like He does. How to be one with God, know God so they could represent Him and, have a life that matters. A life with God.

And Jesus says, it's not just learning how to pray. Ask for the source of that life with God... The Holy Spirit.

With the source of a life with God, then you can be in relationship with God - and in our present case - a life with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and be one with God where you can speak with Him, He will listen and, He speaks with you and you hear Him, you (we) will be shaped by God to reflect His image. For me, it means that I am realizing my status as daughter with my prayers and life's decisions being shaped by God, His thoughts, His desires. Not always or exponentially but, in a way that I am aware of His constant presence, even when He seems so distance; even when I am so distant. It is living a life within His kingdom.

And what I must do now is to reflect God as Father and represent Him wherever I go by my actions and words. This is difficult for me because I still react like a cornered snake so, I need to cause myself to pause and remember whom I am, who I belong to and, who I am reflecting. Because I don't want to be like the people with whom Jesus speaks following this "teach us to pray" lesson. Where people are faced with Jesus representing Father and Almighty God, and people accuse Jesus of being a representative of the prince of demons, and someone who doesn't follow the traditions of man to prove belonging to God. Where people witness Jesus's life and His actions and yet, out of a strong unwillingness to believe in the truths of God, they continue to demand that Jesus prove who He is.

Immediately following His lesson of "teach us to pray" and "ask for the source of life with God", Jesus releases a man from being mute, the man speaks and, people say this action was accomplished because Jesus is working for the prince of demons, He is able to release people from what appeared to be demonic possession. After all, being ill in any way, prevented a person from attending worship at the temple to ask God for forgiveness of sins and, experience being present with God; being part of God's chosen people. It was thought that only a demon who is against God, would cause a person to be ill. And likely that person or someone within his family sinned against God and that illness was punishment from God. By His actions and reflecting God's love for all of His created humanity, Jesus heals people of their infirmities, allowing those people to be able to worship God, to recognize the true God, to approach Him, to appreciate Him, to love Him. Jesus removes the barriers between people and God as Father, which is the ultimate desire of God so, God can be one with us.

And when people are shocked by this outcome and, witness Jesus not following the longstanding traditions of approaching God or worse, not recognizing the "holiness" of those who practiced the religion of the day. Jesus was accused of not following God properly or even worse, representing the enemy of God.

And Jesus replies with... Think! Think about what you're saying! Think about the truths of God and the lives of our ancestors, what they learned and witnessed. You are making incorrect conclusions and allowing those incorrect conclusions to shape your life with God. You don't need to live this way in fact, you don't want to live this way as the outcome is not the result you hoped for in life.

Instead... ask for the source of life with God - the Holy Spirit - of which God will not deny as Father to His children. Then live life with God, in His kingdom now. A life with God being present now. A life being one with God.  

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A couple of things I heard that impacted me as I was writing this piece.

"I Know" by Big Daddy Weave

I listened to a message by Dr. Stephen Davey, Wisdom for the Heart on April 29, 2020 while walking that morning. The message was broadcast December 3,2019 and is about Oswald Chambers and Luke 11: 1-13.

God in a Bod

God's plan was and is to:

Create the universe and the world, and everything in it.

Create mankind in His triune image of body, soul, spirit.

Subject all creation within the world to mankind's governance.

Fully loving mankind even knowing we would reject God in our lives, separating ourselves from Him.

Watching mankind sadly fall away from Him.

Loving mankind so much that He acts on the pre-creation plan to save all of mankind Himself, knowing we are incapable of saving ourselves.

Causes Himself to be born human in order to relate to mankind.

Chooses His human family to be of no earthly worth, no influence, and no significance.

Chooses to be born into a life that would be persecuted and questioned without end.

Live a completely human life, with all of its mental and physical challenges, while living it as a perfect example of "Love God, Love Others".

Die a painful, humiliating, human death, both physically and emotionally, separated from God the Father to fulfill His plan. Meanwhile God the Father, watches His human self sacrifice His life completely, while God the Father forces Himself not to interfere so, His plan of redemption can be fulfilled.

Descending to Sheol to release those human souls who believed in God and lived a life in anticipation of God's intervention; as He proclaims that the time of God's restoration has been ushered in.

