Why Turkeys Are Not A Willing Sacrifice

Why Turkeys Are Not A Willing Sacrifice

First, I want to thank all those Turkeys who have given their lives for the sake of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. I am in deep gratitude that over the course of the next few days my body fluids will be flowing with a natural sedative in i­t, (an amino acid called Tryptophan.  Tryptophan helps the body produce the B-vitamin niacin, which, ­in turn, helps the body produce serotonin, a remarkable chemical that acts as a calming agent in the brain and plays a key role in sleep.)

 

This is probably why after eating the Thanksgiving dinner my brother and I will fall asleep on the couch watching football. There is nothing like consuming a well cooked bird with lots of side dishes to make ones time with family special. However, there is a part of me that does not appreciate the Giblets. I am one of those people who has a hard time eating the heart, gizzard, liver, and other visceral organs of a large Bird.   Yet, having a special meal, with family is part of the thankfulness that comes with the Holiday. Many people only get to see their families a couple times a year and this Holiday is one of those times that really bring people and families together.  

As a follower of Jesus I have a lot to be thankful for. As I grow deeper in my relationship with Jesus I have become less and less satisfied  with the things this world has to offer. In many ways, I see my old life fading away and my new life in Jesus becoming more prominent.  In fact, I have gladly said goodbye to many of the activities I used to participate in. Not that they were that bad in themselves, but the time I spent doing them kept me from experiencing the abundance and joy of living a life set apart to God. 

So I am thankful I no longer have the desire to base my life around things that have no eternal purpose.  After many years of serving God in the Church in comparison to being challenged to apply God's Word to my life, I have learned that the life I live outside of Church is critical ministry, especially grasping the understanding of being a minister to my own family.  For years I mistakenly spent time in ministry focusing on others while neglecting the needs of my own family. If I ever get back into Church related ministry I will remember that my family requires my best in heart felt love and quality time, and I need to be sure that they get it. When it comes to ministry I can no longer separate life in and outside the church. Living a life of Worship means God is to be honored by me in both arenas because every moment plays a critical role in God's eternal purpose.  Each word that comes out of my mouth can impact the way a person views God and the world.  Each thought and decision I make can either draw me to or away from God. Each act of love and encouragement can minister to a person’s broken heart.

Part of the abundance in the Christian life comes from the power of the Holy Spirit who has enabled me to have discernment in areas of my life where I never had them before. There were things I used to let slip in my character, in my parenting and in my marriage. I now have the desire to ask God for wisdom and spiritual growth in all these areas in order to correct the mistakes I have made in the past. 

Part of spiritual growth it to take seriously Gods call for all of us to be Holy. 

1 Peter 1:16 NIV:

for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 

 Even though we can never achieve Holiness this in this life we, can put this command at the forefront of how we are to live in the continual presence of God. By understanding the difficulty in living a Holy life, we then can ascertain the importance of having a Savior to help us live rightly with the sin nature we all struggle with. God is so gracious to offer His son Jesus as the once and for all sacrifice for our sin. And along with Jesus’ sacrifice comes the gift of faith through God’s amazing grace. Once we have received this gift we are given the Holy Spirit who become an integral part of who we are. The Holy Spirit moves in us so we can live differently. So we can live a life that reflects God’s character and purpose.  

What we need to do is to allow the Holy Spirit reign in us and transform us into having a Christ like Character. This is part of God's desire for His people and this is how we can love and carry out the call to share the hope we have in Jesus' work. Even while we are in the process of being transformed God will still use us to share the hope we have. Our goal is to share our hope in such a compelling and loving way so as to shed light on Jesus’ goodness and His character, all the while representing Christ accurately.

1 Peter 3:15-16 New International Version (NIV)

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  

Our God stories prove that our lives have changed. Our gratitude toward what God has done for us can motivate others to want to know more about Him. The truth is, God supernaturally changes our heart and we have become a new person in Christ. 

