The Blessings of God

This morning I was reading about Jacob in the book of Genesis.  He had come to a place of desperation.  He was returning back to his homeland, and he was fearful of the reception he would receive.  He had fled twenty years earlier because he deceived his father into giving him, his brother's blessing.  His brother, Esau, wanted to kill him.  Now God had spoken to Jacob telling him to return home.

Jacob sent word to his brother that he was coming home and hoped that his brother would receive him.  The word that returned to Jacob was that his brother Esau was coming with 400 men!

Jacob was terrified and in great distress!

After dividing his people and animals into two groups and sending gifts to Esau, Jacob was left alone.  He had done all he knew to do, now he turned to God.  On that night, he received the response to his cries.  A "man" appears and wrestles with Jacob all night.  During the course of this wrestling match, the "man" tells Jacob to let him go, but Jacob refuses to let him go until the "man" blesses him.

And the "man" does.

As I read the statement, "Then he blessed him there," I pondered the thought, "What was the blessing?"  Here are some thoughts.

• He had an intimate, face to face encounter with the living God, and lived.

This "man" was God himself.  Jacob recognized the significance of this encounter.  It was not everyday that a person was able to see the face of God and live.  In fact, later God talks about the friendship that he has with Moses.  He spoke face to face to him, not in dreams or riddles, but clearly. Numbers 12:6-8, deut 34:10.  This special friendship was reserved for a select few.  Abraham was also called a friend of God.  James 2:23 God spoke directly to Abraham, face to face, revealing his plans and purposes.  And  let us not forget that Adam walked with God every day, in the cool of the day.

Jesus calls his followers, not simply servants but friends.  

John 15:14-17 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Let us follow Jacob's example and cling to the living God, DON'T LET HIM GO.

• Jacob received a new name--Israel

Jacob's name meant deceiver.  Deceit was his way of living.  He obtained his brother's birthright and blessing that way.  He also left his father-in-laws's home through deceit.  This was how Jacob operated, through his wit.  Now God changed his name to Israel which means "he struggles with God."  Now Jacob's way of living and thinking was changed.  God was saying, "No more deceit, come to me. "

This story reminds me that I don't need to use wit, manipulation, or any of my devices to bring God's plans to fulfillment in my life.  I need only to look to God and fully obey Him.  It also reminds me that often my thinking is ALL WRONG, and God needs to completely change my thinking.

Humans live "trying to figure things out" for themselves.  We do what we think is right, or at least what we think will bring about the outcome we want.  God calls for a completely new way of living and thinking.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If you know the rest of Israel's story, you know that God brought his plans and purposes to pass.  Israel was blessed and the entire world has been blessed through Israel.  God plans are always immeasurably bigger than we can fathom, and he gladly fulfills his plans if we will allow Him do his great work.  

Cling to God today and receive His blessings:

a special friendship

and

A new way of thinking and living

Living life Outside the Box

I'm in my 40s.  And I've realized that I've lived most of my life in boxes.  Boxes that others have made for me.  Boxes I've created for myself.  Boxes that society says that I must live in.  And yet... the Holy Spirit continues to woo me to the spacious, free, and open life that He has prepared for me.

I don't know if you're aware of this, but there are LOTS of  “have to's” that we each live by.  Many of them come from “the experts”, from our parents, from our teachers, etc.  We are continually taught these hard and fast rules about life.  This is what you MUST do to be ….. a success. A good person. Responsible. Have a good life. Be a good christian. And on and on.  This is the path you MUST follow or you WILL destroy your life.  Now let me say that everything that we're taught, isn't bad.  Much is really good and we need to hold onto those things.  We especially hold on to the truth of God's word, for it is ALWAYS TRUE.  And we need to live within the laws of our society as along as they don't go against God's higher order.

But there are things that we are taught, that are accepted as an absolute truth, but aren't.

