Ah to be "a peculiar people"!

Wow! Don't ya just love those "light bulb" moments!?! Haha, you know, the ones God grants during time spent with Him in His Word? That awesome clarity received only by listening to His Holy Spirit.

Ok, this is so amazing to me! Before I share my newfound insights, carefully read this passage. For many believers it is common. However, don't read it like, "I already know it".

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10

2 words within I want to focus on.

First, being 'peculiar'. Sadly my understanding was limited by modern interpretation of being "set apart"; which is partially true. A deeper look reveals it meaning a "purchased possession"! Yes, we are set apart BUT by being blood bought by the sacrificial blood of the Lamb. Cool huh?!

Second word focus is 'praises'. This is so much more than a song of adoration upon our lips! Though that could and should be a by-product. It actually means virtues. By this it is morally good behavior or character. This IS the GOOD FRUITS (a lifestyle that reflects Christ!) that stem from our obtaining the Lord's mercies and being called OUT of darkness into His glorious LIGHT!!!

I hope this insight has blessed and encouraged you as it has me. I love and enjoy the simple truths He gives and even more so how He builds and adds "line upon line, line upon line. Precept upon precept."

Key question is: Are you willing to walk in His ways and personally apply these truths to your daily walk?

The barrenness of busyness

The barrenness of busyness should be banned from the believer's life. I admit, I too have been guilty!

Busyness? Yes! It's simply the crime of being too busy. Even in doing the Lord's work. Lately my heart has been heavy and my spirit grieved over these things which are sweeping throughout daily routines and saturating church walls too.

Busyness has no limit. While it is a gift to have a servant's heart and a pure desire to please the Lord, it's spiritual rot to forsake time with Him, even for His work.

Let's face it though, it's more than His work. What about Christian entertainment!? If we are honest with ourselves, we can see not all who claim Christ are His, right. Therefore it's good to recognize not all things carrying a Christian label bring Him glory.

There are countless ways to serve and praise the Lord. Yet, as I explained to a friend the other day and visual portrait like this:

     Let's say you have a cup freshly filled and there's plenty to share so the cup is passed around and as it returns, it comes back empty. Many of us have done just this! The cup represents us being daily filled with the Living waters found in the Word. When we are refreshed each day, we are filled with enough to share BUT when we jump into the days demands without this renewing, what have we to share but an empty cup?!?

So, whether the Lord's work or appeasing our times of fleshly rest, aka "Christian entertainment" we keep going, and doing, filling our "TO DO LIST", but sadly lack our first love, Christ, in the process. There are many biblical accounts that come to mind. The most prominent being Mary verses Martha mentality.

Truth is if we are so busy and neglect our times of refreshing, how quick will we dry up, loose our zeal and passion for the One who gave us a servant's heart to begin with. Our lives and walk become fruitless!

Even scarier than being fruitless is becoming stagnant which leads to complacency and finally results in being lukewarm! One compromise here and there and within time the barren believer looks no different than the worldly one without Christ.

Look at the 7 churches mentioned in Revelation 1 and 2... especially if you're in a leadership position (parents, we too are in leadership whether we realize it or not!), do you honestly know which letter you would receive?

Are we willing to examine ourselves in the light of Scripture? Will we return to our 1st Love?

Reluctant Leadership ~ Tozer

Reluctant Leaders
A. W. Tozer

The true and safe leader is likely to be the one who has no desire to lead but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Spirit and the press of the external situation. Such were Moses, David and the Old Testament prophets; and I think there was hardly a great Christian leader from Paul to this present day but was drafted by the Holy Spirit for the task and commissioned by the Lord of the Church to fill a position he had little natural heart for.

I believe that it might be accepted as a fairly reliable rule of thumb that the man who is ambitious to lead is disqualified as a leader. The Church of the Firstborn is no place for the demagogue or the petty religious dictator. The true leader will have no wish to lord it over God’s heritage, but will be humble, gentle, self-sacrificing and altogether as ready to follow as to lead when the Spirit makes it plain to him that a wiser and more gifted man than himself has appeared.

It is undoubtedly true, as I have said so often, that the church is languishing not for leaders but for the right kind of leaders; for the wrong kind is worse than none at all. Better to stand still than to follow a blind man over a precipice. History will show that the church has prospered most when blessed with strong leaders and suffered the greatest decline when her leaders were weak and time serving. The sheep rarely go much farther than the Shepherd.

That is why unqualified democracy is not good for a church unless every voting member is full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. To put the work of the church in the hands of the group is to exchange one leader for many; and if the group is composed of carnal professors it is to exchange one weak leader for a number of bad ones. One hundred blind men cannot see any better than one.

