Twelve Favorite C.S. Lewis Quotes

01 Saturday Oct 2011

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      Here again are some quotes to bless your weekend.  

Blessings!

“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

“God can’t give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing.”

― C.S. Lewis

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

― C.S. Lewis

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”

― C.S. Lewis

“We read to know that we are not alone.”

― C.S. Lewis

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

― C.S. Lewis

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”

― C.S. Lewis

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

― C.S. Lewis

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

― C.S. Lewis

“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

― C.S. Lewis

“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God- it changes me.”

― C.S. Lewis

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Twelve Favorite C.K. Chesterton Quotes

30 Friday Sep 2011

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      Since I usually do not blog over the weekend, I thought I might pass along some C.K. Chesterton quotes. 

Enjoy!

      “There are those who hate Christianity and call their hatred an all-embracing love for all religions.”

G.K. Chesterton

      “Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable.”

G.K. Chesterton

      “For when we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything.”

G. K. Chesterton

      “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”

G.K. Chesterton

      “Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”

― G.K. Chesterton

      “Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.”

― G.K. Chesterton

      “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”

― G.K. Chesterton

      “The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.”

― G.K. Chesterton

      “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.”

― G.K. Chesterton

      “There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.”

― G.K. Chesterton

      “If there were no God, there would be no atheists.”

― G.K. Chesterton

      “Religious liberty might be supposed to mean that everybody is free to discuss religion. In practice it means that hardly anybody is allowed to mention it.”

― G.K. Chesterton

The Difference Between Movers & Shakers Verses Lazy Daisies

29 Thursday Sep 2011

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1 He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. 2 And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, 3 “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;  Mark 4:1-3

      If you have been following this blog, then you know I am spending the next few blogs discussing the importance of this parable.  The promise from the Lord here is if we can understand this parable, we can grasp the meaning of the rest of Jesus’ parables.  It is imperative all believers get this one right!  The thrust of what Jesus is relating to His followers is that they are all in a process where the Father is trying to get revelation (the word) into their lives.  Jesus compared this process to the way a farmer sows seed in His field.  Are you a good field?  Have you ever thought of yourself as a field or garden?  You may not but the Lord does! 

God is Sowing! 

       The Father is always sowing His word into our lives.  It is a guarantee.  The question is not whether God is sowing.  The question is are we good soil for the Lord’s revelation or seed?  Back in Jesus’ day farming was done a little different from today.  Farmers today plow first.  In fact, many disk the ground first before they plow and plant seed.  In Jesus’ day farmers many times would scatter their seed first and then come by later to plow it under.  Keeping this thought in mind.  The Lord sows His seed (word) first into our hearts and minds, then He expects us to plow that good seed under.  It is important that we grasp this picture.  Why?  The seed or word is being given out to all.  Yes, it may fall in difficult places to grow, like in thorns or around rocks.  Whereever it originally falls, it doesn’t have to stay there.  Those revelations and words from the Lord can be plowed under to assure growth.  If they are neglected, then eventually they will die. 

The Emphasis In This Story Is The Condition of the Soil

      Now we know why Jesus told this story emphasizing four different soils.  The truth of whether God’s word has effect in our lives lies on whether we are good ground for His revelatory actions.  We hear of people complaining about “how difficult” it is to discern and hear God speak.  According to Jesus, God is continuously sowing in our lives.  So the major problem is not God speaking, but whether we are plowing under the words we have already received.  What farmer would keep sowing regularly in fields where the seed kept dying?  Jesus told this parable so we might all know the importance of receiving the Father’s revelation in readiness. 

      So let’s get right to the issue at hand.  What have you done with the words and revelations you have already been given?  It is important we be honest with ourselves and the Lord.  If our desire is to get “the Lord’s sowing process” right, then we must repent for our neglect and purpose to respond differently.  This shows the Lord we are serious and will be good soil in the future.  Lazy Daisies are waiting for the Lord to act and respond differently so that they might hear from the Lord.  Kingdom Movers and Shakers get with God’s system of sowing and reaping.  God is not going to change and create a special circumstance so that you might hear.  He is going to continue to move in the same fashion He always has in the past.  It is up to you to get into His revelational flow. 

