“A Mother’s Love”
I hated I didn’t get to see the three mother’s I wanted to see today and for some reason it made me start reading. I was thinking about “the love of a mother thru Christ”. I just wrote about “love” and I believe there is no greater love after God’s except the love of a mother for her child. I found this poem and it just seemed perfect!
I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day;
And as my fingers pressed it still
It moved and yielded at my will.
I came again when days were past,
The form I gave it still it bore,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
I could change that form no more.
I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power and art,
A young child's soft and yielding heart.
I came again when days were gone;
It was a man I looked upon,
He still that early impress bore,
And I could change it never more.
Now this is really what God does to us, but as a mother you are asked to do certain things to help God mold a child and thru your obedience, you are the example that will be molding them thru his word. All this, done from love at any cost to yourself and that is what this is talking about as a Godly Mother. That is actually what the entire Bible is talking about. Listen, obey and love. Moms probably feel this love deeper than most.
Bryan was dedicating babies today and I was thinking the same thing he said. This is all about the parents making a statement about dedicating themselves. I had to go look this up and here is what I found about mothers.
Proverbs 6:20-23 is pretty awesome! It is telling a son to follow the commands of his father and teachings of his mother. Follow the Word of God that both your father’s gave you and that your mother has taught you. This should be by example as much as anything. If the son holds this close it will be with him always and be a lamp, a light and thru loving discipline show the way of life. This was just too perfect! I like to find people used as examples in the Bible and what better example than Mary? She is the mother of Jesus and what all this is about anyway.
Luke 1:30-38 shows how she trusted God and obeyed. That is all we can offer God and only good thing we can teach your children.
Luke 2:43-52 has been a special story lately! When they returned to find there son, she did this out of love and taught him to obey as he returned home with them. He listened to her because he knew she obeyed also. Teach by example.
Matthew 12:46-47 tells about Mary always being around. Moms always seem to be there for love and support.
Luke 11:27-28 is when Jesus was speaking and a lady spoke up to praise his momma for raising such an amazing person and he simply said that she obeyed and that is most important. He knew this and she was a great example.
All this comes together at the cross! John 19:23-27 is where the solders were dividing his garments. They each took one item and only his “seamless tunic” was left. Yes the seamless part is significant, but I believe he also thought of his mother at that point. She is most likely the one that made this for him and I am sure she went to some extraordinary loving effort to make this seamless and special just for her son. Jesus felt this and looked at her and spoke. Yes, she was standing right there beside him as he died for even her own sins. Can you imagine having to watch your own son go thru that and of all people she knew it was for her sins as much as any. Almost all the disciples fled and his father wasn’t even mentioned, but there his mother stood right beside him at the foot of the cross. Jesus told his best friend to talk care of her for him and her to treat him as a son. Jesus only spoke 7 times on the cross I believe and this is the only one that was personal. One of the last things Jesus Christ did on Earth was taking care of his mother!
I know that God does the shaping and molding eternally, but we are asked to trust, obey and love thru all parts of it. This is the example God wants us to be! To repeat Proverbs, it is the lamb and the light and is the way to life. Jesus and his mother were both examples we can use. We can be these examples that can save our children and lots of other people too. I have three mothers that have shown me this. Mom always had faith thru prayer. My sister always was an example thru obedience no matter what. I have just learned about the love at all cost lately from a special mother and best friend. Hey, none of us are perfect but you three are special to me and a lot of other people too! No one can take away that God used you 3 to change my life thru his power! The most loving gift we can give each other is Jesus!
I hoped I could say thanks in person but sometimes it is tough. I will see all three of you soon and take care of the in person part! Anyway, I thank you for the unmatchable love of a “Godly Mother”.
I love all of you in different ways and for different reasons, but know that I love you 3 more than everyone else except God and there is absolutely nothing you or anyone else can do about that!
BEZ
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
“Loving Yourself Last”
I have been thinking about a lot of things we have turned into life slogans. We quote some of these as if they were scripture and I am afraid we may believe they are sometimes. I have heard one over and over the last few months and it just didn’t set right with me. “You must love yourself before you can love others”. I am pretty sure I have even said it before too. I figured I would do the same thing I have been doing and see what the Bible said about this. The Bible is the Word of God and all things should be held up to it’s truth. Everything! This was extremely fun and has changed my life.
First thing is that “love” in the Bible is an action! “little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” 1 John 3:18. Yes, you feel loved, but only when someone actively and truly loves you. Feelings and emotions are necessary, but can be dangerous when not based in the truth. When truly loved thru actions we should be compelled to actively return that love. We can’t just love thru emotions. Therefore we can not love ourselves unless we do things to make ourselves happy. This is a really bad idea! I will save it for last. The Bible has 697 verses that reference the word “love” or a form of the word using the NIV translation. After reading all of them there are 5 things repeated about love. How God loves us, how we are to love him, how we stay in his love, how we are to love others and finally about loving ourselves. They are repeated because we do not listen! I do not believe we can truly understand love until we allow God to love us first. “we love because he first loved us” 1 John 4:19.
How does God love us? He sent his son Jesus to save and teach us the greatest expression of love possible by giving his life for our sins. John 3:16. He only loves with actions. He shows, sent, leads, makes, speaks, listens, teaches, saves, etc. How is his described: unfailing, faithful, protecting, saving, delivering, merciful, keeps promises, compassionate, slow to anger, forgiving, just, blesses in number, blesses in needed things, provides, gives real life, instructs, gives rest, shields, peace, renews, restores life, sustains, can’t take away, eternal, endures, waters his earth, great, remembers us, conquers, preserves, Christ’s death, sincere, hates evil, does not harm, purity, understanding, patience, kindness, listens, power, wide, long, high, deep, humble, gentle, speaks the truth, undying, joy, encourages the heart, united, respects, quiets, more delightful than wine, kept and everlasting. I am sure I missed a couple, but this is a pretty awesome example, agreed? Once we feel this love, I believe this is the love we always expect.
