WORK 7-25-11

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Prv. 14:23

Is this a universal principle or a specific promise?

Does “work’ mean physical labor at ones workplace or emotional and/or spiritual toil in ones life?

Does “profit” mean material money or something less tangible like relational abundance?

Does “poverty” indicate without money or does it denote the lack of something intangibly wonderful?

Let’s briefly look at these definitions:

“work”:`etseb: pain, hurt, toil, sorrow, labor, hardship, offense

“profit”: mowthar: means pre-eminence, abundance, profit, excellence

“poverty”: machcowr: means need, thing needed, poverty, lack

When we look at Prv. 14:23 in the context of the entirety of Scripture, we find that it means ALL these things, plus physical, emotional and spiritual manifestations, answered in both specific promises and universal principles.

Examples? With the 3 practical illustrations listed below, please keep in mind this simple truth: Until we’ve experienced life circumstances that test our faith to its core or find ourselves buried alive in the trenches of a trial, we will not know how to respond to what we may have embraced so easily during a comfortable Bible study! Living out a life of faith IS work.

1.     If we are diligently working at our relationship with the Lord, we can expect closeness with Him and blessing from Him. But if our relationship with God is merely talk, we can expect physical, emotional, and/or spiritual lack and loss on this earth and in heaven. E.g. “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” Ps. 34:10

2.     If we are diligently working at our relationship with our spouse as God directs us, we can expect spiritual reward in heaven, plus joy in our heart and wisdom in our actions here and now (regardless of our spouse’s responses). However, if our investment in significant relationships is “mere talk and no do”, we can expect heartache and worse. E.g. “A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Gal.6: 7-10

3.     If we are diligently working at our job or career, in the long haul, we can expect excellence and abundance.  E.g. “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” Eccl. 11:6 Conversely, if we choose to be lazy or idle we can expect poverty: physically, emotionally and spiritually. E.g. Prv. 10:4 “Lazy hands make a man poor.”

Is hard work easy? Definitely not. Worth it? OH YEAH it is.~ Most aren’t up for it … We are, will you join us?

Much love this week,

Shaun and Betsy

Living in Liberty and Joy 7-18-11

“Make up your mind not to worry beforehand.” Lk 21:14

If we allow ourselves to fixate and worry, we create a cloud of obsession that obscures the breathtaking sunshine of God’s truths for us.

Question to ask ourselves: Do I desire to remain in a state of apprehension, anxiety or fear? If the answer is no, how about trying this: The next time we hear ourselves say, “I’m worried about such and such or so ‘n so”, change the wording to “I’m not trusting You Lord with such and such or so ‘n so.”  And then, make a decision to seek Him wholeheartedly, obey His promptings, and trust Him for the results.

Easy? No. But against all odds Abraham did it, Joshua did it, Ruth did it, Hezekiah did it, Mary did it, Jesus did it, … if we truly want to, we can do it too.

Is. 50:10 “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on His God.”

Much love this week; let’s choose to live in the liberty and joy He desires for us!

Shaun and Betsy

It's ALL Being Recorded

“The Books were opened.” Rev. 20:11

There is no greater foolishness than to know the great salvation of God, but to then go on living for oneself.

“Thousands upon thousands attended Him; 10,000 X 10,000 stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.” Dan. 7:10

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” Rev. 20:11-12

As we venture out in our relationships and circumstances this week, let’s remember this: What makes one honored in heaven is by and large a stumbling block and unesteemed on this earth. Everything we do to pay tribute to our own desires will one day bring us the most humiliation.

In His love,

Shaun and Betsy

Awe of You 7-5-11

“He will guide you into ALL truth.” Jn. 16:13

WWJD bracelets…remember these? The letters stand for “What would Jesus do?”, the question the bracelet wearer is supposed to ask himself as he navigates daily life, picturing Jesus standing next to him guiding his words and actions. Super cool, but what’s is cooler is what Jesus Himself says about working in our lives. In Jn. 16:7 Jesus says,  “I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” Incredible! Jesus appears to be telling us that we are better off that He is no longer physically with us.  What?

