To All Who Are Thirsty

This evening, I went to Spokane to run some errands and do a little Christmas shopping. On my way home, heading north on highway 395, I looked up and directly in front of me was the Big Dipper -- right over the road ahead of me. It reminded me of the last time it was significant to me. The kids and I were camping overnight at Eloika Lake, this past summer. Tristen, my 12-year-old daughter, and I looked up, and in a break in the trees we saw it. It was pointing down, as if to be pouring out onto our campsite.

What is the dipper? It is a cup. It reminds me of Jesus' love.

Jesus loves others through our love for Him.
Matthew 10:42, 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Jesus loves us through His love for the Father. He drank the cup of a horrific and painful death and poured out life on all who will receive it.
Matthew 26:39, 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Luke 22, 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who happens to read this. May His love pour from His cup out over you. May you drink and not be thirsty. I hope, the next time you see the Big Dipper, that you will reflect on this and remember how big the Lord's love is for you. I hope, you will remember Him and look for His fingerprints in all of His beautiful creation.

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22

But It Isn't Me

Today, three of the four of us were in the Settler's Day parade. Brad marched with the football team... Tristen threw candy for kids dressed in a Deer Park Church of the Nazarene T-shirt, and our worship team played songs in the back of a wagon pulled by a tractor. LOL! At first I felt a bit uncomfortable. Marlin had me sing instead of playing my flute, because Cathy, our lead female, is sick with a sinus infection and didn't come. I didn't realize what a blessing this would be, because I'm simply more comfortable behind my flute. It's not easy to look out on the crowd of people (strangers) on the side of the road and sing, smile and wave. Until... you realize it's not you. It's Jesus reaching out from your smile and your wave and through your eyes to touch the hearts of the created beings He has compassion on. I could tell He was working through me. I could see it on the faces of those strangers. I could also see it on the faces of believers... I recognized the Spirit in them, too.

What a great day, so far. I wanted so bad to stay home, too... Evening Grosbeaks showed up at my feeders this morning as Tristen and I were getting ready to go. I got some pictures, but I knew I had to go and serve the Lord, today. I may be obsessed with the birds in my free time, but my life belongs to God, so when it's time to go sing to strangers for the Lord, I'm there (Matthew 10:21-22). When we got home, much to my delight, the grosbeaks were still there! Perhaps if Christians understood that God wants to bless us according to His riches in glory, it wouldn't be so hard to give up our own stuff. There is a time for everything under heaven.

It was the spring of 2006, when we first began watching birds and we'd barely set up anything for them when a male and female Evening Grosbeak came to visit our very first feeders. They were big birds and they made *THUD!* when the landed on the crossbar of the wooden stand I'd made. I was hooked on bird watching from that moment on. They looked like animated stuffed animals. NEVER AGAIN did they visit our feeders... until TODAY. It looked like a Ma and Pop raising a single offspring.

Good Character Essential for the Christian Life

As we develop as Christians, we start out basking in the love of Jesus, His sacrifice, and the miracle of it all. Then, at some point soon after, some of us experience some disillusionment as we realize salvation of our soul doesn't mean an easy life, it doesn't mean we won't struggle with sin, it doesn't mean all Christians act godly all the time. We learn to focus on Jesus and not the people and to look inward and persevere to become the person He wants us to be. After we've been a Christian a while we might lose the urgency to become better people, because, after all, we always endeavor to be righteous. Yet, it's a living relationship led by the Spirit and our human nature sometimes prevails and His presence seems to wax and wane whether it be because we've lost our focus or He wants to bring us closer, we have trials and in those trials some nasty fruit can be revealed. Ah... it's not condemnation... it's not judgment... it's the HOLY SPIRIT! And He's there to take us to the next level. One thing I never want to be in my relationship with the Lord is complacent, but the truth be told and all of us reach levels of complacency. And thankfully, we have a God who doesn't allow us to stay there long. Even if we're not complacent... exactly... even if we've just grown accustomed to the level we are at with the Lord, He won't let us stay there. He's the Living God. Sometimes we have to be so put out by ourselves, that we can't imagine anything but change. Sometimes He'll let us see a vivid snapshot of where we are as to reveal something He wants to change in us. I'm thankful. Remember, if you have everything, but don't have love, you actually have nothing. And if you are everything in your own eyes, you will be brought low, like Saul who lost his anointing. Sometimes we need to get back to the basics and admit that we have work to do.