How are we asked to love God? Love him first! “whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, whoever loves son or daughter more then me is not worthy of me” Matthew 10:37. Then he asks us to love him with all we got! Our heart, soul, life, strength, mind, understanding and maybe the most important and toughest, as a child. A child loves his father instinctively and unconditionally. Even when an earthly father may be undeserving from time to time, a child just can’t help loving him and knows they need it back. Our heavenly father is always deserving and always gives back.
How are we asked to stay in his love? His is better to stay in so listen up here! By obeying him! Following his commandments, laws, decrees, requirements, listen, act justly, love mercy, walk in his ways, follow his statutes, be glad, rejoice, sing, love Jesus, believe in him and don’t be a stumbling block. That is a really small list when you realize it says obey and rejoice about doing it. You have to read his Word to do this. It is that simple. When we mess up it does not mean he stops loving, but we have broken fellowship with our disobedience or attitude. We should not desire this ever and better not stay there long. Don’t hide as Adam and Eve did and hope it goes away. I have tried that and it doesn’t work. Don’t be stubborn. Being out of his love will eventually bring his loving discipline. I have tried this route also and pray you don’t. Tell him you are sorry and mean it. Much less painful to apologize than to have him always after us.
Our most important command is “love”. “and now these remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” 1 Corinthians 13:13. “and he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also love his brother” 1 John 5:15. The most repeated verse about love is about loving each other. Most of the time it simply explains it, “as yourselves”. We always want and expect the best for ourselves! If we have felt God’s love we know it is the best. Give his out all the time! “be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” Romans 12:10. God was so devoted to us he sent Jesus! Loving the least of his people is emphasized also. Widows, poor, sick, orphans, etc. They can’t give much back so it is more like Jesus loved. Selfless love. Most of his miracles were for these people. Shows the power of true love.
Now finally it does speak of loving yourself. I left it last for a reason. It only leads to death, destruction, poverty, shame, etc. Now listen! Paul writes to Timothy as a warning. “but understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of Godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Doesn’t seem we should ever love ourselves, but sounds a little too familiar at the same time.
Other great things about love:
Matthew 24:12 increase in wickedness, love of most grows cold
Luke 6:27 love your enemies, do good to those who hate you
Luke 6:32 easy love is worthless
Luke 6:35 love and expect nothing back
Luke 7:47 greater forgiveness leads to greater love
John 15:13 no greater love than giving your life for a friend
John 15:19 love God and the world will hate you
Romans 12:9 love must be sincere
1 Corinthians 4:21 shall I come with the rod, or in love and gentle spirit
1 Corinthians 16:14 do everything in love
2 Corinthians 2:4 will sometimes break you down
2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver
Galatians 5:9 only thing than counts is faith expressing itself thru love
Galatians 5:22 one of the fruits of the spirit
1 Thessalonians 4:9 we don’t need to be told God taught us
1 Thessalonians 4:10 love should grow
Hebrews 12:6 God disciplines those he loves
James 1:12 persevering under trails is the test of love
1 John 4:18 no fear in love, perfect love cast out fear
Revelations 3:19 whom he loves he rebukes so be quick to repent
Revelations 20:9 he protects whom he loves
Now I didn’t get anything like “love yourself first” from any of this. It may be a play on words for some or maybe they didn’t think about it before they said it. I have said it before too. It just finally started sounding painful to hear. So I figured I would check and see what God thought about it. Sad thing was I already knew because I had already tried all the ones on the bad list. I am going to try it like Jesus now. He is our example and yes he is our target.
Hey, I don’t know why we are so bad at this one, but God loves us. We love him back and everyone else, we stay last, and I just promise it is worth letting go of our self love. Everyone wants “to feel” loved. It is a reaction to “being touched” though. Ask and allow God to touch and change your heart and keep him there by obeying him and loving it. You won’t be able to keep from loving differently. You will get it back different also.
Last thing, Romans 8 promises that nothing can stop God from loving us. WE can mess it up for a bit, but nothing can stop it! There is comfort and power in this part of love!
I love you all and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!
BEZ
I have been thinking about a lot of things we have turned into life slogans. We quote some of these as if they were scripture and I am afraid we may believe they are sometimes. I have heard one over and over the last few months and it just didn’t set right with me. “You must love yourself before you can love others”. I am pretty sure I have even said it before too. I figured I would do the same thing I have been doing and see what the Bible said about this. The Bible is the Word of God and all things should be held up to it’s truth. Everything! This was extremely fun and has changed my life.
First thing is that “love” in the Bible is an action! “little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” 1 John 3:18. Yes, you feel loved, but only when someone actively and truly loves you. Feelings and emotions are necessary, but can be dangerous when not based in the truth. When truly loved thru actions we should be compelled to actively return that love. We can’t just love thru emotions. Therefore we can not love ourselves unless we do things to make ourselves happy. This is a really bad idea! I will save it for last. The Bible has 697 verses that reference the word “love” or a form of the word using the NIV translation. After reading all of them there are 5 things repeated about love. How God loves us, how we are to love him, how we stay in his love, how we are to love others and finally about loving ourselves. They are repeated because we do not listen! I do not believe we can truly understand love until we allow God to love us first. “we love because he first loved us” 1 John 4:19.