Accepting the sacrificial payment of His human self, to pay the un-payable debt for all of mankind, to restore the familial relationship between God and mankind, and mankind to one another.

Loving His human self and His human creation so very much that He exerted power to bring His human self back to life.

Providing that power to all mankind through His Spirit to live within us, those who accept God as who He says He is.

Ascending into His heavenly realms where all creation, both in the physical and in the spiritual, are seen and known.

Placing all of creation back under the governing authority of a human... Jesus. God in a bod.

"Behold; I am making all things new." Revelation 21:5

What is a Sinner, really?

Applying all of our deep thoughts and understandings of
1Peter 3:15 and Ephesians 1 thru 3

One of my favorite lessons is Lecrae's 2016 "We engage culture for Jesus" where Lecrae states followers of Jesus are to live in the world, showing Jesus to the world, and that today's culture isn't a pollution of God's standard needing to be avoided but, we are to capture today's culture and use it to communicate God.

It's sometimes hard to wrap your mind around concepts like this because, as followers of Christ, we focus so much on separating ourselves from today's world and culture, to obey God's commands. And yet, we don't realize that we are trying to separate what God, through Jesus, joined together and, we try to follow the very commandments that do not produce righteousness (meeting God's standards) instead of following the command that Jesus gave us, "love others (one another) as I have loved you," (John 13:34).

In his lesson, Lecrae speaks about what makes a person a sinner by recounting a story about the media asking a popular Christian singer her beliefs on homosexuality and how that singer missed an opportunity to answer the question correctly with a Biblical view. Honestly, when asked questions by the media out of the blue, its very difficult to provide a good, clear and concise answer with the right quotable statement, in a second's time especially with a microphone, camera or recording device thrust in front of you. Therefor, I will not condemn this unnamed Christian singer for her answer because I've been in her shoes.

However, when you formulate your opinion on a topic, in advance, and that opinion is based on facts, and can be stated in a clear and concise sentence ahead of time, then it doesn't matter who approaches you with a potentially socially-charged question, you can answer the question with confidence and, be ready to answer any follow-up questions.

With that in mind and with this Scripture in mind: 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) 

...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect...

We should formulate our opinion now on "what makes a sinner a sinner, really?".

Lecrae's answer was, "being gay doesn't make you a sinner; being separated from God makes you a sinner," and added that the state of separation was caused by the fall of mankind. That's a powerful concept and, quite biblically accurate. Having just spent time in Ephesians 1 through 3 listening to Paul's deep theological comments on the plan of God to reconcile mankind to Himself, I will now reason my answer to be ready to give that quotable response that is both based in fact, said accurately with respect and in gentleness. Why? To engage people in conversation that causes them to think about God. The real God. The God that loves them completely and without condition. With the ultimate goal of encouraging someone to know God's true heart towards them so they too can choose to be part of His family.

First, it's always good to start at the beginning and know what the word sin means. A sin (syn) was a missed shot. A shot that missed the mark. If a person had a quiver of arrows - say seven - and six out of seven hit the bullseye of the target - dead center, each arrow splitting the one before it - and the seventh arrow missed the bullseye and hit just outside of that circle, that missed shot is called a sin. It hit the target but, did not find the dead-center bullseye to be a perfect shot. It missed the mark. So a sin is something that doesn't hit the standard perfectly. It's off target.

When God the Father, Son and Spirit initially created mankind (Genesis 1:26-28) in the very image of the triune God, we were created to reflect God perfectly and we were in perfect relationship with God; there was nothing between mankind and God to create a barrier nor prevented us from being together. Instead mankind chose to separate humanity from God by thinking we could be equal to God. The created person thought it could be equal to the superior being that created him. To this very day, the basis for sin is exactly that attitude of our inner being. "We don't need God; we can rule our lives fine on our own, thank you very much." As a result, we do not accurately reflect God; we miss the mark. This is where we reflect the one arrow that misses the target and we become sin.

That decision changed our spiritual genetics, and we no longer are born as a perfect representation of God. When every person is born into humanity, we are born into a state of separation from God. We are born into another family, the family of Not God's because all of humanity now reflects that initial decision to be separated from God as we each have the human mind to think we don't need God to live our lives. We are genetic representations of the human being who chose to be separated from God.

