Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 13:20 NIV

No man is an island

The people you hang out with have an influence on your life.  No man is an island, no man stands alone.  We are influenced by our company.  This verse requires us to look at who we choose to be around and why.   There is a drive in us to be with others.  The reasons are various.  Sometimes it is to pass the time, or to laugh.  Maybe it’s to be around people who will not judge you or are willing to hear your feelings.

There is a influence from the people we hang out with.

Whatever the reason we need to know there is a influence from the people we hang out with that will effect our life.  Are you looking for improvement and growth?  Hang out with people who are also looking to improve themselves.  They will challenge you and encourage you.  Are you looking for people to tell you the things you are doing are justified?  There are people who will agree with you but be careful of their presence.  They tend to lower your standards in life.

Iron sharpens iron but rust also spreads

Do you want to be stronger and wiser?  Hang out with people who seek righteous and truth.  Yes it will challenge you to be around these people but as you struggle you will also grow as a person.  Iron sharpens iron.  Be aware,  rust will also spread to other metals.  So if you want to feel justified and have others agree you are not the blame for any issues,  you can also find a group.  No challenge to this group of friends.  It’s an easier life.  More laughter and fun.  But beware of the effect toward a non-responsible life.  The Bible says a companion of fools suffers harm.

Choose wisely

Pick the people you hang around with by their standards.  Pick someone seeking righteousness and a passion for sharing goodness.  Grow in strength together, achieve together.  Become wise together and your lightnside will shine brighter.

 

Who are your friends?  They do influence you.

Pick right.

Extreme evil is in our world.

The rage of a former student to bring weapons of death to destroy lives is pure evil.  How do we pray and connect our thoughts about God during times like these.  Below are my thoughts.

 

Psalms 46:1 says “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.”

God is a place we need to run to.  God is not to blame.  Yes, He is God but this is a fallen world and the choice of allowing God in our lives are our own.  Satan and his demons are at work to (John 10:10) steal, kill and destroy.  The deaths are their joyous goals.  Destruction is their strength.  We need a revival in this land.  Our nations need’s it’s soul healed.

God is a place where we as Christians can run to and strengthen our resolve to stay holy.  Today, rest in His presence.  Who knows what will come our way.  Yesterday was just another day in Florida.  Students, parents, and teachers had no idea it was going to be a violent, deadly day.  But it came.  And it will continue to come until God returns.  When we face darkness we must be prepared and know where to find strength.  Our hope, strength and comfort is in the presence of God. “Therefore we will not fear”.

The earth is giving way.

Psalm 46:2-7 NIV

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, [3] though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. [4] There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. [5] God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. [6] Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. [7] The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

The earth is giving way.  The mountain of innocence is falling into the sea of pain.  Grief, anger, shock are roaring and the mountain of society’s  “safe feeling”  is quaking under this surge of evil.

There is a stream from God’s presence that refreshes

There is a stream from God’s presence that refreshes and makes us glad during the storm. Drink from that stream today.  Let your heart know that even though the nations roar and society has an evil, dark day of falling apart,  God’s voice is above all the mess.  He is with us.  A very present help in times of trouble.

God may your great presence help those who are calling out to you in this dark troubled time.  Give them strength.  Be their safe place.  Protect them and allow the stream of gladness from your throne bring healing, hope, and refreshing to their hearts.  May great moments of Glory come out from the great evil.  Please Lord of host, be with them.  Be their refuge today. Allow the lightnside of believers shine brighter directing hopeless people to the God of hope.  Amen.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24‭-‬25 NIV

 

Ever hear the saying “What goes around comes around?”

I believe it is based on the same principle as this scripture.  As you ponder this verse you become aware there are forces beyond the people listed in the verse.  There is a cause and effect but it is outside normal natural laws of physics.  If you drop a stone from a hill it will fall at a specific speed and direction according to it’s mass and the pull of gravity.  This is a consistent law established by our creator.  We use known laws to create tall buildings and fly airplanes. Last week the most powerful rocket was launched and the booster rockets landed themselves together back on the launch pad.  Amazing but all due to known laws of nature.

The law described in Proverbs is outside the natural laws.