How does God love us? He sent his son Jesus to save and teach us the greatest expression of love possible by giving his life for our sins. John 3:16. He only loves with actions. He shows, sent, leads, makes, speaks, listens, teaches, saves, etc. How is his described: unfailing, faithful, protecting, saving, delivering, merciful, keeps promises, compassionate, slow to anger, forgiving, just, blesses in number, blesses in needed things, provides, gives real life, instructs, gives rest, shields, peace, renews, restores life, sustains, can’t take away, eternal, endures, waters his earth, great, remembers us, conquers, preserves, Christ’s death, sincere, hates evil, does not harm, purity, understanding, patience, kindness, listens, power, wide, long, high, deep, humble, gentle, speaks the truth, undying, joy, encourages the heart, united, respects, quiets, more delightful than wine, kept and everlasting. I am sure I missed a couple, but this is a pretty awesome example, agreed? Once we feel this love, I believe this is the love we always expect.
How are we asked to love God? Love him first! “whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, whoever loves son or daughter more then me is not worthy of me” Matthew 10:37. Then he asks us to love him with all we got! Our heart, soul, life, strength, mind, understanding and maybe the most important and toughest, as a child. A child loves his father instinctively and unconditionally. Even when an earthly father may be undeserving from time to time, a child just can’t help loving him and knows they need it back. Our heavenly father is always deserving and always gives back.
How are we asked to stay in his love? His is better to stay in so listen up here! By obeying him! Following his commandments, laws, decrees, requirements, listen, act justly, love mercy, walk in his ways, follow his statutes, be glad, rejoice, sing, love Jesus, believe in him and don’t be a stumbling block. That is a really small list when you realize it says obey and rejoice about doing it. You have to read his Word to do this. It is that simple. When we mess up it does not mean he stops loving, but we have broken fellowship with our disobedience or attitude. We should not desire this ever and better not stay there long. Don’t hide as Adam and Eve did and hope it goes away. I have tried that and it doesn’t work. Don’t be stubborn. Being out of his love will eventually bring his loving discipline. I have tried this route also and pray you don’t. Tell him you are sorry and mean it. Much less painful to apologize than to have him always after us.
Our most important command is “love”. “and now these remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” 1 Corinthians 13:13. “and he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also love his brother” 1 John 5:15. The most repeated verse about love is about loving each other. Most of the time it simply explains it, “as yourselves”. We always want and expect the best for ourselves! If we have felt God’s love we know it is the best. Give his out all the time! “be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” Romans 12:10. God was so devoted to us he sent Jesus! Loving the least of his people is emphasized also. Widows, poor, sick, orphans, etc. They can’t give much back so it is more like Jesus loved. Selfless love. Most of his miracles were for these people. Shows the power of true love.
Now finally it does speak of loving yourself. I left it last for a reason. It only leads to death, destruction, poverty, shame, etc. Now listen! Paul writes to Timothy as a warning. “but understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of Godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Doesn’t seem we should ever love ourselves, but sounds a little too familiar at the same time.
Other great things about love:
Matthew 24:12 increase in wickedness, love of most grows cold
Luke 6:27 love your enemies, do good to those who hate you
Luke 6:32 easy love is worthless
Luke 6:35 love and expect nothing back
Luke 7:47 greater forgiveness leads to greater love
John 15:13 no greater love than giving your life for a friend
John 15:19 love God and the world will hate you
Romans 12:9 love must be sincere
1 Corinthians 4:21 shall I come with the rod, or in love and gentle spirit
1 Corinthians 16:14 do everything in love
2 Corinthians 2:4 will sometimes break you down
2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver
Galatians 5:9 only thing than counts is faith expressing itself thru love
Galatians 5:22 one of the fruits of the spirit
1 Thessalonians 4:9 we don’t need to be told God taught us
1 Thessalonians 4:10 love should grow
Hebrews 12:6 God disciplines those he loves
James 1:12 persevering under trails is the test of love
1 John 4:18 no fear in love, perfect love cast out fear
Revelations 3:19 whom he loves he rebukes so be quick to repent
Revelations 20:9 he protects whom he loves
Now I didn’t get anything like “love yourself first” from any of this. It may be a play on words for some or maybe they didn’t think about it before they said it. I have said it before too. It just finally started sounding painful to hear. So I figured I would check and see what God thought about it. Sad thing was I already knew because I had already tried all the ones on the bad list. I am going to try it like Jesus now. He is our example and yes he is our target.
Hey, I don’t know why we are so bad at this one, but God loves us. We love him back and everyone else, we stay last, and I just promise it is worth letting go of our self love. Everyone wants “to feel” loved. It is a reaction to “being touched” though. Ask and allow God to touch and change your heart and keep him there by obeying him and loving it. You won’t be able to keep from loving differently. You will get it back different also.
Last thing, Romans 8 promises that nothing can stop God from loving us. WE can mess it up for a bit, but nothing can stop it! There is comfort and power in this part of love!
I love you all and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!
BEZ
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
“My Father’s House”
Some of you know that I have been blessed to have bought a house recently and have really enjoyed remodeling it over the last 4 months or so. Most of you do not know that this is the house my dad grew up in. His dad bought the house new on March 28th, 1961 when dad was 12. My mamaw lived in this house until she went to see Jesus on March 28th, 2009. I finally moved in on March 28th, 2010. Yes, that is amazing, isn’t it? The Beasley family is the only family to ever live in this house and that is very special to me.
