© 2008 by Minister Deidre Campbell-Jones
February Theme: Love
Lover: Solomon 1:4; Solomon 8:6-7
Friend: Solomon 5:16; John 3:29
My husband is an actor. Recently he had pictures taken for new headshots. Every time he does, he always chooses a picture that is so handsome he almost looks like a different person. You see, on a daily basis my husband is cute and attractive. Every once in a while he’ll show up looking “not-so-cute” and frequently he “cleans” up to be very handsome (much like his headshot) for one occasion or another. But in this particular round of pictures there was one (that he and his management team did not choose) that is decidedly H.O.T!! Good grief! I have never seen this man before!
Of course, I snatched the picture, and I tease my husband by calling this particularly gorgeous picture of him, “my boyfriend”. And when I do, my husband makes a decidedly, very “un-cute” face and amusingly complains that I only like “that guy” because he’s a “rough-neck” and a “heart-breaker” – the kind of guy that is bad news. I answered him yesterday with a deeply longing sigh, and said, “Yeah, you’re right – but the good news is, I’m married to him.” Oh, if only he’d show up! Admittedly I think I would be giddy if my husband revealed this side of himself to me – truly that could be every woman’s dream – the full package. Knowing he’s got it inside of him really makes me anticipate the possibility of seeing “him” with excitement – much to my husband’s confusion (and now embarrassment, I’m sure)!
“Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.” Solomon 1:4 – and in fact this entire very short, very romantic book, specifically describes a bride and groom, two lovers who are mad about each other! The bride in this particular verse is saying if he, her lover and husband King Solomon, would just beckon her, just call to her; she would run to him. He has brought her into his most intimate places and likens his deep love for her as his private chambers – and the love she finds there is sweet, intoxicating and righteous. Throughout the whole of the book, this young bride describes how handsome, and how alluring and enticing her husband is. He is a roe, he is a buck, and he is a stallion! And yet he is gentle, romantic, sweet and loving. Solomon was one bad (shut ‘yo mouth)! And trust me, he knew it! He embraced exactly who he was!
Now you know God did not just have the Song of Solomon included in our Holy Writ as simply a pure and holy example of a loving and intimate marriage. No, the whole book is a parable of God’s love for his people and the love he desires us to have with him! It is supposed to be an intimate, enticing, joyously exciting and loving relationship filled with the anticipation of spending time with Him in the privacy of the King’s chambers!
Apparently, many good men, (nice men, decent men and especially righteous men) have difficulty looking at themselves as being enticing, intimate lovers. How much more difficult then is it for ANY man to think of a relationship with God in this manner!? A deeply intimate and romantic relationship with God!? It seems blasphemous and sacrilegious, as well as indescribably impossible, even at the writing of it!
And yet one tiny verse in the middle of the Book of Solomon explains it this way: “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” (vs. 5:16)
Have you ever had a friend closer to you than any girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse? This is the kind of friend who knows the intimate details of your life and who understands the intricate details of your heart and being. This friend gives without reservation, loves unconditionally, laughs wholeheartedly, and seeks your presence with anticipation! I had a friend like this once and I remember telling her, “If I ever find a man who is just like you, he’ll be the PERFECT husband.”
John 3:29 describes this perfect friend and husband: “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” Does God fulfill your joy? No man can do it – not even for himself. Lovers can't do it at all and no spouse can do it all. And friends, as well as their intimate, joyful friendships can be but for a season.
Believe it or not, God is aching for, longing for, and anticipating this deep and abiding, intimate lover and friendship relationship with each of us. Daily He finds ways to call to us, waiting for us to run to Him. But so often we look right through Him, not recognizing the intimacy He offers; looking instead to someone here on Earth for the intimacy they are incapable of giving, sustaining, recognizing or accepting for themselves.
Think of your lover or your spouse on their best day, and that friend you’d rather be with more than anyone else. This is the relationship God wants to have with us and more. Solomon 8:6-7 “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”
What can a man (or woman) give if he doesn’t know he has it? What can a man (or woman) accept if he doesn’t know what it is he wants?
God knows what we have because He has created us in His own image. God knows the intimacy we are capable of because He has created us according to His likeness. The unfortunate part is we don’t recognize it in ourselves. We shun it, reject it, try to extract it and deny it. And when we see these qualities we don’t recognize in others, in our friends, lovers, spouses, children, parents and neighbors, we denounce them, chastise and chide the individual for them, and withdraw from them. And until we embrace the “all” of ourselves, the whole of our being just as God created us; we cannot accept the whole of His being and the whole of the intimate loving relationship He is offering to us.
If we were to look at ourselves through God’s eyes, we would see beauty; sweet, enticing, alluring, dynamic, exciting, powerful, joyful, and lovable beauty. And trust me, God LOVES what He sees! If we were to see that in ourselves, and more so if we were to love that in ourselves, how much more would we see and love that in the Lord our God? God is waiting for us to embrace the creations He has made! Oh, my sweet embraceable me!
Your Home Study homework: Last week you read about a friend who sticks closer than a brother, consider this week the friend who sticks closer than a lover. How does this concept relate to our lesson above as well as through Matthew 22:37?
(Note: Aspects of this lesson are taken from the book “Father, Brother, Lover, Friend: Finding “The One”, expected to be released by Destination Publications in June 2009.)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
FATHER/BROTHER – PROVIDER/PROTECTOR
February Theme: Love
Fatherly Love: Matthew 7:11; Matthew 5:48
Brotherly Love: Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 18:19
As you may know, I am a parent – obviously (to those of you who know me). And equally as obvious (with just a smidge of thought) is the fact that my perspective regarding my relationship with my son is far different than my son’s perspective of our relationship. Even at four years old my son would already describe our relationship differently than I would – good or bad. But even if I did give this reasoning a smidge of thought throughout every aspect of my relationship with my son, I’m sure it would not change the nature of my relationship with him or his with mine.
Matthew 7:11 says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Do you know why God reminds us of this aspect of our earthly and heavenly father/child relationships? Because we forget that as a parent, God’s perspective of us does not change because our perceptions do not match the actual relationship He has with us.
For many of us, we treat our fathers (or anyone else that we know well for that matter) in the manner in which we think they will treat us. Since my son is four, he is still too young to be completely conditioned to the way his father and I treat him and he comes to us fresh and new, with the same open-ended expectancy every time. For now it’s just a matter of him remembering not to do what he knows he’s not supposed to. Later, I’m sure it will change in terms of him determining on his own accord what he feels he can or cannot come to us about and what he could or should not ask of us.
Several years ago, shortly after buying our first home in Southern California, I ran into some car trouble and needed some help from my Dad to help me pay for it. Well, I miscalculated the bills I had recently paid and how much was actually in my account. Of course, when I realized the problem, I was overdrawn by $90 and knew my only option was to call my Dad, fess up and ask to borrow more. By the time I made the call I was already in tears and grieved about having to ask – purely because I expected him to respond with how careless and irresponsible I was. Instead, he comforted me; he reminded me that as my father, he was there to help me, and since I’d happened to catch him already near my bank, he ran in and deposited the extra funds. And when he spoke to me, I heard not only his voice but also God’s saying this is what a good father does.
