 Man in the Mirror, Don’t You Forget
For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12 (AMP)
“Man in the mirror, don’t you forget, God has never, ever, ever, ever failed …you yet.” ~ George Roberts
These are the words to a song that my Uncle George wrote. He used to sing this song and play his guitar with such a contagious passion that it is one of those instances that is forever etched in my memory.
Every time I read this Scripture I am reminded of this song. I can hear the melody from my past and know that my Uncle had an intimate understanding of what this passage meant.
We live in a world that feeds and thrives on self-image. Money is spent for the finest clothing, accessories, and make-up to give us the glamorous appearance we have been taught appeals to the masses. Yet it is all a painstaking, time-wasting façade.
There are not enough outward adornments in the world to satisfy the ache of the heart that desires to be loved and accepted for who they know they are.
I know my heart, my own life, my walk, where I have been and what I have done. I know the times I have gone to God and asked to look into the mirror of what He sees in me. And I understand as Paul says, “we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma].”
An enigma is simply stated as a mystery: somebody or something that is not easily explained or understood
It makes no sense to say that we can look into a mirror and not see our reflection. But with God’s mirror that reflection is blurred. Why?
From my own personal experience I can honestly state that when I go to God and He does allow me to see, more often than I care to admit, I am not pleased with my reflection. But it is His loving grace and mercy, allowing a momentary glimpse of who we really are, which gently motivates our hearts to the change that He can already clearly see.
Transformation takes time. It moves through life cycles and stages. Bit by bit, step by step, and moment by moment. Think of the butterfly. Not only can it not be rushed, but if you attempt to help it through its painful emergence into its final stage of life…you can kill it. Your best intentions will never see the beauty take flight.
My Uncle understood something that I fear we too often overlook. God has never nor will He ever fail. He will not fail you, He will not fail me. We will fail ourselves and one another with our feeble attempts and good intentions. But He never will!
“But you don’t know what I’ve done, how far I’ve fallen or the things I’ve said”. You are right, but I know myself and that is who I look at in my mirror and in His.
No matter how I feel and what I see, I stand in His loving arms on His unshakeable Word!
He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. ~ Philippians 1:6
He fully and clearly knows, sees and understands that which we do not. God is not a man that He could lie! Hebrews 6:18 He will never, ever fail you!
Wherever you are right now, you are not too far gone for Him. Whoever has failed you, it has not been Him. As you lift your eyes to take a glimpse in the dim, blurred mirror, lift your heart to Him!
As the voice of the enemy’s whisper threatens to sound off in your ear; silence him with your own declaration! Cry out and sing… “Man in the mirror, don’t you forget, God has never, ever, ever, ever failed …you yet.”
 Potholes, Paths and Remembering: God is in the Details
In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. ~Proverbs 3:6 (AMP)
When we bought this old farmstead a few years back we had huge ambitions and fire fueled drive to accomplish them. One of the major things we discovered within the first two months was that it needed a new septic system.
We followed all the procedures, filed the necessary paperwork and paid for the permits. The County came out, did their testing, plotted out the system and drew up a plan. They inspected it each step of the way to verify that it was being done properly.
Less than two years later the system has failed. There has been a steady stream in the front yard that made its presence aware to our sense of smell before our sight.
For the past month, the County has come back out, drilled holes in the ground and done more testing. They are trying to determine whether ground water coming off the mountain is causing it. One way they do this is by digging holes with a circumference of no more than eight inches around and about two feet deep. They then fill the hole with water and watch the rate of dissipation.
Yesterday three men drove up in the driveway and started for the front yard. As they did, David rang my phone to tell me that they were coming. Imagine his surprise as I relayed that they were already here. He asked me to tell them that he was on his way.
As I turned and started back to the house from conveying David’s message to the gentlemen in my front yard, one leg went knee deep into a two foot mud hole and I hit the ground. Stunned, I sat there laughing as they were trying to help me up and explain that it was only ground water in that hole.
