There is a Reason for Redundancy:

“The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty,
for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled),…”                       ~Isaiah 2:12

“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”                                ~Matthew 23:12
...
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted."                                  ~Luke 14:11

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted."                                  ~ Luke 18:14
                                                                         
 

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

 
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children,

you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever humbles himself
like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

~ Matthew 18:3-4

 

Being humble is to place all trust, complete dependence, in God, from the simplicity of daily provision to the miracle of salvation, there are no personal efforts that will allow me to walk through heaven’s gates and into the presence of God Almighty, the humble, Lord Jesus Christ. 

~ Owen <><  ... (Philippians 2:5-11)

 

Need a Shovel?

I read a comment on Scripture that triggered within me a question to ask myself. How should I live the gospel, how do I “walk in the footsteps of the faith” (Rom 4:12) and keep in step with God’s Spirit (Gal. 5:25)?  If I am to live the gospel by faith in Christ, shouldn’t I breathe and live out life in complete humble dependence upon my Father God?

The statement that triggered how to live by faith in God was this: 

 

“Christ said we could move mountains if we only had faith.

But He didn't say we wouldn't need a shovel.” 

 

 

 But this is what Jesus did say in Matthew 17:20:

 

“Because you have so little faith.

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,

'Move from here to there' and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you."

It takes complete humility to accept God’s Word, to trust Him fully in all things, and to know that your faith has hope, not a task to do what God doesn’t. 

 

 

It is by faith that mountains will move, that barriers will be torn down, and the Holy Spirit’s enablement is given to do all things through Christ – by faith alone in the One who spoke the promise:

“Nothing will be impossible for you." 

 

I will follow the Lord’s, and not man’s wisdom.  I will cling to Jesus’ declaration, "all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27) – no tools or effort needed by me, I’m humble enough to admit that God has control and that I am NOT.    

All faith through Christ alone,

Owen <><

No Smell of Smoke – A Taste of Fruit

If a miracle occurs in our life … GREAT!
Miracle or not, serving God faithfully is how the fruit He desires is harvested.

Such is revealed in the life of three young Hebrew men with faith in God.  King Nebuchadnezzar threatened them of death in a furnace, as punishment for not bowing to the idols of his kingdom, to this they replied “we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us.”  The king was true to his threat.   

As the three were thrown into the fire, some soldiers carrying out the order were killed by the fire, and then other soldiers exclaimed, “’Look! … four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed,’ … [they] came out of the fire, …not harmed … not scorched, and … no smell of fire on them.”   

The sight prompted the King to say, “They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” The result was for Nebuchadnezzar have a change of heart, saying “no other god can save in this way.” 

The fruit of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego wasn’t their deliverance from the furnace by a miracle, but how their faithfulness revealed the power of grace by the Lord’s presence with them.  That presence brings something more than the miracle itself, it brings change into someone’s heart, the fruit God desires, and that is doing what matters.

That others don't smell of smoke, but are a miracle of Christ's fruit, 

Owen <><

Know your Word of God, go Read Daniel 3

P.S. YES! Christ Jesus was with us from the beginning (John 1:1-2), He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; and by faith God is with you - Christ's Spirit in you.

Little We Can Do, But...

“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” ~ Luke 11:4

I hear a lot of comments on how we are to ignore people that hurt us, tell them off, don’t let them remain in our life, and so on.  We often ignore our part in any wrong doing, and we seem to be able to move on with ourselves, no matter the mistakes, wrongs, and yes, sin.  

To this, Randy Alcorn writes:


“There is little we can do about the sins others commit against us, besides forgive them. Yet we tend to be preoccupied with those wrongs (both real and imagined). Meanwhile we minimize, rationalize and deny our sins against God and others. We become embittered at how God has allowed us to suffer at others’ hands, rarely considering how others have suffered at ours.”

I hope you think and pray on this, then become active in doing what matters.

In Christ,
Owen <><

When you love God ...

"And the Father who knows all hearts knows, of course, what the Spirit is saying as he pleads for us in harmony with God's own will.  And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans." 
~ Romans 8:27-28 TLB

A few years ago I prepared to take a trip, when I noticed that my spare tire cable under my SUV was loose, so I got the crank handle and snugged the tire into place. Snap! Whoomp! The cable broke and the tire kissed the pavement of my driveway. I was ready to explode, but I held my temper, and placed the tire in the back storage area – I’d just wait till I got home to replace the cable, no big deal.

Then the sweet Spirit of the Lord brushed me, … I stopped and thanked God for His love, and mercy, and praised my Abba Father for His promise to care for His children.

I thanked Him for answering the prayers of the people traveling behind me on the Interstate Highway, for answering their request of traveling mercies and safety. I thanked Him, though they would never know, … nor would I know the family unharmed by a tire that broke loose on the highway and crashed into their windshield. I thanked him for a family unharmed, undestroyed, and for answering their prayer, and my prayer, that I not cause evil.

Thank you Jesus, I love you,
Owen<><

 

Romans 8:27-29 NIV
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit,
     because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.

You talkin’ to me?

Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"   Luke 12:41

It seems that when the word of the Lord is proclaimed, the essence of what is right and wrong, the core of our relationship being focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, our humility being with complete dependence on God, or the availability of power through the Holy Spirit, well, we all seem to balk. 

 

It becomes “obvious” that the message at hand may not be for us. 