Implied is an observer who is a work bringing blessing or cursing in one’s path.  Blessing means unearned gain.  A gift outside your own efforts.  Usually it is a gift because of an action.  This is a supernatural reality.  The unseen is more real and has power over what is seen.  2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV — While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

A SUPERNATURAL POWER  at work

There is an unseen, supernatural power at work and you control the outcome by your generosity.  The verse is specifically speaking of money and giving.  Generosity or giving without personal gain releases the blessing in your life to be blessed financially.  There is more in this blessing than just financial.  To prosper could also be health, marriage, friendship. The one who is a Scrooge to others will not only see frustration with his wealth but also a lonely self-involved life. Malachi speaks specifically to this blessing when you give your tithe to the church. Malachi 3:7-11 NIV

Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ [8] “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. [9] You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. [10] Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. [11] I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, ” says the Lord Almighty.

Be generous and receive God’s blessings

Be generous.  Give to God and others. The supernatural power watching over you will release blessings your way.  What goes around comes around. Allow the blessing to place a lightnside your life.

Romans 2:14-15 NLT

Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. [15] They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

God’s basic law is written in everyone’s hearts

This is not to be confused with salvation but basic law of God toward each other.  Kindness, no murder, stealing, hatred.  The general laws of God are written on everyone’s heart.  Our conscience works with this law.  This is different from the Holy Spirit working in our hearts.  That is a deeper work beyond fallen man. There is no excuse for man to say I was never taught how to treat another human being. God has written this law into the hearts of every human being on earth.

 

Our current sexual abuse explosion

We are in the middle of many women coming out with accusations of being sexually abused by men.  The basic law of decency is written into every mans heart.  Man know what is right and wrong.  They know how to treat a woman  unless their hearts are clouded by lust and perversions.  One thing I would add to this argument is women should not dress or behave in a sexually stimulating way that highlights their bodies and increase sexual tension.  They too have basic laws of God written in their hearts.  I am not excusing men in any way because it is their actions that bring guilt on them.  I am  saying women have a powerful effect on men and they know this.  To place themselves in situations  or cause sexual tension that could get out of hand is also breaking basic laws of God which can cause harm to themselves and others.

 

Romans 2:14-16 in modern day language

(The Message) Romans 2:14 MSG

When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God’s yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.

Let us treat each other according to God’s law written in our hearts.  Ask Christ to lead you and the Holy Spirit to direct you for even greater lightnside.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  Psalm 42:1‭-‬2‭, ‬5‭, ‬11 NIV

In a dry place?

Are you in a time of struggling?  Maybe you are in the middle of a long battle of unknown conclusions.  You may be in a place of uncertainty of direction.  It seems you are in this time alone.  As you look around other people are happy and going about their business.  But you are in a lonely trapped situation.  Believe it or not,  it is these places where our faith, knowledge and desire for God is deepened.  Not so much in waves of joy but in developing muscles of trust, patience, and faith that God is aware and is present.

 

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. Psalm 42:7 NIV

 

It is healthy to wrestle with your emotions and mind as you rehearse God’s truths.  You remind yourself there is no reason to feel so abandoned.  You praise God when your heart does not feel like it.  It is the sacrifice of praise.  This is the deep calling for even deeper things of God.  It is treasure, gold, precious jewels that you alone earned and possess.  When you only have God, you are at the place of greatest strength in Him.

As your heart pants for God’s nourishing waters of strength and refreshing your soul, faith, and self-control of your emotions will strengthen and deepen.  One day the sun will shine and you will be refreshed as you desire.  But you will be a deeper, solid Christian.  Times like these will make brighter the lightnside your heart.

Meditate on this Psalms and go deeper.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; Psalm 34:17‭-‬19 NIV

 

The world is full of pain.

Psalms 23 talks of the shadow of death and the presence of my enemies. But in both verses GOD is there. He is with us.  Eight years ago my father was killed in a car  crash.   It was a few days before father’s day. As I was grieving I found something that others had commented about in tough times, God’s Grace.  He was there supporting me and my family in our brokenhearted time. His Grace was sufficient.  People would often say ” I would not be able to bear death of loved ones”. Yes you can because GOD is also there. His presence in the trouble adds support, strength, presence, and healing.

In my grieving I wrote an article called “nevertheless”. I have sent this to many people facing death of loved ones. I believe this truth placed a lightnside their “shadow of death”.

