Welcome to my randomized study & miscellaneous thoughts about the Awesome God of the universe, who He is and what He wants us to be.

---

---

---

---

Verse of the Day

---

Today's Quote

---

 
Who's Life Is It Anyway?
Recognizing God's Timing and Opportunities

Have you ever thought or tried to do a good deed for God or someone else only to have it backfire on you or fail miserabley? Why would God allow this to happen? Why do we fail when we are trying to do good for the world?

Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (KJV)

2803 chashab (khaw-shab'); a primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (gen.) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute:
KJV-- (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon (-ing be made), regard, think.

7965 shalowm (shaw-lome'); or shalom (shaw-lome'); from 7999; safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace:
KJV-- X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend, X great, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at) peace (-able, -ably), prosper (-ity, -ous), rest, safe (-ty), salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.


Recognizing and realizing that God is in charge of every aspect of our lives
A) Prior to birth
Gal 1:15
But when He who had set me apart, {even} from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased (NAS)
1) Paul was called by the Lord from the womb. The Lord changed his entire being on the road to Damascus.
2) Think about Abraham and Sarah, Joseph and Mary, Zacharias and Elizabeth. God had plans for and control over the births of their children. He even named them! See Gen 17:19, Luke 1:13 and Matthew 1:21.
B) Life giver
1) Gen 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (NAS)
C) Death
1) II Ki 20:1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'" (NAS)
2) Exod 31:14 'Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. (NAS)
3) Rom 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, (NAS)
4) Rom 8:13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (NAS)

What happens when we try to do it ourselves?
A) Prov 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.(NIV)
B) Ps 33:10-11 The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. (NAS)
C) Jer 10:21 For the shepherds have become stupid and have not sought the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered. (NAS)
D) Read through Proverbs regarding wisdom and counsel.

Turning our ears towards God to hear His will and His call
A) His view encompasses all.
1) Ps 33:13-15 The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. (NAS)
B) His call to all believer's
1) John 21:19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow me!" (NAS)

Actively seeking to do His will
A) Use God's supplied help
1) Ps 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. (NAS)
2) John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. (NAS)
B) Learning His ways
1) In prayer
i) James 1:5-6 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (NAS)
ii) Eph 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, (NAS)
iii) Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." (NAS)
2) Reading and studying His Word
i) Deut 11:18 "You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. (NAS)
ii) 2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. (NAS)
iii) 2 Pet 3:2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior {spoken} by your apostles. (NAS)
iv) 2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (NAS)
v) 1Thes 4:1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us {instruction} as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more. (NAS)
vi) 1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, (NAS)
3) Being with His children
i) Rom 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
ii) Heb 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another} and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. (NAS)
iii) Eccl. 4:9-12 Two are better than one

Looking for opportunities provided by Him
A) Pray for opportunities
B) Pray for guidance
1) Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two?edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (NAS)
C) Pray for the courage to obey Him
1) Heb 3:7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you hear His voice, (NAS)
2) James 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; (NAS)
3) Luke 11:28 But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it."
D) Proceed in God's timing
1) Luke 14:28-31 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with ten thousand {men} to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? (NAS)

Seek God's instruction and His will for the path to follow. Even if you are making a life-or-death decision, make sure you have asked God for guidance and waited for His answer showing you the way. Even if this means you may not attempt something in your timing, if you wait for God's timing there will be less back-tracking and greater success! Then when you have received His guidance and started down the pathway you feel He has directed you, continue to seek His Will!!!

Be in His will,
Dr. Larry

scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 12:33 AM (0) comments      

 
Pray for us!

Tonight we are having a sleep-over to celebrate our son's 5th birthday. He has two of his friends from pre-school over spending the night with him until 10 tomorrow morning...maybe we'll be raptured soon! I can only pray :-) Why does the attention span over a 5 year old only last for 33 seconds and their volume control seems to be broken as well?

