Psalms 8

I like Psalms 8.

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise [b]
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [c]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

I like this psalm because it esteems God who is above all things. This is Echoed again in Hebrews 2 where the Author articulates that God is to be esteemed as Christ was made like one of us- humbled Himself, even though God Himself- and made Himself like one of us. Christ humbled Himself when seeing the Glory of God and His amazingness.

We may read this and say wow....God gave us all these things. And while that may be a good thing for us- we forget who it is that bestows this upon us. When we come face to face with our God- and we are forced to look at ourselves- it is no wonder that we would be humbled. Coming face to face with someone who is more beautiful and more lovely than us- then looking at ourselves- doing a little comparison- i am forced to wonder something more than simply God's beauty and Glory.

I am confronted with my own sinfulness- and am more amazed to and perplexed as to why God would want to be with me....or why He would even bestow upon me all the wonders of who He is.

I am undeserving- i really deserve punishment of some kind. Whether or not it is harsh or gentle punishment- it is still punishment. But instead- He demonstrates His love to us even while we were still sinners- even NOW as we are STILL sinners....

He crowns us- undeserving of it all- and seeing the HUmility of our King- i am transformed and bamboozled about this- that My King would humble Himself like so- and seek to CALL AND PURPOSE sinners to be His people- to set them on the same level and status as Christ- with all the rights of His Children- of royalty....i am feeling undeserving- feeling overwhelmed- feeling humbled- and feeling like giving it all back in praise to My God- to My Father. wow....that i would call Him my Father- where i have come from- with all my brokenness and sin- to be called to live with Him and to KNOW Him....and to be PART of HIM.

Decreasing and Increasing

Decreasing in ourselves and increasing in Christ involves our lives desiring to be something more than simply ourselves. Our lives if lived in the sole pursuit of our own pleasures will ultimately lead to a life of selfishness, and eventually a very lonely life. When Christ calls us to follow Him, it is not only in our sacrifice that we gain something better, but in our continued living and following Christ and His ways. Our lives continue to become more and more Christ-like as we follow Jesus more, even in obedience as He was to the cross. While we may make a decision for Christ, becoming more Christ-like is the purpose of every follower of Christ. While our journey may take many years, we are constantly being refined more and more by God’s Spirit in us.
Where we are decreasing is in our legalistic tendencies and the sacrificing of our old life. While it may be difficult at first, the end result of a life lived entirely in the embrace of Christ is that we are continually being refined. While it may be difficult to entirely turn and sacrifice all that is precious to us for Christ in the beginning, as we follow Christ, we are continually focused on a new life lived with Him. In that, perhaps our lives are changed slowly as we begin and continue to learn to trust in Him more and more. While we may not be perfect right away in all our behavior and character, God has paid for those sins with Jesus Christ on the cross. We are not the center of our own lives any longer, but continually setting our eyes on Jesus Christ. While He increases in our lives, our lives and our hearts begin to decrease as we are continually overcome by His forgiveness on the Cross that cost Him everything, while continually resting in His grace that we continue to draw upon.

Beginning and Continuing

Many moments in Matthew 5-7 and even beyond- extending into the old testament- it is easy to take a look at the laws and requirements of the Law of God. This laundry list of do's and don'ts we need to be careful about b/c the same thing happened to the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. We should take a look at them and not have a dispassionate look at these elder brothers, but look at them as needing the same kind of grace that is needed in the sinners and tax collectors- the younger brothers of each generation.

In alot of ways- it is easier for the poorer and the sinners of the gospel to receive Jesus b/c they had little or nothing to lose- and everything to gain. However, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law had much to lose. I am reminded of Mark 10 when Jesus speaks to the rich young ruler and about how hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. How difficult it is for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle.

The analogy is well articulated b/c it is impossible for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God- not b/c they are rich- but b/c of their sin. However- it is just as interesting to note that for the poor, it is equally difficult- maybe less difficult- maybe less impossible- say...."for a chicken to enter through the eye of a needle"

it is easy to compare and be judgmental toward the pharisees and teachers of the law- but Christ came for the sinners and the lost and the sick- and that includes also the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. While Jesus spent alot of time amongst sinners and the poor, He spent a substantial time with the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law talking about the Law.

