Loss of Innocence

Within each of us exists the image of God, however disfigured and corrupted by sin it may presently be. God is able to recover this image through grace as we are conformed to Christ.  Alister McGrath

Perhaps the most wonderful thing of all is this: God lifts us not only from what we are by nature to what Adam was in the Garden of Eden, but to what Adam was to become in the presence of God, and would have been had he persevered in obedience. The gospel does not make us like Adam in his innocence - it makes us like Christ, in all the perfection of His reflection of God.  Sinclair B. Ferguson

Have you ever looked back over your life and thought about the first time you realized that life was not going to be easy and what you thought life was supposed to be wasn’t turning out like you expected it would? 

Last night I was working at my computer and I was looking for a document.  As will happen, I had several CD’s with files that I was searching through and I ran across some photos that I hadn’t seen in years.

My nephews are now teenagers and both are over 6ft tall.  Some of the photos were of them when they were around 3 or 4 years old.  There was one where they were sitting next to each other with their arms around each other and they were laughing.  I also ran across another photo of the two of them at our wedding.  They were in miniature black tuxedos and they were hugging each other and the youngest was holding a toy car.  Our photographer had shot the photo where you could just see the backs of their heads with the two of them hugging each other tightly. 

I then ran across a photo of the oldest one several years later where he was holding his baseball trophy over his head.  He had the biggest saddest eyes I have ever seen.  It reminded me of how we are born innocent and then life happens. 

Our loss of innocence can happen when we are three and it can happen when we are forty or fifty or at any age in between and no one is exempt.  Because we live in a fallen world, innocence is lost every day.

When Jesus talked about how we must become like little children, He certainly understood what the loss of innocence can mean.  He understood how vulnerable children are and that this innocence can so easily be taken away.  Every person loses their innocence eventually.  It can be caused by bosses, parents, friends and even other children. Our loss of innocence can lead us down a road to the comfort of the cross or to more brokenness.  Becoming like little children brings us back to God’s presence.     

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, as I looked at those long ago photos, it reminded me of my own innocence and how the world around us can be a cruel place.  The only perfect place is found in your presence.  My innocence is long gone but I am so thankful that you gave me Jesus to show me what love really is and that even the loss of innocence can be redeemed.  

Scripture:  Jesus Blesses Little Children

Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”  Luke 18:15-17

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 18:2-4

Tuned In

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.  George Washington Carver

We all have radios in our cars.  I was thinking about how God works and in many ways it is like the radio in our car.  My radio has a scan and seek function or button.  There all kinds of stations to choose from and all we have to do is hit the scan or seek button and the radio will automatically start running through all the stations available to try to find the one with the best frequency. 

There is a difference between the two buttons.  The scan button will run continuously through the stations and stay on one station for a few seconds to see if this particular station is one you want to listen to.  If you don’t manually touch the button again it will continue on to the next station and the next until you stop it.  The seek button will scan to a station and stop on it until you hit the button again. Then there is the tune button.  This button helps you fine tune the frequency so that you get the best reception. 

So if you take all the buttons and apply them to God in your life, it might work something like this.  God is broadcasting to us all the time.  His is the station with the best and clearest reception.  So sometimes we hit the scan button and we let the radio run through all the stations never stopping on any one particular station.  Then other times we decide to hit the seek button and it will stop on each broadcasting station. The problem with this button is that we often select a station that is not God’s broadcasting station.  So if we stop on that one, we may never see what God has in store for us because we are on the wrong frequency.  Then there is the tune button.  This one is my favorite.  It allows us to tune in to God’s broadcasting station so that we can hear is voice at the optimum frequency. 

Here is the question.  Do you want to get the best reception on God’s broadcast?  The only way we will be able to do that is to tune in.  If we are never listening to the right station we will never hear Him.  Tuning in can mean reading His Word in the Bible or meditating on Him or just thinking about him throughout our daily life.  If I never tune in or seek Him how do I ever expect to hear of the great things He has in store for my life.  Are you tuning in? 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I spent many years not tuning in to You and Your Word.  I wasted so much time on worthless stations that never brought me any closer to You.  Through the trials in my life that You allowed, I have become more tuned in to hear Your voice and I am forever grateful for Your constant presence.  Jesus made it possible for me to tune in directly to You without interference.  If I choose, I am able to speak to You every day and hear Your voice any time.  I praise You.       

