Context is everything. When you read scripture, avoid reading verses in isolation to what comes before and afterwards. Take John 3: 16 for instance. Before it, there is a promise: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Afterwards in verses 17 and 18, there is a warning or consequence of unbelief. Keep everything in context.
Aim to make your interpretation of life and scripture as universal and as individual as possible at the same time. Judge things both by the 'content of their character' and the 'character of their content'. When evaluating choices keep in mind your own assumptions. Many of us approach arguments with an assumption of sufficiency. If a certain person argues for something, you trust them and are willing to assume that is sufficient.
Others of us approach things with an assumption of need. If we have the proper information we can make an informed decision. What is important is not who says it, but what is said. We need to verify things for ourselves.
Both of these assumptions being respected keeps things in context. We all make assumptions. We all usually lean toward emphasizing either the causes or the consequences of our choices, the reasons or the results. Let us be those who graciously hold on to and balance both.
Allow for God to turn you so that you can see in both directions. Enter into everything with a complete spirit of repentance. Give God permission right now to broaden your perspective.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Real Repentance
Last night, we concluded our Revival services with evangelist, Fred Shmidt. I had a friend tell me today, "We needed an evangelist to come and shed light on us in a way our pastor cannot." She was right.
Counterfeit Christianity is on the rise. Pop theologians push their own brand of faith and most, even in the church, look for the blessing of faith apart from repentance. The problem is there can be no blessing of faith without repentance.
What is repentance? It denotes accompaniment, allegiance and alignment. Repentance drives us away from sin and draws us into the presence and communion of God. Sins, obscure and obvious are forsaken as the focus of our life is turned around to follow Jesus. If you have not experienced this turn around you still stand in need of repentance. Revelation 2:5 warns us against continuing to run the race after we have made a false start or run out of our lane (the straight and narrow way of Jesus).
I urge you to repent today regardless of whther you consider yourself a saint or a sinner, a moral person or a total mess. Without repentance, we will become spiritual drifters and we will desert the faith of Jesus. Remember today - Repent!
Counterfeit Christianity is on the rise. Pop theologians push their own brand of faith and most, even in the church, look for the blessing of faith apart from repentance. The problem is there can be no blessing of faith without repentance.
What is repentance? It denotes accompaniment, allegiance and alignment. Repentance drives us away from sin and draws us into the presence and communion of God. Sins, obscure and obvious are forsaken as the focus of our life is turned around to follow Jesus. If you have not experienced this turn around you still stand in need of repentance. Revelation 2:5 warns us against continuing to run the race after we have made a false start or run out of our lane (the straight and narrow way of Jesus).
I urge you to repent today regardless of whther you consider yourself a saint or a sinner, a moral person or a total mess. Without repentance, we will become spiritual drifters and we will desert the faith of Jesus. Remember today - Repent!
Monday, November 2, 2009
What Do You Do?
What do you do when you are frustrated or stymied? Do you try to figure out why? Do you look for something to eat?
Many of us look for something we can consume or something that consumes us or both. I often make popcorn or a couple of peanut butter sandwiches and watch TV. It is no wonder that I have gained the weight back I had successfully lost. Yes, the way I respond to life has turned success into failure.
I have to change my consumption patterns. When I first came to South Hill UMC I was very productive, visiting and carrying on the daily activities of a new pastorate. I often worked on my computer and yet, rarely if ever played a game like Hearts or Minesweeper. The other day I noticed that had changed and made myself write a paragraph or work on a project when I was tempted to play a game.
I ask the question again: What do you do when you are frustrated or stymied? Do you look for a way to be productive? No one ever gives birth to new life without going through labor. Can you find something you can consume for two?
Can we find something that fuels our frustration and our future at the same time? Yes, we can. For me, this morning it is writing this blog and cleaning my office. What will it be for you?
Many of us look for something we can consume or something that consumes us or both. I often make popcorn or a couple of peanut butter sandwiches and watch TV. It is no wonder that I have gained the weight back I had successfully lost. Yes, the way I respond to life has turned success into failure.
I have to change my consumption patterns. When I first came to South Hill UMC I was very productive, visiting and carrying on the daily activities of a new pastorate. I often worked on my computer and yet, rarely if ever played a game like Hearts or Minesweeper. The other day I noticed that had changed and made myself write a paragraph or work on a project when I was tempted to play a game.
I ask the question again: What do you do when you are frustrated or stymied? Do you look for a way to be productive? No one ever gives birth to new life without going through labor. Can you find something you can consume for two?
Can we find something that fuels our frustration and our future at the same time? Yes, we can. For me, this morning it is writing this blog and cleaning my office. What will it be for you?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Wrong Way to Go Deeper
When I was a young boy we were invited to spend the day with our "town" cousins and go to the country club with them. The country club was home to the Briary Creek golf course and a very nice swimming pool. We came to play in the swimming pool and a whole lot of other people came to do the same thing.
It was a bit overwhelming. There were more people at that pool than we saw at anytime during the summer. Church didn't even have as many people as were clamoring around that pool.
But, we had come to play and play we did. I even joined the line waiting to climb the ladder and jump off the high diving board. When my turn came I stepped out onto the board and with a little bit of fear jumped off.
Down to the bottom of the pool I went. Touching the bottom I pushed myself towards the surface and to the ladder on the side where I would climb out of the pool.
I was not a great swimmer so I came up then submerged myself under the water , holding my breath until I got to the ladder. The problem was others were headed for the same ladder and using my head as leverage to push themselves towards it. I don't think anyone meant me any harm. I just couldn't swim well enough to make any headway.
Panic was catching hold of me as I swallowed water. My mouth was opening whether I wanted it to or not to try to draw some air out of the water. Another second and I would have gone deeper. Another second and I would have drowned. Thankfully, my cousin wondered why I wasn't coming out of the pool and pulled me to safety - and air.
There are two ways you can go deeper: discipline or drowning. Only one gives life. Today, choose life. Choose discipline.
It was a bit overwhelming. There were more people at that pool than we saw at anytime during the summer. Church didn't even have as many people as were clamoring around that pool.
But, we had come to play and play we did. I even joined the line waiting to climb the ladder and jump off the high diving board. When my turn came I stepped out onto the board and with a little bit of fear jumped off.
Down to the bottom of the pool I went. Touching the bottom I pushed myself towards the surface and to the ladder on the side where I would climb out of the pool.
I was not a great swimmer so I came up then submerged myself under the water , holding my breath until I got to the ladder. The problem was others were headed for the same ladder and using my head as leverage to push themselves towards it. I don't think anyone meant me any harm. I just couldn't swim well enough to make any headway.
Panic was catching hold of me as I swallowed water. My mouth was opening whether I wanted it to or not to try to draw some air out of the water. Another second and I would have gone deeper. Another second and I would have drowned. Thankfully, my cousin wondered why I wasn't coming out of the pool and pulled me to safety - and air.
There are two ways you can go deeper: discipline or drowning. Only one gives life. Today, choose life. Choose discipline.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Depth requires discipline
Depth requires discipline. The deeper you go in the Lord the more will be required of you. "Launch out into the deep", Jesus tells Peter (Luke 5: 4).
Why do we not move instantly to the call of God to go deeper? This is the first thing after the first thing. God gets into our stuff as he got into Peter's boat then inevitably God asks us to go deeper.
Are we reluctant like Peter was initially. Do we argue with God? Do we try to justify and validate ourselves? Peter started that way but he didn't stop there. "Lord, I've toiled all night and caught nothing: nevertheless at your word I will let down the net." (Luke 5:5)
If we want to go deep, as deep as God wants for us, we will discipline ourselves to the word of Jesus. "When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fishes so their nets were breaking" (Luke 5:6) Depth will break our ways of looking at things. Depth will require deeper attention to prayer and fasting. Depth will expand what we thought was possible.
Discipline yourself to live every moment, face every situation at the word of Jesus. This way we will avoid the other way we can go deeper which I will write about tomorrow.
Love you, Norman
Please pray for our family. Most all of us has been sick (Hannah, Karen, and now Robert) and some of us do not feel as fit and strong as we want or need (that would be the rest of us.) Pray for revival in South Hill UMC. Holy Spirit come down and be welcomed to do your work.
Why do we not move instantly to the call of God to go deeper? This is the first thing after the first thing. God gets into our stuff as he got into Peter's boat then inevitably God asks us to go deeper.
Are we reluctant like Peter was initially. Do we argue with God? Do we try to justify and validate ourselves? Peter started that way but he didn't stop there. "Lord, I've toiled all night and caught nothing: nevertheless at your word I will let down the net." (Luke 5:5)
If we want to go deep, as deep as God wants for us, we will discipline ourselves to the word of Jesus. "When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fishes so their nets were breaking" (Luke 5:6) Depth will break our ways of looking at things. Depth will require deeper attention to prayer and fasting. Depth will expand what we thought was possible.
Discipline yourself to live every moment, face every situation at the word of Jesus. This way we will avoid the other way we can go deeper which I will write about tomorrow.
Love you, Norman
Please pray for our family. Most all of us has been sick (Hannah, Karen, and now Robert) and some of us do not feel as fit and strong as we want or need (that would be the rest of us.) Pray for revival in South Hill UMC. Holy Spirit come down and be welcomed to do your work.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Good Intentions
I was going to do this new blog post early Saturday morning but we had no electricity. Widespread power outages were reported in our area. So, I wrote it out on paper to be (as you see now) transferred when the power came back. The power came back on at 10:30 am but by then I was behind and (as you see now) I didn't get it done until today, Monday morning.
What's my excuse? Did the dog eat my homework? Did the schedule get in the way of what was scheduled?
I had good intentions to eat well this week yet there are still chocolate-covered ice cream bars in the freezer. My sister and I were going to run in a race on November 14th but we both decided to wait.
The first must become last and the last first. Good intentions must be translated into intentional good.
If you have a habit of good intentions remaining idle ideas instead of definited deeds, turn everything on its head. Don't make a list of things to do. Do things and then list what you have accomplished. Do as our guest speaker, Scott Briggs, Harvest of Hope Director for the Society of Saint Andrew, said: "Do not be as concerned about getting the next thing you do perfectly right. Instead just do the next right thing." As Mike Litman has said many times, "You don't have to get things perfect. You just have to get things going."
Grace and power in all the intentional good you do today!
What's my excuse? Did the dog eat my homework? Did the schedule get in the way of what was scheduled?
I had good intentions to eat well this week yet there are still chocolate-covered ice cream bars in the freezer. My sister and I were going to run in a race on November 14th but we both decided to wait.
The first must become last and the last first. Good intentions must be translated into intentional good.
If you have a habit of good intentions remaining idle ideas instead of definited deeds, turn everything on its head. Don't make a list of things to do. Do things and then list what you have accomplished. Do as our guest speaker, Scott Briggs, Harvest of Hope Director for the Society of Saint Andrew, said: "Do not be as concerned about getting the next thing you do perfectly right. Instead just do the next right thing." As Mike Litman has said many times, "You don't have to get things perfect. You just have to get things going."
Grace and power in all the intentional good you do today!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thank You Discovery UMC
I know. It's been quite a while since I've posted anything. But, today I want to write a quick thank you to Jim and Avis Lavender of Discovery UMC in Richmond, VA. Karen and I went to share in the first night of their revival where I got to sing and preach.
I also say, "Thank you" because Avis asked me to invite Janet, J. B., Teresa, Jill, and Carrie: my older sister and her husband, my younger sister, and two of my nieces. They sang, too and they were great!
I have a great family and they are always fun to be around. Last night was just another chance to prove it. Thanks Discovery UMC for inviting Karen and I up, my family over, and God down! Grace and peace everyone.
I also say, "Thank you" because Avis asked me to invite Janet, J. B., Teresa, Jill, and Carrie: my older sister and her husband, my younger sister, and two of my nieces. They sang, too and they were great!
I have a great family and they are always fun to be around. Last night was just another chance to prove it. Thanks Discovery UMC for inviting Karen and I up, my family over, and God down! Grace and peace everyone.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
For Wherever You Are
How do you need to move to follow the path of grace? It depends on where you are and who you are. Over five and a half years ago I noticed the path sin and grace always took when they worked in our lives. I began to write, exchanging ideas for ink. I took those words and edited them and improved them. I produced a manuscript called Moving at the Speed of Grace. My labor was submitted to Tate Publishing and my breakthrough came when I received their acceptance of and contract offer for my book.
I thought the process was winding down until I received the submission guidelines that moves the process of publication forward.
Their acceptance was not just my breakthrough, it was my beginning. The submission guidelines helped me notice that. I now take another kind of step of faith and exchange my way of formatting things for theirs at Tate Publishing. Then we will refine and improve the book through their editorial process. We will produce a proof. Everything that needs to be done to ready the book for publication will be worked out. Then, the breakthrough known as the release date will be set and I'm sure you will be the first to know when that day is coming.
But, today, how can you be faithful to the path? Are you starting a new path like me? Are you learning to trust in a different way, like me? Are you disciplining yourself and redeeming the time you have like me? Are you in the midst of producing something, like me? Are you sharing with others, helping them to walk the path like me? Are you experiencing moments of grace and breakthroughs like me?
For wherever you are, stay on track. Be faithful to God and to the high calling God has given you in Christ Jesus. It's no telling where you will end up!
I thought the process was winding down until I received the submission guidelines that moves the process of publication forward.
Their acceptance was not just my breakthrough, it was my beginning. The submission guidelines helped me notice that. I now take another kind of step of faith and exchange my way of formatting things for theirs at Tate Publishing. Then we will refine and improve the book through their editorial process. We will produce a proof. Everything that needs to be done to ready the book for publication will be worked out. Then, the breakthrough known as the release date will be set and I'm sure you will be the first to know when that day is coming.
But, today, how can you be faithful to the path? Are you starting a new path like me? Are you learning to trust in a different way, like me? Are you disciplining yourself and redeeming the time you have like me? Are you in the midst of producing something, like me? Are you sharing with others, helping them to walk the path like me? Are you experiencing moments of grace and breakthroughs like me?
For wherever you are, stay on track. Be faithful to God and to the high calling God has given you in Christ Jesus. It's no telling where you will end up!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Possession Is 9/10 of Your Goal
A plan without possession is a piece of paper. With ownership, a plan gives us the power to move forward, face challenges, and win the day.
The old saying goes,"Possession is 9/10 of the law". If you desire to create a new law of behavior for your life or attain a goal, this is a very handy principle to remember.