So often though, we treat God either the way we think He will treat us, or in the way we think our earthly fathers treat us. But God’s love towards us is more like (and far surpasses) the way in which we would (or think we would, or would want to) treat our own child. In fact, Matthew 5:48: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” is an example of how to be the kind of parent God wants us to be – and not to be the kind of parent we think He is to us.
When we think of God as our heavenly Father, as I said, it is often difficult for us to classify or categorize or even define our relationship with Him – especially if we compare it to our earthly fathers. Take for example another comparison God gives us: brothers.
My favorite verses John 1:1-4 and 14 explains Christ’s deity and describes how Jesus is God. Later, we learn that as believers we are adopted into the family of God as sons and daughters, heir to the throne… in other words, not only sisters and brothers to each other as believers, but also sisters and brothers to Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. And so, if God the Son is our brother, how does that affect our relationship with God the Father?
As you may know, I am an only child – obviously I do not have a brother. But I always wanted one. Equally as obvious (with just a smidge of thought to those of you who know me) is that I do have a wonderful brother-in-law who happens to look like my blood brother and we treat each other the same as well. So, I may be biased regarding my perception of brothers, but it is easy for me to treat my brother-in-law like Romans 12:10: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Not all of us who have grown up with siblings can at all say this – unfortunately. Some people have (or are) siblings as described in Proverbs 18:19 “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
And so again, do we treat God in the same way in which we think He would treat us? If we think God is so easily offended and reluctant to forgive, then we will hold ourselves in blame and guilt for things He has forgiven and tossed into the sea of forgetfulness. Or, if we have sinned, we will not come to Him with a repentant spirit, fearful that He wouldn’t forgive us anyway.
And yet, still others of us may have (or be) the kind of sibling described in Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” And with this perspective of a brotherly relationship, we may only go to God in times of trouble; continuously begging Him - protect me, help me, get me out of this mess and beat up the bully bothering me in the process!
I happened to get my brother late in life so, I no longer have bullies for him to beat up or messes he can rescue me from. And, while he may be moody at times, he is defintely not "hard won." I am still his older sister and I’m not at all concerned about him becoming stubborn, hard-headed or unforgiving if I happen to offend him. However, just like God reminds us that our Fatherly relationship surpasses our earthly relationships with our own fathers and brothers – so too is it difficult even for me to remember or even grasp the kind of loving, brotherly relationship I can have with God through Christ Jesus.
In our limited, finite minds, it is all we can do at times to simply understand the three entities of our triune God – Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And yet it was a shock to me when I realized I did not treat my God, nor love all three aspects of my God equally. However once I began to remove all earthly expectations from my heavenly relationship with God – even God my provider and God my protector – I began to experience, for the very first time a new and renewed walk with God that is built on His perception of me and not mine of Him.
For a scriptural glimpse into next week’s lesson read: Proverbs 18:24. Your Home Study homework: Use this scripture to explain in your own words how God sees our brotherly relationship with Him as different from our earthly relationships with our siblings.
(Note: Aspects of this lesson are taken from the book “Father, Brother, Lover, Friend: Finding “The One”, to be released by Destination Publications in June 2009.)
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
Fatherly Love: Matthew 7:11; Matthew 5:48
Brotherly Love: Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 18:19
As you may know, I am a parent – obviously (to those of you who know me). And equally as obvious (with just a smidge of thought) is the fact that my perspective regarding my relationship with my son is far different than my son’s perspective of our relationship. Even at four years old my son would already describe our relationship differently than I would – good or bad. But even if I did give this reasoning a smidge of thought throughout every aspect of my relationship with my son, I’m sure it would not change the nature of my relationship with him or his with mine.
Matthew 7:11 says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Do you know why God reminds us of this aspect of our earthly and heavenly father/child relationships? Because we forget that as a parent, God’s perspective of us does not change because our perceptions do not match the actual relationship He has with us.
For many of us, we treat our fathers (or anyone else that we know well for that matter) in the manner in which we think they will treat us. Since my son is four, he is still too young to be completely conditioned to the way his father and I treat him and he comes to us fresh and new, with the same open-ended expectancy every time. For now it’s just a matter of him remembering not to do what he knows he’s not supposed to. Later, I’m sure it will change in terms of him determining on his own accord what he feels he can or cannot come to us about and what he could or should not ask of us.
Several years ago, shortly after buying our first home in Southern California, I ran into some car trouble and needed some help from my Dad to help me pay for it. Well, I miscalculated the bills I had recently paid and how much was actually in my account. Of course, when I realized the problem, I was overdrawn by $90 and knew my only option was to call my Dad, fess up and ask to borrow more. By the time I made the call I was already in tears and grieved about having to ask – purely because I expected him to respond with how careless and irresponsible I was. Instead, he comforted me; he reminded me that as my father, he was there to help me, and since I’d happened to catch him already near my bank, he ran in and deposited the extra funds. And when he spoke to me, I heard not only his voice but also God’s saying this is what a good father does.
So often though, we treat God either the way we think He will treat us, or in the way we think our earthly fathers treat us. But God’s love towards us is more like (and far surpasses) the way in which we would (or think we would, or would want to) treat our own child. In fact, Matthew 5:48: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” is an example of how to be the kind of parent God wants us to be – and not to be the kind of parent we think He is to us.
When we think of God as our heavenly Father, as I said, it is often difficult for us to classify or categorize or even define our relationship with Him – especially if we compare it to our earthly fathers. Take for example another comparison God gives us: brothers.
My favorite verses John 1:1-4 and 14 explains Christ’s deity and describes how Jesus is God. Later, we learn that as believers we are adopted into the family of God as sons and daughters, heir to the throne… in other words, not only sisters and brothers to each other as believers, but also sisters and brothers to Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. And so, if God the Son is our brother, how does that affect our relationship with God the Father?
As you may know, I am an only child – obviously I do not have a brother. But I always wanted one. Equally as obvious (with just a smidge of thought to those of you who know me) is that I do have a wonderful brother-in-law who happens to look like my blood brother and we treat each other the same as well. So, I may be biased regarding my perception of brothers, but it is easy for me to treat my brother-in-law like Romans 12:10: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Not all of us who have grown up with siblings can at all say this – unfortunately. Some people have (or are) siblings as described in Proverbs 18:19 “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
And so again, do we treat God in the same way in which we think He would treat us? If we think God is so easily offended and reluctant to forgive, then we will hold ourselves in blame and guilt for things He has forgiven and tossed into the sea of forgetfulness. Or, if we have sinned, we will not come to Him with a repentant spirit, fearful that He wouldn’t forgive us anyway.
And yet, still others of us may have (or be) the kind of sibling described in Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” And with this perspective of a brotherly relationship, we may only go to God in times of trouble; continuously begging Him - protect me, help me, get me out of this mess and beat up the bully bothering me in the process!
I happened to get my brother late in life so, I no longer have bullies for him to beat up or messes he can rescue me from. And, while he may be moody at times, he is defintely not "hard won." I am still his older sister and I’m not at all concerned about him becoming stubborn, hard-headed or unforgiving if I happen to offend him. However, just like God reminds us that our Fatherly relationship surpasses our earthly relationships with our own fathers and brothers – so too is it difficult even for me to remember or even grasp the kind of loving, brotherly relationship I can have with God through Christ Jesus.