Scripture: “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.  They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it.  Amos 8:11-12

Open the Door

Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.  Oswald Chambers

I had another dream last night.  I dreamed a guy I didn’t know gave me a gift.  I had never seen this guy before so I am not sure why he would be giving me a gift in the first place.  The odd thing about it was the gift.  He gave me a door knob.  I know, I know, what girl doesn’t want a door knob.  I mean it was a really nice door knob.  It was made of wood and was polished with all kinds of carving on the surface and it looked like an antique door knob. 

The dream was so strange that I woke up and immediately started thinking about God and what could the door knob mean.  It could mean that I needed to open the door and let the dog out, but that couldn’t be it because my dog has a doggy door of his own so he doesn’t need me to open it for him.  It could also mean that God was telling me I am as old as the door knob or that I have been watching too many episodes of American Pickers.  Then it could mean absolutely nothing except that I get weird gifts.

My mind is a strange thing, as you have probably figured out by now, so I thought maybe it is not so much the door knob that I need to think about, but maybe it is the door that fits the door knob. Then I thought about scripture that talked about doors. God provides a door that any one of us can freely walk through but it is our choice.  God leaves it up to us to decide if we will open the door.  When He knocks will you open the door or stay on the other side?  Sin lies on one side and eternal life lies on the other.  Which will you choose?

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, sometimes my dreams are strange.  Several years ago I decided to listen for Your voice and look for You in everything whether it be dreams, events that occur throughout my day, or just observing my surroundings and the blessings You have given me.  I want to keep that door of eternal life always open so that I can feel Your presence no matter where I am in life.  Thank You for building that door through Jesus so that I have the ability to walk through to be with You.

Scripture:  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  John 10:1-10

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.  Revelation 3:19-21

Showing Joy In the Lord

When the heart is full of joy, it always allows its joy to escape. It is like the fountain in the marketplace; whenever it is full it runs away in streams, and as soon as it ceases to overflow, you may be quite sure that it has ceased to be full. The only full heart is the overflowing heart.  Charles Spurgeon

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about David.  David had been made King and he was bringing the Ark of the Lord home.  David was so joyful that he danced in the streets. 

One of my great joys is dancing.  My husband and I love to dance.  When we dance it is like we glide.  We are so in tune with each other that we understand what step the other is going to take before we even take it.  One of the things we have in common is the same taste in music.  Throughout our marriage we have often been talking about music and one of us will turn to the other and say did you hear that song on the radio.  The other will say, yes I love that song.  It isn’t always the words that touch us; it is often the music behind the words.  When you have danced as long as my husband and I have, there is a certain beat to a song that is conducive to shuffling which is the type of couple dancing that we enjoy. 

When my husband and I got married we played a song that we danced our first dance to called “Oh What a Thrill”.  Through all the times we have shared there is still that thrill that I get when we are dancing.  It is a joy inside that just makes me smile because I don’t even have to think when I am dancing with him.  It is just instinct that we move together. 

This morning I was listening to the radio and the first song that came on is one of those songs that just make me want to jump out of my car and start dancing and singing at the top of my lungs.  The song is called “Beautiful Day” by Jamie Grace.  One of my favorite verses in the song says,  

“And ooh there's something 'bout the way Your sun shines on my face
It's a love so true, I could never get enough of You
This feeling can't be wrong, I'm about to get my worship on
Take me away, It's a beautiful day” 

I love those words “I’m about to get my worship on”.  It makes me think of David and how joyfully he danced for the Lord worshipping his Creator.  I want to wake up every day with that kind of joy in my heart.  So for now I am going to “go get my worship on”.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, there is a place in my soul where music resides.  I often feel closest to You when I am singing or dancing.  When there is joy like that in my heart it just flows out of me.  It can’t be contained.  Thank You for giving me the blessing of music so that I can express my love for You through it.  I praise Your Holy Name.          

Scripture:  Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.  2 Samuel 6:12-15

Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord.  And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight.  But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor." 

Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.  2 Samuel 6:20-23

An Abundant Life

abundant  1. present in great quantity; more than adequate; oversufficient: an abundant supply of water.

By a matchless parable our Lord there taught us that all believers are branches of the Living Vine, and that, apart from Him we are nothing and can do nothing because we have in us no life.  A.T. Pierson

What do you consider an abundant life?  Do you have or live one? 

When I looked up the definition of abundant the phrase that struck me was “oversufficient”.  If you look at that from a worldly perspective, most of us have an oversufficient life.  We have a home, plenty of food to eat, cars to drive and sometimes we have multiples of some things in our life. 

If we look at it from Jesus’ perspective we have an oversufficient life in things that are not important.  Jesus came so that we would have an abundant life but His coming wasn’t so that we could have more stuff.  Isaiah 55:1-3 offers a definition of what an abundant life means from a heavenly perspective. 