      Some believers like to think God plays favorites with His revelations.  They like to believe that Noah, Joseph, Moses, David, and others like them were given special status in His Kingdom.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  A more correct picture is to view these and other saints in light of Jesus’ parable.  These great men and women of God chose to be fertile ground for God’s revelation.  Since they could be trusted, God trusted them with deeper revelations and greater responsibilities. 

     I submit to you if you make a quality decision today to be fertile ground for God, then your life will be changed forever.  Expect God to be sowing in your life and purpose to help that word grow.   Who knows, in a year your garden will be one full of beauty and grace. 

Blessings! 

Beware of “A Total Eclispe of the Heart”

28 Wednesday Sep 2011

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10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.”

13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?   Mark 4:10-13

      Hey, did you catch this last question of Jesus to His closest followers?  He is basically asking them if they understand what He is talking about in the parable.  Do they know the meaning of His words?  Well, if they are supposed to know the meaning, we too are supposed to know the meaning.  The caveat is if we fail to understand the meaning of this particular parable, we will fail to understand the rest of Jesus’ parables.  Wow!  Therefore, if we understand Jesus’ meaning here, we will have the “key” to the rest of His parables.  I am ready to pay close attention! 

      Do you understand the meaning of this parable… without Jesus’ help?  Being honest here, for years I only understood the superficial meaning of this parable.  One day the Lord told me to take a closer look at verse 13.  Once I began to apply the whole parable to myself personally, the whole meaning of Jesus’ words changed in my life.  So walk with me for the next few blogs and discover the deeper meaning to this parable.  You may just develop a deeper love and appreciation for all the parables.  I did. 

Are You an Insider or Outsider?

      There were two groups of people witnessing Jesus share the word in Mark 4.  The general crowd of people was present to hear Him.  Evidently it was so crowded, Jesus could not operate as easily as He desired.  He instructed His disciples to rig up a boat so that He could teach from the water.  This group heard only the parable.  They were not privy to its interpretation.  The Lord purposefully worked it out this way.  Why?  They were not ready for the full meaning and explanation.  These were the outsiders. Ouch!  We commonly think to ourselves that we are ready for anything the Lord will say.  Not so fast my friend!  For certain groups of people, God’s mysteries will always be a mystery.  Jesus will not “cast His pearls before swine.”  If you find yourself in this category, listen up.  I will help you to find your way out. 

      The other group of folks noted in this story were the insiders.  They were privy to Jesus’ interpretation and given “the mystery of the Kingdom.”  Yeah, I want to be in this group.  Listen…. we can’t just say, “I’m in this group.”  This would be committing the sin of presumption.  Don’t assume anything.  You can absolutely know  the “mysteries of the Kingdom of God.”  How can we know? 

It Is a Matter of the Heart!

     I feel like I’m divulging insider information.  Jesus spoke of these issues often.  The condition of your heart always determines what you can or cannot receive from heaven.  Your heart condition determines everything.  It reveals your spiritual status on a daily basis.  When your heart condition is right, it allows the Lord to give you many other good things.  Likewise, a hard heart stymies revelation and keeps the “mysteries of the Kingdom” from your grasp.  Many start out with a soft heart, but their heart is eclipsed by other loves.  Yikes! 

      NOTE: It is not a matter of being religious, keeping all the rules or knowing specific information about God.  If going to church made you a spiritual person, then the world would be full of them.  Being rightfully aligned to the Lord means the heart needs to be:

  1. Repentant – Always a great place to start.
  2. Given fully to the Lord.
  3. Continuously in the process of being cleansed.
  4. Pure – Empty of other loves.
  5. Treasuring God and the things of God.
  6. In love with the Lord!   

      Now all these thing do not have to accomplished at once, but the heart must in the process of Godly change.  When we are in our process, the Word, the Seed and Revelations of God, can have its best effect.  Are you ready?  The next few blogs we will examine how God’s revelatory word is planted in our lives.  Take a few moments today and give your heart fully to the Lord.  It will change your life! 

Blessings! 

The Test of Faith!