Actually it's not been too bad...1 hour down 15 hours to go. And I keep reminding myself that, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction."
Philippians 4:13-14 (NAS)

Anyone want to Galatians 6:2 me? :-)

God bless,
Dr. Larry
scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 7:13 PM (0) comments      

 
How Well Is Your Soul?

I just finished reading an interesting piece over at the blog, Soul Thirst regarding the background of the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul" and a nice reflection on the song and its meaning to us today.

Afterward, I had to write to Andy Chang and commented that, "Lovely thought...and song. A very poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of material wealth and the rapidity with with our physical lives will be lost. I have loved singing this song in the shower and did know the story behind already, but, as with Job's example, I pray that I am never faced with a trial in this manner.

I see the song as a reminder to take a "God view" of our life on earth and our circumstances and also to remember Proverbs 23:7a
"For as he thinks within himself, so he is." (NAS) "

Thanks for the thought today Andy. May it be well with your soul!
Dr. Larry
scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 5:24 PM (0) comments      

 
Too funny God, just too funny!

Anyway, Monday, February 17th was officially recognized in the USA as President's Day...so my beloved wife, Sharon, had the day off from work. It was therefore decided by decree - my disent dually noted and ignored - that we were to visit the Phoenix Zoo. Oh happy day. This was done primarily for the enjoyment of our son Zachary who will turn 5 on the 26th. He was so looking forward to seeing the lions ("maybe they will roar at me like they did last time," he says - they didn't. They ignored us and continued their napping), alligators and his favorite of all, the elephant. We heard about the trip non-stop for the past week. I, on the other hand, jestfully informed the family that the only animal that I cared to see was the mouse.

And so we went. It now costs $12 per adult to enter the Phoenix Zoo. Come on! I just want to LOOK at the animals, not buy them!!! So, 29 dollars poorer, we entered and wandered over to the African Safari section where we could watch the giraffes, gazelle and an ostrich or two. Another $6 was invested into the tickets for the tram to carry us around until we found a section we wanted to explore further. We got off the tram and watched an amazing display off speed by a box turtle and then walked over to the section where the alligator had been housed previously. Our alligator must not have "played nicely" because we were informed that he had been shipped off to another zoo in the midwest...never coming back from there I'd guess. And in his place was....(hold on)......(wait for it)......the amazing Capybara! You know, the capybara, the world's largest rodent!

Our God certainly does have a sense of humour!

God bless!
Dr. Larry
scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 1:14 AM (0) comments      

 
Under Construction, Please pardon the dust!

Wonderful and miraculous things happen to those who decide to invite Jesus into their lives as Lord. Lives are changed in the most wonderful ways! But these changes are not one-time only, this split second, point-in-time changes, per se. We as Christians are expected, and yes, called to dedicate ourselves to God and be in His service. It is at that point that major changes can begin happening.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, points out that we are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God as reasonable service to Him. Sacrifice? Reasonable? Stop and consider that Christ presented Himself as a perfect sacrifice in our places. He paid the debts that we, on our own, could never afford to pay.

As we give ourselves over to the Lord, we allow him to work in our lives. He has promised to make the changes in us necessary to transform us into his image, perfect and holy. But this transformation is a continuous process which begins with salvation.

We are taught in the scriptures to be in the world but not of the world. Paul tells us not to be conformed to the world. We are strangers here, aliens whose home is in another place. We are to work in this world, witness in this world and walk in this world but we have been called to be separate as citizens of heaven. Sometimes this seems difficult as we get caught up in worldly things. But remember that our Father has gives us the strength and the fortitude to forsake the world and look upward.

What happens to us upon accepting Christ?? (We are new creations)
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Philip. 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Rev. 21:5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

Why does He not "instantly" transform us?? (Crawl before we walk)
1 Cor. 3:2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

Hebrews 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

2 Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Do changes "have" to occur in a Christian?? (Out with the old, In with the new)
Matthew 9:17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

1 Cor. 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Col. 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

2 Cor. 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

4. How are Christians to change and improve?? (And He gives us the tools)
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever? the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

John 16:7-15 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

2 Cor. 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Galatians 5:16,22-25 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self?control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

1 Cor. 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Psalm 25:12 Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Building upon His foundation
Ephes. 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Col. 3:8-11 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Romans 8:1-2,10-11 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death..... And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

Miscellaneous thoughts
John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."

Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.


May it be well in your soul as He continues to transform you in His image,
Dr. Larry

scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 8:36 PM (0) comments      

 
Go, Teach and Baptize

Matt 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)

God is a sending God
Therefore go

I wrote a letter to all of you the other day, placed them in envelopes, addressed them and put stamps on them. Did you all read my letter? Well that is odd, after stamping them all I put them on my bookshelf for safekeeping. I was sure praying that you would all get yours!

God loves and accepts us as we are and where we are, but He loves us so much that He does not allow us to remain that way.

Gen 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (NIV)

Abram did not know where God was sending him. He did not have a job and home lined up in a new city. God doesn't always say where He's sending us. He wants us to follow Him and trust His leading. God did not debate or argue with Abram. He sent him.

Likewise, today, He sends us into different parts of the world, country, city and even into different homes or jobs to further His Kingdom and spread the Gospel

John 3:17 teaches that God sent His Son to the world to offer not judgement but salvation. Jonah was sent to Nineveh to call for repentance, Moses was sent to Egypt to lead the Israelites to freedom and Gideon with 300 men was sent into battle to defeat the Midianites. Unlike my letters, these men all followed through - the message was sent, not left sitting unread upon a shelf somewhere getting dusty. Stop for a moment and think about all the folks that you know that have not accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour. Think about where they will be sent. We have a choice and a chance to follow the examples of Jonah, Moses, Gideon and others. Allow God to send you! To whom is He trying to send you today?

God is a planting/growing God
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Two farmers lived next door to each other. . . One planted the other did not. One reaped and the other did not. Were they both really "farmers" then?

I have to believe that everyone here has had some experience attempting to grow something. We all know that we dig a little hole, place the seed tenderly inside, cover gently with soil, fertilize and water as needed, allow the appropriate amount of sunlight and weed as necessary. Finally, we harvest the fruit of the plant. If we skip any of these steps, at best our plant will struggle to grow and at worst - it will die. Sometimes the ground is hard or rocky. These must be tilled and cleared before they can even be thought to grow anything.

We have the opportunity to help plant something today. In the past 5 years, the Arizona State Association of the Church of God has had funds to plant five new congregations. Like our plants they all do not prosper. One closed her doors after 4 years and another is struggling to maintain growth. These plants added approximately 350 people who were not attending previously. That's exciting news!

BUT, as Jesus stated in Matt 9:37-38
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (NIV)

Pastor Jerry Dickinson from Westside Church of God in Glendale, AZ, Chairman of the Division of Church Planting, informed me that there is a site, money and a mothering church to plant a congregation northeast of Tucson. The problem is, he stated, that we don't have a church planter to take it on as pastor.

We have a choice and a chance. Allow God to plant and harvest through you.

God is a teaching God
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you

There was a man who became a father to a son. We'll call the son, Zachary. Anyway, the son was born very ignorant. The father had to show the son many, many times how to do something before the son would be able to do it correctly. Often the young son would grow tired, weary and discouraged at his inabilities. Still, the father knew that if he just kept trying, he would succeed in the end. One thing the father enjoyed greatly was singing with his son. They sang many, many songs together. At first the boy sang loud, funny noises. But today, many words are not only loud but they're also clear and correct! What a blessing and joy the father gets every time he hears the son sing. He does not sing as he used to, but as he has been taught to.

On a Sabbath day in Nazareth, Jesus went to the synagogue. Once inside, he opened up the scroll and read the following written by the prophet Isaiah:
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and
recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, (NIV)

We all have the opportunity to teach. We still have in the world multitudes of poor, masses of people imprisoned to sin, an abundance of blind and scores upon scores of oppressed. But what shall we teach them? Shall we say, "I'm not gifted in that area?" "Others are more skilled at teaching than I, let them do it." Where can I teach? To whom?