 

Nevertheless

 

Father’s day is just a few weeks away.  This will be a more difficult day for me and many others.   My father died two months ago in a car accident.  He was a great father and good Christian man.  While meditating on things that bring healing and hope I came across a powerful and unusual word in the Bible that has helped me greatly to process the loss and gave me comfort.

The word was spoken by Christ at a time of His greatest challenge.

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane when He was only hours away from death on the cross.  During this time the humanity of Christ was in total agony.  In His mind and imagination came the visions of what was going to physically happen soon.  He had seen other people crucified.  Not only the physical death but He was to die for all man’s sins. The stress of the situation is recorded in Matthew 26:38 “My soul is sorrowful, even to death…”  The Bible records His physical, mental and spiritual condition was so stressed that even His sweat was mingled with blood.  The rock He cried out to God on was red with Jesus struggle. Jesus spoke to His father in prayer and said “Father, if there be any other way…please let this cup pass from me.”

 

Then Jesus spoke a powerful word.  “Nevertheless”

You will not think of this word as one of the great words like faith, hope or love. It’s not recorded in the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes.   The great word Jesus spoke was “nevertheless”.  What an odd word to find comfort in!  It is a word of transition.  It means although the topic before the word is true, the topic after this word is more true.  Jesus said to his Father “nevertheless,  not my will but Yours”.   Everything changed! Jesus rose up a conqueror of death and brought hope to all of us through His death on the cross.

The word is used in 2 Cor. 3:14-16 where the Bible talks about those without Christ living in a darkness of Spiritual realities.  Many are living day to day trying to find peace and direction without God.   All their efforts lead eventually to emptiness.  Peace and purpose in life is fulfilled only through Christ.  The Bible says there is a veil covering their hearts and minds keeping them in a state of darkness.  Even as Christians share their experiences it seems unclear or even foolishness to them.  However,  in verse 16 the word “nevertheless” is used to say as they turn to Christ the veil is taken away.  Peace, hope and direction in life have come to them through a relationship with Christ.

 

As I answered the life changing phone call…

As I answered the life changing phone call letting me know my dad had died the world turned upside down for me and my family.  Although many people are experiencing death each week the permanent emptiness settled on our family.   In the last few weeks this word kept coming back to me…nevertheless.  Dad is gone; nevertheless I will one day see him again.   His advice can no longer be received; nevertheless he has raised me with a life of examples and wisdom.    The death was instant and without warning, nevertheless he was a righteous man ready to meet God.

The word nevertheless helps us deal with life.

The word nevertheless helps us deal with the realities of life that are hard, painful and frustrating by reminding ourselves of the truths in Christ that are promised in God’s word.  It helps us deal with life by claiming God’s promises.  You might be in a difficult place today.  With Christ you can say…nevertheless the promises of God are true.  It may seem a silly word to focus on but it can replace fear with faith, stress with  confidence,  and  sadness with joy.  God has a “nevertheless” promise for you.

Simon Peter

Simon Peter fished all night with no luck.  Jesus asked him to simply place the net on the other side of the boat!  His response changed his life for ever in Luke 5:5 he said to Jesus “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.’’  His net was full and so can your heart as we apply a God’s words to our situations.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 NIV

 

I don’t like Brussels Sprouts.

How do I know? They look weird. You say “Have you ever tasted them?”.  “No” I say.  “I don’t like them.”  “I don’t need to taste them because I know they will not taste good.” This was my belief concerning Brussels Sprouts for the last 61 years until about three weeks ago.  At the Teen Challenge center there was a plate of Brussels Sprouts on the kitchen table.

At a dare I ate one…! Amazing.

It was not bad. In fact it was kind of tasty.  For 61 years I knew I would not like it.  I was imagining the taste from a non-tasting organ, my eyes.  They did not look appealing so therefore the taste was sure to be displeasing. And I was wrong.

 

So many feel this way about trying GOD.

They see GOD as a lot of “don’ts” and “thou shalt not’s”. GOD is not seen as a protective, loving and yes, disciplining father. Instead GOD is seen as judgmental, restricting, and a harsh all seeing GOD looking for you to fail. So taste and see? Put GOD to the test.  Taste the truth and protection of His word and commandments.  See the protection and prevention of harm  they surround your life with.  Taste Faith in Christ as you read out to Him in prayer and see the peace and joy of His presence.