That state of separation is governed by different laws, than the Law of God. God's Law is based in two actions governing how we are to act, as human beings on this planet living our lives. 1) Love God with everything within you and with every part of you. 2) Love others around you, the same way you love and care for yourself; as you want to be treated. (Matthew 22:37-40) Now the state of separation is governed by self; 1) What's good for me, is good for me, no matter its impact on me and others. I can govern myself without anyone else telling me what I can and cannot do. 2) I am not responsible for anyone other than myself; to each his own.

However, you may ask, "Then what about God's 10 Commandments and all of His 600+ do's and don'ts listed in the Bible? Don't those items matter?" Those items are based in "Love God, Love Others" and are measuring sticks so we can see how close or far off we are to meeting God's original intent for humanity - to be a reflection of God Himself. It's about the attitudes of our hearts, our inner beings. As we go about our lives and evaluate ourselves up against God's standard, we should see that we "miss the mark," and we are "off target".

All of this evaluations and realization should cause us to approach God for His assistance to restore us into His original state of creation.To restore us into the true relationship with God, removing the barrier between us and Him and, between us and others. We should accept that restoration with gratitude and humility and, that appreciation for God's restoration of relationship should cause us to be as gracious with others around us. Easier said than done because even though our relationship is restored now according to God, we still reflect our imperfection until the day and time when God fulfills His promise to join both heaven and earth together as one mankind restoring all of us to His perfected intention... without the ability to sin. Without the ability to fall short and think we can live without God.

However, this concept is the very truth that Paul explains in his letter to the group of Christ-followers in Ephesus. God reconciled humanity to Himself, removing the barrier between Him and mankind through the actions of Himself - Jesus who is God in a human body. In addition, He also joined all of humanity together in that action - those who were God's chosen people to reflect Him on earth, Jacob/Israel and Israel's descendants - and those not within the family of Israel; by making the reconciliation of relationship extend to all humanity from Adam & Eve to the last person born on earth. In one selfless act, God gave all of humanity a choice - a choice to believe in Him as He is and as He says He is, and for the consequence of that choice to be life with God as Father forever. We are given the opportunity to be restored into His family. This reconciliation of mankind to God and mankind to one another, is given to us freely and without the condition of being perfect human beings. 

If you really spend time contemplating this free choice and the fact that there are no conditions upon your current state of being, in order to make that choice and accept the marvelous consequence, the only conclusion can be the state of, the quality of, the mind-blowing truth about God's love; His ability to love and how love defines Him. Because while we were still in the act of falling short, while we still live with the ability to miss the mark, while we still run from God and believe we can live without Him, while we blame Him for our misgivings, God as Jesus gave His human life for us, paying the steep price required for restoration to occur. Someone who knew God completely, knew His character, loved Him completely understanding true love, and did not fall short of God's standard for being, thought and life's actions, had to be the one to give his life for all humanity. God loved His humanity so very much that He was not willing to allow us to suffer the consequences of our spiritual DNA causing us to be fall-shorters, mark-missers... synners or sinners.

So what is a sinner, really? Does being a murderer make you a sinner? A thief? A liar? A homosexual or transsexual? An excessive spender? A miss-manager? A sexual addict? A hateful person? A bully? A self-righteous person? A mean-spirited person? An alcoholic, drug addict, self-medicator? White? Black? Asian? Catholic? Agnostic? Jewish? Buddhist? Witch? Handicapped person? Blind? Deaf? Diseased? Etc, etc, etc? No; none of these things make you a sinner! You were already a sinner by being born with the ability to think that you don't need God in your life. (Jesus explained that in many different ways through His entire ministry especially in His beatitude lesson recounted in Matthew 5 through 7.) What you do, how you think, and how those thoughts manifest into actions about God and others, will show you that you are missing the mark, falling short, able to syn and not be as God intended.

