Category Archives: Spiritual Food

Practical Application of God’s Word; taking what you read and making it visible in your everyday life.

God’s Benefit Package 

Church Leaders, Family Ministry, Giving Thanks, Spiritual Food, , , , ,

Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV Bless (ḇâraḵ) the Lord (JEHOVAH), O my soul; And all that is within (midst, among, inner part) me, bless (ḇâraḵ) His holy (sacred-set-apartness) name! 2 Bless (ḇâraḵ) the Lord, O my soul, my And forget not all His benefits (compensation; make a mends for a wrong done unto you): 3 Who forgives all your iniquities (perversity, depravity, guilt) Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems (avenge, revenge, ransom) your life from destruction (pit (of Hell), the grave) Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies (compassion), 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed (to make anew, to repair) like the eagle’s.

So I remembered that the title sounded very familiar, so I did some digging in my notes, and back in March of 2023, I’d written 

The Lord’s Benefits Package

Psalm 103:6 The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.

So this is a Psalm of David, the “Man after God’s Own Heart.” Another powerful praise song to the Lord. Just look at the first verse: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” I cannot read that without breaking out in song. That verse alone is powerful and could stand by itself. 

Yet he goes further in the following few verses to remind us of something which might be just as powerful: “Don’t forget the Benefits of our relationship with God.” When I heard the word ‘Benefits,’ I was struck by the thought of a benefits package that comes with some job offers. These packages include medical coverage, life insurance, dental insurance, a 401 (k), holidays, and paid time off. So in that same spirit, I noticed a couple of things: 

  1. Medical Coverage: (vs 3….Who heals all your diseases; vs 5 So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s). We receive healthcare from the Great Physician. Jesus went about healing the sick (Matt 4:23). He took the beatings, wounds, bruises, and humiliation upon Himself, then healed us with His stripes (Isa 53:4-5). Just like Abraham, Caleb, Elisha, and Samson, He will give us renewed (Renewed: to rebuild; to renew; to repair) youth/supernatural strength. Our Healthcare is covered by Jesus’ Blood. 
  2. Life Insurance: (vs 4 Who redeems your life from destruction). Life insurance is a benefit that’s only paid out after someone’s death. When Jesus died, He redeemed (Redeem:  To buy back a relative’s property….to marry his widow….deliver…purchase/ransom) our lives from destruction (Destruction:  a pit; a trap; ditch; grave); He bought our lives back from being trapped in a ditch, like Joseph. 
  3. Dental Insurance: (5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things? Jesus will fix our mouthed; we will speak faith and life (Eph 6:19). We will declare God’s goodness (Rom 2:4). He will also satisfy (Satisfies: to sate; fill to satisfaction; to have enough; have plenty.  supply (someone) with as much as or more of something than is desired or can be managed) us with His overflow of Favor (Ps 23:6). 
  4. 401 K: (vs 3 Who forgives all your iniquities). The Retirement account is designed to provide for you after you have retired. Jesus finished the work on the cross; He declared it finished (Jn 19:30). Understand what He finished on the cross; all was forgiven. He forgave our iniquities (Iniquities: Perversity; evil; mischief (Perversity is a deliberate desire to behave unreasonably or unacceptably; contrariness.   OR the quality of being contrary to accepted standards or practice).  Cambridge’s Definition of perversity: the quality of being strange and not what most people would do or expect: Sexual behaviour that is considered strange and unpleasant by most people.  Let all that marinate; His blood covers all.

The Lord’s Benefits Package is one-of-a-kind and covers everything you could possibly need. It will make you declare just like David: Bless the LORD, O my soul!

What Are You Striving For

Church Leaders, Family Ministry, Spiritual Food, , ,

Acts 24:16 NKJV This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Paul was before the Governor of Caesarea, Felix, after being plotted against by the Jews in Jerusalem. Here he is pleading (via a carefully crafted sermon) as to why he does not deserve the bogus charge the Jews had made against him, and to tell Felix and whatever audience was there about Jesus and “the Way,” that which we call Christianity. Yet as he is sharing these words to the Governor, Paul makes this statement: so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” 

So what exactly was Paul saying? 