A challenging commandment to taste?

My thoughts were wrong about Brussels Sprouts for 61 years.  Maybe your thoughts concerning  one of His commands is a challenge to believe. Tithing, forgiving,  treating enemies with kindness.  Maybe it’s not  so much of an unbelief as it is a resistance to obey. Either way,  give it a nibble. There is power and blessing with each bite. It is only with the taking in of GOD that His goodness is released in your life.

Hmmmmmm it’s so good

Taste and see.  Hmmmmmm it’s so good. You will want more and more. No one can eat just one.  It’s finger lick’n good. It will put lightnside your heart and life.  Go ahead…taste and see that the Lord is good.

Sanctification is the progressive narrowing of the gap between confessional faith and functional faith.

 

 

 

Thoughts from the book You can change by Tim Chester.

In a chapter dealing with identifying the cause of destructive behavior he deals with the thought of Christian not trusting God outside the church doors or outside of known Biblical truths.  He brings up a very interesting scripture that I have not noticed. Romans 14:23 “What ever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

“Not many people think of themselves as someone who believes lies. But every time we don’t trust God’s word we’re believing something else, and that something else is always a lie. If I get angry when I’m stuck in traffic, it’s because I don’t trust God.  I believe the lie that God is not in control or that His purposes for me are not good.”

Our negative emotions are a symptom of unbelief.  He states “When we are bitter or depressed, it is because we believe God is not being good to us or that He is not in control.

Not many Christians think of themselves as unbelievers.  More often it arises from functional or practical disbelief.  The problem lie in the gap between what we believe in theory and what we believe in practice.

Sanctification is the progressive narrowing of the gap between confessional faith and functional faith.

This is a powerful thoughtful truth that can help us in our daily walk.

read and meditate on these two scriptures.

Proverbs 4:18-23  and Jeremiah 17:5-8  Some scripture quotes from these passages (still read the complete tests).

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. (In the car, work, life)

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;  for they are life to those who find them  and health to one’s whole body.

Romans 14:23 “What ever does not proceed from faith is sin.”   Wow, this chapter is an eye opener to trusting in God and resting in His faithfulness and control of my life every day.  

Join me in practicing this truth as we make our days brighter knowing that God is there. No shadow of turning from us (James 1:17)

So tomorrow we will get up and trust in God.  The day and our life will brighten up as we live with LIGHT N SIDE.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord .” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.  Psalm 32:3‭-‬5 NIV11

We sin

As a  Christian we enjoy the power of God and the presence of Christ.  However we are still part of the fallen nature of man.  We sin.  We are turned by our desires and traps designed by our enemy (James 1:14-15  “14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.“)  Like King David our eyes see something we may not even have been looking for.  Our carnal fallen nature rises up and we find ourselves falling into sin.

We Justify

The first response is to justify and minimize the sin.  Using our logic we devise a world where we can live with the pleasure and pretend it has no effect our relationship with God.  But, we notice a dryness of God’s presence.  The desire of seeking God’s presence is reduced or replaced.  Day after day a decrease of seeking God is replaced by the carnal desires you tasted and liked.

Listen to your body

If this is you,  listen to your body and heart.  As David described during his sin his body reacted to the lack of God’s presence.  There is a pressure and groaning in our bodies.  You feel it.  Trying to escape this pressure you keep yourself occupied with distractions and entertainment. But all along a Christian’s body that houses God’s presence moans and  suffers. The joy of God’s presence is dampened as the Holy Spirit calls for repentance.  This is a difficult and uncomfortable feeling.  The clash of God’s presence with our selfish desires is an inward battle.

Confess and enjoy

I am glad the Holy Spirit does not give up.  I know I need to confess and reject that carnal pleasure that was birthed by gossip, lust, anger, or any other emotion.  Once I begin to confess this to God, a sweet presence floods my life.  I am forgiven.  I am free of the inward pain. The joy of seeking God and His word returns and strengthens me.  We serve a great God who knows we are part of a fallen world.  He understands and His grace covers us during these times of wondering.  We can continue to reject Christ to our own shame and judgement but as I confess, I am restored.

Jesus prayed for Simon “before” he denied Christ

Jesus prayed for Peter (also called Simon) when He saw his future denial of Christ.  Luke 22:31-32 NIV “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. [32] But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”