Let me give you an example of what I mean.  I was talking to a Kenyan friend recently about what it takes to get out of poverty in Kenya.  Her response was to do well in primary school so that one gets into a good private school and then to score well on the high school exam so that one goes to a private university.  Those who score well on the high school exam will have their education paid for by the state.  She said those who don't do well in school are doomed to continue the cycle of poverty.  I completely understand why she said what she said.  These was her observations, and experience.  And this is probably true most of the time.

There's one big problem.

God isn't limited to operating within a certain system.  He's always likely to bust out of the system.  And He is a creative God, with limitless creativity.  So when we walk with Him, the possibilities are endless!

I've found that walking with the True and living God usually requires us to get out of the box.  So what do I mean by that?  Here's what I mean by boxes.  Boxes are comfortable.  They are limitations that we place on others based on what we know and understand.   When we live within a box, life feels in control  (Until God destroys our box.) But here's the glaring truth:  We don't have full understanding about anything, nor do we have complete knowledge about anything.  But God does.

As I'm writing this, I'm thinking about the story of when Jesus walked on water, and later Peter joined him.  The disciples, most of whom were fisherman and very familiar with boats and water, were struggling against the waves.  In the meantime, Jesus was on the shore and the boat was in the middle of the lake.  So what should he do?  If Jesus was like me, he'd think, “There's no boat near the shore, and it's too far to swim, so I guess I'm stuck here.”  I would’ve sat on the bank thinking that there were no other options.  But Jesus didn't.  He considered another option:  walking on the water.  Would you have considered that?  Now that's what I call an unconventional and unorthodox approach to solving a problem.  Don't you love His creativity?  Not only did Jesus walk on water, but he walked with such ease on the water, that he had every intention of passing the boat.  Ok, what a minute!  Jesus, choosing the unconventional method, was about to pass up these skilled sailors in the boat?

So this leads me back to my earlier point.  God doesn't need to use conventional approaches to solve problems – or to do anything for that matter.  As I stated earlier, we're limited to what we've seen, heard, experienced, and understand.  God isn't limited by OUR experiences or understanding, or other people's experiences and understanding.  He has ALL of His limitless options at His disposal.  And one of His options is walking on water.  And if we're walking with Him, it's one of our options too.  Later, Peter discovered this.  He walked on water as long as he kept His eyes on Jesus.

We too, must fix our thoughts on Jesus and believe.  Believe that He is the God of endless possibilities.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. “ Ephesians 4:20

Again I say, God isn't limited by your circumstances, you limited knowledge, ability or even by the “system” that you find yourself within.  I know. I know.  You want “figure” it out.  Again, back to our walking on water example: Would you have ever thought of walking on water?  It's crazy to think of walking on water.  We have no frame of reference for walking on water.  The only thing we can do to succeed is to keep our eyes on Jesus.  There are no books, or seminars to help us because no one has done it before!  Except Jesus.  Walking on water ONLY works when you're walking with Jesus.

Another important point:  When we're trying to do things based on what we think we know and understand, Jesus passes us by.  We struggle.  We strain.  We're frustrated.  We're exhausted and going NO WHERE.  We miss out on the amazing adventure of walking with the Creator and Ruler of the Universe.

So, you and I can choose to stay in our boxes if we wish.  Or we can step out into the limitless, free and uncharted waters of life with Jesus.  I can guarantee that it will be unsettling, and confusing at times.  You won't know what you're doing half the time.  The other times you'll think you know what you're doing, but you won't.  We can live with our minds open to the possibilities, and our hearts open to give and receive love.  We can take risks and fail, because our God and King is BIG enough to take care of us even when we fail.  We can become comfortable with the “not knowing” and yet firmly rooted in the love of our trustworthy God and King.  We can DREAM BIG with Him, and have no clue how to bring that dream to pass.

Let's do it.  Let's get out of the box.  Will you join me?