  1. This being so:Paul was acknowledging the Truth of what he believed in and who he believed in. Jesus is “the Way,” but the Way is also what they called all those who followed Jesus. Ultimately, he was letting Felix know that everything he did was because he believed in Jesus. 
  2. I myself always strive: Paul wanted this audience to know that in every effort he made, every action he took, he took painstaking (requiring immense care and meticulous attention to detail) efforts to ensure. He did not take anything for granted or take steps haphazardly. He was very intentional in everything he did. 
  3. to have a conscience without offense: So, what was he so careful about? To maintain a moral consciousness without any malicious intent to harm anyone. In this case, not to cause offense (not leading others to sin by one’s mode of life). He did not want to cause anybody to sin because of his actions. We live in a day of constant acknowledgment of people’s shortcomings, whether in government. official, teacher, church pastor, or the President of a country. It seems that every day, someone will do something to lead others astray or cause offense. After all, these Jews were about to kill Paul if they could, but Paul wanted Felix and us all to know that he carefully chose his actions in a way to ensure that nobody fell because of him. 
  4. toward God and men: The thing about Paul is that he had lived much of his early life being offensive. Both to God and men. Remember, he was persecuting the early church so much that Jesus told him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 22:7). So then, I guess it was only right that, after meeting Jesus on that Damascus road, he would strive never to cause offense again. 

This leads me to ask: how are we living our lives? Are we living in a way to lead others to sin, or are we being diligent, disciplined, and deliberate to live lives that lead people to the Christ that Paul believed in??

What Did Martha Choose??

Spiritual Food

Luke 10:40-42 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”  41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

This Bible is such a great read. I mean, whatever your favorite movie has, the Bible has it in spades. A great plot, incredible action, a captivating love saga, and even season or franchise-ending cliffhangers. You know when the plot takes a crazy twist or the character has a crucial decision to make, and just when it is time for that tantalizing moment to take place, boom, the credits start appearing on the screen, or even worse, those words we dread…To Be Continued….

NOOOOO!!!! I need to know what happens next. 

Well, in Luke’s Gospel, that is where we find ourselves. Jesus is spending time with a few of His favorite people (keep reading, you’ll see it for yourself…Jn. While He is visiting and speaking with Mary, big sister Martha enters the room and is dismayed. She is super busy trying to make everything special for Jesus’ visit, after all, it’s Jesus. Who wouldn’t want to ensure that His visit met His standards and was worthy of such a King? Well, Jesus wouldn’t.

In Martha’s desire to make things ideal (almost perfect), much work and many things had to be addressed. Do you ever feel like that? “If this doesn’t go perfectly, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Well, of course, in her mind, it has to be this way, and I need help to make it happen. I need Jesus to be happy with my effort. So, I have to have help. Who can help me, and why have they not stepped in already? Don’t they know how important this is (to me, Martha)? Don’t we think all of these things in our heads sometimes (often)? 

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

This is not what Jesus thinks; in fact, this text shows that He believes the exact opposite. When Jesus visits, everything should be dropped, and rest is of the utmost importance. 

Martha became upset because her needs were not being met. As a matter of fact, she became visibly upset!! Upset with herself, with her circumstances, with her sister, and ultimately with her Savior. Her first accusation was against Jesus. In her hurt, her disappointment (maybe even perceived disapproval), she:

