Keep Bleeding Love...

Here's a blurb from the song Keep Bleeding Love (not a Christian song):

My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love

I really should love when it hurts or is tough or when I notice particular characteristics/behaviors in people (who are not my good friends) that wouldn't necessarily be on my 'good friend criteria list' (such a list doesn't exist though if you asked me I could probably tell you what I like in good friends).

Tonight at Bible study in response to the question "Explain what 'loving your neighbor as yourself' means to you", I think someone said that it means "wanting the best for others"...I like that theory. It seems to coincide with Matthew 7:12. Indeed, we should treat others as we'd like to be treated. We should love our enemies (Matt. 5:44).

In practice I should extend the same grace (even if it's just in my thoughts) that I'd like to be given.

I should let love be the band aid that covers the wound of sin (which might include negative thoughts and internal judgment). Somehow, "love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Doesn't excuse our personal sins, but it might be the frames of the grace glasses through which we can view others to love them over their sin or potentially sin-tainted quirks.

Note: I'm not saying we should neglect the issue of sin, especially if it's deeper or intentional sins, but often times it is natural to neglect 'little' sins we see in others. Don't think it's necessary to call people out on every single sin. Whew. Would we ever get anywhere? :)

Just do it...or stop it.

The following videoclip can be found on a post by Tim Challies called "Just Stop It!"



Indeed, there are things in my life I need to just...stop. Or just...do.

Challies relates the following Mark Driscoll story:

The man called him in the middle of the night crying and begging for help because he had committed a certain sexual sin yet again. Though Driscoll’s answer was a tad vulgar I think he essentially gave the guy the right one: Just stop it!

My mom was telling me of how years ago when she was on a prayer chain at a church we used to go to, she got a prayer request from a woman who said that she always went to _______________ and ended up _____________. Well, if she asked any Christ follower for advice, most likely they'd immediately think the solution would be to simply stop going to the places that led her into deep sin that so entrenched her.

But that's...her. What about...me? Should I immediately think the obvious answer would be for her to stop while I still fall through sin's trapdoor? Hmmmmm...

Challies goes on to write:

Some time ago I spoke to a friend about an ongoing sin in his life and tried to show him that the essence of his problem was this: he hates his sin just a little bit less than he loves it. Sure he wants to stop sinning, but even more he wants to keep sinning.

Good point, good point. SO. How do we hate our sin of doing certain things or/and not doing the good we know we should do? Perhaps by thinking about it and what we should (not) do in our 'off' times, when we are not immediately faced with the temptation? Perhaps if in these moments we fill our minds with Scripture, that might spontaneously come to mind when in the midst of the battle of temptation where our better senses seem to have lost? Or each time we are tempted to (not) think or (not) do something (good) bad, even if we love our sin, we should instead cry out to God and ask Him to provide the way out as is promised (1 Cor. 10:13)?

Challies ends his article with this:

But there comes a time when forsaking sin, truly putting it to death, requires a decision of the mind and an act of the will. Sooner or later I need to just stop it. And God can give me the strength to do so.

May God indeed give us the grace and strength to...stop...or....do.

The Grace-Providing Heart-Seeing God

I. God sees the heart.

" '...For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart'" (1 Sam. 16:7b).

Nice. Though God will see ugly things that don't always surface with the appearance. Still, it's so nice that God knows our hearts and that that He "is greater than our hearts" (1 John 3:20).

II. God is ultimately in control. Refreshment sometimes requires a process that involves struggle and treatment or effort. It's not a guarantee that our thorns will be removed.

Saul was "tormented" by "an evil spirit from the LORD" (1 Sam. 16:14). The affliction seemed to have persistently lingered over Saul's soul. Interesting that it took a process for the evil spirit to leave Saul. Not sure if the evil spirit repeatedly left him, but it's very well possible as vs. 23 seems to indicate that David repeatedly played the lyre for Saul's refreshment in his times of trouble.

Interesting...Yes, God is ultimately in control. The note in my Bible about the "evil spirit" in vs. 14 says, "The Hebrew word may describe something that is troubling, annoying, or harmful." Though these alternatives sound better than "evil spirit" to me, since they are from God, even if the author intended to convey the meaning of "evil spirit", it could be acceptable as God permits evil in this world and ultimately we will never fully grasp how everything works in this universe.

Guess an application that could be drawn is that refreshment sometimes first requires a process. One thing that is different betweeen Saul and believers today though is that Believers have the Spirit. Not sure if the faithful followers back then had the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but in whatever way the Spirit was with Saul, it seems that He left Saul (verse 14).

