Simple Contentment

So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
1 Timothy6:8 NLT

I struggle with the idea that I've become so dependent on things for survival.  Things that my grandparents, or even parents, didn't need.  Things like electricity for example.

How do I keep my food cold or frozen without it?  How do I communicate as well without cell phones, e-mail and facebook?  Shopping becomes limited, staying informed and educated becomes more of a challenge.  Washing clothes, taking a shower, vacuuming, playing music or games, paying bills, cooking, staying warm in the winter and cool in the summer all become very challenging without electricity.  I hate that.

At work I take frantic calls from people who don't know what to do when the power goes out.  They are fearful and wonder how to survive.  Have they never gone camping?  Is this what we've come to?  Is it no longer just food, clothing and shelter we need to survive?  Now we need cell phones, microwaves, internet connection and insurance?  Must we always be entertained?  Have we lost our ability to sit still and think our own thoughts?  I don't like this.  I struggle to keep from getting sucked in.  And if I have to fight from getting sucked in at 53 years old, what chance do my kids have, or grandkids, who have never seen life any other way?

God help us, help me at least.  I want to run away to a monastery.  I want to get away from all of the distraction to a simple life.  How many hours of my life do I spend in front of a computer screen waiting and growing frustrated when I could be sitting in front of nature being still and growing peaceful instead?

I'm taking a deep breath, and pondering the Scripture, "Be still and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10.

The Tree

“You may freely eat of every tree of the garden.  But…”Genesis 2:16-17 Amplified Bible

God told man whom He created, that they could freely eat of every tree in the garden He had prepared for them.  But there were two trees in the middle of the garden that were special.—The tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  The tree of life would cause them to live forever and the tree of knowledge would kill them.   Why did God even put the tree of knowledge in the garden?

As time went on we see that God always had man set something apart for Himself—something they were to leave alone.  In the garden it was the tree of knowledge.  They were supposed to set that aside for the Lord.  Later on it was the tithe, the Sabbaths, and even fasting.  When we set these things aside to the Lord as holy we are honoring Him, making room for Him in our midst.

Jesus was called Emmanuel which means God with us.  He said His disciples didn’t need to fast while He was with them in the earth but after He left they would fast often.  Somehow, by setting aside a portion of our food (fasting), our income (tithe), our time & our land (Sabbaths), we are welcoming God’s presence among us.  We are making room for Him by not filling up every bit of our lives with ourselves.

In the garden after they ate of the tree of knowledge they hid from God the next time they heard Him coming.  He asked where they were.  They had consumed that which gave Him space in their midst and the absence of His presence brought fear, shame and confusion.  When God found them He enlightened them as to what had happened as a result of their sin and then He made coats of skins—causing an animal to be sacrificed—to clothe them.  This first temporary atonement was given even before the Law of Moses was instituted.  These animal sacrifices were a temporary covering of sin until the Son of God would come and offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for mankind.  Now, as we individually receive the sacrifice of Jesus as the atonement for our own sin, our consciences are purged, we are cleansed from sin and the presence of God comes into our life.  And He said He would never leave us or abandon us!

Genesis 3:22, Genesis 2:17, Mark 2:19-20, Leviticus 27:30, Exodus 31:13-17, Exodus 23:10-12, Genesis 3:7-21, Leviticus 17, Hebrews 9:11-28, Hebrews 10, Hebrews 13:15, Hebrews 13:5

Inner Peace

O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is. Psalm 63:1 Amp

I'm beginning the last 10 days of a 40 day fast.  I feel like I'm being delivered from hidden addictions--things that would harm, enslave and even deceive me.  Things that I never would have noticed had a hold on me until I set them aside.  And now, my body is becoming peaceful.  Like an inner battle that I didn't know was there is silencing.  There was a struggle that I simply needed to walk away from and enter into His rest instead. 

My smell, (discernment), is improving.  My taste is maturing and becoming appreciative of that which is truly good for me.  I'm receiving truth and wisdom and realizing the value of both to a greater depth.  I'm not whining, craving, impulsive or feeling any lack or dissatisfaction.  I am at peace--inside and out. 