The next weekend after I moved in was Easter. One song we sang in our choir special was titled “My Father’s House”. As we practiced this song for weeks it started to speak to me differently. The story behind this song is found in Luke 2:41-52. Jesus and his parents had gone into the city. His parents left and didn’t realize Jesus had stayed behind. When they went back searching for him, he was found teaching in his father’s house. They were told that they should have known exactly where to find him. I have asked my aunt to paint this over my kitchen counter, “This is the home of my dad and his before him, but now this is “My Father’s House”. I know more than ever that God gives us everything we have and everything we need.
Realizing this to be a truth, I wish to dedicate my house and the home of any future family I may be blessed with, to God. I do this because I have owned a couple homes before this one and I am ashamed to say I may have been more sinful in those two places than anywhere on this planet. Have you ever noticed that we sometimes treat total strangers in public better than our own family when we get home? Ever have a bad day at work and take it out on everyone at home? Ever figured you would have a few at the house because no one would really know? I guess I always told myself either no one would know or it was my house and I will do as I please. Or maybe we take it for granted that family always forgives or overlooks our short comings? Well guess what? Our Father always knows and he got sick of it! Even if family forgives, what kind of example are we being at home? What if they don’t forgive? I pray my house doesn’t experience any of this ever again.
When people come into my house in the future I hope they find me obeying my father as if I were truly living in his house. Well actually I am! I also have this verse above my counter, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” Joshua 24:15.
This may be something you have never struggled with, you may have never thought about it really, but I bet more often this sounds too familiar. Either way, I challenge all of you, especially men. Live like it is “Your Father’s House”. There are many things out of our control in this world, but this ain’t one of them! We were given the task of being the heads of the household and as a Christian we better start realizing these houses were a gift from our Heavenly Father. Make sure he would recognize his own house. He sure wouldn’t have at mine before now. He told us he is coming to stop by again soon.
While studying I realized the word “house” or forms of the word were in 1,895 verses in my bible. That is pretty amazing considering the word "love" is only in 697 verses and it is our greatest command. I believe the respect of a man’s household should be a timeless message. God has emphasized this. If you read the entire 24th chapter of Joshua, he is calling out the heads of the houses. Country paraphrasing is “I ain’t sure bout you guys, but my family is servin tha LORD”. What would our answer have been? Would Joshua have believed us?
I love all of you and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!
BEZ
Some of you know that I have been blessed to have bought a house recently and have really enjoyed remodeling it over the last 4 months or so. Most of you do not know that this is the house my dad grew up in. His dad bought the house new on March 28th, 1961 when dad was 12. My mamaw lived in this house until she went to see Jesus on March 28th, 2009. I finally moved in on March 28th, 2010. Yes, that is amazing, isn’t it? The Beasley family is the only family to ever live in this house and that is very special to me.
The next weekend after I moved in was Easter. One song we sang in our choir special was titled “My Father’s House”. As we practiced this song for weeks it started to speak to me differently. The story behind this song is found in Luke 2:41-52. Jesus and his parents had gone into the city. His parents left and didn’t realize Jesus had stayed behind. When they went back searching for him, he was found teaching in his father’s house. They were told that they should have known exactly where to find him. I have asked my aunt to paint this over my kitchen counter, “This is the home of my dad and his before him, but now this is “My Father’s House”. I know more than ever that God gives us everything we have and everything we need.
Realizing this to be a truth, I wish to dedicate my house and the home of any future family I may be blessed with, to God. I do this because I have owned a couple homes before this one and I am ashamed to say I may have been more sinful in those two places than anywhere on this planet. Have you ever noticed that we sometimes treat total strangers in public better than our own family when we get home? Ever have a bad day at work and take it out on everyone at home? Ever figured you would have a few at the house because no one would really know? I guess I always told myself either no one would know or it was my house and I will do as I please. Or maybe we take it for granted that family always forgives or overlooks our short comings? Well guess what? Our Father always knows and he got sick of it! Even if family forgives, what kind of example are we being at home? What if they don’t forgive? I pray my house doesn’t experience any of this ever again.
When people come into my house in the future I hope they find me obeying my father as if I were truly living in his house. Well actually I am! I also have this verse above my counter, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” Joshua 24:15.
This may be something you have never struggled with, you may have never thought about it really, but I bet more often this sounds too familiar. Either way, I challenge all of you, especially men. Live like it is “Your Father’s House”. There are many things out of our control in this world, but this ain’t one of them! We were given the task of being the heads of the household and as a Christian we better start realizing these houses were a gift from our Heavenly Father. Make sure he would recognize his own house. He sure wouldn’t have at mine before now. He told us he is coming to stop by again soon.
While studying I realized the word “house” or forms of the word were in 1,895 verses in my bible. That is pretty amazing considering the word "love" is only in 697 verses and it is our greatest command. I believe the respect of a man’s household should be a timeless message. God has emphasized this. If you read the entire 24th chapter of Joshua, he is calling out the heads of the houses. Country paraphrasing is “I ain’t sure bout you guys, but my family is servin tha LORD”. What would our answer have been? Would Joshua have believed us?
I love all of you and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!
BEZ
Monday, April 12, 2010
Forgiveness
I started reading about forgiveness the other day. I wondered why I still felt so guilty sometimes, even when I had changed things or thought I had gotten past something, and do I really need to think about forgiveness on a daily basis. First answer is, because I had not truly changed “repented” or just never had asked for forgiveness “confessed – admitted”. Second answer is, absolutely! I need forgiveness everyday, from God and everyone else. I need to grant it more freely also. We need to ask for it, and give it continuously with God and man because our sin separates us from fellowship.
Only way to restore this fellowship is repent, confess and then we can receive forgiveness. This renews our fellowship.