I could give a smart comment and say, you can teach anyone, anywhere, but most of us would leave here today not believing that statement. So let's try this. Let's allow God to teach through us what we know of Him. Let's teach the same way Stephen, Peter and Paul taught. Let's tell others we've seen of God's grace and love and power.

For anyone here who does not know God, has not asked Him to forgive your sins and allowed His Son Jesus Christ to become Lord of your life, my version, with God's help, goes something like this:

1. We're all sinners. Even we "good" people cannot measure up to God's requirements for holiness and righteousness.
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (NIV)

2. Because of our sin, we are doomed to "death." Translate that to mean eternity separated from the goodness of God. Commonly we call this hell.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

3. Thankfully, God loves us, you and me. He provided the way to save us from our own sins that we could not do. He offered this in His Son Jesus, a real man, who was born and walked this earth facing the same temptations we face.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)

4. If you sincerely want Him to be Lord of your life, all you must do is ask and believe.
Rom 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (NIV)

5. His power and love release the bound, unshackle the chains and clear the blinded eye!
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (NIV)
Rom 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (NIV)

The author of Romans shows us a promise of God in Chapter 10, verse 13 which states " for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

He then continues in Romans 10:14 and 15 with the obstacle that we face:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (NIV)

We are blessed to live in a land today which gives us many choices and chances. I thank Jesus for the saints who came before us who planted this church in which so many have come to know the Lord. I pray diligently that we will be known as a people who loved to obey God and spread His message by being senders and sending, planters and planting, teachers and teaching. We have a choice today.


May God continue to richly bless you, shalom!
Dr. Larry
Visit us at: The Rickity Rack Shack
Visit my father-in-law's website at: Handicappers Outreach For Christ, Inc.



scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 4:38 PM (0) comments      

 
The Freedom of Grace

What do you think of when you hear the word "grace" ?
A trained ballerina? An eloquent speaker? Good manners? Heads bowed at the dinner table giving thanks for the meal?

How about the following: To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who does not deserve it, can never earn it and can never repay it.

Some truths about God's grace:
A. True grace is totally and absolutely free.
B. True grace will set you totally and absolutely free.
C. Another way to say it is: "Grace is what God may be free to do, and indeed what He does, accordingly, for the lost after Christ has died on behalf of them.

What can we do to deserve grace?
A. So, you say, "I'm a basically good person. I give to the poor, I go to church, I speak well of people. When the day of reckoning comes and I stand before God, He will look at all the good stuff that I've done and say, 'Welcome to heaven, buddy! Enjoy eternal life with Me!'" Sounds reassuring doesn't it. Sounds like something man would come up with...not God. When we perform well at work, we get raises and promotions and acclaim. When we excel in sports, we get adoration, we get fame and fortune. But when we walk without God through life, performance not withstanding, in the end we get death, we get to spend eternity in hell. That goes for the individual who attempts to live morally pure exactly the same as the individual who has made a wreck of life through unrestrained disobedience. Like it or not, we have no spiritual redeeming qualities on our own, nothing that gives us favor in the eyes of the Lord on our own merit.
Rom 3:12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one." (NAS)
Rom 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (NIV)
B. So I might as well give up then, I've already blown it!
Rom 6:23a For the wages of sin is death, (NAS)

Woe is me! I cannot receive grace due to my present sins!
A. Isn't this what many people who are lost either feel or are told? That is absolutely and utterly FALSE! What a horrible idea! Must be a man-made concept.
B. Remember that grace is a free gift..offered to all who believe through faith.
Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (KJV)
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)
Rom 3:22-24 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Rom 6:23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NAS)
John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (NIV)