Muddied and wet I finally made my way into the house. What had happened? I knew that hole was there, it had been there for weeks for a purpose. We had acknowledged it when they told us and had been careful to avoid it.
In that momentary lapse, I was not paying attention to the direction I was headed and I ended up in a mess.
How often do we find ourselves on a routine path that we have walked a hundred times before? How often do we take for granted that we know where we are going and completely forget to acknowledge Him?
I am not saying that I should have prayed before I walked into my front yard. I am saying that I was comfortable with the familiarity of my surroundings and was not expecting any potholes to trip me up or knock me down.
It is not uncommon to let your guard down in the areas that you find yourself most at ease. But in the fluency of our normal daily lives, forgetting to recognize the presence of the Lord can leave us blind and distracted to the pitfalls of the enemy.
As Christians we sometimes have a bad habit of thinking that we can handle this on our own. It’s possible that we even claim that God doesn’t want us to waste time asking Him about small details. We can handle it, why bother Him?
You go about your normal day on cruise control, doing exactly what you do every day, the same way and suddenly in the midst of auto-drive you hit that hole and find yourself on the ground. Why?
Did you read the first part of the Scripture?
In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him
Not some of the ways or part of the way but all of your ways. God is in the details.
I took my surroundings for granted. I was distracted, and I wasn’t paying attention. Fortunately I was only a muddy, wet, laughing mess picking myself up off of the ground. What about you?
Is the enemy trying to trip you up in your normal routine? Have you noticed a pit in the path? Have you been brushing these things off as minor annoyances and not carrying them to the Lord?
Think about the highway that gets traveled daily. The minor pits in the road that aren’t taken care of soon become major potholes.
Don’t allow yourself to be so settled in your normal routine that you forget to acknowledge Him. Don’t take the familiarity of your surroundings so for granted that you aren’t even watching where you are going!
Be alert, aware and always on your guard! The enemy hits you the hardest when you aren’t expecting it. He wants you to stay distracted so he can trip you up along the path.
Solution? Remember: God is in the details! In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. ~ Proverbs 3:6
 Weak Women 7[These weak women will listen to anybody who will teach them]; they are forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth. -2 Timothy 3:7 (AMP)Knowledge is power! I remember when I was a child coming home after school, I would do my homework and then I could watch TV. At that time, programming and even commercials were geared toward an after-school age group. I loved Schoolhouse Rock and it stuck with me so much that David bought me a set of the CD’s several years ago. I have even used the catchy tunes in driving home conjunctions while homeschooling my children. I also remember one of those afternoon commercials, Knowledge is Power!Today there is a course, class, certification or degree for just about everything imaginable. People are revered as experts in their fields according to the knowledge that they have, based upon a certain subject. But what is knowledge?Knowledge is defined as: acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation; general erudition: knowledge of many things. The women in today’s Scripture were “forever inquiring and getting information” and “listening to anybody who would teach them.” Paul further reveals in this letter to Timothy just exactly who these women were getting their information from. 5For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. -2 Timothy 3:5These ever inquiring women were gleaning information from those held a “form of true religion”. A form of true religion?! And Paul was very adamant in his warning to Timothy to not only avoid such people but to turn away from them.What happens when you don’t have firsthand knowledge about something? You seek out information from someone who does. At that point, it becomes second hand knowledge. So imagine what it becomes as it is passed around? Maybe, is it perhaps a “form of true knowledge”?Ever hear someone say that there was just enough truth in it to not make it a lie? There is another term for that, it’s called manipulation.With today’s technologically advanced society, knowledge is literally at one’s fingertips. You can find out what you want to know, about who you want to know, when you want to know it. And if you don’t like the opinion there, you can find a million more at the strike of your keyboard, be it on a phone or laptop.The question is who is feeding you