Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

What does doing the works of God mean to you?  If you are a Christian, it can mean any number of things. I have walked with the Lord long enough to realize a few things about doing His works.   I fully believe that the Lord's works are done first and foremost in our hearts.  Out of this connection, or as Oswald Chambers puts it, "comradeship," His works flow outward.   What I mean is, it is much easier to put the proverbial cart before the horse, the cart being outer good works.  The true work, what Jesus is after, lies within our hearts.  When the Lord takes up residence in our hearts, via the Person of the Holy Spirit, He comes to rule and reign there.  When we allow Him to rule in our hearts, that is how His works are accomplished through us. Now this is actually the harder work, because it is not tangible or quantifiable.  And Lord knows, we are a results-driven society! But remember, the Lord is after our hearts.  Always.  This is Scriptural (see I Samuel 16:7).  The

I believe with all that is in me that we are never good examples when we think we are, when we are trying to be. I believe that when we are yielded to Christ, His life in us, His will for us, that then, and only then, are we influencing those around us.  And we never, no never, know when we are doing this.  We are not supposed to know because then we may become affected or, worse yet, we may think that we have something to do with it! Jesus never set out to be an example.  He simply was.  As He stayed connected to His Heavenly Father, the life of God poured out through Him in thought, word, and deed.  And of course, He really is the only example in life for all of us.   Leaders will fail. "Experts" are limited. Good deed doers may be acting out of the flesh, not from fellowship with the Holy Spirit. So of course, we look to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ as our only example because His example is flawless and true.  His example can come to life in us, but only as glimpses

Feeding your heart and mind with God's truths is the best way I know to delight in Him. Lately, I have been wrestling with anxiety over certain issues surrounding my life.  Although my morning routine of spending at least an hour with the Lord in my quiet time has not changed, it's not long after my hour of bliss that worries, fears, and anxiety start to chase me down. I prayed and asked the Lord what I should read or listen to.  That's when I happened upon a Charles Spurgeon teaching on YouTube. I am a big Spurgeon lover and knew that he would give it to me straight.  And it was just what Dr. Jesus ordered! As I was listening to Charles Spurgeon's sermon, read by a very calming voice with a British accent, I began to feel God's Presence and peace in me.  I was letting go.  I was being enveloped by the Holy Spirit. This was not some super spiritual phenomena, but I believe that this is how the Christian life is to always be lived, ideally!  I want to live in this pl

David asked the Lord for one thing: that he may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. Is that your one thing?   What do you desire above all else?  If you had to whittle it down to one thing, what would it be?  Honestly. We live in Distractionville all of us.  And it can ruin us if we let it.   It steals our ability to focus and concentrate for any length of time.  It causes anxiety and stress.   Do we know how to settle down and be still any more? Can we stop worshiping the Busy god and admit that it does not fulfill us as we want? Or maybe your god is keeping up with the latest "trends" and "posts."  This god, too, will fail us. What if, just saying, our one thing were the same as David's?  What if the thing we most valued and treasured were His Presence?  That is what dwelling in the house of the Lord means: intimacy with God.  Valuing His Presence more than anything. When we do this, Distractionville loses its appeal.  It is exposed for wh

Are you a member of any rewards programs?  I am.  It's fun to receive bonuses and offers simply for being a good customer.  You know the ones I mean, a discount offer, something for free, and other special perks.  Who doesn't enjoy these rewards? But did you know that Jesus offers us eternal rewards that never spoil, fade, or perish?  I want in on that program!  Of course, it is not a program at all.  But there are definitely awesome rewards.  But you need patience to wait for them, and lots of faith to know that they are waiting for you, because they won't be revealed this side of heaven.   Some of the rewards we can look forward to: Loving our enemies.  Cha-ching! Forgiving those who hurt us.  Cha-ching! Obeying God no matter what. Cha-ching! Seeking Jesus daily.  Cha-ching! Trusting God more than self.  Cha-ching! Believing in God's goodness during the hard times.  Cha-ching! Knowing God.  Cha-ching! Choosing faith over fear.  Cha-ching! Winning spiritual battles in

That is how we travel our faith walk.  Two steps ahead, one back. No one's trajectory is full on straight ahead. Life happens. There are setbacks, tests, trials, apathy, and so on. The key is to not berate yourself over the one step back, like I do. Progression, not perfection, is what a family member once told me.  Was my quest for spiritual perfection that obvious?!  Can someone want to be like Jesus too much? The more we rest, the more we progress.  That is my new motto. Fruit doesn't force itself to grow.  It simply hangs on the branch.  The water, soil, sun, climate, and so on, take care of the rest.   So for all of my effort to do more, be more, and the like, I've decided to rest in Jesus instead. This is not passive.  Not one bit. It is wise. Hey!  How about that!  I have been praying for more wisdom lately.  There it is! Be still.   Another translation reads cease striving - trying, pushing, wanting, being impatient, wondering, reasoning, and all the other nonsense