God doesn't always (immediately) remove our thorns in the flesh, but His "grace is sufficent" (2 Cor. 12). And that is more than enough.

It's called, 'The Fall.'

So last night I was at a local community Task Force gathering and in response to something I said I think a friend said something like, "It's called 'The Fall', Rachael."

...Oh yeah.

But if I were Eve I likely would've done the same, and if not at the tree, I would've sinned soon enough elsewhere.

If I were alive in Jesus' day I may have shouted "Crucify Him!" if I were not called, and even if not, my actions would've spoken and speak otherwise.

In this post, C.J. Mahaney quotes Stott as saying in The Cross of Christ:

If we were in their place, we would have done what they did. Indeed, we have done it. For whenever we turn away from Christ, we ‘are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace’ (Heb. 6:6)

In a review of Mahaney's book Living the Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing, the reviewer quotes Mahaney:

I identify most with the angry mob screaming, 'Crucify Him!' That's who we should all identify with. Because apart from God's grace, this is where we would all be standing, and we're only flattering ourselves to think otherwise

Sin, crimes, and social problems in the community and world at large suck.

Thankfully through Christ there is a way for death's wages to be paid off and to be reconciled to God.

But that doesn't mean society is shielded from the damaging effects of sin...

"Worship"

Here's an audio clip of a song by Shirley Booth I found on YouTube. It's based on Isaiah 58.

And here are the lyrics:

It seems so far away –
The thought of suffering, of hunger and need.
Lord, we’re so comfortable,
They’re only pictures on my TV screen.

Oh, we fast but we know we can eat the next day,
And we travel to church in a car.
There are carpets to comfort our knees when we pray,
And no danger in being what we are.

Are my praises so loud that they drown out the cries?
Do I fail to stoop down
‘cause my hands are raised so high?
Are my eyes shut so tight when I pray I won’t see?
Am I worshipping God for only me?

You say that worshipping, Lord,
Is more like something I should do with my life.
Not just at Sunday School –
No Lord, You’re calling me to put these things right.
There are hungry to feed – I have so much to spare
For the naked and down-trodden too.
So much hurting around me, please help me to care –
Lord, I want to start worshipping You.

You make me shine like the sun,
And Your glory will shelter me.
When I cry out, You come.
You restore me Lord, setting me free!

Acts of redemption...

So recently Christians all over the world celebrated the ultimate act of redemption: Christ's atonement for our sin through His death and resurrection. And sneak previews of smaller acts of redemption and prophecies sprinkled throughout the Old Testament foreshadow this glorious event.

On Saturday a friend and I talked of one such act of redemption, when Boaz married the widow Ruth. The next day the same friend redeemed me a bit. I could've easily stopped at a store to pick up the fruit juice I was supposed to bring, but she offered to bring hers instead (never mind the fact that we didn't end up drinking it anyway). Another instance of redemption comes to mind. I was at school and the thought of making copies of tests had totally slipped my mind until it was about time to start teaching. A fellow teacher helped me out by making a bunch of copies and bringing them to me so that I could proceed to start my class without waiting for that set of copies. A quick response of kindness that saved my morning.

Last week during Holy Week I attended the morning services that included bits from The Book of Common Prayer. Here is a snippet from a daily prayer from that:

"And, we pray, give us such an awareness of our mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise"

God's 'saves' did not stop with the ultimate save. He has delivered since the beginning of time and will continue to do so until the end. Perhaps if we live with eyes open to His mercies, we will notice and be more thankful for His many acts of deliverance.

And we should strive to redeem others in even small invisible ways in day-to-day life. You never know when those small acts of kindness might 'save' someone's day or 'redeem' the moment. Perhaps some of the tips in the article Practice Non-Random Acts of Kindness can help create a good framework toward this end.

Always be prepared...

...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have... - 1 Peter 3:15

So Wednesday night I presented the gospel to an AWANA girl, and we prayed together for her to accept. But how deep did the roots go? So much information in so little time. My drawing and explanation may have lacked clarity. Good thing her salvation does not rest upon my measly attempt. The counsel time later that evening was about salvation, but even then I wonder if it was clear enough to someone who may have just heard for the first or second time. Afterwards we received booklets providing information and verses about Jesus. Hopefully she'll read the booklet. The church's children's ministry director later told me that there is a Bible club at the child's school. Also she may talk with her during the handbook time next week. Hopefully there will be follow-up, and hopefully there is or will be a faith that will grow. Perhaps I rushed things? Regardless of whether or not she grasps salvation and the faith enough at this point, God can use anything to plant seeds and accomplish His purposes, and it's neat to think He may have planted or watered seeds in her heart...

