A Song About Patience

I didn't write this song, but I wish I was at the place in my walk with the Lord that I could. I've sung it several times in church, mostly for myself. I don't know if anyone else appreciated it much. Since I've been looking at The Weapons for the Believer, specifically The Fruit of the Spirit, I have been very convicted about the level of Patience that I display. Right. I know some of you that know me just chuckled. I have no patience!

But, I want patience. The following are the lyrics to a song that is hard to sing. Not musically hard, but spiritually hard. If you can sing (or recite) these lyrics, and mean them, I believe you are on your way to a deeper walk with Father. If you take time to read them I'd like to know your thoughts. Either post here (even anonymously) or Private Message me on FaceBook, Twitter, or any other means you can find.

"Thank You, Lord"

Verse 1:

Thank You, Lord, for the trials that come my way,

In that way I can grow each day as I let You lead.

Verse 2:

And I thank You, Lord, for the patience those trials bring,

In that process of growing I can learn to care.

Chorus:

But it goes against the way I am to put my human nature down,

And let the Spirit take control of all I do.

‘Cause when those trials come my human nature shouts the thing to do

And God’s soft prompting can be so easily ignored.

Verse 3:

And I thank You Lord for each trial I feel inside

That You’re there to help lead and guide me away from wrong

Verse 4:

And You promised, Lord, that with every testing

That Your way of escaping is easier to bear.

Repeat Chorus

Verse 5:

Yes, I thank You, Lord, for the victory that growing brings,

In surrender of everything life is so worthwhile.

Ending:

And, I thank You, Lord, that when everything’s put in place

Out in front I can see Your face, and it’s there You belong.

Thank You, Lord

From the musical: The Apostle

Continental Singers 1973

a musical witness of the life and writings of "The Apostle" Paul

By Cam Floria / Orchestrations by Lex de Azevedo

Weapons for the Believer 4.3 – The Fruit of the Spirit - Patience

Weapons for the Believer 4.3 – The Fruit of the Spirit - Patience

According to Paul, there are weapons of warfare.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

We are considering ten weapons that the Believer has at their disposal. We looked earlier at The Fruit of the Spirit in the post “Weapons for the Believer 4.” If you haven’t read it I encourage you to do so.  Paul gives us two lists in the passage in Galatians.

Galatians 5:22 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The original post on The Fruit of the Spirit (Weapons for the Believer 4) I mentioned a popular way of looking at this topic. Some teach that the Fruit of the Spirit is singular, Love, with each of the other fruit coming from the one. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to go back and read it.

Now I’m considering each Fruit of the Spirit in this manner. This time we are looking at Patience. Using Patience as the focus let’s see how it is reflected in our experience with the Lord.

            The Fruit of the Spirit is Patience.

Love is the evidence of Patience.

Joy is the outgrowth of Patience.

Peace is the force behind Patience.

Kindness is the face of Patience.

Goodness is the character of Patience.

Faithfulness is the reputation of Patience.

Gentleness is the response of Patience.

Self-control is the endurance of Patience.

Patience is probably one of the strongest evidences of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Believer. Patience reveals humility. Most impatience is driven by pride, saying, “I can do it better, faster, etc., etc.” Patience is not the natural response of most people, but for the Believer it shows that God’s work is taking root in them. James described the importance of Patience.

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

When Patience (here interpreted as steadfastness) is perfected we do not have lack. That is powerful indeed. Paul included Patience in almost every list of qualifications he gave to those desiring to be involved in ministry.

1 Timothy 6:11 (ESV)

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness (patience), gentleness.

2 Timothy 3:10 (ESV)

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

Titus 2:2 (ESV)

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness (patience).

Patience is more than just an ideal that we are to strive for as Believers. It is the place that God wants us to be as a result of yielding to the Holy Spirit, thus, a Fruit of the Spirit. Patience is one of the most telling marks of a mature Believer.

There is a standard joke that is told regarding Patience. “Pray for Patience, then duck!” This is said because of what James said about Patience. He said, “Trials bring faith, and faith brings Patience.” No one likes the ideas of trials, but the reality is trials come. Our response will determine whether it leads us toward, or away from, a deeper relationship with our God.

Let Patience have its perfect work so we will become like Jesus.

NULL and Void

This will add a whole new understanding to the phrase “Null and void.”

I came across an interesting observation at work. I’m working with a database language called SQL: Structured Query Language. It has some interesting nuances that take some time to get your head around. One of them is the concept of NULL.

I have argued for years that you cannot measure the volume of a hole. The reason is a hole does not exist. It is simply the absence of something. You can measure the volume of the area around a hole, but not the hole itself. NULL is a similar concept.