your information? Are you getting relationship advice from Oprah Winfrey or maybe Dr. Phil? Are you taking fashion advice from the trash rags at the checkout line in the grocery store? Are your children learning about purity from a sex education class at school that hands them condoms and the address to abortion clinics behind your back? Are you continuing counseling with someone at Church, even though something inside of you is telling you that something is not right? Are you judging someone at Church based on something you heard from someone else because they are a reliable source of “information”? I believe the women here were deservedly labeled weak, not because they lacked the ability to gather information. It was what and where they were gathering. And it led them nowhere.Knowledge is Power! 33Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.34Awake [from your drunken stupor and return] to sober sense and your right minds, and sin no more. For some of you have not the knowledge of God [you are utterly and willfully and disgracefully ignorant, and continue to be so, lacking the sense of God's presence and all true knowledge of Him]. I say this to your shame. -1 Corinthians 15:33-34 Paul here says quite a mouthful! But that was nothing unusual for him. He served God with all the passion that he had originally persecuted the Church and Christ with! How many of us serve God with the energy, passion or even finances that we partied with before we were saved?He states here that they have not the knowledge of God because they are willfully and disgracefully ignorant and continue to be so! They don’t sense God’s presence because they don’t want to. Ouch!How many of us have looked for that tiny loophole that would allow us to do what we know we shouldn’t but it falls into the category of acceptable? Most Christians are more than content to live in God’s acceptable will, than His perfect will. Then don’t expect perfect results on your acceptable path.We live in a world where we are taught that we should make choices for ourselves, be independent and that this is self-esteem. The problem is that your choices and the choices of those around you have a ripple effect. Whether you want to accept it or not, they impact someone else as well. I cannot throw a pebble into a pond without it changing the environment of that pond forever. I have stirred the water, possibly the soil and when the muck and murk settle, there will be that pebble that wasn’t there before.What does this mean and how does it fit together? Knowledge is Power.What you know, or what you want to know will direct where you go. And you are not on this journey alone. What you know or what you want to know will cause you to grow. For good or for evil, strength or weakness, you are feeding something.Knowledge is power. An intimate knowledge of your Savior will never lead you astray. He will bring you healing, hope and guidance for every step of the journey, no matter what you are faced with. And I am pretty certain, if my life is found hidden in Christ, no one will be calling Him a weak woman.
 Sinking, Swimming or Treading Water
Let not the floodwaters overflow and overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up nor the [dug] pit [with water perhaps in the bottom] close its mouth over me. ~Psalm 69:15 (AMP)
When my brother and I were seven and five respectively, we were taken down to the intracoastal in Pompano Beach for the afternoon. If the tide was out, you could climb down on the rocks and see all of the formations on them. It was great fun and we looked forward to the excursion.
On this particular afternoon we received the further bonus of fudgesicles. Hot Florida sun, children, running around and frozen chocolate do not make for a pretty site. Well, at least not a clean one.
With chocolate blazing a cool trail down my arms and to my elbows I was quite a mess. Do you know what the brilliant solution of my adult overseer was? Hold me by my wrists and dip me into the ocean from the small dock.
Their mentality was only exemplified when they thought it would be humorous to then let me go.
I will never forget how I felt as my body went rigid; my arms were reaching up to grasp anything yet nothing, while I sank lower into the depths. With eyes wide open I could see through the rippling water the laughter on the face of the one who purposely let me go. I experienced the deep closing its mouth over me.
What about you? Are you familiar with emotions surrounding the threat of the floodwaters completely engulfing you?
Even King David, beloved of God battled these feeling from time to time as read in todays verse. Granted David was crying out in the face of his own sin before God, but he knew exactly Whom to turn to rescue him.
As a seven year old child I had not yet learned how to swim let alone, tread water. I needed to learn, but not by being carelessly thrown in and humiliated in the process.
