Knit-a-long and Prophecy

Strange combo.

But I needed to say a bit about both today.

First, please go read the comments on my last post about THE MOST IMPORTANT.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

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While I”m waiting, I’ll let you know about a sock knitalong I’m starting on December 1. I’ll post the     pattern next Friday (The 27th), and then the knitalong will be posted every 3 days, with a few    rows each post, until we’re done. (Which will probably be in 2 years, if we go how slow I go…) So –wanna join me? Please let me know in the comments section.

Have you read the comments yet? Yes?  Good. Here goes.

I’ll go ahead and say AMEN to Shannon and Cindy, yes yes yes! I was referring to men who are appointed by men in a random, yet organized fashion, to represent and proclaim the words of God on this earth today, and to be the sole prophet.

In 1 Corinthians 12:27-29:

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.  All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?

There isn’t just one. There are many in the Body of Christ. They speak the words of God, they proclaim the words of God and they are anointed with that gifting.

My only caveat is that all of what they say and speak must be able to be verified and proven in the Word.

There isn’t continuous revelation and new words of God. His Word is sufficient, ample, authentic, enduring, enough, forthright, lasting, real, reliable, infallible, timeless, trustworthy, true, and Truth-telling, authentic, and enduring.  He speaks His words through those He has appointed. And their words will always be His Words, given once for all time in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1).

So, think on that, and go ahead. Sign up for the knitalong. It’s not like the holidays are coming up and you have stuff to do.

The Most Important

To answer my question from a few days ago…..

First, regarding whether Jesus can be highest priority as well as a mission statement of (name-removed-church)  as the PRIORITY of the church—

No.  There is no way to reconcile those two ideas.

Either Jesus is most important and of highest priority, or He isn’t.

Either every single sermon, paragraph written, tract published, or program offered points to and glorifies Jesus, or it doesn’t.

There isn’t a gray area in this matter.

And I think this ties in well with the second question posed by Taco Soup, (regarding the two quotes…) and that is :

Which do you think more closely represents Christianity as you know it?

I don’t speak for all of Jesus’ followers, but I can pretty well guess that they would concur.

There are two things that immediately came to mind when reading these two quotes….directly from scripture. (Don’t forget the importance of hiding the Word in your heart, for occasions such as these…)

First, Matthew 7:22-23.  Jesus isn’t saying He didn’t get to meet you at the potluck,  or didn’t ever get to go to coffee with you. He’s saying He didn’t KNOW you. The word KNOW in the  original Greek is the word ginosko, meaning “to recognize, to come to know” and speaks of  a certain higher level of fellowship, of relationship—of time spent with someone or something.  He wants to spend the most time with you. He wants fellowship with you. It’s what He created you for. All things were created by Him, for Him, through Him. FOR HIM. (read more about this HERE)

So, to that end, YES! Yes and Amen! My highest priority, your highest priority, and the priority of all believers should be exactly that–leading people to the foot of the cross, THE most important place, so that they can spend time with the Lord and Savior–the God-Man Jesus Christ.  To know Him is to Love Him, and to know Him is to want to know Him more.

Second, Hebrews 1:1-2.  Jesus and The Father and The Spirit used to speak through Prophets, Judges, and Kings. Now, He (Father God) speaks through God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. My intimate and personal relationship with God is the way that God interacts with  me. He speaks through His Word (Jesus is the Word of God, Word became flesh and dwelt among us…) and His written word, written by the hands of men directed and inspired by God the Holy Spirit. No man can speak for God unless directed and appointed by God, and although God did use and appoint prophets before the revelation and appearing of His ONLY BEGOTTEN, He has made it directly clear that this is no longer His method of communication.

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

(Hebrews 1:1-2)

He has given us 3 Ways to Know Him–through His creation, through His Word, and through His Son.  And the choice is ours.

Either listen, or don’t.

Either heed the voice of God the Holy Spirit, or don’t.

Either see Him in creation and worship Him, or don’t.

Either recognize Jesus as Who He said He is, or don’t.

Either understand the love of a Father, the sacrifice of a Son and the judgment and guidance of the Holy Spirit, or don’t.

The choice is yours. God’s already given you all that you need to worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

What are you waiting for? He’s waiting for you! Today is the day of Salvation! If you hear His voice today, answer Him! Call on Him! Praise Him!

Worship Him alone.

Of Ultimate (And Intimate) Importance: A difficult subject, Part 4

A few weeks ago, I saw this question posed by Taco Soup on Mckmama’s frog forum. It thought it fit in perfectly here in my A Difficult Subject series. So I borrowed it. If I could credit Taco Soup, I would. I’ve taken the name of the church in question out, but you can google it, or go to the link if you are interested.

A question I have been wondering about:  What should be the #1 goal or priority  of the Church (The body of Jesus Christ here on the earth…)  Most often, I hear the “priority” of Christianity is to know Jesus and make Him known.  However, there is a discrepancy of sorts that we’ve all been hearing about on this board lately, and that is of the (Name removed church)/Christian debate.  It’s in the (Name removed church) doctrinal statements that the mission or priority of their church is:  The Three-Fold Mission of the (name of church removed) is:

1. Proclaim the Gospel

2. Perfect the Saints

3. Redeem the Dead
   

So how do I reconcile these two things?  What is YOUR  actual priority as a Christian?

What do you think of these two quotes? And what, if any, is your opinion of them?

Which do you think more closely represents Christianity as you know it?

QUOTE #1

Does the Church have any more  urgent ministry than  providing time and making space for the critical question of the Christ, “Do you love you me?”  Is there any creedal, codal, or cultic priority that supersedes the personal, intimate relationship between the believer and Jesus Christ? Is there any hope for the radical Christian renewal and the implementation of the social gospel if Jesus Christ is not Lord of my life? do we set this decisive question aside in favor of moralizing, organizing, and erecting new temples to an unknown God?

QUOTE #2

“He (name of man removed) is our prophet today. He was prepared and foreordained before the foundation of the world. For over a half century he has been taught and tutored by apostles and prophets with whom he has served. He is wise. He is caring. He speaks for the Lord. His is the voice to which we should now respond. Our spiritual safety lies in turning to the clear voice of our living prophet. If we listen to his voice and obey his counsel, we will be able to live as Christ would have us live and endure to the end so that one day we, along with our families, will return back into the presence of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. There are yet others who have an excessive zeal which causes them to go beyond the mark. Their desire for excellence is inordinate. In an effort to be truer than true they devote themselves to gaining a special, personal relationship with Christ that is both improper and perilous.

What do you think of the two quotes? Are they diametrically opposed? Or Is there some sort of middle ground people (or the “theologians” who affect people’s thinking…) could come to?

My thinking on this will come tomorrow. I’d like to hear what my readers have to say.

a knitter-ly kind of thing

Alternatively Titled:  stuff I’d like to knit. As soon as I replenish my stash. I haven’t bought yarn since February of ‘09. Feels like a looooong time.

I’m loving the new yarns from Knitpicks. Since the closest yarn shop is 45 minutes away, the internet is my best friend.

I’d like to knit the monkey and all its accessories. Not that I have children who would appreciate such a thing. (too cool for school and all that…)

But hey, I could find a child who would…

I’m loving hats these days. Less hair-doing.

I’d like to try gloves.

I’d like to try socks. (Oh, maybe not. remember LAST time?)

Suggestions of patterns or sites to visit? leave a comment!

please pray

for Stellan.

 

God hears our cries.

 

Thank you.

Whom Do I seek to impress?

Continuing my discussion from yesterday, regarding my situation and my present attitude–

I often wonder who I am trying to impress. Who am I seeking praise from? Is it my family? My husband? My kids? My community? My friends? My blog readers (ha!)? My enemies? Who is it? If it were any of those people, certainly my behaviour would show it, right? Well, that’s where I get caught. With my excuses. Becuase honestly? Yes, I do seek to impress all of those listed……and more, I’m sure.

Honestly? Every minute of my life should be about pleasing Jesus. But it’s usually (Regrettably)  not.

What if I lived out my life seeking only to “impress” God? What if I lived out my life only to “impersonate” Jesus? To make Jesus known to those in my life?

How would my life look different than it does today?

1 Thessalonians 2:4

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man,

but to please God who tests our hearts.

I’d like to share something I recently read that is along those same lines…you know, the lines of “Well, I’m too __________ to share the Good News with the dying and perishing world.” you know, those lines.

I find myself threatened, challenged, and exhilarated by Christ’s freedom from human respect, His extraordinary independence, indomitable courage, and unparalleled authenticity. In preaching the gospel, I have been graced to speak fearlessly in the knowledge and conviction that the Word of God must not be fettered, compromised, or watered down; but in my personal life, my fearsa dn insecurites lead me voraciously to seek the approval of others, to assume a defensive posture when I am unjustly accused, to feel guilty over refusing any request, to doggedly live up to others’ expectations, to be all things to all men in a way that would make Paul shudder. (Brennan Manning, Reflections for Ragamuffins, p. 299)

So, how would your life look different?

Excuses….

This week has caught me with excuses. I am living my life in the midst of blaspheming individuals and/or congregations on a daily-weekly-monthly-yearly basis–and this week, I threw up my hands in utter disgust and desperation. I  am failing to see what my teenytiny influence is having on anyone coming nearer to the cross of Jesus.

And last night, in what I can only surmise as a God-sent email between a very good friend and I, I’ve been stirred up.  I’ve been renewed in the purpose for which I was sent to this place. There are people dying, and going to hell–because they are being told a false gospel, and being given false hope. And if all my God has asked me to do is to gently re-direct them, and to come before His throne of grace and mercy in *my* time of need, then I will do it.

And praise be to God, my Abba Father, who sees fit to put me (ME!) here–I’m so unprepared and so not the person He needs (familiar with the excuses of Moses, anyone?) …but He knows better than I. So I will serve Him, while I’m waiting.

(and for your reading pleasure….here is a post written lately by that same good friend–full of our excuses, and the reasoning behind them.) I can’t link to her blog, its private. But Praise God for her and her wise words.

I exist to point people to Christ.

If they are not Christians, then I am to share the Gospel with them, with words (a tract is sufficient for this, and good enough when I cannot have a conversation, such as when I have the girls or it isn’t reasonable to have a conversation.)

If they are Christians, then I am to encourage them in the Lord, help build them up, and encourage them in any way they need it.

Simple.

Tough.

I wanted to share with you some of the reasons I have not been sharing the Gospel as faithfully as I am not convicted that I need to, and the answers I believe discount all my reasons.

1. I am afraid of being rejected. Luke 6:22 – Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

2. I am afraid I’ll lose a friend. If my friend is going to spend their eternity suffering in hell as a result of their sin, what benefit do I gain by keeping silent and staying their friend here, on earth?

3. I’m afraid they’ll think I’m a lunatic. God will love that I am spreading the word about His Son, regardless of what they think.

4. I’m reluctant to interrupt their day. Death is a pretty big interruption to their day. And its too late then.

Those are my top issues.

Do you see a theme? I do. I have an over-concern for my own appearance and perception coupled with an under-concern for their eternal well-being, tied together by a completely temporal view of life, and disregard for how God actually views things. That’s what God has been showing me lately.

It’s not about me.

It’s about Christ.

False, False, False (A Difficult Subject, Part 3)

This is one of those times where I’m quoting someone smarter than me.

Just saying it up front.

I have a lot of experience dealing with false teachers, false organizations, false prophets, false apostles and false gospels.

But sometimes, people just say it better than I ever could.

(I’ll interject my own thoughts as well. They’ll be the italicized ones, in gray. There won’t be much from me, if anything.)

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God wants us to defend the Gospel by exposing lies.

We must identify the sources of error that may  be influencing our lives or the lives of those we love. Perhaps it’s a cult or a New Age thinking or theological errors. 1 John 4:1 instructs us to “test the spirits”, attempting to determine whether they are from God. Whatever their words–whether they are spoken by preachers, teachers, psychologists, authors, talk show hosts, or radio speakers–all teachings are to be judged by the Eternal Word Of God. (John 17:17)

The character and methods of false teachers are exposed for us in the Word:

They preach another gospel and a different Jesus from the one revealed in Scripture (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6-9)

“They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD” and prophesy lies in God’s name, trying to make His people forget about Him and His Word (Jeremiah 23:16; Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Jeremiah 23:25-27)

They dismiss guilt and justify sin, calling “evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20)

They “secretly bring in destructive heresies.” (2 Peter 2:1)

“They speak great swelling words of emptiness” and entice people through the flesh, promising them liberty but instead enslaving them. (2 Peter 2:18-21)

They cause dissension in the church when “untaught and unstable people” follow their example and twist Scripture for their own purposes. False apostles often appear to be apostles of Christ. (Romans 16:17; 2 Peter 3:16; 2 Corinthians 11:13)

In the end times, false prophets will be joined by false christs, who will”show great signs and wonders to deceive” (Matthew 24:24) Christians are warned to have no fellowship with these teachers and the “unfruitful works of darkness” but rather to “reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11) and to be careful not to be taken captive or cheated by their false doctrines. (Colossians 2:8) False teachers are empowered by Satan, and we must be courageous and vigilant against this cunning enemy who seeks to “devour” us. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

(This is taken from Nancy Leigh Demoss in Our Journey, October 22)

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This has stirred in me once again the reason and rhyme why hiding the Word of God in our hearts and minds is so important. Fighting the enemy may not involve anything tangible that you can compare it against. You need to know the Word in order to know where the false-hood is.

Please please please test everything you read, hear, see and listen to by the Word of God. It is and forever will be the Only Reliable Source for Truth.

Living out of the Center

I’m not talkin’ about “centering prayer”, or yoga, or eastern meditation here.

I’m referring to something interesting I read recently that, for some reason, hit a tender spot in me. I am my own worst enemy, rarely ever finding anything good or lovely or praiseworthy in myself, even though it is no longer I, but Christ who lives in me…

Living out of the center is not a rarefied, spaced-out state. It has helped me achieve connections and insight into the Word of God that were hitherto hidden. For example, Jesus told us to consider ourselves the least of all. He also told us that what we do for the least brother, we do for Him. Since whatever is done for the least is done for the Lord, our compassion must start with ourselves. Before I am asked to show compassion toward my brothers and sisters in their suffering , I am asked to accept the compassion of Jesus in my own life, to be transformed by it, and to become caring and compassionate toward myself in my own failure and hurt, in my own suffering and need. His love  is not conditioned by what we are  or what we do. He will be gracious and compassionate toward us no matter what our track record, for that is what Jesus means–”the One who saves”.  Those who live out of the center know in their bones that they are poor and sinful, but there is a spirit of self-acceptance without self-concern. This is the heart of the gospel…that we can be gracious and compassionate toward ourselves (And I might add here–as Jesus is.)

(Reflections for Ragamuffins, Brennan Manning, p. 270)

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit  1 Peter 3:8

If I can learn to love me the way Christ loves me, then how much more of an effective warrior and champion of Him can I be? This is not an endoresment of the self-esteem movement, but one for the “Christ-esteem” movement. If He considered me worthy to die for, shouldn’t I, at the very least, consider myself loved?

Thoughts? Comments?

Contending

When you see something that isn’t God-glorifying in your world, do you do anything?

Do you…

Say anything?

Write anything?

Picket anything?

Speak up?

Speak out?

Where is the line between contending for the faith and being  a nuisance?

About a month ago, I was over at Mckmama’s website, and noticed a “response” to a “topic” on her blogfrog. I’d NEVER been on it before, (just noticed topics here and there while reading Mckmama’s blog) and had often wondered who has the time to go on discussion boards anymore...(I always forget that the rest of the world isn’t like me. They may not have that crazy disease that comes from too much computer usage..FOMS (Fear of Missing Something) NOR do they probably homeschool their kids. ) But in my mind , this had to be addressed. It was basically a woman, opening up about her “faith” to the rest of the board to ask questions. Very bold and open  (and admittedly brave) thing to do. **Applause** However, when I saw that not only was she not telling the whole truth about her “faith” but also trying to say that hers was a Christian “faith”, I think I found MY LINE to cross.

So I crossed it.

I clicked into blogfrog and told the truth. And helped others tell the truth when the truth coming from my mouth was ignored by said woman…

And while it has opened cans and cans of worms,  (and an unbelievable amount of drama to go with those worms….), it has also brought me to a place in my faith where I am ready to go back to “before” and defend Christ.   I was in this woman’s shoes once–although not nearly as outspoken or bold regarding my religion–I had been brought up that way, and knew what she was saying was basically just regurgitated from another source. And I didn’t want any of her “openness” and “transparent-ness”** to sway anyone in that direction.

Faith in Jesus is a very personal thing, and to be “converted” by an internet chat or a couple of well-meaning advocates at your door is the wrong way to go about it.

Sure, asking lots of questions of lots of people is great. Getting all the information before making that ONE decision for Jesus is the best thing you can do. Jesus Himself said so.

But to trust that what this woman is feeding others is TRUTH goes against the very scripture she (and her “christian faith” )claims to BE SCRIPTURE. (“So far as it is translated correctly. #8“  google it.) We are supposed to test EVERYTHING we read, hear, listen to, talk about, and write against the Word of God.

So, I guess my original question stands. Do you stand up for Jesus when you see His Name defiled in any way?

Why or why not? How do you define Your Line?

**I know that’s not a “real” word. I make them up sometimes.