If you will take responsibility for the tithe of your goals you will have the rest. Need to lose 20 pounds? Enact the steps to lose two. Then, execute your plan until that goal is reached.
I have started an exercise program. It is a mutually beneficial agreement between one of my parishioners and myself. He is recovering from an heart attack. I am preparing to run with my sister, Teresa in November. I have nine weeks to attain my goal. My tithe was agreeing to exercise, choosing a place, and marking a course. My friend Bob now makes sure I walk/run every morning and I make sure he does.
I am also writing a series of devotional books called Daddy's Little Book of Wisdom. For each volume to be written, I have to write a paragraph each day. Anything above that I'm simply accelerating towards reaching my goal.
What is it to which God is calling you today? Break it down. Tithe it to the Lord. Then, establish the appropriate steps to see your tithe open up the windows of heaven and the blessing of God produce growth and change in your life!
The old saying goes,"Possession is 9/10 of the law". If you desire to create a new law of behavior for your life or attain a goal, this is a very handy principle to remember.
If you will take responsibility for the tithe of your goals you will have the rest. Need to lose 20 pounds? Enact the steps to lose two. Then, execute your plan until that goal is reached.
I have started an exercise program. It is a mutually beneficial agreement between one of my parishioners and myself. He is recovering from an heart attack. I am preparing to run with my sister, Teresa in November. I have nine weeks to attain my goal. My tithe was agreeing to exercise, choosing a place, and marking a course. My friend Bob now makes sure I walk/run every morning and I make sure he does.
I am also writing a series of devotional books called Daddy's Little Book of Wisdom. For each volume to be written, I have to write a paragraph each day. Anything above that I'm simply accelerating towards reaching my goal.
What is it to which God is calling you today? Break it down. Tithe it to the Lord. Then, establish the appropriate steps to see your tithe open up the windows of heaven and the blessing of God produce growth and change in your life!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Godspeed - Go with God!
Go with God. Let it be your intentional choice that today you will follow the Lord. Say it with me, "I entrust my life to Jesus Christ. I serve the Lord." A transformation will be underway in you and in everyone you are around.
Time will tell. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Don't think too much of yourself. Mr. Jackson, my 6th grade social studies teacher assigned us to make a timeline of Virginia history. I would have gotten an A but lost a letter grade when I included my birth along with the construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel as notable events in 1959. In red ink, Mr. Jackson's response to the inclusion of my birthday: "This has not yet proven historically significant."
Cultivate your future. Even or especially if you think our time is limited, go forward with God. Learn how to do something new or better. Give love and attention to your family and friends. Tithe and save for a rainy day.
Bless somebody today. Don't delay in helping when you are able. You certainly don't want your help to come too late when you need it.
Improve your reputation. Change a complaint into something constructive. Turn your grimace into a grin, your grumbling into a gift of grace. You can only bring life by grace through faith. Any other way leads to corruption and ruin.
Leave something behind. Live today so that tomorrow others will still be thankful you were here. Accomplish something before you head into the weekend. Let not one thing you are supposed to complete be left undone. You only want goodness and mercy to have a reason to follow you around.
Time will tell. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Don't think too much of yourself. Mr. Jackson, my 6th grade social studies teacher assigned us to make a timeline of Virginia history. I would have gotten an A but lost a letter grade when I included my birth along with the construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel as notable events in 1959. In red ink, Mr. Jackson's response to the inclusion of my birthday: "This has not yet proven historically significant."
Cultivate your future. Even or especially if you think our time is limited, go forward with God. Learn how to do something new or better. Give love and attention to your family and friends. Tithe and save for a rainy day.
Bless somebody today. Don't delay in helping when you are able. You certainly don't want your help to come too late when you need it.
Improve your reputation. Change a complaint into something constructive. Turn your grimace into a grin, your grumbling into a gift of grace. You can only bring life by grace through faith. Any other way leads to corruption and ruin.
Leave something behind. Live today so that tomorrow others will still be thankful you were here. Accomplish something before you head into the weekend. Let not one thing you are supposed to complete be left undone. You only want goodness and mercy to have a reason to follow you around.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
After a 14 Hour Nap
I'm good to go. I got home from Kenya yesterday and started my nap around 2:30pm. I told Karen to wake me up and she tried but I pretty much slept through until 4:30am. I guess I'm back on Eastern Time Zone quick enough.
There are three things for which I want you to pray with me. #1 is we pray for rain from heaven. When I went to Kenya I was told how dry it was so I prayed for rain to fall from the sky. It rained a little bit or a lot every day we were there. I pray the government and people of Kenya will prepare for the expected downpours to come next month so they can save and store as much water as they can. Kenya has the least amount of potable (drinkable) water of any country per person in the world.
But, more than water from the sky, pray for rain from heaven to fall on Kenya and us in the United States. Kenya is 80% Christian, yet pray for revival there. The pastors we met these last two weeks need your prayers. They are obedient to God's call even though they receive no salary. 3/4 of the pastors and their families have no electricity. Yet even carrying those burdens for their families they were filled with joy and worshiped the Lord with great energy and passion.
#2 pray for productivity to be turned into profit. Pray for their labors to bear fruit, fruit that will last and be a blessing to them and others. Kenya has three planting and growing cycles. Pray they can retain their agrarian lifestyles while still developing processes that take advantage of the productivity of the climate and soil. Pray for our ministry in the same way. Pray we can live a simple life of grace while reproducing The Colors of Grace, and producing Moving at the Speed of Grace, Life at Godspeed, and other resources these next few months.
#3 pray we can always introduce everything so that it gives praise and glory to God. That's what I enjoyed the most from our brothers and sisters in Kenya. As we introduced ourselves we started with our names, where we were from, and what our responsibilities were during our trip. As they introduced themselves, they started with "Praise the Lord, I am saved." "Bless his name, I love the Lord." Then we find out who they were. We only heard their names after we "Amen"-ed their praise!
Let us learn from their example. When we move forward let our praise arise first instead of third. Let our productivity become what is profitable to us and others. Finally let the rain from heaven be poured out upon us. Let us worship the Lord today with energy and passion - even if it takes a 14 hour nap to get us going!
There are three things for which I want you to pray with me. #1 is we pray for rain from heaven. When I went to Kenya I was told how dry it was so I prayed for rain to fall from the sky. It rained a little bit or a lot every day we were there. I pray the government and people of Kenya will prepare for the expected downpours to come next month so they can save and store as much water as they can. Kenya has the least amount of potable (drinkable) water of any country per person in the world.
But, more than water from the sky, pray for rain from heaven to fall on Kenya and us in the United States. Kenya is 80% Christian, yet pray for revival there. The pastors we met these last two weeks need your prayers. They are obedient to God's call even though they receive no salary. 3/4 of the pastors and their families have no electricity. Yet even carrying those burdens for their families they were filled with joy and worshiped the Lord with great energy and passion.
#2 pray for productivity to be turned into profit. Pray for their labors to bear fruit, fruit that will last and be a blessing to them and others. Kenya has three planting and growing cycles. Pray they can retain their agrarian lifestyles while still developing processes that take advantage of the productivity of the climate and soil. Pray for our ministry in the same way. Pray we can live a simple life of grace while reproducing The Colors of Grace, and producing Moving at the Speed of Grace, Life at Godspeed, and other resources these next few months.
#3 pray we can always introduce everything so that it gives praise and glory to God. That's what I enjoyed the most from our brothers and sisters in Kenya. As we introduced ourselves we started with our names, where we were from, and what our responsibilities were during our trip. As they introduced themselves, they started with "Praise the Lord, I am saved." "Bless his name, I love the Lord." Then we find out who they were. We only heard their names after we "Amen"-ed their praise!
Let us learn from their example. When we move forward let our praise arise first instead of third. Let our productivity become what is profitable to us and others. Finally let the rain from heaven be poured out upon us. Let us worship the Lord today with energy and passion - even if it takes a 14 hour nap to get us going!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
An Update Before I Travel
This afternoon, I'll be driving up to Herndon, VA preparing to fly out tomorrow morning from Dulles to Kenya. I will be a part of a team that will be leading the Course of Study for the Nakuru District Pastors. My primary area of teaching is "How Do We Interpret the Scriptures? The lense through which I will teach will be the Pathway of Grace.
A big thank you to everyone filling in for me while I'm gone. For Mike Day and Kent Wise who are the on-call pastors; for Giani Manieri for preaching at the hospital for me; for Jim Hoffler and Gary Creamer for leading the Sunday service; for Anna Workman and Delano Douglas for preaching on Sundays; for Kaitlin Reese taking care of Children's time; for all the members of South Hill UMC for their support of my trip and their care of Karen while I'm gone; and for anyone else who I can't remember right now.
Thank you to Karen who will be serving the Lord and me while I'm away. I love you!
Thank Dr. Jim and Avis Lavender and the folks at Discovery UMC for having us come to supper and service last night. We were blessed greatly by your welcome and appreciation of our ministry. I look forward to going back October 18th for their revival.
Praise the Lord for Robert's soon retirement from the Army. We're thankful as Mama and Daddy for the way everything has worked out.
Well, I've still got to preach this morning, make some calls, run some errands, and PACK so I better leave off and get to it. Thank you for reading this blog. May the Lord Jesus encourage you today and encourage yourself in the Lord.
Grace and peace,
Norman Ramsey
A big thank you to everyone filling in for me while I'm gone. For Mike Day and Kent Wise who are the on-call pastors; for Giani Manieri for preaching at the hospital for me; for Jim Hoffler and Gary Creamer for leading the Sunday service; for Anna Workman and Delano Douglas for preaching on Sundays; for Kaitlin Reese taking care of Children's time; for all the members of South Hill UMC for their support of my trip and their care of Karen while I'm gone; and for anyone else who I can't remember right now.
Thank you to Karen who will be serving the Lord and me while I'm away. I love you!
Thank Dr. Jim and Avis Lavender and the folks at Discovery UMC for having us come to supper and service last night. We were blessed greatly by your welcome and appreciation of our ministry. I look forward to going back October 18th for their revival.
Praise the Lord for Robert's soon retirement from the Army. We're thankful as Mama and Daddy for the way everything has worked out.
Well, I've still got to preach this morning, make some calls, run some errands, and PACK so I better leave off and get to it. Thank you for reading this blog. May the Lord Jesus encourage you today and encourage yourself in the Lord.
Grace and peace,
Norman Ramsey
Friday, August 7, 2009
Fear of the Unknown
How many of us have a fear of the unknown? I'm not sure that's what I would call my fear. I would call my biggest fear - the fear of what I know or have known about myself. Romans 3: 23 says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
That's real. I have had opportunities for which I've fallen short. We have had our disappointments and even been disappointments for others. We fear what has happened before can happen again.
It's fear of the known in the face of the unknown that really messes us up. So, I want to challenge you and challenge myself to actively allow the perfect love of God to overshadow and overrule our fear today and from this day forward.
For that, let's see what Romans 3: 24 says. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." God has set forth Jesus to be our 'sacrifice of atonement' (NIV), our 'propitiation (KJV). In other words, we are set upright and made able to stand in the face of both the known and unknown by the presence and passion of Jesus.
That's real. We will have opportunities for which we will stand tall. We will come through in Jesus' name. People will count on us and be glad they did. We will believe in Jesus being our very, present help in time of trouble over and over again.
Every new thing God is doing in our lives, God has covered. Every time we are confronted with a new challenge or opportunity, we can trust God and ourselves to be good. Every new thing that drops into our lap we can express the "bounty" of God's love and be "the quicker-picker-upper".
Every obstacle that comes against us we can approach with our heads up. Do not fear God is on our in-side! We will work that out together.
That's real. I have had opportunities for which I've fallen short. We have had our disappointments and even been disappointments for others. We fear what has happened before can happen again.
It's fear of the known in the face of the unknown that really messes us up. So, I want to challenge you and challenge myself to actively allow the perfect love of God to overshadow and overrule our fear today and from this day forward.
For that, let's see what Romans 3: 24 says. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." God has set forth Jesus to be our 'sacrifice of atonement' (NIV), our 'propitiation (KJV). In other words, we are set upright and made able to stand in the face of both the known and unknown by the presence and passion of Jesus.
That's real. We will have opportunities for which we will stand tall. We will come through in Jesus' name. People will count on us and be glad they did. We will believe in Jesus being our very, present help in time of trouble over and over again.
Every new thing God is doing in our lives, God has covered. Every time we are confronted with a new challenge or opportunity, we can trust God and ourselves to be good. Every new thing that drops into our lap we can express the "bounty" of God's love and be "the quicker-picker-upper".
Every obstacle that comes against us we can approach with our heads up. Do not fear God is on our in-side! We will work that out together.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Pinball and the Final Judgment
One of my favorite pastimes during my days at Greensboro College was playing pinball in the student center. I would come from the cafeteria right after lunch or even skip lunch to play. There was food in the student center but my food plan didn’t include it.
Two incidents I remember the most from those days. One was the day I played better than ever. I had accumulated 32 extra balls. Is there such a thing as playing forever? About the time I congratulated myself at how well I was doing, I realized if I didn’t stop I would be late for my one o’clock class.
Thirty-two extra plays and I had to surrender my game to someone else. An interested freshman walked by and suddenly my game became his. I rushed back after class but he had lost.
The second distinct thing I recall was the voice of my distinguished history professor Dr. Grayson thundering over the student center. “Mr. Ramsey, quit throwing your time away,” or “Mr. Ramsey, why are you wasting your life playing that game?”
The worst thing, even more wasteful than playing pinball – throwing time and life away according to Dr. Grayson, was playing along and having someone in the crowded student center accidentally bump the machine while you were playing and see the 4-letter word that ended everything – TILT!
Tilt meant you really had wasted your time. One little slide in the wrong direction and no matter how well you had been doing, it was all for nothing. Your game was over.
The Bible says, “It is appointed unto men- once to die, and after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) This is why the shadow of destruction extends beyond death. Some will not see, until death comes knocking, the TILT sign over their life.
The game is over. Shut down. It is deemed a waste. You can’t start over. That would be playing a new and different game.
TILT nullifies the extra balls you thought you had. Spiritually, TILT requires the cost to play the game be paid again. Yet, at this point, there are spiritually no more quarters, no more tokens.
TILT means you sidestepped the cross of Jesus. His passion was offered to pay the price for your redemption. Even the TILT sign would have been overridden by the promise of Jesus. “Whosoever believes in me – I will raise them up on the last day.” But, unless you repent and align yourself with Jesus, the wrong 4-letter word will reign over your life.