Ephesians 4:21-24 New Living Translation (NLT)

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,  throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 

To understand the depth of God’s love we have to understand that God’s original purpose in creating us was to have a personal and intimate relationship with Him. We are not one big Biology experiment or study in behavioral science. God truly desires to have a relationship with each of us even though we are now tainted with the desire to be the Boss of our own life. Because we are rebellious and sometimes put God in the back seat of our lives, we can lose sight of God’s true purpose for each of us. We forget to love God. We can forget to love others. We can be distracted from doing the work we have been called to do. We can actually turn away from God. Many in this world have done so. The Bible describes this condition of separation: 

Ezekiel 12:2 NIV

"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. 

Romans 1:21-25 New International Version (NIV)

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Even though many are separated from God due to sin, God all along had a solution for the sin problem. We see the development of this plan from Genesis all the way to the Cross, Resurrection, Ascension and the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 

Yet today most of us still struggle between balancing the selfish desires of our heart with those things that God has put into us through the work and life of the Holy Spirit working in us. We sometimes take the good that God has done in us and through us and allow doubt to enter our minds causing us to question if God really loves us. Do we really matter to God? Is God really going to keep His promises?  Yet, some doubt and struggle does not mean we are defeated or that the feelings we have any bearing on how God feels about us. The truth is God loves us beyond what we can truly imagine. Jesus proved this through His suffering on the Cross. As followers of Jesus we are going to struggle with doubt and Spiritual battles, Jesus even reminded us that in this world we are going to struggle. 

John 16:33 New International Version (NIV)

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

But the good news is we can put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) to help us fight the doubts and all the things our enemy desires to bring our way. The beauty of all this is: God uses suffering to refine us.

Look at this verse from Romans:

Romans 5:5 NIV

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

Also this verse from James:

James 1:12 NIV :

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Even when we suffer we have a lot to be thankful for. 

Take time this week to make a list of the things you are thankful for.  Then thank God for all He is doing in your life. Then ask God to show you what changes you need to make in order fulfill His purpose for your life.  Pray that God will give you the strength, wisdom and desire to make these changes.  Watch to see how God will orchestrate the events in your life to help you. Act on your Faith and Belief that God will keep His promises. Look back to the day you acted on your faith and see what God has done since then.  

We have a lot to be thankful for. One way to show our thanks is to give God His rightful place in our life.  I pray we will all do this as the Church and as the Community of Believers. 

So even though Turkeys have not made a willing sacrifice for our benefit, Jesus has. And for this one act of amazing love I am eternally grateful. Sorry Turkeys, Jesus has done one better, and when we sit around the table on Thanksgiving Day let's not forget to thank Him.     

Just Sayin………………..Dave    

                                            

 

Avoiding the Potholes of Life; a Practical Way to Learn From our Mistakes

Avoiding the Potholes of Life; a Practical Way to Learn From our Mistakes

Every morning during the week I take the same route to work in Washington DC: 395 to the Third Street Tunnel and then on to the building I work in. If you are at all familiar with the Third Street Tunnel you know that as soon as you get off the exit to get into the tunnel you have to stay in the left lane before entering.

Years ago I remember traveling to DC for work and had an experience with 2 Giant potholes that were located in the left lane about 50 feet inside the tunnel. I hit those potholes at a high rate of speed and felt lucky that my tires did not blow out, lose a hub cap, or break an   axle. Well the next day came and I hit the same dog gone potholes again, getting ever so frustrated at myself for not avoiding my tunnel nemesis. My hope was that I would remember not to take the same path in the tunnel the next day, but sure enough, for the next 2 days I hit the same 2 Giant potholes. Even though I my car wasn't damaged, I felt a deep sense of frustration that I would make the same mistake 3 more times after the first incident, knowing the possible consequences of the repeated error in not making the proper course correction. So after the fourth time I plunged into the depths of broken asphalt that week, I finally remembered to move over to the center lane just as I got off the exit to enter the tunnel. Yeah for me.

In a funny yet tragic sort of way, for many years I lived my life as though I could not avoid hitting the potholes in the road. Even knowing the consequences of my actions, I still could not with the perspective that I had at the time, make the proper course corrections to avoid the pitfalls of living life without any true sense of direction. I made mistakes and kept making those same mistakes over and over again.

