SPIRITUAL COPY CATS

		Paul often used a phrase that may surprise you. In fact, if it came from anyone other than Paul in any place other than the Bible, I would have thought it heresy. He said, “Imitate me.” And he said it often -- in First Corinthians, Philippians, and First Thessalonians. For example ... "Therefore I urge you, be imitators of me." (1 Corinthians 4:16) Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) It’s a bold thing to say, “Be like me. Do what I do. Say what I say. Follow my example.” I don’t always feel comfortable with these words, because I know my faults all too well. But here’s the truth: any leader worth his or her salt can say it, and should say it. You follow the example and yield to the influence of qualified leaders in every area of life. When you invest, or make business decisions, or look after your health, you often look to leaders for direction. That’s because if you take good advice and follow good examples, you’re pretty much guaranteed success in these areas. It’s the same with discipleship and leadership. The crucial question is: Whose example will you choose to follow? A key to your success is to identify imitation-worthy individuals, and learn to follow their example -- especially in these areas: Attitude Preparation Conversation Spiritual Discipline Work Ethic Response to Adversity. Do you know people who excel in these areas? In order to be the best, learn to be like the best.

WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Colossians 2 :16-17 NKJV

I have always believed in the promise of Christmas. There has always been something special to me about this time of the year, going back to my earliest days of childhood. I've been in a real meloncoly mood these past few weeks thinking about Christmas' past,  Fortunately for me, there are many wonderful memories hanging as pictures on the galary of mind---to look at---muse about----live again.

What is it that we love about Christmas, once we get past the initial trappings?

I think it is the sense of wonder, beauty, and anticipation. It is the music, the look of surprise on a child’s face, and the amazing food. It’s the companionship of family and good friends. It is also the absence of strife and meanness (that is, with the exception of the crowds on “Black Friday”).

But how often does Christmas really deliver on its promises? A little bit here and there, but by and large, it ends up being the endless drone of mind-numbing ads on TV. It is the friction and pressure that comes when we are obligated to purchase gifts for people we barely know. It is the expectation put on us by others and sometimes even ourselves.

Then there is that big post-Christmas letdown—the letdown of expectations that can never really be met. We were not able to give what we really wanted to give, or what they really wanted to receive. Or you yourself did not get what you had hoped for. Then there are those bills that come due . . .

So what is Christmas at its worst? It is a crass, commercial, empty, exhausting, and very expensive ritual that drags on endlessly for months at a time----even before Thanksgiving now!

What is Christmas at its best? It is a glimpse of things to come–the beauty, the worshipful music, the adoring angels, the love, the warmth, the promise, the hope…all things promised to us in a life to yet come.

You see, Christmas is a promise. It is a promise that has not yet been fully kept.

Christmas cannot be all that we want it to be. It’s only a holiday. Christmas cannot bring harmony to your home. Christmas cannot bring peace on earth. Christmas cannot bring happiness.

But Christ Himself can do all of this and more. That is really what we are longing for deep inside.

• Not Christmas, but Christ.
• Not merriment, but the Messiah.
• Not goodwill, but God.
• Not presents, but His presence.

Anything or anyone short of this will disappoint. But God never will.

That’s what I want for Christmas–Jesus Christ.

THINK ABOUT IT: What is Christmas at its best?

ALWAYS----IN EVERYWAY!!

In 1789, President George Washington designated the first national Thanksgiving Day when he issued a proclamation for "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God."

In our day, it can be very easy during our feasting to forget about the one we are celebrating on Thanksgiving. And sometimes we forget to give thanks altogether. You may say, "Well, I don't have a lot to give thanks for. I am just not feeling thankful this year." Maybe you are having financial troubles or health problems or there is conflict in your family.

But maybe we need to get things into perspective. The primary reason we were put on this earth as human beings was to glorify God and to give Him thanks. The Bible tells us this again and again. Psalm 107:1 says, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

Yes, praise and worship can sometimes be a sacrifice because we don't want to do it. And that might be because we are depressed or down or things aren't going that well. It may be that hardship or tragedy has befallen us, and we don't feel like praising God. But the Bible does not say give thanks to the Lord because you feel good. Rather, it says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!" We need to put things into perspective.

Yikes!! I forgot------“THANKS!”