Colossians 3: Character of the Christian Life and Home
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.


Character of the New Man
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Galatians 5: Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Matthew 5: 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Dear Heavenly Father, Son and Holy Spirit: I confess that I need to change and go to the next level. Help me to want what You want. Help me to see You and not my circumstances or other people, and help me see truth without deception of any kind. Help my first response to be godliness and not selfishness, but don't allow the enemy to convince me to be a doormat to him or others in this process. Help me not become discouraged. Being obedient to you is more important to me than any gift or calling, and I also want to be used by You for the good of Your Kingdom. Help me to be confident enough that I may succeed in good character and come to the place you want me to be, yet humble enough not to let any of it make me big in my own eyes. You loved me and so I love you. I love you because you are good. You are worthy of my obedience and love. You created everything and everything you've created is wonderful. I adore you. I am so glad I have You and that You have chosen me. Thank you for helping me know You and for showing me Your truth. Thank you for not being willing that I should perish. I am thankful in all things, not for all things. Keep teaching me, Lord. I love you. In the name of the Son, Jesus the Christ, Amen.

It Really Is All About HIM

I was reading about the life of the Christ, today, and I ran across this scripture:

Hebrews 4:15, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (KJV)

The same article I was reading mentioned the people He came to help often worked against Him and even His closest friends didn't always come through when He needed them. We have all kinds of struggles in life -- struggles with health, struggles with money, struggles with many different circumstances, but I think the ones that mean the most to the Lord are the ones mentioned here -- our struggles with people.

People disappoint us and let us down. Jesus never does. We disappoint people and we let others down, sometimes, even if their expectations may be more than we can bear. But Jesus can bear any and all burdens. And sometimes our own expectations are far beyond what is reasonable. How should we, as Christians, respond to each other?

The answer is obvious: With grace, mercy and love. Yet, we fail, even within our churches. And the world sees us striving with each other, and our witness is ruined. And Satan rejoices. A very wise man once said to me, "Sometimes our biggest persecutors are our own brothers and sisters in the Christ." And a sad testimony is that. Divide and conquer; the devil's favorite game -- kill, steal and destroy, and he laughs! And we fall for it. Why?

Self. The devil knows better than anyone how to get us off the track. If he can get us to fall the same way he did, he's won.

Isaiah 14
12 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.e
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”

And as Christians, that should appall us enough that we should do everything not to let it happen. Ask yourself, when you struggle with others... are you exalting yourself? Above others? Above God? Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. That simply means depend on Him, trust Him, love Him.

Ephesians 6:12 says your struggle isn't against people. It's against the dark rulers. How do you combat dark rulers? You don't. The battle belongs to the Lord. You keep yourself clean (put on the armor of God -- forgive others... let go of offenses) and you pray. Let God handle it. Psalm 35:1 is a prayer..."Lord, strive with those who strive with me, contend with those who contend with me, fight against those who fight against me." And you can have peace, because the burden is all His. And then you will not be striving with your brothers and sisters in the church. It really is as simple as keeping ourselves in check and letting God handle it. No weapon formed against you shall prosper.

I can think of tons of scripture to support what I'm saying, but let me just say this: When I say "keep your eyes on Jesus" it's not just some Christianese cliche. It really is the key to living a peaceful life. Staying focused on Him puts everything into alignment. Your attitude is better. Your outlook is better. Everything is better. Nothing good can come from focusing on your circumstances or focusing on yourself. In order to do this, though, you have to get to know your Bible -- study it and find out how the Word can empower you to stand upright in an upside down world. The verse right after Hebrews 4:15 -- verse 16 says to come boldly to the throne of grace to get mercy and find help in time of need.

If this reads disjointed, I'm sorry. It was off-the-cuff. Feel free to add your thoughts at Facebook or Blogger.

Hope

When you're at the end of your rope, and maybe you're home alone or driving in your car and you cry out and scream, whether on the inside or outwardly, and you feel so foolish and maybe even ugly on your insides and out, do you know what God is doing?