27 Tuesday Sep 2011

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6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  I Peter 1:6-8

      This is the type of test we all expect to transpire in our lives.  As new believers, we undergo numerous internal testings of what it means to believe.  When I was a newbie I didn’t hardly have any answers as to “why” I believed in Christ.  I just knew He radically changed my life.  He lived in me and that was all I knew for sure.  I wanted to know the answers to all the spiritual dilemmas others posed to rattle my faith.  With time, lots of time, most of those dilemmas have been answered for me. 

      One of the main truths I learned in those early years was this; just because I do not know the answer, doesn’t mean the answer doesn’t exist… I simply have not been given that revelation yet.  Sometimes it pleases the Lord when we trust Him and believe Him, when we don’t know the answers to difficult questions. 

      Like I said, the answers to most of my faith questions have been answered in due season.  Of course, there are some issues I still do not fully comprehend.  I have seen enough people shipwreck their lives because they didn’t understand or became disappointed over what “God did or didn’t do” for them.  Seeing the aftermath of other people’s lives has proved to me that doubting the validity of God’s Word is utter foolishness.  The tests of faith are designed to drive us closer to the Lord and prove our devotion to Him.  The Father could have easily removed all the obstacles, hardships and difficulties in life.  He could have eliminated every possibility for disillusionment.  In addition, God could have posted road signs in every language assuring the way for “easy believism“, but  He didn’t!  I have to believe this is best.  I am stronger now in my faith in Christ than any other point. 

      Aside from the internal testings our faith undergoes  on a regular basis, “the faith” itself is under tremendous external pressure worldwide.  In a general sense, the faith is getting tested at every point, 24/7.  When I hear of the real-time stories of what other believers are enduring in other parts of the world, I am deeply humbled.  This external test of faith goes on everyday without exception.  It has been reported that more Christians were martyred in the last century than all the previous centuries combined.  Even as the world seeks to purge itself of Christianity, “the faith” marches forward, proving itself worthy of our Lord and Savior. 

      Just like there are armchair quarterbacks who stuff themselves with junk food and scream at their televisions about what “should” be done, those living the life of faith are surrounded by a great many spectators as well.  These spectators out number the participants many times over.  They are usually loud and obnoxious.  The internet is full of their ranting and raving.  The Lord allows these to flourish alongside true believers.  These weeds are allowed to grow for a season so that the Lord’s true plantings grow in competition.  They exist to make us stronger.  Yes, for season they may drown us out, but in due season all weeds get pulled.  Amen!  Remember, this is God’s business, not ours. 

      How strong has your faith grown since it was last tested?  Remember, the Lord is not trying to torment you, but to graduate you to the next level.  I am reminded of how a goldsmith knows when his gold is pure, 24 carrot pure.  He places it in a crucible and heats the gold.  The impurities rise to the top and he scrapes them off.  This process is repeated over and over again.  He knows he has pure gold, without impurities, when he sees his own reflection in the gold.   The Lord will continue to refine us, until He sees His own reflection in our lives.  I encourage you to allow all the trials and tests of this life to remove all the impurities and dross from your life.  You are worth it. 

Blessings!

The Test of Standing Alone!

26 Monday Sep 2011

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We are pilgrims in a strange land
We are so far from our homeland
With each passing day it seems so clear
This world will never want us here
We’re not welcome in this world of wrong
We are foreigners who don’t belong

(Chorus)
We are strangers, we are aliens
We are not of this world 
                                       Bob Hartman (Petra)

      You think there wouldn’t be any testing in this area, because each test we take is virtually alone.  Ah, but learning to stand alone when all the world is going the opposite direction is vital to the believer and Kingdom work.  These types of testing fall into two parts.  Are you ready? 

      First, after we give our lives to the Lord there are certain friends and relationships that must get the heave-ho.  As the Lord weeds out certain relationships from our lives, we are given room to grow and the opportunity to develop better Christ-like relationships.  Those older relationships may be renewed later.  But in the beginning of our Christian walk, it is imperative that the new believer learn to develop strong bonds with their brothers and sisters in the Lord.  “Iron sharpens iron” and these types of new relationships better equip you to make it through the thick and thin. 