So when looking at the law and all its requirements, it can be real easy to see it as a to do. If i did my devotions today- then i am good with God. If i prayed- i get 10 more points. If i helped an old lady across the street- then the next prayer i throw up- God is sure to answer. If this is our mentality regarding the Law of God- we are forgetting Romans 3:23 in which it is said- for ALL have sinned- and fall short of the Glory of God.

The question is- do you measure up to the Glory of God? That is what the Law is- it is the reflection of the perfect character and craziness of God. Can you measure up to that? Mainly- are you as righteous as God? How about as powerful?

in the end- nobody follows the Law exactly- for even at one point we fail at the Law- we fail at it all. We are imperfect. The Law is not meant to be a laundry list to JUSTIFY ourselves or to try to help us to become PERFECT. It helps to show us that we are NOT perfect- that it is as EASY as a camel passing through the eye of a needle- or a chicken doing the same....that drives us to only HE who is worthy. To Christ we run to and we look to- b/c only He can accomplish this perfection for us- and in us. If we still continue to rely on our own strength- seeking to solve our own problems- we will continually find that we cannot. And when we are frustrated beyond strength- perhaps then will we look to Christ- and ask Him to accomplish it in us.

For if He accomplished it on the cross- why would He not continue and complete the good work He began in us? Philippians 1

Being inconspicuous

I often meander and ruminate on the issue of Christ letting us know that we would do well not to seek fame or recognition for what good we do. The fear is that if we do take credit- and we get the recognition of man- then in many ways we have already received our reward.

This also can show us where our hearts are at. Do we seek the approval of man more than the approval of God? Are we not satisfied with the aspect of knowing Christ- and counting it all as loss as compared to the surpassing Glory of Christ?

i sometimes like some compliments and it's fun to hear what people say about me and my pastoring role now. It's strange to be seen as an authority figure- and i really don't mind. What happens is that i tend to listen to the voices of the people and what they think- rather than resting in the sublime embrace of God.

Our significance can come from so many things. For some it's from the approval of man- in many forms- in the form of status- in the form of feeling left out of life- of not getting the self esteem or confidence or affirmation from people. I really wonder how deep these things go- and i need only look at myself to know that i fail so awesomely at this. i don't get discouraged that easily but i am deeply insecure. But when we are found by God- the insecurity doesn't necessarily change- but where we find our significance does. When we find it in God- who is unchanging- it does trump everything else that is subject to change.

This is not the same as transcending reality- but more the fact that there is life now- in our struggles and in our process and journey- but in our escapism culture- we like to escape our circumstances so much- we just want to get through the times we don't like. well....sometimes- maybe just sometimes- now....i believe all the time- that our struggles and bad times when we feel cursed- it actually is good as it draws us toward Christ. When times are good- we really are departing from Christ- and thinking to ourselves- "God must have blessed me".

But if our lives are so stirred by circumstances- it is like "being tossed and turned by the waves of the sea" in which we are not anchored to Christ.

And i think it is great to be aware of our actions and the things happening around us- but we need to take a look inwards at what we are seeking to find in the things we go after. We would be wise to look inward at what we find our significance in. Whether or not they are good- we look and look at ourselves- and then we look at Christ- and it is almost a wonder how we could have such a high opinion of ourselves in the face of Christ. I am most blessed in this place- where i am left with Christ- and looking upon His face- and finding that everything else pales in comparison.

3 things

i've found you only need 3 things to find the right one- meaning THE ONE

1. Adversity- how do they respond to adversity? if you like how they respond- it's a pretty good indicator of their character/trust/loyalty. etc etc. do they lash out at things and get really upset at everything? do they live in denial. ignore the problem....numb themselves to it?

2. INDIvidual vs Communal- are they independent or do they involve others in their lives? good indicator of how they will treat another person. another reason why its difficult living with people who have never had siblings sometimes. can they share? are they possessive? are they greedy or spoiled? do they isolate themselves all the time? are they willing to involve themselves in the lives of others? are they closed off or open? do they understand being a team player involves adjusting and accomodating others? are they accepting/judging/hating/or helping?

3. Passion and grumbling- are they doing the right things in their lives to pursue their own life interests? are they independent enough to pursue what they want? are they always disgruntled and unhappy with the things around them? or have they been able to look past that and pursue their dreams and passions? do they enjoy what they do? do they enjoy life? do they enjoy living, whether it be work or play?