So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"—Luke 17:17-18

Luke 17 tells the story of some men who had a lot to give thanks for. Prior to being miraculously touched by Jesus, they were complete outcasts—the very scourge of society. These ten men had the worst disease of the time, leprosy, for which there was no cure. They couldn't get any lower in that particular time in history with this incurable disease.

Those found to have leprosy could have no contact with others. They had to leave their house and their friends and live apart from them. These men were living an isolated, miserable life. Their clothing would have been ripped from perpetual mourning. Their skeletal heads would have been uncovered. They had to cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" wherever they went, in keeping with the Law of Moses. But they had heard about Jesus. And seeing Him in the distance, they cried out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:12-13).

I find it interesting how the Lord responded. There were no special effects, there was no swelling music—not even a dramatic touch. There was only a command. Jesus simply said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests" (verse 14). According to Levitical law, the priest would take them through an eight-day ceremony, examine them, and make sure they were truly healed of their leprosy.

They weren't healed yet, but still they went—and God healed them completely. However, only one of the ten decided to go back and give thanks, and he was a Samaritan. The Jews looked down on the Samaritans, yet it was a Samaritan who came back to give thanks.

         How like us it is to forget to give thanks.  And how incessant we are with our children----“ did you remember to say thanks?” We are so quick to ask for God's help. But we also need to remember to give Him praise when He comes through for us.  The Apostle Paul said in his first letter to those first century Christians at Thessalonica (I Thess. 5: 18) “Thank God for and in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus”. A godly person is a grateful person---it’s part of his nature.  So even if you forgot, when you remember “your oops” ---get after it with a heart felt THANK YOU! That my friend is God’s way and will for His children.

ABIDING IN CHRIST

ABIDING in CHRIST

The most important factor in our walk with Jesus Christ is to abide in him. The more we abide in Christ, the more we will have peace, victory over sin, and be walking in His steps.. What does it mean to abide in Christ? Let's first look at the definition for the word abide. John 15:4 says---Jesus speaking---“Abide in me, just as I am abiding in you” So what does “abide” mean:

ABIDE:
to wait for
to endure without yielding
to bear patiently
to accept without objection
to remain stable or fixed in a state
to continue in a place
Synonyms: Stay, continue, bear

ABIDING: enduring, continuing---- abide has to do with the concept of 'being' instead of 'doing'. Doing in relation to the Christian walk is: reading your Bible, going to church, praying, witnessing, doing good works, fleeing sin, etc. These are all good things to do as a Christian. These are things we should be doing. If we are not doing these things our walk with God and others will suffer. However,  if we are doing these things just because we are suppose to, or we are doing them in our own strength, we will not have victory or peace and miss out in having an intimate relationship with Christ. If we are not careful, we can become works oriented instead of Christ oriented.

To Abide in Christ is to be in the 'being' mode. We still are doing the things that God has called us to, but we are doing it in His strength. Abiding in Christ is about having an intimate relationship with Him. The relationship is more important than the things we do or don't do. The more we are abiding in Him, the more we will be faithful. We will hear His voice clearer, not be works oriented, and have more peace in our life. To abide is to experience His presence.
Let's drill down on the definition of abide:

To wait for-We as Christians need to spend much more time waiting on God. By this we mean spending time with God, seeking His will, not jumping ahead of Him

.
To endure without yielding-To be determined to experience God's presence.

To bear patiently-To abide in Christ when we don't feel like it. To be patient---waiting for God to reveal His will and Himself.

 
To continue in a place-We need to spend more time, staying in His presence

If we are abiding in Christ, we can be assured that we will walk IN HIS STEPS.
Abiding in Christ is a process. We don't get there over night. So don't get discouraged if it seems hard to just 'rest in Him'. Begin to look for God’s presence in all aspects of your world. Enjoy the forests, the lakes, the blue skies (even the thunder and lightning), the green pastures and a starry night . As you enjoy God's creation, you will begin to sense His presence. Abiding will come. Stop and 'smell the roses'---practice the presence of Jesus

There is a song by Watermark that is excellent about experiencing God's presence. It is called "Take Me There"

(Chorus) Take me there to the place where you are Take me there, take me there, I just wanna be where You are Hide me in Your shelter Hide me here, hide me here I just wanna be where you are (Repeat Chorus) (Verse) You have buried my sin in the depths, my Lord And You've covered me from the furious storm And You've kept me in the cleft of Your rock And You've loved me there right from the start (Chorus) (Verse) You are here and I can feel You I just love to be where You are Hide me in this shelter I just love to be where You are (Chorus)

REAL OR COUNTERFIT CONTENTMENT

Read | Philippians 4:10-13

Think about the times when you have felt truly satisfied. What caused you to feel that way? For most people, a sense of well-being comes when their environment is just the way they want it, but that wasn’t the case with Paul. He learned to be content in every circumstance, good or bad.

