ALONG THE LEARNING CURVE WITH JESUS
As many of you know, the Lord has been dealing with me lately about hypocrisy - not as the world knows it, which is being two-faced towards another person, but as He sees it: being other than totally honest with one's self, and with Him!
In the process of leading me through this particular learning curve, He has shown me some magnificently simple steps anyone can use in determining his/her own position in regard to God. Let me jot them down here, just for the sake of interest. :-)
First of all, LOVE. Unselfish love is to be the motive of our every action. We're supposed to be allowing the Holy Spirit to change us into Christ's likeness day by day. Jesus walked, talked and acted in love every day of His life, even to those last agonizing moments when He was hanging on the cross and prayed on behalf of His murderers. Are you even willing to be led by the Spirit Christ died to leave us? Or are you patting yourself on the back for the little good-ness-es you do in your church home, and expecting Jesus to reward you richly for typing newsletters while backbiting members of your congregation with your gossip? Think again! LOVE is the first commandment: LOVE God; LOVE thy neighbour as thy self. One little syllable. How do you measure up?
Second comes TRUTH: Are you open and honest in all your dealings with your self, your friends, your colleagues and God? Do you acknowledge your shortcomings (and your gifts) in a straightforward manner, without trying to gloss over your faults or exaggerate your strong points? You needn't boast, but neither do you need to hide the gifts God has given you under a bushel and speak deprecatingly of them. He gave you gifts for the building-up of His people. USE THEM for that purpose, and praise Him for His great provision. TRUTH. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me. Another single syllable, searching and powerful to guide. How actively are you following on Truth's heels in your own life?
How about your SELF: Are you doing Christ's bidding with regard to your self? I had been reading Matthew 16:24 when it occurred to me to break it down into its component commands. Did you realize there are three in just that one sentence of our Lord's? Watch:
"If anyone would come after Me, he must:
deny him SELF...
take up his CROSS...
and FOLLOW ME.
Hmmm... I hadn't paid much attention before, but letting go of my OWN plans is top on His list. Ouch! I'm still trying to give Him the residue after doing whatever I want to do with my day. Guess it's time to have a(nother) little talk with Him about that one. :-(
What about this "take up his CROSS" bit? I've heard a dozen different interpretations put on this, but the word that came to me this morning was this:
Jesus' cross was THE cross FOR HIM, because it was GOD'S WILL THAT HE ACCEPT THAT DEATH. Remember He prayed in Gethsemane, "Nevertheless not *my* will but THINE be done"? Well, our CROSS is to accept, as willingly as we are able, GOD'S WILL for OUR life. When we seek God's will in our daily prayer, we are putting Him first in our life and allowing Him to work through us, in whatever measure He chooses. He might send us too to a physical cross for some purpose of His Own - but we are to trust Him to have a magnificent plan to bring good out of that which He asks of us, no matter what it looks like from our personal perspective. "Trust and obey." Period. No fretting, fuming, worrying or otherwise backpeddling allowed.
And finally, "FOLLOW ME". You know you're following Him because He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us... so if we are walking in love and truth, seeking our Father's will and denying our selves each day - we are following our Lord and Saviour. HALLELUJAH!!!
Simple words, tough lessons.
Thank You, Lord!
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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A little further along the same curve:
This morning the Lord pointed out that if I would follow Him, I must be on the alert for opportunities to help those who are in trouble, wherever and whenever they cross my path. It might be as simple as sharing a smile with a lady who comes in to our store; or as complex as doing my best to learn all the details that make up the full-time job the Lord gave me last month, praise Him, in another city. The point is that in each and every circumstance, I am to help, comfort and assist those who are in distress - stressed out, in other words. The King James Version says, "but when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep without a shepherd." Well, dear hearts, there's no shortage of folks who need a word of encouragement and someone to listen to them with a caring ear! And if we are faithful to CARE about their problems, HE is faithful to help us *do* something to ease those burdens...
... and we will find that we have just entered into that more abundant life He promised us. :-)
Come join me in a crusade to lighten the days of the folks we meet!
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
OHzone UPdates...
Not much to report just now. I've been working full-time for the past month at a new job the Lord blessed me with. There's a lot to learn for ye olde grey matter that hasn't been on a payroll for a decade now - but it sure is nice having that weekly paycheque! :-)
I have had to return the computer Ben Lucas sent me when the plan was that I'd help him with a major mailing. (Sigh!) It was a beauty and I hated to see it go, but there just is NO time these days. Archie is looking after the store, our horses and dogs, our farm, our meals, our shopping and whatever else comes along ... and I'm staggering in, blurry-eyed and droopy-tailed at the end of the day, gulping a few mouthsful of food and hitting the sack in a daze. The other night I was in bed before 8 o'clock, and slept right through.
On the other hand, I LOVE my job, the pay's terrific, the people are great, and there are scads of opportunities to help others. HALLELUJAH!!! Lord, give me more!!! that Thy Name may be glorified.
Don't give up on OHzone yet though, folks. I've had a laptop computer put aside for me, and will soon be able to handle updates in spare minutes while I'm at work. Thank You, Jesus! :-)))
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
Keep on reigning; You're my Lord!
Sharpen my mind by Your Spirit's sword.
Compliments of NicksHumor.net
That's about it for now, folks. God bless you and keep you, one and all!
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(((HUGS))) and blessings to you all,
(Mrs.) Doris E. Howie <><
Editor, OHzone E-CLIPS