When faced with the floodwaters of the Jordan River overflowing its banks, God simply required a step of faith, which would move His hand so His people could pass over on dry ground. The greatest part was that He did not require them to go it alone. His very presence in the Ark of the Covenant was with them. (Joshua 3)
When Jonah, fleeing the call of the Lord in direct rebellion to His will, was cast into the raging sea, God did not leave him to drown. (Jonah 1:15) He had prepared the way with a great fish (Jonah 1:17) that would deliver him to dry ground once again. (Jonah 2:10)
When faced with perceived danger, pounding winds and the raging storm, Peter started to sink. Jesus did not merely let him start paddling, swim back to the boat or even be battered by the waves momentarily as his body tread beneath the water!
Jesus reached out his hand to Peter, caught him and held him! Matthew 14:31
We belong to the One Who commands the deep waters!
Seek Him Who made the [cluster of stars called] Pleiades and [the constellation] Orion, Who turns the shadow of death or deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the face of the earth—the Lord is His name. ~ Amos 5:8
Throughout Scripture, when Gods people were faced with deep waters it was not to teach them how to swim, but only to trust in Him and His voice.
In each and every situation, it was and is knowing Who to call on to deliver you!
Are you tired of swimming against the tides? Do you feel like your head is dipping under the weight of the battle threatening to sink you to the depths? Have your arms and legs turned to lead dragging you down from treading water so long?
Call out to Jesus! He won’t stand there laughing, watching as you go down! He will reach out, catch you, and hold onto you! In Him there is no Sinking, Swimming, or Treading Water! Only the sure footed confidence of being found resting upon the Rock and looking down upon the deep from which He rescued you!
 Remaining at Rest
The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest. ~Exodus 14:14
When I was around five years old we had a house on the lake in Michigan. The back yard was somewhat of a peninsula as it had water on three sides. There was a single fence and gate at the back of the yard that kept my brother and me from going to the deepest part of the water.
My older cousins would come over to play and I would always end up in a load of trouble. Once it was because I picked up a dead beaver and was running around the back yard with it. Another time I fished a dead mouse out of the water in hopes of saving it. Yet another would lead us on an adventure of exploring an extremely dilapidated and abandoned house boat. We found a bunch of old checks & thought we had struck it rich!
My cousins, did I mention they were older, and I had glorious escapades! But more often than not, I would end up in tears, sent to my bedroom, isolated, and left merely pondering my quests. I was told to go to bed, “but I’m not tired” I would declare. It was at this point I was always met with the tormenting reply of “Just rest then”.
I cannot lie to you. I have not outgrown this. I am constantly doing something and always anticipating what will come next. I have never really accomplished the task of learning to rest.
Continually throughout Scripture we are urged to rest in the Lord. But how do we do that? What exactly does that mean?
The Hebrew word for rest in todays passage differs from the one where the Lord commands Sabbath rest. In todays passage it means:
To be silent, be quiet; to become deaf; to be quiet, say nothing, be silent; to make no moves and keep silent.
This was the command as the Israelites were facing the armies of Pharaoh on one side and the Red Sea on the other. Basically in spite of the hopelessness, death and no way out, which they are being faced with, God is telling them to shut their mouths! Not only that, but make yourselves deaf to the raging around you.
Might I just interject here that everything in my flesh sarcastically says yeah, right, easier said than done. But it is with our spirit that we learn and become intimately acquainted with the Lord and often times have to drag our flesh, kicking and screaming into obedience. It’s called humanity.
Notice this; the command to rest was not when they reached the Promised Land. This command was in their most desperate circumstance yet.
Where are you right now? Are the depths of the Red Sea threatening to drown your dreams of truly being free? Are the armies of this life kicking up roaring clouds of dust and thunder as they make their menacing approach? In your fear have you hastily spoken out that this is it, God has forsaken and abandoned you?
Be still! Be silent! Make yourself deaf to the impending battle swarming around you! Don’t move! Now listen!
It is only in Him, in obedience to Him, His direction and His will can you rest and hear Him speak.
The Lord will fight for you!