Today, choose the right 4-letter word. Choose LOVE instead of TILT. Choose Jesus!
Two incidents I remember the most from those days. One was the day I played better than ever. I had accumulated 32 extra balls. Is there such a thing as playing forever? About the time I congratulated myself at how well I was doing, I realized if I didn’t stop I would be late for my one o’clock class.
Thirty-two extra plays and I had to surrender my game to someone else. An interested freshman walked by and suddenly my game became his. I rushed back after class but he had lost.
The second distinct thing I recall was the voice of my distinguished history professor Dr. Grayson thundering over the student center. “Mr. Ramsey, quit throwing your time away,” or “Mr. Ramsey, why are you wasting your life playing that game?”
The worst thing, even more wasteful than playing pinball – throwing time and life away according to Dr. Grayson, was playing along and having someone in the crowded student center accidentally bump the machine while you were playing and see the 4-letter word that ended everything – TILT!
Tilt meant you really had wasted your time. One little slide in the wrong direction and no matter how well you had been doing, it was all for nothing. Your game was over.
The Bible says, “It is appointed unto men- once to die, and after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) This is why the shadow of destruction extends beyond death. Some will not see, until death comes knocking, the TILT sign over their life.
The game is over. Shut down. It is deemed a waste. You can’t start over. That would be playing a new and different game.
TILT nullifies the extra balls you thought you had. Spiritually, TILT requires the cost to play the game be paid again. Yet, at this point, there are spiritually no more quarters, no more tokens.
TILT means you sidestepped the cross of Jesus. His passion was offered to pay the price for your redemption. Even the TILT sign would have been overridden by the promise of Jesus. “Whosoever believes in me – I will raise them up on the last day.” But, unless you repent and align yourself with Jesus, the wrong 4-letter word will reign over your life.
Today, choose the right 4-letter word. Choose LOVE instead of TILT. Choose Jesus!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Repentance Is Required
Dr. Edwin Louis Cole once taught, "All we do in life is enter and leave." The real question is, are you upheld by grace as you go? How else can we fulfill the Great Commission given to us by Jesus? - "As you go, make disciples of all nations, by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28: 19-20)
This is why repentance is required. You can't move without repentance. We're stuck in between entering and leaving without repentance.
To repent comes from the Greek word metanoia amd means 'with mind'. In other words, everytime you move you are literally repenting. When you got out of the bed to take a shower this morning, you repented of being in the bed. When you stepped out of the shower to towel off, you repented of staying in the shower. On and on we go through each day, filling it up, as God intended, with repentance.
When we turned to put our trust in Jesus Christ we repented. We decided to move our trust from ourselves or something else and move it into Jesus. Jesus commissions us to continue to fill up each day with repentance.
How do you need to move through this day? What familiar reaction has you snared? What feeling or fear has you bogged down? How will Jesus draw you forward into a free and full expression of life today? One thing is sure - repentance is required.
This is why repentance is required. You can't move without repentance. We're stuck in between entering and leaving without repentance.
To repent comes from the Greek word metanoia amd means 'with mind'. In other words, everytime you move you are literally repenting. When you got out of the bed to take a shower this morning, you repented of being in the bed. When you stepped out of the shower to towel off, you repented of staying in the shower. On and on we go through each day, filling it up, as God intended, with repentance.
When we turned to put our trust in Jesus Christ we repented. We decided to move our trust from ourselves or something else and move it into Jesus. Jesus commissions us to continue to fill up each day with repentance.
How do you need to move through this day? What familiar reaction has you snared? What feeling or fear has you bogged down? How will Jesus draw you forward into a free and full expression of life today? One thing is sure - repentance is required.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Moving at the Speed of Grace
Dear Friends:
Please pray for our ministry and for God's provision in the days ahead. Only a month ago we received a phone call offering us a contract for The Colors of Grace. A week after that the trip to Kenya was set before us. Two weeks from today, I will be flying to Nairobi then driving to Nakuru to teach the Nakuru District Pastors.
This week we received another contract offer. This time for our first book, Moving at the Speed of Grace: Discover the Way God Always Works.
The financial commitment necessary for us to move forward on these fronts has come in a marvelous fashion. Karen and I committed personal funds to cover the cost of intiating the relationship with the Tate Music Group. South Hill UMC, the Danville District, and others including my mother-in-law have already given $2,590 of the $3,000 needed for the Kenya mission. We are praying for the $410 balance and some additional money for a digital camera and a small amount of spending money.
The financial commitment needed to initiate the book project is $3,985.50. One thousand dollars has been invested into this calling as a 0% loan. We are thankful for this commitment and are asking for God to move others to support the book being published and distributed. Join us in praying for this to happen quickly.
God is accelerating his grace in our time. We have multiple projects we know God is calling us to pursue. After Moving at the Speed of Grace, the book, Life at Godspeed will be coming out. After that, the sin book, Stomp the Shadows will come out. I am also writing music at a quicker pace. We believe this relationship with Tate Publishing will allow us to record for free by this time next year.
Pray! Pray! Pray, like you never have before for us! Breakthroughs are bursting forth!
What If No One Notices?
Most people want to get credit for what they do. Most people want to be remembered and recognized. Maybe this is why we have monument businesses and not tombstone businesses.
Some said last week the reason Professor Gates got so upset with Officer Crowley was because the officer did not know him or recognize him. There may be some truth to that.
I was watching Chuck Missler on god.tv last night and he was teaching from the end of the gospels where the resurrected Jesus goes unrecognized by his own disciples. I marvelled along with Dr. Missler at the depth of suffering Jesus went through for his body, and particularly his face, not to be recognized by his friends.
How much do you have to love someone to go through this? "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Isaiah 50: 6) How much do you love someone to know this is coming and still march towards it? The next verse, Isaiah 50:7 prophesies it and the gospels echo it. (Luke 9:51)
How much do you have to love someone to suffer this and more, knowing those for whom you do it will not recognize you or perhaps, never acknowledge your love? How much do you have to love someone to give your life for them whether they notice or not?
Jesus loved you and me that much.
Some said last week the reason Professor Gates got so upset with Officer Crowley was because the officer did not know him or recognize him. There may be some truth to that.
I was watching Chuck Missler on god.tv last night and he was teaching from the end of the gospels where the resurrected Jesus goes unrecognized by his own disciples. I marvelled along with Dr. Missler at the depth of suffering Jesus went through for his body, and particularly his face, not to be recognized by his friends.
How much do you have to love someone to go through this? "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Isaiah 50: 6) How much do you love someone to know this is coming and still march towards it? The next verse, Isaiah 50:7 prophesies it and the gospels echo it. (Luke 9:51)
How much do you have to love someone to suffer this and more, knowing those for whom you do it will not recognize you or perhaps, never acknowledge your love? How much do you have to love someone to give your life for them whether they notice or not?
Jesus loved you and me that much.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Saturated in Joy
Yesterday, I got a surprise. I had just walked in the door a few minutes earlier when Karen came in from work bearing a package that had been in the door downstairs. Inside, was a contract offer for my book Moving at the Speed of Grace.
In just four weeks, I had received and signed a contract for The Colors of Grace, experienced a super week at the Aldersgate Conference, offered and accepted an opportunity to teach In Kakuru, Kenya, and seen God move in several significant ways at South Hill UMC. I feel soaked by God's awesome grace!
But, this is just the way our God works. He accelerates his grace when we are ready to ride with him. Psalm 16: 11 says "You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
This is the way God works. If you are not experiencing that fullness of joy, ask him to draw you deeper into his presence. Lord, break down any barricade to your grace in my heart or mind. Let me walk close to you. This path of joy is for everyone who follows the pathway of grace.
1. God starts us with joy. Psalm 19: 7 says "The law of the Lord is perfect" returning us to the starting point of joy between God and us.
2. God surprises us with joy to boost our faith and keep us open to the way his testimony can be repeated in our lives. (Psalm 19:7)
3. God strengthens our joy as we appropriate God's word and statutes. (Psalm 19:8)
4. God brings us success with joy. The focus of our service is sharpened and received more securely when presented with joy. (Psalm 19:8)
5. God enables us to stand in joy. Our worship, our reverence, our joy is the overriding influence that brings peace in every situation. (Psalm 19:9)
6. God sustains us with joy. What we practice and what we produce, our faith and our fruit become one.
I pray today that the joy of the Lord is your strength!
In just four weeks, I had received and signed a contract for The Colors of Grace, experienced a super week at the Aldersgate Conference, offered and accepted an opportunity to teach In Kakuru, Kenya, and seen God move in several significant ways at South Hill UMC. I feel soaked by God's awesome grace!
But, this is just the way our God works. He accelerates his grace when we are ready to ride with him. Psalm 16: 11 says "You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
This is the way God works. If you are not experiencing that fullness of joy, ask him to draw you deeper into his presence. Lord, break down any barricade to your grace in my heart or mind. Let me walk close to you. This path of joy is for everyone who follows the pathway of grace.
1. God starts us with joy. Psalm 19: 7 says "The law of the Lord is perfect" returning us to the starting point of joy between God and us.
2. God surprises us with joy to boost our faith and keep us open to the way his testimony can be repeated in our lives. (Psalm 19:7)
3. God strengthens our joy as we appropriate God's word and statutes. (Psalm 19:8)
4. God brings us success with joy. The focus of our service is sharpened and received more securely when presented with joy. (Psalm 19:8)
5. God enables us to stand in joy. Our worship, our reverence, our joy is the overriding influence that brings peace in every situation. (Psalm 19:9)
6. God sustains us with joy. What we practice and what we produce, our faith and our fruit become one.
I pray today that the joy of the Lord is your strength!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
War in the Heavenlies
There is a war going on in the heavenlies. You won't read about it in your local paper. You probably won't see anything about on the internet. It is a battle for the soul of every man, woman, boy, and girl.
God has set forth his Son, Jesus Christ, as the Champion that deserves our praise and allegiance. The Holy Spirit is at work to draw all to Him!
The opposition is not so obvious. They hide behind "light and enlightenment". Some argue we are the champions, not Jesus. Some's very existence depends on their ability to diminish the influence of Jesus or intimidate those who submit to Jesus.
Our country is not immune to this battle; whether it is couched in the words of the President when he says, 'we are not a Christian country' or when the assault is more direct, http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=105227.
Our leadership seems "hell-bent" to promote folly over faith, debt over discipline, and corruption over character. Maybe it seems "hell-bent" because it is. Pray with me against "spiritual wickedness in high places". Pray for our leaders that they would be moved to hallow the name above all other names - the name of Jesus. Pray with me that our leaders might be advocates for God's kingdom on earth, free in Jesus' name to resist the enlightened voices of darkness.
Lord, in the midst of the war in the heavenlies - Have mercy!
God has set forth his Son, Jesus Christ, as the Champion that deserves our praise and allegiance. The Holy Spirit is at work to draw all to Him!
The opposition is not so obvious. They hide behind "light and enlightenment". Some argue we are the champions, not Jesus. Some's very existence depends on their ability to diminish the influence of Jesus or intimidate those who submit to Jesus.
Our country is not immune to this battle; whether it is couched in the words of the President when he says, 'we are not a Christian country' or when the assault is more direct, http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=105227.
Our leadership seems "hell-bent" to promote folly over faith, debt over discipline, and corruption over character. Maybe it seems "hell-bent" because it is. Pray with me against "spiritual wickedness in high places". Pray for our leaders that they would be moved to hallow the name above all other names - the name of Jesus. Pray with me that our leaders might be advocates for God's kingdom on earth, free in Jesus' name to resist the enlightened voices of darkness.
Lord, in the midst of the war in the heavenlies - Have mercy!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Command Yourself to Operate at Godspeed
James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Please don't take this verse the wrong way and try to be happy when you know you are not.
I would translate "consider it pure joy" as "Lead yourself where God exerts divine influence upon your heart." James knows that there are things all around us - experiments for good and experiences of evil- that we cannot avoid. These motley tests can pierce us through and work at cross purposes against us.
It is in the face of these trials that we remember Proverbs 3: 5 and its call to "trust in the Lord." Be like the white-tailed deer and 'hightail it' to God. When you are surrounded, leading yourself to where God exerts divine influence upon your heart (even if that means running straight into trouble or difficulty) God will make a way for you.
James 1:13 says God's purpose cannot be adversely affected the same way ours is and you can certainly know, God never works at cross purposes against himself. This is one of the early confessions of the church: "If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown (contradict or deny) himself." (II Tim. 2: 13)
The Lord abides faithful. Jesus stays in this given state and relationship with himself. James tells us we have to lead ourselves back to this point. We have to make corrections and adjustments. Grace not only allows for it; grace insists upon it.
There are two things for which we can always labor. {You never go into labor for the sake of labor. You go into labor to give birth or produce something.}
1. Lead yourself to where God exerts divine influence upon your life until that's where you always are.
2. Lead yourself into agreeing with God until you always do.
The labor of life, surrounded by a motley myriad of choices and responses, is to produce joy - so that living now and living in the kingdom is a seamless transition - enter into the joy of the Lord!
I would translate "consider it pure joy" as "Lead yourself where God exerts divine influence upon your heart." James knows that there are things all around us - experiments for good and experiences of evil- that we cannot avoid. These motley tests can pierce us through and work at cross purposes against us.
It is in the face of these trials that we remember Proverbs 3: 5 and its call to "trust in the Lord." Be like the white-tailed deer and 'hightail it' to God. When you are surrounded, leading yourself to where God exerts divine influence upon your heart (even if that means running straight into trouble or difficulty) God will make a way for you.
James 1:13 says God's purpose cannot be adversely affected the same way ours is and you can certainly know, God never works at cross purposes against himself. This is one of the early confessions of the church: "If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown (contradict or deny) himself." (II Tim. 2: 13)
The Lord abides faithful. Jesus stays in this given state and relationship with himself. James tells us we have to lead ourselves back to this point. We have to make corrections and adjustments. Grace not only allows for it; grace insists upon it.
There are two things for which we can always labor. {You never go into labor for the sake of labor. You go into labor to give birth or produce something.}
1. Lead yourself to where God exerts divine influence upon your life until that's where you always are.
2. Lead yourself into agreeing with God until you always do.
The labor of life, surrounded by a motley myriad of choices and responses, is to produce joy - so that living now and living in the kingdom is a seamless transition - enter into the joy of the Lord!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Name Above All Names
How do you recognize God's unique call upon your life if you answer to multiple names? I asked Karen with my own nickname for her, "Ba", which is short for "Baby", "What name does God use when he speaks to you?" She didn't have an answer except to say she couldn't remember being called by name.
