Power with Purpose!

There are a host of angels poised to deliver messages to each and every one of us: and a God and Father ready to take His rightful place in our hearts today. If we will set our hearts and minds on Him and his will - taking the freedom of choice given to us and laying aside - submitting our whole self to Him and becoming nothing, that He might be everything.

He knows all things actual and possible. Let Him have His way in your life today and He will give you - Power with Purpose.

Wow, almost two months since my last entry. Truth be known, I have been writing a lot but it is coming in snippets and fragments. I'm not sure what that means but as soon as something meaningful comes together, you will be the first to know!
In the meantime, have a Merry Christmas, enjoy God, and eat something tasty giving thanks always to the Reason for the Season!

Fall is my favorite time of year and I like to take a day of at least once during the season to just soak it in.

As I was driving back from from taking Mel to school this morning I noticed the sky was ablaze with color. The reds and pinks contrasted against hints of clear blue along with the different grays and blacks of the clouds was striking! Only God could create such a tapestry. No, not even Bob Ross could do this justice.

But that was only the half of it. As I approached my driveway, I looked off to the left and down field that runs adjacent to our property. It's a small, valley-like landscape with treed hillsides all around. It was the perfect companion to the colorful sky! The colors of the leaves met the sky as if they were holding hands and keeping each other company. The hues blended in a perfect combination of contrast against sky and earth, yet they blended into a perfect snapshot lush, visual richness.

There was a natural sepia tone to the scene that seemed to enhance all of the colors. The reds, oranges, and yellows were so bright: and the greens and blacks were rich and deep.

I loved that it was overcast because I feel that too much sunlight would have made things a little too crisp. Instead I was treated to a sort of muted canvas as if an artist covered his entire work with a smokey wash that warmed the scene to the eye.

To finish it off the mist covered the ground and weaved its way through the trees like a ghost in search of rest for the day. I really wish I knew more words to describe what I saw in that short few seconds before I turned back into my driveway. A google search provided many beautiful photographs and paintings depicting autumn sunrises and foggy fall mornings, but only the human eye, created by God, could have captured what I had the distinct privilege of seeing today.

Only God...

The Situation

If you spend any amount of time at all looking at surveys and polls (www.barna.org) that are relevant to the Christian faith in America, it would seem that a lot American Christians are steadily slipping back towards the world from which they came. If we compare the body of Christ to a physical body we find some frightening possibilities, but we also find great hope in the future.

The Problem

A problem with part of the body can often effect the whole body. An example would be a toothache. Toothaches often demand almost total concentration in order to mentally manage the pain. Some are so bad that they can hinder our ability to take in food or drink. Because of one small part of the body, the whole body can suffer.

Some bodies have problems that exist throughout their whole lifetime due to disease or injury. A body that spends all of its time concentrating on its problems is not productive and does not serve the purposes for which it was intended.

We have seen the results of AIDS. AIDS affects the part of the body that promotes healing and regeneration by hindering its function. Could this be a physical description of the body of Christ in America today? Have we “played the harlot” and, “have gone the way of Balaam” (See Numbers chapters 22-24, IIPeter 2, Jude, and Revelation 2), until now, we have contracted a spiritual STD that does to the body of Christ exactly what HIV does to the physical body? And just as AIDS robs the physical body of its ability to heal, do those in the ministry that have the ability to bring healing, regeneration, and repentance through preaching and counseling find it difficult to do their jobs because the body is overwhelmed with sickness? Nugget: HIV is the hidden viral influence that remains unseen and can only be discovered through careful scrutiny and testing. AIDS is the outward, symptomatic manifestation of the disease. It cannot be hidden and, as of now, has no cure outside of the miraculous.

The Solution (Romans 12:3-5)

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

In order for the body to be healthy, the parts must work together to that end. We are each responsible (and will be held accountable) to God and the body of Christ to operate in our calling. If the hand goes on doing what the hand does without taking the time to use its talent to aid another part of the body, then the body as a whole suffers. Example, if your knee gets scraped, and the hands do not clean and dress the wound, then the knee can get infected and the whole body can suffer.
If the mouth does not do its part to consume food and drink for nourishment then the rest of the body starves: the whole body suffers.
If the mind only focuses on the gain of knowledge and wisdom, and does not use this knowledge and wisdom for the good of the body, then the body misses out on opportunities to grow and advance.
If the heart is selfish, then the body cannot take advantage of the reciprocation of good will.

(Matthew 25)In the body of Christ we all have been given talents. If we, as that part of the body that has been given that talent fails to exercise it then the body suffers.

We are each responsible for our function in the body so it is important that we understand:

1.What our calling is.
2.Receive conviction that our calling is important and must be accomplished.
3.Commit to our calling and allow it to be a priority in our lives.


The Result

The body can only be totally healthy and productive if all of the parts are healthy and productive.

When one part of the body is ill, some others may have the duty of trying to heal it, but there are times when we need a physician. The good news is that Jesus is still in the healing business. Not just for our physical bodies, but for our minds, our spirits, and hearts. We must seek the healing and seek to be whole. It starts with repentance for our individual shortfalls, and must include corporate repentance as a body. We must seek to honor the commandments to love God, and love our neighbor. In all this is the law fulfilled. Sickness has no stronghold when the body agrees in love and all of the parts are determined that the body as a whole will be healthy. It is in this spirit of unity that the body of Christ becomes (and stays) healthy, so that it doesn't have to focus on itself so much and it can reach out to others just as it was meant to. Thats our purpose and it comes with power.

What Can I Do?

Take the time to do a sober self-assessment. How much time am I spending in the pursuit of things that profit only me versus those things that profit the kingdom? Is repentance in order?

What is my calling? Have I taken the time to discover it, be convinced of it, and commit to it?

How balanced is my thinking? Is my heart focused inward to myself and my family, or have I taken the time to get the “big picture?”

Are my actions and lifestyle promoting health in the body of Christ? What are they demonstrating to the world?

Brother Scott Christy said something last week that made me think, “How can you give everything to God and then not trust Him with your life?” For many of use who are willing to serve the Lord and His people, we often hold out on this aspect of our walk. We are willing to give all to Christ and follow Him, but then we wrestle with the trust issue.

If we are going to give our all to and for the kingdom, then trust in the Lord cannot be left out of the equation. If you are going to give everything to Christ and let Him be Lord of your life, then do it! Trust Him with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

I don't know of anyone who simply “arrived” at this conclusion. It always seems to be a process for all of us, but I remember someone saying that, “getting there is half the fun,” so don't feel bad if it takes yo a while to get where God wants you to be. After all, He is with you every step of the way.

Let's take the first step of this thousand-mile journey: Get Proverbs 3:5-6 in your mind and let it filter down into your heart. Then let Jesus be the Romans 12 author of your discipleship. Finally, let all of this form you and your God-given talents into what you are meant to be: a witness and a chosen vessel, fit to bring honor to the kingdom. Now that's power with purpose!