  1. Accused Jesus: “Lord, do You not care? Oh, how many times has that been a question in our hearts about “The One” who cared so much that He gave it all for each of Us. I mean, I’m thinking those very words as I type because of my own situation. We like to cover it up in beautiful church lingo so it can sound like a deep prayer. However, at its core, it is clearly a jab to let Jesus know that if You genuinely cared about me… How often have we also done this to our loved ones? Admit it, we accuse (so does that put us in the same category as… Rev 12:10). 
  2. Blamed Mary: my sister has left me to serve alone. Look at her, what I want is way more important. She should be helping me. I’m doing this, so everything else has lower priority. You know, in our own minds, we are very difficult people to be around. It’s a good thing no one else lives there (but there is another in there). Martha blamed her sister for not helping, even though she did not understand what Mary was doing. I believe that Martha knew where Mary was and what Mary was doing. She didn’t understand the why. Do we ever really care about someone else’s why, when it is affecting us now?? I’m learning to wonder why more, I’m even sometimes having the courage to ask “why.” Do you ever actually wonder why? I think sometimes we don’t wonder why or ask others their why, because the answer might be “me,” or because of you, and we really don’t want to know that. 
  3. Demanded Action: Therefore tell her to help me!!! She demanded correction to Mary’s apparent betrayal. Like Martha, we demand things from others to suit our priorities, our will, our plans. And if we’re honest, it is unfair to them. One, because at the core of that demand was a selfish attempt to gain favor, approval, adoration, maybe even of Jesus. Yet, Jesus has already adored you with His shed blood (Jn 3:16); He has already approved us in the beloved (Eph 1); and has showered us with favor (Pro 8:35). Maybe when we are feeling like Martha, we should ask ourselves “why.” 

Here is the beautiful thing about Jesus: while He knows everything, He never condemns His beloved. He corrects us in Love:

  1. Jesus Acknowledges Us: Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. Martha was dismayed, and Jesus did not dismiss it. He acknowledged that she was frustrated, but He also told her what the problem was. She was worried and troubled. Martha thought she was being ignored and rejected, but she was actually something else entirely. 
  2. Jesus Answers Us: But one thing is needed. Jesus always gives us the answer, whether by His Spirit, in His Word, or by sending someone else. Now, it is very often not what we want to hear. Martha expected Him to capitulate to her demand, kind of like what many in very important positions are doing daily for one elected narcissist (while true, that was my flesh). No, Jesus answers in truth. The one thing Martha needed was the “why” Mary was not helping her(and Mary has chosen that good part). I’m sure you’ve been there when Jesus’ answer is the exact opposite of what you’ve demanded from Him? Fix them, and He will correct you and address your attitude. Lastly,
  3. Jesus Assured Us: which will not be taken away from her. Jesus let Martha know (and Mary, for that matter) that Mary had chosen that good part; He assured them both that He would never allow that to be taken away. The Lord is our protector and our defender. When we choose Him, He protects us. In this case, Mary chose to sit at His feet, to be fed by Him, receive His wisdom and joy and peace; to be in His Presence (Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy). He wants us to have that, and He will protect it at all costs, even if that cost is us. 

So this leads me back to the title of this little share: What Did Martha Choose??? The story ends with us not knowing. It is a cliffhanger that we may never know. But it leaves us with a decision we must make. So what will you choose???

The Abrahamic Covenant 

Spiritual Food

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”……

This chapter is the beginning of the execution of what we have come to know as the Abrahamic Covenant, the covenant that God made with Abraham. 

What is a covenant? It is an alliance, a pledge between two people, countries, or kingdoms. Other words that are used to articulate this word: a constitution, an agreement, or a pledge (man to man). A marriage is a covenant, and one of the closest examples of what a covenant is. However, today, a marriage is much more like a contract than a covenant. But a contract can be breached; one can fail to perform it, and the outcome can be decided in court. 

Why is this so important? I believe that it is the process, even the parts that are unseen. Let’s look at this. 