I believe it has to come in this order also. Repenting is turning away from our sin, whatever it may be. This is the stage where we acknowledge we sinned and desire to change. May seem like a big sin, may seem like a small one. Doesn’t matter, God will forgive it and they all separate us from him. Confessing is admitting you sinned and simply asking for forgiveness. This sounds easier than it is. I don’t know why this can be so difficult. I guess our pride has something to do with it, but we just have to ask God to forgive it and he does. These two things must be done to truly be forgiven. This often requires a broken heart. God has to break us down sometimes so he can build us back up stronger. Great thing for us is God has already forgiven all our sins, but we still need to ask so we can renew fellowship and let go of our guilt. All these work together.
We need forgiveness from God first, but we really need it with each other on a daily basis also. We need to be examples of how to ask for forgiveness and how to give it. Not giving it is just as sinful. All sins or wrongs are against God first and foremost. Even if they seem to be just against each other. God told us to love and treat everyone as he would, so if we don’t, we disobeyed him. The bible shows us that true joy and peace can only come from God’s mercy and forgiveness. We could never accomplish this or overcome our burdens or guilt alone. This also goes for family, friends, co-workers or total strangers. Sometimes the people closest to us are the toughest. We all hate to admit our imperfection to the people that mean the most, but that brings us back to God and each other.
As an example: I have always had a problem with forming opinions a little too quickly and giving them way too freely. They could be about anything. Didn’t matter if I was right or wrong it was my opinion and I gave it however I wanted, even hurtfully sometimes. Problem was I had formed one about my brother-in-law. I had questioned a couple decisions he had made when my sister was pregnant. I had probably given that opinion a couple of times and never thought twice about it. “I am always right so who cares”. Someone finally brought this to my attention as I was bringing it up again. After they really made me think of what I was complaining about, I was ashamed. I was criticizing him about leading a bible study for the youth instead of being at home with my sister during her pregnancy. Having time to think about this I was wrong for so many reasons. Who am I to question how he follows God? God even comes before family! What do I even know about being a husband and a father anyway? I felt terrible! This is a man that works his tail off so my sister doesn’t have to and comes in the door and plays with the boys before he even eats. This is the Godly man that I could only hope to be one day. Come to find out, he probably has at least felt this between us and I know now that it has hampered our fellowship. I have felt guilty about this for a while. Wow, this sounds familiar doesn’t it? Only way I have found to renew the fellowship is: Repent – no more opinions and big mouth – only God’s word instead of opinions and holding my tongue a lot more. Confess –already did with God – brother-in-law is next. Forgiveness – God already has – brother-in-law will too. Renewed fellowship and true joy – I am looking forward to being closer to my brother than ever before. Greatest thing about God and family is unconditional love. It is given when we don’t deserve it.
Just think about this wherever you may be or whomever you may be with. Be quicker to ask for forgiveness and even quicker to give it. Only way I have found to truly be joyful and release quilt that destroys fellowship. Be the example God wants us to be. You never know who is watching. I truly believe this can change the lives of everyone around you. What if we all went around forgiving everyone of all the stuff we have been holding on to? What if someone upsets us and we apologized for getting upset? Maybe some of them would ask us why? Answer is Jesus! He died on the cross so we could be forgiven by simply repenting and asking!
These are some of the verses I read while studying and I also looked up repent, confess and forgiveness in Webster’s. I thought it was interesting that even in a book written by man, these words referred to sin or God in first or second definition except for forgiveness, but it is very appropriate. God pardons us and gives up resentment.
I love you all and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!
Bez
REPENTENCE: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.
2 Chronicles 7:8-11, Judges 2:1-5, 1 Kings 21:24-25, Luke 15:22-26, Ezekiel 6:5-13, Exodus 9:27-35, Acts 3:19-20, Deuteronomy 31:22-33, Luke 15:8-10
CONFESSION: to acknowledge sin to God – admit.
1 John 1:6-12, 1 Chronicles 21:8, Psalms 32:1-8, James 5:16,
FORGIVENESS: to give up resentment of or claim to requital for – pardon
Psalms 103:9-14, Psalms 51:1-10, Genesis 50:15-21, Matthew 5:32, Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 4:6-8, Romans 12:17-21, Hebrews 10:17
I started reading about forgiveness the other day. I wondered why I still felt so guilty sometimes, even when I had changed things or thought I had gotten past something, and do I really need to think about forgiveness on a daily basis. First answer is, because I had not truly changed “repented” or just never had asked for forgiveness “confessed – admitted”. Second answer is, absolutely! I need forgiveness everyday, from God and everyone else. I need to grant it more freely also. We need to ask for it, and give it continuously with God and man because our sin separates us from fellowship.
Only way to restore this fellowship is repent, confess and then we can receive forgiveness. This renews our fellowship.
I believe it has to come in this order also. Repenting is turning away from our sin, whatever it may be. This is the stage where we acknowledge we sinned and desire to change. May seem like a big sin, may seem like a small one. Doesn’t matter, God will forgive it and they all separate us from him. Confessing is admitting you sinned and simply asking for forgiveness. This sounds easier than it is. I don’t know why this can be so difficult. I guess our pride has something to do with it, but we just have to ask God to forgive it and he does. These two things must be done to truly be forgiven. This often requires a broken heart. God has to break us down sometimes so he can build us back up stronger. Great thing for us is God has already forgiven all our sins, but we still need to ask so we can renew fellowship and let go of our guilt. All these work together.
