July 10, 2013

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."  Proverbs 3:5-8
 

Most of us have read the beautiful poem called Footprints. It’s brought comfort I think to all of us. If you haven't read the poem I am confident you have seen the painting inspired by it.
 

What’s interesting is that the lady who wrote "Footprints", Margaret Fishbeck, went through amazing trials. The person that she loved left her, she caught meningitis, and was literally bedridden for many months. She came to the lowest place of her life. During that time, another man fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. But she wouldn’t marry him. She basically said, "I’m out of trust. I’m not sure I trust God. I know I don’t trust men. I’m out of trust."

One night in her diary as she lay in bed, she began to write that beautiful piece, "Footprints". And that night she saw the answer. I’ll just take a moment to read it to you, if you’ve never heard it: "One night a man had a dream, and he dreamed that he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes of his life, and for each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him and the other belonging to the Lord. After the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. And he also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and at the very saddest times of his life. This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it. He said, ’Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I’ve noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there’s only one set of footprints. I don’t understand, Lord. Why, when I needed you the very most, you would leave me?’ And the Lord replied, ’My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.’"
 

Trusting God requires many different responses from us. This third chapter of the Proverbs gives a helpful listing of those requirements.
 

Let's focus on this one today. Trusting God means believing that He is carrying you when it feels like it and when it doesn't. Sometimes the footprints don't appear until the end of the journey. But that is the point of trusting - His promises are His proof of His presence - not His footprints!
 

Will you rest in His arms today and enjoy the journey?

 

 

July 9, 2013

"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors." Proverbs 22:28

We have established that boundary stones had not only had legal significance but also spiritual implications.

 

Moving a boundary stone was not only illegal but it was sinful because it was trespassing on the property of a neighbor as well as transgressing against the law of God. That would be double trouble!

 

You have to assume that since Solomon considers it important enough to mention this prohibition there must have been problems with people moving boundary stones. And you would figure that when they did move those stones they would not move them in terms of feet but only by inches so it would not be obvious a stone had been moved.

 

Once a stone was moved ever so slightly and everyone got accustomed to seeing it the adjusted position, it was safe to nudge it outward another inch.

 

So that is how greedy dishonest thieves stole land from their neighbors, an inch at a time and a month or two at a time for generation after generation. Inch by inch one boundary line was increasing while another was shrinking.

 

Isn't that how sin operates in our lives? Most of us avoid big, obvious sins but our daily acts of disobedience nudge us ever further from God until we find ourselves far from Him.

 

Let me ask you, "Are you moving boundary stones that God has said shouldn't be moved in your life?"

 

Have you convinced yourself that a little nudge here and a little nudge there doesn't really matter?

 

The Wise Man of God says, "Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors."

 

Maybe it would be a good time to call the Holy Spirit in to do a survey!

 

Perhaps it is time to get lined up with God?

 

The good news is that even though you may have move gradually away from God, you can come all the way back with just one act of confession and repentance!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 8, 2013

"You have said, Seek My face. My heart says to You, Your face, Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require." Psalm 27:8

What are the necessities of your life? What do you absolutely have to have? Can you even name those essentials that you could not be without?

I'll bet if you took the time to figure it out you would find it is a short list.

David, the Psalmist King knew! The one indispensible thing for him was God's presence! He could not - or more accurately - would allow himself to be denied the presence of God.

To "seek God's face" means to come into His presence. The great John Piper frames it this way:

"This happens through “seeking.” Continual seeking. But what does that mean practically? Both the Old and New Testaments say it is a “setting of the mind and heart” on God. It is the conscious fixing or focusing of our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on God.

 

“Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” (1 Chronicles 22:19)

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1–2)

This setting of the mind is the opposite of mental coasting. It is a conscious choice to direct the heart toward God. This is what Paul prays for the church:

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

It is a conscious effort on our part. But that effort to seek God is a gift from God.

We do not make this mental and emotional effort to seek God because he is lost. That’s why we would seek a coin or a sheep. But God is not lost. Nevertheless, there is always something through which or around which we must go to meet him consciously. This going through or around is what seeking is. He is often hidden. Veiled. We must go through mediators and around obstacles."
 

