Spiritual Cells

It never ceases to amaze me that we - walking, talking, thinking human beings - began as 2 cells! Those 2 cells, filled with the DNA of their mother and father, became one (united); then divided; creating another cell, those 2 cells divided making 4 cells, which divided and made 8 cells, and so on, until 9 months later a child was born - a person - with characteristics of both parents. Wow!

Cell division and growth doesn’t end at birth, it continues rapidly, growing and developing a child through the stages of life. Some estimations suggest that we consist of roughly 50 trillion cells (a number I struggle to fathom). All through life, new cells are generated and old cells die off. This is called cell regeneration and it occurs at the estimated rate of 3 million cells a day. When new cells are created they are a replica of the original cells. This is one of the reasons it’s important to have “healthy” habits. As you might imagine, healthy cells generate healthy cells, and unhealthy cells generate unhealthy cells. What you do today affects you years from now when the unhealthy cells you may be creating develop more unhealthy cells. We often don’t recognize the benefit of healthy habits until years later.

The same is true of spiritual cells. They continue to grow, develop and regenerate. Spiritual cells generate spiritual cells. The more we feed and nourish them, the healthier they become and the healthier the cells they generate will be. That’s why staying in the Word is “good for you”.

Since we know that everyone is born with a deposit of the Holy Spirit, this is true for unbelievers as well. At sometime in their life, they may “hear” the Word of God and it unites with a (Holy Spirit) cell deposited at birth. That cell generates a new cell that is also full of the Spirit. If the unbeliever periodically gets “fed” the Word of God, those Spiritual cells multiply faster and the spiritual fetus grows. We should never think our efforts to spread the Good News are in vain. God will NOT turn His back on His Word, and we have no idea how “far along” their spiritual fetus is. Eventually the cells that are full of the Spirit will reach gestation, they will accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and they will be born (again).

Psalm 96:2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your earthly parents because the life they gave you will end in death. But this new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

Blessed Father, Thank You for your deposit within me. Thank You for uniting with me to advance Your Kingdom. I pray that the Holy Spirit within me would continue to feed Your spiritual cells – in whomever they may be. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Barb

Pouting

Along with Ryan’s newfound excitement for computer games, comes a newfound desire to play them…a lot. While I want him to have fun with them (and we do control what he has access to), I do not want this to be his total free-time experience. He has always been an avid reader and loves playing all sorts of games. I want to be careful to ensure he has a well-rounded experience. Generally we allow him no more than an hour a day of EITHER computer games, selected movies or PBS TV – that’s AFTER homework is done.

Lately he’s been asking for more computer time. When I remind him of the rule, he often tries another angle and asks his dad for permission. He’s also been attempting creative negotiation. His most recent stunner was an announcement that he would eat more fruit if he could have more computer time. He even mentioned that an apple should equal 30 minutes.

Well, sometimes the answer is just plain “no.” This often brings out the lower lip and results in pouting. The season being what it is, I’ve reminded him that “Santa Claus is coming to town” and that he says you should not pout. It’s really hard for him to make the transition away from pouting. I’ve seen him try to wipe tears away, and although he eventually forgets it for awhile, he often brings it back up again later and the cycle starts again. No matter what we say, it’s hard for him to comprehend how playing the computer for hours on end might not be the best thing for him. He thinks it would be great!

As I considered Ryan’s actions, I wondered if the Lord ever thought of us as “pouters”. When we want something and it doesn’t happen according to our schedule or in the manner we think appropriate, do we pout or sulk? Do we “try another angle” and see if we can get our way by some other effort? Do we actually try to negotiate with God? “I promise I’ll do (insert your promise) if you’ll only do (insert your desire) for me.” Do we define for God exactly how or when this desire should be granted? Is it hard for us to comprehend exactly why God does not see the great value in fulfilling this desire exactly as we have defined it? We think it would be great!

Let’s back away from our desires for a moment and consider God the Father. Do we think it is possible that His plans for us might be just a bit more thought out than ours? Is it possible that His vision of all things (including the future) could be an angle that we have not considered? Do you think the disciples could even begin to imagine the greatness and wonder of God’s plan when Jesus told them that He must die and it would be better for us if He did? Assuming we have a right relationship with God, once we bring to Him our desires, maybe pouting isn’t really going to help Him make a decision. I wonder if praising whatever He does might be a better choice! How about faith that “Father knows best”?

Proverbs 3:11-12 (Message) But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.

Matthew 7:9-11 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Luke 22:22 For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God’s plan.

Holy Father, Thank You that your plan is perfect. I pray that we will always honor You with faith that You know best and live in honor to Your will for our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

You better watch out,
You better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why,
Jesus Christ is coming to town.

He's making a list,
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice.
Jesus Christ is coming to town.

He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake,
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!