      As you may know by now, there is no place to hide from the Lord.  Our Father wants His children to stand for righteousness inside and out.  So, the real testing begins!  Unfortunately, many believe they can hide from God even in church.  It is amazing!  They falsely believe they can stand for nothing, while their church stands for something.  Always remember there is no safety in numbers or church pews. 

      This is why so many teenage believers fall apart (spiritually speaking) as they enter adulthood.  They go to work or enter college only to become hellraisers.  Why?  They never stood for anything in the first place.  Ouch!  Sure, as a group they went on mission trips and participated in other meaningful activities.  But standing with others is not necessarily standing alone.   Note – When you see someone move to another location and lose their convictions, lose their standards, lose themselves, and sometimes lose their faith, you have to understand. Yes, they were tempted by Satan to sin and follow the ways of the world.  But something far greater is revealed in this all too common scenario.  Standing alone reveals exactly what you are standing upon …. or not!

      All God’s children must learn to stand alone for the Lord when no one else will.  Everyone gets this test….everyone.  Let’s face it, our faith means nothing to the Lord until we not only are willing to die for Him, but more importantly, we are willing to live for Him and stand in the worst of circumstances.  Read again the life stories of the heroes of the Bible.  Learn what set them apart from the rest.  They stood alone on the words and revelations of God.  It is the most isolated and loneliest place on earth, not to mention unpopular.  I’m talking Froto and Sam trying to make it to Mount Doom! 

      These types of tests will come your way numerous times.  Each time more of you will be stripped away until you resemble Christ.  It is a good thing.  Remember, my little padawan apprentice, no one can really help you in these moments.  Your closest friends and Godly counsel can only encourage you from a distance.  Again, all those who really want to grow strong in the Lord must learn the art of standing alone with God, even when no one else will. 

      I believe herein lies the secret to power with God.  The Father is not trying to keep His power from us, but He does shield it away from those who would use it shamelessly.  Only by going through the tests of standing alone are we brought to the place of being entrusted with greater kingdom realities and responsibilities. 

           How did you do the last time God called you out to stand for Him?  Sometimes we can sense these types of tests coming.  At other times they come quickly and without warning.  Our convictions and standards are developed during times of relative peace and reflection.  They are proven in the fire of battle, when we are called to stand alone.  Faith is always refined by fire.   If you would but hear His voice right now, there is a call for you to stand alone right now.  You can’t ask anyone else to stand with you or stand in your place.  It is your call alone. 

Blessings!

 

Testing Your Metal – Spiritual Warfare!

25 Sunday Sep 2011

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10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:10-12

      In the past few blogs I have been examining the major areas of testing all believers must endure to grow strong in the Lord.  In all of these different areas, some never move on to bigger and better things.  The Kingdom of God does not offer “social promotions.”  Some stay in their testing due to neglect.  Others become so infatuated with their “trials” and wrongly conclude that failure is the norm.   Regardless the reason, failure to proceed results in little or no growth.  God calls us to walk in victory and doesn’t want any of His children living below the spiritual poverty line. 

      Another major area all believers must learn, grow, and be tested in is the area of Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance.  Some new believers will arrive here right from the start.  Why?  They come to Christ straight out of bondage.  It is imperative these new converts learn and keep their freedom in Christ.  Not everyone comes to know the Lord from a sterile church pew.  Some find the Lord at the bottom of a bottle or while in the clutches of witchcraft.  Staying free is imperative for them. 

      Outside of this group I just mentioned, my concern is that most believers never allow the Lord to take them through the process of becoming a warrior.  Over the years the church has treated spiritual warfare like our nation treats its armed forces.  Hey, in America it is always someone else’s job to fight wars and engage in battle…. not the everyday citizen.  This is not true for everyone, but it is true for many. 

      The truth is that in God’s Kingdom all His children are raised to be free, ready, willing, and able to conduct spiritual warfare.  I know not all are called to take the lead, but all are called to fight!  Unfortunately, over the centuries too few have heard the call to arms and push back the enemy.  Remember, “the gates of hell are not supposed to prevail.” 