When you create a SQL data structure, called a TABLE, you define the fields that will comprise the records, or a ROW, within the TABLE. The fields are described to let SQL know what kind of data you plan to store so it can process it as quickly as possible. If you do not set the fields to any value SQL assigns the value as NULL. If the field is numeric, NULL is not zero. If the field contains text, NULL is not blanks. It is simply NULL.

The thing that caught my attention today is how NULL values are processed by SQL. One of the fundamental elements of any logical computing language is comparison statements. An example is:

                if x > 5 then set y = 10

Here, if the value of x is greater than 5 then SQL will set the value of y to 10. Pretty simple. 

However, if the current “value” of x is NULL then the statement will still be considered TRUE. As a matter of fact, any comparison using a “value” of NULL is TRUE, even if you test for NOT EQUAL NULL! Here’s another example:

                if x = NULL then set y = 10

Here, the statement will be true for any value of x, including NULL. SQL has a special way of finding out if a variable is NULL. You can state the comparison like this:

                if x is NULL then set y = 10

In this case y is set to 10 only when x is NULL. For those of you that are not techies I hope you’re still reading, because this is where it gets very interesting. If you attempt to add anything to NULL the result is always NULL. Another example:

                y = 999999999999999999 + x

If the “value” of x is NULL, y will be set to NULL. Now for the application to you and me. When you are born naturally your spirit is NULL. It is not non-existent. You have a spirit, but it is not alive to the things of God. You simply exist. Any attempt to make your spirit anything other than NULL is futile. Regardless of how many good things you do, or vile things you avoid, when you sum up your life you still get NULL.

The only way to eliminate the NULL state is to replace it with something that has value. This is such a clear picture of being born again. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “We are made a new creation. Old things pass away, new things come.” God doesn’t just brush the dust off of your spirit, or “old nature” as it’s called, but God re-creates your spirit and then fills you with His Holy Spirit. You are no longer NULL!! You now have value. You are not just existing, becoming conformed to everything around you. God has placed Himself in you. That is really good news.

Weapons for the Believer 4.2 – The Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

Weapons for the Believer 4.2 – The Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

According to Paul, there are weapons of warfare.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

We are considering ten weapons that the Believer has at their disposal. We looked earlier at The Fruit of the Spirit in the post “Weapons for the Believer 4.” If you haven’t read it I encourage you to do so.  Paul gives us two lists in the passage in Galatians.

Galatians 5:22 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The original post on The Fruit of the Spirit (Weapons for the Believer 4) I mentioned a popular way of looking at this topic. Some teach that the Fruit of the Spirit is singular, Love, with each of the other fruit coming from the one. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to go back and read it.

This time we are looking at Peace. Using Peace as the focus let’s see how it is reflected in our experience with the Lord.

            The Fruit of the Spirit is Peace.

Love is the birthplace of Peace.

Joy is the prize of Peace.

Patience is the reputation of Peace.

Kindness is the reflection of Peace.

Goodness is the nature of Peace.

Faithfulness is the duration of Peace.

Gentleness is the result of Peace.

Self-control is the confidence of Peace.

One of the most frequent prayers I pray for myself and others when facing trials is that God’ peace “that passes understanding would guard our heart and mind.”

Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace is a force that displaces fear. Peace keeps us in a safe place. Peace guides us into everything that God has for us. God will never “lead us” by fear or pressure of any kind. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, so when He rules your heart He does so through Peace.

Peacemakers have a special place in the Kingdom of God. “They shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Peacemakers not only live life from a posture of peace, they help others find Peace. So many times we see peacemakers as someone that stops fights or arguments. It is so much more than that.

Stopping conflict is the negative side of Peace; needful, but not optimal. Helping others find the Peace of God is the positive side. I do not use “negative” meaning “bad.” Just as electric current has both positive and negative charges, Peace has the power to “neutralize” strife. However, the absence of strife is not Peace. That’s what I mean by “negative”; it brings us back to a place of new beginning in relationships. Peace then continues until genuine life can be enjoyed by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, and multiplying His Peace through us.

As the overused, but still very true, cliché states: No God, No peace; Know God, know Peace. Learn to live from a posture of Peace.

2016 05 08 – Communion

2016 05 08 – Communion

Mother’s Day – a day set aside to honor mothers and remember the impact they had on our life. We shouldn’t need a day to remember moms, but I understand why we do.

When the nation of Israel left Egypt they saw some spectacular things: the plagues, the Red Sea parting, the manna every day, the pillar of cloud, the pillar of fire, the water from a rock (twice), and God’s presence with them. However, they were given feasts to celebrate during the year “lest they forget.”

Communion is such a time for the Christian. It is a time of remembrance and a time to experience holy fellowship with our God by remembering the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus. Amazingly there are some that fear this time because of a misapplied verse of scripture.

1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (ESV)

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

“That” is referring to “discerning the Lord’s body”, not “eating or drinking in an unworthy manner.” I believe that if you take communion with sin in your life the Holy Spirit will convict you of that sin during communion, thus making you “guilty” and give you opportunity to repent.

