Truth Patterns Part 1

Our creator created us in such a way that what we experience physically, emotionally and spiritually WILL play out in all areas of our life.

Simply stated: Inward responses based on outward happenings always result in outward expressions that are either life enriching or life impoverishing.

…and remember… we are not islands. Outward expressions that are life impoverishing will most likely affect those we share life with as much, or more, than they do us.

So what can we do about our inward responses that result in an outward expression that impoverishes?

God has put truths in place that can be applied to every part of our lives. Combining these truths provide effective ways to facilitate a healthy and life enriching outcome from the things we experience in a lifetime.

Christian teachers, counselors and pastors have taught these Biblically- based truth patterns for many years, so you may be familiar with one or more of three of these patterns. Most likely you will find one pattern that speaks to your heart more than the others. That’s because God made us complex beings, thus it is important to have several approaches when it comes to how we deal with our “happenings”. This post is going to look at just the first of the three truth patterns I wish to share with you.

Here is the first truth pattern:
Thoughts affect Feelings affect Attitudes affect Actions

The second truth pattern is:
Hearing leads to Believing leads to Trusting

The third truth pattern is:
Relaxation allows Reflection allows Renewal allows Regeneration

I want to spend the rest of this post sharing how powerful the first truth pattern is in every area of our lives.

Thoughts affect Feelings affect Attitudes affect Actions

Life Enriching Outcome
Something happens that is very hurtful and undeserved
I justifiably feel sadness, hurt and emotional pain
I begin to pray and think about what might have caused that person to
treat me like they did – perhaps even feeling empathy as I pray
At the very least my feelings begin to move past the injury I suffered, as
my thoughts are focused on how to become stronger emotionally
because of the injury
My attitude seeks to find grace to forgive
…and thus, my actions towards this person are purposefully kind

Life Impoverishing Outcome
Something happens that is very hurtful and undeserved
I justifiably feel sadness, hurt and emotional pain
My thoughts become focused on the injury I suffered
These thoughts start to consume me and I begin to feel justified in anger
toward the person who injured me
The next time I am with this person a negative and toxic attitude is
present
…And that attitude pervades every part of my being until my actions
toward that person are purposely hurtful and perhaps even hateful
___________________________________________________________________

As followers of Jesus, We CAN change our thoughts before they spiral into destructive feelings, emotions and actions. We need to be eager to look deep within ourselves to identify the incorrect, and perhaps destructive responses we have toward your current “happenings”.

What a joy to spend time talking with Jesus to help us with the identification process.

Once we have identified responses that need to be worked on… it is imperative that we have continued conversations with Jesus paired with Bible reading, spiritual pondering and talking with other followers of Jesus about what the responses we need to work on. Life enriching expressions will begin to be more natural and normal

Would you join me in being transparent with yourself AND Jesus about what thoughts you are having about your current circumstances and/or relationships that might lead you down a life-impoverishing path rather than a life-enriching one?

Remember, in subsequent posts I will look at the other two truth patterns. If you choose to “follow” my blog you don’t miss a single post. -Blessings!

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The Truth About America

I haven’t used this blog to talk about a political issue, however, I believe the time has come for me to do that. Below is a copy of an email I sent to five leaders of the Southern Baptist Conference about eight weeks ago. The president of the conference is J.D. Greears. He was one of the men who received this email. I have not altered the content.

In his talk Mr. Greears was touting the fact that they were adding people of color to their leadership ranks on an ongoing basis because “this is the way we need to operate to move forward with the times we are living in.” (That is a paraphrase.) Please do not misunderstand me. If God brings people of color into Christian organizations that is wonderful! However, to purposely seek out people of color to fall in step with the Woke movement is very concerning. God never asked us to do things like the world. In fact, quite the opposite is true because the Bible teaches that we are to be a light in the darkness… a peculiar people… and people whose hope is not earthly but eternal. Based on Romans 12:2 Paul was saying although we live in this world we are not of this world. We are called to an even higher standard than the world and we cannot adopt of things of this world as our mode of operation as Christian individuals or organizations.

