Honoring Commitments

A FICO score is a measure of a persons credit worthiness. FICO an acronym for Fair Isaac Corporation was founded by Bill Fair and Earl Isaac in 1956. Today the FICO score  is considered accurate enough to determine the likely hood of an individual to pay back a loan. This score is generated by a history of past credit performance. If a person has been consistent with their payments and has done this over a period of time they have developed a history that suggests they are likely to make payments or to return the balance on time.

Acts chapter 4 closes with a description of the early church. The Apostles preached with power and the people gave of their substance. The Bible says those that had houses and lands sold them and gave so that everyone's need was met (Acts 4:34-35). They set a trend that defines the history of the early church. They gave that everybody would be on equal ground. There was no need to borrow because there was provision and all could come to the treasury and make a request. Chapter five opens with the introduction of a man and wife. Ananias and Sapphira were members of this church, but they were unwilling to make the same commitment. We are not told whether or not they had as much as the Rich Young Ruler. We are told they decided to keep back part of their proceeds. They were unwilling to embrace freewill giving. They conspired together to keep a portion for themselves. What they did not realize is that they were establishing their history. They were creating their credit worthiness with God. How could they be trusted with greater things if they were not faithful with the smaller less important things.

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much (Luke 16:10). We build our relationship with God on a daily basis. He trusts us with the unsearchable truths that can turn a man's heart towards Him. How is you history?

Willing and Able

Isaiah 6:1-3

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory

After years of living in obstinance, I came to know God. Coming to God requires something of us. Being able to see beyond the natural and look into the spirit realm where a Holy God resides is not a human ability. This ability has to given by God (1Cor. 2:14). Isaiah, had an encounter after a good man died. After the death of Uzziah, Isaiah sought refuge in the understanding of an all wise and all knowing God. He began to look upward. As Isaiah looked to God he saw something. A very detailed description of the throne of God. And not just the throne, but those who attended the throne. Seraphim are angels. He saw how they looked and how they conducted themselves in the presence of God.

The description was of what they possesed and how they used it. They each had six wings. They covered their faces with two. They covered their feet with two. They used the two they had left to fly. I made and attempt to picture these heavenly creatures and compared them to the people of God. They had no ability to see or walk because they willingly surrendered this unto God for His glory (2Cor. 5:7-10).

I can't help but see the symbolism and the irony in these verses. The number six is the number of man. We as man rely heavily on these two abilities. Any person who for one reason or another does not posess the ability to see or walk is considered handicaped. The apostle Paul wrote both about seeing and walking because they are the first reactions of a selfwilled being. With our eyes we see and percieve. With our feet we move about from place to place without regard to God or having our steps ordered. The faithful are able to see God in His exhaulted state and to honor Him with their lives.

While Isaiah was there he heard the question asked: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah responded with the voice of an obedience servant. Isaiah was willing to surrender his sight and his ability to walk for the sake of pleasing God. We have to ask ourselves if we would do the same.

Growth Spurts

It's an awesome thing to watch children grow up. I look at my daughters today and say to myself, "I remember when they were just babies." I watched as my eldest daughter wrote her first paper in high school. I told her she would be asked to express herself in writing more often as she continues her education. She said she didn't mind writing as long as she got to choose the topic.

How much would we like to choose the things we deal with in our lives? Growing is not about being able to choose but being able to accept. We can not always determine what is ahead, but we must be ready to release the things that just don't fit us anymore. If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and savior, each day brings us closer to where we are going. Our narrow faith patterns get too small and we out grow the same old way of doing things. I know that pair of shoes fit so well. You would convince yourself they did not hurt your feet. You probably kept them longer than you should have. Those pants were too short but they were just what you were looking for when you bought them and you just can't seem to find another pair just like them in your size. I was fine when all I had to believe God for was health and strength. I liked praying just once a day. I still had time for everything else.

That's life. The Serenity Prayer states, "To accept the things I can not change and to have the courage to change the things I can." Acceptance offers the opportunity to release and courage presents the opportunity to embrace the new with all of its difficulty and struggles. As a child, sometimes we will have to grow into things. I am God's child and I thank Him for growth spurts. I bless Him for change and all of its challenges.

One More Time

Never before has the past been so significant to the present. Clothing Styles from years past repeat themselves over again during shorter periods of time. Music has its revival after a short period of being considered out dated. After being created a few short years ago, a duplication of effort and small improvements to a design is all it takes to breathe new life into an otherwise lost version.

There was a time when duplication was considered offensive. In the 80's to repeat another person's style was considered, "Biting." In other words one would be criticized for taking a piece of an idea conceived by another. Today to duplicate someone or something is almost considered paying respect to the originator.

Duplication has always been a part human society. In fact, traditions were formed by the repetition of a past generations actions. We celebrate days during the calendar year. We take time off or special care to honor the day on holidays, anniversaries and birthdays. Traditions are formed as a result. Paying homage to the significance of special days has always been a means of remembering the past and or looking forward to the future. New Year's day has the special ability to do both. On New year's day one can etch old and new. One hundred and eighty degrees in the other direction is the opposite of where you were. Give yourself another chance to do whatever you missed in the last year. Duplicate the things you did correctly. Place a twist on your past sins. Repent and be made new in Jesus Christ.

Mark 8:23-25
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

We have come to a new place in time. There are many things that may not be as clear as they should be. Let us allow the Word of God to touch a place in our hearts and remove confusion while clearing our blurred vision.

