To journal or not to journal

Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. (John 21:25)

I am not a 'journal person' - I don't keep a diary of the daily events and happenings in life. In fact, I tried it for a couple of months to see if I could keep track of what I was doing and other stuff like the things that were happening in my ministry. It got to the place I was repeating myself, so I quit. As much as I thought this 'diary' thing was a 'big deal' for believers to 'keep track' of God's blessings, it wasn't all that 'big of a deal'. It was shortly after that failed attempt at keeping a diary that I realized God wanted me to simply spend time with him, writing down the stuff he told me in those times, beginning to really digest the scriptures for myself. When I began to record what God was sharing from his Word and my time pondering it, I found that much less cumbersome. In fact, I actually saw 'lessons' being recorded - sometimes in a rather 'repetitive' manner. Why the repeat? I didn't quite learn everything the first time I pondered the lesson!

We don't always have a 'new insight' every time we ponder a particular passage, but it is very possible God will reopen those words to you as he has before, maybe adding just a little more insight now that you didn't consider before. I think this is what John meant when he said 'all the books that could be written' would not contain all that Jesus does or shows us in our lifetime. I have gone back through some of those journals on occasion, only to find that the 'lesson' from several years back was kind of rudimentary or even 'shallow'. That is when the growth in my life begins to be apparent to me. Maybe there is something to be said for keeping a journal, but not so much for the 'today I did this or that' kind of stuff. Maybe the journal we should keep is the one that helps us to realize God is at work helping us to become stronger, capable of standing in the face of trials, and less susceptible to similar temptations.

About six months ago I did a thing where I looked into those journals and then after perusing them a bit, I actually destroyed them. Why? It was 'old stuff' now. I actually saw evidence of growth today that wasn't there then. I didn't see the need to keep the 'old stuff' around any longer - I had moved on. Maybe there will come a time when you look back, knowing you dealt with some pretty important stuff with God, and come to a similar revelation - you have moved on, grown up, dug in a little deeper, and are now standing stronger than ever before. Do you need the reminder that life is never supposed to be 'stagnant' or 'fixed'? Maybe that is what the journals actually showed us - we have been experiencing God's incremental growth without even realizing it. Just sayin!

Shine on

Who do you see when you look in the mirror?  Most of us would say we see a reflection of ourselves.  Looking back at us is the man or woman we have become, complete with all the wrinkles, gray hairs, blemishes, cellulite, and the like.  Rarely does anyone answer, "I see Christ".  Why?  I am not sure we actually see Christ because we only see the "dullness" of this earthen vessel and his brightness is just beneath the surface, struggling to get out!  Paul puts it this way:

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!  (2 Corinthians 4:7-12 MSG)

We are "unadorned clay pots" - we live ordinary lives, nothing too spectacular to talk about, and really don't display all the glory which dwells within us all too well until...

- We are surrounded and battered by trials, for it is then we perfectly see Christ in us when we are not "demoralized" by those trials.  In other words, the very fact we are not thrown into a tailspin of confusion and chaotic disorder in our lives when these trials come our way is a reflection of the light of Christ's presence within us.  

- We are unsure of how to proceed, for it is then we have perfect knowledge of how God would have us step forward.  For those who take the first step forward with a little trepidation, take heart.  Until you gain the trust of God being with you with each step, the first one will always be the hardest!  Yet, in the stepping forward, we reveal much about Christ within us - making each step secure and firm.

- We are under the remarkably difficult pressures of spiritual battle, for it is there Christ's strength is revealed.  In the midst of battle, it may appear we are being "terrorized" - intimidated, overcome with overmastering fear - but Christ's presence becomes so evident when what "should" produce debilitating fear only spurs us on and helps us dig in a little deeper.

- We find ourselves at our lowest point, for is then Christ is able to pull us up, dust us off, and reveal to the world our "unbroken" state of being whole in him.  Sure, he looks for us to have a "broken and contrite heart", but when the weight of this world would seek to shove us down, he shines through in how quickly we actually get back up!

So, as you can see, there is much evidence of Christ's presence within us - maybe not so evident when we look in the mirror - but perfectly evident in the way we deal with life.  I love what Paul says next, "...what Jesus did among them, he does in us - he lives!"  Chew on that one a bit.  Jesus walked the face of this earth and was faced with all kinds of not so good pressures - rejected by many, reputation drug through the mud, accused falsely, measured by unrealistic standards, doubted even when telling the truth.  Yet, in those times, he shined!  What he did among them, he now does in us!  His "life" gives us "light".  