  1. Abram’s Vision: Genesis 15:1 After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” God appeared to Abram to let him know that he did not have to fear the unknown, but that he could count on the fact that God would be his reward (payment of a contract; wages). As a business owner, this speaks volumes to me, as the very existence of my position as an owner is daily seeking out contracts to help build and sustain our company. The executed contract is the mechanism that enables companies to prosper and succeed. So, for this to be what God shared with Abram first is significant. Abram, I’m your prosperity and blessings; you can count on me and don’t have to rely on others. 
  2. Abram’s Doubt: Genesis 15:2-3 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed, one born in my house is my heir!” I can relate to Abram; after all, when nothing around you remotely resembles what God is showing you, why would you believe it? On that day, you were thought to be blessed when you had wealth (livestock, silver, gold), numerous descendants, a long life, and provisions. So here God is telling Abram about being blessed, yet it is why Abram pushed back on God, stating, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless?” He had no descendants. Unlike our generation, richness was based on Legacy (what type of legacy would be left). It was very valuable, and all of Abram’s possessions would go to a servant in his house; the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus. Therefore, what he was experiencing and seeing in his life caused doubt. We’ve been there, the bank account is low, the relationships are broken, there are health issues, or you are struggling in your own mind. There are many reasons for doubt, and we all have them. The thing is, Abram took his doubts directly to God. We need to learn to do the same thing; instead, we sometimes share them with others, or worse, allow the doubts to play over and over in our own minds. We will have doubts; we’re human, but take those doubts to God.
  3. Abram’s Answer: Genesis 15:4-5 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be. When we take our concerns to God, just as for Abram, He will answer us and do what He said (Genesis 15:7). Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”
  4. Abram’s Belief: Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. There comes a point in our walk/relationship with God, where we have to “piss or get off the pot.” Either we are going to believe God and take Him at His Word, or we are going to wallow in our own insufficiency. The verse says that he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. So he little h is Abram (or us), while He capital H is God. So little h believes and capital H accounted it for righteousness. Just like when we believe in Jesus as the Christ, it is accounted to us as righteousness. We are righteous because of what Jesus did on the Cross. Believe God will do what He says He will do. 
  5. Abram’s Action: Genesis 15:9-10 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. Abram asked God for direction; then he obeyed and offered a sacrifice. When we believe what God has told us, it is up to us to take the faith actions that align with God’s promises. 
  6. Abram’s Darkness: Genesis 15:12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. It was interesting to me that once Abram finally believed in God, horror and darkness followed. However, I thought about my own life and how many times I was high on expectations about what God was about to do, only for all hell to break loose and for everything that could go wrong to go wrong. It reminds me of the Sower of the Seed; when (then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart). We must be prepared for the enemy to attack, attempting to cause fear and unbelief. 
  7. Abram’s Covenant: Genesis 15:18-21 On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” God is our protector and provider. He is trustworthy and will step in at our darkest times. God knew the horror and darkness were coming, so He protected Abram with a deep sleep. While he was sleeping, God spoke life over him, executed the covenant, and then told him his future. 

This was all a process that I can learn from (I believe you can too). God is constantly speaking to us, and at times He will give us a vision of what is to come. It will be a vision way bigger than us and can only come to pass with God’s interaction. Should we doubt what God has shown us, we should go to Him with those concerns. He will address them and give us answers (probably won’t be all, but enough). Then we will have to believe His Word, take the necessary faith steps, and prepare for the enemy’s attack that is sure to come. Then we watch God do the impossible!!!!

Healing the Brokenhearted!!!!

For the Brokenhearted, God Loves You, Spiritual Food, To the Broken

What good romantic comedy or romance film is not centered around a Broken Heart? Whether it is at the very beginning of the film or more towards the middle of the movie, someone’s heart has been devastated by betrayal, lies, or broken trust. If it is true devastation, there will be either a death or complete abandonment, which shatters the heart of the star who is left reeling. But soon this drama will shift, and a new interest will appear, or the one who broke the heart will humbly return as a completely newly reformed individual to win back the love lost. And everyone lives happily ever after….The End. 