I'm starting by asking the Holy Spirit to show me other ways of living life.  I'm opening my mind to the  possibilities.  It's unsettling, and yet exciting!  I'm letting myself dream, and asking God to fulfill every dream He's implanted in my heart.  I'm asking Him to give me the courage to live out these dreams to the fullest.  I'm striving to keep my heart and mind fixed on Jesus.  He is my anchor.  I cling to Him.  Everything else, I must hold on to loosely and I must be willing to give it up.  I'm asking the Holy Spirit to expose those rules I've bound myself to, that are unnecessary and even counterproductive to accomplishing the work that He has prepared for me. I don't know about you, but sometimes I make my life much harder than it needs to be.  I'm paying attention to my “can'ts” “won'ts”, “I'll nevers”, and  “that's too hard” and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth.  Why won't I?  Why can't I?  The  Holy Spirit is soooo faithful to reveal the truth as I ask these questions.
I'm learning how to pray without telling the infinitely Wise One how to answer it.  And I'm learning how to surrender when the answer comes in a form that I didn't expect and/or don't like.

It's a life long process. 

Saying No to Religion, and Yes to Jesus

Part of my family and I spent the morning volunteering at a local food pantry.  I spent the time getting to know people, hearing their stories, and re-introducing them to Jesus.  I say re-introduce because Jesus is so familiar, and yet so unknown.  Most people have been inundated with religious jargon, that seems completely irrelevant to our lives.  We've heard that Jesus died on the cross on our sins.  People know they should go to church, pray, read their bibles and try to be good people.  Religion is all about trying to be good.  Over and over I've heard  people talk about going back to church so they can start living better, or get themselves right.  Others go to church so that they hear an encouraging message that will jump start them for the week, then they go back to life as usual.  I spoke with a lady today who was more concerned about God answering her prayers than God himself.  "Yes, I believe God answers my prayers because I always see a rose when he does."  That's cool, but do you know God?  Why would God do something so personal, if he didn't want you to know Him intimately? 

(Many of us want God to answer our prayers, but we're uninterested in actually knowing Him. He's just our Genie-in-a-bottle.)

The American culture is full of religion.   So many of us put on religious masks that keep us from encountering the real Jesus.  We can say the "right" words.  We pray the "right" prayers.  We can quote scripture, and sing the "right" songs.  We go to church and participate in church activities.  But... do we know God(aka Jesus)?

How, you ask?

Great question.  How do you get to know anybody you want to know?  It's quite simple.  By spending time with him or her.  Get alone and spend face to face time getting to know God.  That requires, quite obviously, a recognition that there is a God to be known.  If you don't believe that God exists, why would you ever attempt to spend time with Him?  Once alone, talk to God.  We call that prayer.  If you're going to talk to God, you must believe that He's listening.  Why would you waste time talking to someone who can't hear you, or who doesn't care to listen?  Next you must listen to Him.  That's right, listen.  Of course, that means that He speaks.  Not only does that mean He speaks, but He wants to speak to each of us personally.  He speaks through His words.  Many of His words are written in the Bible.  He reveals to us who He is.  He shows is ways of working in the world.  He gives us examples of others who were His friends.  He teaches us much about ourselves and the world. 

He will speak specifically to us.  About our lives. About our destiny.  About our circumstances.  About who we are.  His words aren't simply printed words on a page, they are words that are overflowing with life, and meaning.  They are relevant and true.  They go beyond our natural understanding. They go deeper than deep.  Those who continue to dive into His word daily find themselves discovering treasure after treasure. There's an endless supply! 

God also speaks to our Spirits in ways that cannot be explained in words.  He speaks in our minds.  He speaks through creation.  He speaks in dreams and visions.  He speaks  in the silence.

And once He's spoken, we must believe His words to us.  What's the use in listening, if you won't believe? And what's the point of believing, if you won't do what He tells you to do?

We can also know Jesus by being around others who know Him--His children.  His children are also known as "the church".  God wants us learning together, praying together, and serving together.  TOGETHER is the key word.  He doesn't want us on our own.  In fact, He promises a special manifestation of His presence when we gather together.  I can't completely explain it, but I've experienced it many, many times.  When we come as humble seekers of the true and living God, expecting Him to speak to us and to do something special among us, He does.  Often, we come with our own agenda, that we expect Jesus to follow.  We often gather with others in order to check off our, Went-to-church-this-week box, rather than with the desire to meet with Jesus, and pour out our love and devotion to Him.