I received no response from any of the men who received this email. This is very telling about where they stand… and IT IS NOT where they should be standing as Christian men who are in leadership. This is very concerning and makes me wonder how many other evangelical organizations across our nation are in sync with the Woke movement.

Here is what I wrote after introducing myself:

“Having been a Christian from a young age, I am deeply distressed to see all that is currently happening in our nation and world. One of those things is the alarming numbers of people, businesses and now churches supporting/adopting the Woke movement. 

I listened to J.D. Greears talk posted on gab.com earlier today. What I heard astounded me, so I want to ask as nicely as I can, why is the Southern Baptist Conference supporting the Woke movement? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around how you could be so deceived as to believe that this movement is one that ANY Christian organization should stand behind. We are to love one another, share the gospel and bring people into the kingdom. How is focusing on how many of one race you have within your organization part of being about the Father’s business? Jesus didn’t worry about political issues that took the focus off of his ministry. 

Ben Carson said this week in Iowa, “As we continue to be bombarded by racially charged narratives, there has been a subtle shift in the conversation: Its focus has moved from equality to equity. That is, instead of pursuing the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ideal of judging people by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin, equity would reward and punish people because of the color of their skin. Rather than equality of opportunity, equity would mandate equality of outcome.”

There are two parts of his statement that I want to emphasize. 

The first is that equality and equity are not the same thing. Equity is not a sign of racism but rather of recognizing and using the abilities of a person, no matter the color of that person. 

The second is to point out the words “there has been a subtle shift”. That is how Satan and the world operates. It takes something that sounds good, and is perhaps even a good idea fundamentally – and then very subtly changes it. The subtle changes continue until before long the fundamental idea/ideal is lost and there is a completely different idea/ ideal. This is exactly what is happening with the Woke movement. There are indeed some racially prejudiced people in every walk of life, every color and every economic class. However, that truth has subtly over the last several decades until we are now being told that the truth is that every white is prejudiced against every black, or person of another color. Coca Cola is spending company time teaching their white employees to “try to be less white”! Do you hear the absurdity of that statement? Can you imagine what the fallout would be if you told a person of any other color but white to try to be less of what they are?

Would you also consider with me who are those that are advocating there is such widespread racism in our nation? 

1. People that believe the killing of black babies is ok.  They don’t talk about the fact that the black community is ravaged by more black children being aborted than any other race. Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood was all about population control. These words are from an article dated April 10, 2021 in Yahoo News. “Sanger was a foremost proponent of the eugenics movement in the U.S., motivated especially by her particular animus toward poor nonwhites. Her crusade to legalize birth control was motivated in large part by her desire to prevent the  “unfit” and “feeble-minded” from reproducing.” 

2. People who cry out against blacks being killed by police officers but never speak a word about blacks killing blacks on a daily basis on Chicago’s south side. 

3. People who decided to move the MLB All Stars game out of Georgia because it courageously voted to change election laws in order to ensure a fair vote in the next election. Their reason? They purport that those new laws would keep minorities from voting. Even though those accusations are a lie, more importantly – and sadly, minority owners of businesses will reap lost revenue from the game being moved from their city. After being hit very hard in 2020 with COVID every business in the area was looking forward to the money that would be spent by all those coming to the game. Moving the game because the state is “racist” will cause all business owners of every color to be hurt. They won’t talk about that.

The truth is, America is not a nation without discrimination. But also…

The truth is, America is not a nation primarily of white supremacists. 

The truth is, America is a nation that was founded on faith in God

The truth is, America has been a nation where people are free to pursue any walk of life regardless of race, color or creed  

AND, the truth is…  America needs Jesus!

We are ALL created in God’s image. Racial hate, unrest and prejudice is a result of sin. Nothing more. Those who are working to convince Americans that we can heal our nation of racism via intimidation, mandates, programs and curriculums are wrong about both the problem and the solution. They do not see that unless America returns to one nation under God, there is no way back to the nation we once knew. A nation that stood proud among the nations of the world. America needs leaders, preachers, teachers and evangelists that are telling the people about Jesus. That is the only fix. 

