Tag: God

Meditation is a Moving Experience

On By francesrogersIn CONTENTMENT, GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD1 Comment

What began this year with meditations in Galatians is developing into a treasured experience in God’s Word ~ the written Word and the Living Word ~ more blessed than ever before. This is proving true that the Word of God is active and powerful (Hebrews 4;12).

“Grace to you, and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father,
to whom be glory forever. Amen.”
Galatians 1:3-5

Many other references in the Bible describe the Lord Jesus Christ, his person, his purpose, his accomplished work; and each one is specific as it applies to the needs of man in every generation of this evil age. This present evil age is in reference to all generations until the time of Christ’s return.

Years ago Galatians was a project for memorization and study, but now, in meditation, special and particular verses are even more applicable to where I am today, in sanctification, as I continue to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

Through meditations in Galatians there is the reminder that “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
(Galatians 2:20-21)

6958018441f94a21c0baf9365b06c022Like Paul, “Be it far from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

These verses, among others from meditations in Galatians are the gleaning; the fruit, so to speak, of Christ’s work in me and all believers who meditate on His Word. Notice that Paul speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then come with me to meditations in Philippians and the moving power of His Spirit through the written word to experience the Living Word, Christ Jesus.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is quite different in content and intent than his letter to the believers in Galatia. He was writing to correct and protect them. To the Philippians he writes to encourage and support their growing faith and ministry.

He has more space in this letter to witness of God’s working in his own life, although it contains two less chapters than Galatians. In Philippians 3:8 is the moving experience. Paul begins this chapter with telling them to rejoice in the Lord. He carries this call forward into chapter four through the witness of the work of the Holy Spirit in his own life.

He first lists the confidence that he might have in the flesh; in his own accomplishments. In comparing these with knowing Christ he counts these as rubbish, as dung (KJV). (This reminds me of Isaiah’s reference to our own righteousness as filthy rags)

Cause and Effect

 “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:7-8

Meditation on this expression “everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” has taken root and is bearing fruit. Instead of just going through the motions where I am His Spirit is moving me where He wants me to be. He is leading me from just growing in the knowledge of THE Lord Jesus Christ and sharing the cross of OUR Lord Jesus Christ to knowing Christ Jesus MY Lord.

There is a tremendous difference ~ a life-changing difference ~ from just having a mental knowledge of Christ and actually knowing Christ Jesus My Lord. It is this heart to heart knowing that moves us to live for Him and witness of Him where He wants us. Everything but Christ can be left behind in this present evil age as He brings us through victoriously and gloriously to Himself to share His glory and joy.

Gracious Father in heaven, who has so loved us and sent us your Son to save us from the world unto yourself, grant us your Holy Spirit to do the supernatural work in us to move us in the direction in which you lead; that we may be rejoicing in you and Christ Jesus our Lord ~ whom you have given to be My Lord.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Image: flicker.com

Only As He

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, POEMSLeave a comment
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“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts;
and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  
Psalm 139:23-24

(For the next few weeks I will be posting a poem once a week featuring the art work of my second oldest granddaughter, Kourtney Grace.)

TRUE LIFE

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, POEMSLeave a comment
True Life
Is not a matter of
Who or where I am;
What I am; or what I do;
What I think or what I say;
What I have or haven’t done;
What I should or shouldn’t do; or
What I plan to do.
 True Life
 Is a matter of
 Who God the Creator is;
 Where He is and What He does;
 What He thinks, and what He says;
 What He has and hasn't done;
 What He is doing; and
 What He plans to do.

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Locking our Wheels

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD1 Comment

The fear of falling is only second to the fear of death for the elderly. Many falls result in breaking bones that are weak from the “wasting away” of the body; and some falls end in death. Last night Jerry fell, the third time since his amputation eight years ago.

The first time was after his healing. Standing at the edge of the garage I watched as he confidently wheeled out to check the mail. He did well until he started up the slight incline on the street. He did not have the strength to make it in the turn toward the mailbox. The wheelchair slid backward dumping him. At first I wanted to laugh, but didn’t have time as I ran down the driveway to help. How to help ~ I did not know. With my holding the wheelchair behind he gradually was able to pull himself up backward. By God’s grace we did not require any other help that time. That was the last time he checked the mail in his wheelchair.

