Tongue Twisted?

As I read the first few chapters of Exodus and came upon this portion: "Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." -- 4:10 it occurred to me how unbelievably impossible this would be for anyone except perhaps a 'sales person'!


Put yourself in Moses' place. You are out tending your flock of sheep and all of a sudden in the middle of the desert a bush spontaneously combusted; but not just catches fire seems the fire is unable to consume the bush. Then, as Moses approaches out of curiosity he hears a voice tell him to come no closer without removing his slippers because it was holy ground! Okay, heat stroke maybe? Too many days with sheep and no human to talk to?


Then, after this interesting discussion with God, the HOST, Moses learns of a new assignment in life. Imagine if you will the many career changes for Moses. He starts off a Hebrew, raised by the royal Egyptian family. Well educated, a statesman, dual identity with the Egyptian adopted family and his natural Hebrew family. He serves for a time for the Egyptians and then commits a crime and flees his home. His journey takes him into a strange land and he is befriended by a man who so likes Moses he offers Moses a daughter in marriage. So, Moses settles down, gets married, has a family, has a shepherding business and then he has his 'burning bush' experience. Now, his new boss, God, 'I AM', has decided to have Moses use his staff to herd HIS people from captivity to deliverance. But first, he must deliver a personal message to the Pharoah. "Let my people go!"


After Moses hears of his new assignment, like any of us would, he starts breaking down the big picture through a series of perceived challenges which may impede certain success. For instance, on whose authority does Moses make such a demand of Pharoah? Think about it. Moses was asked by God to go to the most powerful man of Egypt and tell him to let his entire foreign work force go with absolutely no compensation, excepting of course his life should he obey! But, frankly, that was not part of the plan. After Moses points out what he is certain is obvious issues to God with God's plan, God addresses them with what in essence is 'no worries'! Moses comes up with his last objection: lack of confidence in his ability to deliver the message.


For many people, speaking before a stranger, especially someone of importance, is difficult enough to do when they have their own agenda. But imagine Moses having no such agenda but now must deliver what will seem a foolish demand and he is just not feeling it. He contends he is unable to speak, to do the message service.


REALITY CHECK: God, in true character, inquires of Moses who made his mouth? His tongue? Who makes blind and deaf and their opposites? Moses concedes God's point, God could make his mouth work and provide the words, no argument there. BUT, perhaps the true impact of the bigger picture begins to take its toll on Moses for he finally begs: "O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send." -- 4:13


May I impose upon you, the reader, to just put yourself in Moses' position. During this intercourse between God and Moses, to make a point of the power Moses would go to Pharoah with, he has his shepherd's staff turned into a snake and back to the staff again; and, he is directed to put his hand in the folds of his garment and when he withdrew it found he had leprosy...and then it was healed. Imagine, the burning bush, God's voice, the staff to snake to staff, the hand with leprosy and without, and the instructions to take his shepherd self to see the Pharoah and tell the Pharoah to 'let God's people go!'


What would be going through your mind? How would you respond? This is just the first 4 chapters of Exodus. Exodus, a book filled with so much information, so many examples of faith and obedience to God, of struggle, of disappointment. So very valuable to each of us, every word written in its entirety. Have you read it lately? Why not pick it up and put yourself in Moses' place and determine how you would respond, given his circumstances. We all know how it all turned out but still, he was simply a man and was asked to do mighty things for God! As it began, a reluctant servant but as it continued a more than capable leader and intermediary between God and the Hebrews.


Be ready for your wilderness experience...it all starts with a burning bush, God's voice and an unthinkable request. When it happens, remember: When God gives you a vision, HE will give you the provisions. AMEN!!

Thanks be to GOD

T’is the season to be Giving: Thanks that is.