Fortunately God gives us a clear understanding about Wisdom. We can make a distinction between two types of wisdom, “Earthly Wisdom” And “Heavenly Wisdom”. We may think we have wisdom because mankind has come to believe in a worldview that assumes that there is real truth apart from God's truth. Yet the tragedy for many is believing that having knowledge is somehow tied to having wisdom. I know a lot of smart people whose lives are falling apart from the inside out. They believe that doing life based on how they see the world is a formula for success. Many times that formula is a mixture for disaster cause it removes God from the equation and inserts the worship of self and focuses on selfish desire. The good news is that we can make a clear distinction between “Earthly Wisdom” and “Heavenly Wisdom”.  “Earthly Wisdom” Is self-focused while “Heavenly Wisdom” is God-focused.

In the Book of James (James 3:18) in relation to “Earthly Wisdom”, James points out “for where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find Disorder and every evil practice.”

• This Type of Wisdom is unspiritual and of the devil.

 James also points out the Characteristics of “Heavenly Wisdom”:

(James 3:13) James says “Who is wise among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom.”

 “Heavenly Wisdom”is:

• God centered 
• Pure 
• Peace-loving 
• Considerate 
• Submissive 
• Full of mercy and good fruit 
• Impartial and sincere

In order to attain this wisdom we need to ask God for it.

James 1:5-8 tells us to ask God for Wisdom, and when we ask, not to doubt that He will give it to us. God promises that if we ask for wisdom in this way, He will generously give it to us.

There is a couple more things to understand. Real or a saving faith is connected to Godly wisdom.  Without real faith people rely on themselves and disregard God's principles. Those who have a saving faith rely on God for wisdom and direction. Yet Believers don't always follow Godly advice. In other words, the bible is chock full of wisdom, but the hard part is application and every believer struggles with obedience to God at some point. The good news is that even though believers sin they are not a slave to sin

 

Romans 6:6 (TLB)

Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with him; that part of you that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin-loving body is no longer under sin’s control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin;

All of God's children are a work in progress and God desires that followers of Jesus continue to grow in their Love, faith and to trust in Him. God desires to give us wisdom, direction and purpose for us lives. This is the one verse that I keep coming back to that helps me realign my heart with God:

 

Proverbs 3:5-6  (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.


^{It is also Jesus' desire for us to live an abundant life:}

John 10:10 Living Bible (TLB)

The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

So you might say what does this have to do with learning from our mistakes. Because the tendency in life is to rely on our own wisdom. With “Heavenly Wisdom” comes an understanding of God’s view, the eternal perspective, and the way to live abundantly in a broken and fallen world. The Biblical worldview is the key to God's truth and holds the principles and promises needed to find real truth and the hope of salvation. What God offers far surpasses Earthy Wisdom. So even though God may allow us to fall into some of the potholes created by a broken world and our desire to do life apart from Him, He will surely give us the wisdom to learn from our mistakes, and avoid those same potholes in the future.

Just Sayin………………………Dave

Let it be God’s will not mine

Something to think about:

Let it be God’s will not mine

The more I grow in my faith and trust in God, the more I want to release more and more of my will to His. The reason for this is, I have learned how much wiser God is in comparison to how wise I think I am. I have a lot of evidence from past experiences that I can use to discern that the results of my decision making were poor at best. This means I can apply the “Costanza principle,” If every instinct I have is wrong, the opposite must be right. I realized that when I lived a self-focused life far from God, I lived in 180 degrees in opposition to His principles. The principles I used for living back then were wrong. In fact, I got to experience the consequences of my bad choices on a regular basis.

Nowadays, I realize God’s principles are always right and the proof is this; after setting myself apart to God, I have experienced the blessings of being in His will and the positive effect of making wiser choices in my life. I have been able to have a greater impact and influence in the world for God and His kingdom. With The Holy Spirit, and God’s principles guiding my heart and mind, I have been able to experience the fruit of my labor. I have become a new man that is continually in a process of transformation and have been given a Christ-like heart. I regularly experience God’s peace in a fallen world. I have the privilege of blessing others due to the putting on of my “new self”. My marriage is getting stronger and more Christ centered. The ministries I have been involved in the past remind me that God used me to bear fruit for his kingdom. I have a better understanding of the true meaning of Joy. I am no longer an enemy of God. I experience God's answer to prayer. I can boldly share my faith. I no longer desire to sin. I am confident that God will keep His promise to give me and other believers a hope and a future.