Most importantly, as Paul puts it, while we are going through the worst, we are getting in on the best!  The image in the mirror is actually changing for the better!  The pressures actually produce something of beauty and clarity in us - much like a diamond is made "under pressure".  If you think life is tough right now, it probably is!  If you think nothing of value will come of it, you are definitely wrong - for it is right where you find yourself today that Christ is free to bring forth more light in your life!

We probably don't shine as brightly as some, nor as bright as we'd like, but Christ in us assures us we shine on!  Just sayin!

Undeniable Evidence

I wonder what evidence Christ has verified in each of our lives - is it really apparent, so all can see?  If not, perhaps we might want to consider how evidence is actually revealed and what purpose evidence fulfills!  

^4-6Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you—it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.

(I Corinthians 1:4-6 The Message)

Paul speaks to the Corinthian believers of their free and open access to God - a gift provided through the sacrificial work of Christ.  In looking into their lives, he proclaims there is no limit to what Christ produces when a man or woman fully yields their lives to his control!  In fact, he says it goes beyond what words could describe and what the mind could comprehend!  Now, think on that one!

Evidence either proves or disproves something.  If there is enough evidence, we say the fact is proved.  If the evidence is lacking, we say the trust we place in the facts we can see is more trustworthy.  Evidence can either convey a reason to increase our belief, or if lacking, it can further eliminate our basis for believing.  

Evidence makes a clear showing of the truth.  Paul uses this word to describe exactly what Christ does through the activity of the Holy Spirit within us.  He makes a clear showing of the redemptive work of Christ IN US.  In a court of law, evidence plays an important part in proving the case being presented.  Not all forms of evidence carry as much "weight" in proving the case - some evidence is merely anecdotal to the case being presented, while other evidence is so important it cannot be discounted or denied.

For evidence to be admissible in a court of law, it must have been maintained through a "chain of custody".  In other words, it must have clearly been identified as evidence, carefully "preserved", transferred with great care, and analyzed with the toughest of inspection.  When the chain is followed, the evidence bears the greatest significance.  

There is a spiritual chain of custody, too.  In fact, the Holy Spirit has the job of identifying the things within our lives which serve as evidence of Christ's work.  He then sets out to preserve the evidence - keeping us from discounting it, losing sight of it, or seeing it as too insignificant to matter.  He also makes sure the evidence of Christ's work in us is analyzed with the toughest of inspection - ensuring the evidence is "verified".  

Verification is just the confirmation of the authenticity of something.  When others look at us, the Holy Spirit has the mission of ensuring the authenticity of Christ's work is displayed with such accuracy so as to allow the toughest of inspection without being able to find fault with the evidence!  I don't know what evidence of Christ's activity in your life the Holy Spirit may be focusing on right now, but I do know he is at work!  He wants to display the evidence in order to "convince" others of the authenticity of a life change - the very purpose of evidence is to convince others!

Think about what God is focusing on in your life today.  It is not by accident his attention is focused on the particular area - it is designed to bring forth the evidence!  Some evidence is right out there in plain view - easily identified.  Other evidence is a little deeper - needing to be uncovered by the action of one who knows where to look!  The Holy Spirit is the best "detective" we could want on our case when it comes to uncovering the evidence of Christ IN US!  So, "inspect on"!  The evidence bears uncovering!

Cry Wolf One Too Many Times?

^11-13Scripture reassures us, "No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it." It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. "Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help."  ¹⁴But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? 

(Romans 10:11-14 The Message)

You may find the fact that calling out to God ensures a listening ear - each and every time - a little hard to believe, but it is true!  God listens AND he hears!  As a little girl, I learned the story about "crying wolf" too many times.  The idea of "crying wolf" was really a symbol of sounding a false alarm.  In other words, you think you are in trouble, but really the threat is not real.  The most amazing thing about God is that he really doesn't differentiate between us "crying wolf" and really being in trouble!  He just listens and responds to each and every request we bring before him!  

-  How can people call for help if they don't know who to trust?  This is the question of our times, is it not?  We just don't believe what we hear anymore because we have heard so many different stories, so many lies, and been duped so many times.  It is a sad fact, but true.  Trust has been broken so many times by those we hold close to us, or those we really should be able to trust by nature of their position.  No wonder society asks, "Who can we really trust?"  So, the first thing we must establish clearly is that God has not changed!  He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  He is the unchanging one and as such, can be counted on to remain faithful in all he does and says (Deuteronomy 7:9).