Jesus explains, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth….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. Jn. 14:16-17; 26

Ok, Ok, if we truly believe this, that the Spirit of the Living God is dwelling within us, then why by our words and actions do we deny His power? …When the rubber of our life meets the road of daily living, why do many of us appear to prefer a “magic pill” or an “easy out” answer to our situations and relational difficulties, opting for lip-service to God rather than seeking intimate relationship with God (thus denying His power within us)?

In our marriages, at our work place, with our kids, amidst an illness, and the like, what are we turning to for practical direction? What voice of influence are we listening to in the wee hours of night? Truth be told, if we’re honest with ourselves, all too often we’re attentively nursing the advice of our well meaning but foolish friends, society, Oprah, Phil, and self. ~~We want wisdom, power and direction, but we deny investing in a vibrant relationship with the One who gives it!

All significant relationships require diligent investment…why would one with God be different?

Our Lord continues, “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into ALL truth... He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you…If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing… ” Jn.  16:13-15; 15:4-5.

 Then Jesus gives us this promise: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” Jn. 15:7

What are we waiting for?

This week we Clearys have been so blessed to host a man from Northern Nigeria, where the murder of Christian’s is an everyday occurrence. This man, his wife and 6 kids live in utter dependence on Jesus for their very breath each day. ~Friends and family sat around a bonfire, spellbound and in awe of God, as this man vividly recalled God supernaturally rescuing him and sparing his life from irate Muslim mobs intent on killing him on 2 different occasions recently. Praise You Jesus.

God, You are so real, so tangible for those who draw near to You.  Forgive us Lord for our unbelief.

~Shaun and Betsy

Carrying His Name 6-27-11

“This man is my chosen instrument to carry My Name.” Acts 9:15

What in your life do you currently perceive as an obstacle, hindrance, incurable ailment and/or curse?

Have you ever thought of this perceived obstacle as God’s chosen vehicle for your life? …His chosen medium, divinely handpicked for the purpose of revealing His glory through you? …His appointed instrument to proliferate of His truths and His love in a way that is most effective for His Name sake, and most rewarding for your eternal sake?

Next question: Do you truly believe that God is sovereign and in control of ALL, all the time?…Really?

If you say you do, then why are you not embracing God’s “appointed thorn” right now? Why are you choosing to wallow in self-pity instead of seeing this “ouch” as God’s platform in your life to further His kingdom and bless your life? (Note: If our “ouch” is a lengthy physical illness, or the like, this kind of resolve is extremely challenging because of the exhaustion factor, etc. But God promises that if we continue to struggle to overcome, our rewards will be rich. Heb. 10:35-36 “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”)

If we truly seek God like Mk. 12:30 exhorts, then in God’s economy every affliction we receive will result in God’s glory being revealed so that others will receive hope, encouragement, salvation, healing and restoration, AND we will be blessed both here and eternally in ways we cannot fathom.

Betsy here, I know this may sound bizarre, but I’m so incredibly thankful that God chose to put a “nut” in my brain (benign brain tumor). I’m learning that as I choose to listen more to God than to my doubts, His peace and joy is activated in me to the extent that I’m choosing to trust Him. And as I keep a close relationship with God and genuinely live my life open and transparent before others, God is blessing my family and me immeasurably…and ministry doors are flying open. ~~What a privilege it is to talk and pray with a person as we together usher in God’s Spirit to kick some booty!

“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” Ps. 73:28

May God bless us this week as we live our utmost for His highest!

Much love, ~Shaun and Betsy

Fanning the flame of Discontent 6-6-11

“And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent.”

Acts 5:42-6:1

Fanning the flame of our discontent is a resourceful tool of the devil. He used this tool with Adam and Eve in the Garden, with Jesus in the desert, and with us every chance he gets.

