BLOWING THE TOP OFF
"Give , and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Luke 6:38
Science was never my best subject by any means, but it did always seems to hold my interest more when we did experiments. My favorite one, and one I still use to awe my own kids at times, is the mini explosion when baking soda and vinegar react. Now incase you have never tried this, allow me to explain the steps for you. Back before all cameras were digital, you could take an empty film canister and fill the bottom section with about two teaspoons of vinegar. In the lid you would pack tight a generous portion of baking soda. In a quickened fashion, you closed the lid of baking soda on top of the canister filled with vinegar and stood back. Within a few seconds the canister would shoot up in the air due to the pressure built up from the carbon dioxide gas. This simple and harmless explosion would leave you with a canister that clearly had its top blown off and the substance poured out all over.
I use this illustration as it is one that God has recently shown me concerning His blessings. In Luke 6:38, Jesus is preaching concerning the cause and effect of giving. Clearly put, Jesus tells that that when we give, it will be given back to us. The word 'give' here in the Greek means to bring forth, commit, or deliver. So when we bring it forth, we should also expect that it will be brought forth onto us.
Now if we continue in this verse we see exactly how it will be brought forth. A good measure, or portion in the Greek, will be brought. It will be pressed down, or tightly packed and squeezed into the container just like our baking soda. And then, with the mix of God acting like the vinegar, it is shaken together, stirred up, vibrated, building pressure until finally BAM! It then is running over and pouring out all over us. Running over in the Greek is defined as the exceeding overflow. This isn't just a little foam, but rather a huge explosion and blasting off like the with the canister. And how eye opening that the words 'poured into' is the same word in the Greek as 'give'. The reaction of mixing giving with God is His exceeding giving back on us.
I think it fitting that after Jesus talks about the explosion of giving, he brings it all back home with the phrase that how we give defines how we are given back to. Now I am not asking for an offering, so you do not need to fear me passing the plate, but I want to share with you what God has been impressing on me. No matter how we view this, it all comes back to obedience. There have been times when God has prompted me to give generously and I have given a smaller amount. There have been times when I have also given generously as prompted and really did not have much to spare. But regardless of my pocket book, God did not want my money. He wanted my obedience. When I obeyed God completely, God blew the top off my canister. On the flip side, when I did not obey, a little foam was produced, but not an top blasting overflowing amount.
We have to begin to see God not as Jehovah Just-Get-By, but Jehovah Jirah, the provider who knows no limits. We get used to survival when God is wanting to bless us with more than enough. Fear of our finances, time, resources, etc, has to be gotten rid of. The muscle of faith needs to be built up. So let us prepare ourselves for the blowing off of the top. Let us pray for what God wants us to do, and obey fully. In giving of our obedience we will see Him shake the canister for a top popping explosion. Obey God in your giving, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
https://www.onthevanguard.com/
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
THE SHADES OF SIN part 2
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
II Chronicles 7:14
If you mix blue and yellow, then you will get green. If you beat heavy whipping cream long enough, then you will make butter. And if I drive 43 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone, then I will get a speeding ticket. All these statements have been proven correct. Yes, even the speeding statement was proven in my life just a few weeks back.
When last I wrote I shared with you my decision to steal the lemon and the affects that were a result. Not only did I swell up with guilt, but as Ezekiel 39:24 states, God hid His face from me and handed me over to my enemies. The cost of a simple lemon resulted in distance and death (Rom 6:23). Was it worth it?
Webster's defines an if / then statement as: a statement that proves if something happens then something else will happen. Thank you Webster for those wise words. However, I can think of no greater if / then statement than the one found in II Chronicles 7:14. If God's people will take the steps outlined concerning sin, then God will do what He promises concerning forgiveness. Perhaps we should break down the shades of black and red outlined in this verse with the help of the Strong's.
From the start, God addresses us as His people, or tribe, and under His authority. He spoke directly to us that humility, prayer, seeking of His face and turning from our sin, all composed the IF portion. It is only in doing these things that we can expect the statement, and the outcome, to be promising. And promising it is indeed, for in the THEN portion God tells us that He will be attentive to us, pardon us, and mend us. In breaking down all the words from the Hebrew for this verse, it would read something more like this:
IF My tribe, those I have addressed in my authority, will come under subjection and be judged through intercession and supplication and strive for My face and return to the starting point instead of their naughty and wretched ways, THEN will I be attentive to their voice from heaven and will pardon their offensive penalty and will mend, as a physician, their land.
Black is a stubborn color. When painted on a wall, it seems to take many coats of the next color to hide the black. I have tried it before. Whether with primer or with the next color alone, the black is stubborn to leave. Sin is also stubborn. Looking back at my thievery, the decision to steal was not made on a whim. I contemplated for days. I knew they were there and were ripe. I knew also that a lemon was tart. But the temptation continued to nag at me until finally I gave in. The temptation and desire was stubborn.
But red is also stubborn, and maybe even more so when it flows from Jesus Christ over our sin. As a Christian we have three points of utmost power: the Word, the Name, and the blood. It is when we do take these words in II Chronicles to heart, and humble, pray, seek, and turn, that we find His blood covering our sin and allowing us to be heard, forgiven, and healed.
As I shared last time, the shades of sin are truly only two colors, black or red. The question is, has God hid His face from you because of your sin? IF so, THEN the answer is clear. Follow the instruction He has provided. Let us be judged through intercession and supplication and strive for His face and return to the starting point instead of our naughty and wretched ways. Let Him be attentive to you, pardon you, and mend you. Then come, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
II Chronicles 7:14
If you mix blue and yellow, then you will get green. If you beat heavy whipping cream long enough, then you will make butter. And if I drive 43 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone, then I will get a speeding ticket. All these statements have been proven correct. Yes, even the speeding statement was proven in my life just a few weeks back.
When last I wrote I shared with you my decision to steal the lemon and the affects that were a result. Not only did I swell up with guilt, but as Ezekiel 39:24 states, God hid His face from me and handed me over to my enemies. The cost of a simple lemon resulted in distance and death (Rom 6:23). Was it worth it?
Webster's defines an if / then statement as: a statement that proves if something happens then something else will happen. Thank you Webster for those wise words. However, I can think of no greater if / then statement than the one found in II Chronicles 7:14. If God's people will take the steps outlined concerning sin, then God will do what He promises concerning forgiveness. Perhaps we should break down the shades of black and red outlined in this verse with the help of the Strong's.
From the start, God addresses us as His people, or tribe, and under His authority. He spoke directly to us that humility, prayer, seeking of His face and turning from our sin, all composed the IF portion. It is only in doing these things that we can expect the statement, and the outcome, to be promising. And promising it is indeed, for in the THEN portion God tells us that He will be attentive to us, pardon us, and mend us. In breaking down all the words from the Hebrew for this verse, it would read something more like this:
IF My tribe, those I have addressed in my authority, will come under subjection and be judged through intercession and supplication and strive for My face and return to the starting point instead of their naughty and wretched ways, THEN will I be attentive to their voice from heaven and will pardon their offensive penalty and will mend, as a physician, their land.
Black is a stubborn color. When painted on a wall, it seems to take many coats of the next color to hide the black. I have tried it before. Whether with primer or with the next color alone, the black is stubborn to leave. Sin is also stubborn. Looking back at my thievery, the decision to steal was not made on a whim. I contemplated for days. I knew they were there and were ripe. I knew also that a lemon was tart. But the temptation continued to nag at me until finally I gave in. The temptation and desire was stubborn.
But red is also stubborn, and maybe even more so when it flows from Jesus Christ over our sin. As a Christian we have three points of utmost power: the Word, the Name, and the blood. It is when we do take these words in II Chronicles to heart, and humble, pray, seek, and turn, that we find His blood covering our sin and allowing us to be heard, forgiven, and healed.
As I shared last time, the shades of sin are truly only two colors, black or red. The question is, has God hid His face from you because of your sin? IF so, THEN the answer is clear. Follow the instruction He has provided. Let us be judged through intercession and supplication and strive for His face and return to the starting point instead of our naughty and wretched ways. Let Him be attentive to you, pardon you, and mend you. Then come, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
THE SHADES OF SIN part 1
"And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies and they all fell by the sword."
Ezekiel 39:24
I have a memory from when I was about nine or so that has stuck with me, and for good reason I am sure. My neighbor had a lemon tree with a few lemons ready to be picked and I was more than ready to pick one. I snuck over into her yard under the disguise of getting my ball back, picked one, and bolted back over into my yard. With the fruit of my thievery in my hands, I climbed up our tree and sat on the branch to begin peeling the skin. The smell was fresh, the flavor tart, and the guilt thick.