-  How can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted?  There is a tendency to "be in the dark" about things until someone shares with you what you have been missing.  When that moment comes, there is a release that comes (I call that our ah-haw moment).  That release causes us to see things in a totally new light - we move from a lack of awareness to a fresh awareness (light).  There is a responsibility to share our foundation of hope with those around us - not "hoard" Jesus to ourselves.  The scripture is clear - if no one tells the world, how are they to know?  Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a "stand on the street corners, shouting repent to the world" kind of gal!  As a matter of fact, I have tried this at one time or another in my walk with Jesus and found it to be very unrewarding and a little useless. The fact is that Jesus came to tell us about his father in heaven, and he asks us to tell others about him, as well (John 8:26).  How can they hear if nobody tells them?  Telling is the ability to give an account, to report what one has done.  All Jesus asks of us is to share what he has done in our own lives.  It is an "accounting" for the hope we have.  The hope we have is based on the testimony of ONE - Jesus.  He came to tell us the way back to relationship with God - our testimony is to point others to that same hope (I John 5:11).  It is our goal to be a living message of the truth that Jesus sets lives free.

-  How is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?  What many of us really resist is the fact that we have been "called" and that "calling" includes being "sent".  To be called simply means that we have been invited to be part of the family of God.  To be sent means that we extend that invitation to others.  Plain and simple.  

Just as we confide in a close friend, Jesus is standing ready to have us confide in him.  He invites us to bring our hurts, our hopes, and our cries for help.  He sorts through each of them to "weed out" the perceived threats from the real ones.  He is not concerned that we may "cry wolf" now and again - in fact, he uses those times as "teachable moments" to show us how he can be trusted, that he has things in his hands, and that there is NOTHING that can stand against us.  There is a process of learning to "tell Jesus" our concerns, allowing him to bring out those things that really are at the core of our complaints and our concern.  In so doing, he is teaching us.  

That process of "telling" Jesus is more than just "telling" him what we think he wants to hear.  Too many times, we learn to "tell" like we think it should be rather than the way it really is!  Jesus relishes our honesty - even if it comes with a tendency to "cry wolf" on occasion.  So, if we want to learn to "tell the world", we must first learn to "tell Jesus".  No testimony to the world will be as effective as that which has already been discussed at the feet of Jesus!

Evidence of what is in the package

^9-11 Word got out among the Jews that he was back in town. The people came to take a look, not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. So the high priests plotted to kill Lazarus because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus on account of him.

(John 12:9-11)

Lazarus became a living testimony of the power and deliverance of God when his life was raised.  He became a "threat" to religion the day he was raised!  The Jewish high priests are actually resisting his testimony because it was causing people to leave the "comfort" of religion to experience the dynamic of relationship.  The fact of the matter is that God uses people to do the work of bearing testimony to his deliverance!

We are never a threat to "religion" when we are just living in the status quo.  As soon as we "cross the line" into a real and vital relationship with Jesus, guess what....we become a "threat".  For the sake of clarity, let me just say that when I refer to "religion", I am referring to the rote, mundane, going to church kind of ritual that never really allows a man's heart to change or his life to be a testimony of God's power.  When I speak of relationship, I am speaking of that life that exudes the power of God for others to behold.

The Jewish high priests are threatened because their "followers" are "converting"!  They want reality in their lives - they want to experience some of the "vitality" that Lazarus was a testimony of that day.  All the Jewish leaders could offer the crowds was a set of religious rules - a set of standards they live by - but the connection of the "rule" with the "ruler" was never really made!  By definition, relationship is a "connection".  What Lazarus showed the people was the intimacy of "connection" with Jesus.  

Connection implies involvement.  When we move away from the ritual keeping of rules, we move into a place where God becomes involved in our lives and we become involved in his work.  There is an inter-relatedness between connection and power.  Jesus came to the tomb of Lazarus - spoke the words to come forth - embraced him as he did - and Lazarus maintained that connection by being with Jesus as a living testimony of his power and grace.  That is how it is with Jesus - he wants us to be connected to him.

