Seek Understanding, Time is Short 12-10-12

“God reconciled us to Himself through Christ

And gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Cor. 5:18

What is the “ministry of reconciliation”? The dictionary describes reconciliation as “an adjustment of a difference; restoration to favor; atonement”. So, the ministry of reconciliation effectively means “to put our faith into action by seeking to habitually restore relational damage”.

Personal example: (Preface: Jesus must be coming soon or we Cleary’s are “going Home” soon, because these kind of events don’t “simply occur”, they’re “God orchestrated”.)

Within a ONE-week timeframe 5 individuals, who reside near and FAR, have “popped” back into our life. What was their common thread? An unresolved relational issue. What transpired? Each of the 5 separate relationships has miraculously been restored to a position of forgiveness and much understanding.

Jesus tells us this, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” Matt. 5:23-24

Yes, Jesus tells us to do a lot of difficult things. But in the heat of the moment, when push comes to shove, what might make us want to do the “it” in our own life the way Jesus advises? The primary motivation for us these days is His soon and coming return as Matthew 24 forewarns.

World events are indeed “cooking up” rapidly. From global physical calamities (like hurricanes, earthquakes and predicted astronomical cataclysmic events), to our vast moral decay (like the entertainment industry’s unquenchable quest for lust, or aggressive public demands for specific “rights” that God condemns; or lies and deceit being honored in our highest offices), to the rise of hatred towards Israel by all nations (like the latest UN vote to split Israel and surrounding nations committed to her annihilation; or Russia supplying Iran who in turn supplies Gaza, etc.); to recent strides towards one world government (like numerous current UN sanctions designed to strip all countries of self-governance akin to taking over the internet, etc.); to strides towards one world religion (like Islamic predictions that the Mahdi will return within the year and bring the “peace of Islam” to all nations which they believe will be brought about by worldwide chaos, created by worldwide jihad); etc., etc. (For more in-depth info. study Gen. 10 with Ezek. 37-39; Dan. 11; Ps. 83; Matt. 24 with 1Thess. 4-5, 1Tim. 4; 2 Tim. 3-4; and Rev. 17-22)

It’s time to get our lives in order. God has given us the “end of days road map”, laying out detailed “signs” over and over and over again in His Word. He deeply desires us to know these signs and then to order our lives accordingly.

We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20

With the things of God, may we choose not be apathetic or complacent this week!

Much love,  ~Shaun and Betsy

Say NO to Eeyore 12-3-12

“All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.” Deut. 28:2

Many Believers live their daily lives with the demeanor of a worn out donkey. Like Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh”, these folks let out long sighs and constantly complain about the heaviness of their unique burdens.

To be around these kind of Believer’s can be exhausting. Plus, let’s not belittle the fact that these people are defaming of God’s Name to all onlookers.

~So why would we ever permit ourselves to be one of them?

Personal example:

One of our kids experienced a rather large disappointment recently. Although he was “human” in his initial reaction, he quickly realized that a lot of people were eyeing him (and his response). So amidst the adversity, with the maturity of someone twice his age, he surmised the equation:

He had elected to “live his faith out-loud”,

 So, the manner to which he behaved directly reflected the way people view his God.

He realized that choosing to behave in obedience to God does not “just happen” and therefore must be purposefully and intentionally implemented.

What did he do next?

In a very practical manner and despite his feelings, he chose to “praise God for the privilege of being called by His Name, to put off his old self (his down-trodden mind-set), and to be made new in the attitude of his mind.” (1 Pet. 4:16; Eph. 4:22-23)

What followed?

Astounding blessings from heaven flowed into his life.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Eph. 1:3

This week let’s choose to live in a manner that speaks to the position we have in Christ…a blessed Royal Heir to the King of Kings!

He is coming for us soon,

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

Alert and on Watch 11-19-12

STAY ALERT! KEEP WATCH!

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the Spirit is willing, but the body is weak! Matt. 26:41

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Pet. 5:8

So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

1 Thess. 5:6

Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. 1Tim. 4:16

Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matt. 24:42

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Col. 4:2

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.

Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Eph. 6:18

“God hears the prayers of the righteous.” Prv. 15:29

All around us we are seeing people we care for being sideswiped by the devil’s tactics.

Oh that we may be humble enough and wise enough to ask for prayer, and diligent enough to hold up others in prayer, as we live alert and in watch for God’s eminent return.

Matt. 24 is upon us.

In Him,

Shaun and Betsy

Warning 11-12-12

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. 
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, 
but everyone to come to repentance.” 2Pet. 3:9

God needs His kids to understand this truth: We are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one group 1) we are the smell of death and to the other group, 2) the fragrance of life. (2 Cor. 15-16)

Living for Jesus will produce two “aromas” for recipient noses: fragrant and pleasing OR pungent and rotting. Have you noticed?

2 Thess. 2:10-11 tells us that one day, people will perish because they will refuse to love the Truth and so be saved. (To these folks, Christ’s aroma will be pungent and rotting.) And for this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.

Does this sound familiar? ~This scenario has occurred a number of times in the past and will occur again. Rom. 1:25-28 tells us, “They exchanged the Truth for the lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator… Since they didn’t think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not be done.” (Interesting study: examine what God means by “depraved mind”.)

One day, the deception will turn into a “full-blown” falsehood as men fully embrace the lie and will then attempt to make living for Almighty God illegal (dead).