There is a time to be silent, to be still, to not speak, but only listen. He is fully aware of our situations and our circumstance. He leaves nothing to “chance”. He knows each and every detail. Drag your flesh into the obedience of what you hear God speaking into your spirit that is your part! The battle is the Lords!
Stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord! Hold your peace for it is there you will learn to remain at rest.
 Contemplating the Gift of Grace
What shall we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow? ~ Romans 6:1 (AMP)
Last week I had the opportunity to share dinner with a friend. I love spending time with her because it is so comfortable and easy. We can be ourselves without any pretense, fear or guard. It is in this place of contentment we sometimes find ourselves lost in conversation, oblivious to those surrounding us, in our own little world.
As we were conversing in the restaurant, we found ourselves laughing so hard the people at surrounding booths actually complimented us. One man told us that laughter was the best medicine as he rose to pay his bill. A family of three came over to our table to tell us they had unanimously voted that we had the most contagious laugh.
But I wonder did they also see us cry? We sat sharing our deepest heartfelt feelings of motherhood, children and what that meant to us. I was even encouraged by my friend graciousness as she shared with me that my current struggles with my daughter, were not unique to me.
Over the last year my twelve year old daughter and I have seemingly been in a tug of war. The last several months it has escalated to what I was quite sure labeling abnormal, would be a gross understatement.
My daughter is not openly disrespectful in any way. As a matter of fact, most people would say that she is a very respectful child. But it is the quiet defiance behind the scenes that has been eating away at our closeness, yet teaching me much of the Fathers gift of grace.
Recently I discovered that in order to not have to fold the laundry, she had been throwing our new towels and wash cloths into the trash. When I asked her about it, I got the same answer I always get, “I didn’t feel like doing it” (folding them).
This answer applies across the board for her. Why aren’t you doing your homework? Why didn’t you read that? Have we not talked about this several times? Why didn’t you do what I asked? “I didn’t feel like doing it”. Every single time, the same exact answer, whatever the situation.
I have literally grit my teeth so hard in disbelief that I thought they would crack out of my head like an old Tom and Jerry cartoon. The icing on the cake is each and every time, which has for several months now become a daily occurrence; she comes with the big crocodile tears.
“Mom, I really want things to be different.” This worked for a long time. I would talk to her, try to reason with her and discuss what consequences our relationship would suffer, if she didn’t change her behavior. After a solid year of this, I say with all honesty, I am no longer moved by her tears.
I have finally come to the conclusion that yes, she does want things to be different; but not on her end. She wants to do what she wants to do, when she wants to do it and how she wants to do it. She doesn’t care about consequences. At least right now...she'll outgrow it, right?
She has long counted on my grace when she comes to me with her tears for doing what she felt like doing, yet again. Ironically, her name is Mathea (Gift of God) and her middle name is…Grace.
God has really used this to draw me into a deeper understanding of His grace towards us. Though His love for us is unfailing, how often do we go to Him with those big crocodile tears, yet again, looking for His grace?
We may not be openly disrespectful but on the backside, we are knowingly, willingly, sneaking, manipulating, defying and doing whatever it is that we want to do. There is no real fear of consequences because His grace is enough to cover that, right?
Loving my daughter is not a question at all. I love her beyond measure. But her quiet defiance, sneaking and lying, left unchanged, unchecked or undisciplined can eventually lead her to a place where my grace cannot cover her. It would be ludicrous to think she should continue in this destructive behavior to prove my level of grace. Yet that is exactly the point Paul was attempting to drive home in todays Scripture.
You may laugh, but God in this time has spoken to me and asked, “How do you think I feel?” That question left me with a pit in my stomach.
How does He feel? Why do we continue to take Him for granted? Do we not understand that the consequences of our continued behaviors eat away at our relationship with Him? Don’t we know that He can see through the crocodile tears and into our hearts? Do we count on His grace being so free-flowing that we have left accountability at the door?