As I was reasoning all of this, I listened and re-listened to a lesson by Andy Stanley called "The Unsettling Solution for just about Everything, Part 3: Do you see what I see?" where Andy touches on sinners and says who "the church" truly is and is meant to be. A gathering of humanity in its current state of fall-shorters, mark-missers, synners. Why we expect people to immediately reflect God in perfection and that we all need to have perfected lives before coming into relationship with God, is beyond me. We are all restored. We are all works in progress. We will all not be perfected on this side of eternity but, when God joins together all humanity to Him and those in Heaven and on earth, as He intended, as He initially created, once and for all; at the time He designated before all of creation.

The time is coming. With every day passing, we are closer to that time than we are not. The question then becomes, "What will you now do with your time, your life? Accept God? Accept His gift? Love others out of appreciation for what God did for you? Show grace, mercy and love to others even when they don't deserve it? After all, that's what God showed each of us. 

So, who is a sinner, really? We are. Who is the church? We are. Who is within God's family? We are. Now, let's go live as we haven't lived yet.

 

Jumping in the deep end

Ephesians 1 thru 3
I am chosen, holy, beloved

My Sister-in-law Mia, is one of my dearest sisters in Christ and a cherished friend; my true sister-in-love. She is quite the heady theologian, because she studies and applies the Word of God veraciously, like she consumes medical information, fashion and pop culture. Most times when we're together it's, "Good morning. What's God saying to you today?" and off we go jumping into the deep end of the pool for a two-hour discussion about Jesus in our lives, over morning coffee and tea.

It's why her presence in my life is so important. If I were to be really honest with myself, I have been struggling with a significant amount of emotional stress (both good and bad), coupled with physical stress from over exercising as if I was in college running track again or dancing with my college ballet company, exasperating the health issues. This resulted in a host of items that have impacted my life to the point of stopping life as I know it and, spending time at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville to find the source of the health issues.

As a result, depression set in and impacted my ability to find daily joy and joie de vivre for my life in Christ. Thankfully, I have recognized all of this as it is occurring so, this funk has not become a mental health issue. Yet, I'm causing family and friends to be anxious about my physical health. Frustratingly, God had just brought me through the grieving process over the outcome of a work related project and then, this health thing happened. Things are beyond my control and I know it.

Thankfully, Mia has been with me through this process. She moved in with Chauncey and me for ten months as she restarted her life, and that coincided with my health issues. Her presence was a blessing to me because she helped me deal with the root of the symptoms. Mia has a phenomenal gift of remembering everything she learned in med school when she studied to be a doctor, a nurse and then ultimately, a chiropractor. While she was living with us, Mia was studying for her national boards to be able to practice chiropractics in any state in the U.S. So she helped me sort through my health symptoms and point towards possible issues. This helped me ask my doctors the correct questions which led to some diagnosis.

Because she was with me, she saw my symptoms and confirmed that I was not going crazy nor a hypochondriac. She was also there to encourage me with my faith, through my darkest times. God gave me a sister in Christ to live with me as I was going through a tough phase.

So when Mia mentioned a quick Beth Moore, three-part conference series to listen to via You Tube, I decided to do that and share a study together. The series Redefined was encouraging to me overall and, one of the books of Scripture referenced was Ephesians. When I had listened to the series a couple of times, I decided to spend my mornings in Ephesians. There were several passages that have become prayer for me, and I was relieved to find a book of Scripture that spoke to me, helped me put words to prayer of need, and allowed me to feel the presence of God.

The other morning, I interpreted Ephesians chapters 1 through 3 into personal words to better apply the passages which became impactful and, to recite the passages as prayer. This entry captures that interpretation so I can continue to apply it over time. I imagine Paul joining Mia and I for coffee and tea, speaking in today's language, enjoying heady discussions about following Jesus, and jumping into the deep end of life with faith. To continue reciting Paul's conversation for myself, here is how Ephesians 1 through 3 read to me.

Ephesians 1:1 thru 3:21

1:1
Paul. One sent by Christ Jesus (The Anointed One of God; His Son) by the plan and determination of God.

To the set apart people in Ephesus, the faithful followers of Jesus the One and True Son of God.