The minute I finished the lemon I began to feel sick. It wasn't that the lemon was poisoned, but that the delivery was tainted. I had stolen. I had gone against God's command that thou shalt not steal (Ex 20:15). As I held this sin in my heart I allowed the guilt and shame of it to eat me up. The words of David in Psalm 32:3-4 were my words.
"When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer."
When I could not take it any longer, I conjured up the strength needed to confess my sin to my mom. As she walked me through repentance with the Lord, the joy in my heart returned. I was forgiven and clean again.
Sadly enough, my days of sin never ended at that moment. As I grew up I dealt with times of rebellion, foul mouth, pride, attitude, selfishness, and lust to name a few. I think back to times when I grew so comfortable to sin that I no longer felt the Holy spirit's conviction for the sins I was committing. With every sin I was distancing myself from God and landing myself deeper into exile.
Honestly, I have always looked at sin in levels, or shades of color on a pallet. There are the big sins, such as murder, which are jet black in color. But then there are the little sins, such as taking a few paper clips home from work, that are like a light light gray or ivory color. As I have grown up, however, I have learned that God sees it one way. Sin is sin, and the only color of sin is black. If I chose to cheat, the color is black. If I want to murder, it is black. If I give someone the finger, it is black. And if I sneak a lemon when the neighbor is gone, or paper clips from work, it is black.
We read that God forgives our sins and in a way, has amnesia. But God is not color blind when it comes to sin. He knows two colors: the black of sin and the red of His blood covering our sin.
To know that God hides His face when I sin is depressing as I want Him to see me. Knowing that I am handed over to the enemy when I sin angers me because I am tired of the devil beating me up. But Ezekiel 39:24 is in a way built on an if/then statement. If we sin, then yes we are distanced from God and handed over to our enemies. But if we confess our sin, renounce it, repent and turn from it, then God is close and we walk under His protection. I have been focusing recently on myself and finding myself praying for a cleansing as I am made aware of items of sin still in my life. I do not want to give the devil any foothold.
Being a Christian is not only about leaving sin behind. It is also about being changed from self-focus to God-focus. I want to be God-focused. If you do too, then let's renounce all sin in our lives and live ON THE VANGUARD!
"And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies and they all fell by the sword."
Ezekiel 39:24
I have a memory from when I was about nine or so that has stuck with me, and for good reason I am sure. My neighbor had a lemon tree with a few lemons ready to be picked and I was more than ready to pick one. I snuck over into her yard under the disguise of getting my ball back, picked one, and bolted back over into my yard. With the fruit of my thievery in my hands, I climbed up our tree and sat on the branch to begin peeling the skin. The smell was fresh, the flavor tart, and the guilt thick.
The minute I finished the lemon I began to feel sick. It wasn't that the lemon was poisoned, but that the delivery was tainted. I had stolen. I had gone against God's command that thou shalt not steal (Ex 20:15). As I held this sin in my heart I allowed the guilt and shame of it to eat me up. The words of David in Psalm 32:3-4 were my words.
"When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer."
When I could not take it any longer, I conjured up the strength needed to confess my sin to my mom. As she walked me through repentance with the Lord, the joy in my heart returned. I was forgiven and clean again.
Sadly enough, my days of sin never ended at that moment. As I grew up I dealt with times of rebellion, foul mouth, pride, attitude, selfishness, and lust to name a few. I think back to times when I grew so comfortable to sin that I no longer felt the Holy spirit's conviction for the sins I was committing. With every sin I was distancing myself from God and landing myself deeper into exile.
Honestly, I have always looked at sin in levels, or shades of color on a pallet. There are the big sins, such as murder, which are jet black in color. But then there are the little sins, such as taking a few paper clips home from work, that are like a light light gray or ivory color. As I have grown up, however, I have learned that God sees it one way. Sin is sin, and the only color of sin is black. If I chose to cheat, the color is black. If I want to murder, it is black. If I give someone the finger, it is black. And if I sneak a lemon when the neighbor is gone, or paper clips from work, it is black.
We read that God forgives our sins and in a way, has amnesia. But God is not color blind when it comes to sin. He knows two colors: the black of sin and the red of His blood covering our sin.
To know that God hides His face when I sin is depressing as I want Him to see me. Knowing that I am handed over to the enemy when I sin angers me because I am tired of the devil beating me up. But Ezekiel 39:24 is in a way built on an if/then statement. If we sin, then yes we are distanced from God and handed over to our enemies. But if we confess our sin, renounce it, repent and turn from it, then God is close and we walk under His protection. I have been focusing recently on myself and finding myself praying for a cleansing as I am made aware of items of sin still in my life. I do not want to give the devil any foothold.
Being a Christian is not only about leaving sin behind. It is also about being changed from self-focus to God-focus. I want to be God-focused. If you do too, then let's renounce all sin in our lives and live ON THE VANGUARD!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
LEGACY:
"'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.'"
Numbers 14:18
This is not an easy devotional to write this morning. In the past I have shared with you about my overcoming the addition of porn and the lessons I learned from kidney stones, but this one is different. Today I want to share a piece of what God is stirring in me personally. While mowing the grass over the weekend and listening to my ipod, I heard a song that touched me. I had heard it before and had purposefully put it on my ipod. Maybe it was because it played in my headphones while my kids played in the yard that made all the difference. Whatever it was, it moved from just being a song to being a challenge.
I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're in independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...
“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?
Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”
Lead Me - Sanctus Real
I am one of the lucky people these days who's parents are still together and just celebrated their 38th anniversary last week. What a testimony of love and devotion. And although I got my share of punishment for the stupid actions I did while growing up, I never felt as though my parents did not love me. They challenged me to be the man I am working hard to be now.
But here in lies my confession; my challenge. Am I being the father God has called me to be? Am I leaving a legacy that my kids will be happy to receive? In reading Numbers 14:18, it says that God will punish the children for the sins of the father. I feel bad enough that my kids have to deal with knowing that their parents could not make marriage work. To add any additional trouble to my kids breaks my heart. I do not want to see my son have to deal with an addiction to porn, or my daughter give into temptations to be popular. It is not worth me seeing them carry on my ill-fated legacy just so that I can enjoy another moment of sin now.
I would much rather see my children receive and carry on a legacy of love. I want them to feel my devotion to them, see my fight for them, and know my love for them. Is that not the legacy God displayed for us? In devotion He sent Jesus as a sacrifice in our place. On our behalf, the devil was confronted and defeated in the fight of the ages. And in confession of our sins, we are given forgiveness because of His love for us. Then I owe it to my children to leave a legacy for them that resembles the legacy God left for me.
You may have children and feel the tug and challenge I am struggling to write out here. Or you may not have children but can still reflect on the legacy that has been passed down to you from your parents. Either way, we are only human and we want what we want when we want it. But I am learning, maybe the hard way, that what I fail to confront and deal with now will not only affect me, but those behind me. In that thought alone, I want to do better. If you also agree and want to leave a legacy of blessing instead of pain, then let us stand up together under the example given us by Christ. Make the choice to leave a blessed legacy, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
"'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.'"
Numbers 14:18
This is not an easy devotional to write this morning. In the past I have shared with you about my overcoming the addition of porn and the lessons I learned from kidney stones, but this one is different. Today I want to share a piece of what God is stirring in me personally. While mowing the grass over the weekend and listening to my ipod, I heard a song that touched me. I had heard it before and had purposefully put it on my ipod. Maybe it was because it played in my headphones while my kids played in the yard that made all the difference. Whatever it was, it moved from just being a song to being a challenge.
I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're in independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...
“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?
Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”
Lead Me - Sanctus Real
I am one of the lucky people these days who's parents are still together and just celebrated their 38th anniversary last week. What a testimony of love and devotion. And although I got my share of punishment for the stupid actions I did while growing up, I never felt as though my parents did not love me. They challenged me to be the man I am working hard to be now.
But here in lies my confession; my challenge. Am I being the father God has called me to be? Am I leaving a legacy that my kids will be happy to receive? In reading Numbers 14:18, it says that God will punish the children for the sins of the father. I feel bad enough that my kids have to deal with knowing that their parents could not make marriage work. To add any additional trouble to my kids breaks my heart. I do not want to see my son have to deal with an addiction to porn, or my daughter give into temptations to be popular. It is not worth me seeing them carry on my ill-fated legacy just so that I can enjoy another moment of sin now.
