What motivates you? The word itself means “something, i.e. dream or desire, that stirs you to action”. This brings to mind the word “passion”. Knowing what you are passionate about and how it relates to the Kingdom of God is a crucial step in our life walk with Christ. As I have said before, either everything is spiritual or it isn’t and God is IN everything or He isn’t. I cannot see where one can have true passion for something real and it not be connected to Him.
I came across a stunning example of passionate worship recently in reading Matthew 28. After Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead, He was seen by His disciples as they made their way to Galilee.
“Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus has set for their reunion. The moment they saw Him, they worshiped Him. Some though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.”
Matthew 28:16-17, The Message Remix
How many times have we been unsure about risking ourselves totally for Christ? The mere thought of that crushes my heart in knowing I have done this so many times before. Passionate worship is a place of pure abandonment, where you are no longer concerned about where you are, who is there or what people may think as you give yourself to our Lord and Savior. When we can connect our passion for Him to our worship, we enter to a place where we are ministering to the Lord.
In Daniel 7, there is mention in one of Daniel’s dreams where he saw into heaven. He spoke about being in the throne room of the Most High God and where he saw a thousand thousand ministering to the Lord ~ that is 1 MILLION people. Daniel then mentioned the ten thousand times ten thousand who stood before Him ~ equivalent of 100 million people. Hmm…my calculations tell me there are 99 million fewer people who are close enough to Him to be able to minister to the Lord, as compared to the ones who are standing before Him. I don’t know about you but I want to be as close to Him as I can get!
Imagine the sheer privilege it would be to minister to our Lord! You see, worship isn’t about us coming before God with a wish list of things we want Him to do for us. Worship is about Him, about giving Him all the glory, honor and adoring love He is due just because of WHO He is, not about WHAT He can do for us. This is where the modern day church has fallen short. We make worship into an entertainment even with great music, dance and all the other feel goods we can muster. But, at the end of the day, we must ask ourselves, did we enjoy worship? If the answer is yes, I fear that we have failed in honoring Him and, instead, gotten something for ourselves out of worship. True worship GIVES, it pours out and expects nothing in return. If we have enjoyed worship, then what did God receive from it?
His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways higher than our ways – read Isaiah 55. He doesn’t think like us nor we like Him so what we enjoy is likely to make God want to puke! Strong words indeed but you must realize your life is NOT your own, it is His. He gave you life by giving you His life – you have been bought with a price, that is with His supreme sacrifice. The Psalmist, David, said, “I will not offer You a sacrifice that costs me nothing.” Do you see the connection?
Worship is a sacrifice it COSTS us everything, if we are worshiping in spirit and in truth. So what motivates your worship? Are you more interested in getting something from God or giving something to Him? Is your concentration centered around the sound of music or listening for the sound of His voice? Reconsider your position, your passion in worshiping Him – let Him purify your heart and your motives.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”
Matthew 5:8
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Mirrors of reflection...
Jacob sheep are always spotted and each one is completely different in its markings and appearance. Even in twin or triplet births, each sheep has some variation in its spotting pattern. Even more interesting is the fact that while Jacobs appear to be white sheep with black spots, their DNA reveals they are black sheep with white spots or a pie-bald pattern. That is weird!
As I shepherdess, I have grown accustomed to recognizing each of my sheep and I know them by name. Even with a flock exceeding 80 animals, I am still able to look at the sheep and instantly know who he/she is and who their parents are. Often times, there is a striking resemblance from parent to off spring, but not always.
And, as always, I am reminded that God is in everything. In Genesis 1:26, “God spoke: ‘Let Us make human beings in Our image, make them reflecting Our nature..’ ” (The Message Remix).With the vast number of people on this planet, it is still God’s intent that humans are created in the image of God, in His likeness, reflecting His nature. Before salvation, we identify only with ourselves, our own desires, wants and dreams. When we have surrendered our life to Christ, we behold His glory and therefore become mirrors of Him, which was His desire all along.
Long ago, a mirror was referred to as a “looking glass”, something to gaze into and see a reflection of the one who stands in front of it. Do you remember the first time you looked into a mirror? Most likely, the ones who raised you could share some revealing details about that first encounter! Isn’t that the way God does it too? He looks deep within us and knows every intimate detail, every secret and every fear we hold. After all, He created us!
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations – that’s what I had in mind for you.”
Jeremiah 1:5, The Message Remix
Incredible to try and comprehend, isn’t it? So many people but God knows them all, He created them, breathed Life into them and longs for them to know Him. Religion is not the answer. Religious people know all about God but they do not know Him for who He is. Christianity is having a relationship with Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Saviour – this means you answer to Him in everything. Many people come to Christ and willingly give Him their heart for salvation and gift of spending eternity with Him in Heaven. Why then are so few of the same people not willing to make Him Lord? I think it boils down to who is in control, which as I have said before, is highly overrated!
