I am Redeemed! Page 46

Here are the lies that this world tells me:

·      I am unworthy.  I should not want to be known for anything other than that; for if I were then pride might take its place in my life and make me unaware of compassion! (The world's scam!)

·      I am unworthy.  If I felt anything other than this then contentment might takes its place in my life and I wouldn’t need to seek anything more than what I now have! (The world's game!)

·      I am unworthy.  If I felt anything other than this then peace may seep into my subconscious to ease my guilt and finally liberate my mind!  (The world's trap!)

This lifetime of unworthiness serves a purpose, the world tells me!

It keeps me aware of what I am. (The world's lie!!!)

But, lately something else is calling out to me

other than this sham called shame.

I’ve stopped for a moment to ponder that voice….

for it’s calling out my name!

Something in my innermost being tells me

 that to “surrender” is a way to begin.

 Truly, I’ve been waging this war for far too long

with my pride against my sin!

 My inner voice tells me to kneel to this commander

but I am unfamiliar and unaware;

I simply do not have knowledge of this chain-of-command

 and until now I didn’t care!

Who is this leader that inherently demands my respect?

 He is definitely someone more important than I.

I’m torn in two; I don’t want to care

 but my soul won’t let this slip by!

This Commander knows things on a grand scale-

 Bigger than I temporarily understand!  

Things beyond comprehension but not beyond apprehension-

 for my mind has begun to expand.

I’m aware that this unworthiness wants to leave me

but it is uncomfortable because I don’t deserve such release.

How do I let go of something

that inherently belongs to me?

I ponder this choice; can I find worthiness again?

I truly do not know the answer!

 But compassion tells me it is absolutely possible

 and so does this merciful Commander.

This world keeps telling me I am unworthy;

I am un-deserving, forevermore.

My mind agrees and tells me that I am unworthy

 but my soul tells me I am made for more.

I’ve made a choice! I am releasing this pain!

 It’s been haunting me enough in this lifetime!

 I do not want to because it feels like a friend

 but I think I’ve found a lifeline.   

Humanity tells me I don’t deserve a thing

but this Commander, God tells me I do. 

My soul has been given a second chance!

 My mindset has been made new. 

Somehow my spirit feels wide open

and I know that I am eternally well. 

My eyes look up into the heavenlies

to thank God whose leadership never fails.

“Believe a Lie”, the world tells us all….and the damned fall in line under its spell.

But with this new Commander, God I stand released and free

And my soul sings  “It is well”.

In Honor of T.T.

RvH

Song Recommendation:

Redeemed

BY:  Big Daddy Weave

(Please do not miss this song! Go to link below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU

Quote from Song: 

"I don't have to be the old man inside of me

His days are long dead and gone!

Because I've got a new name…a new life

I'm not the same…..

and a hope that will carry me home!

I am Redeemed!

You've set me free"

Big Daddy Weave

Attaining Spiritual Growth! Page 45

“Then we will no longer be infants
 tossed back and forth by the waves,
and blown here and there by every wind of teaching
 and by the cunning and craftiness of men
 in their deceitful scheming.
  Instead, speaking the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up
 into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14-15

How do we grow physically?  With time….. and by the stretching and pulling or growing of our bones and skin.  Sounds painful and sometimes it is!!  When it’s all said and done we’ve changed; we look different than before!  Time quietly brought growth and with it-some physical maturity!

How do we grow spiritually?  Spiritual growth cannot be seen with the physical eye but it happens in relatively the same way; by the stretching and tugging of our soul through adversity! Using the sandpaper of circumstance; the nuisance called necessity and the huge realization that we need something other than self we eventually find that our minds are ready to expand to hold new truth!  This realization is stirred into us by discernment-which is given to us spiritually. 

“This is what we speak,
not in words taught us by human wisdom
 but in words taught by the Spirit,
expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 
The man without the Spirit
 does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him,
and he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned.”

1 Corinthians 3:13-14

We are now ready to have a time of growth with our invisible God- who is creator of heaven and earth, of all that we see and don’t see-  and, of course, the creator of intricate man.  Scripture details this below: 

“He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation. 
For, by him all things were created;
things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities,
all things were created by him and for him.
 He is before all things and in him all things hold together.”
Colossians 1:15-17

Unlike physical growth, spiritual growth doesn’t happen naturally by the nature of the human condition.  Instead it happens in a vastly larger place-within the spiritual heart-of–the-matter!  Because we are earth-bound at the moment, our human spirit is developed and strengthened through the experience of perseverance, through the building of our character over time, and through our clinging to hope as needed!  Scripture says:

“We know that suffering produces perseverance;
 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
 And hope does not disappoint us, because
 God’s love has been poured out into our hearts
 through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”

Romans 5:3-5

God’s love is a key ingredient in the scripture above.  Conversely, it is our love for God that allows spiritual growth to take place when we bow in prayer and have a meeting-of-the-mind with that which is greater than all thought and beyond all understanding- with and through the spiritual meeting with a Holy God! 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
 neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

“ As the heavens are higher than the earth,
 so are my ways higher than ours ways
 and my thoughts than your thoughts. “
Isaiah 55:8-9

Being born into this world necessitates growth-for without it we would remain helpless!  In the same way, when we spiritually awake to the human condition called selfishness and death…we realize that there is something greater to be hoped for (other than death) and learned (other than selfishness).  If we are attuned to this part of our spiritual nature we begin to sense God and then we can begin to discern that we are a spiritual being with an eternal heritage!  This revelation is just the beginning of spiritual growth AND it is necessary-for without it we would remain lost in the mystery of the material world! 