Grace is setting me free! Spiritual Emancipation Proclamation
A. 'An Alabama slave had said in 1864 when asked what he thought of the Great Emancipator whose proclamation went into effect that year. "I don't know nothing 'bout Abraham Lincoln cep they say he sot us free. And I don't know nothing 'bout that neither."'
B. Many Christians have the same attitude. And Satan loves it! A slave that has been freed that continues to act as a slave, remains a slave.
C. Satan uses shame, guilt, fear, ignorance and intimidation to keep us "pinned" down.
D. Grace gives us the freedom to be ourselves. To cast off the cloak of legalism and expectations. To live above fear, guilt, shame and defeat. The freedom to grow and worship as the Lord wants you to without wondering what others might say or think.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (NIV)
E. Breaking the bond of continual sin. Instead of thinking, "I know that I will sin today, so I must be ready to ask for forgiveness of it. I will fail I just know it," why do we not invoke the power of Christ and pray, "that this day be lived by Christ in me. Guiding and directing me with the Holy Spirit to live in such a way that my thoughts and actions will be Yours. When I face temptations, Lord, I will present them to You and claim the strength You give to handle it. Sin has no authority over me."
F. Romans 6
1. Know (verses 3,6,9) He lives in me and I in Him. His life became mine, guaranteeing that His victory over sin is mine to claim (vv 8-10) We are dead to sin..
2. Consider (reckon) (verse 11) By calculating or considering what we know to be true, we refuse to obey our earthly lusts or temptations any longer.
3. Present yourselves (verse 13) Since we have been freed, start living like it.
Intelligent consideration (consider) based upon true information (know) leading to a positive action (present).
Rom 6:19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. (NIV)
Rom 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (NIV)

Grace killers
A. Outside influences
1. Legalism
2. Tradition
3. Negative attitude
4. Control and manipulation
5. Criticism
6. Pettiness
7. Competition
8. Comparison

B. Internal attitudes
1. Guilt and shame Ex 3 (Moses)
2. Pride John 13 (Peter)
3. Fear
4. Resentment and bitterness (Jonah)
5. Hypocrisy
6. Gossip
7. Fleshly effort
8. Unforgiving spirit

Grace never comes from anything man has done. It is God-given, God-driven, God-empowered and God-originated. It has nothing to do with our love for Him but instead for His love toward us. Man has the most needs, God has the most resources. And God has a way to use His resources to meet our needs. Jer 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV) Now, grace never means that we are free to live any way we wish. It means that we have the freedom to choose righteousness or disobedience. And if we do choose righteousness, then as the Bible says in John 1:16-17 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (NIV)

In the parable of the two sons (typically called "The Prodigal Son") which son or daughter are you?? Will you allow the Father to bring you home? If you do not have Jesus Christ in your life right now, the Father is weeping for you. But the Son is standing right before you offering to carry you home. Jesus Christ is standing at the door of your heart knocking...if you open that door and invite Him into your heart He will come in. He will transfer the debt of sin from your account to His and He has already paid it in full. You cannot make it into heaven alone. Let the grace of God lead you there.

scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 10:49 AM (0) comments      

 
Living Victoriously in a Defeated World

I would like to start off today by trying something a little bit different. If you don't mind, would you please think about if in the past 12 months you have:
been overly tired, worried, anxious, fearful, depressed, had a major illness personally or in your family, had a death in the family, moved, lost a job, changed jobs or careers, had surgery, got divorced, had major conflicts with family member, a friend or at work, ended a romantic relationship, struggled against bouts of depression or anxiety, been heartbroken, had sexual struggles with pornography, adultery, homosexuality or premarital sex, loss of control, fits of rage, seemed lost, confused or just plain unsure about where your life was going.

Doubt, worry, anxiety and confusion - all methods of fear that the devil attempts to use to make you think that you are worthless, alone and defeated. You are not alone. The enemy tries to divide us and then wear us down by making us believe that we are in a struggle alone that no one else has been through or could ever comprehend. He is the prince of lies!
John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have {it} abundantly. (NAS)

We all carry with us the scars of past hurt and pains, Jesus carries scars too. But just like a open heart surgery, the scars heal and only serve to remind us of the great battle that we have been through.

1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. (NAS)

Please let us pray for a unity within the body of Christ. We are to live victoriously in this defeated world. Let's talk about it...