Perhaps I’ve been more sensitive to it more than years passed, but it seems there has been a concerted effort to put more emphasis on the ‘giving’ part of ‘Thanksgiving’. Sadly, some of us have moved so far from the Christian nature of ‘giving’ [charity] than we should and have need of these timely reminders. While having secular sources emphasize the need for exercising charity is a reminder as Christians we should be drawing our Charity from our relationship with God. Charity never fails! [1 Cor 13] God taught us through his WORD [Jesus] and Word [Bible] about charity. Some scriptural reminders about ‘giving’ follow:

“…in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving [eucharistia {Greek} Thankfulness; giving of thanks] let YOUR petitions be made known to God;” [Philippians 4:6b]

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks [Hiphil {Hebrew} to give thanks, laud, praise] to You forever.” [Psalm 30:12]

I’ve been reading Job these past few weeks. I am reading it slowly, trying to understand Job [the book] and its relevance to our overall Christian life. More on this later, but for this, out of it all, Job winds up humbled. But is it part of the humbling process to give ‘thanks’?

The opening words of Job attribute a pure ethic/ pure morality to him in the Hebrew term ‘tam’ for ‘perfect’ but the words ‘thanks’ ‘thank’ ‘praise’ are not found in Job. It seems the account is so very reminiscent of ‘human’ nature. Though he was a moral/ethical man it is obvious his discipline wrought some havoc on him. How many of us would survive this grueling event in our own lives and immediately coming through it, even if all was restored to us, feeling led to give thanks? He lost much. He lost kids, friends, time, and a momentary loss of face. When we read the account many ask, for what? Yet, one thing that is also human nature is to look for the positive in any situation, even if after the fact. In Job’s case, if nothing else, perhaps the most important issue that arose from his ordeal was the better developed relationship with God; perhaps a deeper sense of humility which is a close kin to moral and ethical purity; perhaps a heightened awareness of ‘appearance based judgment’. From God’s perspective HE said this about Job after it all: “For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, [kuwn [Hebrew] in this instance meaning ‘fit’.] as My servant Job has.” [Job 42:8b]

As it turned out, because of Job’s moral and ethical purity, we see a reversal of roles. We see God praising Job! While the Bible is silent on ‘thanksgiving’ from Job after his ordeal, we know he was so conscientious before his ordeal that he used to make a sacrifice to God for his kids in the off chance they’d not done it themselves for mistakes they may have made. Those of us who know anything about human nature would quickly understand anyone who had this as a habit before his ‘discipline’ would understand there to be no doubt that Job would very much give thanks to God.

The moral question I supposed now: Do we wait until we have been tried as was Job to begin to initiate thanksgiving to God for our manifold blessings? Do we lose all that we have before we appreciate it more fully? Do we place more store on the ‘things’ ‘people’ ‘relationships’ in our lives than our ONE relationship with God? Do we speak of God in terms that are not ‘fit’? Do we live lives that are not morally and ethically pure? Do we need to be humbled?

What is more humble than to fall to one’s knees and give thanks to God? Even if it is not possible to fall/get down on your knees literally, is it not time now to initiate THANKSgiving to God? Each of us must clearly define/articulate that for which we are led to give thanks. There is no time like now?

May your Thanksgiving be truly filled with giving THANKS and to God. May it also be filled with the special family time as our family and friends are blessings for which we give thanks to God.

Called To God

It is my goal, God willing, to begin a series of topics that will explore the depth of several scriptures related to those below. For this post, I would just like to have the information up and for your consideration. Please pray and look up these passages. Read the surrounding context. Meditate over what Paul is saying to us in both Romans and Ephesians. Let the Holy Spirit teach you.

When you read this what comes to your mind. Please, do not skim through it, please pay attention:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” –Romans 8:28-30

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”—Ephesians 1: 1-6

The last few words in this scripture in Ephesians answer questions that are relevant to the Christian identity.

Ø What

o We were chosen in Christ

Ø When

o Before the foundation of the world

Ø Who

o We were predestined for adopted sons by Christ to God

Ø How

o According to the ‘good pleasure of HIS Will!

Ø Why

o To the praise and glory of HIS grace

o By which HE made us accepted in the beloved

Do you find yourself objecting to any of this? Do you find an exception to any of this? How do you see yourself in this?

Copyright 2010 Write-Matters.com ©

Babes as to Badness

The writer Paul is attributed in 1 Corinthians 14 as saying: "... be babes as to badness;" [vs 20]

It is an election year; the world is becoming more and more difficult to navigate; economic depression is taking its toll and daily we are faced with stressors that truly impair our desire to follow the Biblical quote above. When Jesus mentioned someone who is faithful in least is faithful in most -- it calls to mind the times in our lives when no one is looking or hearing -- and how we behave or manifest our faithfulness in those times. Are we really babes as to badness? Are we still shocked at stuff that is said and done by people in real life, on the television, in the movies, what is written in the books, and yes, even spoken by the Church either via their people or their signs?

