Monthly Archives: February 2008

Perfectionism Or A Spirit Of Excellence!

Some one commented to me about working with another person in their office that they were so ‘controlling’ and everything had to be perfect.  That atmosphere is difficult for those around a person driven to make things right.

There is such a subtle difference between striving to make things right and having a spirit of excellence.  There is also a difference between taking control of a situation and assuming the role to lead,  and demanding in a dictatorial way.

Many years ago (I love to relate this story because it has impacted all of my life and I so want the experience to help others.)  after fasting and praying, the Lord told me I had never loved Him, I loved what is right.  I was devastated and cried buckets of tears as the truth of what He said went into my heart and soul.  At the same time I felt His overwhelming love, and I had an enormous desire to change–the difference between conviction and guilt.

As we strive and work to make things perfect it is like a hungry dragon chained to our very being, that never can get enough.  The more we do the more the dragon requires.  He becomes our pet dragon; his name is frustration.  Often he invites friends to join him and they are anger, guilt and despair.  We did not invite them but we house them in ignorance of our fundamental need to accept who we are.

Major problem with that, is, we must know who we are.  And, who truly lives inside of us.  It is not the dragon of perfection, but the Lord of Glory.  The one who desires to bring life and love to all He does.  How the Holy Spirit must cringe as we overshadow His brightness with the darkness of our lust and our need to be right. 

The reason and result that causes this is the mind that is conditioned by the pain and misunderstanding in the past.  When we seek to control so it is because we don’t want to be hurt again.  We seek to make things right so that we will be OK.  This striving for perfection doesn’t give time to be healed and to soak in the acceptance of our Heavenly Father.

Once we have invited Jesus into our heart, and begin to renew our mind with His love and His ways (His pathways to prosper and succeed) the Holy Spirit will begin to bring forth in us, a spirit of excellence.  It is not His Spirit but our spirit full of a desire to reflect the very best because we want to Glorify God in all we do.  We must already know that as a child of God, as we were reconciled to the Father through the death of His Son, we are accepted,  loved,  cherished,  forgiven and worthy. 

When we truly know,  our spirit will kill the dragon and our purpose will be full of desire not fear of failure.  The dragon does not go down easily but he is no match for the power of the Holy Spirit when we give Him His way in our life.  And, if we fail we quickly repent….change the way we think seeking  the wisdom for our life the Father wants us to have.  When we fail we must know that the failure did not change our status with our Heavenly Father, He still loves us and desires each of us in His Kingdom forever!

The striving urgency of being perfect is a need to be healed; and a spirit of excellence is a passion to reflect the Holy Spirit within.  One brings fatigue and pain, the other brings purpose and rest in the sufficiency of God.

Those in our family, our friends, our workplace who are feeding a dragon need our love, our declaration to the dragon that they are part of the Kingdom of God and he and his friends must go.  We smile,  let the person be right,  pray and trust the Holy Spirit to draw them into the place, where He can give them all they will ever need for purpose and excellence.  We can’t do it alone, the Holy Spirit is very, very good at what He does and we have the privilege of sharing in that for His Glory and our Joy!

His Will or His Divine Desire?

So many times we struggle with the Will of God for our lives.  I am grieved when I see Christians almost in pain as they search for the Will of God in a situation or for direction. At those times it seems the harder we try the more illusive the answers become.

One of the most liberating things I leaned in study of the Bible, especially in the New Testament,  the Greek word Will  often means desire.  Because the aim and personal purpose of my life is to know the heart of my Heavenly Father, He graciously gives me insights from time to time.  I have found passion is the pathway to His heart!

The word desire was one of those precious gems the Holy Spirit put in my heart and revelation for how that applied to my life.  If I believe that God’s Will is only one way, and that I must find it or fail, there is great stress over my life, my decisions.  If I think and believe that if I violate His Will I have sinned against the Father, I am an open door for guilt and shame.

When I learned this I looked up the words and marked most of them in my Bible (New Testament) so I would not forget.  There are several places where the Will of God is absolute; whatever is indicated will take place regardless of what we do or not do. 

 But where the word will is desire, it took on a whole new meaning for me.  For instance out of the goodness of His Heart our Heavenly Father has a ‘desire’  that all would choose to invite Jesus into their heart and be relational for eternity.   The desires of His Heart are for our protection and well being always!  So as I read the verses with the word Will and substitute desire and read it again, I see the love God has for me and/or His effort to protect me. 

Sometimes we seem to forget the power we have in ‘free will’ and our decisions and the decisions of others that determine our destiny.   If we line up our desires (our free will) with the desires of God’s heart–we will both be happy!

God’s determined Will is daunting and seems like a law and tends to make us think legalistically instead of relationally.  Fear of not doing the Willof God puts confusion in our mind, and makes it even harder to make good decisions.  A Holy fear of God is a reverential respect for Him and awe of Him, not terror or dread. 