Remember back in 2 Sam. 12 what Nathan the prophet tells King David after David has succumbed to adultery and murder? Nathan tells David: “The LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed?’”

God’s message to David is simply this: “Why David, why? You had it all! ~And David, if at any time you’d felt differently, you should have known to come to Me. You and I are close. …We have a very special bond. …We’ve been through a lot together, one miracle after another! If you were feeling discontented, you should have come to Me and I would have given you much, much more!”

The spiritual principle we believe God’s trying to communicate to us here is this: Our Lord desires to bless His kids. AND if at anytime we feel discontented, we need to go spend time with Him. And as we spend time with Him and pour out our hearts to Him, He aligns our desires with His own and then blesses us beyond human understanding!

This is how and why the apostle Paul can say, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Phil 4:11-13

The secret? “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.” Ps. 37:4-5

God bless you this week! 

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

Going the Distance 5-23-11

“My lover is mine, and I am his.” Sgs. 2:16

Tomorrow, May 24, 2011 marks our 25^th wedding anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend...oh yeah. Seems like a lot of years in some respects, and a blink of time in others. As we reflect on our marriage and anniversaries over the years, oddly, it was our 10 yr anniversary that’s seems most noteworthy to us personally. Why?

Well, a lot of “life” happened in those 1^st 10 years. With the mere words “I do”, our life instantaneously changed from ‘selfish to selfless’ and from ‘mine to ours’. (And for 2 recently retired type A elite athletes… successfully learning to live out “selfless and ours” seemed to draw blood at times (no, not literally).

For us, those 1^st 10 yrs were marked with 6 moves, multiple new jobs and start-ups, 3 pregnancies/births, young energetic boys and a baby girl, owning our own business and doing books until 2am most nights, being taken by a con-man for 1/3 of our net worth, 2 major surgeries (1 for each of us), health issues with extended family, and SOOO much more… juggling, juggling, and more juggling.

For us, the 10 yr marker was likened to Roger Bannister’s braking the 4 min. mile barrier in 1954…once he accomplished breaking it, Roger and many others were able to break it again and again and again. The actual barrier was a mental barrier, not a physical barrier.

Similarly, probably the biggest key to our marital joy, aside from a vibrant relationship with the Lord of course, has been breaking mental barriers. Most profound, has been our choosing to see one another as good-willed day in/day out. ~~Doing just this one thing has altered our perspectives and become the filter through which we view our relationship so that we can effectively tackle the challenges that come against it. Powerful stuff.

Shaun’s favorite line when things got tough was “Bets, we’re on the same team.” To demonstrate his point, as he said these words, Shaun would physically move to stand by my side, put his arm around me, extend his arm and point out at the non-visual thing attacking us and then pray. ~~Even in the middle of conflict, we learned to choose to see one another as partners, allies, teammates and friends. Easy? NO, but it’s been worth every ounce of disciplined effort!

Proverbs, Shaun’s favorite book of practical wisdom for our marriage, has some great bits of sensible advice. With divorce being so rampant these days, let’s look specifically at 7 verses regarding how to manage our anger:

·       “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back” Prv. 29:11

·       “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Prv. 15:1

·       “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.” Prv. 26:4

·       “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prv. 16:18

·       “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint a man of understanding is even-tempered.” Prv 17:27

·       “It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.” Prv. 20:3

·       “The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.” Prv. 15:14

God, the inventor of marriage, lays out some awesome tried and true guidance for us. You see, our Lord has a vested interest in this sacred institution. ~~Long story short, aside from procreation, God designed marriage to be an earthly picture of our eternal intimate relationship with Himself; and He uses this most intimate bond to sand off our rough edges in a way no other relationship can, conforming us to the image of His Son to reign with Him forever!

Marriage is so very WORTH ‘going the full distance’… until death do us part. Will you join us?!

Love and laughter from us to you, xoxo          Shaun and Betsy