I am only hungry and thirsty for my God and Lord Jesus Christ.  The satisfaction I'm getting from Him is beyond anything any food could bring.  And for all this my gratitude, love and worship of Him has grown immensely!

The Rainbow Promise

This rainbow is the token or sign of the covenant or solemn pledge which I have established between Me and all flesh upon the earth.  Genesis 9:17 Amp

The rainbow is a sign of God's covenant with mankind and all the earth.  God put the first rainbow in the sky and said whenever He saw it it would be a reminder that He would never again destroy the earth by flood.  He said He would never again curse the ground even though man has evil desires in his heart.

God instituted a plan that would change the hearts of people rather than cursing the ground, (like after Adam and Eve's sin) or destroying almost every inhabitant of the earth, (by the flood).  The plan was to send His own Son to live a pure and holy life and then offer Himself up as a sacrifice for the sin of mankind.

Now, all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ can receive a changed heart.  One that can be filled with God's Holy Spirit Himself, a heart that will desire good and want to live a life that pleases God. 

The rainbow can serve to not only remind God of His covenant with us and the earth but also to remind us of the good plan He created instead through His Son Jesus Christ!

Puzzling

Why do You speak to them in parables? 
Matthew 13:10

Jesus' answer to His disciples question seems surprising.  He said that He spoke to the crowds in parables because even though His disciples were allowed to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, the crowds were not.

At first this seems a little cliquish.  But when you consider that anyone can become a disciple of Jesus by believing in Him then we see its not cliquish at all.  In fact, by Jesus speaking to the crowds in parables He was giving them an opportunity to ask themselves the question, "What does He mean?"  If they would seek to understand the meaning of what He was saying then they themselves would become seekers of the Truth. 

Jesus loved these people and was trying to spark a seeking heart within them so they could do some soul searching and hopefully in the process come to realize that the answers to life's parables come directly from heaven.  The human soul needs to be enlightened with the wisdom from above in order to really understand life's truths.

Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, playing the part of mediator between God and man that He was called to do, even before He died on the cross for the sin of mankind.  What great love He gave--to live and die even for those who didn't, and would never, believe.

The Freedom of Truth

 "And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” John 8:32 amp

Without truth we may experience consequences that we don’t understand the cause of.  If you go through life believing two plus two is three then you will experience consequences financially and otherwise that won’t make sense to you.  If everyone could decide for themselves what two plus two should equal then what a mess the world would be!  Whether we believe it or not there is one standard of truth governing the essentials of humanity—including life and death.  And thank God there is!

The Bible tells us to buy the truth and not to sell it.*  Truth costs something.  But it’s worth whatever the price.  It might cost you your opinion.  It might cost you your pride in having to admit you don’t know the answers to some things, or have been wrong.  But it’s worth it.

Jesus said the He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.*  He said if we would hold fast to His teachings we would know the truth and it would make us free.*  Truth is something we have to want in order to receive.  It’s something we need to seek after and ask for.  God doesn’t intrude into a life where He’s not wanted.  But He longs to reveal truth because it will bring freedom, joy and abundant life to those who receive it.

*Proverbs 23:23; John 14:6; John 8:31-32

January 4, 2013

Winter Rest

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22, AMP

God decreed that winter would not cease while the earth remained.  There is a purpose to winter.  During a period called Winter Rest plants and animals enter a state of reduced activity.  Some plants require a period of cold in order for them to produce fruit in their season. 

Jesus said to come to Him, those who labor and are heavy laden and He will give rest*.   Rest brings strength.  This strength can be used for growth and work.  In order for us to produce fruit, to be efficient, we need periods of rest.  Have you ever tried to do something when you really didn't have the strength or the motivation to do it?  The outcome isn't always good.  It’s not what it could be. 

When you enter a season in life where it seems there is a slowing down, don’t fight that, take time to rest, to reflect, to be quiet and still and hear what God is saying.  When the season passes you will be strengthened and be able to produce fruit at the proper time.

  

*Matthew 11:28