I would much rather see my children receive and carry on a legacy of love. I want them to feel my devotion to them, see my fight for them, and know my love for them. Is that not the legacy God displayed for us? In devotion He sent Jesus as a sacrifice in our place. On our behalf, the devil was confronted and defeated in the fight of the ages. And in confession of our sins, we are given forgiveness because of His love for us. Then I owe it to my children to leave a legacy for them that resembles the legacy God left for me.
You may have children and feel the tug and challenge I am struggling to write out here. Or you may not have children but can still reflect on the legacy that has been passed down to you from your parents. Either way, we are only human and we want what we want when we want it. But I am learning, maybe the hard way, that what I fail to confront and deal with now will not only affect me, but those behind me. In that thought alone, I want to do better. If you also agree and want to leave a legacy of blessing instead of pain, then let us stand up together under the example given us by Christ. Make the choice to leave a blessed legacy, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
JEHOVAH NISSI
"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.' Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, 'For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.'"
Exodus 17:14-16
Remember the movie Glory? The movie itself is based on the letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the commander of the first black regiment in the United States Army. In the final scenes of the movie, the heroic charge of Shaw's Massachusetts 54th regiment on Fort Wagner are recreated. In a speech given before the dawn attack, Shaw points to the regiment's standard-bearer and said to the men, "If this man should fall, who will lift the flag and carry it on?" Thomas Earl, known from the letters as a weak and terrible soldier, boldly steps forward and declares, "I will!" As the fight ensues that night, Shaw is found dead. The standard is not picked up by Earl, who had found courage that morning to declare his stance, but rather by Private Tripp, a soldier who had previously deserted his regiment. The letters of Colonel Shaw were written as not only his personal memories, but as a story that years later we could still find courage in.
Moses had his own story like Colonel Shaw. In Exodus 17, the Bible records Moses leading the people of Israel against the Amalekites. Hur, Aaron, and Moses stood on the top of the hill, while Joshua and his chosen men defended themselves against Amalek. As long as Moses' hands were raised, Israel won the battle. When Moses' arms grew tired and weak, Hur and Aaron held them up. While this is a great illustration of accountability, it is also a great illustration of God as our banner.
Moses, Joshua, nor anyone in God's army raised a flag as we know it, but when the battle was over and the army of Israel was victorious, two actions were completed. First was, God told Moses to write this down as a memory for Joshua, which is now a memory also for us. The second thing, however, was that Moses built an altar to God, naming it Jehovah-Nissi (God is my Banner). The word Nissi is defined in the Strong's as: flag, sail, flagstaff, signal, and standard. In that moment, God proved Himself to Israel as their standard, their flag. As a tribute to Him, they built their altar and named it for who God was in that moment.
We are like Moses, and Amalek is our enemy. The enemy rises up against us and throws attacks our way. Be it drugs, porn, bitterness, sickness, depression, financial hardship, low self-esteem, the list is endless, but the answer is the same. We stand under Jehovah-Nissi. We stand under the flag of who God is. In these moments, call upon Jehovah-Nissi. Raise your hands like Moses; stand with others who will hold you up if needed, but do not give up. Do not let the standard fall to the ground. Now join me ON THE VANGUARD!
"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.' Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, 'For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.'"
Exodus 17:14-16
Remember the movie Glory? The movie itself is based on the letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the commander of the first black regiment in the United States Army. In the final scenes of the movie, the heroic charge of Shaw's Massachusetts 54th regiment on Fort Wagner are recreated. In a speech given before the dawn attack, Shaw points to the regiment's standard-bearer and said to the men, "If this man should fall, who will lift the flag and carry it on?" Thomas Earl, known from the letters as a weak and terrible soldier, boldly steps forward and declares, "I will!" As the fight ensues that night, Shaw is found dead. The standard is not picked up by Earl, who had found courage that morning to declare his stance, but rather by Private Tripp, a soldier who had previously deserted his regiment. The letters of Colonel Shaw were written as not only his personal memories, but as a story that years later we could still find courage in.
Moses had his own story like Colonel Shaw. In Exodus 17, the Bible records Moses leading the people of Israel against the Amalekites. Hur, Aaron, and Moses stood on the top of the hill, while Joshua and his chosen men defended themselves against Amalek. As long as Moses' hands were raised, Israel won the battle. When Moses' arms grew tired and weak, Hur and Aaron held them up. While this is a great illustration of accountability, it is also a great illustration of God as our banner.
Moses, Joshua, nor anyone in God's army raised a flag as we know it, but when the battle was over and the army of Israel was victorious, two actions were completed. First was, God told Moses to write this down as a memory for Joshua, which is now a memory also for us. The second thing, however, was that Moses built an altar to God, naming it Jehovah-Nissi (God is my Banner). The word Nissi is defined in the Strong's as: flag, sail, flagstaff, signal, and standard. In that moment, God proved Himself to Israel as their standard, their flag. As a tribute to Him, they built their altar and named it for who God was in that moment.
We are like Moses, and Amalek is our enemy. The enemy rises up against us and throws attacks our way. Be it drugs, porn, bitterness, sickness, depression, financial hardship, low self-esteem, the list is endless, but the answer is the same. We stand under Jehovah-Nissi. We stand under the flag of who God is. In these moments, call upon Jehovah-Nissi. Raise your hands like Moses; stand with others who will hold you up if needed, but do not give up. Do not let the standard fall to the ground. Now join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
SURELY NOT ME
"...As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
Psalm 103:12
Back in the summer of 1996, while I was visiting my family between my junior and senior college years, I went through an rough spot. I had been dealing with my pornography addiction for some time by that point and was working hard on resisting the devil that summer, and God was granting me victory. Sadly enough, I wasn't fully winning the fight. Although clean that summer, I struggled with the guilt and shame of what I had done and found myself unable to believe that God was able to forgive me for my actions. My moments of disbelief that summer were complicated as I also struggled with a physical problem that plagued my body that summer.
It was my desire to begin really putting thoughts down on paper, be it stories, poems, songs, what have you. The trouble, however, was that I could only write for a brief moment before my hands with burn with pain. I would go back and forth between the typewriter and printing by hand, looking for anyway to get my thoughts out with the least amount of pain. Each action I took was short lived.
After trying muscle creams and arthritis pain creams and still finding no relief, I humbly sought prayer from the church intercessors. As part of my intership, I had prayed alongside these warriors, so I trusted the one who pulled me aside from the prayer group and explained my pain. Without me giving her the full details, she explained to me the exact pain I was in, even the degree I was at that moment. And then she said a profound statement. "Because you are unable to forgive yourself you have this pain. God has forgiven you of your past and now you also must let it go."
I was left dumbfounded. In a way, I had come to believe that God could forgive anyone else, but surely not me. In my thought, even Charles Mason stood a greater chance of being forgiven than I did. But it was this exact thought pattern that brought upon me my own pain. She continued on for about another ten minutes or so before I was convinced that she was right. My physical pain was a symptom of my pride.
Psalm 103:12 shares that God has removed our transgressions for us. The Strong's defines this word transgressions as such:
6588 - PESHA - moral or religious revolt, rebellion, trespasses
God had already forgiven me of my revolt against Him through my sin, but I had not forgiven myself. As I later heard someone tell me, by not believing that God could forgive me of my sin I was in essence saying that I was better than God. God had mercy on all except me. I was the special child; the exception to the rule. Only I could grant myself the forgiveness I needed, not God.
As I would learn on that summer day, I am not better than God. I held myself above God, and opened myself to an attack. When this was made clear to me, and I asked God to forgive me not only for my actions, but for my attitude towards His forgiveness, my hands were instantly free of pain.
I am unsure if you have any pain as a result of not forgiving yourself, but I know that there are many who simply cannot believe that God forgives anyone except them. It is contrary to Roman 6:23 where we read that all have sinned, and I John 1:9 where we see that with our confession, God is able to forgive us our sin. There is no comment in the Bible that says God will forgive all sin except for ______(fill in the blank), or for all people except for _____(your name here). When God said ALL, He meant all people and all sin.
I challenge you as the day goes on to evaluate yourself. Are you holding a weak image of yourself because you do not think God can forgive you. Is a woe-is-me attitude stunting you from going forward in Christ. You must believe that God's word is true when it comes to forgiveness. He will, can, and does forgive you for any and all sin you have committed. Stop being weighed down by the guilt of the devil, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
"...As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
Psalm 103:12
Back in the summer of 1996, while I was visiting my family between my junior and senior college years, I went through an rough spot. I had been dealing with my pornography addiction for some time by that point and was working hard on resisting the devil that summer, and God was granting me victory. Sadly enough, I wasn't fully winning the fight. Although clean that summer, I struggled with the guilt and shame of what I had done and found myself unable to believe that God was able to forgive me for my actions. My moments of disbelief that summer were complicated as I also struggled with a physical problem that plagued my body that summer.