We need forgiveness from God first, but we really need it with each other on a daily basis also. We need to be examples of how to ask for forgiveness and how to give it. Not giving it is just as sinful. All sins or wrongs are against God first and foremost. Even if they seem to be just against each other. God told us to love and treat everyone as he would, so if we don’t, we disobeyed him. The bible shows us that true joy and peace can only come from God’s mercy and forgiveness. We could never accomplish this or overcome our burdens or guilt alone. This also goes for family, friends, co-workers or total strangers. Sometimes the people closest to us are the toughest. We all hate to admit our imperfection to the people that mean the most, but that brings us back to God and each other.
As an example: I have always had a problem with forming opinions a little too quickly and giving them way too freely. They could be about anything. Didn’t matter if I was right or wrong it was my opinion and I gave it however I wanted, even hurtfully sometimes. Problem was I had formed one about my brother-in-law. I had questioned a couple decisions he had made when my sister was pregnant. I had probably given that opinion a couple of times and never thought twice about it. “I am always right so who cares”. Someone finally brought this to my attention as I was bringing it up again. After they really made me think of what I was complaining about, I was ashamed. I was criticizing him about leading a bible study for the youth instead of being at home with my sister during her pregnancy. Having time to think about this I was wrong for so many reasons. Who am I to question how he follows God? God even comes before family! What do I even know about being a husband and a father anyway? I felt terrible! This is a man that works his tail off so my sister doesn’t have to and comes in the door and plays with the boys before he even eats. This is the Godly man that I could only hope to be one day. Come to find out, he probably has at least felt this between us and I know now that it has hampered our fellowship. I have felt guilty about this for a while. Wow, this sounds familiar doesn’t it? Only way I have found to renew the fellowship is: Repent – no more opinions and big mouth – only God’s word instead of opinions and holding my tongue a lot more. Confess –already did with God – brother-in-law is next. Forgiveness – God already has – brother-in-law will too. Renewed fellowship and true joy – I am looking forward to being closer to my brother than ever before. Greatest thing about God and family is unconditional love. It is given when we don’t deserve it.
Just think about this wherever you may be or whomever you may be with. Be quicker to ask for forgiveness and even quicker to give it. Only way I have found to truly be joyful and release quilt that destroys fellowship. Be the example God wants us to be. You never know who is watching. I truly believe this can change the lives of everyone around you. What if we all went around forgiving everyone of all the stuff we have been holding on to? What if someone upsets us and we apologized for getting upset? Maybe some of them would ask us why? Answer is Jesus! He died on the cross so we could be forgiven by simply repenting and asking!
These are some of the verses I read while studying and I also looked up repent, confess and forgiveness in Webster’s. I thought it was interesting that even in a book written by man, these words referred to sin or God in first or second definition except for forgiveness, but it is very appropriate. God pardons us and gives up resentment.
I love you all and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!
Bez
REPENTENCE: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.
2 Chronicles 7:8-11, Judges 2:1-5, 1 Kings 21:24-25, Luke 15:22-26, Ezekiel 6:5-13, Exodus 9:27-35, Acts 3:19-20, Deuteronomy 31:22-33, Luke 15:8-10
CONFESSION: to acknowledge sin to God – admit.
1 John 1:6-12, 1 Chronicles 21:8, Psalms 32:1-8, James 5:16,
FORGIVENESS: to give up resentment of or claim to requital for – pardon
Psalms 103:9-14, Psalms 51:1-10, Genesis 50:15-21, Matthew 5:32, Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 4:6-8, Romans 12:17-21, Hebrews 10:17
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Why I quit drinking.
Drinking:
A friend asked me about drinking the other day. I told him it was something that I had thought a lot about lately, so I went to the Bible to see what it said. Drinking has always been a struggle with me. I usually justified it with “if it is not too much it is okay”. I learned this is not a good rational defense. Like usual I learned the hard way. One night in 2008 I went out for two hours and had a few drinks. Nothing I would have thought was bad; I was pulled over and given a DUI on the way home. God took care of this and it was finally dismissed after 4 months of worry, the help of some friends I will never forget and a few dollars spent. That showed me that my definition of appropriate was worthless. Imagine all the different ways this could have affected my life, ruined my job, family or most important my witness. How many times do we hear people use excuses about something someone did or said to not listen to God’s word? If we are looking for a reason not to listen, it isn’t hard to find one most of the time it is called a stumbling block. Matthew 18:8-9 and 1 Corinthians 8:10-13 address these. Matthew tells us to remove any we have. Corinthians speaks of us being one to others. Believers and unbelievers. I chose about 10 months ago to stop drinking completely. This is something that I have felt led to do. I only challenge all of you to evaluate what the Bible tells you about this.
Proverbs 23:29-35 is a good verse for the dangers of drinking and Proverbs 31:4-7 talks about it won’t solve any of our problems. This has hit home as I thought about this. It usually only causes more problems and only temporarily helps us forget about the ones that we already have. So, a lot of the time we look up and have more than we had to start with. I asked myself “what good will come from me drinking other than some worldly desire or short term satisfaction”?
These were old thoughts I had always used to rationalize it and to make me feel better about something I always knew wasn’t right. I was talking to someone the other day that offered me a new verse I had never read. Leviticus 10:8-10 God is telling Aaron that he and his sons are to never drink and enter the tabernacle or they will die. This was to be a rule throughout their generations. The funny thing is that I would have said before I studied this, don’t drink in a church. Which I have done a few times anyway.
The tabernacle is where God resided in the Old Testament and considered holy grounds. Only priests are allowed to enter. The problem with this argument is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and all believers became priests and temples in God’s eyes. Jesus broke the separation of God and us that the priests were used for and the Holy Spirit lives in all believers now instead of God residing in the temples or tabernacles. John 16:23-27, 1 Peter 2:9 and Revelations 5:10 talk about believers are now priests. 1 Corinthians 3:16, and 6:19 along with Ezekiel 5:11 talk about our body is a temple and how not to defile it or else. Ezekiel 44:21, 1Timothy 3:2-3 and Titus 1:7 also touches on this.