Setting oneself apart to God is important for spiritual growth and for being an effective ambassador for God’s kingdom. “When God reigns the kingdom gains”, so to speak. Without Jesus as Lord over our lives we won’t be effective. We will end up working for our own personal gain and glory and will fail to produce any fruit that will have a positive spiritual effect upon the lives of others. 

Jesus explains this principle:

John 15:5 NIV  
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

The problem is this: People who lives their lives apart from God don't have an eternal perspective on life and God's purpose for our existence. They tend to make decisions based on limited understanding that is tainted with self to a greater degree than one who has the Holy Spirit to guide and correct errors. Basing ones perspective on a non biblical worldview can lead to wrong motives and actions rather than to live in such a way that is right and pleasing in God’s eyes. We need Godly perspective so we can live rightly and navigate the troubled waters associated with life in a fallen world.

The Apostle Paul tells us how we should live:

Ephesians 5:15-16 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Not only should we live wisely but we should be asking for wisdom on a regular basis.

James 1:5 New International Version 1984 

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

The proverbs clue us into the importance of good counsel.

Proverbs 15:22 The Message 

Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.

Steps to help us be able to discern God’s will:

·        Pray

Matthew 7:7-8 New International Version 1984 

Ask, Seek, Knock

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

·        Get wise counsel

Proverbs 13:20  New International Version 1984 

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

·        Get godly perspective

Romans 12:2 New International Version 1984

Do not conform any longer 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.

·        Read and do what the bible says

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version 1984                                             

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

·        Listen to the Holy Spirit

John 14:26 New International Version 1984 
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

·        Trust God

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version 1984 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight  

With God and His Word being the driving force and standard for our lives, we will make wise choices. We will be able to live according to His desire and purpose. We will be able to fulfill God’s call for our lives. We will be able to say to God “Your will be done not mine”.

A couple of years ago my son Ian (10 years years old)  and I were sitting outside our house observing the heavens through our telescope. We were amazed at the cool close up views we had of the Moon, Saturn and the stars. For some reason I asked Ian to give me some words of wisdom. If you know Ian, he always has some good nuggets of wisdom for me to contemplate. The first thing he said was: “Ice cream is good to eat.” The second: “Trust God”

Followers of Jesus are trusting Him when He says That He is the truth the life and the way. We are trusting Him when He says He has prepared us a place in heaven and is coming back to bring us there. We are trusting Him when He says He truly loves us.

This is what we know about Jesus: He understood the importance of carrying out God’s plan of salvation. He was willing to suffer and sacrifice for each of us. With His work in mind we have a better picture into His heart, His amazing love and supernatural grace. The verses below give us a picture of Jesus' character and model the kind of character God desires for each of us to attain. It is God's will that we be like His Son.

(God wants us to obey His Word like Jesus' willingness to obey God’s will)

Matthew 26:42 NIV  (Obedience) 

  He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

(God wants us to die to self and live putting the interests of others ahead of our own, just like the way Jesus lived and served others even to point of sacrifice)

Mark 10:45 NIV (Servant leader)
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

(God wants us to Love Him and our neighbor through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. God's love for us is off the charts and when we realize it, we are changed and humbled by it)

John 3:16 NIV  (Amazing Love)

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

We can understand this about God’s will:

God sees the bigger picture because He designed it. That is why it is important for seek out God’s will.

So as we look to God for answers and for the ways in which He will use our gifts and talents for His glory, we can trust that if we desire His will for our lives and act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we will bear fruit for His kingdom. We can trust that if we truly love Him and follow Him, He has a good purpose for our lives. 

Romans 8:28 New International Version

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

We know this about the character of God: He is faithful and He will keep His promises.

Psalm 89:34 New International Version (NIV)

I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.

Deuteronomy 7:9 New International Version (NIV)

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
 

So the result of surrendering to God’s will is that we will see His purpose fulfilled in our lives. We will experience a Spirit filled life that will have a positive impact on the world around us.

The next time you pray, ask God for His will to be done in your life and really mean it. You may be surprised at the result of your supplication. God can take you on a journey that can far surpass anything you could possibly dream of. 

This is a great promise from God:

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version 1984 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

With this kind of promise why wouldn’t we want to say:

Let it be God’s will not mine

Just Sayin........................Dave