It was my desire to begin really putting thoughts down on paper, be it stories, poems, songs, what have you. The trouble, however, was that I could only write for a brief moment before my hands with burn with pain. I would go back and forth between the typewriter and printing by hand, looking for anyway to get my thoughts out with the least amount of pain. Each action I took was short lived.
After trying muscle creams and arthritis pain creams and still finding no relief, I humbly sought prayer from the church intercessors. As part of my intership, I had prayed alongside these warriors, so I trusted the one who pulled me aside from the prayer group and explained my pain. Without me giving her the full details, she explained to me the exact pain I was in, even the degree I was at that moment. And then she said a profound statement. "Because you are unable to forgive yourself you have this pain. God has forgiven you of your past and now you also must let it go."
I was left dumbfounded. In a way, I had come to believe that God could forgive anyone else, but surely not me. In my thought, even Charles Mason stood a greater chance of being forgiven than I did. But it was this exact thought pattern that brought upon me my own pain. She continued on for about another ten minutes or so before I was convinced that she was right. My physical pain was a symptom of my pride.
Psalm 103:12 shares that God has removed our transgressions for us. The Strong's defines this word transgressions as such:
6588 - PESHA - moral or religious revolt, rebellion, trespasses
God had already forgiven me of my revolt against Him through my sin, but I had not forgiven myself. As I later heard someone tell me, by not believing that God could forgive me of my sin I was in essence saying that I was better than God. God had mercy on all except me. I was the special child; the exception to the rule. Only I could grant myself the forgiveness I needed, not God.
As I would learn on that summer day, I am not better than God. I held myself above God, and opened myself to an attack. When this was made clear to me, and I asked God to forgive me not only for my actions, but for my attitude towards His forgiveness, my hands were instantly free of pain.
I am unsure if you have any pain as a result of not forgiving yourself, but I know that there are many who simply cannot believe that God forgives anyone except them. It is contrary to Roman 6:23 where we read that all have sinned, and I John 1:9 where we see that with our confession, God is able to forgive us our sin. There is no comment in the Bible that says God will forgive all sin except for ______(fill in the blank), or for all people except for _____(your name here). When God said ALL, He meant all people and all sin.
I challenge you as the day goes on to evaluate yourself. Are you holding a weak image of yourself because you do not think God can forgive you. Is a woe-is-me attitude stunting you from going forward in Christ. You must believe that God's word is true when it comes to forgiveness. He will, can, and does forgive you for any and all sin you have committed. Stop being weighed down by the guilt of the devil, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
THE SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE
"March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets."
Joshua 6:3-4
I woke up from a dream this morning and really felt God was talking to me concerning the account of Joshua and the city of Jericho. However, as I laid there in my awakened prostrate prayer sprawl, I saw how God was not only challenging me, but others as well. Before I go on, though, I should point out that there are two types of walls. They are walls that keep us protected, as seen in the story of Nehemiah, and walls that prevent us from having what God has told us is ours. Whether we like it or not, we all have these preventing walls that we are up against as did Joshua and the Israelites. But, like Joshua, God has promised us the victory, (Josh 6:2).
Six days they marched around Jericho with the ark of the covenant of the LORD. For six days they marched in complete silence, except for the sound of their footsteps and declaration of the trumpet sounds. And for six days they made their rounds and returned to camp as they were ordered. All this repetition led up to day seven.
Rising as normal at daybreak on the seventh day, the Israelites began preparing for their march. Joshua gathered the army and gave a slight change in plans from the days before. This time, instead of marching around once, they would march seven times. And where as they had previously returned to camp in the same silence they had marched in, this time they would not return, but rather give a battle cry, the likes that had never been heard before. So, with God on their side and His promise of their victory, they started out.
The Bible describes Jericho as a city dripping with fear. They had heard of God's mighty power and the feats previously accomplished, but now they were about to see first hand the power of the One they refused to believe. As the final circle around the city was completed, the people shouted, the trumpets blared, and the walls came down! The army of Israel ram sacked the city and the grip of Jericho on the land was ended. Once again, God's promise was made complete.
Contemplating this story and my dream this morning, God showed me that I have walls that need to come down. I have walls of sin, fear, and anger to name a few. And as strange as it may sound, I believe that I am to march around my walls for the next seven days. This is my challenge from God to me, but it may be yours also. Perhaps you have walls or addictions that God is wanting to deal with. Or perhaps your city block is populated with unbelievers than believers and your march is for their salvation. Maybe your march is on an attack in your marriage, health, or finances. Whatever the reason, I encourage you to take the same seven day challenge. Listen to God, hear Him speak the walls that he has raised you up to defeat, and then march. As God told Joshua He now tells you, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands," (Josh 6:2a). Bust down the walls, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
"March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets."
Joshua 6:3-4
I woke up from a dream this morning and really felt God was talking to me concerning the account of Joshua and the city of Jericho. However, as I laid there in my awakened prostrate prayer sprawl, I saw how God was not only challenging me, but others as well. Before I go on, though, I should point out that there are two types of walls. They are walls that keep us protected, as seen in the story of Nehemiah, and walls that prevent us from having what God has told us is ours. Whether we like it or not, we all have these preventing walls that we are up against as did Joshua and the Israelites. But, like Joshua, God has promised us the victory, (Josh 6:2).
Six days they marched around Jericho with the ark of the covenant of the LORD. For six days they marched in complete silence, except for the sound of their footsteps and declaration of the trumpet sounds. And for six days they made their rounds and returned to camp as they were ordered. All this repetition led up to day seven.
Rising as normal at daybreak on the seventh day, the Israelites began preparing for their march. Joshua gathered the army and gave a slight change in plans from the days before. This time, instead of marching around once, they would march seven times. And where as they had previously returned to camp in the same silence they had marched in, this time they would not return, but rather give a battle cry, the likes that had never been heard before. So, with God on their side and His promise of their victory, they started out.
The Bible describes Jericho as a city dripping with fear. They had heard of God's mighty power and the feats previously accomplished, but now they were about to see first hand the power of the One they refused to believe. As the final circle around the city was completed, the people shouted, the trumpets blared, and the walls came down! The army of Israel ram sacked the city and the grip of Jericho on the land was ended. Once again, God's promise was made complete.
Contemplating this story and my dream this morning, God showed me that I have walls that need to come down. I have walls of sin, fear, and anger to name a few. And as strange as it may sound, I believe that I am to march around my walls for the next seven days. This is my challenge from God to me, but it may be yours also. Perhaps you have walls or addictions that God is wanting to deal with. Or perhaps your city block is populated with unbelievers than believers and your march is for their salvation. Maybe your march is on an attack in your marriage, health, or finances. Whatever the reason, I encourage you to take the same seven day challenge. Listen to God, hear Him speak the walls that he has raised you up to defeat, and then march. As God told Joshua He now tells you, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands," (Josh 6:2a). Bust down the walls, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
WYATT EARP AND THE PROPHET ELIJAH - Part 2
“Then Elijah said to them, ‘I am the only one of the LORD’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire – he is God.’
“Then all the people said, ‘What you say is good.’”
I Kings 18:22-24
Elijah looked around the audience of false prophets and probably gave them a good laugh when he told them the odds. It was an 850 against 1 battle. Elijah was the only prophet of God standing on Mount Carmel that day, but consider what God can do through one who is willing to take a stand. Before the day ended, God’s power was going to be seen by all. The prophet of God challenged the prophets of Baal to choose a bull and prepare it, call on the name of Baal, and request that he send fire on the altar.
The prophets had first dibs. Elijah had given them the choice of an altar, a bull, and the wood they wanted to aid in their sacrifice. From morning till noon, they cried out to Baal to bring down fire from heaven on their offering, but no fire came. Dancing around the altar they continued to cry out, yet still no fire came. Elijah, seeing this parade of foolish worship, taunted them to shout louder. Was it possible that Baal may be away, or not able to hear them, or asleep, or traveling? And so they did scream louder, and slash their bodies as was the custom. But still, no reply was given by their god. Their antics went on till evening before Elijah stepped up to the plate.
Elijah took twelve stones and built an altar. He then dug a trench around it to hold about five gallons of water. After arranging the wood on the altar, he then cut the bull into pieces and placed them on the wood. Having done the exact same steps in the sacrifice as those serving Baal, Elijah went one step farther. At his command, water was poured not once, but three times over the sacrifice. By all accounts the wood was soaked and should have been too wet to even burn. Then Elijah lifted up a simple prayer.
“Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
I Kings 18:37
Elijah’s goal was not to gain a following for himself, but rather for God. The worship of other gods had tainted the people’s vision for the one true God. In my worship of my own body, and what felt right to me and eased my pain, I allowed my focus to retreat from God and become fixed on other things. I began to follow the ‘medicines’ the world offered instead of looking to God to meet my feelings of rejection, failure, and identity. And in no time at all, the person I had become did not come close to reflecting the person God was calling me to be. Elijah’s prayer was for me; that my heart may be turned back to God again. Crawford Loritts wrote,
“Biblically, to be holy is to be morally blameless. It means to be separated from sin and consecrated to God. So to live a holy life means to live a life that conforms to God’s moral precepts, in contrast to the sinful ways of the world and the culture in which we live."
My heart wavered between the opinions of following God or pleasing myself. Fortunately, as with Israel in this account, God did not give up on me. Even though the road was hard, and people left me, and it felt as though the rug was being pulled out from under me, God was still there to take me back and point me in the right direction. I had to get rid of the idols in my life. There was no way possible to stand before God blameless when I was holding such a tight grip on the sin He was asking me to release. God challenged me with the same challenge that Israel faced. Who was I going to serve?
“Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD – he is God! The LORD – he is God!’”
I Kings 18:38-39
God came down in a mighty force and showed Himself true. How could those who watched this event deny that God existed? How can you and I, who read this story and the countless others in the Bible, deny God or still try to mix God with sin in our own life. Years before this event, Joshua said almost the exact same words. In Joshua 24:15, we read, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
The Bible records that after the sacrifice was enveloped, that Elijah commanded the death of all Baal’s prophets. Every one of them was served the death sentence that day for their actions. God is a jealous God, and He does not desire that we sit on the fence. James 1:8 reminds us that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. How can we stand on the vanguard of the battle with one hand holding God and the other holding to our idols? It is time to make a choice. It is time to resist the devil (James 4:7). It is time to shake off the chains that bind you (Heb 12:2). The challenge here is easy to see. We must choose between God or the gods that steal us from Him. The choice, however, is not so easy. Sure, the temptations of life call our name and beckon us to follow and give in. I hide nothing; I have given in many times myself. But it is time that we make up our mind and consider the words that Elijah dared challenge us with. Stop wavering and make up your mind.
Wyatt Earp and his gang of Rangers took out the “Cowboys” because they broke the law. Justice had to be served. The “Cowboys” resisted arrest and eventually they were shot on sight, given away by their red sashes. Elijah stood before an evil king and his motley crew of false prophets and gave them the chance to prove their god real, but their god never appeared. In the end they too were killed for breaking God’s law of having no other gods before Him. What gods do you bow down to? Better yet, are you willing to die for your god? It is time we stop wavering and chose who we will serve. Smash the idols in your life, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Loritts, Jr., Crawford, Make it Home Before Dark, (Moody Press, 2000), p 77
“Then Elijah said to them, ‘I am the only one of the LORD’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire – he is God.’
“Then all the people said, ‘What you say is good.’”
I Kings 18:22-24
Elijah looked around the audience of false prophets and probably gave them a good laugh when he told them the odds. It was an 850 against 1 battle. Elijah was the only prophet of God standing on Mount Carmel that day, but consider what God can do through one who is willing to take a stand. Before the day ended, God’s power was going to be seen by all. The prophet of God challenged the prophets of Baal to choose a bull and prepare it, call on the name of Baal, and request that he send fire on the altar.
The prophets had first dibs. Elijah had given them the choice of an altar, a bull, and the wood they wanted to aid in their sacrifice. From morning till noon, they cried out to Baal to bring down fire from heaven on their offering, but no fire came. Dancing around the altar they continued to cry out, yet still no fire came. Elijah, seeing this parade of foolish worship, taunted them to shout louder. Was it possible that Baal may be away, or not able to hear them, or asleep, or traveling? And so they did scream louder, and slash their bodies as was the custom. But still, no reply was given by their god. Their antics went on till evening before Elijah stepped up to the plate.
Elijah took twelve stones and built an altar. He then dug a trench around it to hold about five gallons of water. After arranging the wood on the altar, he then cut the bull into pieces and placed them on the wood. Having done the exact same steps in the sacrifice as those serving Baal, Elijah went one step farther. At his command, water was poured not once, but three times over the sacrifice. By all accounts the wood was soaked and should have been too wet to even burn. Then Elijah lifted up a simple prayer.
“Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
I Kings 18:37
Elijah’s goal was not to gain a following for himself, but rather for God. The worship of other gods had tainted the people’s vision for the one true God. In my worship of my own body, and what felt right to me and eased my pain, I allowed my focus to retreat from God and become fixed on other things. I began to follow the ‘medicines’ the world offered instead of looking to God to meet my feelings of rejection, failure, and identity. And in no time at all, the person I had become did not come close to reflecting the person God was calling me to be. Elijah’s prayer was for me; that my heart may be turned back to God again. Crawford Loritts wrote,
“Biblically, to be holy is to be morally blameless. It means to be separated from sin and consecrated to God. So to live a holy life means to live a life that conforms to God’s moral precepts, in contrast to the sinful ways of the world and the culture in which we live."
My heart wavered between the opinions of following God or pleasing myself. Fortunately, as with Israel in this account, God did not give up on me. Even though the road was hard, and people left me, and it felt as though the rug was being pulled out from under me, God was still there to take me back and point me in the right direction. I had to get rid of the idols in my life. There was no way possible to stand before God blameless when I was holding such a tight grip on the sin He was asking me to release. God challenged me with the same challenge that Israel faced. Who was I going to serve?
“Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD – he is God! The LORD – he is God!’”
I Kings 18:38-39
God came down in a mighty force and showed Himself true. How could those who watched this event deny that God existed? How can you and I, who read this story and the countless others in the Bible, deny God or still try to mix God with sin in our own life. Years before this event, Joshua said almost the exact same words. In Joshua 24:15, we read, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
The Bible records that after the sacrifice was enveloped, that Elijah commanded the death of all Baal’s prophets. Every one of them was served the death sentence that day for their actions. God is a jealous God, and He does not desire that we sit on the fence. James 1:8 reminds us that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. How can we stand on the vanguard of the battle with one hand holding God and the other holding to our idols? It is time to make a choice. It is time to resist the devil (James 4:7). It is time to shake off the chains that bind you (Heb 12:2). The challenge here is easy to see. We must choose between God or the gods that steal us from Him. The choice, however, is not so easy. Sure, the temptations of life call our name and beckon us to follow and give in. I hide nothing; I have given in many times myself. But it is time that we make up our mind and consider the words that Elijah dared challenge us with. Stop wavering and make up your mind.
Wyatt Earp and his gang of Rangers took out the “Cowboys” because they broke the law. Justice had to be served. The “Cowboys” resisted arrest and eventually they were shot on sight, given away by their red sashes. Elijah stood before an evil king and his motley crew of false prophets and gave them the chance to prove their god real, but their god never appeared. In the end they too were killed for breaking God’s law of having no other gods before Him. What gods do you bow down to? Better yet, are you willing to die for your god? It is time we stop wavering and chose who we will serve. Smash the idols in your life, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Loritts, Jr., Crawford, Make it Home Before Dark, (Moody Press, 2000), p 77
Monday, August 9, 2010
WYATT EARP AND THE PROPHET ELIJAH - Part 1
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.”
I Kings 18:21
On October 27, 1881, the headline of the Tombstone Epitaph read: A Desperate Fight Between Officers of the Law and Cow-boys – The Killed and Wounded – Failure of Lord & Williams. The short editorial described a little known gunfight that would later be known as a major shootout in Arizona’s history. With a past record of verbal threats and the misdemeanor of bearing weapons within the Tombstone city limits, the ‘Cowboys’ had to be stopped. History records that at about 3:00pm on October 26th, Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday made their way toward the alley between the MacDonald House and Fly’s Boarding House. It was here the two teams faced off in history’s Gunfight at the O. K. Corral.
At close range, the gunfire commenced. Standing trial before Justice Wells Spicer, Wyatt Earp would go on record stating that he shot first, shooting Frank McLaury in the abdomen, and Billy Clanton shot almost simultaneously at Wyatt, who managed to dodge the bullet. In the end, ‘Cowboy’ Billy Clanton was shot in the wrist before suffering a deadly shot to the chest. Frank McLaury was first shot in the stomach by Wyatt and shortly after received a fatal shot to the base of his skull. Tom McLaury received two shotgun wounds by Doc Holliday to his left side which rendered him dead. Billy Claiborne managed to escape unharmed, as well as Ike Clanton who was unarmed and allowed passage to safety by Wyatt who ordered him to “go to fighting or get away!”