I know God calls her and in a way that is unique to her God calls her by her 'nature' which is what a name represents. God would have to call Karen that way; otherwise there are too many names from which to choose.
My wife's name is Karen Elizabeth Ramsey, formerly Karen Elizabeth Nash. Most people call her Karen with the exception of one church member at one church who called and probably still calls her Sharon. her nickname is Karo. her license plate calls her KROBETH.
At the last church we served she was Miss KK because that's what the two boys we kept called her. So what does God call her when God calls her by name? God speaks the "name that is above all names" into her soul and every place that name finds resonance, her soul responds to the voice of God.
I wish I was that open to the Lord. God has to call me "Naum" to get my attention. With Karen, just the breath of God moving over her life brings her to attention. Do not despair if you've never heard God call you by name. Perhaps your "nature" is open enough. Just move as the Spirit breezes over your life. Just be ready to move at the mention of "the name above all other names"!
I know God calls her and in a way that is unique to her God calls her by her 'nature' which is what a name represents. God would have to call Karen that way; otherwise there are too many names from which to choose.
My wife's name is Karen Elizabeth Ramsey, formerly Karen Elizabeth Nash. Most people call her Karen with the exception of one church member at one church who called and probably still calls her Sharon. her nickname is Karo. her license plate calls her KROBETH.
At the last church we served she was Miss KK because that's what the two boys we kept called her. So what does God call her when God calls her by name? God speaks the "name that is above all names" into her soul and every place that name finds resonance, her soul responds to the voice of God.
I wish I was that open to the Lord. God has to call me "Naum" to get my attention. With Karen, just the breath of God moving over her life brings her to attention. Do not despair if you've never heard God call you by name. Perhaps your "nature" is open enough. Just move as the Spirit breezes over your life. Just be ready to move at the mention of "the name above all other names"!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Called by Name
My linguistics professor in college told me that I was raised in a dialectical gap. He even had a map and pointed out where I lived by how pronounced my accent was. You would probably say my 'out' sounds more like 'oat', and my 'house' more like 'hose'.
Another interesting feature of our speech growing up was the way we dropped our "r"'s. Corn became "caun". My name, Norm became "Naum".
As children we theorized this was because you could yell "Naum" louder than you could Norm. Whatever the reason, I still identify myself internally as "Naum".
What does that have to do with God's call? Maybe, nothing. Maybe, everything.
Karen and I recently attended the Aldersgate conference. The auditorium where we gathered held about 1200 people. I was on the worship team so I was up on the stage in the front of the auditorium. Little pockets of conversation swirled all around the room. We were talking to each other on the stage. My head still snapped around though when Karen quietly said, "Naum" in the back of the room.
As we saw yesterday, God calls us the very same way. God calls us by name. Some of us may not have as definite an internal name as I do but we can still become familiar with the One voice that turns us around. Let's try to avoid the method one friend told me about today, "God just hits me upside the head when he wants to get my attention."
Let's ask Jesus to get our attention the way he prefers - call us by name!
Another interesting feature of our speech growing up was the way we dropped our "r"'s. Corn became "caun". My name, Norm became "Naum".
As children we theorized this was because you could yell "Naum" louder than you could Norm. Whatever the reason, I still identify myself internally as "Naum".
What does that have to do with God's call? Maybe, nothing. Maybe, everything.
Karen and I recently attended the Aldersgate conference. The auditorium where we gathered held about 1200 people. I was on the worship team so I was up on the stage in the front of the auditorium. Little pockets of conversation swirled all around the room. We were talking to each other on the stage. My head still snapped around though when Karen quietly said, "Naum" in the back of the room.
As we saw yesterday, God calls us the very same way. God calls us by name. Some of us may not have as definite an internal name as I do but we can still become familiar with the One voice that turns us around. Let's try to avoid the method one friend told me about today, "God just hits me upside the head when he wants to get my attention."
Let's ask Jesus to get our attention the way he prefers - call us by name!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Did Somebody Say My Name?
Isaiah 43: 1 "But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine'." This is the claim God makes over every soul.
You know how it works. Your mind is occupied. You're doing something and suddenly your attention is arrested by the mention of your name.
Your friends may tell you, "We weren't talking to you. We were just talking about you. Go on back to what you were doing."
But, God doesn't turn us away. Jesus says in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out." When your attention is turned or drawn to Jesus God is calling you by name.
When your attention is turned or drawn to Jesus God is making his claim upon your life. The Apostle Paul says "we are God's workmanship." God has a proprietory interest in you. God desires an exclusive between your heart and His. This is why the Old Testament law asserted God is a jealous God. God is jealous for you.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16) I'd say anytime you remember that verse, pay attention: God is calling you by name!
You know how it works. Your mind is occupied. You're doing something and suddenly your attention is arrested by the mention of your name.
Your friends may tell you, "We weren't talking to you. We were just talking about you. Go on back to what you were doing."
But, God doesn't turn us away. Jesus says in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out." When your attention is turned or drawn to Jesus God is calling you by name.
When your attention is turned or drawn to Jesus God is making his claim upon your life. The Apostle Paul says "we are God's workmanship." God has a proprietory interest in you. God desires an exclusive between your heart and His. This is why the Old Testament law asserted God is a jealous God. God is jealous for you.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16) I'd say anytime you remember that verse, pay attention: God is calling you by name!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Can You Hear Me Now?
Why is this an important spiritual question? Because God says salvation depends not on our works or best efforts but on responding to the call of Jesus the Christ. Romans 9: 16 says, "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."
But how does God extend his mercy? God extends his mercy through the call to follow Jesus. "This is the work of God that you believe in (respond to) the one whom God has sent." (John 6: 29) Do you believe in Jesus? Is your life a response to his call?
Romans 9: 11 points out that this is the way God has always worked. From Genesis to Revelation, salvation is intiated by God as a gift of grace. The whole pathway of grace begins in God's call. It doesn't matter who your daddy is. Your history doesn't matter. Your lineage makes no difference.
This is all true "in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works, but by him who calls". (Romans 9: 11) This keeps what God sets forth out of his word consistent. We are all created equal. We live and are saved as we respond to God's call upon our lives. Jesus broadcasts that word to the world. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He that believes (responds to my call), as the scriptures has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)
But how does God extend his mercy? God extends his mercy through the call to follow Jesus. "This is the work of God that you believe in (respond to) the one whom God has sent." (John 6: 29) Do you believe in Jesus? Is your life a response to his call?
Romans 9: 11 points out that this is the way God has always worked. From Genesis to Revelation, salvation is intiated by God as a gift of grace. The whole pathway of grace begins in God's call. It doesn't matter who your daddy is. Your history doesn't matter. Your lineage makes no difference.
This is all true "in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works, but by him who calls". (Romans 9: 11) This keeps what God sets forth out of his word consistent. We are all created equal. We live and are saved as we respond to God's call upon our lives. Jesus broadcasts that word to the world. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He that believes (responds to my call), as the scriptures has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Let Me Prove My Weirdness Again!
Most of you need no further proof but I want to share something I got stuck thinking on last night. I watched the movie "Knowing" starring Nicolas Cage. They used imagery from Ezekiel and tried to show how the world could come to an end but we would not have come to our end. Of course, they left out the best part. They left out Jesus.
Before the movie started I had been writing on what does it mean to be predestined. I asked Karen what she thought and she answered what most of us have been taught: predestined is to be predetermined where you're going to go- heaven or hell, whether you are going to be saved or unsaved. Too bad, so sad - that way of looking at it is all wrong.
Predestination is not about where we are going. It is about where God has already gone. To be predestined is to have the specs drawn up for us to follow. God has already done that. He has set forth Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. John 14: 6 tells us "No one makes progress to the Father but by him."
Back to the movie. It was filled with numbers that warned of disasters and the final catastrophe. The numbers provided dates, fatalaties, and the latitude and longitude for each event.
I asked myself what coordinates does God give so that we will know we are in the right place when the final catastrophe comes. I googled how you determine the location of an object in a three-dimensional space. I found out you need three points, three coordinates {x, y, and z} to determine your location.
Well, here's where my weirdness kicks in. I found the coordinates, {the x, y, and z} that will put anyone and everyone in the right place when disaster comes. It is found in Peter's confession to Jesus in Matthew 16: 16. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Using the first letters of each important word in that confession we find our proper coordinates. You are the X, the Y of the Z. Is that where you are? Is that your confession? Are you in the right place?
I invite you to be weird like me; postioned in the world by your confession of Jeus and your commitment to Jesus!
Before the movie started I had been writing on what does it mean to be predestined. I asked Karen what she thought and she answered what most of us have been taught: predestined is to be predetermined where you're going to go- heaven or hell, whether you are going to be saved or unsaved. Too bad, so sad - that way of looking at it is all wrong.
Predestination is not about where we are going. It is about where God has already gone. To be predestined is to have the specs drawn up for us to follow. God has already done that. He has set forth Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. John 14: 6 tells us "No one makes progress to the Father but by him."
Back to the movie. It was filled with numbers that warned of disasters and the final catastrophe. The numbers provided dates, fatalaties, and the latitude and longitude for each event.
I asked myself what coordinates does God give so that we will know we are in the right place when the final catastrophe comes. I googled how you determine the location of an object in a three-dimensional space. I found out you need three points, three coordinates {x, y, and z} to determine your location.
Well, here's where my weirdness kicks in. I found the coordinates, {the x, y, and z} that will put anyone and everyone in the right place when disaster comes. It is found in Peter's confession to Jesus in Matthew 16: 16. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Using the first letters of each important word in that confession we find our proper coordinates. You are the X, the Y of the Z. Is that where you are? Is that your confession? Are you in the right place?
I invite you to be weird like me; postioned in the world by your confession of Jeus and your commitment to Jesus!
Monday, July 13, 2009
God Answers Prayer in an Amazing Way
It was an extraordinary prayer to start. Karen and I had just met this young lady from Kentucky, Sharon Bailey. She asked if she could pray for us: our family, our music and our ministry. Of course, we said "yes".
She had said her calling was to pray and intercede. I could tell that was true the moment she began praying. Her compassion, her remembrance and attention to detail were all signs of God's work in her.
She prayed for our children with unerring accuracy to their needs even though we hadn't talked about them. She prayed for Karen and asked God to heal and deliver her from a recurring situation even though we hadn't mentioned that situation. Then she began to pray for me and the influence of our ministry.
I will not list here all the details of her prayer. I will list just one.
In the course of her prayer she began to share country after country all over the world where we would minister. The first country she mentioned on the African continent was Kenya.
A week later the opportunity to join a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission trip to teach the principles in our first book, Moving at the Speed of Grace, was dropped in my lap by my District Superintendent, Jack Martin. Three days later Karen and I decided God had confirmed that we should say "yes" and go to Kenya!
I leave August 14th from Dulles on my way to Africa. As the Apostle Paul said, I will be there to complete one task, that of "testifying to the gospel of God's grace". Our ministry must raise the needed support in a very quick time. Already $2000 has been donated. We only need $1000 more. If you can help us, send your support to Norman Ramsey Ministries, 805 Hutcheson Lane, South Hill, VA 23970 for the "Kenya trip"!
She had said her calling was to pray and intercede. I could tell that was true the moment she began praying. Her compassion, her remembrance and attention to detail were all signs of God's work in her.
She prayed for our children with unerring accuracy to their needs even though we hadn't talked about them. She prayed for Karen and asked God to heal and deliver her from a recurring situation even though we hadn't mentioned that situation. Then she began to pray for me and the influence of our ministry.
I will not list here all the details of her prayer. I will list just one.
In the course of her prayer she began to share country after country all over the world where we would minister. The first country she mentioned on the African continent was Kenya.
A week later the opportunity to join a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission trip to teach the principles in our first book, Moving at the Speed of Grace, was dropped in my lap by my District Superintendent, Jack Martin. Three days later Karen and I decided God had confirmed that we should say "yes" and go to Kenya!
I leave August 14th from Dulles on my way to Africa. As the Apostle Paul said, I will be there to complete one task, that of "testifying to the gospel of God's grace". Our ministry must raise the needed support in a very quick time. Already $2000 has been donated. We only need $1000 more. If you can help us, send your support to Norman Ramsey Ministries, 805 Hutcheson Lane, South Hill, VA 23970 for the "Kenya trip"!
Friday, July 10, 2009
All of the Above: Healing and the Word of God
This week we have looked at the connection and the similarities of how we receive the word of God and healing. We saw that healing can come instantaneously much like a revelation from God's word. We saw that healing can arise over time much as our understanding increases as we are in meditation in God's word. Healing can also occur through separation as we "hate what is evil and cling to what is good".
The last way I want to share with you is the combination of all of the above.
I suffered a back injury my senior year in high school. I tore the muscles that connected to my hip and pelvis leaving me unable to lift anything without meticulous attention to how I picked it up. I couldn't run or jump into activity without serious consquences.
Of course I prayed for healing and forgiveness for not paying attention to how I did things. My doctor said I should be reconciled to never being able to function as I had before. That was the one thing I decided not to do.
My years of college were filled with special physical education classes designed to rehab my back and restore myself to normalcy. I had a special weightlifting class designed for me. I had a swimming regimen to strengthen my back without the stress of other exercise programs. I was the sole male member of the ballet class. I meditated and practiced every thing I knew to do to restore my broken back.
Everything I tried resulted in no visible progress. I was careful in how I approached any activity. I separated myself from any jerky movements or poor form I may have used in the past. I wanted to be ready to perform normally when God healed my back.
In seminary, I sought God in every way I knew how. I was a United Methodist student, attending a Southern Baptist seminary, and going to an Assembly of God church. I wanted to go and do whatever I could that would put me in the place God was moving.
Finally, one Sunday morning the revelation came. "Today is the day" for your healing I heard in my spirit. I thought out loud, "God, I don't think it's going to happen anywhere I've been going." I opened the phone book and closed my eyes. My finger came to rest on this church listing: Trinity Church on Seatonville Road and that's where I went to church that day and that's where I was healed!
Hold steadfast in your faith. Combine everything you know to believe and do and wait on the Lord. God will renew your strength. The revelation will come and so will your healing.
The last way I want to share with you is the combination of all of the above.
I suffered a back injury my senior year in high school. I tore the muscles that connected to my hip and pelvis leaving me unable to lift anything without meticulous attention to how I picked it up. I couldn't run or jump into activity without serious consquences.