      The first order of business in Jesus’ ministry had to do with a confrontation with Satan.  Our lives are not different.  Many believers have needlessly been mowed down spiritually because:

  1. They were not completely free themselves.
  2. They lacked the tools to fight.
  3. They lacked the training to fight, with or without weapons.
  4. They were told by other believers not to even expect a battle. 

      Therefore, those who have neglected their training and testing don’t even know where the actual battle is being waged!  Like many of the previous generations of believers, they choose instead to spend their energy and zeal fighting other Christians.  They become vessels of contention and strife rather than warriors of deliverance.  Satan just sits back smiling, because he has not even been attacked.  As someone once said, “The Christian army is the only army that shoots its own wounded.” 

      If you have not allowed the Lord to train, teach, and test you in this area…. please allow Him to do so.  We are entering into a season when the Kingdom desperately needs its warriors trained, tested, and ready to fight.  Our verse in Ephesians reminds us that our warfare is not in the physical, but spiritual realm.  Our call is to “be strong in the Lord” and able to draw on His strength.  There is no time like the present to pursue the Lord and allow Him to reveal to us our armor.  Are you ready? 

 

Indentity – Coming to Terms With Who You Are!

22 Thursday Sep 2011

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“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”  Revelation 3:18 

      As I mentioned yesterday, I will be spending the next few blogs discussing the major categories of  “tests” the Lord sends our way.  Please remember the times of testing are not given for your demise.  The Lord desires all His children to pass with flying colors.  But mostly, He wants us to know where we stand in regards to those things He is revealing to us.  So be of good cheer, my little padawan, you’re going to make it… me thinks! 

      As we grow in the Lord and rid ourselves of the old nature, our new nature begins to take hold in our lives.  It is during this time the Lord begins to speak and to reveal to us our New Identity.  This picture of “who we are in the Lord” can be a difficult one to grasp for some.  The Lord is faithful to reveal to all believers both general and specific revelations about their place in His Kingdom.  While words about our old nature versus our new nature can be somewhat negative at times, new revelations about “who we are in the Beloved” can be quite exhilarating and overwhelming.  God’s love can blow us away. 

      Permit me to chase one rabbit for a moment.  Some become accustomed to hearing only negative words from the Lord.  They view the Father as “always being on their case about various issues.”  They relish hearing words of correction and struggle with the Lord’s uplifting words of love and admonition.  In total contrast, other believers only want to hear good things from heaven.  All negative and corrective words are tossed out immediately. 

      I have found help in receiving both the positive and negative revelations from the Lord.  Believe me, it has taken me much time to arrive at this place.  I have wasted many agonizing years trying to make God’s revelations fit into what I wanted them to be, instead of simply receiving and obeying His words.  Thankfully, God is faithful…and longsuffering.  The word of God speaks….speaks….speaks!  Our job is to listen….listen…listen.  Unfortunately, I chose to try and provide commentary to the revelations of God.  It cost me much consternation in the process.  Hey, if God wanted or needed commentary on what He had spoken, then He would have provided such.  Learn from me…shut up and let the word stand!  Is this blunt enough? 

      Did I catch that rabbit?  Lets go back to discovering our identity.  Knowing who you are in the Lord is of primary importance to discovering your Kingdom work.  If you never fully discover your identity, then you will not:

  1. Be able to help others find their way in their Kingdom responsibilities.
  2. Be able to “stand your ground.”  The devil and his cohorts will push you around as you try to stand on truth.  (This was Satan’s modus operandi with Jesus in the wilderness temptation. Matthew 4)
  3. Be able to proceed.  Why?  You will simply quit at the first signs of hardship because you will not understand “who you are.” 
  4. Be able to know your exact place in the Kingdom.  It is a wonderful comfort and peace to know your Kingdom responsibilities. 
  5. Be able to discern your destiny and calling.  This is why the drop out rate is high among the called.  They failed to receive all their instructions about their identity in Christ. 

      There is more to say, but we will continue tomorrow.  For now, begin to ask the Lord about your identity.  A great place to start is to ask the Lord this question…”Lord, what do you think about me?”  Right now, the Lord is longing to whisper in your ear and tell you how much He loves you.  If I tell you the Lord loves you, it means one thing.  When you hear those words for yourself from the Lord’s mouth, it is revolutionary!  Start a revolution today…in your own heart. 