For the law men, Morgan Earp suffered a non-fatal wound to the back when background noise distracted him during the battle. Virgil Earp was shot in the calf by Frank McLaury, which dropped him to the ground. Doc Holliday was bruised on his left hip when a bullet bounced off his holster. Wyatt Earp, however, collected no wounds whatsoever. The gunfight lasted only thirty seconds, and in the end, the Earps and Holliday were considered heroes.
The ‘Cowboys’ that remained retaliated from abandoned buildings and dark alleys, leaving Virgil with the use of only one arm in an attack on December 28, 1881, and Morgan dead from another shot to the back on March 18, 1882. In revenge for his brothers, and the upholding of the law, Wyatt Earp began his Vendetta Ride. In the span of three weeks, March 20 thru April 15, 1882, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and their federal posse, rode throughout Arizona with a warrant for William “Curly Bill” Brocius, the leader of the “Cowboys”. The two met on March 24, 1882 in Iron Springs where after an exchange of gunfire, Brocius lay dead from a shotgun blast to the chest. In the end, Earp and his posse rode after the cowboys and into Colorado where they finally dissolved and began going their own ways.
The fall of the “Cowboys” came shortly after the loss of their leader. Once he was proved powerless, the few “Cowboys” that remained were hunted down by Wyatt Earp and his crew. Wyatt Earp brought justice and restoration to both Arizona and his family name.
This same example is given to us in I Kings 18. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel rejoiced in the slaughter of God’s prophets only to find defeat in the end. Jezebel had ordered that all the prophets of the true God be killed. For the sake of their own lives they hid within the caves and found refuge under Obadiah. As Israel entered its third year without rain, Ahab summoned Obadiah to help him find grass to keep the animals alive. What Obadiah found, however, was the next segment in God’s outline of power.
It was Elijah who had declared to King Ahab three years prior that it would not rain except at the prophet’s command (I Kings 17:1). During the time Elijah had been away from the king, God was caring for him. Fed by ravens and provided for by the widow in Zarephath of Sidon, Elijah followed God’s commands. For his obedience he lacked nothing. But as God brought provision to Elijah, so also He brought lack on Israel. It only stands to make sense then, that when Ahab saw Elijah coming out to meet him, his greeting would be one of accusation.
“…and Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he saw Elijah, he said to him, ‘Is that you, you troubler of Israel?’”
I Kings 18:16b-17
Elijah defended himself and corrected Ahab by saying that the troublemakers of Israel were Ahab and his ancestors, for they abandoned God and His commandments, and had given themselves over to the idol worship of Baal. And in this same speech, Elijah called out for the king to bring all the prophets before him.
“Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
I Kings 18:19
The challenge was about to be laid down. The true God was about to stand out from among the crowd and re-take His throne over Israel. The enemy was about to be defeated. With all the prophets of both Baal and Asherah gathered together, Elijah posed his contest.
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.”
I Kings 18:21
The people said nothing. Here we see an example of how the people of Israel were not necessarily trying to rid God from their lives, but were rather working to mix a blend of God and other gods into their daily practices. They wanted to combine a worship of both God and gods, life and death. In the end, they wanted the best of both worlds. Did history not show in the life of Solomon that the mix of other gods brought Solomon away from the true God? And was it not God Himself who, when giving the Ten Commandments, declared Himself to be a jealous God (Ex 20:5)?
I can ask this same question of myself. The truth is I do not have to think hard to recall an example of this in my own life. In the many years I spent addicted to pornography, I fought this same desire. I wanted to follow God with everything in me, but I also did not want to give up the addiction and the false feelings of security I clung to. I battled daily, even hourly, with the guilt and shame that came as a result of this sin, but at the same time I battled with the feelings of inclusion and acceptance I grew to believe. I wanted to have the best of both. And although I tried denying the fact, the truth was that I was bowing to my own idol. I was bowing down to lust, selfishness, and pride. I wavered between two opinions and said nothing.
In closing today, I challenge you to reflect where you are at this point. Are there things that God has told you to give up that you are still hoping you can mix in with your Christian walk? As is seen early in this devotional, and will be seen in my next writing, the time of double-mindedness must cease. Prepare to rid the gods, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.”
I Kings 18:21
On October 27, 1881, the headline of the Tombstone Epitaph read: A Desperate Fight Between Officers of the Law and Cow-boys – The Killed and Wounded – Failure of Lord & Williams. The short editorial described a little known gunfight that would later be known as a major shootout in Arizona’s history. With a past record of verbal threats and the misdemeanor of bearing weapons within the Tombstone city limits, the ‘Cowboys’ had to be stopped. History records that at about 3:00pm on October 26th, Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday made their way toward the alley between the MacDonald House and Fly’s Boarding House. It was here the two teams faced off in history’s Gunfight at the O. K. Corral.
At close range, the gunfire commenced. Standing trial before Justice Wells Spicer, Wyatt Earp would go on record stating that he shot first, shooting Frank McLaury in the abdomen, and Billy Clanton shot almost simultaneously at Wyatt, who managed to dodge the bullet. In the end, ‘Cowboy’ Billy Clanton was shot in the wrist before suffering a deadly shot to the chest. Frank McLaury was first shot in the stomach by Wyatt and shortly after received a fatal shot to the base of his skull. Tom McLaury received two shotgun wounds by Doc Holliday to his left side which rendered him dead. Billy Claiborne managed to escape unharmed, as well as Ike Clanton who was unarmed and allowed passage to safety by Wyatt who ordered him to “go to fighting or get away!”
For the law men, Morgan Earp suffered a non-fatal wound to the back when background noise distracted him during the battle. Virgil Earp was shot in the calf by Frank McLaury, which dropped him to the ground. Doc Holliday was bruised on his left hip when a bullet bounced off his holster. Wyatt Earp, however, collected no wounds whatsoever. The gunfight lasted only thirty seconds, and in the end, the Earps and Holliday were considered heroes.
The ‘Cowboys’ that remained retaliated from abandoned buildings and dark alleys, leaving Virgil with the use of only one arm in an attack on December 28, 1881, and Morgan dead from another shot to the back on March 18, 1882. In revenge for his brothers, and the upholding of the law, Wyatt Earp began his Vendetta Ride. In the span of three weeks, March 20 thru April 15, 1882, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and their federal posse, rode throughout Arizona with a warrant for William “Curly Bill” Brocius, the leader of the “Cowboys”. The two met on March 24, 1882 in Iron Springs where after an exchange of gunfire, Brocius lay dead from a shotgun blast to the chest. In the end, Earp and his posse rode after the cowboys and into Colorado where they finally dissolved and began going their own ways.
The fall of the “Cowboys” came shortly after the loss of their leader. Once he was proved powerless, the few “Cowboys” that remained were hunted down by Wyatt Earp and his crew. Wyatt Earp brought justice and restoration to both Arizona and his family name.
This same example is given to us in I Kings 18. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel rejoiced in the slaughter of God’s prophets only to find defeat in the end. Jezebel had ordered that all the prophets of the true God be killed. For the sake of their own lives they hid within the caves and found refuge under Obadiah. As Israel entered its third year without rain, Ahab summoned Obadiah to help him find grass to keep the animals alive. What Obadiah found, however, was the next segment in God’s outline of power.
It was Elijah who had declared to King Ahab three years prior that it would not rain except at the prophet’s command (I Kings 17:1). During the time Elijah had been away from the king, God was caring for him. Fed by ravens and provided for by the widow in Zarephath of Sidon, Elijah followed God’s commands. For his obedience he lacked nothing. But as God brought provision to Elijah, so also He brought lack on Israel. It only stands to make sense then, that when Ahab saw Elijah coming out to meet him, his greeting would be one of accusation.
“…and Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he saw Elijah, he said to him, ‘Is that you, you troubler of Israel?’”
I Kings 18:16b-17
Elijah defended himself and corrected Ahab by saying that the troublemakers of Israel were Ahab and his ancestors, for they abandoned God and His commandments, and had given themselves over to the idol worship of Baal. And in this same speech, Elijah called out for the king to bring all the prophets before him.
“Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
I Kings 18:19
The challenge was about to be laid down. The true God was about to stand out from among the crowd and re-take His throne over Israel. The enemy was about to be defeated. With all the prophets of both Baal and Asherah gathered together, Elijah posed his contest.
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.”
