Category: Human

Declare what is Right.

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Written By Dan

It has been my observation that we see a recurring message in scripture that Elohim is to be trusted above all else in this universe.  Idols are man’s creation – they have zero power, they are inert, lifeless, useless. Elohim reveals himself when it is necessary to accomplish a goal or we are in trouble. When our free will gets us into mischief then God intervenes as necessary to be sure we do not get too far into the weeds.

Isaiah 45:15-19 says — All the makers of idols will be put to shame and disgrace together. But Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, for the ages everlasting. For this is what the Lord says— he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty but formed it to be inhabited— he says: I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, Seek me in vain. I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. (NIV)

Isaiah mentions the everlasting salvation to be sure we are not discouraged too much.  Yet, Elohim must be true to his own sense of fair play and justice, if we make mistakes and fail to repent then we can expect issues. Sometimes, if training is required, even with repentance, issues come our way. Our job?  Stay focused. Keep our eye on God. The growth of God’s people is delivered in layers of grace and training. We learn, we get better, but we still seem to stumble. Fortunately, Elohim is longsuffering and patient with us. He knows how timid and helpless we are when faced with huge obstacles. Elohim knows we charge ahead foolishly and get ourselves all tangled up in the brambles. He smiles, then at the right time Elohim pulls us out of trouble, every time. The Spirit of the Lord is always working on our heart (implied in Zechariah 4:6), therefore the accidental troubles we encounter are mere speedbumps.

Isaiah 57:14-16 says – Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people. For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry for then they would faint away because of me—the very people I have created. (NIV)

The people who make our distractions (graven objects) sometimes create public personalities that we aspire to be like (worship).  They are makers of Idols (chaff).  Then they say — you need this thing or you need to hear this or you need to see this event if you want to live life to the fullest.  They quietly place a fence about our life — we find ourselves generating loads of activity as we aspire to emulate the public personalities or accomplish the specified objectives. We are trapped.

The deeper truth — It is God’s hope that we get still, listen to the Holy Spirit, and reassign our adulation to the one true living God. The makers of the public personas and distractions often see the emptiness themselves and they pull away from the façade as they get a bit older. They become more honest in their messaging and we all benefit. Consider the transition of some aging rock stars as they settle down, abandon drugs, and start leading godly lives.  Usually, something occurred in their life (an uncomfortable event) that helped them to see their sin and yield to the one true living God. It is amazing to see this happen with people– we all need Jesus – it does not matter what we do or how we live – we all need the one true living God.  In this transformation – we are able to declare what is right and live for God.

I choose Jesus.

Hovering over the Waters

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Essay By Dan

It has been my observation while Walking with God that the more you learn about the Holy Spirit the easier it is to hear his voice, feel his nudge, and recognize when he is influencing or pressing to influence a decision you are making. When did the Holy Spirit first appear? In the second verse of Genesis, we read — In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2). Before anything was created, the Spirit was present, hovering, observing, and pondering on us. Us!

After the escape from Egypt, the Hebrews wandered about the desert for 40 years. They could have made the journey in about 11 days. But they were a stubborn lot and God kept them wandering to bring them under control. Noting the struggles of Moses, God took steps to reduce his workload.

In Numbers we read — The LORD said to Moses, gather for Me seventy men whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them. I will take the Spirit that is on you and put it on them; they will share the burden of the people; you will not be alone (Numbers 11:16-17 paraphrased). This action really helped Moses govern the Hebrews. Notice the presence of the Holy Spirit.

There are other places that provide a clear signal that the Holy Spirit was on the job. For example, King David was very personable; he was charming, open, and appreciated by his people in his early years. David tells us — The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue (2 Samuel 23:2). Once again, we see decisive guidance by the Holy Spirit provided to people who had faith. David learned to be responsive to the nudge of the Holy Spirit.

Yet there were problems. David struggled with desire. Uriah was one of the mighty men who surrounded and protected David from trouble in the early years (2 Samuel 23:39). Uriah had a strikingly beautiful wife. David, overcome by foolishness, had Uriah killed to take Bathsheba for himself. Not a good plan. David repented. Elohim forgave David. But his failure to listen led to consequences.

After Bathsheba, things went south for David (see 2 Samuel chapter 13-24). Bathsheba’s first born died seven days after birth. (2 Samuel 12:15–23). Nathan said — The sword shall never depart from your house (2 Samuel 12:10). David found his kingdom constantly in trouble and shredded by two civil wars. Nathan said — I [the Lord] will raise up evil against you out of your own house (2 Samuel 12:11–12). David’s sons Amnon and Absalom were very violent, life was cheap in those days. Yet, Bathsheba, David, and Solomon were specified in the DNA lineage defined for Jesus (see Matthew 1:6). That is Forgiveness!

