A Page from A. Page: November 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Dealing with Pain and Struggles

We are studying Luke 17:3-4 and the need to forgive those who have sinned against us--those who have caused us pain and struggle.

Luke reads: "So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

This is a powerful section about Jesus' instructions for approaching sin in others and the power of forgiveness and repentance in our Christian relationships. We all fall short of the glory of God, so we will find ourselves both on the repentance and forgiveness sides of our relationships; and Jesus is calling for us to set ourselves apart from they way the world handles pain and retribution. "Don't get mad, get even," is a common ideology from the world. Jesus is commanding us: "Don't get mad, forgive; Don't get even, repent."

Jesus calls us to be holy--set apart from the world. In studying this week's subject, I read through 1 Peter 1:15-16 as well:
"But as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy because I am holy.'"

When I read "...for it is written..." I searched for the references from where 'it' was written. I found the command in an Old Testament book that loves commands: Leviticus. God commands this multiple times in chapters 11 and 20, but chapter 20, verses 7-8 resonated most with my study and the scripture from 1 Peter. The Holy Spirit directed my attention:

"Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy."

In this brief scripture, God says much on the combination of faith, works, grace and forgiveness.

First, He commands us to be holy--set apart for Him. If we are to be in communion with His Spirit, our spirits need to be set apart from the pursuits and logic of this world.

Secondly, He explains why. He is the Lord our God, but He isn't our God if we are setting up idols and alternative thrones here on this earth. The world preaches to place ourselves on the throne and seek to be served. God commands that we serve and worship Him on His throne, recognizing Him as the giver of life and creator of all matter, anti-matter; seen and unseen.

Third, He explains the definition of a holy life. A holy life is keeping God's decrees and following His ways. We can try with all our might, but no man has proven to be able to follow all of God's commandments wholeheartedly with perfection.

So how can we follow His decrees? How can we forgive those indebted to us? How can we seek true repentance?

In verse 8, God states that He is the Lord, "who makes you holy." God does the work! Way back in Leviticus, God alludes to the power of the Gospel and His everlasting grace! How cool is that? Through the sacrifice of Jesus, our sin debt is paid. Through His resurrection, He conquered death, which was our debt to sin. Through our trust placed in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we repent and are baptized into Christ. The Holy Spirit then indwells our spirit, resurrecting to life our formerly dead spirit! God in us then goes to work, setting us apart, guiding us to forgiveness, to repentance and growing us in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory, now and forever! AMEN!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Nabeel Qureshi

www.acts17.net

I shared a youtube video of Nabeel's testimony with our high school youth group...I also heard him speak at church. He's got a powerful story and is eloquent with apologetics and the Gospel.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Creation

Create what is uncreative
set out for ordinary
navigate normalcy
Stand out to be whacked
Back to the safety of mediocrity
Passive language
Describing being rather than action
Raze the foundation of safe
uncreated creation
Raze perception of the uncreated
Demolish ordinary, annihilate passivity
The uncreated created all
Breathed life into something from nothing
Seek the uncreated for meaning, truth
beyond human mediocrity, exceeding language
into space, time, passing through
safety of parameters
into holes of everything but nothing
through dimensions emitting nothing
Nothing but curiosity
Is being active
producing an active being
or being, abiding
action to behold
Behold the uncreated
Creation holds You as nothing
Nothing from which came everything!

Spiritual Block

Upon the precipice of being poured out like a drink offering, Paul wrote about the course he had run for Timothy personally and for generations of Christians throughout the history of the church. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:7-8: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." NAS

Bring pen and paper to a daily meeting with God this week. Pray in the Spirit and listen patiently for His leading. He may be waiting for you to quiet down and so may seem a while in answering. He may answer with conviction of the heart immediately in prayer. He may drop love notes through others or events throughout the day to let you know He's thinking of you and leading you. He may speak through pain to help you grow, or through joy to raise your spirit. He knows what you need more than you, so be open especially in focused prayer, but also throughout the coming week, praying through these areas. Be open to writing down thoughts, convictions, events as they happen and compile them for a Sunday night recap with the Holy Spirit. Lay your thoughts upon your Bible in prayer and work on a journey check up session with Him. What fights has your heart been in--good and bad? What good fights lay ahead for your heart?

What course have you taken with and without the Spirit? Where has He been leading? Where does He lead you now? Follow His steps.

Where have you been faithful? If you've made it through this post and are looking to engage in the exercise, you have a measure of faith. Don't sell yourself short or long...don't sell yourself anything. Wait on the Spirit to tug at your faith to see areas He would like you to grow and areas bringing joy to His Spirit.

Ask God. He loves giving good things to His children. What glorious requests to ask for His Spirit to be alive and active within your heart, to take your feet with His to others who need Him, to live in the security with His promises, His truth...love, hope and faith.

Soli Deo Gloria

In Christ, Andy

Writer's Block!

November 16, 2012
Writing exercises can often jog the pen when it seems dry.

What's your favorite sport? Tell me about a dramatic game with an active voice. Yardage, velocity, power, precision and backspin are all popular and often necessary subjects in sports. While describing running yards or serve speed or slugging percentage, describe in active voice what you saw--or what you see in your imaginary game. "Defensive tackle Page flopped on a Colts' cut block, and then used the center to spring into the backfield, wrapping the quarterback for a loss of 8 yards."or"Defensive tackle Page got an 8-yard sack."While journalism preaches efficiency and lean writing, I'm saying, 'have fun!' Let the reader have some fun, too. Get into the real details and description of the action. I love sports and reading about them, so feel free to leave something you've written about an exciting game--real or imaginary!

In Christ, Andy