Wednesday's Word - Whole He -ness

Hello All,

Here's something I find interesting - Imagine a concert of your favorite performer (or performers). Think of the pyrotechnics, light shows, dance moves utter creativity that go into the delivery of a good show. Actually, I remember having Stevie Wonder at the Pasadena Rose Bowl having the men and women singing “All I do”, in two-part harmony. It was really something.

Think of all the words that describe something good like a concert - How many can you rattle off? Good, bad, awesome, terrific, astounding, amazing, spectacular, cool, rad, tight, and off the chain, chisel, hook, hinges or heezy! What are we really expressing ? That what we’ve witnessed is above normal, better than average, on another level? Oh yes!! That and much more.

A funny thing that I notice is that you never hear anyone charge the artists with some sort of insecurity where they only put on a big show just for the applause because somewhere inside they have self-esteem issues.

Now let’s take it to God. Maybe you’ve never heard the crazy idea that God must be some sort of glory hoarder because He made us to worship Him forever. That He has some sort of insecurity because He NEEDS His creation to reaffirm Him with praise. God is sufficient in Himself and doesn’t need anything. But can you imagine what a God concert would be like. I bet the Word for His perpetual awesomeness is simply “Holy”. I bet the only way to respond to what He does is called worship. And I would bet that if we could be in His presence and watch Him do His thing, it would blow our minds.

I suspect that’s the real truth of the matter. In our fallen, depraved and self-absorbed state, many of us consider only whole ’ME’-ness rather than Holiness. In this state, we couldn’t possibly be able to handle God’s presence on any level. But God, In His Grace and Mercy, through Jesus has allowed us to be remade, regenerated and refined to one day be allowed in His presence to take it all in.

Here’s the Word;

Psalm 96:9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

There’s a song I remember singing in Church – Come Let us Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness. How much of a priority is holiness for you? Do you fault God, or do you realize your admission fee has been paid for and all you have to do is get ready by taking off old-me-ness and putting on Whole He-ness.


In Him,
Cros

Wednesday's Word - Life God on Duty

...But first, a word from our sponsor,
You know, I really enjoy writing and I hope that the way I talk doesn't come across as a pious know it all.
At my deepest heart of hearts, the things I write are things I ponder as I try to press toward the mark, and I hope its pertinent yet enjoyable.
...Now, back to our regularly scheduled program already in progress.

Where do you go for help? Or are you the kind of person that even asks for help? Or do you consider yourself to be independent, self sufficient and pretty much able to handle anything that comes along? Nothing wrong with that I reckon. Especially if its the result of years of learning how to rise above situations, not getting caught up emotionally, and trying see the best way through to resolve issues. But of course none of us ever escape the possibility of needing help in certain situations.

Next question. How big of a help are you to others? Or do you require others to be independent, self sufficient and pretty much able to handle anything that comes their way? How does the idea of helping someone at some amount of personal risk or even sacrifice affect you? I don't mean like the quick, saving a loved one from a burning building - but how enduring with a friend who needs help out of making bad choices. Now that's a tough call, I know. And there's a point where most of us can realize that our "help" has limited effectiveness and possibly long term negative consequences for us as well.

Now on both sides: A good level of self-sufficiency is commendable. And if you have a friend that sticks close through thick and thin, make sure you appreciate them. They're rare.
But the point I'm trying to make is, we're limited. We're limited as to how independent we can be, and we're limited as to how much help we can be to others.

Here's The Word:

Psalm 42:8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Are you wading comfortably along the shore in a time of peace or are you caught up in the rip-current of choices that find you unable to find your footing? Both happen to all of us at some time or another. Either way, my encouragement to you is that although others can be helpful. Appreciate their care and love for you but realize, they're limited. But we serve a God who is UNLIMITED. He's UNSHAKEABLE and UNWAVERING in His love for us. He never sleeps and in that, we can rest assured that when trouble comes, we have a Life God on duty.

In Him,
Cros