In our limited, finite minds, it is all we can do at times to simply understand the three entities of our triune God – Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And yet it was a shock to me when I realized I did not treat my God, nor love all three aspects of my God equally. However once I began to remove all earthly expectations from my heavenly relationship with God – even God my provider and God my protector – I began to experience, for the very first time a new and renewed walk with God that is built on His perception of me and not mine of Him.
For a scriptural glimpse into next week’s lesson read: Proverbs 18:24. Your Home Study homework: Use this scripture to explain in your own words how God sees our brotherly relationship with Him as different from our earthly relationships with our siblings.
(Note: Aspects of this lesson are taken from the book “Father, Brother, Lover, Friend: Finding “The One”, to be released by Destination Publications in June 2009.)
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
Sunday, February 8, 2009
LOVEST THOU ME?
February Theme: Love
His Loves: John 21: 15-17
My Love: Ephesians 5: 29-30
In John 21, Jesus presents Himself a third time to the disciples “after that He was risen from the dead.” (vs. 14) And on this particular visit He confronts Peter by making Peter face his own love for the Lord. “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He [Peter] saith unto him, Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He [Jesus] saith unto him, Feed my lambs. [Jesus] saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. [Jesus] saith unto him, Feed my sheep. [Jesus} saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto Him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Even reading it, I too am grieved on Peter’s behalf and have (in the past) been confused by Jesus’ harassment. I figured Jesus was just getting Peter back for having denied Him 3 times and cursing when Christ was being taken to be crucified. Which, still could be somewhat true (in the sense that Peter denied Christ three times and Christ asked Peter about his love, that significant amount of three times) - even in light of the truth and context of what Jesus is really asking Peter and how He is asking.
One of the portions of Jesus’ repeated questions that keeps jumping out at me is the fact that Jesus reminds Peter on all three occasions just who’s natural son he is - “Simon, son of Jonas.” In some translations it reads, “Simon Bar Jonas” which is the same definition in Hebrew. However, when you read Bar Jonas, it sounds like a last name (a surname) and not a declaration of who Simon Peter belongs to.
In Simon’s day a son was considered just as the father – like unto being one and the same. This was why it caused such an uproar amongst the Jews when Jesus declared, “I and my Father are the same, if you have seen me, then you have seen the Father.” He was claiming (in absolute truth) that He was one and the same with our Father, God in Heaven.
And so if we are so like someone (particularly our father) that we are the same – what is our nature? Who are we the same as? And do we treat ourselves and love ourselves the same as how we treat and love the one we are the same as?
Proverbs 18:24 – “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” The same is true of love. I believe that to be loved you must first show yourself to be lovable. But if no one loved you, how then would you show your own self to be lovable? The answer, of course is by loving yourself. It is a concept that is so common to us that we actually take it for granted. Many people will say they love themselves absolutely, but then do not treat themselves as if they do and do not speak of themselves as if they do.
Ephesians 5:29-30 – “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
Think of the person you love most dearly in this world (excluding God or Christ) – imagine how you treat that person, the things you do for that person, the priority they get in your thoughts and actions and especially the loving and positive way in which you speak of and speak to that person. Imagine that you treated yourself the exact same way. Remember they say that love is an action and not a feeling – and therefore actions speak louder than words. How do your actions contradict your words when you say that you love yourself?
Jesus was asking Peter with what kind of love did he [Peter] love Him [Jesus]. Well, I am asking each of us, in this February month when everyone seems to have “love” on the mind (or the lack thereof), lets start first by considering with what kind of love do we love ourselves?
The last portion of Luke 10:27 says that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. But many of us actually love ourselves the way we love our neighbor. We treat our neighbor with vague regard, distrust, condemnation and harsh judgments. Rarely do we as Christians love our neighbor with unconditional love. And if we do, it’s only a few of them – perhaps the ones we know, or the ones who keep their homes clean and are loving towards us or the ones who are clean and even have a home.
The story of “the good Samaritan” answers the question “Lord, who is our neighbor?" Our neighbor is anyone who is the least of these. And unfortunately we treat our own selves as if we are the least of these.
But let’s go back to Simon, Bar Jonas – we have been adopted through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus into the family of God – sons and daughters – like unto Him who is our Father – created in His own image. We have the God-given right to change our last names to Bar Abba. I am Deidre Bat Abba – daughter of the Father. And if like the first portion of Luke 10:27 says, I actually do love the Lord with all my heart and all my mind and all my soul, then I must treat myself with that same kind of love and love myself with the love of the Father. It is then that my love can truly extend to anyone who is my neighbor and to anyone else for that matter.
So now, in stead of Jesus, I ask myself, Deidre Bat Abba, lovest thou me? And I can answer, “Yea, Lord – you know that I love me!”
Your Home Study homework: Read Jesus’ parable of “The Good Samaritan” in Luke 10:30-37 and first, answer Jesus’ question in verse 36. Then answer what it was Jesus was telling them to do in verse 37. Finally, compare this honestly with how you treat your neighbor and how you truly treat yourself.
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
His Loves: John 21: 15-17
My Love: Ephesians 5: 29-30
In John 21, Jesus presents Himself a third time to the disciples “after that He was risen from the dead.” (vs. 14) And on this particular visit He confronts Peter by making Peter face his own love for the Lord. “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He [Peter] saith unto him, Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He [Jesus] saith unto him, Feed my lambs. [Jesus] saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. [Jesus] saith unto him, Feed my sheep. [Jesus} saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto Him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Even reading it, I too am grieved on Peter’s behalf and have (in the past) been confused by Jesus’ harassment. I figured Jesus was just getting Peter back for having denied Him 3 times and cursing when Christ was being taken to be crucified. Which, still could be somewhat true (in the sense that Peter denied Christ three times and Christ asked Peter about his love, that significant amount of three times) - even in light of the truth and context of what Jesus is really asking Peter and how He is asking.
One of the portions of Jesus’ repeated questions that keeps jumping out at me is the fact that Jesus reminds Peter on all three occasions just who’s natural son he is - “Simon, son of Jonas.” In some translations it reads, “Simon Bar Jonas” which is the same definition in Hebrew. However, when you read Bar Jonas, it sounds like a last name (a surname) and not a declaration of who Simon Peter belongs to.
In Simon’s day a son was considered just as the father – like unto being one and the same. This was why it caused such an uproar amongst the Jews when Jesus declared, “I and my Father are the same, if you have seen me, then you have seen the Father.” He was claiming (in absolute truth) that He was one and the same with our Father, God in Heaven.
And so if we are so like someone (particularly our father) that we are the same – what is our nature? Who are we the same as? And do we treat ourselves and love ourselves the same as how we treat and love the one we are the same as?
Proverbs 18:24 – “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” The same is true of love. I believe that to be loved you must first show yourself to be lovable. But if no one loved you, how then would you show your own self to be lovable? The answer, of course is by loving yourself. It is a concept that is so common to us that we actually take it for granted. Many people will say they love themselves absolutely, but then do not treat themselves as if they do and do not speak of themselves as if they do.
Ephesians 5:29-30 – “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
Think of the person you love most dearly in this world (excluding God or Christ) – imagine how you treat that person, the things you do for that person, the priority they get in your thoughts and actions and especially the loving and positive way in which you speak of and speak to that person. Imagine that you treated yourself the exact same way. Remember they say that love is an action and not a feeling – and therefore actions speak louder than words. How do your actions contradict your words when you say that you love yourself?