Of course I prayed for healing and forgiveness for not paying attention to how I did things. My doctor said I should be reconciled to never being able to function as I had before. That was the one thing I decided not to do.
My years of college were filled with special physical education classes designed to rehab my back and restore myself to normalcy. I had a special weightlifting class designed for me. I had a swimming regimen to strengthen my back without the stress of other exercise programs. I was the sole male member of the ballet class. I meditated and practiced every thing I knew to do to restore my broken back.
Everything I tried resulted in no visible progress. I was careful in how I approached any activity. I separated myself from any jerky movements or poor form I may have used in the past. I wanted to be ready to perform normally when God healed my back.
In seminary, I sought God in every way I knew how. I was a United Methodist student, attending a Southern Baptist seminary, and going to an Assembly of God church. I wanted to go and do whatever I could that would put me in the place God was moving.
Finally, one Sunday morning the revelation came. "Today is the day" for your healing I heard in my spirit. I thought out loud, "God, I don't think it's going to happen anywhere I've been going." I opened the phone book and closed my eyes. My finger came to rest on this church listing: Trinity Church on Seatonville Road and that's where I went to church that day and that's where I was healed!
Hold steadfast in your faith. Combine everything you know to believe and do and wait on the Lord. God will renew your strength. The revelation will come and so will your healing.
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Word of God and Healing
Yesterday, we shared that the movement of God's word and God's healing are experienced in us in the same ways. The changes they bring can be received as a revelation and by meditation, instantaneously and gradually. Today, I want to share one of the other similarities between healing and the word of God.
Healing and the word of God can be appreciated in us through a call to separation. The word of God is, Hebrews 4:12 says "quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The word of God, the Psalmist says is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path and leads us in the way we should go. It gives us a spiritual diet for us to follow.
Healing also can arise out of following dietary or behavioral directions. We close the gap between how we are and how we were meant to be by separating ourselves from how we were meant to be from how we are. We are intentional about maintaining the distinction between our will and God's. We observe what is good for us instead of what is not.
This method is called for when we pray in the Lord's Prayer "Give us this day our daily bread." This literally means we are asking God to prescribe for us what we need each day and we will follow it until we have achieved the desired outcome. Healing comes about in the same fashion.
Some of us need to keep this similarity in mind when we are in wait mode for healing. We are tempted to think if healing hasn't already occurred it is not meant to be. Do we do that physically? No, we do not.
Do you ever tell your doctor you don't deserve a diagnosis that will heal you? You haven't gotten better so it must be meant to be. Separate yourself from that kind of thinking spiritually. The Great Physician is willing to prescribe what you need for healing and wholeness. Consecrate yourself, separate yourself unto his words until you have healing.
Healing and the word of God can be appreciated in us through a call to separation. The word of God is, Hebrews 4:12 says "quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The word of God, the Psalmist says is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path and leads us in the way we should go. It gives us a spiritual diet for us to follow.
Healing also can arise out of following dietary or behavioral directions. We close the gap between how we are and how we were meant to be by separating ourselves from how we were meant to be from how we are. We are intentional about maintaining the distinction between our will and God's. We observe what is good for us instead of what is not.
This method is called for when we pray in the Lord's Prayer "Give us this day our daily bread." This literally means we are asking God to prescribe for us what we need each day and we will follow it until we have achieved the desired outcome. Healing comes about in the same fashion.
Some of us need to keep this similarity in mind when we are in wait mode for healing. We are tempted to think if healing hasn't already occurred it is not meant to be. Do we do that physically? No, we do not.
Do you ever tell your doctor you don't deserve a diagnosis that will heal you? You haven't gotten better so it must be meant to be. Separate yourself from that kind of thinking spiritually. The Great Physician is willing to prescribe what you need for healing and wholeness. Consecrate yourself, separate yourself unto his words until you have healing.
All in Good Time
One of the lessons I learned last week at the Aldersgate Conference was healing works just like the word of God in us. Sometimes we hear a word that becomes a revelation for us. Our life, our mindset is changed and we are never the same. This rhema, this anointed word from our loving Lord touches us and instantly we are different. Healing occurs sometimes in this way. It is a sovereign moment and instantaneously we find ourselves healed and free.
More often, our experience shows us we learn the word over time, "line by line, precept by precept". Instead of arising out of a powerful revelation, our understanding is widened by continual meditation on God's word. Healing sometimes and most often takes this gradual route. Some might say it is the natural way we ordinarily recover. Meditation and memorization of the word are important. Do not forsake these for some wished-for vision from heaven. Without the faith-filled daily disciplines of meditation and memorization the wished-for vision may come but not necessarily from heaven. But, without these disciplines you won't discern the difference.
In the same way, do not be disappointed if your wished-for healing doesn't occur instantaneously. God loves you. God is working everything together for your good. Last Tuesday, I had a thirty-year-old prayer answered when Tate Music Group said "Yes" to marketing our music and ministry. What if that immature eighteen year old boy had someone say "Yes" to him thirty years ago or even twenty years ago? "Lord, have mercy!" Well, the Lord did.
The Lord is good and his mercy endures forever. That is the truth. God has already promised you that you will be spotless and without blemish before his glorious throne. You can trust God for that. Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher in residence. I am sure you will have revelations and I am sure you will have things taught to you that require meditation. Be happy to receive both.
There are parts of me that are in wait mode for healing. I still earnestly expect it though one particular point of asking has been ongoing for over 25 years. All in good time.
Tomorrow, we will see some other ways receiving healing corresponds with receiving the word of God. Invite your friends to check out the blog at http://YourDailyGrace.blogspot.com. Until then... I love you and am praying for your healing and wholeness. Let me know where you are in wait mode for healing. I will join you in asking Love to come and make the difference there in you.
More often, our experience shows us we learn the word over time, "line by line, precept by precept". Instead of arising out of a powerful revelation, our understanding is widened by continual meditation on God's word. Healing sometimes and most often takes this gradual route. Some might say it is the natural way we ordinarily recover. Meditation and memorization of the word are important. Do not forsake these for some wished-for vision from heaven. Without the faith-filled daily disciplines of meditation and memorization the wished-for vision may come but not necessarily from heaven. But, without these disciplines you won't discern the difference.
In the same way, do not be disappointed if your wished-for healing doesn't occur instantaneously. God loves you. God is working everything together for your good. Last Tuesday, I had a thirty-year-old prayer answered when Tate Music Group said "Yes" to marketing our music and ministry. What if that immature eighteen year old boy had someone say "Yes" to him thirty years ago or even twenty years ago? "Lord, have mercy!" Well, the Lord did.
The Lord is good and his mercy endures forever. That is the truth. God has already promised you that you will be spotless and without blemish before his glorious throne. You can trust God for that. Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher in residence. I am sure you will have revelations and I am sure you will have things taught to you that require meditation. Be happy to receive both.
There are parts of me that are in wait mode for healing. I still earnestly expect it though one particular point of asking has been ongoing for over 25 years. All in good time.
Tomorrow, we will see some other ways receiving healing corresponds with receiving the word of God. Invite your friends to check out the blog at http://YourDailyGrace.blogspot.com. Until then... I love you and am praying for your healing and wholeness. Let me know where you are in wait mode for healing. I will join you in asking Love to come and make the difference there in you.
You Gotta Love It!
Karen and I just got back from the Aldersgate Conference on Spirit-filled living. It was great! The worship, the testimonies, the outpouring of God's love manifested itself in healings, deliverances, and mighty experiences of joy. We are looking forward to the same kind of experiences now that we are back home at South Hill.
"God is love", I John says and that love is constant: the same yesterday, today, and forever. We see love is trinitarian in its nature just like the Godhead. Love is Almighty. "It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; Love never fails. Love abides". When all else passes away Love still stands.
Love is active. Love became flesh and dwelt among us. The words of good news tell us love can be seen and recognized in Jesus. That active Love inspires activity in us as we follow Him.
Love can be apprehended and appreciated. We can receive and appropriate the Almighty and Active Love of God. We can receive the Holy Spirit. This is how we feel love, by actively having Almighty Love live, move and be Active in our hearts by faith. Romans 5:5 tells us "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us." You gotta love it!
"Ask and (LOVE) shall be given unto you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and (LOVE) shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7)
"God is love", I John says and that love is constant: the same yesterday, today, and forever. We see love is trinitarian in its nature just like the Godhead. Love is Almighty. "It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; Love never fails. Love abides". When all else passes away Love still stands.
Love is active. Love became flesh and dwelt among us. The words of good news tell us love can be seen and recognized in Jesus. That active Love inspires activity in us as we follow Him.
Love can be apprehended and appreciated. We can receive and appropriate the Almighty and Active Love of God. We can receive the Holy Spirit. This is how we feel love, by actively having Almighty Love live, move and be Active in our hearts by faith. Romans 5:5 tells us "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us." You gotta love it!
"Ask and (LOVE) shall be given unto you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and (LOVE) shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7)
Friday, June 19, 2009
Help Me Conduct an Experiment
I need your help in beginning a book project. The tentative title is I Can Do That. What is that? That is a time or event where God was present in your life. An easy one for me to remember was back in 1989. My sister Janet and her husband J. B. were praying for Karen and I. They were led of God to help us so they obeyed and I received this letter. "Dear Norm and Karen, We were praying for you and felt like God wanted us to send you this. Kind of weird! Love, Janet". Inside the envelope with the letter was a check for $153.51. Their letter had been sent to us on Thursday. That check matched to the penny ($153.51) the bill we had received on Friday. We had no way to pay the bill but God had already taken care of that.
I was talking to my friend, Burt Robinson at Annual Conference when he shared one of his stories. He was an All-American young man that grew up in church but arriving at college wasn't a Christian. He felt led to go to Bible study on campus but when he saw that the Geek Squad was in attendance he didn't go in. The next week he drifted by and this time saw a young man: a long-haired, Indian-looking guy named Erwin, standing outside at the door. "You going in?", Burt asked. "Yeah. You coming with me?", Erwin answered. Burt did go in and was saved and converted that night.
You can do that! You can pray for your family. You can stand at the door and go in to Bible study. Will you share your stories with me? I want you to be a contributor. Once you get started noticing how God is at work for you and through you you'll notice it more and more.
Burt is living proof of that. Burt was called into the ministry a few years after that life-changing night. The men in his first church wanted to give him a gift - send him to Promise Keepers in Colorado. He's like, I don't need to go there but they had gotten him the tickets so he went.
The first night they introduced the opening speaker: a short-haired, Indian-looking guy named Erwin Raphael McManus. Burt had another story to share!
Send your God-moments to me in the comment section or to reverendnorm@msn.com. Your story may be just the encouragement someone needs to notice what God is up to in their lives. You can do that!
I was talking to my friend, Burt Robinson at Annual Conference when he shared one of his stories. He was an All-American young man that grew up in church but arriving at college wasn't a Christian. He felt led to go to Bible study on campus but when he saw that the Geek Squad was in attendance he didn't go in. The next week he drifted by and this time saw a young man: a long-haired, Indian-looking guy named Erwin, standing outside at the door. "You going in?", Burt asked. "Yeah. You coming with me?", Erwin answered. Burt did go in and was saved and converted that night.
You can do that! You can pray for your family. You can stand at the door and go in to Bible study. Will you share your stories with me? I want you to be a contributor. Once you get started noticing how God is at work for you and through you you'll notice it more and more.
Burt is living proof of that. Burt was called into the ministry a few years after that life-changing night. The men in his first church wanted to give him a gift - send him to Promise Keepers in Colorado. He's like, I don't need to go there but they had gotten him the tickets so he went.
The first night they introduced the opening speaker: a short-haired, Indian-looking guy named Erwin Raphael McManus. Burt had another story to share!
Send your God-moments to me in the comment section or to reverendnorm@msn.com. Your story may be just the encouragement someone needs to notice what God is up to in their lives. You can do that!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
It's Thursday but Feels Like Monday
I returnd home from Annual Conference yesterday and I'm trying to catch up what didn't get done while I was gone. It feels like Monday. But, it is Thursday. So, I have one day to do five days of work.
Will I be alright? Yes, I will. Why? I only have today to live. I have to get Thursday's work done and I believe Monday through Wednesday will be covered.
I am making a choice. You must make this choice, too. Which takes precedence in my life? Which more aptly describes my outlook on the day: the devil is in the details or the Lord is in every little thing? Which is it? "Suddenly when I look around I no longer see anything but the tasks, problems and conflicts in my life." Or, is it as Mark 9: 8 says? "Suddenly when they looked around they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus."
Let's conduct ourselves today and everyday under the reality of Jesus' presence. I make that choice. Do you? We don't have to take matters into our own hands because that would be stealing from God. Trust Jesus. Ask him to open your eyes as he did the servant of Elisha long ago. (II Kings 6: 8-23)
It's Thursday but feels like Monday but either day, either way God is with us!
Will I be alright? Yes, I will. Why? I only have today to live. I have to get Thursday's work done and I believe Monday through Wednesday will be covered.
I am making a choice. You must make this choice, too. Which takes precedence in my life? Which more aptly describes my outlook on the day: the devil is in the details or the Lord is in every little thing? Which is it? "Suddenly when I look around I no longer see anything but the tasks, problems and conflicts in my life." Or, is it as Mark 9: 8 says? "Suddenly when they looked around they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus."
Let's conduct ourselves today and everyday under the reality of Jesus' presence. I make that choice. Do you? We don't have to take matters into our own hands because that would be stealing from God. Trust Jesus. Ask him to open your eyes as he did the servant of Elisha long ago. (II Kings 6: 8-23)
It's Thursday but feels like Monday but either day, either way God is with us!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
The Discretion of Bitterness
When bitterness prevails something has to give. Usually, it’s someone conveniently close to us at the time. With Cain, it was his brother Abel. With the young man yesterday involved in intervention, it was another person at the treatment facility. It doesn’t matter. Bitterness mandates you have no choice. That’s a lie but it’s your story and you’re sticking to it.
Bitterness begets bloodshed. Cain attacked his brother and slaughtered him. Jesus said we don’t have to be that obvious. “You have heard it said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder’ and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother (without cause) will be subject to judgment.” Perhaps our bitterness is more polite. Perhaps we kill those conveniently close to us by sabotaging their dreams, spreading rumors that destroy their reputation, or questioning the legitimacy of anything they do. Be careful. Bitterness is deadly no matter how discreetly it is applied. It is no consolation that the bleeding you cause is internal.