It is time to be about the Father’s business. It is inconceivable for me to imagine our heavenly father cares at all how many people of color you have within your ranks. What he does care about is how many souls you are winning for eternity. Time is short. Shorter than it has ever been before – simply because we are moving through history, and he will return. But, with all the events in our nation and world I believe the time of his return is very soon… in fact imminent! 

Please, I implore you, abandon this foolish movement and focus only on changing the souls of people, regardless of color, for now and eternity.” 

America, America God Shed His Grace on Thee

“America the Beautiful” was written by Katherine Lee Bates in 1893.

Of course, it goes without saying that, the things going on in our country at that time were very different from the things going on now. Yet, these words are still full of meaning and should evoke great emotion from those of us privileged enough to live in this great country.

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern impassion’d stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine!

O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

 

As election day draws near, PRAY for our nation as individual citizens voting and for those in leadership. America is truly the only nation ever founded by citizens desiring religious freedom to practice Christianity. How much greater than any other nations demise might America’s be if we do not turn back to the God of our forefathers and founders and cry out for Him to save our nation?!

God, please shed your grace on America!

(If you have never seen the movie “Monumental” by Kirk Cameron – it is a must-see!)

“My spirit faints…breathe and infuse me with encouragement, Lord!”

This is my ongoing prayer during this chapter of my life. I am quite certain that many of you can identify with the need to pray this also.

“Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.” Psalm 143:4

This verse comes from a chapter where David is being pursued by an enemy. He is literally, and figuratively, at the end of his human strength. I would not presume to believe that my situation is nearly as dire as his because my personal safety is not at risk…but the fact still remains that ongoing major stresses in life can cause my spirit to faint. I have had many times when my throat tightens, tear well up, my heart begins to race and I just want the situation to pass as quickly as possible.

Fainting is a temporary thing! That is the first good news. As believers in Jesus, our souls may faint in the moment – but they do not expire.  …take some time to take that in fully.

The Lord is our encouragement when our soul faints. We do not have to conjure up the strength to encourage ourselves. I can attest to the fact that self-talk to encourage myself it rarely successful. However, when we allow God to breathe and infuse encouragement into us, it is always successful!

How is “breathe” different from “infuse”?
Breathe in this context is not inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. Rather it is a transitive verb meaning “to send out”, as in God sends out His encouragment and we are the recipient of that encouragement.
Infuse is also a transitive verb meaning “to cause to be permeated with something (such as a principle or quality) that alters usually for the better”.

So, although “breathe” is a beautiful word that brings to mind relaxation, joy, peace and – in this case – encouragement… I believe “infuse” gives a better word picture of how God brings encouragement to you. Since infuse means to permeate or be saturated with something outside of ourselves – an infusion of God’s encouragement ALWAYS alters us for the better. It is a literal taking over of our faint spirits via permeating encouragement!

Join me as I pray to – speaking figuratively – wallow (indulge in an unrestrained way) in God’s mud puddle until our spirits are revived!

 

God’s Timing

I have a confession to make… I still get puzzled and frustrated with God’s timing in my life!  It shouldn’t surprise me that I get puzzled because, as a created being, I will never fully grasp His consummate timing. And, the reason I get frustrated with His timing is because I often think more of myself, the creation, than God my creator!

“Sometimes God will make you wait on purpose, not only so you will know it was His favor, but so all of your critics, friends, relatives and coworkers won’t be able to deny what God has done in your life.”

This quote was recently shared by someone I follow on Instagram and it spoke to me, because most of it is true. I was definitely disappointed to find out that this is something Joel Osteen said, because I don’t agree with much of anything he has to say, but there is truth in this quote and that is what I want to focus on.

I have only two choices possible when God says “wait”. The first is to whine and wimper and act like a spoiled little child whose daddy has told me I can’t have a toy I want at the toy store. The second is to stay on my knees before my heavenly daddy in humbleness welcoming His answer… whether that be “wait”… or “no”. (This is part of the quote that is not truth, because God doesn’t always only make us wait. Sometimes His answer is a definite “no” but even that answer is His favor!)