Although I have not fully reached walking in total fullness, I am longing to reach that place! I only desire that, when others look at me, they do not see Cheryl but Jesus Christ revealed in me. I must remain transparent before Him so that the world no longer sees any part of myself, my name or what I used to be. His light must be able to shine thru my emptiness. I must be poured out of everything I exist of in order for Him to complete His good work. In looking thru the scratched, broken shell of what remains, the world should see the reflection of Jesus Christ. Nothing else matters.
As I shepherdess, I have grown accustomed to recognizing each of my sheep and I know them by name. Even with a flock exceeding 80 animals, I am still able to look at the sheep and instantly know who he/she is and who their parents are. Often times, there is a striking resemblance from parent to off spring, but not always.
And, as always, I am reminded that God is in everything. In Genesis 1:26, “God spoke: ‘Let Us make human beings in Our image, make them reflecting Our nature..’ ” (The Message Remix).With the vast number of people on this planet, it is still God’s intent that humans are created in the image of God, in His likeness, reflecting His nature. Before salvation, we identify only with ourselves, our own desires, wants and dreams. When we have surrendered our life to Christ, we behold His glory and therefore become mirrors of Him, which was His desire all along.
Long ago, a mirror was referred to as a “looking glass”, something to gaze into and see a reflection of the one who stands in front of it. Do you remember the first time you looked into a mirror? Most likely, the ones who raised you could share some revealing details about that first encounter! Isn’t that the way God does it too? He looks deep within us and knows every intimate detail, every secret and every fear we hold. After all, He created us!
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations – that’s what I had in mind for you.”
Jeremiah 1:5, The Message Remix
Incredible to try and comprehend, isn’t it? So many people but God knows them all, He created them, breathed Life into them and longs for them to know Him. Religion is not the answer. Religious people know all about God but they do not know Him for who He is. Christianity is having a relationship with Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Saviour – this means you answer to Him in everything. Many people come to Christ and willingly give Him their heart for salvation and gift of spending eternity with Him in Heaven. Why then are so few of the same people not willing to make Him Lord? I think it boils down to who is in control, which as I have said before, is highly overrated!
Although I have not fully reached walking in total fullness, I am longing to reach that place! I only desire that, when others look at me, they do not see Cheryl but Jesus Christ revealed in me. I must remain transparent before Him so that the world no longer sees any part of myself, my name or what I used to be. His light must be able to shine thru my emptiness. I must be poured out of everything I exist of in order for Him to complete His good work. In looking thru the scratched, broken shell of what remains, the world should see the reflection of Jesus Christ. Nothing else matters.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Comfort is highly overrated...
I awoke this morning to discover the cold temperatures outdoors had frozen our water pipes. (Of course, failing to close off the vents in the crawl space under the house probably didn’t help much either.) This meant no traditional showers before work, much to my daughter’s dismay. My primary concern was about making coffee. Hmm…coffee vs. stinky arm pits…coffee it is!
So, right off the bat this morning, I’m faced with the challenge of how to respond to this water dilemma. My daughter was NOT enthusiastic about taking a sink bath with bottled water I had stored in the fruit cellar awhile back but she managed. My husband was “appointed” to go under the house to check things out (only after donning his artic gear) to confirm the pipes were indeed frozen. The thermometer reads 5 degrees farenheit. I must admit I was the only person in the house who laughed about this.
Looking to the bigger picture, I can see how God truly is in everything-- yes, even in frozen water pipes. After all, He is looking to see how our hearts will respond even in the difficult times. And this situation doesn’t even qualify as truly difficult, merely inconvenient. This brought me to the place of pondering our human desire to be comfortable at all times. We get upset when we aren’t comfortable, don’t we? I know I get really crabby when it’s too hot, especially when the thermostat inside my house is set at 75 degrees and it feels like walking in an oven. I like it cooler in the house, I sleep better and can avoid being crabby by getting my sleep. Here, my husband echoes a resounding, “AMEN”!
Comfort – a state of enjoyment or contentment; implies the absence of anything disturbing, painful or distressing. I should point out here that the word “complacent” holds a very similar definition with the word “contentment”. Comfort is highly overrated and complacency should be avoided at all costs. Both are reflections of our human nature, our old nature. Doesn’t the Bible say we are to “put off the old man”?
“…you’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you have stripped off and put in the fire. Now, you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with His label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete…”
Colossians 3:9-10, The Message Remix
I love verse 14! It exemplifies the reflection of Christ that we are supposed to be in ALL things, even with frozen water pipes!