The discretion of bitterness is only in how quietly or loudly it leads you and others towards death. You have the power to choose the call of God over the compulsion of bitterness. God's grace is sufficient for you. I'd like to show you how true that is. You can see it for yourself. Order your autographed copy of Moving at the Speed of Grace: Discovering the Way God Always Works today. For helping us get ready for publication, the cost is only $10.00. Thanks.
Norman Ramsey Ministries, 805 Hutcheson Lane, South Hill, VA 23970 (540) 309-1776
Falling into Bitterness
Betrayal locks us into a self serving bias. Our bias holds up pretty well in this world. We can get along fairly well living to suit ourselves. But, when God steps in to reclaim the relationship that’s been lost, our bias won’t hold up. We know something’s wrong. We dare not admit we’re responsible in any way so to blame we must go. But, blame will not hold up. It doesn’t fit the facts. The fact is I have a say-so in what my life is like. If I fight against that fact I will grow bitter.
Again, God is asking questions, this time of Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But, if you do not what is right, sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” In bitterness there is a battle for mastery. Whose servant will you be – God’s or sin’s? On the A & E network’s program, Intervention, a young man wrestling with his anger and the addictions that arise out of it laments though he knows he is doing wrong, he is helpless to do anything about it. Even after he says yes to treatment and intervention, his anger causes him to be dismissed from the program. When bitterness prevails something has to give.
We'll find out tomorrow what happens when bitterness has its way. The path gets uglier. If you or the group you're part of needs a turn around out of bitterness, contact us. We'd like to help you get back on the pathway of grace. That's why we wrote the book Moving at the Speed of Grace.
Order today for only $10.00 and you will receive an autographed copy and help us be ready for publication. You can write to Norman Ramsey Ministries, 805 Hutcheson Lane, South Hill, VA 23970 or call me at (540) 309-1776. Thanks.
The Blame Game
When God calls us, our bias and self justification rings hollow and we are forced to move further down the path of sin. God asks, “Where are you?" And Adam responds in paranoid fear. God asks again, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Does Adam come clean? Does he own up to his betrayal of God’s commandment? No, Adam blames God and objectifies Eve. “The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Adam compounds his betrayal but he doesn’t see it. He wimps out again, blaming Eve. Eve blames the serpent. The curse comes. The partnership Eve and Adam was to share was fragmented and weakened. The fruitfulness that was to be the natural outcome of their relationship with God and with each other becomes a real pain and hard labor. They produce children and it is in their offspring where we see the rest of the pathway of sin unfold.
Stay tuned to see where the path of sin leads. It's not pretty.
Speaking of staying tuned you can order our music at http://musicforemmaus.com/html/store.html
You can also order an autographed copy of Moving at the Speed of Grace and help us get ready for publication! Thanks. Call me at (540) 309-1776. Tell your friends they can call me, too.
My Eyes!
Yesterday we learned that betrayal is the first step on the path of sin. It is the first step towards death for God's word had been spoken, loving words, "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You shall not eat from it, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2: 16-17)
Adam chose rebellion over obedience, stubbornness over love and “the eyes of both of them were opened". (Genesis 3:7) They began to operate in what John Ortberg described as their own self serving bias. The scripture says the step of betrayal blinds our spiritual eyes so that we cannot see how to make up for what’s been lost. We’re naked and hearing the movement of God we tend to hide from it rather than step back into God’s presence. John 3: 19-20 shows the terrible danger in which this puts each person. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”
We force ourselves into living within a “box”of deceiving ourselves and justifying our betrayal. This way of doing business is described in Leadership and Self Deception. You should read that book.
When God calls us, our bias and self justification rings hollow and we are forced to move further down the path of sin. I say 'forced' because failing to back up in repentance, acknowledge the blindness of our bias and the betrayal to which it's rooted, we will inevitably, forcefully, follow the path of sin. Where does it take us? We'll see tomorrow.
If you want to see where God will always take you, order our new book, Moving at the Speed of Grace. Today (unlike yesterday) I'll give you the address and phone number so you can let me know you want an autographed copy. Norman Ramsey Ministries, 805 Hutcheson Lane, South Hill, VA 23970. Phone # is (540) 309-1776. Thanks.
In the Beginning- Betrayal
In the beginning, “God created man in his own image”. God blessed them, the man and the woman, and commanded them to be fruitful and to rule over every living creature. This was their calling and God said, “It was very good.” But, when they were tempted by the serpent they both ignored and betrayed their calling, falling into sin. They had been given positions of authority under God to rule the earth, but they endeavored to establish their own authority. The woman, made to be a ‘helpmate’ acted independently of any communication between herself and God or between herself and her husband. Adam: whom God had given authority to have dominion over everything, wimped out. He stood idly by and then passively took a bite of the forbidden fruit. The fall occurs.
No love was demonstrated. No trust given. Why not ask the serpent to come back tomorrow after you’ve talked about it? What’s the rush? Where’s the patience? Do you believe God is unkind? Do you give the serpent, who boasts of greater knowledge, the benefit of your doubts rather than God? It's betrayal. Immediately, the first step towards death had been taken. “The eyes of both of them were opened.”
We've taken the same step. We've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and we know it. We're not quite living up to our full potential. Things don't work out like they should sometimes. This path is not the one we want to be on.
Jesus said, "Repent and believe for the Kingdom of God is near." Jump over to that kingdom. Acknowledge your betrayal and ask Jesus to take you back. He will and he'll do more than that. He will restore what betrayal has stolen. Jesus offers himself as an atonement for you and commands you now to turn to him, obey his voice, and receive the gift of life.
We at Norman Ramsey Ministries want to show you the path of life: the way God always takes when He is at work in our lives. One way is to order a copy of our book, Moving at the Speed of Grace! You can receive an autographed copy for only $10.00 and this will help us cover the cost of publication. Another way is to continue to read this blog. Tell your friends about us and may the grace and joy of Jesus be your unavoidable experience!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Why We Need to Know Our First Parents
Why do we need to get to know our first parents? Some might say, "I'm not going to make the same mistakes my parents did." I'm afraid you will if you don't learn from their mistakes. You will do even worse if you don't learn how to turn from their and your own mistakes.
So, that's why we need to know our first parents. The way sin worked in them is still the way sin works in us. The good news that you will see over and over again in this book is that God has provided us a way out of sin, a pathway of grace.
Put yourself in Adam and Eve’s shoes for a minute. Go back and read Genesis, chapters 3 & 4. Sin begins in betrayal. Sin is a breach in trust. That locks us into a self-serving bias.
Proverbs 3: 5-7 offers us a clear path for reconciling ourselves to God and the pathway of grace. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
Repair the breach. Acknowledge the betrayal by hightailing it to God. Don’t lean to your own understanding. Don’t substantiate the temptation. “The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom.”
Of course, this was true. The tree was good because God is good. That doesn’t make it your tree. I have peach trees and apple trees in my orchard at home. The fruit is good and tastes great. I live an hour away. Do I want everyone who admires the fruitfulness of my trees to have some? No, I’d prefer to eat it myself or, at the very least, be asked for permission.
Adam and Eve did none of this. They could have exerted a little faith in God during this temptation. “Serpent, what you say sounds pretty good. We’ll check it with God when we walk him this evening. Come back tomorrow or better yet, hang around until God gets here. We’ll give you a tour of the rest of the garden while we wait.”
Even after the sin occurred Adam and Eve could have moved in grace to begin in repentance with God. Instead, they hid themselves.
Don't you hide from the mistakes of the past or present. Turn from them. Learn how to go to God with them. Otherwise, we'll see in the next yourdailygrace you can either be making godspeed towards repentance or good speed downhill. The choice is yours.
So, that's why we need to know our first parents. The way sin worked in them is still the way sin works in us. The good news that you will see over and over again in this book is that God has provided us a way out of sin, a pathway of grace.
Put yourself in Adam and Eve’s shoes for a minute. Go back and read Genesis, chapters 3 & 4. Sin begins in betrayal. Sin is a breach in trust. That locks us into a self-serving bias.
Proverbs 3: 5-7 offers us a clear path for reconciling ourselves to God and the pathway of grace. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
Repair the breach. Acknowledge the betrayal by hightailing it to God. Don’t lean to your own understanding. Don’t substantiate the temptation. “The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom.”
Of course, this was true. The tree was good because God is good. That doesn’t make it your tree. I have peach trees and apple trees in my orchard at home. The fruit is good and tastes great. I live an hour away. Do I want everyone who admires the fruitfulness of my trees to have some? No, I’d prefer to eat it myself or, at the very least, be asked for permission.
Adam and Eve did none of this. They could have exerted a little faith in God during this temptation. “Serpent, what you say sounds pretty good. We’ll check it with God when we walk him this evening. Come back tomorrow or better yet, hang around until God gets here. We’ll give you a tour of the rest of the garden while we wait.”
Even after the sin occurred Adam and Eve could have moved in grace to begin in repentance with God. Instead, they hid themselves.
Don't you hide from the mistakes of the past or present. Turn from them. Learn how to go to God with them. Otherwise, we'll see in the next yourdailygrace you can either be making godspeed towards repentance or good speed downhill. The choice is yours.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Getting to Know Our First Parents Better
Proverbs 3 commands us to acknowledge God in all our ways. Adam when confronted with his trespass couldn’t acknowledge responsibility for it. Instead, he moved from bias to blame and said “The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Blame won’t hold up. If you have eyes to see you could move to begin with God again in repentance. Adam could have leaned on God instead of Eve but Adam did not move quickly or hightail it to begin again with God. Adam moved quickly and immediately to blame.
Go a little further into the scripture. The next stage of sin unfolds. The curse has come. Cain and Abel bring a sacrifice to God. Cain’s sacrifice is of his own making.
He knows how to make it better – acceptable to God. Cain chooses being bitter over being better. God warns Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face down cast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But, if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to master you, but you must master it.”
Proverbs 3 promises God will warn us. God will give us a path of mastery in grace – a path of breakthrough. “God will direct our paths.”
Sin desires mastery over you. Bitterness will beget bloodshed in us as it did in Cain. That’s why Proverbs 3 calls us out of this cycle of violence when it says, “Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil.” It’s not all about you or me. The world doesn’t revolve around us. When it does someone goes down. Bloodshed moves us to a breaking point of judgment.
What has happened to all of us? We have sinned and sin has brought death to our lives. Now, we didn’t stop breathing when we first sinned. No, we died to who we were created to be – living, breathing signs of grace.
We died to living a spirit filled life. We got rooted in expressing our lives with its point of origin in sin. It’s now time to get things turned around. It’s time to focus on God’s point of origin for us: Jesus.
Blame won’t hold up. If you have eyes to see you could move to begin with God again in repentance. Adam could have leaned on God instead of Eve but Adam did not move quickly or hightail it to begin again with God. Adam moved quickly and immediately to blame.
Go a little further into the scripture. The next stage of sin unfolds. The curse has come. Cain and Abel bring a sacrifice to God. Cain’s sacrifice is of his own making.
He knows how to make it better – acceptable to God. Cain chooses being bitter over being better. God warns Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face down cast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But, if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to master you, but you must master it.”
Proverbs 3 promises God will warn us. God will give us a path of mastery in grace – a path of breakthrough. “God will direct our paths.”
Sin desires mastery over you. Bitterness will beget bloodshed in us as it did in Cain. That’s why Proverbs 3 calls us out of this cycle of violence when it says, “Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil.” It’s not all about you or me. The world doesn’t revolve around us. When it does someone goes down. Bloodshed moves us to a breaking point of judgment.
What has happened to all of us? We have sinned and sin has brought death to our lives. Now, we didn’t stop breathing when we first sinned. No, we died to who we were created to be – living, breathing signs of grace.
We died to living a spirit filled life. We got rooted in expressing our lives with its point of origin in sin. It’s now time to get things turned around. It’s time to focus on God’s point of origin for us: Jesus.
Let Me Introduce My Parents
My youngest son, Robert got engaged last week. Sarah, his fiance, said, "Yes" even though she had already met us- Robert's parents. It must be love!
I remember the first time Karen met my parents. I had brought her home to have dinner and to get acquainted. I was sure Karen was the one for me so I was praying that this introduction wouldn't dash my hopes for happily ever after.
Things were going rather well. We were enjoying a good meal and pleasant conversation when out of left field Mama asked me, "Norm, have you washed behind your ears?"
Why would a mother do such a thing to her son with his 'Hoped-For' sitting beside him? My Daddy's only response was an understated but astonished, "Betty". Karen's reaction? The mouthful of tea she had got spewed over Daddy as she tried not to laugh.
Thankfully, she still married me. It must have been love!
This week, I want to introduce you to our first parents: Adam and Eve. As we follow the pathway of sin they fell onto we will see "it must be love" - God's love that gives us the opportunity to change and redeem the life or lack of it we inherited from our parents. Join me each day and let me introduce my parents to you.
Grace and peace be yours,
Norman Ramsey
I remember the first time Karen met my parents. I had brought her home to have dinner and to get acquainted. I was sure Karen was the one for me so I was praying that this introduction wouldn't dash my hopes for happily ever after.
Things were going rather well. We were enjoying a good meal and pleasant conversation when out of left field Mama asked me, "Norm, have you washed behind your ears?"
Why would a mother do such a thing to her son with his 'Hoped-For' sitting beside him? My Daddy's only response was an understated but astonished, "Betty". Karen's reaction? The mouthful of tea she had got spewed over Daddy as she tried not to laugh.
Thankfully, she still married me. It must have been love!
This week, I want to introduce you to our first parents: Adam and Eve. As we follow the pathway of sin they fell onto we will see "it must be love" - God's love that gives us the opportunity to change and redeem the life or lack of it we inherited from our parents. Join me each day and let me introduce my parents to you.
Grace and peace be yours,
Norman Ramsey
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Getting on the Pathway of Grace
The Psalmist says, “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm.” (Psalm 37:23) I believe the way in which God delights follows a particular pattern, a particular pathway. This way stands in direct opposition to the way of sin and serves as a clear benchmark for every person committed to Jesus. The two ways are outlined below and will be explained in further detail in subsequent blogs but for now let’s get started.
The Pathway of Sin
Betrayal
Bias (self-serving)
Blame
Bitterness
Bloodshed (inward or outward)
Breaking point
The Pathway of Grace
Begins in repentance
Believe in Jesus Christ
Build up your faith
Bless
Bring Life
Breakthrough
I have to begin this blog with a personal point of backing up in repentance. These words were first written in April of 2005. I was waiting on getting my list set up correctly before I published them. I was waiting on learning how to better use the internet. I was waiting for the perfect day but the perfect day never came.