A second time he forgot to lock his wheels when he stood up. It took close to an hour for him to get close enough to a chair for me to help him pull up. During these times he has his own idea of how to remedy the situation. There is a trauma when a person falls that we cannot understand. Disoriented in thinking there is also a problem accepting and following instructions.

Last night He had simply reached down to pick up something off the floor. He forgot to lock his wheels and he hit the floor when the wheelchair slid from under him. He is not as strong as he was when he fell the first time; and so after thirty minutes of trying to help him I called our daughter. It doesn’t matter that she is a physical therapist; any two people strong enough could have lifted him back into the wheelchair. She came with our son-in-law and got him situated.

How to Keep From Falling
Wheels are wonderful to get us where we need to go. A wheelchair has four wheels, two large ones and two small, enabling you to go forward, backward, and around as you direct the two large wheels on the side. But, unless you stay in the chair and control the wheels the chair rolls wherever ~ it seems to have a mind of its own.

Upon leaving this contraption you must lock your wheels to help keep you from falling. In the same perspective we see the concept of falling from the security that is ours in Christ. Following are some of the ways to lock our spiritual wheels.

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

 “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”   Proverbs 11:14

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” Proverbs 11:28

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12

“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” 2 Peter 1:10

 “Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” Proverbs 28:14

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:30

“The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14

“For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’” Jeremiah 39:18

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15

“Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” Psalm 37:24

Jude 24-25
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M&Ms ~ The Delight of Souls

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD1 Comment

imagesM&Ms are a favorite candy for children, and adults who are still “children at heart.”  It doesn’t take much time to eat these; simply pop them in your mouth and enjoy. Depending on how long you want them to last you either chew and swallow; or if you want them to last longer you suck on them until you have removed the outer coating; then suck on the chocolate, or allow it to dissolve in your mouth.

As this has become a special year for meditation coupled with memorization the idea of M&Ms came to mind. There is a similarity between how one consumes physical food and how we process and digest God’s Word.

Some people do not eat M&Ms. They don’t buy them because they don’t eat chocolate or sugar; or they don’t like coatings. Similarly, there are people who don’t like God’s Word. They don’t buy it, for many different reasons.

There are those who quickly chew and swallow the candy without too much thought of what they are consuming, while they go about their business.   Similarly, there are those who read God’s Word, even daily, but chew only as long as it takes to get through the selected passage scheduled for the day.

Then there are some who take time to relish the moments, the taste and the joy of the sugar and chocolate.   imagesSimilarly, there are some who sit down with the intentions of getting the most and the longest lasting benefit from God’s Word.

At some point the sugar and the chocolate with the other ingredients from the M&Ms kick in and do their work, stimulating and giving energy. In the same way, memorization and meditation in God’s Word have their effect.

Memorization is the outer coating that capsules for our hearts and minds what we want to remember, enabling us to take it with us wherever we go; and making it last longer. Meditation is the process of discovering the inner delicacy; it is the means of experiencing more of the hidden truths of God’s Word, those that most affect the heart and life.

 Fruit of Our Thoughts
What, through the mind is hidden in our hearts, continues to affect our thinking; and eventually our actions. The truths of God, of Christ, and the power of His Holy Spirit are the sugar and chocolate that become a part of our spiritual system and activates God’s Word in our souls. But, better than candy, God’s word provides eternal nourishment. M&Ms are addictive; and so is meditation in God’s Word. Once you taste, and experience the delight and goodness, you cannot live without it.

Dear Father, in a fast food and instant gratification culture we need the quietness and stillness of your Spirit to lead us and keep us in your Word daily. Help us; we need you to do this work in us, so that we experience its effectiveness in our hearts and lives. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

(Excerpt from The Purpose and Delight of Bible Study)

Thy Word Is Like a Garden, Lord

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, MUSIC2 Comments


Thy Word is like a garden, Lord,
With flowers bright and fair;
And every one who seeks may pluck
A lovely cluster there.
Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine;
And jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depths
For every searcher there.