Herein is the merging of discipline and desire. The desire to seek God motivates the discipline to schedule time and screen distractions and study the Word until you hear from God and experience His presence.
 

Understand that there is a sense in which you are never out of the presence of God in terms of His protection and care. But communing with Him and connecting with Him in that intimate spiritual fellowship that your soul craves requires you full focus.

If you have not sought the face of God for awhile, why is that? Is it because of a lack of desire? Has your heart grown cold? Has sin crept into your life? Have you fallen in love with the world?
 

Or have you become distracted or diverted or discouraged due to the commotion around you? Has your lack of discipline allow the world to smother your schedule and clutter your mind?

Seek His face today!

July 7, 2013

"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors."  Proverbs 22:28

Do you know w here the boundary lines are on your property?

I'll bet you do! I'll bet that is important for you - and it should be!

It is equally important that your neighbors know where those boundary lines are as well!

You don't want them building something too near your property line!

With that though in mind, imagine what it would be like if your boundary lines were being changed occasionally. One day your boundary line is in its traditional and legal place, but the next day it is two feet inside that place. Then, a week later it is four feet outside of that line. After a month or so you have lost track of where it actually is because it has been changing so often.

 

That would take the joy out of owning your property and it would strain your friendship with your neighbor.

 

This simple little illustration emphasizes how important clear and consistent boundary lines are!

 

A wise man understands that. The foolish person is led to believe that freedom is the result of removing all boundaries.

 

Have you been tempted to think that way?

 

If so, think again!

 

Freedom is only found within the boundaries of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. For within those boundaries is forgiveness, the freedom from guilt! And within those boundaries is cleansing from sin and freedom from shame! Within those boundaries is peace and freedom from condemnation!

 

Are you longing to be free?

 

Freedom is found at the boundary line of faith!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 6, 2013

"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors" Proverbs 22:28

Let me remind you of several landmarks of liberty that should NEVER be moved and traditions that MUST be preserved whatever it cost. They were given to us by our Founders and purchased and preserved by the blood of thousands of Patriots over the 237 years of American History.

 

THESE BOUNDARY STONES SHOULD NOT BE MOVED:

 

In the Declaration of Independence read by our teens, our Founding Fathers affirmed their firm conviction that we have been given by our God, the right to LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. So, we will focus on those three boundary stones.

 

BOUNDARY STONE #1 – CULTURE – (“LIFE”)

 

It really is undebateable among reasonable people that we are a Christian culture. Our Founders believe our rights were given by our Creator so let’s look at the culture He created in Eden:

 

1) Freedom – God gave Adam and Eve free wills so they could choose to live in love and freedom.

2) Fear of God

3) Fellowship with God – faith/Christianity

4) Family – marriage between man/woman – children

5) Function – meaningful work to do – purpose

 

Peter Marshall, the greatest Chaplain of the U.S. Senate in a prayer before the U.S. Senate said it ever so well many years ago. "Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be hoarded. Help us see that our liberty is not the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to please to do what is right."
 

ONE OF THE BOUNDARY STONES/TRADITIONS THAT MUST NOT BE MOVED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS OUR CHRISTIAN CULTURE!

 

BOUNDARY STONE #2 – CONSTITUTION – (“LIBERTY”)

 

As God gave His new nation a code of absolute boundaries at their founding, so our Founders laid down the boundaries that would define and defend our liberties!

            1) Laws

 

“We are a nation of laws and not of men” – John Adams

 

The only way justice is possible is when there are clear, well-defined, well-defended and equitably enforced laws to govern men and order their culture.

 

            2) Limited Government

“A government of the people, by the people and for the people”

 

The Constitution stipulates the rights of the citizens and government is designed to guarantee and protect those rights.

 

Our Founders understood the temptations for those in power to abuse power and corrupt power-brokers. So, they saw the wisdom of crafting a document to limit the power of the Government over its people.