Don't abandon gathering with other true followers with Jesus.  Just find some true followers to gather with.  God will guide your search. He doesn't want you alone.

I'm currently reading a book that is encouraging me in my search to know the "real Jesus".  I want to know Him for myself.  So I'm reading the gospels with new ears, and new eyes, asking God's Spirit to show me the real Jesus.  The author of this book encourages His readers to do the same.  We've painted this flat, uninteresting, powerless, and quite frankly, impersonal Jesus.  We've made Him distant and unapproachable, sorta like the Pope.  That's not the real Jesus!  The real Jesus was continually surrounded with sinners.  Prostitutes. The despised. Thiefs. The sick. The demon possessed--crazies. The destitute. The broken. The  poor. Jesus welcomed these people in His presence.  Jesus isn't somewhere up in the clouds, unapproachable by us.  He wants us to know Him and to live in a continual relationship with Him. 

The last lady I spoke with today talked about her frustration with her church.  She wants more.  She thought that there was more. 

There is.

Religion doesn't fill the deepest longings of our souls.

Jesus does.

Say yes to the real Jesus.

He wants you to know Him.

Do you Measure up?

We live in a country that is trying to create a paradise here on earth, only to have the cold water dashed on its dreams.  Aging, losing jobs, death, divorce, etc.

If only we can work, work, work harder to belong, to achieve, to live up to some unattainable standard.  Why would people even care about Heaven if they can attain it here through their own hard work?   The lie is that paradise comes to the one who works hard enough. Isn't that the American dream?  The one who works the most hours. the one who studies the hardest.  The smartest.  The fasted. The funniest.  The prettiest.  The one who practices perfectly, becomes perfect.

And if we can't be the best, be the worst.  Even that seems to pay off.

And in spite of all we do, we never seem to arrive. Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes calls it "chasing the wind".  It always seems to be within reach, but we are never able to grasp it.  The "it" I speak of is "a full and satisfying life". Paradise.

Of course, the experts unequivocally promise that if we do this or that, we will finally have that utopia.  You know:  good health, financial success, a beautiful home, great kids, a great career, a great marriage-- no problems.  No sin.  We'll finally be satisfied.  We'll finally have inner peace.  Everything will be perfect.

 The solutions seem so clear, yet no one can seem to execute them. 

And christians have believed the lies too.  In the name of being a good christian, I've found myself trying to be good, and feeling guilty because of my constant failures.   I've listened to the experts too, and I've continually added to my "to do" lists.  Since I want a good marriage, I must... If I want my kids to feel loved, and to reach their maximum  potential, I must... If I want to have financial success, I must... The list just grows and grows.  If I want to be healthy, I must...

And don't you love it when the "expert" changes his or her recommendation or when the "experts" have opposing views?

Why are we listening to these people and who made them experts?

I long for a simple life.  A life where I am free.  Free to fail.  Free to take risks.  Free to love. Free to dream.  Free to live out my convictions.  And life won't come to a crashing halt if I'm wrong, or if I fail.  

I need forgiveness, and redemption.  I need a remedy for my "not measuring up".

Our Creator, understanding the gravity of the situation far better than us, provided the remedy.  Jesus is that remedy.  I know His name is familiar, but hear me out.   Because He knew that mankind struggles with an endless  pursuit of that which we can never attain, Jesus came and achieved for us what we could never do on our own.  He measured up.  Not to human standards of being handsome, or funny, or rich... but to this perfection that we're all trying to attain.  He did it.

He never sinned.  He didn't even contemplate it.

Then He transfers His perfection to us.  At least He transfers that perfection to those who will receive it.  It's free.  And it's yours if you want it.  That's what His life, death and resurrection was all about.  It was about our Creator loving us so much that He gave His One and only son so that we wouldn't have to live apart from the source of life, hope, joy, contentment, peace, goodness, beauty... 