“And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”
With that in mind, how can I possibly get upset over frozen water pipes? I guess I could have fussed and fretted but what would that have changed? Those pipes wouldn’t have become unfrozen because of that would they? This morning I may not have all the comforts of home that I am used to but I am also reminded of the millions of people in this world who have no home at all. No running water, no heat to warm them from the brutal cold and no food for their growling stomachs. Be thankful at all times for what you are blessed with. Get over not being in control and celebrate the giver of life, Jesus Christ! Don’t allow your circumstances to freeze up the love of Christ within you.
Returning to comfort, complacency and control….three things to be avoided! My Bible says we are to rest in God but I don’t find the words above anywhere describing His nature. Comfort breeds complacency and apathy, it makes us stagnant. Control keeps God at arm’s length because we have taken our free will back upon ourselves, thinking we can solve this thing better than the Creator of the universe. We are warned against lukewarmness in Revelation 3:
I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot – far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make Me want to vomit. You brag, “I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone, oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.”
Revelation 3:15-17, The Message Remix
My challenge to you (and myself) is found in this old hymn, I Surrender all:
All to Jesus, I surrender. All to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.
All to Jesus, I surrender. Make me Savior, wholly Thine.
Let me feel Your Holy Spirit, truly know that Thou are mine.
All to Jesus, I surrender. Lord I give myself to Thee.
Fill me with Thy love and power, let Thy blessing fall on me.
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
So, right off the bat this morning, I’m faced with the challenge of how to respond to this water dilemma. My daughter was NOT enthusiastic about taking a sink bath with bottled water I had stored in the fruit cellar awhile back but she managed. My husband was “appointed” to go under the house to check things out (only after donning his artic gear) to confirm the pipes were indeed frozen. The thermometer reads 5 degrees farenheit. I must admit I was the only person in the house who laughed about this.
Looking to the bigger picture, I can see how God truly is in everything-- yes, even in frozen water pipes. After all, He is looking to see how our hearts will respond even in the difficult times. And this situation doesn’t even qualify as truly difficult, merely inconvenient. This brought me to the place of pondering our human desire to be comfortable at all times. We get upset when we aren’t comfortable, don’t we? I know I get really crabby when it’s too hot, especially when the thermostat inside my house is set at 75 degrees and it feels like walking in an oven. I like it cooler in the house, I sleep better and can avoid being crabby by getting my sleep. Here, my husband echoes a resounding, “AMEN”!
Comfort – a state of enjoyment or contentment; implies the absence of anything disturbing, painful or distressing. I should point out here that the word “complacent” holds a very similar definition with the word “contentment”. Comfort is highly overrated and complacency should be avoided at all costs. Both are reflections of our human nature, our old nature. Doesn’t the Bible say we are to “put off the old man”?
“…you’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you have stripped off and put in the fire. Now, you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with His label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete…”
Colossians 3:9-10, The Message Remix
I love verse 14! It exemplifies the reflection of Christ that we are supposed to be in ALL things, even with frozen water pipes!
“And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”
With that in mind, how can I possibly get upset over frozen water pipes? I guess I could have fussed and fretted but what would that have changed? Those pipes wouldn’t have become unfrozen because of that would they? This morning I may not have all the comforts of home that I am used to but I am also reminded of the millions of people in this world who have no home at all. No running water, no heat to warm them from the brutal cold and no food for their growling stomachs. Be thankful at all times for what you are blessed with. Get over not being in control and celebrate the giver of life, Jesus Christ! Don’t allow your circumstances to freeze up the love of Christ within you.
Returning to comfort, complacency and control….three things to be avoided! My Bible says we are to rest in God but I don’t find the words above anywhere describing His nature. Comfort breeds complacency and apathy, it makes us stagnant. Control keeps God at arm’s length because we have taken our free will back upon ourselves, thinking we can solve this thing better than the Creator of the universe. We are warned against lukewarmness in Revelation 3:
I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot – far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make Me want to vomit. You brag, “I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone, oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.”
Revelation 3:15-17, The Message Remix
My challenge to you (and myself) is found in this old hymn, I Surrender all:
All to Jesus, I surrender. All to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.
All to Jesus, I surrender. Make me Savior, wholly Thine.
Let me feel Your Holy Spirit, truly know that Thou are mine.
All to Jesus, I surrender. Lord I give myself to Thee.
Fill me with Thy love and power, let Thy blessing fall on me.
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
A new year has arrived...
