What's Permeating My Thinking? 4-30-12

“Let us approach the Thone of Grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Heb. 4:16

Lord, help me to always make You my focal point as I move through my days, continuing to urge me to keep my focus on You amidst fluctuating circumstances in this crazed-filled world. Centering on my circumstances gets me woozy, but my steps are steady and sure when I continually choose to rejuvenate myself in Your Presence.

Help me to tune out distractions and to set my mind on You and the things that give You joy instead of fixating on my troubles.

Help me to recognize that my perspectives are LIMITED and my evaluations are distorted.

Lord, please permeate my thinking!

I realize that from my limited viewpoint it seems at times that You are unaware of some pretty gnarly things, please forgive me, Lord. I know that You are fully aware and You are fully in control…help me to mature in You and grow in character through this hardship and heartache.

I also realize that I still allow far too many things and/or feelings interrupt my awareness of You…please forgive me for being so easily distracted.

Ps. 46:1-2 tells me, “God is our refuge and strength, and an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth five way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”  I am choosing to trust You today.  Amen.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Jms. 5:16

Much love from our home to yours,

Shaun and Betsy 

UP, OUT, and DOWN 4-23-12

“Love that reaches up is adoration. Love that reaches out is compassion. And love that reaches down is grace.”

1 Chr. 29:11 “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O LORD, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over ALL things.”

Is. 30:18 “So the LORD must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help.”

Rom. 11:6 “And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.”

Choosing to believe and accept His LOVE, and with His help, to love our Lord and then others “up, out and down” this week, will you join us?

Lord, please give us Your lenses into the people and circumstances that surround us. Amen.

Shaun and Betsy

His Way, not Mine 4-17-12

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Rev. 2:7

“There are many roads to heaven” and “I’m a good person”, are two well-used justifications for “doing ones own thing” when discussing eternal topics.

Let’s look at them through the lens of real estate.

1.     There is a big mansion owned by a very wealthy/powerful man. An overconfident person says, “I don’t need directions, I know of many roads to your home.” Wealthy owner says, “There is only one road to my house, complete with very specific directions to find and navigate it….good-luck.” This person never finds the house.

“Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matt. 7:14

2.     Another haughty individual knocks on the door of this spectacular mansion, his packed belongings in tow. When the owner answers the door, this lost soul presumptively attempts to enter. When questioned what he was doing by the owner, this soul replies that he has been a “good person” and assumes that the owner of this grand mansion will house him. The owner informs the man that although He “feels for him”, they have no relationship and he must leave.

“Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven…I will tell them plainly, I never knew you; away from Me.” Matt. 7:21-23

Sharing and living out God’s Truths are not easy, comfortable or innate. We are wise not to live by compassion only, but live in humble obedience to the truths and promptings of the Spirit, with love and understanding.

We are not our own, but were bought with a great price….Ultimate Love. Living in light of eternity keeps us on the straight and narrow.

How are we doing this week?

In Him,

Shaun and Betsy

Own It 4-10-12

“I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashesto show my repentance.” Jb. 42:6

Job is suffering, and in his compromised state, starts talking smack to God. God calls him on it. And Job quickly replies with, “I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance!”

Question: How do we know that Job is truly repentant, and not merely “sorry because he got caught”? Moreover, how can we discern if any person who says he’s sorry is truly repentant?

With an understanding that God is the only one who knows the true workings of our hearts, a few character traits that a truly repentant person will exude are:

• An honest and transparent air regarding personal shortcomings, exemplifying a forthright assessment of personal weaknesses over the long haul (not merely amidst the crisis at hand)
• A humble demeanor that embraces “it was what it was”, learns from the setback, and chooses to personally change (versus shifting blame, manipulating circumstances to cover faults, and/or weaving webs of lies and deceptions with an intent to keep this double-life going)
• A certain awareness of the actual state of affairs for all affected parties, coupled with a deep desire to be transformed (versus floating in an synthetic grace cloud), and a genuine willingness to be held accountable

Why this topic this week? Many of us have or will come into contact with people in our inner circle who simply put, pattern their lives as “one big con-game to be won”. As a believer, what are we to do with such a person? The first step is to discern the deception, sooner than later.

Matt. 10:16  “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

Living in His love, understanding and power this week, will you join us?

Shaun and Betsy

When Tragedy Strikes 4-2-12

“This HOPE is a strong and trustworthy

 anchor for our souls.” Heb. 6:19

What drives a person to despair of his own life?

In one word: Hopelessness. ~Despite our high-tech constant-interfacing culture, lonesome hopelessness is all around us.