Recall these forewarnings in Scripture:

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1Tim. 4:1-2

 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth. Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

2 Tim. 4:3-4; Matt. 24: 10-13

 If true believers look at it through temporal lenses, this news can appear to be a real downer. But if we “see” through God’s eternal filter, this news is rather exciting in light of His eminent return.

Until then, God beseeches us to LOVE others, live a holy life, teach the Word, to be constantly prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have; to correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction… And if we should suffer for what is right, we are blessed and need not fear.

(1Jn. 4:11-12; 1Thess. 4:7; 2Tim. 4:2; 1Pet. 3:13-17)

Living out loud for Him,

Shaun and Betsy

Confident Hope 10-29-12

“Rejoice in our Confident Hope.

Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Rom. 12:12

Got problems?

Some troubles can be solved by thoughtful contemplation and dialogue.

Some can be resolved through evaluation and rearranging our priorities while others are mitigated through good counsel.

Some can only be relieved through heavenly intervention facilitated by prayer.

And some are never fully solved, but are our best “life teachers” if we embrace them.

~God’s sovereign plan for our lives doesn’t eliminate personal responsibility, and in recent days, we Cleary’s have employed ‘all of the above’ to tackle a particular challenge in our own lives.

Not surprisingly, we continue to find that our principal source of comfort, strength and guidance comes through unwavering faith and trust in God and His promises to lead us through this challenge. After all, He is the One who allows challenges, desiring to work them “in and out” for His glory.

Rom. 4:20-22 speaks of Abraham’s unwavering faith in God and His promises. How interesting it is when we substitute our own name in the blanks.

Why not try it now:

“(Your name) never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, ______ faith grew stronger, and in this, ______ brought glory to God. ______ was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises. And because of ______’s faith, God counted _____ as righteous.”

Cool, huh?

People and this world will fail us, but God never lets us down.

May God bless us this week as we “live out loud” for Him.

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

Divine Hunger Games 10-22-12

“Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God.”

1 Chr. 22:19

God always has a “soul lesson” to impart to us amidst a trial.

Amidst our soul lesson, God trusts us with His divine wisdom to the degree that we know His heart.

We fall into deception when we don’t seek to understand the true heart of God, but choose instead to embrace our ideas about the heart of God and make decisions based on our own feelings.

Example: Each of us has at least one someone/something in our life that has caused (is causing) us pain. When interacting with this person/circumstance, we have choices to make. Probably the biggest choice is whether we follow our gut (feelings) or whether we choose to ask God to fill us with His heart for this person or circumstance, and then follow His promptings moment to moment.

Probing questions:

How do I get to know God better?

Well, if someone wants to get to know me better, the best way to do this is to hang out with me. So, if I want to understand God better, I may want to hang out with Him. The more I get to KNOW God’s heartbeat, the more I fall in love with Him and am saddened to hurt Him. ~I will no longer covet merely His power and miracles, but I will yearn for the stuff that He deeply desires.

How do I hang out with God?

Read His love letters, pray to Him with the help of His Holy Spirit within, worship Him in His creation, and learn more about where He resides.  ~We gain God’s perspective on this world when we better understand His world.

~A neat way we Cleary’s have been hanging with God lately is viewing or reading accounts of heaven (and also hell), providing us a atypical perspective on ‘our here and now’. Here are a few neat YouTube links:  

http://youtu.be/49wut32Cguw

http://youtu.be/UYwC2-utH4A

All of us “get” that living for God amidst enticing indulgences is not easy, and embracing lessons (vs. evading pain) amidst our current challenge is even more difficult. … But God isn’t in the business of fixing our troubles! He’s in the business of revealing Himself to us as we live through life’s difficulties.

In order to live for Him, our desire for God’s happiness must become more alluring than what the world (or our flesh) is offering.

Let’s endeavor to really KNOW Him better this week.

Check out this link!   http://youtu.be/K-eSRcr9CWw  

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

Intoxicated with Who? 10-8-12

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth (leaders of the people) committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” Rev. 17:1-2

Sometimes our prosperity, popularity or physical attributes blind us to our spiritual helplessness. Positions of leadership are especially vulnerable. Many leaders today fall into one of two camps:

1) Proud, arrogant, self-indulgent, intoxicated with personal perceptions

OR

2) Confident, meek, selfless, intoxicated with the Living Spirit

~But before we start pointing fingers, let’s insert our own name in the following blanks:

______, be sure, your sins will find you out. It’s time for judgment to BEGIN with the household of God. (Num. 32:23; 1Pet. 4:17)

Be holy, for God is holy, ______. Offer your body as a living sacrifice. (1Pet. 1:16; Rom. 12:1)

The Lord God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness and truth…YET, ______, He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. (Ex. 34:6-7)

______, how your adulterous heart has hurt Me. You have turned away from Me and by your eyes have played the harlot. (Ezek. 6:9)

OUCH, huh?!

God our Savior desires ALL men to be saved and to come to knowledge of truth. 1 Tim. 2:4 So…after examining our own life and making some changes, perhaps we can encourage a loved one to do the same? (It takes guts to question someone we care about. That’s why we must examine our own life first, pray for our loved one, then with a compassionate heart speak forth only when God opens the opportunity.)

The time is short! “An overwhelming scourge WILL sweep by us…. The Lord will rise up…to do His work, His strange work, and perform His task, His alien task, so stop your mocking. For suddenly, in an instant, the Lord Almighty will come with thunder, earthquake, great noise, windstorm, tempest and flames of devouring fire.” (Is. 28:18; Is. 29:5-6)

Crazy times we live in! ~Let’s live out loud for His Name sake.

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy