religion vs. relationship

I read Acts chapter seven today. Verse 53 says "you have received the law that was put into effect through angels but you have not obeyed it."

We can know the law - know God's Word - interpret it in our own human way - even obey our own interpretation of God's word nearly perfectly but if we don't KNOW GOD we miss it all!

The Sanhedrin Stephen was speaking to kept to the letter of the law religiously - at least as they interpreted the law - but they had no connection to the Holy Spirit... no relationship with God. So, when all was said and done they put to death the very prophets who told of the coming of Messiah. They hung the foretold Messiah on a cross. They missed it all!

Religion killed relationship.

Jesus, keep me from being more committed to the ways than I am to knowing and loving the Way-Maker!

life goals

Acts 6:5&8 "They chose Stephen, a man full of faith...Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people"

What a resume! These descriptive phrases about Stephen made me wonder what could ever be written about me if someone decided to chronicle the history of my church? "She could sing real good." "She developed miraculous typing skills".

The final chapter of Batterson's "Wild Goose Chase" will be rattling around in my head and heart for some time and part of the challenge given by the author is to develop LIFE GOALS. I'm not sure how, at 41 years old, I can truly say "I HAVE NO GOALS". I believe it makes sense for some goals to be concrete accomplishments but reading about Stephen this morning reminds me that the more valuable goals are the ones I set for my heart, my spirit, my faith journey.

Goal #1 - To be found faithful; full of God's grace and power!

no fear

Acts 5:29 jumped out at me this morning - it says: "We must obey God rather than man!"

I think this verse struck me today because I just finished reading the final chapter of Mark Batterson's "Wild Goose Chase" in which he talks about the cage of fear some (I) are prone to live in. Batterson writes that the cage of fear can cause us to run the race so we don't lose (no risks, no initiatives) rather than running to WIN the race.
Most fears in my life boil down to the fear of man. Whether it's worrying about the good opinion of others; operating under fears instilled by over-cautious parents; fear of failure (which, by the way, is just another side of worrying about what others think of me).
The writer of Acts puts it simply but powerfully "We must obey God rather than man!"
There's even an exclamation point right there in the Bible!!!

one name

I attend the Chris Tomlin/Israel Houghton concert/worship service last night where one of the themes was the name of Jesus. "Name above all names...", "No other name..."; Chris even talked about how we've pretty much said it all when we name Jesus the Messiah!
Today, my Bible reading plan took me to Acts 4 where verse 12 says: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Salvation is found in that ONE NAME - no one else - it doesn't get much clearer than that.

I've talked to people who say they believe in Jesus but that they can't believe that no other "religion" (without Jesus) will get people to God. Sadly that kind of statement makes it pretty evident to me that those folks don't really believe that God's Word IS God's Word! That's a pretty vital belief to have if we want to trust that Jesus is who he is.

I have no idea why God chose to allow me the blessing of growing up in a home and a church where God's Word was taught, believed and trusted?? I don't know why He chooses to allow me to trust that truth - always - with out question or reservation. But I am so incredibly grateful that He does!

no other gods

Ever since I was kid the words of Exodus 20:3 & 4 "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." painted a picture in my mind of idols being in the form of a golden calf or one of the many statues worshiped in the Hindu religion. I guess the kid part of me read this as "you shall not MAKE STATUES".

Over the years I've grown to understand God's full intent with these words. A great article by C.J. Mahaney entitled "The Idol Factory" did a lot to help me grasp my own incredible propensity toward idolatry. I believe that "golden calf statues" may have been the issue for Israel back in the day because clearly that's what they decided to worship.

But what idols am I prone to worship? The good opinion of others? My own comfort? I think spending can even be an idol for me - not so much the STUFF that I get when I spend but the feel-good-ness that comes from shopping.

Someone once defined an idol as anything or anyone we consistently run to for comfort other than God. Guess that makes those "comfort foods" a biggie too!

I desperately want to see the imprint of the holy spirit on my heart and life every day - NOT the imprint of other stuff that I run to looking for a refuge.
Oh Lord, give me feet that run first and fast to you - and a heart that follows quickly.

every day

Today I read the story of the Exodus – oddly enough found in the book of Exodus – Chapter 14.
I still am awed when I read or hear this story that I’ve been hearing and/or reading since I was a child.
It amazes me - the power of God’s hand – to do outrageous, miraculous things in the lives of his people.
Today he has given me a tiny glimpse of how that power displayed in the crossing of the Red Sea translates to what he does for me EVERY DAY!
Israel was under the law and there were over 600,000 of them. I am under a New Covenant through Jesus and there is only one of me – but EVERY DAY he saves me, every day he leads me out of potentially dangerous (whether physically, emotionally, spiritually) circumstances, every day he protects me, guides me, parts the waters of difficulty or confusion or frustration – provides an escape from sin. Every day he stretches out his mighty hand, he pours out his Holy Spirit and EVERY DAY HE LOVES ME!

all from the same cloud

In Job 37:13 the author writes: "He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love."

I think this means he can use the same item or circumstance as both discipline and/or blessing. The intention is determined by the condition of my heart.

In my everyday life I want to be tuned in to what types of clouds/items/circumstances God is placing in my day and tuned in to his intent. If I check my own heart - my obedience or lack thereof - then I should be able to determine whether he intends something to be a blessing (a means of showing his love)or if he intends to use it to open my eyes to some disobedient place in me.

I am so grateful for God's grace to show me my own heart - even when there is ugliness, disobedience; some sin there that I don't want to look at but I need to see... need to let him redeem and reshape. I'm so thankful for clouds that bring rain to discipline me and for clouds that bring rain to bless my life with growing seasons.

more than an "also ran"

Well, it's a new year and I'm determined to follow a renewed motivation to post more consistently.
So, I was reading in 1 Corinthians the other day. Chapter 9, verse 24 to be exact. Here's what Paul says: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize!"
The directive is pretty clear but am I taking it seriously? Am I running to get the prize? Am I driven by His glory to keep pressing on at a hard pace? Am I hearing His voice - His calling - His passion for my life - and running hard after it? Or am I far too content with status quo and simply running to stay with the pack?

I need to GET QUIET... LISTEN... HEAR and RUN!!!