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Incline your ear, and come to Me.  Isaiah 55:1-3

If I am living my life from a worldly perspective instead of a heavenly perspective, I will never see the abundant life Jesus offers.          

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, You promise that I can have an abundant life, yet too many times my idea of an abundant life is very different from what you intended. I thirst for You and You promise Living Waters.  Thank You for Your Son who died so that I may live abundantly, not with the satisfaction of life here on earth, but the satisfaction of a life with You in Heaven.      

Scripture:  Jesus the Good Shepherd

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  John 10:7-10

Win or Lose

How you think when you lose determines how long it will be until you win.  G.K. Chesterton

I went to my nephew’s football game last week.  There was a particular play that occurred during the game and several coaches from one of the teams took offense at a call from the referee.  Three or four of the coaches went onto the field to protest the call the referee made, and continued to harass the referee from the sidelines.

Our society has become one of winning at all cost.  Losing is not an option and many parents ridicule their children for not winning.  Parents want their child to be the best in whatever sport they play or activity they are involved in, and when they don’t win the parent belittles or puts the child down for not winning.  It doesn’t matter to the parent that God may not have given their child talent in that area.  Too many times you see parents trying to live vicariously through their children.  They want their children to be what they never were in life.

When I was a sophomore in high school I tried out for Jr. Co-captain and guess what.  I didn’t make it.  Was I disappointed?  Yes.  Do you know what my parents did?  They didn’t belittle me for losing and instead they encouraged me to try again the next year.  They encouraged this shy introvert to step out and try again.  So when I tried out for Sr. Co-Captain the next year I won. 

What did this lesson teach me?  It taught me that I was good enough and that I will not win at everything in life.  It taught me perseverance and determination.  The irony of the whole thing is that losing taught me how to win.  That is an amazing piece of wisdom. We should spend more time teaching children how to lose.   

Jesus told his disciples that if anyone desires to come after Me, deny himself, take up the cross and follow Me. The biggest irony of all is that Jesus lost (died on a cross) to save us so we could win (eternal life).  The most important thing we can teach children today is to deny themselves and follow Jesus. 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I thank You for my parents who taught me how to lose with grace.  Learning how to lose taught me a great lesson.  I pray for the children of this world who are under so much pressure to win at all costs that they never get to see that the most important thing they need to learn is to lose.  Losing my life for Christ means I win.  Thank you for providing a way for me to win for eternity.        

Scripture:   Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26

Instant Christianity

In Jesus Christ on the Cross there is refuge; there is safety; there is shelter; and all the power of sin upon our track cannot reach us when we have taken shelter under the Cross that atones for our sins.  A.C. Dixon

I was baptized many years ago when I was twelve years old, and I had an adolescent view of what a Christian should be and how I should act.  I had always been told that when you were baptized, your sins are washed away.  I believed that but the problem was when I sinned after I was baptized, I had this picture in my head that there was no way I could get back to God because of my sin.  So imagine a twelve year old thinking that I would never get to heaven.  It was like being told you had no hope of living. 

As I grew into adulthood I had this hopelessness that God never intended.  If we are to love God we have to believe that he wants us to live a sin free life.  The problem with life is that throughout our lifetime we will sin over and over again. Jesus was the only man who ever lived a completely sinless life.  He never had to go back to God the Father and repent of something He did in his life. The difference in us is that we are sinners and it is a necessary process for us to have to return time and again to Him to repent of the sins that we commit after our baptism.    

The following is an excerpt from a Billy Graham devotional that speaks of God’s great forgiveness. 

“There is a certain amount of sorrow involved in repentance that we don’t see much of today. That word means moaning and even groaning. I don’t mean that we have to have a great emotional experience, but I do believe that we need some tears of repentance. We need to be sorry for our sins, and to say, “Oh, God, I have sinned against You, and I’m sorry.” I am not an emotional person. I don’t know why, but I don’t cry easily. But of the few times I have cried in my life, some of them have been over sin that I committed many years ago.

The night I came to Christ, I didn’t have any tears. But later I went home and I looked out my window at the North Carolina sky and I cried over my sins. I said, “Oh, God, forgive me.” And the most wonderful peace swept over my soul. From that moment on, I’ve known that my sins were forgiven.” Billy Graham         

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, my attempts at living a Christian life are feeble at best.  Through Jesus Christ you saved me and I am redeemed.  Because of Jesus I can come to You on bended knees and ask for forgiveness.        

Scripture:  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:1-2

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9