God was not done with us. Isaiah wrote — A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from His roots a branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him — the Spirit of wisdom, of understanding, counsel and might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:1-2 paraphrased).

This message makes it clear the Holy Spirit knew about the new covenant, even as he hovered above the waters in Genesis 1:2 (God’s foreknowledge). Jesus, in the bloodline of David and Bathsheba, was to be the one true living King, the Messiah. Jesus exuded the wisdom, power, clarity, and knowledge of God.

Learning to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice was an issue for Moses, David, and Isaiah. They all figured it out. They all found a way to differentiate between the Holy Spirit and their internal self-talk. You will figure it out too. Knowing the voice of God is part of how we are designed. Start now, listening, evaluating the message with scripture. Grow close to the nudge and voice. He will talk to you. He will. Be still and listen.

I choose Jesus.

Finding the Eye of God

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Essay by Dan

It has been my observation that Jeremiah says the more we seek God, the more we are going to experience His presence in our lives. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13). Without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Furthermore, God is hunting for willing hearts, over and over, every day he looks, his eye moves to and fro — “The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.” (Psalms 14:2). We are never far from his gaze… The counterpoint? Our lives are full of activities, stuff, and people competing for our attention. The distractions are just part of everyday life, so we often do not notice them until the damage is done.

Getting too busy, my day starts quickly, I race from one thing to the next without pausing. I fall into bed intending to read the Bible or pray, only to fall asleep exhausted. Not only do I fill my schedule, but I also fill my mind. With technology at our fingertips, we may try to fill every spare minute with entertainment or information. Television, movies, music, games, and social media all use energy. Some activities have a positive effect on me; many events do not. Regardless, God’s voice is competing with them for my attention. Despite my foolishness, he pursues me.

Yet, my choices can drown out God’s voice. My attitudes and habits can lead me away from Him without realizing it. Once questionable behaviors become a pattern, the pattern starts directing choices. Poor decisions are covered with shame, those decisions make me want to hide in the shadows from God. Sweet Jesus, how do I break this pattern?

Many people do not realize that doing nothing (apathy) keeps us from hearing God’s voice too. Apathy, a lack of concern or interest, toward the things of God can be just as detrimental to your relationship with Him as implementing poor behavior patterns because you are focused on earthly things. The voice of God always says something that reflects His character. God is gracious, kind and patient. He pursues me; then He installs peace and unity into my life. The more space I give to attitudes that are opposed to God’s qualities, the less I am willing to hear whatever He is trying to tell me.

JI Packer teaches us – The Spirit leads by helping us understand the biblical guidelines within which we must keep, the biblical goals at which we must aim, and the biblical models that we should imitate, as well as the bad examples from which we are meant to take warning. He leads through prayer and others’ advice, giving us wisdom as to how we can best follow biblical teaching. He leads by giving us the desire for spiritual growth and God’s glory. The result? Spiritual priorities become clear; our wisdom when making decisions is increased. He will cause us to delight in His will so that we find ourselves wanting to do it because we know it is best. Wisdom’s path will be ‘ways of pleasantness’ (implied in Proverbs 3:17).

The deeper truth — God is not devious; He does not push us to watch our suffering. If our first reaction is to resist God’s will, He will gently change our attitude — if we let him. God wants the absolute best for us in every activity he designs for us, even activities we shrink from or activities that may involve unpleasantness. In His time, His peace always arrives. Yield, call out for his help.

He who is drifting from the Logos — yield to the Ayin Adonai (Proverbs 15:3), find your bible, and start reading. Find God’s wisdom and affection. The Eye of the Lord (Ayin Adonai) is ready to help. There are no secrets, He knows. Read, learn, seek out Jehovah Shalom. Call out, be still, He is on the way.

I choose Jesus.

The Passover

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Essay by Dan

It has been my observation, while reading the Book of Exodus, the Hebrews were compelled to provide backbreaking labor in the brickyards of Egypt; but, despite the hardship, they prospered. They became a large nation with no way to loosen the shackles that held them – from that situation — our story begins.

The Book of Exodus opens with God looking upon the Hebrews. The Lord said to Moses– I have … seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So, I have come down to rescue them from … the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, …. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3:7-10 paraphrased).

Then a battle ensued, a battle between idols and the one true living God. Our God pitted Himself against the idolatry of Egypt with plagues. Each plague originated from the one true living God. The plagues were directed against the idols of Egypt. First, the sacred Nile was turned to blood; then there were frogs, lice, then flies that swarmed over the land; the livestock sickened and died; boils broke out on both man and beast; hail and locusts devastated their crops; then darkness enveloped them for three days. God’s message was straight forward. The plagues demonstrated to the Hebrews their redemption and emancipation was in progress; not because of any merit within them, but solely by His sovereign grace and power. The demonstration culminated with the last plague — the death of the firstborn (implied from Exodus chapters 7-13).