When we sin, do something that is contrary to  the desires of God’s heart, He is always there to forgive us and start us all over again.  Sin is doing anything contrary to the will or desires of God that will hurt us or others.  Getting to know the Father, asking to know, really know His heart is so beneficial and productive. As we experience Him we can share with others.

As we receive (and that too takes a decision on our part) the love of the Father in our life, we have greater capacity to love others.  If we were not loved by our earthly father it is even harder to trust our Heavenly Father.  I personally had a foster father and several step-fathers.  All of them (fortunately) loved me, but left me, through no fault of their own.  But it left me with fears and doubts about trusting my Heavenly Father.

I had to renew my mind (through repentance of not receiving, asking for the grace to receive and to renew my mind about all the Bible says about the love of God) to how much  He really does love me.  I am not too sure of my performance in life, but very sure of His Grace (unmerited love and favor) on my behalf, that I can rest in Him, knowing He will not forsake or leave me, (once I have invited Jesus into my heart) or give up on me in my darkest hours.

I just love to inject the word ‘desire’ in scriptures about God’s will, and see the joy it brings to my heart.  That is a confirmation from the Holy Spirit!  Desire just screams kindness, mercy and love!  That is the Will of God, that we know His goodness, walk and talk and have our being in Him!  

How We Represent Jesus!

My thoughts this morning drifted back to conversation I had with a friend.  He said it would be a sin to lie, teasing me about my denial of being ‘religious.’  I quickly defended myself (graciously I hope), “No, it is not religion, but relationship.”

I realize how adamant I am in wanting to present Jesus as I would any other person in my life.   Jesus is so real to me, it is offensive to me, to present Him as a theory of faith, or a philosophy of belief–some abstract idea in the supernatural.

No, Jesus Christ, in His ‘position’ in the Universe is my Lord.  But Jesus Christ in my life is my friend, His Holy Spirit is my partner in my life, my confident, that special person that is with me 24/7.  Even when I forget that He is there.

My concern is, as I remember the conversation, how do I present Jesus to others?  I never want to come across as superior; ‘I am always right,’  ‘I know more than you do,’ ‘If you only had what I have you would be OK.’   God forbid, and God help me….to present Jesus as the eternal gift to all of us in relationship and love.  That I am not special I am loved, and want to love others, because of who He is to me.  Not that I can be personal with everyone, but the God kind of love that wants the best for everyone.

It is hard for many to love God if they think of Him as the ‘Big Judge’ in the sky.  If they think of Jesus as this great prophet who walked the earth teaching good things and then left us.  If people have suffered the loss of  loved ones, and cried out to God and He didn’t seem to be there it is really tough to believe, trust and think Father, Son and Holy Spirit all love us and want the best for us at all times.

It is almost humorous to think that we need to know about the devil, demons and the evil in the world before we can understand God.  It is like not appreciating light until we are in total darkness.  Like not valuing steak if we have always had beans.  Like not receiving love if we have never felt love.  The first two were ‘funky’ analogies but you get the picture.  When we realize the devil and demons on assignment are out to kill, rob and destroy, we begin to understand how much we need personal relationship with Jesus.

 And, the truth is, we don’t know Jesus as the love of our life until we invite Him into our heart, study His story, spend time to get to know Him like we would any other person.

I ask the Holy Spirit now, to help me reflect some of the Jesus in me that others would want that as well.  I thank Jesus that He not only paid my debt of disobedience, but was resurrected to change my life while I am here.  He is so cool!  I hope you know Him like I do!  And that we all can re-present Him well! 

Keeping Political Perspective!

Last night I saw a picture of people supporting both Democratic Candidates with placards, wearing hats and other apparel demonstrating what they stand for in front of the building where the debates were being held.  They were screaming and shouting…with great fervor.  I could easily think critically of this display (as neither of these Candidates are  my choice) but instead it brought a big smile to my face and joy to my heart.

I think it is great!  Thank God for all that emotion and excitement.  God  forbid we become complacient about what is happening and sit at home, judging those who are willing to step out and stand for what they believe.

Are they right or wrong?  Thank God we get the choice!  Do I have strong opinions–you bet!  Am I happy about the choice I have?  Not really!  I am thanking God  we have non-government controled media (with whom I disagree often). 

I have friends in Kenya where there is great violence taking place.  Slaughter and mayhem all because of a ‘questionable’ election.  Automatic weapons, knives, rocks, weapons of any kind being used on fellow countrymen between tribes.