Jesus died so that we might be free. From what, you say?
Good question.

From ourselves.  From our "not measuring up".  We are like hamsters on the perpetual wheel of life going no where FAST. We all know we don't measure up.  Even if we consider ourselves good people or others consider us good, we know we just can't seem to get it ALL right.  There is always more to be done, with no end in sight.  Even those who have chosen religion to help ease the burden, often find new burdens heaped on.  Go to church. Give to the poor. Pray. Read the Bible.  Attend Bible Study. Volunteer at church. ..And the list goes on and on.

But Jesus offers the remedy.

"Come all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30 

Are you tired of the hamster wheel yet?  

Jesus offers you a free gift.  FREE and no strings attached.

He offers you everything you've been working for today.  EVERYTHING you long for. EVERYTHING!

Whoever is thirsty, let him come and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.  Revelation 22:16

Only Jesus offers this free gift.  We can "measure up" because He offers us His perfection.   

Believe in Yourself?

I just realized something.  It goes along with my last post.  I trust in my perceptions more than I trust God.  I trust what I see, what I feel, what I hear, what I think, more than God's word.  Why do I do that?  It seems foolish as I ponder it.  How many times have I misinterpreted what I see?  How many times have I misunderstood what someone has said?  How many times have I misheard someone, or come to the wrong conclusion?  MANY TIMES!!!!!  Yet I still have faith in ME.  (I'm hearing the song: Believe in yourself as I believe in you... lyrics @ the end of the post) I say to myself, "God I don't know if your word is really true for me, because I see something different and I trust my eyes more than your words."  Well... I don't really say that, but my actions communicate it.

Have you done that as well?

God promises that He will NEVER leave nor forsake us.  But their are times when I feel forsaken and left by God.  And I ask the question, "God where are you?"  (Don't get me wrong, God wants us to be open about our feelings, so if you feel that way, ask the question.)  At that moment, what I feel takes precedence over what God has said.  I believe He's left me, because I don't FEEL his presence.  So I'm trusting in my feelings rather than His words.

His words are trustworthy, not my feelings.
He is trustworthy.

He promises to meet ALL OF MY NEEDS.  I don't need to spend one second worrying about needs.  But I worry all of the time about needs.  Why?  Because it doesn't look like my needs are being met. I don't know how my needs will be met.  The provision I have doesn't look like enough, so I worry or try to "figure it out".  Most times I do both.  Worry, pray and try to figure it out on my own.  Rather than resting in His promises.  If He said he would provide, I can trust Him.  Then I'm free to do His work:  seeking the kingdom and His righteousness.  When I trust Him, I can thank Him with the "not enough", and the "not on time" (not on my time), and the "not the way I expect".

I can trust that His ways are always perfect.
He's always acts at the proper time.
He's moving, even when I don't perceive anything.
He CANNOT fail.
He loves me for more than I can ever imagine.
He always brings about the HIGHEST good in my life.
He has the full capacity to execute every one of His promises.  In fact, it's easy for Him!
I cannot figure Him out or what He's doing, but I can trust His heart.  He loves me.

No more believing in ME, for I fail myself and others over and over and over and over again.  (At least, I'm consistent. ) But He NEVER fails me.   Instead...

I think I'll Believe the Words of the Most High God.

The song sums up the lie of believing in yourself quite well.  Have you believed these lies as well?

Believe in Yourself

(charlie smalls)

If you believe
Within your heart
You’ll know that no one can change
The path that you must go
Believe what you feel
And know you’re right because
The time will come around
When you’ll say it’s yours

Believe that you can go home
Believe you can float on air
Then click your heels three times
If you believe
Then you’ll be there
That’s why I want you to
Believe in yourself
Right from the start
Believe in the magic
Right there in your heart
Go ahead believe all these things
Not because I told you to
But believe in yourself
If you believe in yourself
Just believe in yourself
As I believe in you 

No thank you.  I'll believe God instead.