Blessings!

“I Fell into a Burning Ring of Fire”

21 Wednesday Sep 2011

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“And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”  Zechariah 13:8-9 

     I don’t know if Johnny was singing about what I will be blogging about, but it seemed to be a good place to start.  This song came out when I was a kid and all I could think about when I heard it was… I don’t want to fall into that fire!  Who does?  Who really wants to be tested in the Lord’s fire!  Yikes! 

     I have been thinking about “the times of testing” that comes from the Lord the past few weeks.  I wrote about the anatomy of these tests back on September 9,14 and 15. (That is a hint to go back and read them)  Tests are important vehicles the Lord uses to reveal to us exactly where we stand and how well His teaching has impacted our lives.  In the past few days I have pondered how these times of testing can be categorized or grouped into clusters of like kinds.  I am going to spend a few days examining some of the major tests the Lord uses in our lives to move us closer to the image of Christ. 

      Some of the testings I endured in my early walk with the Lord concerned my new nature versus my old nature.  Back in those days I thought every spiritual hiccup was the devil trying to trip me up.  It has always amazed me that when believers don’t understand the spiritual workings of a matter they automatically conclude… it’s the devil!  God is faithful with us all.  He was faithful with me as well.  Anyway, my thought processes are  a lot clearer and keener now.  I can see how His hand was working to secure my new nature. 

      Unfortunately, many believers never grow past dying to their old self.  Again, God is faithful and is still teaching and testing them many years later.  I could say the Lord is still growing and pruning them, looking for fruit. 

      As I wrap-up this first area of testing concerning our old and new natures, I feel the need to add one caveat.  In every area of testing some move slowly and others move quickly.  I used to be envious of those who quickly moved through areas I struggled.  Let me remind you of a lesson I had to learn the hard way.  We are not in a competition with each other.  No bonus points are given for those who arrive early.  In fact, if you spend too much time examining what your neighbor is doing, it will cause you to bumble, stumble and fall!  Just plan to finish the race with your heart on fire for the Lord.  This is enough.  If  you feel stuck at any particular junction of testing, look to Him who is the Author and Finisher of your faith.  In Him is everything you need to finish your course and bring glory to the Father. 

      Blessings! 

Are You “Gonna Fly Like an Eagle?”

20 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by in Our Spiritual Process

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“ Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, That hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions.”  Deuteronomy 32:11

      A female eagle has an interesting way of picking a mate. She will pick up a twig and fly high into the air and drop it. Male eagles will fly beneath her and try to catch the twig. She will do this until a male has caught the twig three times.   She is not trying to be difficult. 

      The future mother is testing the male for his ability to catch young eagles as they are directed out of the nest for flight. When it’s time for the young eagle to fly on its own, the mother begins to stir up the nest.  The nest, once so comfortable, is gradually torn apart by the mother.  Eventually she pushes her young out of the nest. She carries the young eaglets on her back up high into the air and shakes them off.  How rude!  It is the responsibility of the father to swoop down and catch the young eaglets until they learn to fly on their own.

      The way eagles teach their young to fly is the same way the Lord teaches His children to soar.  Sometimes in our walk with the Lord we resemble young eaglets who need to learn the laws of faith and flight.  At other times the Lord requires believers to exemplify traits of the eagle parents, tough love.   This circle of growing, learning, and testing is repeated over and over again.  The lessons of faith, hope, and love never end. 

      Remember, we need to be ready and expecting opportunities for growth.  Just as the female eagle is testing the male for his reliability, a believer will be tested by God in his or her faithfulness and dependability.   The day is coming when we are no longer learning the lessons of flying or out trying to catch twigs.  Eventually we are given the responsibility for catching souls and walking in the truths of  Kingdom realities. 

      The question is not will these types of lessons will happen in your life.  The question is how well did you fly the last time the Lord pushed you out of the nest?  Growth, maturity, and fruit bearing are on the Lord’s agenda for your life.  Get ready, your next flying and twig catching opportunities are just around the corner.