Jesus was asking Peter with what kind of love did he [Peter] love Him [Jesus]. Well, I am asking each of us, in this February month when everyone seems to have “love” on the mind (or the lack thereof), lets start first by considering with what kind of love do we love ourselves?
The last portion of Luke 10:27 says that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. But many of us actually love ourselves the way we love our neighbor. We treat our neighbor with vague regard, distrust, condemnation and harsh judgments. Rarely do we as Christians love our neighbor with unconditional love. And if we do, it’s only a few of them – perhaps the ones we know, or the ones who keep their homes clean and are loving towards us or the ones who are clean and even have a home.
The story of “the good Samaritan” answers the question “Lord, who is our neighbor?" Our neighbor is anyone who is the least of these. And unfortunately we treat our own selves as if we are the least of these.
But let’s go back to Simon, Bar Jonas – we have been adopted through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus into the family of God – sons and daughters – like unto Him who is our Father – created in His own image. We have the God-given right to change our last names to Bar Abba. I am Deidre Bat Abba – daughter of the Father. And if like the first portion of Luke 10:27 says, I actually do love the Lord with all my heart and all my mind and all my soul, then I must treat myself with that same kind of love and love myself with the love of the Father. It is then that my love can truly extend to anyone who is my neighbor and to anyone else for that matter.
So now, in stead of Jesus, I ask myself, Deidre Bat Abba, lovest thou me? And I can answer, “Yea, Lord – you know that I love me!”
Your Home Study homework: Read Jesus’ parable of “The Good Samaritan” in Luke 10:30-37 and first, answer Jesus’ question in verse 36. Then answer what it was Jesus was telling them to do in verse 37. Finally, compare this honestly with how you treat your neighbor and how you truly treat yourself.
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
Sunday, February 1, 2009
CHASTEN ME AMORE!
February Theme: Love
Our Chastening: Hebrews 12:11
His Chastening: Hebrews 12:6
It is of course, typical and fitting that for the month of February our theme will be “love”. What is not so typical is that we will start it out on a subject we rarely associate with love – even though scripture plainly says it and we’ve often heard it: Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.”
Our idea of a loving relationship is one of approval, not correction. We tend to think that once we no longer need correcting we’re in the mix. And, we have good reason to think that way. Growing up with our parents we learned very quickly that if they weren’t upset with us, we were probably doing something right. In school we answer correctly to get a good grade and we get praised for doing well. If we consistently answered incorrectly and got poor grades, we were not doing well at all, and it was time for a conference with the teacher for correction. Even after school, the business world is set up much the same. When we start a new job we are trained and go through probation – and when the training and correction stops and we’re left to do our jobs, we know we’ve done it well with praise and promotions. Any meeting with the boss in which we are chastised means we’re not doing so well and in danger of losing the job all together.
It seems only fitting then to me that this topic is actually a good segue from January’s theme to February’s. Last month we talked about “old” compared to “new”. So let’s start this month talking about the old concept of correction and a new concept of chastisement. And Hebrews is the scripture that relates them both to love.
Hebrews 12:11: “Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Nobody likes to be chastised, corrected, or punished. And no matter whether the correction is for an overall better purpose: to become a responsible citizen; to be a successful student; or to be a valued employee, we always take the matter with condemnation and concern.
We then learn from the world around us and we tend to be hardest on ourselves. And in essence we try to correct ourselves before anyone else does. And if we find ourselves to be acceptable, then we balk against any correction that goes against our personal assessment - especially with God. Instead of receiving His correction, we rally at him, trying to convince Him that we’re doing the best we can, that we’re following the 10 commandments, and paying our tithes, loving our neighbor and being kind to strangers. We remind Him that we go to church diligently each Sunday, that we read the scriptures, and participate in an awesome emailed bible study every Friday, and that we are trying to be and do what God wants us to. Why then won’t He leave us alone, do this job of being a good Christian, and finally give us the approval we are working so hard to achieve?
This morning as I was thinking on which topic of love I wanted to share with you from my last lesson at the Bible College, when my mind began to wander. I found myself thinking that today; I just want to live in God’s love. I just want to live in that higher plane of peacefulness that must surely come when we absolutely 100% get it and get God. But stuff kept happening – the child was disrupting my peacefulness by waking up at 6:30 am, the husband came down as well, all dressed and raring to go for the day… Usually it’s quiet and peaceful at that time of the morning – where was my enlightened peaceful life with God!?
Well, God was quick to remind me that “life” does not promise that kind of peace. Instead we are promised trials, tribulations and struggles. I was gently corrected and reminded that God’s peace is to get us through the struggles and there is never going to be a time when as a Christian I’ve “arrived” and am no longer in need of correction and education.
In fact, when I thought further about it – I don’t want to reach a time when I know it all and no longer have anything else to learn. I am thrilled by every new revelation of God’s word and by every fresh revelation of His presence in my life. I am so overjoyed when I learn something knew about the Lord we love, that I am excited, anxious and even impatiently anticipating the next lesson.
Guess what? God is too! His correction for us is not punishment and condemnation of what we are doing wrong but it is proof of what we have already done right! And He is excited for every new opportunity to reveal Himself further and more deeply to us!
Ok, try and follow along: have you ever worked an online educational program – the kind where you work at your own pace? Often you are required to read your passage and then you are asked a challenging question. If you get it wrong, you are to go back and read the passage again. If you get it right, it knows you are ready for the next level and gives you the next passage and an even more challenging question.
So it is with the Lord’s chastisement. Hebrews 12:6 says that God chastens whom He loves. Don’t you know He loves us all? The verse also says He scourges every one that He receives. Our approval is in His receiving us! Our arrival is marked by His continued chastisement. Once we have arrived and accomplished and “gotten” the lesson in chapter 1, God shows His love and approval of us by moving us on to the harder lesson in chapter two. Why? Because He loves us, and he knows we can do it, and wants us to become responsible citizens; to be successful students; and to be valued employees.
Do you constantly feel like God is just beating you up, over and over about the same old things? Compare those feelings to the paragraph about the online educational program and describe what God would have you do if He was that online program.
Do you feel like just when you get a handle on things, God just throws more at you and you feel like he really is giving you more than you can bear? Compare those feelings to the paragraph about the online educational program and describe what God is saying of you if He was that online program.
To be scourged obviously does not sound like it feels good. Then again there have been many a challenge I have faced in which I was proud of how I handled it; science class was a nightmare until I realized I actually understood what the teacher was talking about; and every good job I had started out not at all as good.
A punishment can be administered without any love at all. Add a generous dose of God’s love and what we get is peace in the midst of chastisement and comfort in the correction. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be easy – but God loves us, He is encouraging us, strengthening us – and occasionally He will even lovingly sneak in an answer or two. He wants to give us the joyous, peaceable fruit of righteousness through His Love! All we have to do is receive it!
Your Home Study homework: Compare the instruction to the Hebrews in 12:6 to the revelation of Christ Jesus in Rev. 3:19. What is similar and what is different?
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
Our Chastening: Hebrews 12:11
His Chastening: Hebrews 12:6
It is of course, typical and fitting that for the month of February our theme will be “love”. What is not so typical is that we will start it out on a subject we rarely associate with love – even though scripture plainly says it and we’ve often heard it: Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.”