It’s funny how real life very seldom shares such a lovely finality. No, sometimes a broken heart 💔 hurts so bad, it’s like everything in you dries up like a desert, or how the Bible captured it in Proverbs 17:22 NKJV A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

I started grabbing Bible verses on the topic of brokenhearted a long while back, when dealing with the fact that my heart was and still is broken. I’d lost the heart of really by best friend years ago and have missed it ever since. It was just like the Bible to put it all into perspective, too—the hurt and pain it caused and the long-term effects. The Bible captured how it impacted famous biblical characters like David, Jeremiah, and even Solomon. I’d been sitting on this until today, when the Bible app used the key scripture that had been helping guide me to comfort: Psalm 34:18 NKJV: The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. 

I’m comforted that the Lord is near when my heart is broken, and my spirit is contrite (crushed). The word ‘contrite‘ really encapsulates the devastation a broken heart can cause. The word contrite in Hebrew means crushed into powder, utter destruction. WOW!!! Is that not how it feels? I’ve grabbed a few other verses on heartbreak below, but the pain and isolation of a broken heart remind me of the life of a leper. Matthew 8:2 NKJV And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 

In Hebrew days, the leper was literally cast off. Heartbreak can initially feel like that, like the one who had your heart, and everyone else around you has turned their backs on you, cast you out, and left you to fend for yourself. The leper was sent to a designated area away from all others not infected with this terrible disease so that nobody else could be contaminated, and even worse, no one would ever touch him again, and he was physically isolated as well, never to be able even to hug, caress, or kiss his loved ones again. Doesn’t heartbreak make you feel isolated, like nobody else understands or can help you, can relieve that hurt…that pain…that embarrassment…that shame. Not only do you feel isolated and abandoned, but literally your spirit is wounded, and your body physically hurts (But a broken spirit dries the bones). 

The devil’s method of (steal, kill, destroy Jn 10:10) begins with isolation. Isolation keeps you away from those who are sent to your life to pour love into you. You have friends that are always encouraging, always looking to make you smile, always wanting to “hang out,” sometimes it’s just getting downright irritating. However, God knows what we need, because He’s been dealing with this devil for a long time. By keeping that love from others away from you, the isolation keeps other voices from you and allows the enemy’s words to loom louder. You’re horrible, you don’t deserve love, it was all your fault, you will never be able to find love again—all kinds of lies, which add to the heartbreak and crushed spirit. 

Last week in the news (which is filled with heartbreak), there was a young college student who jumped to her death on campus. After one of the biggest weekends on campus and heading into the holidays, she was so heartbroken that she decided to end it all. Having a teenage daughter, there is nothing sadder to see than a young person feeling so crushed in spirit, isolated, and broken that a decision like that is all she thought she had. 

OK, let’s get to the good news. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart. Jesus is closer than you ever realize when your heart is broken, and He even said as much when making this declaration in the synagogue to the Jewish leadership: Luke 4:18 NKJV “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Jesus was sent to heal our brokenness, heal our broken hearts, which is why He remains near to those who have a broken heart.

This is also what the leper in Matthew’s Gospel found out: Jesus was not only sent, but He is more than willing to heal us. Matthew 8:3 NKJV Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately, his leprosy was cleansed. The love that Jesus has for us will always be unmatched by anyone or anything. Jesus demonstrated His love for this isolated, brokenhearted, and diseased leper by first touching him, then cleansing and healing him. Jesus restored this leper’s dignity, then his body, then his position in the community, all with one touch, one phrase, one anointing. That same anointing is awaiting you. He has drawn near to you. Ask Him to heal your broken heart 💔 today.

Romans 5:8 NKJV But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

“Let It Go”

Spiritual Food

Luke 12:22 NKJV Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Jesus loves us and wants us to be worry-free. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. Luke reminds us at the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus said, “do not worry about your life.“ Pretty simple, right? Wrong!!!! That is one of the most challenging things there is to do. What’s crazy to me is that as a young Christian, this was one of the easier principles for me to connect with. I’m typically a pretty laid-back guy with not too many cares in the world, or at least I used to be, so much so that it would frustrate people around me, because even as a kid, my thought process was that God would take care of it. 