For some, the New Year came in with force and fury, in great celebratory style while others slept quietly thru the stroke of midnight, resting their way into 2008. For me and my husband, we were in the company of friends as the ball dropped in Times Square, in quiet celebration with sparkling beverages in hand. It is awesome for me looking at 2008 with much anticipation, knowing that God holds time in His hands despite our best human efforts so somehow shift that power to ourselves. We so often tend ot think we can do so much more than He can and not only do a better job but also one completely in a more timely matter. Why are always in such a hurry anyway?
At the dawn of creation, God utilized His awesome creativity in painting the canvas of earth. The splendors of this earth are truly amazing but pale in comparison to those of our true destination in an eternal Heaven. Six days were spent in divine, life-giving inspiration in forming Earth and its inhabitants. Does anyone recall the scripture of how one "day" is like a thousand to Him? With that in mind, I often wonder if the creative design encompassed 6 days as we know them in 24 hour segments or perhaps six thousand years. I cannot fathom the latter but think that is probably the case. God does things in ways we never would expect, taking more time to answer prayer than we think is necessary and all the while we are dreaming up ways to make things happen ourselves to somehow give God a little help.
Yesterday, I spent most of the day helping a couple select sheep for the new flock of Jacobs. Both of them were amazed so learn of time we spend in assembling unrelated bloodlines, creating a widely diversified flock for their new breeding adventure in sheep. I can recall the excitement of picking out sheep that I liked (normally from a visual standpoint -- geez, I am SO human here) only to learn they were all related or they just weren't for sale. This was the same situation for the newest Jacob shepherd's coming to our farm. To pick and choose, then have to choose again, trying to find a way to make a way for all of them "work" so that she could have the ones she wanted. It never seems to work out that way, does it?
I have a firm belief that either everything is spiritual or it isn't. Everything relates to God; everything exists because of Him. With our new shepherd friends, I see a parallel from the natural directly to the spiritual in many ways. Our unsurrendered lives tend to lean more at what we want rather than what God wants. We get excited about things we see and feel. Many times, when we compare these things with God's plans, we realize how shallow our desires really tend to be. We can fuss and refuse to comply with our Heavenly Father trying to make things "work" on our own to get our way in something but He knows the consequences of our actions long before we do. The problem is we don't really care about that, only looking to fill our own selfish attitudes and hoping God might bail us out ~ after all, He is always faithful to do that, right?
As I enter 2008, my prayer is that I compare ALL things to God's will and plan for my life, submitting to Him my every desire for His refining fire to fall. Lord, burn up what is "me" and set ablaze those things that are of You so that Your Holy Light will shine thru this vessel.
At the dawn of creation, God utilized His awesome creativity in painting the canvas of earth. The splendors of this earth are truly amazing but pale in comparison to those of our true destination in an eternal Heaven. Six days were spent in divine, life-giving inspiration in forming Earth and its inhabitants. Does anyone recall the scripture of how one "day" is like a thousand to Him? With that in mind, I often wonder if the creative design encompassed 6 days as we know them in 24 hour segments or perhaps six thousand years. I cannot fathom the latter but think that is probably the case. God does things in ways we never would expect, taking more time to answer prayer than we think is necessary and all the while we are dreaming up ways to make things happen ourselves to somehow give God a little help.
Yesterday, I spent most of the day helping a couple select sheep for the new flock of Jacobs. Both of them were amazed so learn of time we spend in assembling unrelated bloodlines, creating a widely diversified flock for their new breeding adventure in sheep. I can recall the excitement of picking out sheep that I liked (normally from a visual standpoint -- geez, I am SO human here) only to learn they were all related or they just weren't for sale. This was the same situation for the newest Jacob shepherd's coming to our farm. To pick and choose, then have to choose again, trying to find a way to make a way for all of them "work" so that she could have the ones she wanted. It never seems to work out that way, does it?
I have a firm belief that either everything is spiritual or it isn't. Everything relates to God; everything exists because of Him. With our new shepherd friends, I see a parallel from the natural directly to the spiritual in many ways. Our unsurrendered lives tend to lean more at what we want rather than what God wants. We get excited about things we see and feel. Many times, when we compare these things with God's plans, we realize how shallow our desires really tend to be. We can fuss and refuse to comply with our Heavenly Father trying to make things "work" on our own to get our way in something but He knows the consequences of our actions long before we do. The problem is we don't really care about that, only looking to fill our own selfish attitudes and hoping God might bail us out ~ after all, He is always faithful to do that, right?
As I enter 2008, my prayer is that I compare ALL things to God's will and plan for my life, submitting to Him my every desire for His refining fire to fall. Lord, burn up what is "me" and set ablaze those things that are of You so that Your Holy Light will shine thru this vessel.
Our Father in Heaven, reveal who You are.
Set the world right; do what's best ~ as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with You and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Matthew 6:10-13
The Message Remix
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