Our idea of a loving relationship is one of approval, not correction. We tend to think that once we no longer need correcting we’re in the mix. And, we have good reason to think that way. Growing up with our parents we learned very quickly that if they weren’t upset with us, we were probably doing something right. In school we answer correctly to get a good grade and we get praised for doing well. If we consistently answered incorrectly and got poor grades, we were not doing well at all, and it was time for a conference with the teacher for correction. Even after school, the business world is set up much the same. When we start a new job we are trained and go through probation – and when the training and correction stops and we’re left to do our jobs, we know we’ve done it well with praise and promotions. Any meeting with the boss in which we are chastised means we’re not doing so well and in danger of losing the job all together.
It seems only fitting then to me that this topic is actually a good segue from January’s theme to February’s. Last month we talked about “old” compared to “new”. So let’s start this month talking about the old concept of correction and a new concept of chastisement. And Hebrews is the scripture that relates them both to love.
Hebrews 12:11: “Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Nobody likes to be chastised, corrected, or punished. And no matter whether the correction is for an overall better purpose: to become a responsible citizen; to be a successful student; or to be a valued employee, we always take the matter with condemnation and concern.
We then learn from the world around us and we tend to be hardest on ourselves. And in essence we try to correct ourselves before anyone else does. And if we find ourselves to be acceptable, then we balk against any correction that goes against our personal assessment - especially with God. Instead of receiving His correction, we rally at him, trying to convince Him that we’re doing the best we can, that we’re following the 10 commandments, and paying our tithes, loving our neighbor and being kind to strangers. We remind Him that we go to church diligently each Sunday, that we read the scriptures, and participate in an awesome emailed bible study every Friday, and that we are trying to be and do what God wants us to. Why then won’t He leave us alone, do this job of being a good Christian, and finally give us the approval we are working so hard to achieve?
This morning as I was thinking on which topic of love I wanted to share with you from my last lesson at the Bible College, when my mind began to wander. I found myself thinking that today; I just want to live in God’s love. I just want to live in that higher plane of peacefulness that must surely come when we absolutely 100% get it and get God. But stuff kept happening – the child was disrupting my peacefulness by waking up at 6:30 am, the husband came down as well, all dressed and raring to go for the day… Usually it’s quiet and peaceful at that time of the morning – where was my enlightened peaceful life with God!?
Well, God was quick to remind me that “life” does not promise that kind of peace. Instead we are promised trials, tribulations and struggles. I was gently corrected and reminded that God’s peace is to get us through the struggles and there is never going to be a time when as a Christian I’ve “arrived” and am no longer in need of correction and education.
In fact, when I thought further about it – I don’t want to reach a time when I know it all and no longer have anything else to learn. I am thrilled by every new revelation of God’s word and by every fresh revelation of His presence in my life. I am so overjoyed when I learn something knew about the Lord we love, that I am excited, anxious and even impatiently anticipating the next lesson.
Guess what? God is too! His correction for us is not punishment and condemnation of what we are doing wrong but it is proof of what we have already done right! And He is excited for every new opportunity to reveal Himself further and more deeply to us!
Ok, try and follow along: have you ever worked an online educational program – the kind where you work at your own pace? Often you are required to read your passage and then you are asked a challenging question. If you get it wrong, you are to go back and read the passage again. If you get it right, it knows you are ready for the next level and gives you the next passage and an even more challenging question.
So it is with the Lord’s chastisement. Hebrews 12:6 says that God chastens whom He loves. Don’t you know He loves us all? The verse also says He scourges every one that He receives. Our approval is in His receiving us! Our arrival is marked by His continued chastisement. Once we have arrived and accomplished and “gotten” the lesson in chapter 1, God shows His love and approval of us by moving us on to the harder lesson in chapter two. Why? Because He loves us, and he knows we can do it, and wants us to become responsible citizens; to be successful students; and to be valued employees.
Do you constantly feel like God is just beating you up, over and over about the same old things? Compare those feelings to the paragraph about the online educational program and describe what God would have you do if He was that online program.
Do you feel like just when you get a handle on things, God just throws more at you and you feel like he really is giving you more than you can bear? Compare those feelings to the paragraph about the online educational program and describe what God is saying of you if He was that online program.
To be scourged obviously does not sound like it feels good. Then again there have been many a challenge I have faced in which I was proud of how I handled it; science class was a nightmare until I realized I actually understood what the teacher was talking about; and every good job I had started out not at all as good.
A punishment can be administered without any love at all. Add a generous dose of God’s love and what we get is peace in the midst of chastisement and comfort in the correction. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be easy – but God loves us, He is encouraging us, strengthening us – and occasionally He will even lovingly sneak in an answer or two. He wants to give us the joyous, peaceable fruit of righteousness through His Love! All we have to do is receive it!
Your Home Study homework: Compare the instruction to the Hebrews in 12:6 to the revelation of Christ Jesus in Rev. 3:19. What is similar and what is different?
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
Friday, January 23, 2009
RESOLUTION REVOLUTION
January Theme: New
Old Resolution: James 1:22-24
New Revolution: Philippians 3:13-15
At my church we have a very dear and sweet Deacon who periodically mixes up words. Shortly after the New Year he gave a heart warming testimony to the whole congregation in which he continuously said “New Year’s Revolution” instead of “Resolution”. And trust me, he said it a lot. Of course we all knew what he meant and there were only a few titters and chuckles.
Mostly I took his testimony for what it was worth and dismissed his intention to say resolution because I don’t generally make New Year’s resolutions. But throughout each New Year you tend to hear the phrase a lot. Even in my daily devotionals Christians are talking about New Year’s Resolutions – why you should make them; how to make them stick and what scriptures back that up. The ones I tend to pay closest attention to are the ones that explain why resolutions don’t work.
One particularly good devotional spoke about resetting your preset buttons. Basically he explained that many of us have old habits that we don’t break before making a new resolution and therefore we easily fall back into the old ways. Well that made perfect sense but his great article did not go on to explain how he suggested we should reset our presets. That’s when I got to thinking about the Deacon’s revolutionary slip of the tongue. God may have been speaking through him more than he knows.
James 1:22-24 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”
For many of us, making a New Year’s resolution is really a matter of deceiving our own selves. Even when we make them, we know we really aren’t going to keep them. And trying to follow a New Year’s resolution is like being a hearer and not a doer of the word. We speak about the changes we want to make; we write them down and even make a list of how we want to accomplish them. And then we even try. We start our resolution, we jump in and swear this time we’ll accomplish our goals. But right about this time of the year we have fizzled out already and we’re looking for a good justification for why we couldn’t change or we’ve already begun wallowing in the guilt of not being able to change.
It is as if we see our real selves in the mirror of decision and several weeks later we have already forgotten what we look like.
Webster’s New World Dictionary gives three basic definitions for the word “revolution”. 1: A complete cycle of events. 2: A complete or radical change of any kind or 3: The overthrow of a governing system with another governing system taking its place.
Obviously when we make a resolution and do not follow through, we are not completing the full cycle of events we’ve laid out for ourselves. Obviously there has not been a radical enough change in order for the change to stick. And obviously, we would not so easily fall back into our old ways of doing things if the new goal had taken the place of the old habit.