Now that we have 3 things i've been thinking about- just to make it simple. what are 3 things you can do with the other person- observe about them- or just notice that will help you find or bring to light these things-

1. Do something active with them in a group- go play a sport with them. are they unaware of themselves? are they aware that they are part of a team? are they taking bad shots? are they able to adjust to being part of a team and doing what is best for the team? do they disregard the opinions of others? are they encouraging? how do they handle things not going their way?

2. Spend time with their close friends. What company do they keep close to them?- are they around people who are good for them? what values do they hold in their close friends? are the friends loyal? are they honest? are they genuine? or do they criticize alot? talk crap alot? are they encouraging? are they of high character? most likely- the person is probably like their friends in some capacity.

3. fight- fighting is communicating. now be nice- but problems always arise. although you can't base everything on how you fight with the other person debating and what not is appropriate. do they disregard you? are they condescending? are they accommodating? do they try to understand where you are coming from and considering you? or are they dismissive and unresponsive? are you able to scuffle, but still have an implicit trust that they care about you? do they listen to you? do you listen to them? can you appreciate them and accept them? or are you scoffing and cringing at the sound of their voice? are they apologetic and considerate? whatever it might be- can they appreciate the differences between in each other and not see it as a bad thing? are they defensive or are they willing to work things out? what not.

whatever your preference is....it's all different between each person- but whatever it might be. it's good to be careful with all these things and to find out and discover who the other person is. compatability is important...but not everything....communication/values/ interests/relationships are all part of the other person. whatever it might be- it's always difficult to be in relationships because it's hard enough to live with yourself- now factor in someone else....and i won't even get into kids.

I sit here and pray as i am preyed upon

people always wonder who their best friends are. i suppose i'm always looking for a kindred spirit- or kindred spirits. kin- meaning related...and kindred meaning related spirits in some way or fashion.

not sure if i desire to psychoanalyze all the reasons why i would desire so much for a best friend- but someone to understand and to be there with you- not out of duty or obligation- but out of care. and while i believe it true that we can learn to love others that we do not get along with necessarily or even liken to ourselves- as the family of God- we receive them all as fellow brothers and sisters- and it is this bond that keeps us united.

However, special places of honor are to be set for certain ones- and most definitely best friends- the ones that understand- well....the ones that you can describe in stunning detail what it means to be a best friend- "true friend" that you always smile when you think about them as being ones that uplift your soul. Everyone has their own style of being loved and need to be cared for...and while it true that w can learn to love- and also while true that we MUST learn to love one another- there are some that just....seem fitted to our hearts.

Now there is always a God shaped vacuum in our hearts that only God can fill- i also believe that there are the honored guests in our house that have special place next to us- our trusted advisers....our kindred spirits....our reflections of light in darkest hours....and in however way we describe it- it truly is....the ones that are able to help us to see God and somehow divinely lift us out of the ruts....that make these nights....

just not so dark and not so hopeless

Go with the Flow Don't say No

i think growing up is about succeeding. for my own life- i have found that it is not a matter of wanting better- but often about being afraid of wanting better. there is a paradox that continues to play out in my life-

i often feel ahead- ahead- like three steps ahead of things. i'm wired in the way that i think long term- i think down the road...but often when i think about the times that i've been ready- i've been reluctant to seize opportunities.

not sure what to say- but maybe it's about seasoning. maybe it's about timing and seizing the opportunities that readily come our way. if we aren't ready for the blessings in our lives- it is easy for us to overlook them and simply turn a blind eye. we call it ignorance- but when we know something is in our face- can we really call it ignorance?

and perhaps it is about that. our lives are filled with blessings that we are unable to see- opportunities that await us in our midst....and regrets of not acting, not doing anything, afraid of making a wrong decision

fear can be so powerful in holding us back in our dreams...and we can stay paralyzed in a myriad of ways. we pawn off our actions as being patient- and i find that....although as patient as i can be- i find that true patience is knowing what you are looking for....and often in times of transition we find serenity and peace- trusting in Christ for the things we love

it's not so much the things we love and want- it's just ....well....it's being ready for the blessings in our life- and so much more that God wants to give us....if we would just open our eyes....open our ears....and open our hearts