How grateful I am to be in America with choice.  Many are saying in this election they have no choice or very poor choices.  My thought is, who in America do we want?  Why would anyone (who values life, security and peace) want to be President?  For noble, ethical reasons, let alone Godly reasons?  To expose themselves to the public, to the media, to their opponents is one thing, but the whole family is involved and possibly someone from their past dredged up, and humiliated for simply doing business with them.  

 For the power alone?  There are many powerful men in our country who are never in the news or well known.  The Presidency is not the only road to power, of course it is one.  One that used to be honored and revered, a desire of young men in their youth.  Even though some of that has been lost I still believe with all my heart in the system.  I still believe our political system attracts men and women with a heart to serve mankind, to make a difference in the world.

I have a friend from the far East that is well known there in political circles who says those people have great respect for President Bush.  They consider him a man of strength and courage and a man of his word.  They are mystified about the mock, media abuse and humor that is thrown at our President, and his cabinet.

The good side of all of this is, we can.  May not show ‘class’ or respect, but we can.  Thank God for the freedom to speak our mind, display our choices and fight our battles in the media, radio talk shows and demonstrations; not to mention the new arena of the Internet.  Even though,  I personally, am very careful of information I receive by email.    I received several emails that claimed people I admire were endorsing certain Candidates.  Contacting the office of those people only to find that was not true.

God forbid we come to blows, or violence, or use weapons to express our opinions.  God forbid that our desires, our emotions ever erupt in violence of any kind.

And, most of all thank God, we have men and women willing to run for office.  Thank God for our system and the freedom we enjoy.  So as we keep a positive political perspective,  we will pray for those we support, we will forgive those we find offensive, and we will bless those, all of them, who take the risk to step out and say,  “Choose me!”

First Sunday Then Comes Monday And The Rest Of The Week!

We have just talked about the Sabbath, which is good, but what about Monday and the rest of the week.  I don’t know how many times I have heard Pastors say, “Don’t come to church and act one way and go out this week and act another way.” or “Don’t be a saint on Sunday and a sinner the rest of the week.”  Well, something to that effect.

Maybe we need to realize the church is ‘dressed up’ in holiness but we humans are just human in or out of church without Jesus.  If Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, touches our mind, heart and soul in church, is that not to encourage us so we can handle the rest of the week?

It may seem like we have a supernatural experience in church with our Heavenly Family of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, however Theyare with us alllll the time.  Rising up, laying down, going out, and coming in….all week, They are there.  Because we are not aware of their presence does not mean They have left.  “I will not leave or forsake you.” is in the Bible over and over, and that is a promise not a threat.

If we are tempted and act on a temptation on Tuesday or Wednesday do They leave and go ‘home’.   “Now you have done it, I am out of here.” like we might do?  No, They just wait patiently until we come back into the Grace of Their Presence; They sure don’t take part in our dumb activities. 

I said I go to special places to just ‘be’ with God in the previous blog.  I consider that ‘going out to dinner’ with Him.  However, I eat with Him all the time, at home.  Meaning I know the Lord is with me all the time.  But going ‘aside’ so to speak is special, and my time with Him is special,  just as it would be if I went to dinner with anyone,  just one on one.

Does that keep me from ‘sinning’ (which is anything contrary to the goodness of God) ?  I would like to say yes, but the truth is my flesh is pretty strong, the temptations to gossip, worry, have fear, and even to cheat are always there….you know, we live in a fallen world.

I am learning to grab my thoughts and change my attitude, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of God that is required to quench evil destructive thoughts.  What a difference that has made.  I know Jesus likes it and I can almost see Him smiling when I turn from something that would harm and cause me pain.

So I think our Sabbaths should be special–going to church to be with others who love the Lord, eating at a banquet with the Lord as Host.  For me it will never replace that special alone time I have with Him.  But for years that is where I learned to find the presence of the Lord within me, losing myself and world in praise and worship.  Now I go to church to get filled up with knowledge, more understanding and the joy of joining others who love Him too.  

And, He isn’t sitting in a pew waiting for me to return on Sunday, Wednesday or Friday.  The Lord is so much fun, he loves to listen as we talk.  He loves sports when we are involved.  He loves building or fixing things.  He loves banks, and construction, and media, and politics, and most of all children and our homes.  The Lord is the most multi-tasked orientated Person in the world ….or out of this world for that matter. 

Sabbaths are for the ‘joy of the Lord‘ for us, and the rest of the week Heis not our judge, jury and religious jailer,  quite the opposite.  The Lordis our coach, our mentor, our encourager, our partner in all we do to build the Kingdom of God on earth, and our Forgiver and Redeemer when we don’t.

When things get bad (and they do), when I am angry, frustrated or depressed.  I just need to look to Him (when I finally realize my need) to help me forgive or repent, to heal my wounds and set me back on tract. 

Then comes Monday and the rest of the week, and I can truly say, it is all good, I am not alone!