1. God's Presence
Gen 3:8-9 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" (NAS)

Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; (NAS)

James 4:8a Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (NAS)

Exod 33:14 And He said, "My presence shall go {with you,} and I will give you rest." (NAS)

Dan 3:23?25 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed?Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." (NKJ)

Remember that when the world drives you down to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray. If God seems distant to you, who do you think needs to move? If you will stop and listen, you may hear God asking you the same question that resonated in the garden, "Where are you today?"

Have you drawn near to God? I encourage you to do so through prayer, reading and studying the Bible, praise and worship, fellowship with believers.

2. God's Plans & Provisions
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. (NAS)

Prov 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. (NIV)

Prov 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. (NAS)

Ps 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. (NAS)

"I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward."
Charlotte Bronte, nineteenth century author of Jane Eyre

Have you sought God's purpose and vision for your life? Have you asked Him to reveal to you His plan for you? Do you just wake up each day and let whatever will happen to you happen, being blown around in life like a leaf in the wind? Where is your mind today, on your plans or on God's?

"When I meditated on the word guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word guidance. When I saw "G," I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". God, "u" and "i" dance". God, you, and I dance. This statement is what guidance means to me. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead."
Author Unknown

3. God's Promises
James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which {the Lord} has promised to those who love Him. (NAS)

2 Tim 4:7?8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (NAS)

1 Pet 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (NAS)

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV)

Jesus did not promise us that one who follows Him will live a trouble-free life, just the opposite. But He did indeed promise that the believer would have the peace of God available to him/her during these times. Have you claimed His promises, believed them and live like you believe them? Where are you living on His promise today?

4. God's Power
Acts 1:8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (NAS)

2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. (NAS)

1 Cor 4:20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power. (NAS)

Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, (NAS)

Are you a Clark Kent or a Superman? Bruce Wayne or Batman? Where are you displaying God's power that dwells within you? Are you talking the talk or walking the walk?

5. God's Victory!!!
I Jn 5:4?5 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world?? our faith. 5 And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (NAS)




scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 10:32 AM (1) comments      

 
The following is a brief discussion of each of the pieces of armor that Paul lists in Ephesians 6.

1) "Gird yourself with the belt of truth" - to gird ourselves means to be prepared. Alert. On guard. On guard for what?
Well, for one thing, Jesus' return. For another, the attacks which the enemy will heap on us. And what are Satan's two main means of attacks? Lies and Accusations. By actively seeking out the Truth, studying His Word and attempting to know and live it daily, we have prepared the foundation of our Christian faith. (to the Roman soldier the belt was essential, the breastplate attached to it as did the sheath for the sword. Losing one's belt would drop him from the battlefield as quickly as death would!)

2) "the breastplate of righteousness in place" - the breastplate protected the vital organs of the Roman soldier. How many times have we heard of a highly acclaimed man or woman of God falling victim to some immoral (usually sexual) sin which brings down the entire ministry they had worked for? Satan will attempt to use the sins within our own lives to convince us that we are not worthy to call upon the Lord. He will accuse us and make us want to hide in the bushes like Adam. We must continually remember that we have an Advocate (1 John 2:1) who does not allow us to continue in our old sinful character, but allows us to lean upon Him and use Him for protection from Satan's wicked attacks to our very heart and soul! My own righteousness will never allow me to sit before God's throne, but the righteousness of my Lord, Jesus Christ will.

3) "feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" - ever walk across a gravel road or a yard full of stickers or a driveway out here in Phoenix in the summer without shoes on? Not going very far that way are you? Shoes offer us protection from the elements. They give stability to stand upon uneven ground. Roman soldiers had studs in the bottom (like cleats) for traction. The gospel of peace gives us that kind of protection and stability. It allows us to move forward in our own spiritual growth and to carry the gospel to others, if we are prepared (Peter 3:15). I think we all know that the Christian life is an uphill climb. And we are either climbing or slipping, there's really no standing still for Jesus. (A new bumper sticker I just thought of that I never would want to see: I'M A FENCE-SITTER FOR JESUS!)