The word “discerning” has more to do with how we view the Lord and His sacrifice. Look at some of the nuances in this word. Strong’s says it this way: “to separate thoroughly i.e. (literal and reflexive) to withdraw from, or (by implication) oppose; figurative to discriminate (by implication decide), or (reflexive) hesitate.” When we begin to pull back from the Lord and not allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in our life

As I went through The Names of God I came across this concerning how we view God and how we speak of Him. One of the Ten Commandments as they are called tells us not to take the name of God in vain.

Exodus 20:7 (ESV)

7  “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Most consider this “cussin’” but I believe it is much more than that. Blurting out the name “Jesus” or “God” when we smash our thumb with a hammer is not what God meant by taking His name in vain. When you look at the word used for “vain” you see it means, “to desolate, or evil, and even deception.” When you speak about God in a way that causes others to think wrongly about Him you have made His name “vain.” Paul warned Timothy of the same thing.

1 Timothy 1:3-7 (ESV)

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

“Vain discussion” is basically the same word in the Greek as the Hebrew word used in Exodus. God wants us to guard our heart against hearing and receiving this kind of communication regarding our God. He also wants us to “bridle” our tongue from speaking such. This is so much more important that blurting out some random names under stress.

God has given us communion to remember; remember the sacrifice of Jesus through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to Father. He also wants us to take inventory of where we are in our walk with Him. But most importantly, He wants us to understand His character and nature during this time of holy communion. He also wants you to receive His healing and wholeness that was provided through Jesus as well.

So take the bread and the cup. If there is sin God will convict you. Repent. But in taking communion do not limit what God can do in your life. He wants you to be whole in every way. Receive all that He has for you today.

Where Would We Be Without Moms?

Where Would We Be Without Moms?

Literally none of us would be here without our mom.

That's biology.

Most of us would not still be here if it hadn't been for our mom.

That's God's mercy and grace.

For many our moms are no longer here.

That is our loss.

Honor your mother, if she's living, so that your days will be long on this earth.

That's a promise from God.

This started as a simple FaceBook post, but I decided to elaborate on it in honor of Mother’s Day.

My high school friend, Jeff Jenkins, and I determined there are only two things certain in life. It’s not the proverbial “Death and Taxes” that is quoted by most. We concluded the only things certain in life are conception and judgment. Without the former we never exist. All have been promised the latter. What happens in between is determined by the actions of others, or ourselves.

However, without a mom we would never have the opportunity to be conceived. In the instant the egg meets the sperm God places inside the woman the potential to change the world. Each conception is sent by God as a blessing and as a seed to bring His Kingdom to earth. It is said that the human baby is one of the most helpless creatures on the planet. Most mammals can function within minutes of being born. Without care from a mother, or some other mature person, a human infant would die soon of being born.

This care starts long before birth. Even before the mother knows she is pregnant her body begins a transformation to prepare a place for the child. Hormones begin reacting to this new life inside her. An incubator or sorts immediately goes into construction phase so this tiny life form can begin the nine month process we call pregnancy.

Even though, technically, after the birth of a child the mother is not essential (in other words, someone else could care for the infant) there is no other person better suited to care for the newborn than its mother. Once delivery has completed additional hormones kick in to create milk to nurture the infant, providing not only the nutrients needed to sustain life but precious antibodies that will help the infant grow into a strong, healthy adult.

That is why I said, “Literally none of us would be here without our mom; that's biology. Most of us would not still be here if it hadn't been for our mom; that's God's mercy and grace.” A mom is required for conception. The care that comes after is give to us out of the love and caring heart of a mother.

My mother used to misquote a verse of scripture regularly. She was not being blasphemous, just her rye sense of humor (I’m sure that’s where mine comes from). She would always tell us, her children, “Obey me, so my days will be long on this earth!” After having children of my own I understand where she was coming from on this. Here’s what the verse actually says.

Ephesians 6:1-3 (ESV)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

The promise is actually for the child being obedient to their parents. When we choose to honor our parents (even if they are not honorable) we bless them while they are with us, but we also receive a blessing from the Lord. Most parents try to do what is right. We all fall short of being the Cleavers. (Google it if you have no clue what I meant.) We do all that we know to do and God takes care of the rest. But the responsibility of the Believer is to honor their parents, especially if they don’t deserve it. In doing so we are being salt and light to them, and we are demonstrating the grace God has shown to us.

If your parents are no longer living, I’m sorry. Mine are both gone. However, there are many around you that could use someone to speak to them some good news. There are many ladies that either didn’t have children, or have lost the children they had. They could certainly use a hug, kind word, or other act of kindness to brighten their day.

Take time to honor someone, whether it’s your mom, or someone else’s. Both of you will be blessed in the process. Happy Mother’s Day!!