All of these are great but the most amazing verse for many reasons is Luke 1:15. This is where the angel Gabriel visited Zechariah and tells him his prayers for a son will be granted but his son is to never drink wine or fermented drink and the Holy Spirit will be with his son from birth. His son was John the Baptist. If drinking wasn’t a big deal, why was this important enough to be in the Bible at all? This led me into the last thing which I don’t have experience with yet, but think about often Children! Genesis 26:7-11 is about children following their parents example.
Isaac followed his father’s bad example. It is about Isaac saying his wife was really his sister because he feared for their safety in Gerar. Where do you think he learned to do that? Go back in Genesis to 12:10-12 and 20:1-5. This shows that Isaac’s father Abram did the same thing. We don’t need the Bible to tell us this, but it still does. Children mimic their parents. Another friend told me lately that all this slapped him right in the face one day as he sat in a bar drinking in front of his 7 year old son. If we could choose for our children, would we choose they mimic us in our daily lives?
Finally, Luke 7:18-35 speaks of us doing or believing what we want no matter what God tells us or shows us. God shows us everything we need in the Bible. How we use it in our daily lives, however this is up to us. I asked myself the other day, “what if I spent as much time reading and following the word of God as I did rationalizing why not to”. Would that make me a better person?
BEZ
A friend asked me about drinking the other day. I told him it was something that I had thought a lot about lately, so I went to the Bible to see what it said. Drinking has always been a struggle with me. I usually justified it with “if it is not too much it is okay”. I learned this is not a good rational defense. Like usual I learned the hard way. One night in 2008 I went out for two hours and had a few drinks. Nothing I would have thought was bad; I was pulled over and given a DUI on the way home. God took care of this and it was finally dismissed after 4 months of worry, the help of some friends I will never forget and a few dollars spent. That showed me that my definition of appropriate was worthless. Imagine all the different ways this could have affected my life, ruined my job, family or most important my witness. How many times do we hear people use excuses about something someone did or said to not listen to God’s word? If we are looking for a reason not to listen, it isn’t hard to find one most of the time it is called a stumbling block. Matthew 18:8-9 and 1 Corinthians 8:10-13 address these. Matthew tells us to remove any we have. Corinthians speaks of us being one to others. Believers and unbelievers. I chose about 10 months ago to stop drinking completely. This is something that I have felt led to do. I only challenge all of you to evaluate what the Bible tells you about this.
Proverbs 23:29-35 is a good verse for the dangers of drinking and Proverbs 31:4-7 talks about it won’t solve any of our problems. This has hit home as I thought about this. It usually only causes more problems and only temporarily helps us forget about the ones that we already have. So, a lot of the time we look up and have more than we had to start with. I asked myself “what good will come from me drinking other than some worldly desire or short term satisfaction”?
These were old thoughts I had always used to rationalize it and to make me feel better about something I always knew wasn’t right. I was talking to someone the other day that offered me a new verse I had never read. Leviticus 10:8-10 God is telling Aaron that he and his sons are to never drink and enter the tabernacle or they will die. This was to be a rule throughout their generations. The funny thing is that I would have said before I studied this, don’t drink in a church. Which I have done a few times anyway.
The tabernacle is where God resided in the Old Testament and considered holy grounds. Only priests are allowed to enter. The problem with this argument is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and all believers became priests and temples in God’s eyes. Jesus broke the separation of God and us that the priests were used for and the Holy Spirit lives in all believers now instead of God residing in the temples or tabernacles. John 16:23-27, 1 Peter 2:9 and Revelations 5:10 talk about believers are now priests. 1 Corinthians 3:16, and 6:19 along with Ezekiel 5:11 talk about our body is a temple and how not to defile it or else. Ezekiel 44:21, 1Timothy 3:2-3 and Titus 1:7 also touches on this.
All of these are great but the most amazing verse for many reasons is Luke 1:15. This is where the angel Gabriel visited Zechariah and tells him his prayers for a son will be granted but his son is to never drink wine or fermented drink and the Holy Spirit will be with his son from birth. His son was John the Baptist. If drinking wasn’t a big deal, why was this important enough to be in the Bible at all? This led me into the last thing which I don’t have experience with yet, but think about often Children! Genesis 26:7-11 is about children following their parents example.
Isaac followed his father’s bad example. It is about Isaac saying his wife was really his sister because he feared for their safety in Gerar. Where do you think he learned to do that? Go back in Genesis to 12:10-12 and 20:1-5. This shows that Isaac’s father Abram did the same thing. We don’t need the Bible to tell us this, but it still does. Children mimic their parents. Another friend told me lately that all this slapped him right in the face one day as he sat in a bar drinking in front of his 7 year old son. If we could choose for our children, would we choose they mimic us in our daily lives?
Finally, Luke 7:18-35 speaks of us doing or believing what we want no matter what God tells us or shows us. God shows us everything we need in the Bible. How we use it in our daily lives, however this is up to us. I asked myself the other day, “what if I spent as much time reading and following the word of God as I did rationalizing why not to”. Would that make me a better person?
BEZ
Monday, March 8, 2010
Heart of a Shepherd
http://fairviewbaptist.com/index.cfm?i=9542&mid=18&st=17170&DL=1
This is one of the sermons that has been special to me lately. Click on this and it should load into your media player. Give it a minute. If that doesn't work or you just want to go to the website and pull it up yourselves, this is how. Go to www.fairviewbaptist.com, go to media on the top left then click on audio/video. They just redid the website to be able to hold six months worth of sermons going forward.