His grace is enough, it is more than enough. The question is are we willing to take an intimate look at ourselves, our actions and our thought processes and how we take His grace for granted? Does our love for Him, motivate us to express a life change? Are you ready for the challenge of laying bare the intentions of your heart to truly contemplate, the gift of His grace?
 The Voice of Peace is Never Silent
Therefore since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). ~ Romans 5:1 (AMP)
I was having a conversation with a friend recently and she made the statement to me that she was ready for some peace and quiet. This announcement was followed with her saying she was going to spend some time alone with God. As I pondered what she said a myriad of thoughts flooded my mind’s eye.
There is one place in the world that you could find me, no matter what emotional pot I may find myself in. Happy, sad, indifferent (although I don’t know that I have ever actually experienced this emotion) you could find me, legs tucked indian-style, on my front porch swing.
Before we moved to our farm, we lived on the outskirts of Raleigh, North Carolina. In the chaos of life, running two businesses, hearing the cars and sirens drive by at all hours, even there, I had a back porch swing. It was there, I would find quiet, tranquility, a place where I could look over my flowers, bird houses and hear, see, smell and savor the peace of God.
The peace that Paul is speaking of is the Greek word:
εἰρήνη Eirene: peace, harmony, tranquility; safety, welfare, health
It is also made clear that this peace with God is paid for through Jesus Christ. It’s ours, it’s there.
Why do so many Christians struggle with living in peace? Why does it seem like we are constantly trying to attain this for ourselves, when He has already done this for us?
I believe it is because we look for peace in things outside of God. When this bill gets paid…when my health is better…if I had another job…if I had a different house…if I had a different spouse…
Peace becomes situational, circumstantial and conditional instead of a dwelling and trust in Him. Peace is not something, it is someOne.
When my friend and I had this conversation, I shared with her my thoughts that God is anything but silent. Have you ever actually experienced silence? Unless you are physically deaf, I challenge you to think this through.
God is in the whisper of the breeze as it plays upon the dancing leaves. God is in the song of the birds as each chirp out its own distinct melody that only He can understand. God is in the falling rain as He answers the ground that cries out for its thirst to be quenched.
God is in the fragrance of the flower that springs forth from the ground in beauty, stretching its face towards the sun. He is in the budding leaf that opens to the season that He has called it to. He is in the babbling brook that answers the call to flow into the river and then the sea.
God is in the beating of your heart. God is the Master designer of your intricate being. And God is the One Who holds your very breath in His hands.
God is never silent, He is always speaking. What do we choose to hear?
When the voice of defeat threatens to overcome us, what can we do? When the enemy that comes only to steal, kill and destroy speaks louder how do we cope? When the bill collectors’ call or the doctors diagnose, when the mechanic tells you the price or the newscasters report, where is our peace?
Our peace is in Him, not in our circumstances, finances or even chances. Do you really desire to silence the voice of the enemy? Tune him out. Close your eyes, listen. Can you hear the birds singing? Do you feel the breeze caress your face as it traipses through the trees?
Take a deep breath, can you provide that for yourself? Job 12:10
Run your hands through your hair, can you count them all? He has them numbered. Matthew 10:30
Take a moment to listen; the voice of Peace is never silent. It is Him, He is your peace and He is calling you to trust Him. How will you answer Him?
 Spiritual Apathy, Callouses, Past Feeling and Reckless
In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. ~Ephesians 4:19 (AMP)
When I first wanted to learn to play guitar, I was faced with several obstacles. My hands are small. My fingers are short. I couldn’t quite twist my wrist in order to hold down the strings.
Learning the combinations of positioning, notes, chords, frets seemed like a daunting task. Being determined enough to push past the inability to strum and hold the chord in time would be challenging to say the least.
Aside from the stretching of my fingers, the positioning of my wrist and becoming acquainted with the ebb and flow of playing, pain was literally at my fingertips.
Holding the strings down, in order for them to release a clean sound would leave my fingertips raw, throbbing and sometimes bleeding. What was the advice I was given? Build up your callouses.