“I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
 He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
 yet they cannot fathom what God has done
from beginning to end.”

Ecclesiastes 3:10-11

For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish
 but have eternal life.

John 3:16

 Finally, we begin to seek growth from within the spiritual realm because our perspective has changed.  There is more to know, there is a difference to make; there is hope beyond the physical…life beyond death!  This news changes us!  We begin to hope that it will change others. Jesus called us to change the world!  And there it is……

Then Jesus came to them and said,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
 baptizing them in the name of the Father,
of the son and of the Holy Spirit,
 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
 And surely I am with you always,
 to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 18-20

Scriptural Summary on Spiritual Growth:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more
 than all we ask or imagine,
 according to his power that is at work within us,
 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
 throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
 Ephesians 3:20

Song Recommendation:

Word Of God Speak

BY:  MercyMe

Seek! Pursue! Draw Close! Page 44

Seek!  Pursue! Draw close!  These are action words about relationships in general and these same words can be used to develop our spiritual life as well!  As with any relationship we must  “move into action”; for, we will never know a thing about God if we don’t first respond! 

Did you ever know someone that had a dynamic relationship with God but no longer has an outward countenance of godly character”?  Maybe or maybe not, but the explanation is still the same:  It is because that person is no longer pursuing that relationship.  It is exactly the same with our own personal relationships with each other.   We have to prioritize our relationships!  We cannot be close to someone unless we are interested in that person, spend time with that person, allocate time for that person and actively seek to draw close to that person.  Bringing this full circle-we must pursue a relationship with God in the same way. 

“ Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,
 and all these things will be given to you as well.”
 Matthew 6:33

“Call to me and I will answer you
and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Jeremiah 33:3

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5

“Draw close to God and he will draw close to you”

I find it interesting that we sometimes miss the key point of these scriptures.  They are directives telling to take that first step toward God!  They are telling us to seek; pursue; draw close!  I think, perhaps, many of us think that God will simply pursue us!  We lean on fate, circumstance, or mere osmosis to be the catalyst for godly pursuits! 

Spiritual knowledge and godly revelations are vastly too important to leave to mere fate! It’s as simple as that! 

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”

Jeremiah 29:13

Song Recommendation:

Need You Now
BY:  Plumb

"Mercy Lord"! Page 43

The sun flickered through the car window reminding me of its incredible life-giving warmth and even more so- the power of its creator!  I began to pray!  I was seeking mercy from the Lord… for Death was approaching.  How many of us actually know that!  Unfortunately, some of us have that distinct knowledge! 

A family I know was about to turn off the ventilator to a loved one who had suffered a stroke.  It felt odd to me that I knew this.  I watched the clock and saw time ticking!  There was about 10 minutes till that fateful action would take place. I felt compelled to do something about this eternally relevant piece of information. The gates of heaven were literally about to open.  This was not going to be visible to me but I was floored.  It seemed so vast and incredible!  You see, I actually try to remain mindful of the fact that the mechanisms of the spiritual realm are in movement even though we cannot see them!  “Lord!  Lord! “ I called out for that was the only thing I could do!  It was my honor!    

This world can bring us to our knees…and at times we may even  find ourselves flat on our face!  What then???  I recall another time Death claimed someone I knew!  Again, the only thing I could whisper as I watched his family suffer was “mercy”!  It’s such a small word but delivers such a huge request!  I still don’t fully realize what mercy is or what it does… but it is my deepest hope that it brings relief and that it is a sacred gift for those who are suffering! 

Matt Chandler wrote:

"Trials are God's way of revealing to us,
 out of HIS mercy,
our desperate need for HIM,
 and our lack of control
and our lack of ability
to manipulate our environment for our own good!

For God to give you a thorn in the flesh,
or for Him to free up your hands from the myth of control,
 to show you how dependent you are on Him,
is one of the most merciful things He could do"

To apply this to our lives we must realize….

We cannot control this world or our destiny…only love through it.

We cannot control others or demand justice and mercy-only give it.

We cannot find perfection here- only live with grace as a salve.

We cannot take on other’s reflections-only mirror love instead.

RvH

For my friend, Rene

Song Recommendation:
In Christ Alone
BY:  Brian Littrell

“Yet I am writing you a new command,
its truth is seen in him and you because the darkness is passing
and the true light is already shining!”

I John 2:8