God said it would be a night that they would never forget. Today if you go into the home of most Orthodox Jewish families, you will find the Passover on their calendar. After all these years, Passover is still remembered. This is the day that God delivered His own. The Hebrews in Egypt were asked to select a lamb; they were to slay it and eat it for dinner accompanied by unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The blood of that lamb was to be put outside on the doorposts of their home. On that night, the death angel arrived. He did not take time to determine if people on the inside of the house were praying. He did not ask if they had joined the right political group. He did not examine their walk with God. He did not inquire if they were Hebrews. The only thing he checked for was blood on the doorpost. When he saw the blood, he passed over the house. If the blood was not present on the doorpost, the firstborn in that unprotected house was killed (implied in Exodus 12:1-12).

Passover was judgment from Almighty God upon a sinful nation and a sinful people. The firstborn who lived through that night knew that they were redeemed by the blood of a lamb. The single thing that enabled God’s redemption was blood. That night the Hebrews ate the Passover and were redeemed by the lamb’s blood. They consumed the lamb, and they consumed unleavened bread. Does this sound like a precursor to Communion? We have the body of Jesus (lamb, Bread) and blood of Jesus (lamb’s blood). Is Communion a reminder of Passover? I think it is (implied in Luke 22:14-19). There is more…

Do you remember my previous essay on eagle wings? “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto myself” (Exodus 19:4). Isaiah 40:31 says “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”  Deuteronomy 32:11 says — “As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, taketh them, bears them on her wings.” We are lifted-up high; we go where no ordinary man can go; we pass over trouble using a transport mode that no ordinary person can use. Eagle Wings.

I choose Jesus.

Under His Wing

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Essay by Dan

It was my observation — there was a young woman named Ruth; she left the land of Moab and traveled to the land of Israel because she trusted God. Boaz, a wealthy man in Israel said to her — “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12). You may recall from Psalm 91:4 our journey is described as being “covered with His feathers” and “under His wings you will find refuge.” Deuteronomy 32:11 describes the protective wings as eagle wings. What a picture of God’s shelter.

Sometimes we are under the wings, sometimes we are on eagle wings. When God leads the Hebrews out of Egyptian darkness into the promised land, we find it described as an airlift, by eagles’ wings. God says to the Hebrews in Exodus – “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:4-7). Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and told them what God said. The Hebrews responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. (Paraphrased from Exodus 19:8).

For a moment, consider using two utterly separate modes of travel through our life. Consider the difference between a rowboat and an aircraft. You cannot travel with one foot in a rowboat and the other foot in an aircraft — it is impossible. Yet today, as a matter of faith, people are trying to live by a blend of law and grace. I am not saying you are, but if you are not clear about the nature of your walk with God, accidentally trying to live by your good works, may I suggest to you there is a better way – an easier way that is much less stressful. There is a way that takes us to the ‘eagle wing’ and places us in the center of the one true living God’s world.

J Vernon Magee tells us – “The Law demands; grace gives. The Law extracts; grace bestows. The Law says do; grace says believe. The Law says work; grace says trust. The Law growls, pronouncing trouble; grace invites, announcing a respite. The Law decries all of us; grace pulls us into safety. The Law reveals the sovereignty of God then grace reaches out in power lifting man up on eagle wings.

Paul says – The things Moses and the prophets witnessed all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we have compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we were in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by Jesus Christ. (implied Romans 3:21-24 MSG)

Paul continues – God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in his resurrection places us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it is now—this is current history! God sets things as they belong. He makes it possible to live in his way. (implied Romans 3:25-26 MSG).

It is by His mercy, it is by eagles’ wings, it is by His grace. Embrace it! Let Easter happen to you.

I choose Jesus.

Figuring out the Things of Life

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Essay by Dan

It was my observation while reading Matthew chapter 5, Jesus shares a series of life guidelines with us. When he saw the huge crowds, he climbed up on a hillside to gain respite. Once he found a suitable place for a rest, he sat down and instructed his friends. He provided them with a roadmap, a path forward on how to live life to its fullest — honoring the things of God, walking with God, worshiping God. This is what I gleaned from the quiet affirmations of Jesus.

When you find yourself at the end of your rope, be content, God is in control. With less of you forcing solutions into play, there is more space for God and his influence over your daily actions. If you feel you have lost something, remember you are giving space for God’s influence. Spend time thinking about who you are, reach the point where you are at peace rather than striving for position. Life is easier when you are content with yourself — no more, no less — just acceptance. (Implied in Matthew 5:3-5)

Look hard in scripture for the truth, lean into the word, develop a strong appetite for the things of God. Accept the bread of Life, reach out to others, allow God to develop a caring attitude within you, give yourself to others. But start this journey by getting your inside world—your mind and heart—in the right place. To figure out life, look for God. Avoid being part of the problem, you become part of the solution when you can show people how to cooperate instead of competing or fighting. That is when you discover God’s purpose, you find your place in God’s family. Find God’s peace. It is close by. Find your place of rest. It is close by… (implied in Matthew 5:6-8)

In the life of every peacemaker who is committed to God comes trouble and persecution. Let this adversity drive you deep into rather than away from God’s kingdom — the truth is too close for their comfort, and they are uncomfortable. Love the truth. Your friends will always encounter speed bumps (persecution), do not despair, step over the speed bump, help others do the same, these things will pass. At this juncture in your life, it should be clear why we are here on earth. We are alive in this moment to be the salt that points to God’s message. Stay the course. (implied in Matthew 5:9-12)

Most young children have heard the lyric – This little light of mine, I’m gonna to let it shine. Jesus tells us You are here to be light; this light will bring out God’s brilliant Kodachrome message for all the world to hear. This is not a private conversation or message to hide on our bookshelves. The message is to be delivered in every nook and cranny – your life should be the city on a hill, the City of God. This message is Truth. If we hide the message in a building, the oxygen quickly disappears and the message fades. Get the message out of the building, give the message oxygen. Give the message a chance to grow. Be generous with your life, be accessible, be approachable, take the first step. When we open up to others, we show people how to open up with God. God’s Word is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Word will be alive helping people to figure out life. (implied in Matthew 5: 13-16)

The deeper truth – If you trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Word, you will only have trivialized yourself. Take the message seriously, walk with God, love the people around you, then you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do better than the Pharisees when yielding to God, you will not know the first thing about living life to the fullest (implied in Matthew 5:17-20).

I choose Jesus.

Our Best Friend

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Essay by Dan

It has been my observation that 1 Thessalonians provides us with an interesting call to unconditional love and prayer for the people who surround us and the people we meet every day. Read this slowly and note the message from Paul — Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18).

Rejoice always, not sometimes, not just when it feels good, but rejoice always. This is not the normal emotional response we usually postulate and execute when being mistreated. You might be wronged; you might be spurned; you might be in jail for a false charge. Yet, Paul says Rejoice!

And then comes the direction to ‘Pray continually’. About what? We are told to give thanks in all circumstances. for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Our directive is clear. We should do the right thing for everyone; even when you are not treated fairly. Huh? Find the joy you are looking for in your walk with Jesus, overlook the way you are being treated. Let God do his thing in you. Pray without ceasing. Diligently keep a continual disposition of thankfulness to God. We will have no time to be grumpy if we are continually praising and rejoicing with the Boss of all Bosses.

To ‘pray continually’ brings a sense of dependence upon God. Even when we are not articulating words (the Spirit is busy praying our thoughts) we know we are connected, he is listening, we are spilling out our heart, he is listening, even when we are not speaking consciously to God, there is a deep, abiding dependence on him in our message that represents the essence of our faith. I think – this gets at one of the core elements of a vibrant Walk with God. We are connected to Jesus by constantly communicating our feelings and observations. Any observation, we see it, we talk, we listen, we talk, unfiltered, clear, honest. Listen, talk. For me – this is an essential approach to stay out of harm’s way.

But please understand — we are better off if we do not always view prayer as a ‘jukebox’. What I mean by ‘jukebox’ is — we form a prayer request — we pray — and God plays exactly the song we asked for. Huh?  I think the reason we pray is to be sure he puts us in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. We pray to be connected, corrected, encouraged, and directed. We pray for others with the same reasons — that they be connected, corrected, encouraged, and directed. We pray to become part of the solution (God’s solution) not part of the problem (our problem or somebody else’s problem).

When you move this way, the outcome becomes less important than a willing contrite heart. Never doubt that he is in control. Prayer is God’s way of bringing us to the right mindset. Never give up looking to him — wanting to be part of His solution. Come to him repeatedly during the day. Make your state of mind a ‘God focused attitude of gratitude.’  Make yourself available, willing to be directed, willing to be a part of God’s plan. Let God fill in the details. Leave the strategic planning to God, he is better at it than we are. People who function this way are in prayer do not need to set times for prayer. They just start talking in the morning when they get out of bed. Observing, thinking, listening, and talking. Reading scripture, more thinking, listening, and talking. This is not formal communication. This is inviting God into our self-talk, our internal thoughts, our inner sanctum. Let him be God!

The deeper truth — I hope you consider praying without ceasing for prolonged periods of time each day. If you find yourself with a little mental dead space – talk to God. Paul suggests we can enjoy continual communion with God (I Thessalonians 5:15-18). I think, after months of steady listening and talking with God, He will become our best friend.

I choose Jesus.