The idea is to rub the tips of your fingers under the table, on a rough surface any time of the day you are thinking of it. Why? Eventually, the longer you play, the thicker your callouses and then you are past feeling it.
Physically, it makes perfect sense, Spiritually it can mean death.
Apathy can be defined as a state of indifference. Not caring one way or another. Apathy doesn’t move you.
Blessed (Happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.–Psalm 1:1
Continuing in spiritual apathy builds callouses on ones heart and mind. It removes the ability to be sensitive and responsive to God’s touch. We become hard, unfeeling and unhearing: self-focused, self-motivated, carnally minded and reckless. Its destination leads eventually only to wrath. Romans 2:5
Spiritual apathy sometime hides its face behind “not wanting to interfere”, “it’s none of my business”, “what’s the point anyway”. More dangerously, it can develop into stark rebellion, which uses and abuses the grace of Jesus as an excuse to continue in sin.
Sometimes apathy is the result of a wounded soul that has plunged themselves into deep numbness. It is a self-protective stance taken with the mindset, “If I don’t allow myself to feel anything, no-one can hurt me again”.
What is the cure, the hope that will stir and move the apathetic heart? What is the lifeline extended in the face of any circumstance? The Love of Christ Jesus, represented through you.
For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us , because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died;
15And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Would the love of Christ turn its head from sin, look the other way and pretend like it never happened? No, it always speaks truth in love. Proverbs 16:6, John 5:14, John 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:34
Would the love of Christ drive by that hungry, homeless person, casting judgment on why they are in that situation? No, it meets the physical needs of a physical world in order to introduce the spiritual love. Isaiah 58:7, Psalm 146:7, Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 15:32, Matthew 25:35
Would the love of Christ walk by that broken-heated person saying, “Someone else will take care of it, I’m in a hurry”. No, it draws close to them. Psalm 34:18
Would the love of Christ, pass by the wounded because of race, social class or perceived position? No, it cares for them, recognizing them as a neighbor, no matter what the cost. Luke 10:30-37
It is time to take off the tee shirts, Jesus fish, license plates and WWJD bracelets and clothe ourselves with Christ Jesus.
But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts). ~Romans 13:14
It’s high time to love the sinner as Christ has loved us (Romans 5:8) and hate the sin enough to singe your arms as you snatch them from the flames (Jude 1:23).
Let His love move you. Remain sensitive and responsive to His touch and His voice by abiding in Him. It is there safe in His arms that you find and bear witness that you have passed over into Life (1 John3:14) from spiritual apathy and death.
 The Garden of Your Heart
And in the same way the ones sown upon stony ground are those who, when they hear the Word, at once receive and accept and welcome it with joy;
17And they have no real root in themselves, and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful) and they stumble and fall away. ~ Mark 4:16-17 (AMP)
Our family lives on a farm in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Although it is a sizeable farm, much of the land is not suitable for crops, but it is for grazing. The most level piece of land we have is located on a hilltop up from our house. It is there that we have planted a 250 x 90 ft. garden.
Our first year here, the ground had to be broken with a plow. It literally cuts deep beneath the grass and roots, down into the soil ripping it up and overturning it.
After going through and removing the large clods of roots and grass, we had to till the soil over and again. At one point in the garden we encountered extremely rocky soil. We removed rocks, broke the ground and hoped for the best.
When our garden started to grow and bear the fruits of our labors, I am sure it will come as no surprise to find that our rocky area yielded less. It bore precious little or completely withered and died.
Since last Fall we have spent numerous hours building up the soil, tilling again, composting and removing more of the rock. We have worked that area with the intention of better conditions for the seed to take root.
The root system supports the plant life. If it has no depth to grow in to, to sustain it, the roots shrivel and the plant dies.
How does the Lord respond to these conditions in comparison to our heart?