Will you escape perdition?

All too often humanity passes on religion and/or tradition but neither can save a soul from perdition.

No other addition can cleanse the souls sin saturated condition. Though many "like" things gladly audition.

Only one medication sacrifically given is strong enough to cure this in bedded condition.

Carefully take this in consideration, it is sin that causes our separation.

There is One great Physician able to cure this situation. He's experienced humiliation, pain and rejection in order to bring this stupendous reconciliation.

Let's cancel out this recreation of frustration and depression and trust this One who cures sin's cancerous condition which sadly results in eternal damnation.

What an accommodation given without manipulation! Christ is the only nomination given who can completely regenerate this depraved situation.

It was His mission, born of no reputation in order to save this population, matter of fact, every generation!

So much more than pious inspiration. The completion of perfection by Divine intervention.

Will you accept this profound admonition? Will you escape admonition and let go of religion and tradition? Will you embrace His invitation?

Selfishly sustained

Confronting falsity and admitting failure can be super hard. In this humility there is reward. When we are dishonest, even unintentionally, we hide God's glory, His work and His victories.

I wasn't completely honest in an answer given yesterday, completely out of character. It's true, I tell on myself, lol! As I gave it to the Lord He gently corrected me, and it stung! BUT wisdom was gained.

My answer pointed to me rather than Him. In this there was no opportunity for Him to be seen. I allowed the enemy to use me as his tool in robbing God. Ever think of it that way? I sure didn't!

In my quiet time this morning, He brought me to this verse. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;" 2 Corinthians 3:5

Sufficiency means ability. There is nothing in me or you that enables us to do right much less the ability to handle life's challenges apart from Him. He IS our ability!

Though I'm not sure how or if this will be made right with the one I spoke with, but I do praise God for His sharp love lesson gained.

The gymnast and growing in grace

Over the last couple weeks I've been watching my daughter practice her gymnastics. Being a former gymnast myself I WANT to show her the right way. Lol. The mind is willing but my body is weak.

It takes practice, diligence, motivation, determination and inspiration. Why? It's challenging both mentally and physically. We must learn the basic baby steps and stretches before we can work up to more intricate moves.

In much the same way is our spiritual life! We KNOW what we want to do, who we want to be but we have to learn our reliance and dependence can't be done alone, rather on the Lord.

Truth is, our own strength only goes so far:  mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually! May we not be so eager to throw in the towel with the "I can't" mentality.

"... the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41 Jesus said, "...With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Everything we go through is strength building. The question is, will we apply with what we've learned or struggle in our limited abilities?

Well, on to practice...

The drama queen Vashti

Hear ye, hear ye! May I have your attention PLEASE...

Raise your hand if you know a drama queen! Haha, it's sad but I'm pretty sure every hand should be raised. It's relatively safe to say these days everybody knows at least one DRAMA QUEEN.

By definition, this is a person who habitually responds to situations in a melodramatic way. In case you haven't met one by experience, I'll share a few of her characteristics. Once you're aware, they're easy to spot!

BEWARE!!! This one thrives off of drama, loves attention, prideful, arrogant, selfish, manipulative, may present a forceful personality, demanding, belittling, disobedient, unruly, discontent and so much more! They are TOXIC!

However, those traits listed above are usually secondhand to what usually entices us to be around them. These people are usually charming, witty, charismatic, FUN & BEAUTIFUL!

In the 1st chapter of Esther, we meet one just like this! Queen Vashti! The King threw a 7 day feast to show off the riches of his kingdom and near the end when his heart was merry with wine he wanted to show off his beautiful queen. Only problem was it didn't suit her desires and she rejected his call.

She was beautiful and in leadership! However, the example she was setting was destructive. Truth is discontentment is contagious! Her pride was puffed up and it ultimately cost her the royal crown. New rules were set and she was cast away.

So, we aren't powerful kings and Queens to write and rewrite rules but we can take note of who we allow in our lives. We are told in Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

Mark them and AVOID them! Though a drama queen isn't necessarily women only, it's more so than not. With that said, there's a few more words of wisdom to attain and apply.

"As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion." Proverbs 11:22

"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." Proverbs 27:5

IF you value what you've built, your peace and your sanity then you'll accept and apply these things to your personal life! The root of drama is pride. The center of pride is "I" and so it is too the center of sin!

Haha, I hope you didn't keep your hand up throughout this read... let's face it, we all KNOW a drama queen. Many of us are wise enough to leave them to themselves. Are you?