Actually, any day would have been fine to share these words, especially with the people who had signed up to hear more about Norman Ramsey Ministries, Inc. Do you think they are still interested after four years? It's rough when you see the time you waste when you don't repent.
It's definitely time to repent and click 'Publish Post'. As Mike Litman shares(www.mikelitman.com), “You don’t have to do things perfectly. You just have to do things.” Why do you think Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you shall also likewise perish”? Isn’t it because sin gives us a default setting for death and defeat? Set yourself up for victory- Repent and begin to do things! Robert Kiyosaki says(www.richdad.com), “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly.”
I don’t need all the answers. Neither do you. We just need to know to whom we can turn. The promise of God is that He will oversee and firm up our steps. John Wesley points out that we’re ‘going on to perfection’ not that we take action because we already are.
The prophet Jeremiah said, “Thus says the Lord… Call unto me and I will answer you and I will show you great and mighty things which you know not.” So, I admit God has a lot of great and mighty things to show me. The good news is I probably will notice those things when I repent and begin to walk the pathway of grace!
The Pathway of Sin
Betrayal
Bias (self-serving)
Blame
Bitterness
Bloodshed (inward or outward)
Breaking point
The Pathway of Grace
Begins in repentance
Believe in Jesus Christ
Build up your faith
Bless
Bring Life
Breakthrough
I have to begin this blog with a personal point of backing up in repentance. These words were first written in April of 2005. I was waiting on getting my list set up correctly before I published them. I was waiting on learning how to better use the internet. I was waiting for the perfect day but the perfect day never came.
Actually, any day would have been fine to share these words, especially with the people who had signed up to hear more about Norman Ramsey Ministries, Inc. Do you think they are still interested after four years? It's rough when you see the time you waste when you don't repent.
It's definitely time to repent and click 'Publish Post'. As Mike Litman shares(www.mikelitman.com), “You don’t have to do things perfectly. You just have to do things.” Why do you think Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you shall also likewise perish”? Isn’t it because sin gives us a default setting for death and defeat? Set yourself up for victory- Repent and begin to do things! Robert Kiyosaki says(www.richdad.com), “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly.”
I don’t need all the answers. Neither do you. We just need to know to whom we can turn. The promise of God is that He will oversee and firm up our steps. John Wesley points out that we’re ‘going on to perfection’ not that we take action because we already are.
The prophet Jeremiah said, “Thus says the Lord… Call unto me and I will answer you and I will show you great and mighty things which you know not.” So, I admit God has a lot of great and mighty things to show me. The good news is I probably will notice those things when I repent and begin to walk the pathway of grace!
Drive towards the Goal
The Final Four is being played this coming weekend in Detroit, Michigan. Connecticut will face Michigan State and North Carolina will square off against Villanova. The winners will meet on Monday to see who can cut down the nets and gain the NCAA championship.
But, there is a more epic battle being waged for your soul, today. What direction will that battle take? Imagine that this battle is being carried out on a basketball court. You are hemmed in on every side. Left to yourself, you have already turned over this opportunity to shine. The shot clock is winding down. Every lane to the basket has been shut down. Defeat seems almost inevitable.
You can’t get a shot off in time. “Somebody help me”, you cry and it’s then you notice it. There is someone working on your behalf. He places himself between you and your opponent. Even while he bears the hard foul meant for you, he asks you to focus on the open lane he opened for you. Take the first step toward the goal. Defeat is about to give way to victory.
Jesus has been working on your behalf. He is asking you to trust him. He asks you not to focus on the problems you face, the scars you bear, or the burdens you carry. He asks you to hear his voice. “I am opening a lane to the goal just for you.” Take the first step. It doesn’t have to be perfect. He’ll take care of that department. Go forward in the grace you now have, the grace that turns defeat into victory!
Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near: you repent (change your mind) and believe in the good news.” Don’t stand there gawking at your good fortune. Drive towards the goal. Do what Jesus says. Take the lane he has opened for you. Get on the pathway of grace.
But, there is a more epic battle being waged for your soul, today. What direction will that battle take? Imagine that this battle is being carried out on a basketball court. You are hemmed in on every side. Left to yourself, you have already turned over this opportunity to shine. The shot clock is winding down. Every lane to the basket has been shut down. Defeat seems almost inevitable.
You can’t get a shot off in time. “Somebody help me”, you cry and it’s then you notice it. There is someone working on your behalf. He places himself between you and your opponent. Even while he bears the hard foul meant for you, he asks you to focus on the open lane he opened for you. Take the first step toward the goal. Defeat is about to give way to victory.
Jesus has been working on your behalf. He is asking you to trust him. He asks you not to focus on the problems you face, the scars you bear, or the burdens you carry. He asks you to hear his voice. “I am opening a lane to the goal just for you.” Take the first step. It doesn’t have to be perfect. He’ll take care of that department. Go forward in the grace you now have, the grace that turns defeat into victory!
Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near: you repent (change your mind) and believe in the good news.” Don’t stand there gawking at your good fortune. Drive towards the goal. Do what Jesus says. Take the lane he has opened for you. Get on the pathway of grace.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Grace Always Goes to the Root
Grace always goes to the root or heart of a matter. John the Baptist comes as an ambassador of grace and shouts, "The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:10, Luke 3:9) The Apostle agrees with John the Baptist when he says that the goodness of God leads us to repentance.
I look around and I don't see many people responding to the goodness of God's grace. I see many doing what the Apostle warns us against in Romans 2:4- despising that goodness.
What do I mean? Remember grace goes to the heart or root of every matter. What do I mean that many are despising the goodness of God?
The Number #1 reason I say this is because I don't see the fruit of repentance in most people's lives. What is the fruit of repentance? It is a transformed life. The fruit concentrate of repentance is a person who has self control over his own ambition and appetites and submission to God above all other things.
The Number #2 reason I believe many are despising the goodness of God is I don't see them focus on the root problems we face as people or nations. Instead of focusing on the root causes of our problems we are acting to prove we are acting. It's a surface show we are staging so the discontented will have someone other than us at which to throw their tomatoes.
Today, I turned on the news as the president and first lady made their way to the G20 Summit. Was the news about the root solutions they were going to offer there to turn our economic turmoil around? No, the news report was how the first lady was dazzling those at the summit with her evening wear.
All I could do was envision a cartoon with the president and first lady atop a firewagon as it plummets down a hill into a European (Roman) city as it is burning. They have no fire gear ready to deal with the fire that is consuming the city. They are too busy trying to keep their seat.
The president in his formal attire has one hand on the reins trying to control the wild horses pulling the wagon. His other hand holds a violin on which I'm sure he will give a remarkable performance later.
The first lady is dressed in her finest evening gown though at this moment she is trying to keep from being thrown from the wagon. The only remark of the two bystanders who see them on the way into town is "Did you notice how good the first lady looked?"
Stop and pray for your nation and its leaders today. Pray that they will not despise the goodness of God. Instead let us pray we will allow grace to get to the root or heart of the matters we face.
I look around and I don't see many people responding to the goodness of God's grace. I see many doing what the Apostle warns us against in Romans 2:4- despising that goodness.
What do I mean? Remember grace goes to the heart or root of every matter. What do I mean that many are despising the goodness of God?
The Number #1 reason I say this is because I don't see the fruit of repentance in most people's lives. What is the fruit of repentance? It is a transformed life. The fruit concentrate of repentance is a person who has self control over his own ambition and appetites and submission to God above all other things.
The Number #2 reason I believe many are despising the goodness of God is I don't see them focus on the root problems we face as people or nations. Instead of focusing on the root causes of our problems we are acting to prove we are acting. It's a surface show we are staging so the discontented will have someone other than us at which to throw their tomatoes.
Today, I turned on the news as the president and first lady made their way to the G20 Summit. Was the news about the root solutions they were going to offer there to turn our economic turmoil around? No, the news report was how the first lady was dazzling those at the summit with her evening wear.
All I could do was envision a cartoon with the president and first lady atop a firewagon as it plummets down a hill into a European (Roman) city as it is burning. They have no fire gear ready to deal with the fire that is consuming the city. They are too busy trying to keep their seat.
The president in his formal attire has one hand on the reins trying to control the wild horses pulling the wagon. His other hand holds a violin on which I'm sure he will give a remarkable performance later.
The first lady is dressed in her finest evening gown though at this moment she is trying to keep from being thrown from the wagon. The only remark of the two bystanders who see them on the way into town is "Did you notice how good the first lady looked?"
Stop and pray for your nation and its leaders today. Pray that they will not despise the goodness of God. Instead let us pray we will allow grace to get to the root or heart of the matters we face.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Getting Away with Disobedience
God desires obedience. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14: 15) There are consequences if we don't. I want to share one of those consequences.
The word for disobedience in the Greek language is the root for the English word apathy. If you love God but are apathetically slow in obeying God, you will miss out on the blessing God wants to give you.
The story of the Good Samaritan can teach us a thing or two about this. The obvious lesson this story teaches is what a neighbor looks like. The other lesson, less obvious at first, teaches us if the person God positions to show his mercy passes up the opportunity and doesn't act quickly to do it, God will send someone else. If God has to, God will send a Samaritan.
There are two ways to be blessed and successful in business: be the first in the marketplace with a particular product and work the kinks out as you go or have such a superior product that you overcome being late. But, what if you're not first and have a similar product with no distinguishing qualities? Might as well practice playing second fiddle.
Before I get my violin out of its case let me tell you where I noticed I might be running late and missing my God-given opportunity. God has positioned me to write the book Moving at the Speed of Grace: Discovering How God Always Works. In this book you can learn how to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be by matching your movement with the movement of God.
I've been very slow in finishing the book and today I noticed someone has now written it ahead of me. (Now, I don't know if it's exactly like mine but I bet it's close.) The book is called The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley. I pray finishing my book can bolster the success of Andy Stanley's book, build up the faith of others, and bring blessing to my family.
Let me hurry up before God sends someone else!
The word for disobedience in the Greek language is the root for the English word apathy. If you love God but are apathetically slow in obeying God, you will miss out on the blessing God wants to give you.
The story of the Good Samaritan can teach us a thing or two about this. The obvious lesson this story teaches is what a neighbor looks like. The other lesson, less obvious at first, teaches us if the person God positions to show his mercy passes up the opportunity and doesn't act quickly to do it, God will send someone else. If God has to, God will send a Samaritan.
There are two ways to be blessed and successful in business: be the first in the marketplace with a particular product and work the kinks out as you go or have such a superior product that you overcome being late. But, what if you're not first and have a similar product with no distinguishing qualities? Might as well practice playing second fiddle.
Before I get my violin out of its case let me tell you where I noticed I might be running late and missing my God-given opportunity. God has positioned me to write the book Moving at the Speed of Grace: Discovering How God Always Works. In this book you can learn how to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be by matching your movement with the movement of God.
I've been very slow in finishing the book and today I noticed someone has now written it ahead of me. (Now, I don't know if it's exactly like mine but I bet it's close.) The book is called The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley. I pray finishing my book can bolster the success of Andy Stanley's book, build up the faith of others, and bring blessing to my family.
Let me hurry up before God sends someone else!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Understand How Grace Works
What is grace? Some desribe it as the unmerited favor of God. The Merriam-Webster dictionary says the word arises in the 12th century Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin gratia favor, charm, thanks, from gratus pleasing, grateful; akin to Sanskrit gṛṇāti he praises. The primary definition is "unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification b: a virtue coming from God c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace".
I want to say it is much more interactive than that definition implies. Grace is the ground or substance upon which faith stands before God. It is the breath of God through which we live, and move, and have our being.
It is like a river whose headwaters are the throne of God. Your Daily Grace is written to help you navigate that river, understand its flow, and be carried along by it. I believe its current has cut a pathway in the earth. Occasionally it floods over those regular channels but more often than not follows a narrow pathway.
There is only one place to launch out into or enter the river. That beginning place is repentance. The flow carries us from there into believing, building up our most holy faith, blessing, bringing life, and breaking through. Trying to access the river other than beginning in repentance will eventually drown our hopes of reaching eternal life.
Isaiah carried the hope that someday multitudes would follow this path; they would seek and find the Source of Life.
"This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isa 2:1-5)
I want to say it is much more interactive than that definition implies. Grace is the ground or substance upon which faith stands before God. It is the breath of God through which we live, and move, and have our being.
It is like a river whose headwaters are the throne of God. Your Daily Grace is written to help you navigate that river, understand its flow, and be carried along by it. I believe its current has cut a pathway in the earth. Occasionally it floods over those regular channels but more often than not follows a narrow pathway.
There is only one place to launch out into or enter the river. That beginning place is repentance. The flow carries us from there into believing, building up our most holy faith, blessing, bringing life, and breaking through. Trying to access the river other than beginning in repentance will eventually drown our hopes of reaching eternal life.
Isaiah carried the hope that someday multitudes would follow this path; they would seek and find the Source of Life.
"This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isa 2:1-5)
Jesus: Even Better Than A Pancake
You can learn a lot from a pancake. You can learn even more from Jesus. Though a pancake can serve as a wonderful breakfast, it is Jesus the prophet Isaiah is describing when he says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
You can put syrup, butter, peanut butter, or a lot of things on a pancake but you can put the government on the shoulders of Jesus and he can carry it. Isaiah 53:5-6 prophesies that "he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Yes, you can put a lot on a pancake. You can put even more on Jesus.
There is a Welsh proverb that says "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" so one could hope pancakes could change a person's heart. But, Jesus alone claims every heart as his own when he says, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one makes progress to the Father but by me." (John 14: 6)
Yes, pancakes can make you feel good. Jesus can even make you good. Pancakes can be anointed by syrup and feed someone when they are hungry. The Apostle Peter said, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." (Acts 10: 38)
Yes, pancakes are great. I love pancakes. Jesus is greater. I love him more. How about you? "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him!" (Psalm 34:8)
You can put syrup, butter, peanut butter, or a lot of things on a pancake but you can put the government on the shoulders of Jesus and he can carry it. Isaiah 53:5-6 prophesies that "he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Yes, you can put a lot on a pancake. You can put even more on Jesus.