Unconditional divine assistance and peace between you and God (the removal of punishment and separation) with that blessing from God the Father Himself and, from the Lord Jesus Christ who's actions brought this about.
1:3
Recognize with joy, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has provided His favor for us - His perfected life for us - in Heaven with every spiritual gift given to and through Jesus. What God did in Jesus, He plans to do in us. God planned for this life through Christ before He planned the creation of the world and universe; He planned us to be complete and perfected, meeting God's standard and without the guilt of breaking God's laws. In His unconditional love, He predestined us to be adopted as sons and daughters through the efforts and life of Jesus Christ, according to His plan and determination and what pleases Him, to acknowledge and advertise His unconditional divine assistance, which God freely gave to us through the One and True Son whom He deeply loves. We are restored to be perfect, from our inability to live to God's standard through the blood of Jesus, which is according to the wealth of God's divine grace that He lavished on us with all of His wisdom and understanding. And God through Jesus was pleased to plainly reveal to us His plan of redemption which was a mystery to those who lived before us; a plan He intended to fulfill through the life of Jesus, of which God will fully realize at a time He determined in the future when everything in heaven and on earth will come together under the leadership and authority of Jesus His Son. What is in Heaven will be done on earth completely and together.
1:11
We were chosen by God, through His plan, and predestined where He works everything to fulfill what He purposed with our lives, in order that we (Paul and Jesus's first followers) who are the first to place our hopes and beliefs in Jesus, prove God's plan through acknowledgement and broad promotion. And you also (everyone who followed Jesus as a result of the first group's promotions) were included in God's plan to be within the promise of Christ, when you heard these truths told which is good news concerning God's restoration and reconciliation of mankind. Having believed, we were marked with a seal as being part of Jesus, and that seal is His Holy Spirit living inside of us guaranteeing our inheritance as sons and daughters, until everyone through the end of time that is predestined to be within the family of Jesus, is fully realized - and all of us can praise God for all He did to broadcast His plan to the fullest.
1:15
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of those faithful followers-of and called ones-in Jesus, I have not stopped thanking God for you, that God added you to His chosen family, speaking to God about you when you come to mind. I keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the recognized and only Father, to give you His Spirit of wisdom (knowing what to do) and revelation (understanding and discerning) so you can know God better and more intimately. "I ask You God that the eyes of my heart (my inner being and desires) be opened and receiving towards You in order that I may know the hope that You have called me into and the wealth of life that is my inheritance as part of Jesus's family; and Your incomparably great power to sustain life, for all who believe in Your promise to us." That power, is His mighty strength at work, which He exerted in Jesus when He raised Jesus from being dead and separated from Him in the after life; after raising Jesus from death both earthly and spiritually, God the Father of Jesus placed His Son in His position of authority over all creation, far above any and all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only by today's standards but in the standards covering all time. And God placed everything under the Lordship of Jesus and appointed Him to lead everything for the congregation of Christ-followers, which is Jesus's family acting as a body, reflecting Jesus in every way.
2:1
As for me, I was dead and separated from God because I was a law breaker, of God's laws, and unable to live to God's standard; I used to live a life following the lead of the Deceiver and the accepted culture of this world. That deceiver, is an unholy spirit at work within every person who is disobedient to God's laws and standard - which has everything to do with the approach of our hearts. Everyone of us lived among this lifestyle at one time (and still do in many cases), gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature, following those selfish desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were against God and His standard of love so, we were by nature doomed for God's eternal punishment reserved for those who knowingly and willingly choose self over God. But, because of God's unfathomable love for all of us, and because He is wealthy with mercy, He extended the same gift of raising us from eternal separation from Him - true death - as He did for Jesus who deserved to be raised from death; we were all sentenced to death for breaking God's laws and yet, by the divine assistance and gift of God, we are alive physically and spiritually with our past wrongdoings forgiven. It's by God's provision that I have been saved from the deathly punishment that I deserve - I didn't do anything to become saved, this is a gift from God Himself - not by my ability of accomplishments so, I can't brag about my saved condition nor claim credit. Instead, I am an example of God's workmanship, created to do good, which God planned in advance for me to do, all because of Jesus and through Jesus.
2:11