We don't always know when an opportunity to share Christ might arise. I should seek to be prepared to speak of this great Hope should opportunities arise again in the future.

"Who do you say I am?"

(Matt. 16:15b)

Back in the day, a friend and I had lots of fun doing newsletters for a church college group. Some adventures had in the process. One of these was a trip to the local store (not sure if anywhere else in addition to that for this particular mission) to survey people's answer to the question: "Who do you think Jesus is?"

Well I just found the newsletter with the responses:

1. "He's a dude. Just a dude. Read the Bible."

2. "I'm an athiest."

3. "Jesus is God."

4. "I don't know."

5. "That's a hard question. I never really thought of that before. He came to earth and was crucified and that's why we have Easter."

6. "What you said." (Jesus being the Son of God.)

7. "Just a prophet."

8. "Jesus is the Lord."

9. "I'm a Catholic. Does that explain it?...I don't believe in the Trinity thing...I just hope He comes back soon to end all this..."

10. "No one's ever asked me that before."

Wow huh. Not sure if this was the exact order in which we received the responses. Not necessarily advocating this particular method, but I think I stepped up in my younger years in ways that I wouldn't necessarily repeat now. (Though I might be willing to do the 'survey' method again provided it were not inside a store and if I weren't doing it alone.) Would be nice to be courageous and proactive with regard to speaking of God when out and about.

Fast from, Feed on...

My church is having early morning services throughout the week for Holy Week. This morning a woman offered an interesting prayer, requesting that we fast from certain sins, and feed on that which is good. In talking with her a bit after the service, I learned she found it in a bulletin or something of a church in Scotland. She may copy the version she prayed for me, but for now, here is a version of that I found online:

Fast from criticism, and feast on praise.

Fast from self-pity, and feast on joy.

Fast from ill-temper, and feast on peace.

Fast from resentment, and feast on contentment.

Fast from jealousy, and feast on love.

Fast from pride, and feast on humility.

Fast from selfishness, and feast on service.

Fast from fear, and feast on faith.

Putting off the old self, and putting on the new (see Eph. 4:22-24). Part of the Bible study last night was on a portion of Scripture (in Matt. 22) that described a wedding feast and how a man "without a wedding garment" was cast away into a place where "there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (vs. 12-13). Wedding clothes are necessary to celebrate in the "feast", but how do we get them, and from whom?

Fortunately we have only to accept them as a gift in faith.

Isaiah 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the
garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of
righeousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a
priest with a beautiful
headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with
her jewels.

Beautiful. He is beautiful, and He has made us so. We're covered; we're beautifully forgiven. He has washed us whiter than snow, though our sins are as scarlet (see Isaiah 1:18). If dressed in His wedding clothes, we will take a seat at His table of eternal life. In this life, while our tables are adorned with beautiful platters of the fruits of the spirit, they are simultaneously cluttered with greasy foods. From which will we partake?

God please grant us the power to feast from and feed on that which we should. Please be glorified. Thank you...

(edit: 3/19)

"Rachael, Rachael."

Here I am. What are you asking of me? Turn my ears toward Your voice and make me follow. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The God who has always been and who will always be. The God who knows my pain. The God in whom we can place our trust. We need not fear. He will guide. He will lead. He will never leave.

Gen. 46:2-3:

And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!"

"Here I am," he replied.

"I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.

Gen. 22:1-2:

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

And when God appears to Moses in a burning bush in Exodus 3:

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"

And Moses said, "Here I am."

"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

God is a personal, relational God. He identifies Himself with the people who He related to on a personal level. As He was the God of those who have gone before, He is now. As He was faithful to them He will be faithful to Moses. As He was faithful to Moses He will be faithful to us. God desires to meet Moses and He makes Himself known. He initiated the relationship as He always does. Access to God is possible. Just as Moses does not burn up in God's presence, neither do we have to burn. This experience points to a future possibility that you can be in the presence of God and not be completely consumed. That access is now given to us. We serve that High Priest who mediates between God and man. The curtain is torn. We can reach God! Jesus has bridged the gap!

Hebrews 9:24:

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

And what kind of High Priest do we have, and what confidence can we take from this?

Hebrews 4:14-16:

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

He understands our weakness! We can approach him and expect to receive mercy and grace!

God has been faithful since the beginning of time. He is as He was as He evermore wil be. Matthew 22:32 states:

'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

Yes, indeed, God is the God of the living. Do we live as though we believe that?


(Note: This post contains some of the same ideas and most likely some/many of the exact words used by my Sunday School teacher [Jae Kim] and possibly other church people.)