I Kings 18:21
The people said nothing. Here we see an example of how the people of Israel were not necessarily trying to rid God from their lives, but were rather working to mix a blend of God and other gods into their daily practices. They wanted to combine a worship of both God and gods, life and death. In the end, they wanted the best of both worlds. Did history not show in the life of Solomon that the mix of other gods brought Solomon away from the true God? And was it not God Himself who, when giving the Ten Commandments, declared Himself to be a jealous God (Ex 20:5)?
I can ask this same question of myself. The truth is I do not have to think hard to recall an example of this in my own life. In the many years I spent addicted to pornography, I fought this same desire. I wanted to follow God with everything in me, but I also did not want to give up the addiction and the false feelings of security I clung to. I battled daily, even hourly, with the guilt and shame that came as a result of this sin, but at the same time I battled with the feelings of inclusion and acceptance I grew to believe. I wanted to have the best of both. And although I tried denying the fact, the truth was that I was bowing to my own idol. I was bowing down to lust, selfishness, and pride. I wavered between two opinions and said nothing.
In closing today, I challenge you to reflect where you are at this point. Are there things that God has told you to give up that you are still hoping you can mix in with your Christian walk? As is seen early in this devotional, and will be seen in my next writing, the time of double-mindedness must cease. Prepare to rid the gods, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Friday, August 6, 2010
DROP KICKIN' THE DEVIL
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."
Matthew 11:12
I have decided I am fed up with the devil. Really! I am so tired of him taking his cheap shots on me and trying to get me to renege on my relationship with Christ. He is a relentless foe who is bent on my destruction, and I am sick of it. John 10:10 says that he, the thief, comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The devil wants me to have no part in Christ and will stop at nothing to plant schemes, traps, and pitfalls in my path. However, I believe it is time to take out the trash.
In 1998, Christian artist Carman sang a song titled, "SLAM". The song spoke of the lies and deceit of the enemy verses the truth according to God. One of the lines that has continued to remain fresh in my mind since my first hearing the song states, "Yes I am the Christian that hell warned you about." That line has been a challenge to me since then because I want that the be true of my life. In fact, I even wear a dog tag etched out with that line around my neck daily these days as a reminder to me of the Christian I want to be. I want to be that one whose prayers carry power in the heavens, whose hands God uses to heal, and whose words bring life. I want to be so full of God's anointing that the devil and demons fear when I get on my knees.
I Peter 5:8 tells us that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Will it be you? Are you easy bait for the enemy, or are you one who is clothed in the Armor of God and not only taking your stance against the devil, but also proactively and forcefully advancing on the enemy? As for me, I'm done. I'm done listening to the lies and being an easy target. I am advancing, and in the power of God I will declare who I am in Christ and drop kick the devil and his demons as I march on his pathetic kingdom. I'm on the move, how about you? Get fed up, throw on your armor, and advance on the enemy. Now join me ON THE VANGUARD!
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."
Matthew 11:12
I have decided I am fed up with the devil. Really! I am so tired of him taking his cheap shots on me and trying to get me to renege on my relationship with Christ. He is a relentless foe who is bent on my destruction, and I am sick of it. John 10:10 says that he, the thief, comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The devil wants me to have no part in Christ and will stop at nothing to plant schemes, traps, and pitfalls in my path. However, I believe it is time to take out the trash.
In 1998, Christian artist Carman sang a song titled, "SLAM". The song spoke of the lies and deceit of the enemy verses the truth according to God. One of the lines that has continued to remain fresh in my mind since my first hearing the song states, "Yes I am the Christian that hell warned you about." That line has been a challenge to me since then because I want that the be true of my life. In fact, I even wear a dog tag etched out with that line around my neck daily these days as a reminder to me of the Christian I want to be. I want to be that one whose prayers carry power in the heavens, whose hands God uses to heal, and whose words bring life. I want to be so full of God's anointing that the devil and demons fear when I get on my knees.
I Peter 5:8 tells us that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Will it be you? Are you easy bait for the enemy, or are you one who is clothed in the Armor of God and not only taking your stance against the devil, but also proactively and forcefully advancing on the enemy? As for me, I'm done. I'm done listening to the lies and being an easy target. I am advancing, and in the power of God I will declare who I am in Christ and drop kick the devil and his demons as I march on his pathetic kingdom. I'm on the move, how about you? Get fed up, throw on your armor, and advance on the enemy. Now join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
THE LEAST OF THESE
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Then the righteous will answer him, "LORD, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"
The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Matthew 25:35-40
I wish I could say that I may always cared for people, but I cannot. I wish I could say that my intentions have always been pure, but I cannot. I even wish I could say that I have always been a representation of Christ, but I definitely cannot. But what I can tell you is of a personal experience where my eyes were truly opened and I first realized what Jesus meant when He said, "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
In 1995, I was blessed to have gone on a missions trip as a representative of God, and also of my college. It was not my first trip by any means. I had previously smuggled Bibles into China and taught a pantomime school in Slovakia, but this was my first time visiting a South American country. When I visited China, I was a young 16 year old who wanted to see what God could do, as well as see a place outside of America. When I visited Europe, I was a young man who honestly was more excited about the girls than anything else. But when the chance for Peru came up, I had a feeling God wanted to show me a few things. I had never been drawn to Peru, so I had no thoughts about the young ladies or the scenery. This trip was solely about what God could do in and through me if I let Him.
In the two months we were in Peru we visited five different cities, did countless dramas, ate great Peruvian food, and saw many come to Christ. But one memory from that trip is still burned in my mind, and one that I never want to lose. I had been struggling on the trip with compassion. I kept telling God that because I had never had a desire for these people, I was finding it hard to have any compassion for them. So on a bus ride from our base to a park where we would be doing some street evangelism, I prayed. I prayed that God would just overwhelm me with compassion for these people. I prayed that I would stop going around in the rut of judging these people and see them the way God saw them. And then it happened.
Our team leader had purchased some loaves of bread to pass out to the beggars in the park. Based on my prayer on the bus ride over, I was cautious not to just give it away, but to give it as God directed me. In a way I was hoarding it, but with a right reason. Then across the way I saw a man in a torn sweater, wholly pants, and no shoes, carrying a bag of all he owned. I was drawn to him. As I learned his story through a translator, the compassion I had prayed for began to envelope me. Out of work and unable to meet his rent, he was forced to the streets for survival. My heart went out to him. I gave him my bread and we talked about Jesus, and he did prayer to receive Christ with me, but it wasn't enough. I was seeing him like God saw him. I wanted to give him my money, my shoes, my clothes, my everything...and I am still not sure my everything would have been enough.
Later that night in our debriefing, God laid Matthew 25 on my heart. I had done it to a least of these, and really had done it unto God. My reward was not a kudos but rather something so much better. Since that time I have felt even more so drawn to find little ways to help people. I know that one such way is in words. God has granted me with a passion to write, and even though I fumble in my words and sentence structure, I know He is using my words to challenge and encourage others. But what about you? Are you like I was early on in life, where you are so consumed with yourself that you are unable to be a blessing to others? Does compassion for others flow out of you, or does it seem to interfere with the plans you have for yourself that day? I am not here to beat you down, for we are all wired a different way. But, we are all in some way wired to God, therefore, our hearts should beat as His. Take time today for one of the least of these, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Then the righteous will answer him, "LORD, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"
The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Matthew 25:35-40
I wish I could say that I may always cared for people, but I cannot. I wish I could say that my intentions have always been pure, but I cannot. I even wish I could say that I have always been a representation of Christ, but I definitely cannot. But what I can tell you is of a personal experience where my eyes were truly opened and I first realized what Jesus meant when He said, "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
In 1995, I was blessed to have gone on a missions trip as a representative of God, and also of my college. It was not my first trip by any means. I had previously smuggled Bibles into China and taught a pantomime school in Slovakia, but this was my first time visiting a South American country. When I visited China, I was a young 16 year old who wanted to see what God could do, as well as see a place outside of America. When I visited Europe, I was a young man who honestly was more excited about the girls than anything else. But when the chance for Peru came up, I had a feeling God wanted to show me a few things. I had never been drawn to Peru, so I had no thoughts about the young ladies or the scenery. This trip was solely about what God could do in and through me if I let Him.
In the two months we were in Peru we visited five different cities, did countless dramas, ate great Peruvian food, and saw many come to Christ. But one memory from that trip is still burned in my mind, and one that I never want to lose. I had been struggling on the trip with compassion. I kept telling God that because I had never had a desire for these people, I was finding it hard to have any compassion for them. So on a bus ride from our base to a park where we would be doing some street evangelism, I prayed. I prayed that God would just overwhelm me with compassion for these people. I prayed that I would stop going around in the rut of judging these people and see them the way God saw them. And then it happened.