There is a Welsh proverb that says "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" so one could hope pancakes could change a person's heart. But, Jesus alone claims every heart as his own when he says, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one makes progress to the Father but by me." (John 14: 6)
Yes, pancakes can make you feel good. Jesus can even make you good. Pancakes can be anointed by syrup and feed someone when they are hungry. The Apostle Peter said, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." (Acts 10: 38)
Yes, pancakes are great. I love pancakes. Jesus is greater. I love him more. How about you? "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him!" (Psalm 34:8)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Parable of the Pancake: Being Served
You've gone from a mixed up bunch of stuff in a box to finding your place in your Maker's home. You were dry and useless but the missing ingredient was added to your life. You were stirred up and everything began to come together. Your Maker poured you out, your service only a matter of time.
You faced the heat and in your Maker's hands you were transformed. Everybody could see the change in you. This is the moment for which you were made.
The Maker's spatula slides beneath you. You are lifted up and set down for your Maker's pleasure. You are crowned with sweet syrup. The Parable of the Pancake is coming to its final stage. You are being served.
The Apostle Paul shared this moment with his disciple and son in the faith, Timothy. "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (II Timothy 4: 4-6)
This is the aim of every disciple: fulfill our course and receive the crowning approval of our Maker. This is what we learn when we understand the Parable of the Pancake!
You faced the heat and in your Maker's hands you were transformed. Everybody could see the change in you. This is the moment for which you were made.
The Maker's spatula slides beneath you. You are lifted up and set down for your Maker's pleasure. You are crowned with sweet syrup. The Parable of the Pancake is coming to its final stage. You are being served.
The Apostle Paul shared this moment with his disciple and son in the faith, Timothy. "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (II Timothy 4: 4-6)
This is the aim of every disciple: fulfill our course and receive the crowning approval of our Maker. This is what we learn when we understand the Parable of the Pancake!
The Parable of the Pancake: Facing the Heat
The Maker pours out the mix into the hot pan. Oil is poured beforehand to keep the mix from sticking. In the same way God is at work in every place before us so that we don't get stuck.
When we face the heat this is our first problem. We're shocked and surprised this is where our Maker has poured us. We want to be formed without getting fried. We want to carry out ministry without opposition. We want everything to change by staying the same. I know it's an insane approach but the one we most often try to take.
Let the Pancake teach us the heat is necessary. Without the heat we would run everywhere. Our ministry would be formless and lack substance.
Do not despair. The Maker will turn us when the way is too hot. "Trust in the 'Maker' with all your heart. Lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your 'movements'." (Proverbs 3: 5-6)
Don't flip out when you come in contact with the heat. The Maker has got you in the place that will make you whole. Don't resist his work and end up a "cake not turned" (Hosea 7:8) - a half baked Christian.
When we face the heat this is our first problem. We're shocked and surprised this is where our Maker has poured us. We want to be formed without getting fried. We want to carry out ministry without opposition. We want everything to change by staying the same. I know it's an insane approach but the one we most often try to take.
Let the Pancake teach us the heat is necessary. Without the heat we would run everywhere. Our ministry would be formless and lack substance.
Do not despair. The Maker will turn us when the way is too hot. "Trust in the 'Maker' with all your heart. Lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your 'movements'." (Proverbs 3: 5-6)
Don't flip out when you come in contact with the heat. The Maker has got you in the place that will make you whole. Don't resist his work and end up a "cake not turned" (Hosea 7:8) - a half baked Christian.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Parable of the Pancake: Poured Out
The Pancake knows that if it got out of the box, water was added, and it was stirred up there is only one conclusion. It is about to be poured out.
When we get out of our box and begin in repentance a relationship with God, when faith is added, and the Holy Spirit stirs us up we must come to the same conclusion. We are about to be poured out. We are about to be made a blessing.
Notice the pancake does not pour itself out. That would be a spill, a mess the Maker would have to clean up. No, the pancake mix rests in the container the Maker has provided until the Maker's own hand guides the pouring.
We are to act in a similar fashion. We are to be led by the Spirit. We are to be like Jesus when he said: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." (John 5:19) This is the nature of being poured out. This is what it means to be a blessing to others.
We live in a nation of those who must "do something" when needs arise or when hungers exist. We must show them how to live a life that is poured out and not become a spill the Maker or someone else has to clean up.
When we get out of our box and begin in repentance a relationship with God, when faith is added, and the Holy Spirit stirs us up we must come to the same conclusion. We are about to be poured out. We are about to be made a blessing.
Notice the pancake does not pour itself out. That would be a spill, a mess the Maker would have to clean up. No, the pancake mix rests in the container the Maker has provided until the Maker's own hand guides the pouring.
We are to act in a similar fashion. We are to be led by the Spirit. We are to be like Jesus when he said: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." (John 5:19) This is the nature of being poured out. This is what it means to be a blessing to others.
We live in a nation of those who must "do something" when needs arise or when hungers exist. We must show them how to live a life that is poured out and not become a spill the Maker or someone else has to clean up.
The Parable of the Pancake: Getting Stirred Up
Add water to your pancake mix and there is hope you might have pancakes. Have faith in God and there is hope you will have eternal life. You thought that was it? Faith alone is sufficient, right? Well sort of.
The pancake mix can never become a pancake without water but the water must be stirred in and mixed with the mix if you hope to have something good to eat. Faith, too, must be stirred into our lives. It can't float like a freestanding prop of some kind. It can't set under us like a crutch that helps us move along.
The Holy Spirit must be integrated with our spirit. Our spirit bears witness with the Holy Spirit that we are God's through Jesus Christ. Jude says, "Build up your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit." Mix yourself up with God. Get stirred up.
Otherwise, like the pancake we are a lumpy glob of mix and water. We are like the shoot that springs up from the soil with the promise of life but has no root to sustain it. (Mark 4: 5-6)
Don't sell yourself or God short. Allow the Holy Spirit to stir you up. Ask for God to baptize with with the Holy Spirit. Jesus pours the missing ingredient of faith into you so once stirred you can be poured out to share faith with others. You don't want to be the unwanted glob of grace in someone's life. Get stirred up!
The pancake mix can never become a pancake without water but the water must be stirred in and mixed with the mix if you hope to have something good to eat. Faith, too, must be stirred into our lives. It can't float like a freestanding prop of some kind. It can't set under us like a crutch that helps us move along.
The Holy Spirit must be integrated with our spirit. Our spirit bears witness with the Holy Spirit that we are God's through Jesus Christ. Jude says, "Build up your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit." Mix yourself up with God. Get stirred up.
Otherwise, like the pancake we are a lumpy glob of mix and water. We are like the shoot that springs up from the soil with the promise of life but has no root to sustain it. (Mark 4: 5-6)
Don't sell yourself or God short. Allow the Holy Spirit to stir you up. Ask for God to baptize with with the Holy Spirit. Jesus pours the missing ingredient of faith into you so once stirred you can be poured out to share faith with others. You don't want to be the unwanted glob of grace in someone's life. Get stirred up!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Parable of the Pancake: The Missing Ingredient
I used to make pancakes the old fashioned way. Everything was put together from scratch. Now, I have someone do that for me. When I get the mix out of its box now I'm missing just one key ingredient- water.
In our lives we can try to throw things together from scratch but in reality there is only one key ingredient. The Apostle Peter says there are a lot of things you can add to this ingredient but without it you have a dried up mix of stuff.
I like my pancakes plain. When I fix pancakes for Karen or Hannah I might add everything from pecans to chocolate chips but without water in the mix nothing is held together.
In the same way our spiritual life needs the key ingredient of faith. Without it nothing is held together. You can stir all you want to and nothing will come together without faith. Ask your Maker to provide you with the Living Water of faith today.
In our lives we can try to throw things together from scratch but in reality there is only one key ingredient. The Apostle Peter says there are a lot of things you can add to this ingredient but without it you have a dried up mix of stuff.
I like my pancakes plain. When I fix pancakes for Karen or Hannah I might add everything from pecans to chocolate chips but without water in the mix nothing is held together.
In the same way our spiritual life needs the key ingredient of faith. Without it nothing is held together. You can stir all you want to and nothing will come together without faith. Ask your Maker to provide you with the Living Water of faith today.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Parable of the Pancake and the Pathway of Grace
The parable of the pancake is a perfect illustration of how God works in our lives. We begin a relationship with God when God calls us out of our box in repentance. The key ingredient of faith is added and because we believe in Jesus everything changes.
We build up our most holy faith having our lives stirred by the word and the Spirit. After that stirring thoroughly integrates faith through the dusty nature of who we are, God pours us out as a blessing to the world.
Our lives are tested by the heat of our daily experiences. Without that heat we would be too mushy and unformed to bring life to the world. How our lives turn out we entrust to God.
The breakthrough of being transformed from a mild mannered pancake to a delicious breakfast is entirely up to our Maker.
Have you learned the parable of the pancake? How and where are you being served today?
We build up our most holy faith having our lives stirred by the word and the Spirit. After that stirring thoroughly integrates faith through the dusty nature of who we are, God pours us out as a blessing to the world.
Our lives are tested by the heat of our daily experiences. Without that heat we would be too mushy and unformed to bring life to the world. How our lives turn out we entrust to God.
The breakthrough of being transformed from a mild mannered pancake to a delicious breakfast is entirely up to our Maker.
Have you learned the parable of the pancake? How and where are you being served today?
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Parable of the Pancake and Repentance
I bought some more pancake mix. It said please use by December 29, 2009 so I've got plenty of time. I can have bacon and eggs, cereal, muffins, Pop Tarts, a breakfast casserole and a host of other things before I eat pancakes again. Why? I know the expiration date for my pancake mix.
God says, "Today is the day of salvation". Why? We don't know our own expiration date. Jesus insists we repent because unforeseen events occur. Accidents happen. Hebrews 9:27 says, we are all destined to die once. But, that appointment is not something we set up.
Just like the pancake mix, we don't jump into the shopping cart. Our "future" Maker must draw us from the shelf to their cart, pay for us, and give us a place in their home. While the Maker is doing their work we must be moved. Today, if you hear God's voice, do not put it off or ignore it in anyway. Turn to go with God. Follow Jesus. Repent. Move with your Maker!
You might never know what you missed if you don't.
The Parable of the Pancake
Before anyone begins a life of service or sets out to bless someone they should learn the parable of the pancake. I love pancakes. When my weight is not a problem we have them almost every morning. When my weight is a problem I long for the pancake season to return.
I grew up eating pancakes. My Mama would fix them for us. I still follow her method when I fix them today. Mama began with flour. I begin with the pancake mix from Wal-Mart. Mama added an egg, buttermilk, and a touch of oil. I add water to the mix and a little oil to the pan. We both stir the ingredients to get a good semi-liquid batter. We both pour out the batter into the hot pan. We both watch over that soon-to-be-pancake. We wait until the heat has had its affect. Then, we turn the pancake over with the spatula. A few moments more and we decide the pancake is ready to serve. The pancake does not leave the pan of its own accord. The maker of the pancake moves the pancake.
We are like that pancake. We need to get out of our box. We need something added to our life. We need to be stirred up. We need to face the heat and wait to be turned. We need the maker to choose when we are to serve.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Where to Begin?
Have you ever gone down a unfamiliar road? Remember that first time? You slow down. You crane and strain to see a number on a house or mailbox. Until you know the way or are guided by someone who does, it's easy to be hesitant. It's easy to doubt yourself. Do I have the correct address? Have I driven too far? Have I driven far enough?
I know as I visit members of the church Mapquest and other navigational helps don't always bring me to my desired destination. When those maps were written not all the information was available.
Our spiritual life can sometimes use navigational help. Thankfully, the scriptures are a sure guide for us to follow. They have all the imbedded information we need and their directions are never out of date. Psalm 19: 7-11 describes the character of God's word this way. "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever. The ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than glod, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them is great reward."
Your Daily Grace is written to get you up to speed with God. Every day I hope you will be directed and guided by its reflections of life and scripture to recognize the way God always works and find yourself Moving at the Speed of Grace!
Yours in having an unavoidable experience of Jesus,
I know as I visit members of the church Mapquest and other navigational helps don't always bring me to my desired destination. When those maps were written not all the information was available.
Our spiritual life can sometimes use navigational help. Thankfully, the scriptures are a sure guide for us to follow. They have all the imbedded information we need and their directions are never out of date. Psalm 19: 7-11 describes the character of God's word this way. "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever. The ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than glod, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them is great reward."
Your Daily Grace is written to get you up to speed with God. Every day I hope you will be directed and guided by its reflections of life and scripture to recognize the way God always works and find yourself Moving at the Speed of Grace!
Yours in having an unavoidable experience of Jesus,
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Putting Life Together
I have a preacher friend that carves his Christmas gifts. He hollows out a piece of wood in the shape of a stable/barn and then cuts pieces of wood to represent Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, sheep, a cow, a camel, and Jesus in the manger. All these shapes when fitted together fill in the stable as a puzzle.
You can dump the pieces out on a table and I can put it back together in about 30 seconds. Some of my children’s friends have puzzled over the arrangement of these pieces until frustration caused them to quit.
Am I a master puzzle maker? No. Actually I’m quite terrible at puzzles, strictly an end piece kind of guy. But, I know how these pieces were meant to fit together.
We have brought it out for almost twenty Christmases and it is familiar to me now. Understanding the pattern of God’s grace will come to you in much the same way.
You’ll begin at first knowing things were meant to work together. Then an occasional piece will find its rightful place and you will enjoy the “Ah hah” moment. Then it will become more and more familiar until finally you recognize how things should be instantly.
The primary purpose of this blog is to help you recognize each day the pathway God's grace follows. We make it our commitment to help you notice the way “the whole earth is full of God’s glory”! Look for our soon-to-be-released book - Moving at the Speed of Grace: Discovering How God Always Works. My music is available now at Amazon and www.thecolorsofgrace.com.
More tomorrow,
You can dump the pieces out on a table and I can put it back together in about 30 seconds. Some of my children’s friends have puzzled over the arrangement of these pieces until frustration caused them to quit.
Am I a master puzzle maker? No. Actually I’m quite terrible at puzzles, strictly an end piece kind of guy. But, I know how these pieces were meant to fit together.
We have brought it out for almost twenty Christmases and it is familiar to me now. Understanding the pattern of God’s grace will come to you in much the same way.
You’ll begin at first knowing things were meant to work together. Then an occasional piece will find its rightful place and you will enjoy the “Ah hah” moment. Then it will become more and more familiar until finally you recognize how things should be instantly.
The primary purpose of this blog is to help you recognize each day the pathway God's grace follows. We make it our commitment to help you notice the way “the whole earth is full of God’s glory”! Look for our soon-to-be-released book - Moving at the Speed of Grace: Discovering How God Always Works. My music is available now at Amazon and www.thecolorsofgrace.com.
More tomorrow,
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