Philippians 3:13-14 says, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Can you see the three definitions illustrated here?
To complete this full cycle of events we must first forget the things in the past; secondly we much reach for the things in front of us, and finally we must continuously strive for the final goal or prize at the end. So let me interject briefly – Does your goal, resolution or New Year’s Revolution contain a prize waiting for you at the end?
Next, the radical overhaul in this scripture is to forget what has happened in the past. Friends and family often hear this phrase from me: “yeah, but…” I know, forgetting the past results, past events, past circumstances, past failures and past pains is not so easy at all. However, this scripture gives us the instructions on how to make that radical change – by replacing the thoughts of the past with the prize that remains.
When your mind strays back towards “yeah, but…” Tell it, “No, see…” Yeah, but – last time I tried to start a business… No, see if I launch this business I’ll have more security. Yeah, but everyone says I need something to fall back on… No, see if I pursue this dream I will be walking in God’s will for my life. Yeah, but last time I gained all the weight back… No, see if I lose this weight I’ll be happier, healthier and sexier too. Yeah, but I just can’t seem to stick to a budget… No, see if I get a handle on my money, I’ll have more money to spend on me.
If we have to be hearers as well as doers then don’t listen to yourself when you remind yourself of the past. Instead speak positive words of encouragement to yourself, pay attention to yourself and keep pressing on towards the prize of the goal before you.
Revolutions that have been fought and won by countries did not fight one small battle for a few weeks and declare the revolution a success. A true revolution can be a lengthy campaign with many smaller battles won and lost along the way. Often even the battle is not won until the troops regroup, change direction or alter their original plans. Have flexibility, have a bit of forgiveness for yourself and keep doing what you know you must to accomplish your goal.
You see, resolutions are a thing of the past! Forget about them and make a New Year’s Revolution instead! Continuously, consistently, ever seeking, ever stretching, ever reaching – revitalizing, revamping, refreshing, resetting, renewing and redoing whatever you need to in order to press toward the mark until the prize is obtained.
Your Home Study homework: Describe how the parable found in Luke 11:24-26 is an example of one of Webster’s three definitions of “revolution.”
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
Old Resolution: James 1:22-24
New Revolution: Philippians 3:13-15
At my church we have a very dear and sweet Deacon who periodically mixes up words. Shortly after the New Year he gave a heart warming testimony to the whole congregation in which he continuously said “New Year’s Revolution” instead of “Resolution”. And trust me, he said it a lot. Of course we all knew what he meant and there were only a few titters and chuckles.
Mostly I took his testimony for what it was worth and dismissed his intention to say resolution because I don’t generally make New Year’s resolutions. But throughout each New Year you tend to hear the phrase a lot. Even in my daily devotionals Christians are talking about New Year’s Resolutions – why you should make them; how to make them stick and what scriptures back that up. The ones I tend to pay closest attention to are the ones that explain why resolutions don’t work.
One particularly good devotional spoke about resetting your preset buttons. Basically he explained that many of us have old habits that we don’t break before making a new resolution and therefore we easily fall back into the old ways. Well that made perfect sense but his great article did not go on to explain how he suggested we should reset our presets. That’s when I got to thinking about the Deacon’s revolutionary slip of the tongue. God may have been speaking through him more than he knows.
James 1:22-24 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”
For many of us, making a New Year’s resolution is really a matter of deceiving our own selves. Even when we make them, we know we really aren’t going to keep them. And trying to follow a New Year’s resolution is like being a hearer and not a doer of the word. We speak about the changes we want to make; we write them down and even make a list of how we want to accomplish them. And then we even try. We start our resolution, we jump in and swear this time we’ll accomplish our goals. But right about this time of the year we have fizzled out already and we’re looking for a good justification for why we couldn’t change or we’ve already begun wallowing in the guilt of not being able to change.
It is as if we see our real selves in the mirror of decision and several weeks later we have already forgotten what we look like.
Webster’s New World Dictionary gives three basic definitions for the word “revolution”. 1: A complete cycle of events. 2: A complete or radical change of any kind or 3: The overthrow of a governing system with another governing system taking its place.
Obviously when we make a resolution and do not follow through, we are not completing the full cycle of events we’ve laid out for ourselves. Obviously there has not been a radical enough change in order for the change to stick. And obviously, we would not so easily fall back into our old ways of doing things if the new goal had taken the place of the old habit.
Philippians 3:13-14 says, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Can you see the three definitions illustrated here?
To complete this full cycle of events we must first forget the things in the past; secondly we much reach for the things in front of us, and finally we must continuously strive for the final goal or prize at the end. So let me interject briefly – Does your goal, resolution or New Year’s Revolution contain a prize waiting for you at the end?
Next, the radical overhaul in this scripture is to forget what has happened in the past. Friends and family often hear this phrase from me: “yeah, but…” I know, forgetting the past results, past events, past circumstances, past failures and past pains is not so easy at all. However, this scripture gives us the instructions on how to make that radical change – by replacing the thoughts of the past with the prize that remains.
When your mind strays back towards “yeah, but…” Tell it, “No, see…” Yeah, but – last time I tried to start a business… No, see if I launch this business I’ll have more security. Yeah, but everyone says I need something to fall back on… No, see if I pursue this dream I will be walking in God’s will for my life. Yeah, but last time I gained all the weight back… No, see if I lose this weight I’ll be happier, healthier and sexier too. Yeah, but I just can’t seem to stick to a budget… No, see if I get a handle on my money, I’ll have more money to spend on me.
If we have to be hearers as well as doers then don’t listen to yourself when you remind yourself of the past. Instead speak positive words of encouragement to yourself, pay attention to yourself and keep pressing on towards the prize of the goal before you.
Revolutions that have been fought and won by countries did not fight one small battle for a few weeks and declare the revolution a success. A true revolution can be a lengthy campaign with many smaller battles won and lost along the way. Often even the battle is not won until the troops regroup, change direction or alter their original plans. Have flexibility, have a bit of forgiveness for yourself and keep doing what you know you must to accomplish your goal.
You see, resolutions are a thing of the past! Forget about them and make a New Year’s Revolution instead! Continuously, consistently, ever seeking, ever stretching, ever reaching – revitalizing, revamping, refreshing, resetting, renewing and redoing whatever you need to in order to press toward the mark until the prize is obtained.
Your Home Study homework: Describe how the parable found in Luke 11:24-26 is an example of one of Webster’s three definitions of “revolution.”
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANCE
Here are my hopes for my family, my friends and indeed all of mankind in the midst of yesterday’s significance:
Whether you voted for “the guy” or not… No matter what your political party… No matter what your ethnicity or economic status or religious beliefs are… There is a particular and extremely significant significance to the events of yesterday: The inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama.
And yes, part of it has to do with ethnicity – but only a part. And part of it has to do with economic status – but only a part. And again, some of it does have to do with religious belief – but only a part, and only perhaps for those who believe in God and in His Holy Word. And finally another small part does indeed have to do with our political parties.
I will start at the latter. You see, no matter whether you consider yourself Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, Independent, Moderate or other – there is no way Barack Obama could have been voted into office by just the Democrats alone. And with an 80+% approval rating – or some such thing – there is no way he could reach a number like that through just the Democrats alone. And so it seems his message of unifying the parties has already begun to come to fruition – and that is a fact that is significant. My hope is that it continues.