He's wailing with you from the inner depths of His heart. He's not judging you. He thinks you're beautiful. And His heart is breaking, because He so wants to give you hope.

Depression: A Modern-Day Parable

A Parable: A short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.

It’s 3:30 a.m., and I can’t sleep. Part of that is the coffee I drank too late in the evening. Part of it is the excitement I have about something the Lord’s been showing me. I’m going to attempt to convey it to you using a parable.

There was a man who was suffering from depression. That man went to see his pastor for help, deliverance or something that could take the heaviness off. As the man talked, the pastor mostly listened and he heard tales of financial woes, relationship troubles with his wife, family and friends who criticized and judged him, rejection and a general sense of self-hatred and disapproval. When the pastor attempted to say something positive, the man would counter with something negative. Then something happened. The man said, “Did you see that?”

The pastor said, “What?”

“It was something dark over there!” He pointed through the doorway to the pastor’s office, out into the hall.

“It was probably just a shadow,” the pastor said.

“NO! It was as dark as night, and it moved across the hallway!”

The pastor said, “I think I know what you saw. You see, at the precise time you saw it, I saw a presence of light above the doorway. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a shadow move in the hall, but I was focused on the light, so I didn’t see it as clearly as you did. You saw something demonic. I saw an angel of light.”

How often do we focus on the negative things in life versus the positive things? I can’t help but wonder if Christians are flocking to the doctor’s offices for some kind of fix for the heaviness they feel when all they really need is to focus on Jesus and look for His light. I’m not saying there is no such thing as clinical depression. I’m not saying to forget the doctors, but I am saying, before you run to the doctor’s office and then to the pharmacy, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to evaluate where your focus has been. Did you know you can control your thoughts? You can control what you choose to focus on. You can choose how you let something affect you. You don’t have to put up with the demons that want to drag you down and kill, steal and destroy your joy. Reject thoughts of despair, depression and death. Look for Jesus and you will see Him instead. And you will have life and have it to the full.

2 Corinthians 10:5, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…” Amen?

John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Yay, Jesus! Amen??

John 8:12, “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."” CHOOSE TO HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.

Operation Cleanse

I've never really known what I should do with this blog. I've made posts and deleted them. I've posted things I've taught in Sunday school class and Bible studies. But I think I'd like to be more casual and more personal. That's hard for me in a public place, but I also feel the need to share things that are on my heart. I don't even know if anyone will read it, but that's OK.

I've got a lot of things on my mind, this morning. I've been up all night backing up files from my laptop, because it's been infected with a virus. I'll have to wipe the entire drive and start over, since it is corrupted. That's kind of like our Christian life. We accept Jesus into our life, we're cleansed of all unrighteousness, because of the blood He shed on the cross... but we still have to live here in the world where we become infected, defiled and corrupted. Whether or not we slip into sin, because of it, we need to be cleansed. We have to call on Jesus to do it. He's the Master System Disk who will wipe us clean from the things of the world. He will refresh, renew and revive us, because Jesus is about new beginnings.

Ephesians 6: 12, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Answered Prayer

Matthew 18:19-20

18 "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

1. What is “binding” and “loosing”?

Binding is stopping, loosing is allowing.

2. In verse 19, is it just like that? We agree, we ask, it happens?

No. We must be obedient children of God and be asking for things that are His will. And God will not interfere with the will of man.

3. John 15:7 says, “ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” In your own words, what is Jesus saying to you?

If I live my life in Him and His words live in me, my desires will match His will and He will do it for me.

4. Psalm 37:1-6 says, “1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.” As you read the scriptures in this lesson, what is revealed to you as the key to getting your prayers answered?

Stay righteous, trust the Lord, be nurtured by His faithfulness, delight in Him, and He will give me the desires of my heart and will also make them happen.

5. John 9:31 says, “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” Are you a sinner or a saint?

He who says he does not sin is a liar, but I am a saint. He died for Me while I was a sinner, and washed me clean of all sin with His blood. He who has started a work in me will bring it to completion. God hears my prayers.

The Trinity -- An Introduction to the Triune Godhead

God the Father *God the Son * God the Holy Spirit

Dear Class:

The Trinity, more aptly described as the Triune Godhead, has never been something easily understood. I, myself, have struggled my entire Christian existence trying to understand how three persons can be one God. But it is nonetheless so. It is an important distinction in Christianity, as we are monotheists. Other false prophets and teachers defile the Bible with different doctrines. We have a responsibility to understand, as much as it is possible, the truth about the God we profess to love and follow. This is the first step in our beginning to understand the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives. My goal is to help you understand our Lord better so you can have all the tools you need in your walk with Him and so you’ll fall more and more in love with Him as your relationship grows.

Love,
Lana

Isaiah 43:10 "You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no savior.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

A Trinitarian believes that God is one being that consists of three persons. That is hard to wrap your mind around, but it

is nonetheless true. While they are one being, they have different roles in our lives. And though they have different roles

in our lives, they are unified in everything. Jesus saves, for example, so God saves. The Father created, yet everything

was created through the Son.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

Note there is one name and three distinct persons Jesus is referring to, here. Jesus says that all authority is His and He

empowers us with the same authority if we are His. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the Lord our God.

The Nicene Creed (on page 2) shows both the distinction and the unity of the Triune Godhead, so I’ve collected some

Information on this website (http://www.kencollins.com/Why-07.htm) to help in understanding what the Nicene Creed is

and how it came to be.

“The Nicene Creed was formulated at the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in AD 325 to combat Arianism, and it was expanded at the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople in AD 381 to balance its coverage of the Trinity by including the Holy Spirit. It is the only creed that was promulgated by any of the seven ecumenical councils and thus it is the only creed that is truly ecumenical and universal. In the Orthodox Church, it is the only creed.The New Testament and the Nicene Creed are deeply entangled with each other. The wording and the concepts in the Nicene Creed come from the New Testament—in fact, one of the most important debates at the Council of Nicea concerned whether it is proper to include a word in the Nicene Creed that does not occur in the New Testament. On the other hand, at the time that the Church issued the official canon of the New Testament, it customarily compared writings to the Nicene Creed to determine if they were orthodox. So you are correct if you say that the Nicene Creed proceeds from the New Testament, and you are correct if you say that the New Testament is certified by the Nicene Creed. To put it more precisely, the Nicene Creed and the canon of the New Testament were formed together as part of the same process.”

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The term “catholic” means “universal” or all inclusive. In the sense that it is used here in the Nicene Creed, it means the entire body of the Christ.

We Finished Up on the Subject of Forgiveness & Reconciliation

To reconcile is to restore to friendship or harmony, or to settle or resolve differences. It is the doing away with an enmity, the bridging over of a quarrel. Reconciliation implies that the parties being reconciled were formerly hostile toward one another.

What is “enmity?” (See Genesis 3:15)

IF YOU NEED TO BE FORGIVEN, as an act of the will, you must…

· Confess your sin to God and ask Him to forgive you and, by His Holy Spirit to fill your heart with His love. (Psalm 32:1-5)

o 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Why is it important to ask God to fill us by the Holy Spirit with His love?

· Right now, take a moment to search your heart for anything you may need forgiveness for. Cry out to God silently, and ask him to forgive you and fill you with His Holy Spirit to strengthen you to obey.

· God alone forgives sins. He forgives and He forgets (Look up Psalm 103:12). By faith, accept God’s absolute forgiveness and cleansing.

o That being said, it is Biblical to confess our sins to one another:

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

IF POSSIBLE, go to those you have wronged, humbly make confession, and ask for their forgiveness.

· Six of the most powerful words in the English language, “I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

· Look up Matthew 5:23-24 and write out, word for word, your commitment to personally obey it:

· If possible, do this face to face. However, do to logistics, you may have to communicate with the person by telephone or in writing.

· If the person you have wronged has passed away, you need simply to go to God with your confession (see above, God alone forgives sins).

What is the “ministry of reconciliation”? Hint: 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

We also talked about how we shouldn't "take up the offenses of others." We some how excuse ourselves, sometimes, to be offended at others for offending our friends and family. It is no better to harbor unforgiveness for a friend than it is to harbor it for yourself, and it does just as much damage to your soul and spirit, and even your body if you carry it too far and too long and too often. God is very clear on this in the Bible. There is a difference in being an advocate and taking up offenses.