You better watch out,
You better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why,
Jesus Christ is coming to town

Barb

Levels of Victory

Recently my 6 year old son Ryan has become very excited about computer games. He relishes learning to maneuver the characters to jump obstacles and obtain prizes along the way to various levels of victory. There are times when I hear him playing and he’s talking to the computer, captivated by the excitement of the task before him. He grunts at failure and rejoices at success. He periodically complains if he can not get past a certain level, but he goes back and tries again. Sometimes he gets frustrated and just wants to quit, but calls for help: “Mom, I can’t make this jump, can you help me?” “Sure you can,” I say, “let me show you and then you practice.” Ultimately, after much practice, he makes the jump on his own. His skills are now showing the fruits of his practice and amazing me with things I would not otherwise have known.

This made me think about my own salvation, just a few short years ago. Newfound excitement would be an understatement! Oh how I relish learning. I am most certainly captivated by what’s in front of me, and yes, I grunt at failure and rejoice at success. Guess what else? I also talk to the opportunity and to the blessing. When I am stuck or frustrated, I ask for Help. I ask Him for direction and also consult some “wise counsel” friends of mine. Afterwards, I get to practice on my own. And you know what, some of my friends (even some of my ‘wise counsel’ friends) have commented that, through me, something was revealed to them that they did not know.

As I pondered this correlation, I thought about what’s next? Ryan will probably master these skills, grow up and lose interest in these games. Eventually something else would captivate him. Something that he was SO excited about would not be exciting anymore. I wondered if that would happen to me. Would I eventually be less passionate for the Lord? I’ve actually heard Christians say things to me like, “Oh I remember the excitement of when I was first saved. This is the best time for you!” For a while I didn’t want to think about those statements, but decided that was akin to “sticking my head in the sand.” Obviously there are Christians who aren’t as excited as they once were about Jesus anymore. What happened? And how do I avoid it happening to me?

With each computer game, Ryan practiced to success. He maneuvered through various levels of victory within one game and then moved on to another. Eventually he may leave computer games behind and find interest elsewhere. Wherever he moves he will have to treat his desire to succeed with an effort. His level of success will be dependant on his innate ability and his work ethic. And as he is successful, his work will become desire.

Similarly, I believe the depth of our walk with the Lord may also be a matter of faith and works. Both are needed for victory. If our heart continues to be excited about Jesus – if we are faithful to Him, then I think we need to continue to work ourselves into His presence. Faith and works then feed off of each other. As we feed our faith with His presence, we achieve victory - we discover our gifts - and our work becomes our desire. We are then able to move to the next level – where it starts all over again! Importantly, just as we need to have a business “work ethic” to attain business success, I think we need to have a spiritual “work ethic” to maintain spiritual success.

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Colossians 1:23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News…

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Glorious Father, I pray that each of us would do whatever it takes to stand firmly in Your presence, that the Good News would continue to be the Joy of our heart, and that we would stay in your Word to nourish our spirit and enhance our desire. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Barb

Mary Had A Little Lamb

One of the things that you may have noticed about me is that I absolutely love seeing God in everyday life. Recently I “heard” this nursery rhyme for the first time with a different set of ears. I was awed at what I knew about the words and the context for today’s world.

Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow.
Everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day, which was against the rules.
It made the children laugh and play, to see a lamb in school.
And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near.
And waited patiently about, till Mary did appear.
"Why does the lamb love Mary so?" the eager children cry.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know." the teacher did reply.

My initial reaction towards this nursery rhyme was focused towards the literal words and the relationship to God in school. The Supreme Court banned prayer in school in 1963. I believe that has not been beneficial for this country in general, and all youth in particular, but I do believe that God knew it would happen that way and God’s influencing hand is prophetically all over this nursery rhyme, written in 1830.

Here’s what it may say: A child named Mary had a relationship with a little lamb (the Lamb of God – who is pure and perfect). The Lamb (Holy Spirit) was with Mary wherever she went, including school. That, of course, was against the Constitutional Amendment, but the children were still excited to have Him there. Even though the Lamb (prayer) was removed from school, it stayed nearby (in her heart) and would not “go away”. He waited patiently for Mary. Other children wanted to know why the Lamb didn’t run away, but waited for Mary. The Lamb loves ALL children; but those who accept the Lamb as their Lord and Savior, those who love the Lamb, hold a special place in His eternal heart and are especially blessed by His love.

And as I thought further I realized that the prophetic message of this nursery rhyme loomed even larger. It also says: Jesus, born to Mary, was the pure and spotless Sacrifice of God for His people. He created believers everywhere He went, and they were overjoyed at His teachings and presence. The teachers of the law, however, rebuked Jesus and crucified Him (put Him out), but He (the Holy Spirit) would not go away. Time is in His hands and He is the Lord of patience. When we show up for relationship with Him, He is there; accepting us lovingly, no matter what. Unbelievers don’t understand this bond with our Lord. They don’t seem to comprehend how we can love Him as we do. It’s because He first loved us.

1 Peter 1:19 (NLT) He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

Luke 2:10-11 (NKJV) Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

1 John4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Blessed Father, May we continue to see and feel Your Hand in our everyday life. May we honor Your presence in our everyday comings and goings. And may You know our love for You in Your everyday. We submit our everyday successes and agonies to Your Glory. Praise be to God! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Barb