Therefore, remember that those of you were non-Israeli-Jew by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who refer to themselves as "circumcised" - a title of self-honor given to Jewish-by-birth and who circumcised their men by human hands to prove their birthright - remember that you were separated from The Christ by lack of birthright, excluded from the God-designated citizenship as an Israeli Jew, and where the covenant guiding this nation was foreign to you; the covenant of the promise of Messiah, without hope and without God in the world. But now because of Jesus Christ and through His efforts, you and I who were once excluded by birth into God's family, are now brought near to God and into His family through the saving blood of Jesus; (the blood of the new covenant that extended to all mankind).
2:14
For Jesus Himself is our process of making peace where He made the two into one humanity and destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His human self the requirements of the Law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create under his governing authority one new man - one new humanity out of two types of people, therefor making peace between the two, and to reconcile this one humanity with God through His death reserved for criminals by cross-execution, thereby killing the hostility between man and man and, mankind and God. He came and spoke about peace between you who are far away from God and, peace to those who are close to God; peace to those chosen to carry God to all the earth and those originally not chosen. Now, through His gift of life because of Jesus, all of humanity has access to God the Father, by one united Spirit. 
2:19
"Consequently, I am not a foreigner to God nor an alien to God's family, but a fellow citizen with God's people and a member of God's family; a family built on the foundation of those sent to explain God's plan and those that foresaw His plan, with Jesus Himself as the chief foundation and dedication stone. Through His life, the whole humanity building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple of Jesus as Lord. And in Jesus, I too am being added into the new humanity where God lives among us and through us by the power of His Spirit."
3:1
For this reason, I Paul, the captured by Jesus for the sake of those originally alienated from God's people -
Surely you have heard the stories about how God opened my eyes and called me into His service through His forgiving and merciful ability, bestowed onto me for your sake; that is, God revealed His plan which was a mystery up until the time of Christ, as I have written about briefly. In reading this account, then you too will be able to understand the insight given to me about the plan of Christ and His life, which was not made known to mankind in previous generations, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's sent-ones and foreseeing-ones - those who understand God's plan to reconcile and unite humanity into His family, and those who foresee God's future actions with His united people. This mystery is the plan that those previously excluded into God's future plan - excluded by birth into a family not belonging to God - that together with the family called by the name Israel, we are all heirs in God's family, together in one body of people who share together the promises of God made through Jesus Christ.
3:7
I gladly became a servant to this good news and my calling by the divine assistance God gave me through the working of His power. Although I am the very least of all of God's people, this ability and calling was given to me to reach those originally excluded from God's family (by law and by man), and speak about the unseen riches of Christ, and to clearly explain to everyone the reconciliation plan of God which previously was kept as a mystery by God who created all things. His intent was that now through Jesus's followers the many and various attributes of God's wisdom will be clearly revealed to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished through Christ Jesus our Lord. Being in Jesus and through faith in Him, we may freely approach God with confidence. Don't allow my life of suffering on behalf of Jesus, to discourage you; your faith is my glory, my reward.
3:14
"For this reasons, I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches, He may strengthen me with power through His Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may live continuously in my heart through faith. And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the faithful followers of Jesus, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that I may be filled to all the fullness of God's plan for me."
3:20
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to him be the acknowledgment in the familiar congregation and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations and time, for ever and ever! So be it and Amen."

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As always, God confirms His teaching to me through messages and music I hear. For this time, He spoke initially through Beth Moore and, the following songs.

Lecrae, I'll Find You

Lecrae, Prayin for You

Lauren Daigle, Rescue

Flame, Let Go

Kari Jobe, Revelation

We the Kingdom, Holy Water

"God is Love," by Danielle Strickland - when Danielle said that the science behind love shows the brain lit up in several areas (pleasure/joy, risk, attachment) this comment struck a cord. With my health issues, Mayo Clinic diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia, along with a few more things. Mayo said that the clinic is close to determining the real cause of Firbomyalgia which Mayo believes is a nuerochemical in the brain. When a person has fibromyalgia, her brain lights up with pain instead of lighting in the one small area related to the body part in pain. For me this meant perhaps my health issues were a physical manifestation of my deep love for God and His people. Because during this time of health issues with my body hurting everywhere, I was emotionally yearning for God, for my family members, for my friends and coworkers, and for my community. I wanted everyone to know God for who He really is and, for that love of God to transcend into our ability to love one another. So, I reconciled this health outcome as being a gift - a gift of feeling in some small ways what God feels about us because He loves us so deeply... more than we can know and understand.