Our team leader had purchased some loaves of bread to pass out to the beggars in the park. Based on my prayer on the bus ride over, I was cautious not to just give it away, but to give it as God directed me. In a way I was hoarding it, but with a right reason. Then across the way I saw a man in a torn sweater, wholly pants, and no shoes, carrying a bag of all he owned. I was drawn to him. As I learned his story through a translator, the compassion I had prayed for began to envelope me. Out of work and unable to meet his rent, he was forced to the streets for survival. My heart went out to him. I gave him my bread and we talked about Jesus, and he did prayer to receive Christ with me, but it wasn't enough. I was seeing him like God saw him. I wanted to give him my money, my shoes, my clothes, my everything...and I am still not sure my everything would have been enough.
Later that night in our debriefing, God laid Matthew 25 on my heart. I had done it to a least of these, and really had done it unto God. My reward was not a kudos but rather something so much better. Since that time I have felt even more so drawn to find little ways to help people. I know that one such way is in words. God has granted me with a passion to write, and even though I fumble in my words and sentence structure, I know He is using my words to challenge and encourage others. But what about you? Are you like I was early on in life, where you are so consumed with yourself that you are unable to be a blessing to others? Does compassion for others flow out of you, or does it seem to interfere with the plans you have for yourself that day? I am not here to beat you down, for we are all wired a different way. But, we are all in some way wired to God, therefore, our hearts should beat as His. Take time today for one of the least of these, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
Monday, August 2, 2010
SAY IT, DON'T SPRAY IT
"The tongue has the power of life an death, and those who love it eat its fruit."
Proverbs 18:21
Have you ever stopped to think about the power you possess? I am not saying you have magical powers and are the next unknowing wizard like Harry Potter. I am talking about the power that God gives us. I am talking about the power that is stronger than magic, able to give life and death, and houses both healing and poison. I'm talking about the tongue.
Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue. James points out to us that this little body part is as directional as a bit in a horse's mouth, as purposeful as a rudder on a ship, and as untamed as animals (James 3:3-8). With it we praise God, but we also tear down the very ones made in God's image. We hold the power within us to bless or to curse.
We see this in Matthew 21, where Jesus was walking with His disciples and had grown hungry. In passing a fig tree He noticed that there was no fruit. Jesus then spoke to the tree and said, "May you never bear fruit again" (Mt 21:19). Matthew records that immediately the tree withered up and died. Was it because it was Jesus speaking? Could the same thing have happened if it were one of the disciples speaking? Or what if it were you and I speaking? The answer lies in verses 21-22 where Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." In this brief passage we see the power we possess.
I have seen this power in my own words and speech, in both positive and negative ways. While in my freshman year of college I fractured my femur. I wish I had some good story about bravery and how I saved someone in a burning building and broke my leg as the floor boards collapsed in the towering inferno. Unfortunately, my story is not that heroic. I fractured my femur while showing off dance moves. My legs twisted while trying to stick my landing on the dance floor and I came straight down on my knee,causing the jolt to crack the femur. In looking at the x-rays in the ER that night, I saw my bone was holding by a tread. The report came from the doctor that due to the way it cracked, I would need to have screws in my leg in order to walk again. Call me stupid or full of faith, but I opted for no such surgery, believing God would heal me.
I wrote verses on my crutches concerning healing, and daily confessed my healing. I spoke life into my leg. Going against the doctor's orders, after two weeks I put my crutches aside and began walking again. With each checkup, there seemed to be no change...until. The power of my words and my faith in Jesus came about as on my six week check up the doctor was stumped. In fact he was so stumped that he had to take additional x-rays. In comparing day one's x-ray showing an obvious crack to day 45's x-ray showing no trace of a crack, the doctor was perplexed. God had completely healed me with x-rays showing no trace of any fracture. The power of the tongue brought about the life needed in my leg.
But as I stated, I have seen this in both a positive and negative way. Growing up in our little subdivision, our neighbors across the street had a dog that liked to escape. In an effort to contain him, they put him on a leash in their backyard to prevent him from jumping the roughly six foot fence, as he was easily able to do. As dad was doing yard work on afternoon he looked over and saw the dog still trying to get over the fence. Even with the leash on, there was still just enough room for the dog's attempts. Dad's words concerning the situation were, "That dog is going to hang himself like that." Within only mere minutes the sound of yelping with heard as the dog sure enough had managed to thrust his body over the fence while still connected with the leash to the other side. I will never forget my dad explaining to us that night the power of our words and the first hand lesson we had witnessed.
We possess a powerful piece. We can fashion it into a weapon for death, or into a tool for blessing. I am not hear to throw guilt on you for the times you speak ill, but rather to remind you that we truly do hold within us a strong piece that we must grow more conscience of, and use cautiously. Even after seeing it work negatively in my own life, I still stumble and find myself spewing poison. But as neither you nor I are perfect, but can only make the choice to be more careful. Take your stand against the devil in promoting blessings on yourself and others. Make a choice to speak blessing, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
"The tongue has the power of life an death, and those who love it eat its fruit."
Proverbs 18:21
Have you ever stopped to think about the power you possess? I am not saying you have magical powers and are the next unknowing wizard like Harry Potter. I am talking about the power that God gives us. I am talking about the power that is stronger than magic, able to give life and death, and houses both healing and poison. I'm talking about the tongue.
Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue. James points out to us that this little body part is as directional as a bit in a horse's mouth, as purposeful as a rudder on a ship, and as untamed as animals (James 3:3-8). With it we praise God, but we also tear down the very ones made in God's image. We hold the power within us to bless or to curse.
We see this in Matthew 21, where Jesus was walking with His disciples and had grown hungry. In passing a fig tree He noticed that there was no fruit. Jesus then spoke to the tree and said, "May you never bear fruit again" (Mt 21:19). Matthew records that immediately the tree withered up and died. Was it because it was Jesus speaking? Could the same thing have happened if it were one of the disciples speaking? Or what if it were you and I speaking? The answer lies in verses 21-22 where Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." In this brief passage we see the power we possess.
I have seen this power in my own words and speech, in both positive and negative ways. While in my freshman year of college I fractured my femur. I wish I had some good story about bravery and how I saved someone in a burning building and broke my leg as the floor boards collapsed in the towering inferno. Unfortunately, my story is not that heroic. I fractured my femur while showing off dance moves. My legs twisted while trying to stick my landing on the dance floor and I came straight down on my knee,causing the jolt to crack the femur. In looking at the x-rays in the ER that night, I saw my bone was holding by a tread. The report came from the doctor that due to the way it cracked, I would need to have screws in my leg in order to walk again. Call me stupid or full of faith, but I opted for no such surgery, believing God would heal me.
I wrote verses on my crutches concerning healing, and daily confessed my healing. I spoke life into my leg. Going against the doctor's orders, after two weeks I put my crutches aside and began walking again. With each checkup, there seemed to be no change...until. The power of my words and my faith in Jesus came about as on my six week check up the doctor was stumped. In fact he was so stumped that he had to take additional x-rays. In comparing day one's x-ray showing an obvious crack to day 45's x-ray showing no trace of a crack, the doctor was perplexed. God had completely healed me with x-rays showing no trace of any fracture. The power of the tongue brought about the life needed in my leg.
But as I stated, I have seen this in both a positive and negative way. Growing up in our little subdivision, our neighbors across the street had a dog that liked to escape. In an effort to contain him, they put him on a leash in their backyard to prevent him from jumping the roughly six foot fence, as he was easily able to do. As dad was doing yard work on afternoon he looked over and saw the dog still trying to get over the fence. Even with the leash on, there was still just enough room for the dog's attempts. Dad's words concerning the situation were, "That dog is going to hang himself like that." Within only mere minutes the sound of yelping with heard as the dog sure enough had managed to thrust his body over the fence while still connected with the leash to the other side. I will never forget my dad explaining to us that night the power of our words and the first hand lesson we had witnessed.
We possess a powerful piece. We can fashion it into a weapon for death, or into a tool for blessing. I am not hear to throw guilt on you for the times you speak ill, but rather to remind you that we truly do hold within us a strong piece that we must grow more conscience of, and use cautiously. Even after seeing it work negatively in my own life, I still stumble and find myself spewing poison. But as neither you nor I are perfect, but can only make the choice to be more careful. Take your stand against the devil in promoting blessings on yourself and others. Make a choice to speak blessing, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!
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