And you see, no matter what your ethnicity, race or nationality – there is no way Barack Obama could have been voted into office by just the African Americans, Hawaiians and citizens of Illinois all by themselves. And with that 80+% approval rating – or whatever it is – there is now way he could have reached those kinds of numbers with just the African Americans, Hawaiians and Illinois residents. And so it seems as if his message of unifying the American people regardless of ethnicity, race or nationality has already begun to come to fruition – and that is a fact that is extremely significant. My hope is that it continues.
And so, you see, no matter how much money you do or do not make, no matter how affected you are or are not by the current economic crisis, and no matter whether you might or might not be affected by any taxation changes Barack Obama may or may not make; approximately 80+% of Americans (no matter what their economic status is) have a hope that he will make significant changes to the current economy. And there is no way that number of 80+% - or something like that – could have been reached by just poor people with hope better income, unemployed people with hope of a job or people who hope they won’t lose their homes. And since it seems that hope alone is very good for the economy – for example; hope can make the stock market soar and fear can make the stock market plummet – it also seems as if Obama's message of economic hope has already begun to come to fruition (at least if only in the hearts of the American people) – and that is very significant indeed. My hope is that his actions in office match the hope in many of our hearts.
And finally, you see, (for those of us who believe) that God does indeed ordain and/or choose the world's leaders - that would have to include the “good” ones and the “bad” ones. The “bad” ones pave the way for the “good” ones, and the “good” ones provide a foundation for the “bad” ones. One cannot be without the other preceding or following. And so whether you think the former administration was good or bad, and whether you think the new and current administration will be good or bad – the truth of the matter (to those of us who chose to believe) is that “ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) And that is significantly significant indeed. My hope is that in all things – or at least 80+% (or somewhere around there) – Barack Obama (through the will of God) will succeed in all he hopes to do.
So whether he does or not, the significant significance of today is that I am included in about 80+% of the American people whose hope extends towards all mankind – whether you voted for the guy or not; no matter what your political party; no matter what your economic status; no matter what your ethnicity and no matter what your religious beliefs are or are not.
I wish you all happiness and hope and better days ahead for us all.
God bless you and may God continue to richly bless America.
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones (aka – “Min. Dez”)
Whether you voted for “the guy” or not… No matter what your political party… No matter what your ethnicity or economic status or religious beliefs are… There is a particular and extremely significant significance to the events of yesterday: The inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama.
And yes, part of it has to do with ethnicity – but only a part. And part of it has to do with economic status – but only a part. And again, some of it does have to do with religious belief – but only a part, and only perhaps for those who believe in God and in His Holy Word. And finally another small part does indeed have to do with our political parties.
I will start at the latter. You see, no matter whether you consider yourself Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, Independent, Moderate or other – there is no way Barack Obama could have been voted into office by just the Democrats alone. And with an 80+% approval rating – or some such thing – there is no way he could reach a number like that through just the Democrats alone. And so it seems his message of unifying the parties has already begun to come to fruition – and that is a fact that is significant. My hope is that it continues.
And you see, no matter what your ethnicity, race or nationality – there is no way Barack Obama could have been voted into office by just the African Americans, Hawaiians and citizens of Illinois all by themselves. And with that 80+% approval rating – or whatever it is – there is now way he could have reached those kinds of numbers with just the African Americans, Hawaiians and Illinois residents. And so it seems as if his message of unifying the American people regardless of ethnicity, race or nationality has already begun to come to fruition – and that is a fact that is extremely significant. My hope is that it continues.
And so, you see, no matter how much money you do or do not make, no matter how affected you are or are not by the current economic crisis, and no matter whether you might or might not be affected by any taxation changes Barack Obama may or may not make; approximately 80+% of Americans (no matter what their economic status is) have a hope that he will make significant changes to the current economy. And there is no way that number of 80+% - or something like that – could have been reached by just poor people with hope better income, unemployed people with hope of a job or people who hope they won’t lose their homes. And since it seems that hope alone is very good for the economy – for example; hope can make the stock market soar and fear can make the stock market plummet – it also seems as if Obama's message of economic hope has already begun to come to fruition (at least if only in the hearts of the American people) – and that is very significant indeed. My hope is that his actions in office match the hope in many of our hearts.
And finally, you see, (for those of us who believe) that God does indeed ordain and/or choose the world's leaders - that would have to include the “good” ones and the “bad” ones. The “bad” ones pave the way for the “good” ones, and the “good” ones provide a foundation for the “bad” ones. One cannot be without the other preceding or following. And so whether you think the former administration was good or bad, and whether you think the new and current administration will be good or bad – the truth of the matter (to those of us who chose to believe) is that “ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) And that is significantly significant indeed. My hope is that in all things – or at least 80+% (or somewhere around there) – Barack Obama (through the will of God) will succeed in all he hopes to do.
So whether he does or not, the significant significance of today is that I am included in about 80+% of the American people whose hope extends towards all mankind – whether you voted for the guy or not; no matter what your political party; no matter what your economic status; no matter what your ethnicity and no matter what your religious beliefs are or are not.
I wish you all happiness and hope and better days ahead for us all.
God bless you and may God continue to richly bless America.
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones (aka – “Min. Dez”)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
READY FOR THE WORLD
January Theme: New
Old World: Matthew 16:26; Mark 4:19; John 14:27
New World: John 1:1-4 & 9; Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15
It seems everything we do and everything we strive for is to be presentable to the world. We get a good education so that we can be ready for the “real world”. We are disciplined at home so we can be ready for the outside world. The kind of adults, the kind of parents and perhaps even especially the kind of Christians we are must all be acceptable to the world around us – and quite often are frequently judged by the world around us.
We spend our time preparing ourselves, repairing and renewing what we have to offer – to our bosses, to our clients, to our instructors, to our students, to our children, to our parents and even to our family, friends and neighbors. Often we even clean our own homes based upon the perspectives of potential visitors. And many times even our self-help and Christian growth is based upon or at least influenced by what the world deems necessary. The world is always watching and subconsciously we constantly ask ourselves “am I ready for the world?” And so our every activity then also subconsciously becomes an answer, “I am trying to be ready for the world.”
According to the guidelines, examples and expectations of this world – that may indeed be working. Spiritually, I ask, is it also working? Matthew 16:26 says: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” And so every Sunday we attend church; we read the word of God, and we attend Bible study in order not to lose our own soul. But Mark 4:19 explains: “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel as if I lust after other things. I try not to let the cares of the world get the best of me. And I don’t feel as if I’ve been deceived by riches – how could I when I don’t have any? Still and yet, I have to admit there has been a bit of “unfruitfulness” in my life. And I remember when my old boss’ treatment of me used to consume my every thought. And admittedly I now spend a fair amount of time concerned about my finances and how I will get them in order to pay my bills… You see, “cares, deceitfulness and lusts” translate as such harsh words that we automatically reject them as things we are not doing. But when we truly look at the basic aspects of our lives, there is a fair amount of things of this world that enter in and perhaps choke out the word – making our worlds a bit unfruitful.