We’d do well to learn a few lessons from him. After all, we can’t avoid all difficult situations, so we might as well discover how to face them with a tranquil, settled spirit rather than with frustration and anxiety.

Contentment isn’t governed by external circumstances. Changing the situation may bring temporary relief, but satisfaction based on circumstances will always be sporadic and fleeting. It’s a matter of how you think, not what you have.

Contentment flows from an inward attitude. The apostle’s inner calm came from a mind set on Christ. Choosing to trust the Savior no matter what, Paul allowed the Holy Spirit within him to rule his emotions and shape his responses.

Contentment is learned experientially. You cannot acquire it from a book or a sermon because it’s a process that must be lived out. Paul learned contentment on the road—in persecution, suffering, and prison. The Lord used every difficulty to transform him.

Situations that cause frustration, anxiety, and dissatisfaction are also the ones God uses to produce contentment in us. When you are fed up with your own grumbling, disappointment, and dissatisfaction, then you are ready to let the Lord teach you His new way of living—in joyous trust!

STAYING IN BALANCE

Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

— 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). Mark's Gospel adds the word "strength" to this statement (see Mark 12:30).

To break it down, the heart, for the Hebrew mind, spoke of the core of one's being, while the soul referred to emotion. It is the same word that Jesus used when He cried out in the Garden of Gethsemane, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death" (Matthew 26:38). And loving God with all our mind carries the idea of moving ahead with energy and strength.

So to put it all together, genuine love for the Lord is intelligent. It is feeling. It is willing. And it is serving.

Some people love God with all of their minds, but there is no heart in it. They love to study. They love to be theologically correct. But there is no passion in their lives. On the other hand, some people love God with all of their heart and their passion and their emotion, but they haven't disciplined themselves to study the Bible. As a result, they are easily led astray. We need all of these things in play to love God as we ought to.

I know people who are sticklers for correct doctrine, yet many of them are miserable, mean, arrogant, and condemning. They will take the truth and use it like a sledgehammer in the life of another person. I also know people who are very active and busy for God, but their love for Him seems to be lacking.

If we can learn to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, then our lives will find their proper balance

"Going with your gut!?"

Read : Psalm 119:97-104

People make a lot of decisions on any given day. Most choices present themselves quickly, leaving little time to weigh pros and cons. So we “go with our gut.” However, believers who desire to walk wisely through the perils of this world require something more reliable than flesh-based instinct. We need godly knowledge and principles to guide us, which is why we must meditate on the Word.

Over the years I would mention meditating on Scripture often in my writing and preaching—and for good reason. The Bible is the key to knowing God and following His will. Believers simply cannot neglect spending time poring over its words. If you want to be certain of God’s perspective on an issue, you go to the source book to fill your mind with truth.

All of us have a sort of grid around our minds. It’s made up of the principles we were taught as children, the habits we’ve formed, and the information we accept as true. New knowledge coming our way passes through that grid and is either assimilated or rejected. Think about TV commercials—those persuasive ads full of beautiful people are designed to steal past your mind’s defenses. Well, the Devil has the same goal of getting past your grid and gaining a mental and spiritual foothold.

Some of the darts that Satan aims at your mind seem harmless or even good—that’s why  “going with your gut” is so dangerous. A mental grid plastered with biblical truth is essential for Christians, because it identifies and rejects whatever is sinful, poorly timed, or simply not fit for God’s children.

TEN YEARS AGO---WOW!