 

We’re like Peter, we want to know if the message is for “us, or to everyone,”

… most often we think that the message “wasn’t for me, but to someone else.” 

 

Peter could have asked, “You talkin’ to me?”

The whole Bible Scripture is very clear on how we are to live, or not live as is appropriate (check out Mark 12:30-31, Galatians 5:13-26, Colossians 3:2-17 for starters).  In fact, when referencing how not to live, it is stated, “that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:21). 

 

 

 

Gee, I wonder, “Lord, are you telling this …  to us, or to everyone … really, are you talkin’ to me?”  Now, living in a certain way is not your “ticket” to heaven … yet, lifestyle does reflect if Christ is truly in your heart.  So, who among us is being spoken to?

I’m Listening as I Live In Christ,

Owen <><

God's Attentiveness to Your Prayers

“Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” 
~2 Chronicles 7:15

 Having God to open Himself to me is fulfillment of my heart’s desire.   I trust in Him and want him to be attentive to me!  Don’t you!? 

We want God to show up in our temple, “this place” we call our church, we want an alter call that drips with the honey of his anointing.  O’ that the Lord is attentive to my prayers and cries for healing – I yearn to be bathed in His Spirit, His upwelling that immerses me in the deep river of His healing by power of the resurrection of Christ.  

Yes, Lord, open your eyes and look upon me, open your ears and hear me … be attentive to my prayers, my well-being … thank you precious Jesus! 

Praise you Lord Jesus! Hallelujah!

And, God will be attentive to all of us, to look upon us and listen to us.  But, this comes with a cost to His beloved children, there is a condition, God said, “… if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chron 7:14). 

 

What is the cost?  You and I are to:

(1) be humble to God – trust him completely; being … worshipful, not prideful, but repentant; (2) we’re to pray, talk to God, talk to him in love and thanksgiving and adoration before we ask of him our needs … believe it to be done; (3) seek God, His ways and fellowship, run after communion with Him, long to look into his face and drink in His glory; and (4) turn from our way of doing life, very often sin.  We must follow His ways, commands, and Word and seek righteousness.  Love the Lord with your all, with all of our heart and soul – expect the unimaginable!

Owen <><

Do You Measure Up?!?

Has someone convinced you that you can’t achieve a mountain top experience because you are lacking?  Do you believe them?  Do you accept that, unlike them, you don’t have a special faith gift or favor of God that allows you to get to the mountain top?  They then beat you down, with part of God’s Word, saying you don’t measure up as a Christian.  Saying, you can’t get to the mountain top because you can only do so “in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3”b”) – you’re just not a good enough Christian.

Praise God that you and I aren’t Christians like they are!  We follow the “Word” from the beginning (who is Christ, John 1:1).  It is by God’s grace that salvation has enabled you in good, humble judgment (Rom 12:3”a”) to know that God takes care of the needs of everyone justly.  Jesus encourages us in Matthew 17:20 by declaring this great enablement, even power, in you through faith:

“Because you have so little faith.

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

 

“I do believe;

help me overcome my unbelief!”

~ Mark 9:24

I tell you right now, those who discourage you do not know God’s Word and are placing you under the lie of the great deceiver.

 

It is Satan who wants you in the shadow of the mountain and not in victory over the mountain. 

 

You have what it takes, you don’t have to merely crawl to the mountain top, you can cast that mountain, any barrier, out of you way.  It is by grace through your faith in Christ that empowers you, now, go move mountains:  YOU Do Measure UP!

In Christ’s Word alone,

 

Owen <>< 

 

Self-Help or His-Help

Need answers … or a life change, a fresh breath to renew you?

This may seem religious to you, but – I have been enriched by reading “the” Book.

When I put down the “self-help” book and pick up the “let-God-help-you” book …
things change, not by my effort, but by a transformation throughout my being.
I get refreshed from being in God’s Word – my thirst for truthful answers is quenched.

So, the best message may come when we shelve the self-help book ...

and pick up a Bible. 

As the Bible says:
“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another — showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Message

The Bible, is not another plan to follow in order to get better next week. 


God challenges me. 
I get answers. 
I get checked. 
I then learn to let God control what I can’t.  
I get answers that I needed, … the best answers are to questions I never asked.  

Reading exciting stories,

Owen <>< 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

 

Who is able to Withstand you?

The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand.
Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”    ~ Joshua 10:8

Be it nations, mortal flesh and bone, or spirit beings that come against you – any and all who are of the evil one – when against you child of God, they will fall.  As the Lord said, "Do not be afraid of them.”  In confidence know that there is no being able to “withstand you,” for the Holy Spirit of God is with those in Christ. 

We can be bold in prayer because we are an ambassador commissioned under the authority of Christ, having the power of God’s Spirit to overcome in victory the efforts of the evil one. 

“What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31):  the answer is this, that by his Spirit, “Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”    

In Christ,

Owen  

Grace … !!!

Grace isn’t a memorized prayer before a meal.

"Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned.

Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin.
Grace is power, not just pardon."
 – John Piper

Grace is power to live transformed
in the likeness of Christ.


Grace is not justification of sin in one’s lifestyle … Grace is strength to live Holy - set apart for God. 

“Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power,

did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.”     ~ Acts 6:8

 

Because of God’s grace, His Gift is in you, …

transforming you to powerfully live the gospel.

Let God’s grace be revealed through you,
do great wonders and miraculous signs…
that reveal Christ’s Spirit with you! 

 

 

By His Grace,

Owen <><