However, now more than ever, I worry about so much. My Life-my own mortality; my Family-my relationships with my wife and with my kids; my Business-EVERYTHING (every little freaking thing); my Faith-are you still there Lord. It’s honestly like the more God has blessed me, the more I worry about what He’s blessed me with. But common sense (or the Wisdom of the Word) should tell me that if He blessed me with it, then why would I worry (Proverbs 10:22 NKJV The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it). 

I see the issue in one of my favorite scriptures, Matthew 11:28 NKJV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. This was never a problem for me; I loved running to Him when I felt overwhelmed and casting all of my cares at His feet. Yet, here was my screw up, Jesus said to “Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.“ 

Yet, rather than taking His yoke (a contraption used to pair oxen to carry extremely heavy loads), I was taking back His burdens. What?? A yoke is also a burden or bondage. Jesus died to give us a divine exchange, His righteousness for our sin, burdens, sorrows, and diseases. Yet when we hold on to the worries and the cares that are supposed to be laid at His feet, we grab hold of the very burden that He died for. We need to grab His Yoke (which, without going into the first sermonette I ever preached in front of Pastor John K. Jenkins… long story, irrelevant, and a great memory for me). His Yoke is the Cross, and when we grab ahold of it rather than our worries, we receive the Grace that is sufficient to meet every need we have (Phil 4:19). After all, His Yoke is easy…Matthew 11:30 NKJV For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Weight of the World on His Shoulders

Giving Thanks, God Loves You, Spiritual Food

Luke 15:4-5 NKJV “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Exodus 28:12 NKJV And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.

I’m a retired Coast Guard Officer, and about a year before retirement I strained my shoulder (rotator cuff) while working out. I did some PT and eventually the pain was gone.  However, over the years every now and then it flares up.  Recently, I’ve noticed after a few rough nights of sleep, that my left shoulder was starting to hurt and a few weeks later my right one.  I was walking this morning when the Lord told me that my shoulders were hurting so bad because I continue to place the “weight of the world” on my shoulders, without giving the cares, concerns and worry fully over to Him.  You would figure that it would be great to know that the Lord cares so much and that He would provide this type of guidance, and it really is, what Love He has for me.  Yet, if I’m honest, it hurt.  It was quite painful, because I quote 1 Peter 5:7 (casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you) every single day, and every morning I start the day thanking God for taking these cares, providing me wisdom, giving me favor and supplying all of my needs. So how could I not be giving Him all of these worries and cares.  Shoot, I definitely dont want them so why am I holding on to them Lord?  That was what I asked Him today.

Now with all of that as background why did I choose these two verses?  

  1. We have to give up (consent).  Luke 15:4-5 NKJV “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  So while this is a very familiar text, I will never forget when Pastor Joseph Prince taught on what salvation truly is (https://youtu.be/W9AkJsf_cwo?si=GTHKhcAD4tAWiZ5h) and how we really repent.  We have to submit to be carried in other words must we consent.  Consent means to be in agreement; to give permission for something to happen.  We have to give Jesus permission to save us, love us and take all of our worries and cares.  If we don’t consent Jesus will not force Himself on us.  However, if we consent, He will overtake us (Deuteronomy 28:2 NKJV And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God) with his abundant Love, Favor and Protection).  
  2. We are already Positioned by our High Priest.  Exodus 28:12 NKJV And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.  This text is from the old testiment and shines light on the role of the High Priest and the position we are in as God’s sons and daughters.  Jesus is our High Priest and has positioned us righteous, next to the Father in heavenly places.  In that positioning we have freely been made righteous by Jesus’ shed blood, and unable to loose it because we did nothing to earn it.  We are already positioned for success, but we must know that and walk from that success and not to it; from righteousness not trying to go after it.   

