Inside Out 15

Just observing, it seems like there is a disconnect with what people say they believe and how they act. Lifeway Research reveals what many say about themselves but it’s incongruent with the divisive nature of our culture. At the same time, I wonder what others’ opinion of me might be. I pray that you and I be authentic in everything we do as we follow Christ. May we have no duplicity. 

You see it played out in a thousand ways every day. If you listen, you will discover that the universal language of sinners in this broken world is complaint. When you’re at the center, when you feel entitled, when your desires dominate your heart, and when it really is all about you, you will have much to complain about. It is amazing how much more natural complaint is for us than thanks or how much more we tend to grumble than we tend to praise. We talk much more about what we want than about what we have been given. Notice how much we compare what we have to what others have and how little of the time we are satisfied. Listen to people very long, and you’ll hear the drone of complaint far more frequently than you’ll hear the melody of thankfulness. You see, we don’t first have a grumbling problem. No, we have an awe problem that results in a life of personal dissatisfaction and complaint. When awe of self replaces awe of God, praise will be rare and grumbling plentiful.

Paul David Tripp, Awe: Why It Matters for Everything We Think, Say, and Do

“The soul seeks God with its whole being. Because it is desperate to be whole, the soul is God-smitten and God-crazy and God-obsessed. My mind may be obsessed with idols; my will may be enslaved to habits; my body may be consumed with appetites. But my soul will never find rest until it rests in God.” - John Ortberg, Soul Keeping: Caring For the Most Important Part of You

Bible 124

 Another way to identify my ‘cares’ is my ‘what if…list”. I constantly rehearse in my mind issues with a what if this happens. But I’m slowly learning and re-learning that I must ‘cast’ my what if list on to Christ. He knows my issues and He has promised to NEVER leave me or forsake me. The more I think about my issues, I realize I’m thinking about myself and not God. He must become greater in my life and I must become less the focal point. 

Like Joshua, we must live by example, regardless of the culture or chaos of the moment. Joshua must have had an intense awareness of what God wanted in his life as well as for everyone around him. May that be true for us. 

Sports 1

It seems like everyone tries to compare themselves to everyone else, trying to measure up to our expectations or their standards. But God knows us better than we know ourselves and He designed each of us with uniques abilities in the context He chose for us.  His plan for us is to know Him above trying to compare ourselves to others.  I like the quote by Tim Keller:

 “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

Inside Out 14

 It’s an age old question but true for each and every day - why do bad things happen?  If we focus on earning points to a better life, thinking that being good earns a life free of trouble, we are in deep trouble. Ideally, the more I focus on who God is and His character the more patient I become.  How do we distinguish between the Spirit's leading rather than our own assumptions?   Maybe the answer is in knowing Christ more and more, filtering out our own ambitions as we love Him and as we know ourselves. If we are having trouble distinguishing between the two, we are not ready to move on until we know. 

No one is more patient  than Him, giving g everyone the freedom to drown in their bitterness and anger, in their own kingdom building illusions , or to choose His upside down way of life. Giving / receiving grace and mercy to those who do not deserve it is difficult but possible. Discovering the wisdom to make difficult decisions is possible as we wait upon Him. 

“The revolution of Jesus is in the first place and continuously a revolution of the human heart or spirit. It did not and does not proceed by means of the formation of social institutions and laws, the outer forms of our existence, intending that these would then impose a good order of life upon people who come under their power. Rather, his is a revolution of character, which proceeds by changing people from the inside through ongoing personal relationship to God in Christ and to one another.” - Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ with Bonus Content

Inside Out 13

 If we have a heart of gratitude, we remember how God has been there every single time. If we are bitter, we enhance the bitterness and resentment with our rehearsal of the bad times. 

Oh Father, thank You for being g with us every time there has been a problem, predicament or crisis. You have been the One providing grace, mercy and wisdom each and every time. Forgive us for remembering the crisis more than Your grace. Enable  us to practice Your presence  in the present, not just remember what You have done. Forgive us for  making monuments and relics of what You have done in the  trials. Help us focus on who You are rather than the circumstances around me. Ope our eyes and ears to where You are moving, preparing us to participate in Your kingdom. You are faithful, have been faithful and will be faithful. May we remember the stories of old how You provided and protected and You will continue. You will transform our  hearts no matter the situation. Amen.

“There are no formulas—no definitive how-tos—for growth in the inner character of Jesus. Such growth is a way of relentless seeking. But there are many things we can do to place ourselves at the disposal of God, and “if with all our hearts we truly seek him, we shall surely find him” - Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ

Bible 123

 I hate confrontation, but my dislike does not stop them from taking place. Some confrontations are like torpedoes out of nowhere. Others can be king standing boiling points. While working at school, both types happened frequently. Each episode seemed to require unique peace making skills. Certainly the key skill is remaining calm, which can be very difficult. Nicky includes great insight: 

Don’t run away. Don’t be overwhelmed. Rather do what you can. You can make a difference. As St Paul writes, ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:21).

I’ve found that asking open ended questions to get the person to talk more allows their emotional explosion to calm down. Jesus often asked questions to get the person to go deeper, to reflect on the meaning of what was happening in their heart. Jesus was and is the master of diffusing trouble - the Prince of Peace. 

Lord, give me the wisdom to know when it is important to meet, to confront and to hear explanations. Help us to avoid unnecessary divisions and disunity. Help me to learn the skills of loving confrontation.

Practicing His presence

https://youtu.be/LLIyNi3DCHA?si=iH5bKp0bpx65nDrf