Unmatched Faith

A know a man who had a vision to build a house but there were obstacles in his way. He had no money and he had no land. He felt so strongly about his vision that he began to clear a piece of property without the owners knowledge or consent. His neighbors asked him what he was doing. He told them he was making preparation for his house by clearing the land. They laughed at him and told him he was crazy because it was not likely this could happen to him. They knew he had no money and the land was not for sale. Despite the railings and discouraging words he received from his neighbors and friends he continued to work. Eventually he finished clearing the land. He found the owner's phone number and gave him a call. That day the owner agreed to sell the property, but said he would not pay to have it cleared. This man's faith was great enough to believe he could obtain the things he desired. He labored towards his vision without seeing the ending while trusting God to offer grace for its completion.

There was a woman with an issue of blood twelve years. Because of her sickness she was banished from her home and separated from her family. She spent all she had on doctors and none of them were able to find a cure. She heard that Jesus was passing by and purposed in her heart to touch His garment. Her faith allowed her to beleive she did not need to speak to Him. There was no need for Him to stop and waste His time with her. All she needed was a single touch and her cure would be found. She went against societal traditions to be in places she should have avoided. She touched people from which she should have distanced herself. In one final gesture of faith she reached and touched the hem of the garment Jesus wore that day. Jesus felt the touch because a healing virtue was released. He stopped and asked who had the faith to receive such a release from him. There she was, broken from her circumstances but healed by her faith. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole.(Mk. 5:34)"

Pursue your faith to obtain an unmatched blessing. Salvation is available to all who believe. Deliverance, whether it is from sickness, disease or sin is available in Jesus Christ. Your faith alone provides access to God's grace.(Acts 2:38)

I'm Sorry It's Not You, It's Me

In this age of information people are unable to escape the scrutiny of their peers. Nothing is able to fly under the radar of our friends and associates. Much of the time we fall victim to their opions and sometimes even allow ourselves to governed by them. That's what we define as people pleasing. As long as no one is offended by our actions we are fine with ourselves. The issue is, there will always be those who are offended by the things we do. One person may agree and another disagree. Neither of them are wrong. They are both entitled to their opinions. The real issue is the individual who is not aware of their own. When we release our own desires for the sake of attempting to please others we fall victim to the spirit of people pleasing.

Solomon said, "The whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.(Ecclesiastes 12:13)" If we are to fear God rather than man how do we get caught by the temptation to surrender to man? Could the lack of purpose or knowledge of purpose be the reason? We perish because we lack knowledge and sometimes reject knowledge.(Hosea 4:6) The knowledge of purpose is important for us as individuals and as members of the Body of Christ. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28) God assigns purpose to man's life. God also appoints things to enlighten and to mature the believer. It's those things that cause man to waiver back and forth and to sometimes be influenced by others expectations. God's ways are not always understood or even visible. We are placed in situations that encourage our growth and maturity. We learn to trust in God. We learn that every person has an opinion and is entitled to have one. We as believers have to be transformed. Our expectations have to be redirected. Man can not assign purpose to our lives, neither can he produce growth and or maturity. Our relationship with the Lord is what provides for us the things we can not provide for ourselves.

Purpose is assigned by God. The scripture states, "to them who are called." Christ said He came to call sinners to repentance. (Matt. 9:13,Mk. 2:17, Lk. 5:32) Those who recognize they are sinners should understand they are also called. The call is first to repentance then into purpose.(Heb. 11:6) In order for purpose to be fulfilled there must be a process. The process is called salvation or deliverance. Man can be released from the power of the flesh only by recieving God's power.(Jn. 1:12) Recieving God's power means a side has been chosen. Man can choose to remain in sin or be saved set free and delivered by the power of God. Once on God's side His power must be relied upon to endure. We struggle with the flesh to remain faithful to a God who is all spirit.(Jn. 4:24) There is nothing good in the flesh. We can not enter into the heavenly realm in the flesh. We must be changed. The motions or the actions of the flesh must be destroyed for the life in the spirit to thrive with us.

The battle ground must be defined if we are going to as Paul put it, "war a good warfare." (Tim. 1:18) We struggle against spirits that would desire we carry out the deeds of the flesh. (see Gal. 5:19-21) These are the things we fight to resist. They are spirit and we have been given power. 2Cor. 10:4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) If our weapons are not carnal it is safe to assume our enemy is not carnal either.
Eph. 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Our surroundings are filled with opposition. Those things that are in opposition to God are also in opposition to us. Let us seek the will of God to know our struggle and purpose in our hearts to press using the power we have been given to endure.

Word of the Day "Suddenly"

I woke up one morning this week with the word suddenly in my spirit. I thought to myself that must be the word of the day. I remembered the Bible tells us that on the Day of Pentecost they were with one accord and in one place (Acts 2:1). The word suddenly appears and we see the events that follow. I had to ask myself how the word suddenly could be applied to me. I searched the scriptures a little more for the word and found it can be used to describe the results of many different circumstances. I found in the book of Proverbs the naughty, spiritually mischeveous or wicked person. They are intentionally deceptive in their actions and they seem to know the right things to do or say . They take every opportunity to sow discord or to speak against fruitful relationships. The evil in their hearts cause them to constantly disrupt the things that are intended to be a blessing. The end of that person is pronounced as calamity. It will come suddenly (Prov. 6:12-15).

How much better it is to live a life that will afford us the opportunity to expect the blessings of God. The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (2Pet. 3:10). If we apply the word suddenly to our right now, would it be blessing or curse, heaven or hell? The people of God wait with great expectation for the comming of our Lord. Watching for a visiting loved one is nothing like waiting for our Lord. He's coming back for those He has redeemed. His return means our departure. The day will come suddenly to those who are not watching (Luke 12:39). Suddenly can mean the best is yet to come or it only gets worse.

Questions:

What should I be doing when Jesus returns?

How do I know I will go with Him?

Where will I be taken?

For answers see: http://www.streetsquad.org