Listen if we will consent to be loved and cared for by Jesus; He will overflow us with that Love.  When we know where we are positioned with Christ, we will stop trying to do enough to gain His righteousness, and walk in that righteousness to all of the blessing promised to us (Genesis 28:4 And give you the blessing of Abraham…).   

That’s the Way Love Goes

Family Ministry, God Loves You, Self Care, Spiritual Food, , , , , ,

1 John 4:17-19 NKJV Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

OK so I guess I was having a Pastor Jamal Bryant moment with the title choice today (Pastor Bryant is known for his very provocative sermon titles).  However, when I read these three verses, and read them together it was the first thing that popped into my mind.  Why?

Maybe it was because it’s the title of a song that somewhat redefined Janet Jackson’s entire singing career.  That song and that album turned Janet from an international singing super star, who had just rose from under the shadow of her famous brother, to a global sensation and sex symbol who had now put herself among the same plan as her brother because she had displayed a new side of herself that no had ever expected.  WHAT??  Then why would I see John’s words and think of this secular star.  

One my brain could be a little warped and these three verses are considered the Consummation of Love; that word consummation means the completion, achievement, attainment, execution or conclusion of love.  It denotes the action of making a marriage or relationship complete by having sexual intercourse. The completion of the covenant. Just as this song and album completes Janet’s quest to become a global phenomenon this section of scripture consummated Jesus’ Love Toward Us when HE died on the cross for our sins.

The crazy thing is this; each of these verses have been preached, taught, meditated on and had entire conferences centered around them.  But when you read them together.  It just makes everything Crystal Clear!!!  

Love Consummated (or perfected)

  1. Perfect Oneness-(The Two Become One): Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  
  2. Perfect Security: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
  3. Perfect Pursuit: We love Him because He first loved us.

This radically changes how you see a relationship.  Because our relationship with God was perfected the minute He had Jesus come to earth to live and give His life so that we all would be able to be loved.  Jesus made it possible for God to truly demonstrate His love for us.  The cross allowed us to become one with Jesus and be seated at the right hand of God.  Because of His sacrifice, sin which kept us apart from God was destroyed, removed as a barrier to Him.  Now He could pour out His great love toward us like never before.  We were able to literally become One with God (John 17:22 NKJV And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one).   

Next we understand the true Security of His love for us.  To be secure is the be safe, have a feeling of safety or even the constant state of being protected against any danger or threat.  Being secure, stable, firm in your place.  I just looked up the three biggest fears of mankind and they are; death, abandonment, and failure.  Man, O could cry crocodile tears right there because that is the way the devil (our enemy) comes at me damn near every day.  Death, he is always reminding me of when my father and grandfather died so why do you think you will live to much longer; showing me a ton of people dying in and around that age.  Then he attacks with abandonment, being isolated loosing relationship focusing on how everyone around me wants nothing to do with me, I’d they had their choice they would be somewhere or be with someone else.  Always pushing me towards isolation.  Let me tell you first hand for a people person that sucks… Yet, let me also tell you what God says to us (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV…For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”) Jesus died on the Crosss and was resurrected to the Father, He never abandoned us but gave us Forever Help (John 15:26 NKJV “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me).  We are not alone….

Then lastly, that failure attack!! It is a non-stop attempt to minimize any accomplishment, overemphasize or stress any setback or unmet goal.  It literally diminished almost any success and makes the world come crashing down with any and every inevitable missed opportunity, problem, or unmet expectation.  I see this every single day as a business owner.  It becomes so hard to celebrate the small victories because of the constant thought of one dropped ball bring the whole thing crashing down.  However, when I find myself here I have to recall Jesus’ perfect love which gives me the option to cast all of these cares on Him (1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you).  A big part of God’s perfected love is that He does not force anything, this then causes us to submit ourselves to be loved.  You have to humble you to give all of this stuff in us to God.  When we won’t humble ourselves and allow Him to love us we hold on to the fear of abandonment afraid that if we give it He may decide it’s too much and leave as well not accepting the fact that He cares for you.  His care for us loves the mess out of us.  