One decade ago, the United States of America experienced a massive attack by terrorists. Our people were shaken by the realization that the country is not as safe as we once thought.
Of course, it grieved me to learn of the events that occurred and the lives that were tragically lost. But at the same time, the horrible situation led to some positive outcomes. For example, our nation unified and people served with courage and selflessness.
One of the biggest benefits, I believe, was that many of us realized our great dependence upon God. Safety in this world is an illusion. Sadly, the peace and blessing we have experienced in America has led to much complacency and self-dependence. Sometimes we need to be shaken out of our forgetfulness and into reliance upon Jesus Christ.
Just listening to the news these days can rattle our sense of well-being. There is always something unsettling taking place. But as believers, we should look at life from a biblical perspective. We are children of the living God, not people who seek security only in the natural, secular world. Our hope and refuge is firm: through Jesus Christ, our relationship with the Lord is eternal. Everything else we possess could be destroyed in a moment.
Worldly circumstances—natural disasters, wars, and assorted turmoil—may have an effect on everyone, but they can't control the believer's heart. Let your hope rest in Christ alone. Only by finding security in the arms of Almighty God can you remain unshaken in times of uncertainty.

WHAT PART OF"US" DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

 “On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."

— Mark 4:35

In the Gospel of Mark, we find an interesting story in which Jesus invited the disciples, some of whom were seasoned fishermen, to join Him on a little boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. But on the way over, they encountered a radical storm.

Now the question would arise, "Did Jesus know that a storm was coming?" The answer is yes. In fact, you might even say that it was a part of His curriculum that day. It was all part of teaching the disciples to believe what they claimed to believe.

I don't want to make light of what these disciples were experiencing, because I'm sure this was a very harsh storm. Several on board had seen many storms on the Sea of Galilee. So it had to be a very difficult storm for the disciples to be so gripped by fear. According to Mark's Gospel, the waves were breaking over the boat and filling it with water.

The disciples were very afraid, but they didn't have to be. Jesus had made a significant statement they apparently had forgotten about: "Let us go to the other side."

And when God says, "Let us go to the other side," it means you will get to the other side. He didn't say it would be smooth sailing. He didn't say it would be an easy trip. But He did say, "Let us go to the other side."

Often we are gripped by fear and cease to think logically when we forget God's Word to us. That is exactly what happened to the disciples. But Jesus was on board with them, and He was there to see them through. On the occasion of the feeding of the 5000+ people with five loaves and two fish­---prior to doing it, Jesus said in John’s gospel “ where will WE get enough bread to feed this crowd?”  Regardless of the circumstances or difficult situations and challenges we face, don’t forget the “US AND WE” factor of Jesus in our life with us!!

A Disciple Deals with Disappointment and Discouragement

We all have expectations. And whether they are reasonable or illogical, when our hopes fail us, we feel disappointed. 

There’s nothing wrong with this response, in and of itself—in life, some disappointment is inevitable. Discouragement, however, is a choice, and a dangerous one at that. In this state of mind, we allow our circumstances to consume us. Then we stop striving for the goal and miss achieving our potential. 

Another consequence is a divided mind. As we’re distracted from tasks at hand, we easily make poor decisions and then feel tempted to blame others for our predicament. Anger can lead to retaliation and depression. All the while, we are drifting spiritually. Obviously, it’s important to resolve disappointment quickly. 

Consider what the Lord experienced in the garden of Gethsemane. He not only faced a gruesome death the following day; He also knew He would be separated from His Father for the first time in all eternity. His words inMatthew 26:38 reveal profound pain: “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death.” Needing encouragement and support, He asked the disciples to pray and stay awake with Him. And yet, they fell asleep. Jesus must have felt let down and alone, but He didn’t allow hopelessness to distract Him from His purpose of procuring our salvation. 

When life deals you a painful blow, remember Jesus’ response and realize you, too, can choose to cling to the Father for hope. Have you allowed disappointment to rob you of focus and joy? Pray for God to keep you from discouragement.

Problems and Provisions

Read | Matthew 14:22-34

No one gets through life without trials. Realistically, you are either in a storm, just getting out of a one, or about to enter a turbulent time. That is the bad news. Thankfully, we serve a good God who provides beautifully—especially during the dark periods of life.

Today’s passage tells of a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus provides for us today just as He did for His disciples in that unsettling situation. Today, we will focus on ways that He does this.

First, the Father gives Christians His presence and the promise that He will never leave (Heb. 13:5-6). This is, perhaps, the greatest gift because from this awareness, He offers a sense of comfort, courage, and confidence.