Why is relationship a threat to religion?  It is simple really...relationship makes the "connection" that rules never will.  As a matter of fact, when all we are focused on is the "rules" we have to keep or never break, we often lack any incentive to pursue the relationship!  Think about it.  When you are so intent on not breaking the rules - like when you see those signs posted that remind you that there are workers on the roadway and that the fines for speeding are doubled in that area - don't you slow down just a little bit as you see the patrol car on the side of the road?  

You become "intentional" about the rules and all the other stuff that you were focusing on takes backseat!  That is why the Jewish leaders had such a hard time with Jesus - they saw people moving away from the ritual, mundane way of "worship" and this was a threat to their existence!  I don't know about you, but I want to be a threat to religion!  I want to be a living testimony of relationship, not a dead-weight of religion.  

Belief is never a matter of having "seen" something - all the miraculous signs were evident to both the religious leaders and the ones who were following Jesus.  The "signs" don't convince the mind - they affect the heart!  Belief often requires a testimony - like when you buy a package of seeds at the home store.  That package of seeds has a photo (a sign) of a fully grown plant, bearing much fruit.  Until that package is opened, the seeds planted, and care taken to tend that seed, the evidence of what is in the package is never fully understood.  

A seed only does what it was intended to do when it is planted!  In the package, it is just a nice thing (kind of like all the religious rules).  Once in the ground, tended appropriately, the seed yields something beyond its original form.  That is true of each of us as we become related to Christ.  We take a new form - exponentially yielding fruit in season.  That is what it is to be in relationship with Jesus - we become the evidence of what is "in" the package!  That was what Lazarus was that day so long ago - an evidence of what had filled his heart!  

The proof is in the pudding

^16-19"How can I account for this generation? The people have been like spoiled children whining to their parents, 'We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.' John came fasting and they called him crazy. I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riffraff. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

(Matthew 11:16-19)

John the Baptist is in prison - his disciples are sent to bring him back a report on what Jesus is doing.  In John's mind, he is still wondering if Jesus is the Messiah they were awaiting, or just another prophet, like him.  Jesus proclaims a list of things to the disciples in response to their, "Are you the one we are looking for?"  He outlines "evidence" that will help John make his own determination about the Messiah - lepers healed, blind see, lame walk, deaf hear, dead raised, and if that is not enough, those rejected by the world see that God is on their side.  That should be pretty convincing evidence!

Jesus then turns to the crowds to instruct them about John - the prophet that Malachi had announced as the forerunner to the Messiah.  He even goes so far as to tell them that John was the "Elijah" they were awaiting as a sign that the Messiah was coming.  Why does Jesus take this time to "build up" John?  John's ministry is pretty well over - you cannot baptize without a river!  John had done his part - now Jesus was doing his.  Yet, Jesus does not want the crowds to forget the important work of this obedient servant.

Jesus then presents two opposites - John and himself.  John fasted, Jesus feasted.  One was condemned for his extreme lifestyle in the desert, the other for his extreme lifestyle that crossed all the lines when it came to the Law of Moses.  Then he basically tells them that the proof is in the pudding.  As a student of words, I needed to find out the original use of this term in order to really understand what is being said in this passage.

The "proof is in the pudding" is a shortened version of an old phrase "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".  Back in the day, the only way to really tell if a dish was cooked to perfection was not by its appearance, but by the taste.  All the right ingredients may have gone into the recipe.  The presentation may be exquisite.  But...the actual taste of the dish was the only true judge of the dish.  Before a dish could be served, it was tasted.  A cake, for example, would be determined to be expertly baked and presented when it was fluffy and light.  -If the center was kind of runny, or too under-cooked, the tasting of that cake would prove the cake to be inedible.

Jesus reminds all of us that are seeking the mere "show" of a thing, we can be disappointed when it comes to the "taste" of the same thing.  Even though it looks good to us, when we experience it firsthand, we may be left with a bitter taste.  I cannot help but think that Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders of the day when he was speaking these words.  Yes, the crowds were there, but I think he was being a little pointed in his discussion - directed toward the fact that the religious leaders put up a good show, but all their religious rites and rules left you with nothing in the end.


Jesus offered them more - his list of evidence that he sent back to John stood as proof.  The most important thing on that list was the last - those rejected by the world see that God is truly on their side.  I take hope in that promise - I can honestly say that I have tasted of that "dish" and I know it is GOOD!  The proof of God's love was in the "pudding" of Jesus!  He sent his one and only Son - for the forgiveness of our sins.  The proof is really in the pudding!