God came after us, it was a full out Pursuit.  God chased us down.  To show us why we needed him (the Law; wages of sin); to demonstrate true love (that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us) and lastly giving us blessed assurance (John 16:33 NKJV These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”) He has paved the way for us to overcome and He has made a place with Him forever (John 14:2-3 NKJV  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also).  When we were pursued in the manner that God pursued each of us we cannot help but be loved and then return that love (because He first loved us). 

We need this Love, but the majority of the world does not accept it and they look for it everywhere else.  

But you know what….That’s the Way Love Goes.  

Judas’ Breaking Point

Spiritual Food

Mark 14:3-4. And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. …10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.

Here in the book of Mark, the author tells a well known story of Mary coming to anoint Jesus’ body while at the house of Simon the leper.  That statement is significant in itself, the fact they were eating at the home of a former leper speaks of Jesus healing power (the book of John tells this same story and we find out a risen Lazarus was also present).  Yet it is here where the rubber seemed to meet the road for Judas.  I call it his breaking point, because it was here when Mary broke open the alabaster box of perfume smelling oil (alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard), that she would unknowingly be preparing Jesus’s body for burial.  

However, this breaking of the alabaster box, sent Judas spiraling.  He couldn’t fathom how something so expensive could be wasted on Jesus and not given to the ministry that he was working so hard to finance.  We later in John’s gospel find out it was Judas making the comment, and we see here that he had others also angry as it said  some who were indignant (moved with indignation or resentment, to be very displeased).

So much so that Judas, Evan after Jesus pleas for them to understand that what Mary was doing held special value, he immediately got up and went to the chief priests to betray Him (Jesus) to them (the high priests).  Wow resentment (bitterness) will make you quickly loose the big picture, fracture relationships, make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances

That’s where I want to park today, Judas could not obviously determine from this ladies one action, that Jesus, who they knew to be the Son of God, needed to be betrayed.  I beg you to consider that these feelings had been building up.  We having hindsight know that his betrayal was a part of the divine plan, but his humanity still had to get him to this decision point.  What was it.  Was it that fact that when he came aboard to follow this rabbi, Judas had different expectations?  Could it be that because Judas was in charge of the money, all of the denarii he watch pass through their coffers, he realized how lucrative this could be or maybe how much he could have?  Maybe Judas was thinking about the life he left and what he loss to follow this guy who maybe didn’t seem to the King Judas hoped he would be.  Maybe his relationship had soured with Jesus and this was the last straw, the last difference of opinion, the straw that broke the camel’s back.  

Judas would then make a decision that changed everything.  It destroyed his walk with Jesus; his faith in God; his relationship with his brothers and filled him with embarrassment and shame. It cost Jesus his life; it destroyed the ministry they had built (as he knew it) and it ultimately cost him his own life as well.  If only he could have waited until the circumstances around him changed.  How different would life had been for him. 

What resentment are you holding on to, I mean gripping to for dear life.  Who hurt you that bad, that your blinders are up and all you see is read.  You have completely cut off the relationship (at least the way it was and could still be); you have isolated your feelings to the point where your heart is rock solid.  

Stop!!! Let Judas help you.  The circumstances are about to change, hold on I know it hurts but open your heart again.  Let Jesus do what He was about to do for Judas, Change Everything.  Jesus revealed the truth of who He was (in his persecution and execution on the cross) to the disciples, yes even Judas and while it was too late to stop his rash decision, it was not too late to save his life.  Jesus died for all of our sins including that decision Judas made.  And also for you and that person you currently resent.  But resentment will cloud your judgement; open you up to irrational decisions and ultimately lead to guilt and shame.  If Judas was here I guarantee he would have many sermons to offer on this topic, but for now let his life do the speaking.