Verses referenced in this are: John 10:11and Psalms 23
This is about "The Heart of a Shepherd." The funny thing is some friends and I used to be at bars and someone would ask us "What do you do for a living?" We jokingly would say "I am a Shepherd." I never knew how far from that I was, but now I wish to become more like one every day. To have the Heart of a Shepherd! To love easier, to protect more often, to be more patient, to be more humble, to be more passionate, to be more content. Not quick to judge, not quick to anger, not quick to complain, and never quick to give up. To be more like the person we were all created in the likeness of. God, The Good Sheperd! The bible references the word Shepherd about 113 times in the one search I did. I think that shows its importance as an example to God. These all sound simple, but how many times a day do we not be that good Shepherd we are given the chance to be? Don't take it as I messed up that many times a day, but start watching for and acting on those opportunities we are given to be that Shepherd. I just wanted to tell all of you, I want the Heart of my Shepherd!
I love all of you and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.
BEZ
This is one of the sermons that has been special to me lately. Click on this and it should load into your media player. Give it a minute. If that doesn't work or you just want to go to the website and pull it up yourselves, this is how. Go to www.fairviewbaptist.com, go to media on the top left then click on audio/video. They just redid the website to be able to hold six months worth of sermons going forward.
Verses referenced in this are: John 10:11and Psalms 23
This is about "The Heart of a Shepherd." The funny thing is some friends and I used to be at bars and someone would ask us "What do you do for a living?" We jokingly would say "I am a Shepherd." I never knew how far from that I was, but now I wish to become more like one every day. To have the Heart of a Shepherd! To love easier, to protect more often, to be more patient, to be more humble, to be more passionate, to be more content. Not quick to judge, not quick to anger, not quick to complain, and never quick to give up. To be more like the person we were all created in the likeness of. God, The Good Sheperd! The bible references the word Shepherd about 113 times in the one search I did. I think that shows its importance as an example to God. These all sound simple, but how many times a day do we not be that good Shepherd we are given the chance to be? Don't take it as I messed up that many times a day, but start watching for and acting on those opportunities we are given to be that Shepherd. I just wanted to tell all of you, I want the Heart of my Shepherd!
I love all of you and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.
BEZ
Monday, February 8, 2010
At my funeral.
As many of you know, I have been thru a lot in the past couple years. I have lost many things I held dear to me. This is the key point of this, “to me”. A friend asked me a really interesting question the other day while playing golf. He asked, “what would I want people to say about me at my funeral as they were standing around talking about my life?” As a person that has not thought about death in that way, I asked for a few minutes. Two simple sounding, but broad reaching things came to mind quicker than I thought. I told him that I would like people to be talking about what a good Christian and good Man I was. The good Man part could mean many things: father, husband, provider, friend, etc. I told him. What shocked me was his next question. He asked, ‘if I died today would people say the things you desire?” Unfortunately, but honestly I said probably not. I have not lived the Christian life I have always felt led to and that has for many reasons not allowed me to become the true Man I desire. Next question he asked was, “if that is really important to you, what are you going to do tomorrow to change it?”
These questions have been extremely thought provoking for me. Quite a few months ago I had started to realize that my focus over the last 10 years or so had always been on what I THOUGHT would make ME happy. It isn’t always bad for me to desire curtain things in life, but it must be in line with what God has in store for me first. I had completely strayed from my faith in that part of the equation. I remember hearing somewhere that “ Insanity is doing the same things over and over, but expecting a different result”. I need to do things differently. I am speaking of my desires as a Man, but the bible asks most of the same things from men and women. The only way I know how to improve on these things is going to the bible. It shows me how to live my daily life in any circumstance presented to me. I will be posting many of the things I find that help me. I am not just doing this to change those conversations at my funeral, which hopefully isn’t too soon, but I believe this is what God wants me to do. If any of this or the things I send later has any meaning or helps in any way please let me know and if anyone has any questions, just ask. Everyone seeks different things out of life, but I believe they will all ultimately leave us unsatisfied unless they go along with God’s desire for our lives first. The key to this is studying his word and praying. I just feel obligated to share these things with anyone God has brought into my life. The bible teaches us very basic life skills that we handle poorly every day, but can be vastly improved if we just seek the correct help.
God and his Word!
BEZ
These questions have been extremely thought provoking for me. Quite a few months ago I had started to realize that my focus over the last 10 years or so had always been on what I THOUGHT would make ME happy. It isn’t always bad for me to desire curtain things in life, but it must be in line with what God has in store for me first. I had completely strayed from my faith in that part of the equation. I remember hearing somewhere that “ Insanity is doing the same things over and over, but expecting a different result”. I need to do things differently. I am speaking of my desires as a Man, but the bible asks most of the same things from men and women. The only way I know how to improve on these things is going to the bible. It shows me how to live my daily life in any circumstance presented to me. I will be posting many of the things I find that help me. I am not just doing this to change those conversations at my funeral, which hopefully isn’t too soon, but I believe this is what God wants me to do. If any of this or the things I send later has any meaning or helps in any way please let me know and if anyone has any questions, just ask. Everyone seeks different things out of life, but I believe they will all ultimately leave us unsatisfied unless they go along with God’s desire for our lives first. The key to this is studying his word and praying. I just feel obligated to share these things with anyone God has brought into my life. The bible teaches us very basic life skills that we handle poorly every day, but can be vastly improved if we just seek the correct help.
God and his Word!
BEZ
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