 

A SECOND BOUNDARY STONE/TRADITION THAT MUST NOT BE MOVED IS OUR FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENT – THE CONSTITUTION!

 

BOUNDARY STONE #3 – CAPITALISM – (“PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS”)

There is no perfect economic system given among imperfect men. But doesn't it make sense that the one that allows the most freedom would be best?

Someone has expressed it like this:

Communism: You have two cows. The government takes both, milks them, keeps the milk, and gives you a pint.
Socialism: The government takes one of your cows and gives it to a neighbor.
Fascism: The government takes both your cows and shoots one of them.
Nazism: The government takes both cows and shoots you.
Capitalism: You milk booth cows, sell one of the cows, and buy a bull.
Bureaucracy: The government takes both cows, milks them, and pours the milk down the drain.

 

I like the freedom of earning as much as I want, however I wish and keeping as much of it as I can!

 

I WILL STAND FOR CAPITALISM AS FLAWED AS IT MAY BE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS MEN FREEDOM TO PURSUE DREAMS!
 

Great nations and great people arise from great traditions because great traditions are based on timeless truths.

 

I will stand for these three traditions that have made America great!

 

 

 

July 5, 2013

"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors."  Proverbs 22:28

 

Traditions are very important. They are not to be worshipped but neither are they to be wrecked.

 

Traditions endure because they are based on truth. They serve as guard rails that guide and protect us along the path of freedom. 

 

Let me illustrate with a few examples:

 

Americans have been driving for a century but the rules of the road are essentially the same as they were when our love-affair with the automobile began.

 

We still right on the right side of the road. We still have speed limits and maintain a safe distance between you and the next vehicle. We can still make right turns on red after a complete stop.

 

Highways have changed a lot and cars are much different but the traditional rules still apply.

 

Or, imagine the Washington Redskins travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles only to find their playing field is 20 yards longer and 10 yards wider.  They haven't respected the traditions of the game.

 

Instead of getting four downs the Eagles get five and the Redskins get three. They haven't respected the traditions of the game.

 

While the Redskins are allowed eleven players on offense and eleven on defense the Eagles put 13 on each side of the ball! They won't respect the traditions of the game.

 

How much fun would that be?

 

Playing under those conditions wouldn't be much fun nor would it be good to watch.

 

Respecting the traditions of the NFL make it the great game it is for the players and the fans!

 

America has grown great and strong by being true to the great traditions upon which she was founded. But it seems many of those God-ordained traditions are being ignored or disrespected by many in leadership. Some say they have a plan to fundamentally transform our traditions.

 

To them we say, "The game can only be played according to God-ordained traditions.  Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 4, 2013

"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors."   Proverbs 22:28

 

One of the greatest days in the history of the Jewish nation was when they crossed the Jordan and finally entered the Promised Land. There were battles yet to be waged in order to drive the pagans out so they could worship and serve Jehovah in peace. This was to be a land of peace and rest. Once the enemies were conquered they would finally have the chance to worship their God with prosperity and peace. Finally, the promise made to Abraham would be fulfilled.

 

When they finally settled in the land they were given land and God set up boundaries for each tribe and those stones were marked by boundary stones. And since the land was sacred so were those boundaries considered  sacred as well. It was sinful and illegal to move a boundary stone.

 

To move a boundary was to steal property from your neighbor, and worse, it was deliberate defiance of God. It was tantamount to saying you knew better than God about what should be yours and what should belong to your neighbor.

For those boundaries there was no time limitations on how long those boundaries and boundary stone markers should remain they were not to be moved. God said so!

Boundaries give a sense of significance. The land within these boundary stones belonged to my father and now it belongs to me! Some day it will belong to my son! I belong to this land and it belongs to me!

Boundaries give a sense of sovereignty. I am in charge of what goes on within the boundaries of this piece of ground!

Boundaries give a sense of security. I am safe within the boundary stones that mark this as my property!

That gives you some background on the concept of boundary stones. They were very important to Jewish social and civil culture!

Don't move those stones!