These first three pieces were not removed by a soldier even when he was off the battlefield. He had them on at all times and was always ready to move at a moments notice (II Tim 4:2, Exodus 12:11) We need to also remember to use His truth to protect us from the enemy's lies, His righteousness to repel the enemy's accusations and His Word to walk in the peace of God carrying the gospel to the world.

4. "shield of faith" - "Above all," Paul tells us, we will need this item because the battle's going to get a little rough now boys! The Roman's shield was an extremely heavy piece of wood with a protective metal coating to repel the flaming arrows which were a favored tactic of the day (early napalm). Satan will attempt to fire at us as we grow, he will tempt us (even Jesus was tempted by him.)
A. But we can build up our faith by getting into the Word (how many times are we distracted by other things right when we sit down to read the Bible? Why is that? When we watch Home Improvement that doesn't happen!)
B. Attend church regularly for praise and worship and fellowship
C. Pray regularly (and can I say "without ceasing" ?)
If Satan is attacking, then God must be moving within you to displease the serpent! Praise the Lord!
1 Peter 5:8, 1 John 5:4, We must stand upon our faith and not our feelings. Eve depended upon her feelings and fell, we would too. Faith is believing that God not only CAN do it, but that God WILL do it! Remember Joshua, Noah and especially Abraham as men who demonstrated ultimate faith in the LORD.

5. "the helmet of salvation" - once the enemy has fired his fiery arrows, he will close in for hand-to-hand combat (at least that's how they did it in Roman times). The helmet protects the brain, the mind, the thinking and understanding of the Christian. Because that's where Satan wants to get a foothold. Into our thoughts and dreams and desires. Filling our minds with thoughts of lusts and pride and doubts and other sinful actions. Once we think it, he knows that we are one step closer to living it out. (Proverbs 23:7) Sin is more than just action, it begins as thoughts inside us. It's the thoughts and the mind that need to be protected. God wants to change us on the outside and inside. He wants to remove the desire we have for the fleshful things. We cannot stop an impure thought from knocking on our door, but we don't have to invite him in and get him a Coke! What are we filling our eyes and heads with today? What movies and TV shows do we watch? What books and magazines do we buy and read? (SI just released another swimsuit addition. What in the world does that have to do with sports? It's just another way he can get millions of men's hormones and lusts racing! And then what is the next step? Penthouse? The strip club? Prostitutes? I don't know, but I don't subscribe to SI anymore either.) (Phil. 4:8 says it much more eloquently than I ever could!)
The helmet is called "salvation" because my God is saving me on a daily basis.
A. He saved me from sin, my past and myself.
B. He saves me today by protecting and guiding me, one who He cares for so deeply that He is changing to resemble Himself.
C. he will save me in the future from the wrath and damnation that is to come.

These 2 pieces were carried with the soldier, and put on whenever an enemy was near, a battle was anticipated. The last piece is our piece for taking the offensive! After standing firm when attacked, let's get ready to attack back!

6. "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" - without using the sword, the Roman soldier may be able to barely hold his ground or even be pushed backwards, but he would never be able to conquer the enemy or gain any new territory. If the Word is important enough for Satan to know it (even though he may misquote or distort it) then shouldn't we see the value in it? (Isiah 55:11) Remember the parable of the sower in Matthew 13? Jesus was describing us! Those who hear the Word. What type of seed are you? And your household? Where were you thrown? I pray that we are all in fertile ground brothers! God's Word is accurate, it is revealing, it is truthful, it is holy, it is essential, it agrees with the Spirit, it is powerful. How many times did Jesus and the apostles quote OT scriptures? It is essential that we know His Word, find ourselves approved as workmen handling it in truth! Using His Word to help someone in a time of need or to repel Satan and counterattack. When the truth is spoken, Satan cannot speak against it, he must try to go around it continually!

God bless you as you walk in his victorious steps.
Dr. Larry

Make sure to visit our web store at The Rickity Rack Shack

scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 4:22 PM (0) comments