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, andbreak up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. –Hosea 10:12
For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: Break up your ground left uncultivated for a season, so that you may not sow among thorns. ~Jeremiah 4:3
Have you truly given God your heart? Or are you withholding it from Jesus?
These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far away from Me. -Matthew 15:8
There has to come a point where you give yourself completely over to His will and trust His hand to the plow. There are things that need to be ripped up from the roots, cut away and destroyed. There are issues that need to be weeded out things that need to be exposed!
There is work that needs to be done in our lives, which can only be done by His loving hand. But it cannot be accomplished unless we abide in Him. John 15:4
μένω Meno: to stay, remain, live, dwell, abide
The New International Version states:
I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Gardener. ~ Jesus (John 15:1)
As a garden can become overrun with weeds when it is neglected, so can our hearts. As the ground can become hard, cracked and unyielding without proper nurturing and watering our hearts too reflect drought. And just like ‘suckers’ can sap the strength of the entire plant unless pruned away, our hearts need pruning as well.
We would do well to remember that God planted the Garden of Eden, it was not He that neglected it, but man that He placed there to tend it.
Do not withhold your heart from God, because of fear of pain that man’s neglect has caused you. Do not judge God’s love for you and His care for your heart based on the actions of another human being. Look to the Father, the Gardener!
Be found rooted deep in His love:
May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love~Ephesians 3:17
It is there, planted in vital union with Him, that our lives bear abundant fruit to His glory! And the Garden of our Heart becomes the sweet fragrance of Christ Jesus, exhaled unto God!
For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing~ 2 Corinthians 2:15
 Seeking the Face of the Lord You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word]. ~Psalm 27:8 My heart’s desire is to please the Lord, to know Him, experience Him and to love Him in the here and now. I have heard people say that it is lofty an arrogant to make such a statement. Most of the time, these are the same people who will inform me of the Scriptures that no man has seen Gods face. John 1:8, 1 John 4:12 Yet Jacob in Genesis 32:30 declares: And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the face of God], saying, For I have seen God face to face, and my life is spared and not snatched away. Again in Exodus 33:11 we are told: And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Moses returned to the camp, but his minister Joshua son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the [temporary prayer] tent. So who is right and who is wrong? Is it simply something that has been lost in interpretation or translation? Is it one of the arguments that sow strife and discord among the brethren? I do not know. What do I know? That I, like David I cry out to the Lord:
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in matters too great or in things too wonderful for me. ~ Psalm 131:1
Regardless if one has or has not seen, literally or figuratively, His face is not relevant. The fact that He instructs us to “Seek My Face” is what matters. Sadly, much of the seeking in Scripture seems to be done in a way where it is taken out of context, partially conveyed, or re-worked to fit the individual circumstance. It is applied as a Band-Aid to a wound that needs the healing balm of relationship with Christ Jesus. Neglecting to seek His face for yourself will lead you to a dependence upon others to hear God for you. How then will you ever be confident that you know His voice for yourself? Do you understand the repercussions of this path? False Christs (Messiahs) and false prophets will arise and show signs and [work] miracles to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (those God has chosen out for Himself). ~Mark 13:22 What is the promise for those who seek His face? But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God,you will find Him if you [truly] seek Him with all your heart [and mind] and soul and life. ~Deuteronomy 4:29 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Mewhen you search for Me with all your heart. ~Jeremiah 29:13 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; andhe who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. ~Matthew 7:7-8
What are you seeking? Are you seeking a solution to a situation? Are you seeking an answer to a problem? Are you seeking only His hand or are you seeking His face? Like David I long to be in His presence and say: You have made known to me the ways of life; You will enrapture me [diffusing my soul with joy] with and in Your presence. Like Mary, I long to sit as His feet. ~ Luke 10:39 Like John, I long to lay back against Him and breathe and feel His heartbeat. ~ John 13:23 And like Zach Neese, I long to sing… The more I seek You, the more I find You
The more I find You, the more I love You. Are you ready to seek the face of the Lord? Are you ready to sing with me?
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