Walking the Line 5-22-12

“In Your light, we see light.” Ps 36:9

Three helpful steps to “walking the line” after repenting of major sin or area of addiction:

1.     Seek God and get into His Word (daily bible study and prayer with accountability). ~Our natural minds and feelings lead us astray. The Spirit of truth guides us into all truth; there is no substitute to attaining freedom from bondage.

2.     Quit talking about “it”…rehashing over and over simply justifies our foolish actions … and results in more talk.

3.     And remember, God is in charge of defending our reputation. We are in charge of owning our behavior today, repent where needed and do the work it takes to allow God to re-establish godly character.

Much love this week,

Shaun and Betsy

Just Passing Through 5-15-12

“Hear my prayer, O LORD! … For I am Your guest—

a traveler passing through as my ancestors were before me.”

 Ps. 39:12

While it is true that we are “just passing through”, we must not presume this means that we don’t have responsibility here and now.

Our life isn’t some kind of seed that has been haphazardly tossed on soil. To the contrary, each miracle of life (you) has been sown into soil by a pre-determined plan and a specified purpose, for this day, in this place, with these people, in this job, in this condition, at this moment. (Eph. 2:10; Acts 17:26)

Our life is to be LIVED (really L-I-V-E-D) where God has us right now.

Let’s pause and reflect on this question:

Where does God have me at this minute, at this hour?

(Physically, mentally, and with my interpersonal relationships)

If I truly believe what God says in His Word is Truth, then I must choose to believe that He has purposed and sown these moments of time in my life today.

(These trials are NOT here by accident or for His sick enjoyment.)

Owning this concept, our prayer now becomes, “Lord, help me navigate this very moment in YOUR strength, wisdom, love, understanding, insight, power, and courage, for YOUR purposes.”

Remember, as His Kids, we only have “tough and hard” until our dying breath, after that, there is only eternal joy … the struggle will be over forever. Worded differently, these years on earth are the only difficult hours we will EVER experience. (Even if we live to 100, this is nothing in scope of eternity!)

And yet, our reward is directly tied to how well we overcome the difficult “opportunities” God allows in our lives, mentally, physically and relationally.

As with Solomon and Haggai when building His Temple, God said, “Be strong and do the work”… Today, our bodies are His Temple, and He says, “Be strong and do the work, your work will be rewarded. I am coming soon and My reward is with Me.” (2 Chr. 15:7; Rev. 22:12)

Growing in Him,

Shaun and Betsy

Illusion of Control 5-8-12

“For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen,

being understood from what has been made,

so that men are without excuse.” Rom. 1:20

Illusion of control.

God gave King Belshazzar the illusion of control right up until, when in Dan. 5:24-30, His handwriting appeared on the wall and Belshazzar witnessed righteous judgment from the King of Kings.

God gave Satan the illusion of control right up until, when in Jn. 20, He raised Jesus from the dead, and in Rev. 20:10, when He throws the devil into the eternal lake of burning sulfur where he will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

God gives people the illusion of control right up until we either: in physical death, meet Him face to face in judgment, or in life, willingly bend our knee to His Lordship.

Fools think their own way is right (Prv. 12:15). Human beings are rebellious at the core (Jer. 17:9).

Regardless of God’s manifestations, miracles and signs, most refuse to accept God’s way, choosing instead to cling to their own way of getting right with God. (Rom. 10:3)

We have no excuse of ignorance. We KNOW when we turn our backs on God and make the choice to go our own way. God writes His laws on our hearts. (Jer. 31:33; 2Cor. 3:3)

Oh Lord, kill the foolish and wicked ways within me. Kill them before they take root and grow, spreading their cancer-like tentacles of pride and deceit into every area of my life. For I know that…“in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet we will all be changed. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. … When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:50-57

He is coming quickly.

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

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