What can I do?…

Philippians 4:10-13

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Do you ever read Paul’s writings and attach arrogance to them? I mean seriously, this guy is always going on about how he has this and he has that. He can do this and he has suffered the other…

Makes me cringe sometimes, because I can’t say the same.

Can I do everything through Him who gives me strength? Scripture makes it pretty clear that I can, or SHOULD be able to, but far too often I can’t or don’t.

Why is that?

Honestly, if I am ever really honest with myself (which I HATE BTW ), I think it is because near the root of my faith is the idea, even after all these years, that I have to have some sort of control or put some sort of effort into doing things that only He is truly equipped to do THROUGH me or for me.

And honestly, once again, He can and has done things THROUGH me in SPITE of me on a number of occasions. You’d think I would have learned a bit by now. I turn 40 soon, and have been a Christian for many years; it would seem that I would have learned SOMETHING of this…

After all, I am a pastor; doesn’t that give me some sort of head start?

Sigh, evidently not.

But, I readily recognize the lack, so that gives me a focus for my prayers.

Homework- read Paul’s statement above and see if you can say the same thing as he does. If you can, then share that blessing with someone else, maybe someone that you know is struggling right now. If you can’t, then get on your knees, yes I said ON YOUR KNEES, and pray to Him to help you with owning this beautiful truth. And if you want someone to pray with you, let me know, I’ll pray for you and you can pray for me, and He will be glorified.

13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Everything…pretty straight forward, no?

Grace and peace,

Tony

Sunday best…

Ephesians 6:17

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation…

The helmet was intended for one purpose, to protect the head from attack. And there are few things as important to our walk as Christians as having this helmet firmly in place.

If we do not understand our salvation, if we doubt the assurances that we have in Christ, if we think that through some continued effort on our part we can keep it safe, we open ourselves to a myriad of doubts and worries. And all Satan needs to finish us off is for those to work their way through our minds and into our hearts.

Sunday best…

Ephesians 6:16

¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

The shield mentioned here is not one of those little bucklers that the gladiators used; it references what was considered a tower shield. The shield was large enough for the soldier to be able and hunch behind in the midst of arrows flying their direction.

Faith as a shield…

How often do you use your faith this way? Is your faith something that you feel is large enough for you to be able to hide behind, or is it so small that you might as well be using it as a spoon?

Or on the flip side, I routinely see folks use their faith as a club, bludgeoning others with it.

Working nights…

I’m working graveyard right now, and it has the effect of muddling up the old gray matter; hence the delays in writing.

Grace and peace,

Tony

Sunday best…

Ephesians 6:15

¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Remember the call that Paul gave to stand? Well, it’s hard to stand if you don’t have something good on your feet to stabilize and support you.

The Romans used sandals in battle; they were sturdy and light, allowing for easy of movement. They also had this habit of having nails driven through them to ensure that they did not slip when in the midst of battle.

It seems somewhat ironic to be getting directions on how to equip for battle and one of the items is the gospel of peace.

Well, for those that may not know, gospel means “Good News”, so even in the midst of battle preparation and expectation; you can be centered and stabilized by the wonder of the Good News of Christ, His return, and the knowledge that at the end of it all truly does rest peace.

Another view of the gospel of peace would be that the Gospel, in and of itself, brings peace even in the midst of battle. The knowledge that you belong to Christ, that you stand in His army fighting for the good and wondrous things He calls you to, should carry with it a decided feeling of stability and security.

When in the midst of a battle, the worst thing that can happen to you is to lose your footing, if you fall, the enemy picks up the advantage and WILL, make no mistake, press forward on the attack. We far too often forget the truth, I think, when we are thrust into battle, we forget  the Good News of Jesus Christ, His death for our sins, His resurrection from the dead, and His intervention and prayers for us as He stands at the side of the Father. With Him on our side, we cannot fail.

That should bring us peace. But if you’re like me, we forget too often and try to go it alone.

Bruised tailbone, anyone ?

I have fallen time and again, I have routinely rushed out to do battle without having myself equipped properly and have paid the penalty for it.

My recommendation to you? Don’t.

Grace and peace,

Tony

Seek ye wisdom…

Proverbs 1:1-7 (NIV)

  ¹ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

 ² for attaining wisdom and discipline;
   for understanding words of insight;
³ for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
   doing what is right and just and fair;
⁴ for giving prudence to the simple,
   knowledge and discretion to the young—
⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
   and let the discerning get guidance—
⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
   the sayings and riddles of the wise.

 ⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
   but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Someone pointed out to me once that there are 31 chapters of Proverbs, enough for a daily reading for each day of the month (doubling up if you need to on the ones with 30  ). If you are a devotional sort of person, may I suggest just that? Read the Proverb for the day of the month you are on and see if you get a bit of the wisdom that God graced Solomon with.

This opening section of verses for the 1^st, which today is BTW , shows the intent of them.

Who can’t use a little more wisdom? I know I can.

Grace and peace,

Tony

 

Sunday best…

Ephesians 6:14

…with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

The breastplate was the portion of the armor tha covered the chest down to the waistline, it provided protection for the heart and other vital organs. We’re going to focus on the protection of the heart.

Webster’s definition of righteous- acting in accordance with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin.

Anyone feel like they have that one covered? This one falls squarely on the shoulders of Christ, as He IS our righteousness, and as such He can provide the very best protection for our hearts.

His love endures forever…

Psalm 118 (NIV)

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

² Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” ³ Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” ⁴ Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.”

⁵ In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. ⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? ⁷ The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.

⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. ⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

¹⁰ All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. ¹¹ They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. ¹² They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

¹³ I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. ¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! ¹⁶ The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”

¹⁷ I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. ¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

¹⁹ Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. ²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. ²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; ²³ the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. ²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵ O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. ²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. ²⁷ The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.

²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

 His love endures forever.

How long is that? Ummmm…forever…

He’s God…

Isaiah 55:8-9

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.

These are some of my favorite verses. I love the truth that is found here.

And sometimes I HATE it. I want to KNOW, I want Him to act as I want Him to act. I want things to work out as I see fit.

Sunday best…

Ephesians 6:14 (NIV)

¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…

The Roman soldier used his belt as the basic foundation of the armor, it attached the breastplate and other pieces together, and was the place that held his sword and his dagger. Truth is critical to our walk with God, truth is a counter agent to the one that is called the father of lies.

John 8:44

⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Here Jesus was admonishing the jewish leaders because they did not believe the truth of who He was. He points out in no uncertain terms that those that do not believe in him have no truck with the Father, they follow another.