Second, the Lord blesses His children with a pathway through trouble. He is in total control of our storm and will use the trial for His purpose. We may not understand, but we can trust His hand to guide us and accomplish good. Sometimes the reason and benefit of a difficulty will becomes obvious, while in other cases, it may never be clear.

Third, the Father offers believers the potential to grow. Hardships are exercises in trust and times to learn more fully who God is and how great His power and love are.

No one enjoys trials. But remember to express gratitude for God’s hand in your life and the way He will use the adversity. Hardships are chances to trust your Creator and to know Him better. Of course, they are painful, but don’t waste the opportunity to become all the Lord has planned for you.

PUT IT IN HIS HANDS

Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.

— Matthew 14:19

A little boy was asked what his favorite Bible story was. He said, "I like the one where everyone loafs and fishes." That is not exactly what happened with the Feeding of the Five Thousand, but it is a great story.

Jesus was at the peak of His ministry during this time, and His popularity was spreading. Multitudes of people were anxiously following Him. A large crowd had gathered to hear Him, and they were hungry.

We don't know a lot about the little boy with his loaves and fishes whom Andrew brought to Jesus. We don't even know his name. But we do know he was poor, because he had barley bread, the cheapest of all bread. He also had two small fish. He didn't have a lot to bring to the table. But that little boy gave what he had to Jesus.

In the same way, God wants us to bring what we have to the table. This boy gave his lunch, as poor as it was, to Jesus. This lunch was as insignificant as it could be. And this boy was as insignificant as he could be. But that which was insufficient from the hands of the insignificant became sufficient and significant when placed in the hands of Jesus.

It is not what you bring. It is whom you are bringing it to. God can do a lot with a little. And sometimes those who have the least are willing to give more, because they recognize that if anything good results, it has to come from God.

So bring what you have. God can take it, bless it, and use it to touch many. What makes a gift great in God's service? It is not the magnitude of the gift. It is into whose hands the gift is given.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

The Apostle Paul said, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20) and the Apostle Peter said, “Live your life as strangers here (I Peter 1:17).  I have believed and said countless times, “that we expect too much from this life here on earth.” We act as if we can settle down and make our home here forever. We work and save up for retirement as if it were heaven itself.

We expect this broken world to hold the answers to peace and happiness. Take Christmas, for instance.  We’ve come to idealize the family sitting happily around a beautifully lighted Christmas tree with peace and love filling their hearts. Yet, reality is that Christmas does not always bring the closeness to family and friends that we dearly long for. Someone is mad and refuses to come to the family get-together.  Another is absent due to a serious illness…or even death.  And their divorce and remarriage sets up a dynamic that even Solomon in all his wisdom can’t resolve. And when the season passes and we’ve packed away the wreaths, lights, ornaments, etc…we sigh, “well maybe next year”.

If, for all practical purposes, we believe that this life holds our best shot at happiness, and if we further believe that this is as good as it gets, well then we will live out our lives as desperate, demanding, and despairing men and women. We will place on the shoulders of this world a burden it was never meant to bear. The fact of the matter is that most of us live as though this life is our only hope, and then we feel guilty for wanting to do exactly what Paul said he would do if that were true, “…eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”

Fact is: heaven is our real home and perfection won’t be achieved until we get there. God made us to spend eternity with Him. Now we do get a foretaste of what it will be like here on this planet because of Jesus operating on and in our lives. Someday we’ll be in His presence… ”face to face”…now that’s the real deal of living.

There was a man of God, whose name was Job, who experienced life at its best and its worst. When his life “was in the dumpster”…a real low with his children, cattle and home destroyed and his wife verbally abusing him…his body in pain; this guy, who you would expect to be really angry with God, said this, “I know that my Redeemer lives and in the end will stand on this earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh, I will see God. I myself will see Him with my own eyes…I and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27)

What kept Job going was that he had hope, not merely that things would get better in this present life, but if they didn’t, he could and would look forward to seeing God.

It has been said that our longing for heaven whispers to us in our disappointments and screams through our pain and agony. C.S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”

Yes, this world is not my home! As the old gospel song says: “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open doors, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore!”

What we’re experiencing in this life is not as good as it gets…focus your eyes on heaven…be encouraged…the best is yet to come!

• New
• |
• Reply
• Reply all
• Forward
• |
• Delete
• Junk
• Sweep ▼
• Mark as ▼
• Move to ▼
• |
• 
•