Favor refers to “an act of kindness beyond what is due”. The creator of the universe, and my creator, take the definition of this word to a new level because His favor toward me is not just acts of kindness, but rather acts of mercy and grace unmerited by me. Sending His one and only son to die and pay the penalty of sin for me is the greatest of all these acts, but He shows me ongoing mercy and grace everyday. Sometimes I am not aware of His favor and other times I am so aware of His favor that I can only cry out “God thank you!”. So, my re-write for the first part of this quote would be “Sometimes God will make you wait, or ask you to accept His “no” response on purpose, not only so you will know it was His favor, but so that…”

The rest of the quote is spot on, but knowing Joel’s teaching I am presuming the focus is in the wrong place. God knows that every part of His plan for your life will be a witness to God’s glory to everyone in your life.

However, to see the glory of God, the focus needs to be on GOD and what HE has done in your life – not on YOU and what he has done in YOUR life.

Last week our pastor spoke of the encounter Mary and Martha had with Jesus after the death of their brother, Lazarus.  In John 11:40, just before He raised Lazarus up from the dead Jesus said “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” The focus at this point in the story was definitely not on anyone except God and what He was doing.

When God is at work in your life “… our critics, friends relatives and coworkers won’t be able to deny what Almighty GOD has done, is doing and will do in your life.”

Glorifying God is our chief mission according to the Westminster catechism. God will be glorified in us, despite us.

“Sometimes God will make you wait, or ask you to accept His “no” response on purpose, not only so you will know it was His favor, but so that… your critics, friends relatives and coworkers won’t be able to deny what ALMIGHTY GOD has done, is doing and will do in your life.” – re-written by Carin Hansen

May this bless you as much as it has blessed me to break this apart and digest each part. What A God We Serve!

Aglow and Burning with the Spirit

Romans 12:11 “Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” Amplified Version

Yesterday I picked up my Bible and began reading the twelth chapter of Romans.  When I got to this verse, I found myself touched and energized by these words.  It was a Monday morning and I knew it was going to be not only a busy day, but a busy week.  Yet these words blocked all responsiblities and duties from my mind for a few moments.  I think that recent events in America made these words jump off the page at me like never before.

Like I said, it was the beginning of a busy day – and week, so I haven’t gotten to spend anymore time meditating on this verse.  That is why I thought I would do that with you in this post.

As a visual learner, I found this photo a great example of what being “aglow and burning with the Spirit” would look like if I could see it in the visible world.  Fire is fierce and powerful, mesmorizing and beautiful as it licks up the oxygen that fuels it.  When combining the two and giving it a spiritual meaning, it becomes a picture of fiercely standing for Biblical truth while serving the Lord in beautiful love.  The two cannot be separated if my zeal and earnest endeavor is to be effective.

Never “lag” brings to mind one exerting energy, wearing out and slowing down.  Earnest endeavors are those that require ALL of me.  All my heart, soul, mind and strength.  The challenge Pauls give me is to not only never lag in my earnest endeavor of sharing and showing Jehovah God – but to get brighter, hotter and more on fire as I serve the Lord.  What an incredible challenge – and one that I can never do in my own strength.

As I ponder the meaning of this short verse, I am rocked by its impact on me.  My understanding of my own frailness is overwhelmed by the the incredible ability of my Lord Jesus Christ.  “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”  That is the old King James version of the verse.  Most modern translations use “who” instead of “which”.  I am not going to debate whether one is more right than the other – however, it is quite obvious that the phrase “I can do all things through Christ” means it is He who strengthens me.  To think of the verse using “which” instead of “who” points me to the fact that because I can do all things through Christ then I am strengthened in my weakness because I understand it is all about Jesus and NOT ME!

Holy Spirit – I pray – be aglow and burning in me as I serve the Lord in Your strength.   Then I will never lag in zeal and earnest endeavor fiercely standing in truth and love.