2 Thy Word is like a starry host:
A thousand rays of light
Are seen to guide the traveler,
And make his pathway bright.
Thy Word is like an armory,
Where soldiers may repair,
And find, for life’s long battle day,
All needful weapons there.

3 O may I love thy precious Word,
May I explore the mine,
May I its fragrant flowers glean,
May light upon me shine.
O may I find my armor there,
Thy Word my trusty sword;
I’ll learn to fight with every foe
The battle of the Lord.

Amen.

Thy Word is Like a Garden, Lord  ~ Sheet Music;  Alternate Tune

Glory Beyond Words ! ! ! !

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORDLeave a comment

In my personal communion this morning I seemed to be drawn closer to our heavenly Father to experience His presence in a greater way than ever before. All that I seemed to have was words that my English-speaking Bible provides. But the words “Almighty,” “holy,” “great,” “powerful,” “gracious,” “righteous,” and all the other words that we have—to think of Him, to call upon Him, to worship Him—did not seem to be enough. This inadequacy made me realize that GOD, in all His glory, is more than mere words can reveal.

ring-galaxyNo word is sufficient to describe Him, or to help us to know Him, worship Him, or to obey Him. When Jesus said that we must worship Him in Spirit and truth He was referring to the work that God must do in us. Words merely draw us to seek what is beyond the words, to the truth that God reveals about Himself. It is a supernatural revelation that His Spirit alone provides in those that He draws to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Following the first experience something else came to mind: the reality that Jesus Christ is GOD. The more I have pondered this, on my way to worship on this Lord’s Day, this afternoon, and tonight, the more astounding is this fact; not that I haven’t known this before, but now, in a new way, a new light, a new revelation. Christ, as the living God, the “visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1: 15) “the brightness of His glory,” “the express image of the Father,” (Hebrews 1:3) is no less God than the Father.

How can we get our minds around this truth? How can our hearts absorb such as is revealed in these words? As many years as I have studied, and believed, the Father has brought me today to a new realization beyond any thoughts I have had before. Paul describes this in 2 Corinthians 3:18—we, beholding, “as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
To think that we can see Christ through mere words is to settle for our own distorted images of Christ and God. It is the work of His Spirit that reveals Jesus Christ as “very God.”

No wonder Jesus said, “No one comes to me except the Father draws him.” God, the Father is drawing us to Himself as He draws us to Christ. The words “The Father and I are one,” are but words, except as His Spirit makes them truth to us and in us.  To emphasize, “JESUS is God,” or “Jesus IS God,” or “Jesus is GOD,” does not convince me or anyone else of this truth.  Only the Holy Spirit can drive it home to our hearts and bring us to a steadfast commitment to Him.

Why is it so important then, to believe in Jesus Christ? Without this faith, wrought in us by His own Spirit, can we truly believe in the true GOD?

“It is the Spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing; my words are Spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) We can get lost in the labyrinth of words, but meditations on His words bring us beyond the words to the reality that is behind the words—the true meaning that only His Spirit can provide. These meditations, in time, bring us to the renewing of the mind; but further still, to that which is “hidden from the wise, but revealed to little children.”  “God’s Word which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments” (Shorter Catechism) are pregnant with truth and life, delivered to the humble heart, and the seeking soul.

I praise Him that I don’t “know it all,” that I haven’t “arrived,” that I am still seeking “His kingdom and His righteousness.” I will be eternally grateful for a Father’s love that continues to draw me to Christ and Himself, revealing the power of His grace, and His glory. How blessed we are to have a GOD that has planned an eternity to reveal all that He is to us.

“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:5)

Father, please continue to reveal yourself, Christ, your Word, and the power of your Holy Spirit to us, your people.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

(Reblog from July 3, 2011)

Psalm 146 (Trinity Psalter) Scottish Festival Singers

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S WORD, MUSICLeave a comment


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“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
Jude 25
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