Do not be dismayed – there is hope – and it exists in the word of God. John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
In the midst of this world and all its cares and distractions, lusts and things – there is peace, not as the world gives it or perceives it, but as the Lord gives it. And it comes in a gentle reminder: John1: 1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” And verse 9: “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” Also, Philippians 2:15: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
Because of your profession or your vocation you may not realize that much of what we accomplish in this world is based upon someone else’s approval, permission or acceptance. Other types of jobs or career paths exemplify this blatantly and openly such as careers in writing, politics and the entertainment industry. My husband is an Actor. And in one particular conversation he casually made a comment that he knew “all odds were against him.” It made me stop and ponder that statement for a while before I asked him – “who told you that?”
Yes, Acting is a tough profession to crack into and do so successfully. But realistically he’s not doing badly at all. And in an industry that is governed by the choices of various, diverse people, who really sets the odds? And even if there was someone who had a precise mathematical equation they could run through a super computer and determine that the odds of my husband becoming even more successful in the industry are 1,000,000 to 1 – if God told him, yes, he would be even more successful, then those odds are in his favor because he would be that “1”.
Presidential candidate Barack Obama was giving one of his pre-election interviews in which the program’s reporter asked him, “Is the world ready for an African American president of the United States of America?” Without hesitation, Barack Obama said “yes.” And so now it is after the election and not only have we discovered that the majority of the world within the US is indeed ready, but that currently much of the world is waiting with excited – if not curious – anticipation.
How in the world could Barack Obama have been so sure? Because I believe Barack Obama knew many things beforehand – primarily I believe he was confident of his success. He was probably confident of how his light would shine throughout this world.
We easily sing “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” And we traverse the ways of this world as if indeed it is a little light. But a fantastic and anointed new Minister I know once said that our light is not little at all – even though we act like it is. Our light comes from Christ Himself and if we truly let it shine as big as a lamp in the darkness, perhaps the world would not even be able to look directly at us.
Say you have an old lamp that has been hooked up to a light switch every since it was new and you never knew it was a three-way. But your eyes got adjusted to the low level of light even though deep down you wished it was brighter. If someone suddenly turned up that light to its brightest setting, would your eyes be ready?
When I brought up Barack Obama’s interview response to my husband I asked him to consider thinking about his career differently and instead of meeting each audition wondering if this was his time or if he was ready for the part or if he was truly ready for this industry; to go into it boldly asking “Is the industry ready for me?” and confidently answering, “yes it is!”
And even as I said it, admittedly I had a hard time considering the same for myself. Yes, I "think" I can. But I too have to put away old perspectives of the world and the light I shine in it, for a new perspective of this world and a brighter, more confident, Christ-magnified light!
So instead of “are you ready for the world,” ask yourself is the world ready for you? Imagine what this world could be like if we all said “yes” – boldly and confidently through Christ.
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
Old World: Matthew 16:26; Mark 4:19; John 14:27
New World: John 1:1-4 & 9; Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15
It seems everything we do and everything we strive for is to be presentable to the world. We get a good education so that we can be ready for the “real world”. We are disciplined at home so we can be ready for the outside world. The kind of adults, the kind of parents and perhaps even especially the kind of Christians we are must all be acceptable to the world around us – and quite often are frequently judged by the world around us.
We spend our time preparing ourselves, repairing and renewing what we have to offer – to our bosses, to our clients, to our instructors, to our students, to our children, to our parents and even to our family, friends and neighbors. Often we even clean our own homes based upon the perspectives of potential visitors. And many times even our self-help and Christian growth is based upon or at least influenced by what the world deems necessary. The world is always watching and subconsciously we constantly ask ourselves “am I ready for the world?” And so our every activity then also subconsciously becomes an answer, “I am trying to be ready for the world.”
According to the guidelines, examples and expectations of this world – that may indeed be working. Spiritually, I ask, is it also working? Matthew 16:26 says: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” And so every Sunday we attend church; we read the word of God, and we attend Bible study in order not to lose our own soul. But Mark 4:19 explains: “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel as if I lust after other things. I try not to let the cares of the world get the best of me. And I don’t feel as if I’ve been deceived by riches – how could I when I don’t have any? Still and yet, I have to admit there has been a bit of “unfruitfulness” in my life. And I remember when my old boss’ treatment of me used to consume my every thought. And admittedly I now spend a fair amount of time concerned about my finances and how I will get them in order to pay my bills… You see, “cares, deceitfulness and lusts” translate as such harsh words that we automatically reject them as things we are not doing. But when we truly look at the basic aspects of our lives, there is a fair amount of things of this world that enter in and perhaps choke out the word – making our worlds a bit unfruitful.
Do not be dismayed – there is hope – and it exists in the word of God. John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
In the midst of this world and all its cares and distractions, lusts and things – there is peace, not as the world gives it or perceives it, but as the Lord gives it. And it comes in a gentle reminder: John1: 1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” And verse 9: “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” Also, Philippians 2:15: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
Because of your profession or your vocation you may not realize that much of what we accomplish in this world is based upon someone else’s approval, permission or acceptance. Other types of jobs or career paths exemplify this blatantly and openly such as careers in writing, politics and the entertainment industry. My husband is an Actor. And in one particular conversation he casually made a comment that he knew “all odds were against him.” It made me stop and ponder that statement for a while before I asked him – “who told you that?”
Yes, Acting is a tough profession to crack into and do so successfully. But realistically he’s not doing badly at all. And in an industry that is governed by the choices of various, diverse people, who really sets the odds? And even if there was someone who had a precise mathematical equation they could run through a super computer and determine that the odds of my husband becoming even more successful in the industry are 1,000,000 to 1 – if God told him, yes, he would be even more successful, then those odds are in his favor because he would be that “1”.
Presidential candidate Barack Obama was giving one of his pre-election interviews in which the program’s reporter asked him, “Is the world ready for an African American president of the United States of America?” Without hesitation, Barack Obama said “yes.” And so now it is after the election and not only have we discovered that the majority of the world within the US is indeed ready, but that currently much of the world is waiting with excited – if not curious – anticipation.
How in the world could Barack Obama have been so sure? Because I believe Barack Obama knew many things beforehand – primarily I believe he was confident of his success. He was probably confident of how his light would shine throughout this world.
We easily sing “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” And we traverse the ways of this world as if indeed it is a little light. But a fantastic and anointed new Minister I know once said that our light is not little at all – even though we act like it is. Our light comes from Christ Himself and if we truly let it shine as big as a lamp in the darkness, perhaps the world would not even be able to look directly at us.
Say you have an old lamp that has been hooked up to a light switch every since it was new and you never knew it was a three-way. But your eyes got adjusted to the low level of light even though deep down you wished it was brighter. If someone suddenly turned up that light to its brightest setting, would your eyes be ready?
When I brought up Barack Obama’s interview response to my husband I asked him to consider thinking about his career differently and instead of meeting each audition wondering if this was his time or if he was ready for the part or if he was truly ready for this industry; to go into it boldly asking “Is the industry ready for me?” and confidently answering, “yes it is!”
And even as I said it, admittedly I had a hard time considering the same for myself. Yes, I "think" I can. But I too have to put away old perspectives of the world and the light I shine in it, for a new perspective of this world and a brighter, more confident, Christ-magnified light!
So instead of “are you ready for the world,” ask yourself is the world ready for you? Imagine what this world could be like if we all said “yes” – boldly and confidently through Christ.
© 2008 Deidre Campbell-Jones
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