But there is HOPE.

We’re all familiar with the Elijah, Job and David stories of despair. Each reached points of desperate hopelessness, desiring to end their lives. Yet it was here, amidst their hopeless state, that God uniquely and intimately filled their deepest needs…Physical needs, emotional needs and spiritual needs. (2 Kgs. 19:4-12; Job 42; numerous Psalms)

God WILL meet us in our need.

 “I cry out, ‘I am slipping!’ but Your unfailing love, O LORD, supports me. When doubts fill my mind, Your comfort gives me renewed hope and cheer.”

Ps. 94:18-19

“The LORD hears His people when they call to Him for help…He is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.” Ps.34: 17-19

Why this sad message of hopelessness? In recent days, our family has been impacted by the untimely passing of a wonderful youth in our community.

As we process, mourn, heal, and reach out to loved ones, we are praying alongside believers from around the world who are being impacted by hopelessness,  “LORD, sustain us as You promised, that we may live! Do not let our hope be crushed.” Ps. 119:116

He is faithful. His hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. Jer. 17:7

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

Message from Dad 3-19-12

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Prv. 22:6

Living amidst a culture that has little regard for God, we believing parents have a responsibility to diligently train our children in the ways of our Lord, then pray for them all the days of their lives.

Below are two short examples of “training”; spiritual insights that Shaun e-mailed to our kids this week.

(NLT)Proverbs 22:13
The lazy person claims, "There's a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!"
I'm on an early flight to Denver and wanted to share this encouraging verse with you. Have you ever heard how F.E.A.R. stops people from being productive and accomplishing the things God has called them to become and to do? Often we get frozen by our fears when False Evidence Appears Real. Common fears include concerns about trying and failing, what other people will think, etc. In this verse there really is no Lion out there. Be sure that only God sets your boundaries and Live Large today!
Love you all. ~Dad


(NLT)Proverbs 22:11
Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.
I'm flying over the Rockies this morning and wanted to share a verse the Lord is messaging into my heart mid flight.
Want to be in a position of tremendous influence? Want the opportunity to change your school, your company, your city, and your world? Let the Spirit clean up your heart and polish your speech, and your sphere of influence will expand dramatically.
Accomplishing this is easier said than done though. A pure heart stems from practicing the presence of God, prayer, service, avoiding "unhealthy" things, careful association, and other spiritual/social disciplines. Gracious speech is more than weaving "church lingo" into your conversations or even just being nice to people. God's grace is His unmerited favor, which meets peoples specific needs and ushers in Truth and Life. THIS is what gracious speech is all about. Ask God to give you insight into peoples needs, and to give you His vision for the abundant life He wants for them and the opportunity to share this with them. Do they need a word of encouragement, a kick in the butt, or perhaps some new ideas or coaching? Develop a clean heart and grace filled speech, then leaders and many others will count you as a true friend.
When I think of my deepest friendships and my richest business relationships, these character traits immediately come to mind. I'm inspired and challenged by each of you to embody these truths.
Love, Dad

Parenting is tricky these days, but with the Lord’s guidance, good mentors and accountability, we can entrust these precious babes and their choices to His hands.

In Him, ~Shaun and Betsy

Pediatric Cardiology 3-12-12

“Do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.” 1Cor. 14:20

Although God desires childlike faith, as the Master Pediatric Cardiologist, God performs intricate surgery to mature our childish hearts. And typically, God’s “surgeries” are the tribulations and sufferings in our lives, allowed and intended by Him to bring us to Christ-like maturity.

When we are “in the cooker”, God exhorts us to mature up!

Paul leads us by example and reasons with us this fact: When he was a child, he talked, thought, and reasoned like a child. But when he matured, he put childish ways behind him.  (1Cor. 13:11)

Paul did not simply ask God for forgiveness for particular sins, but he actively and repeatedly put away, renounced, and casted off his childish ways AMIDST the trials.

And God exhorts us to do the same: “Rid yourselves of every form of malice and slander, all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, filthy language, all deceit, hypocrisy and envy, and all moral filth.” (Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; Jms. 1:21; 1Pet. 2:1)

The question is: How are we doing with the ridding?

1. Do we want the blessings of God, but keep a “safety-net of our comfortable pet sins” just in case we change our minds when it gets tough? 
2. Or are we wholeheartedly consenting to go under the refining and transforming knife of the Master Pediatric Cardiologist?

God promises SUCH incredible blessing and reward for option 2. ~We Cleary’s have signed up for this one. Please join us! He’s coming soon.

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy