Who do you want to be like when you grow up?

I guess we've all heard the saying "Like Father, like Son". And that's a wonderful thing to be as long as your father is a godly parent. Even godly parents would have a few traits that probably we would not all love to have passed down to us. I have wonderful parents, but I wouldn't want to be JUST like them. Nor would I want my daughters to be JUST like me. Whoa, absolutely not! I've messed up way too many times.

And then, have you heard the latest recipients of the Most Admired Woman Award and the Most Admired Man Award? Can you guess? Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama. Well, they certainly have some great qualities, and I'm not getting political here, but would you look up to them and say "Wow, I want to be JUST like them!"

My point is this. You may have a wonderful godly parent, or you may look up to a teacher or a pastor, there are many wonderful examples out there for us to look to, but when it comes down to it, who are you aspiring to be like and how are you hoping to achieve it?

And BTW, age has nothing to do with it.

John 5:19-23

19. Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless [it is] something He sees the Father doing; for whatever [the Father] does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20. "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel. 21. "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22. "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23. in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Jesus, is saying that He watches the Father to see what is to be done. Father God is His example. He wasn't out there to do things "His way", but He was in compliance at all times with what God the Father was showing Him.

People were having a hard time accepting the fact that Jesus was claiming to be the Son of God. To them it was blasphemy. "Just WHO does he think he is?!" Then add the fact that Jesus was saying God was going to use Him to raise the dead, and then to be the Judge, well that was more than the naysayers could stand. They really hated Jesus, and started planning ways to get rid of Him almost immediately in His ministry.

To be such ardent teachers of the Law, somehow they had missed all the scriptures that pointed to the fact that God was sending His Son, a messenger, to save the world. I guess they missed that little important piece of information. Or more probably, the concepts that Jesus was talking about didn't fit in with all their corrupt pride and plans.


Proverbs 18:16 says, "Pride goes before destruction, an haughty spirit before a fall."

In this case pride means the opposite of humble. Someone who doesn't need God or anyone else. They think they know best.

Been there before.

Don't ever want to be there again...

Reading this makes me think of all the times that my behavior looked nothing at all like Jesus. Losing my temper over trivial things, bad attitudes, lack of compassion or mercy for those people that may be dealing with something I don't want to deal with.

Then to take it further, how about just looking to the Father and saying, "What do You see for me? What is it that You want me to be doing in life? What's Your plan for me and mine, Father?"

Remember yesterday when I mentioned a few phrases, song titles, etc. that kind of get under my skin? OK, here's another one: the famous song by Frank Sinatra called "My Way". Love the tune and Ole Blue Eyes wonderful voice, But what a temptation to just be out there doing it MY WAY. Some of you may be thinking that I'm going a little far with this. That's your prerogative. But I don't want to be going around singing for God and all the universe to hear, saying ..."I did it my way!"

I'm not talking about losing our individuality here, I'm referring to the idea of making a plan all by myself and then running with it. It has always worked out better for me to seek God first for the plan, then do the running.

I want to honor God the Father every day in my thoughts, attitude, and actions. And yes, they do come in that order. What we think on becomes our attitude, and then that translates into our actions.
So the next time I am tempted to bust out in a hissy fit, or tell someone exactly what I might be thinking I need to run it by Jesus. Hmmm....let's see..."what would Jesus do?" That's one I really like.

with great love,
Debra

Word for the day: In regard to the Father showing the Son what is to be done I want to say that like Him, I expect you to follow My example. You are not to be out there doing things in a way I have not shown you. Then when you are living your everyday life, it needs to be in My image.

OK, now I "get it"!

I have felt especially "contemplative" lately. I guess that comes with the new year. Given the time to do so, I am generally a pretty deep thinker. I like to roll things around in my head and put them before God, to get his take on things. I have to admit that there are some phrases, song titles, and slang that just make me a little queasy. Case in point, the phrase "bloom where you are planted". No offense, but that phrase has always set me on edge. I guess as a type A- personality, it sounded a bit trite to my ears. I prefer the idea of "bust your buns and do the best you can, and go as far as you can go, and don't settle for less."...that's more like the person I have been. Now?... well, let's just say, I'm rethinking a few of my viewpoints.

The following scripture was written by John the Apostle, probably the closest disciple to Jesus. He is recounting John the Baptist's ministry, who was the "forerunner" of Jesus, and his earthly cousin.

Version: NAS

John 3:22-30

22. After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and they were coming and were being baptized. 24. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25. There arose therefore a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification. 26. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him." 27. John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28. "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' 29. "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. And so this joy of mine has been made full. 30. "He must increase, but I must decrease.
 
Look at the scripture in red, because these two thoughts were what God wants to stress today. He is the one that "gifts" us with our abilities. Yes, believe it or not, we all have special "gifts" from God, some being more apparent than others. Hospitality, financial giving, mercy toward others, just to name a few. God gives them out as He sees fit. Have you ever asked God what your "gift" is? I want to address not so much the "gifting" that you may have, but the wise use of whatever it is that God does see fit to hand over to you. Do you use yours wisely?
 
John the Baptist had been gifted with a purpose. A purpose that had been placed upon him by the Holy Spirit from his conception. He was to prepare the way for Jesus and His earthly ministry.
 
John had been given a place and people. He lived in the desert, wore camel hair britches (ouch) and ate wild locusts and honey. Sorry, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me. He was a "misfit" and "weirdo" by the world's standard, yet he fulfilled a purpose that had been given to him by God. He was to preach repentance to the people to prepare their hearts for Jesus arrival on the scene. John the Baptist was the "opening act", and Jesus was the "main attraction".

John sees his place in the grand scheme of things. He doesn't get his head all puffed up and lose perspective. He says in so many words, "God has given this to me as my purpose. This is my job, and I'm going to do it His way, in His place and in His timing. I'm fulfilling a purpose for Jesus and that is to start the plan into motion. Then I'm handing it over to Jesus. Because He's the one this is all about."
 
John knew what he was gifted to do and he did it. Even though he was in the "New Testament", John the Baptist, was the last "Old Testament" prophet. He never performed a miracle, but his life and ministry were crucial to Jesus' ministry.
 
Now, back to you and me. God's put something on me, a call if you will, and He's saying to me to be a person who will go out and do what He's asking of me. He's given me a gift, but He has given each one of you a gift also.  Will we use them wisely?
 
Take your gift out of the closet, and let it be known. Start using it. Tell Jesus, "I'm going to let you take over, I give You permission to "increase". My agenda will "decrease". You are the one that this is all about. Use my gifting Lord."

 Less of me, more of Jesus.

 
God has been dealing with me about this. Putting our gifting to good use, whatever it is. OK, now I get it, and now I can say it. Don't squander what God has given you. Don't hide it because of fear or lack of confidence...

"Bloom where you are planted".

 

Debra

 
Word for the day: "The ability to take what I have given you and to make it worthwhile. Don't squander what has been entrusted to you."

Anyone hungry out there?

I don't know about you, but I get hungry each and everyday. Usually more than once, and as human beings God has designed us to take nourishment on a daily basis. Even if we have a huge meal one day, we are more than likely still going to want and need to eat the next.

Just so with God's Word. He designed us to need it everyday. There are a lot of us famished people out there. We are hungry and needing to eat, but may not know it. If we don't eat on a daily basis, then we can suffer damaging and lasting effects.

A few years ago God gave me a vision of Himself at a huge harvest table. Here sat Jesus, smiling and welcoming, sitting in the middle of the table, like we see in the painting of the Last Supper. The table was full to overflowing with all varieties of delicious and nutritious food. Fruits, vegetables, meats and breads. Each one more scrumptious looking than the last. It was the biggest feast I could possibly imagine. There were many places available, but off to the side I saw what appeared to be "walking dead". People who looked ashen and shrunken. They were standing in line, one following the other, heads down, beaten, dejected, and lifeless. They were headed to a table where all the food was cold as ice, hard, pathetic and unappetizing. Like 10 year old frozen dinners. Freezer burn and ice covered. They were each receiving a small piece on their plate and walking away the same they had come. Dead in their spirit, mind, and body.

Exodus 16: 13-15
13. So it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14. When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. 15. When the sons of Israel saw [it], they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.


Version: NAS
Matthew 6:9-13
9. "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. 10. 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11. 'Give us this day our daily bread. 12. 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13. 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen].'

John 13:33-35
33. "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." 34. They said therefore to Him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." 35. Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

God showed me that we need to meet daily with Jesus at His table. He is the One that will feed us. We are often eating "fast food" with no value, grabbing a "snack" without thinking, and eating "dead things" of the world. 

So as this year began to draw to a close, I asked the Lord, what He wanted the Bible Study to be for the coming year. He said, "Feed them daily." So that is what I will do, I'm going to make a commitment to post daily on this Bible Study Blog.

I know many of you have other Bible Studies and attend church, but this is something that I need to do for myself to be more consistent. It may just be a verse with a thought, or maybe more. But I am sure that what God has to say will be fresh and nourishing, and hopefully I will convey it in a way that will be appetizing and filling.

Starting Monday I will begin. I'm not exactly sure where we are going with this, but I'm excited to see where He leads. I believe good things are on the way.

Please pray for me that I will hear God accurately, be productive in my time management, and that He will anoint each day's post with His Presence.

See you Monday!

Love,

Debra