I have been thinking lately upon 'civility'. Here is the a little clip from the online thesaurus:

Definition:	niceness
Synonyms:	affability, amenity, comity, compliance, courtesy, decorum, politeness, propriety, respect, tact

Do you see a common theme here? Courtesy? Respect? Polite? Tact? Where are we seeing that nowadays?

If we look outside ourselves we can raise the eyebrow and point to incidents of the lack of civility in our society and world. Yet, when we look inside ourselves how do we measure up? Are we babes as to badness in our own minds and speech? In our deeds? Do we set the example that may also set the tone in any setting we may be part of?

The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan, speaks about how the pack leader has to be 'calm' and assertive. Why? Because that energy is generated to the rest of the pack. When people come together the leader sets the tone as well. Is there chaos? Is their crudeness? Is there respect? When we are taking the lead in being babes as to badness, by default, for the time we are together with others, we are also creating the same circumstances for them. For that time they too are babes as to badness. Many times you hear from people 'I so enjoy myself when I am with you. You make me laugh. You are so great at putting into words what I am thinking.' It is refreshing for people to be with someone who truly emanates a sense of innocence, childlike behavior when it comes to badness. Conversely, when you are in the room with someone who is out of control behaving erratically and who shows no respect or courtesy life becomes a struggle.

When I was growing up my mother used to remind me 'pretty is as pretty does'. You can use the same concept and say 'goodness is as goodness does' and it is an outstanding standard to always achieve to.

Would it not be great if all of a sudden civility would be the bellwether of the future? We cannot expect that. Actually, if we are honest Christians we know with each passing day and the decay of our civilization we are seeing the prophetic fulfillment of statements about how it would be when that time in God's Creation when God would step in, in a very big way, to once again 'reset' the earth. There will be a time when being babes as to badness will be very difficult because everything in our world will be Topsy-turvy and it will be everyone for themselves. But, now, while it is in our control to do so, developing the integrity of being faithful in least and seeing its direct correlation to being 'babes as to badness', we can carve out for ourselves a small space of sanity where we both exude and accept respect -- civility, and know that God's Kingdom WILL COME!

Homework: While showering today, why not think about some way you can be a babe as to badness and exhibit respect, tact and courtesy.

Character building with God

The proactive message of Jesus

Who among us is not aware of the message of the Lord replete with all the wisdom for interpersonal relationships? Yet, sometimes, we view HIS words as ‘historic’ or we respond in ‘reaction’ when hearing the Holy Spirit dropping scripture into our mind for prayerful consideration. Firstly, if you contemplate the scripture beyond your Church services or Bible study, then you should be applauded! But if you do -- you understand the relationship and responsibility of your consecration via your baptism both by water and Spirit. As you contemplate the WORD and understand its application in every facet of your life, do you allow yourself to enjoy the excelling peace that comes with it? Here are a couple of character building thoughts from Jesus’ mouth.

“So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” [Matthew 5:23-24]

All things, therefore, that YOU want men to do to YOU, YOU also must likewise do to them; this, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean. [Matthew 7:12]

The first citation addresses the person’s sanctimony who may feel ‘right with God’ because they went to Church or Bible study and ‘offered’ God some of their time while embattled with another. Jesus instructs us if while we are at Church, Bible Study, prayer closet, praise and worship service, whenever we ‘offer a sacrifice to God’, if while we are offering we remember someone has something against us we must make it right and then come back with a clean conscience before God. Remember, God said: “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” [Romans 13:8]

The second citation manifestly indicates if you want to be treated nicely, be nice. If you want to be treated with respect, respect. If you want to be well regarded, regard others. Earlier in the same chapter of Matthew Jesus shared the best possible relationship and comportment counsel, especially for those you regard as close as a ‘brother’.

In the world today it is difficult to navigate the waters of doublespeak. Society has spared no effort to create language that means one thing to one person but quite another to someone else. Dissembling speech is contrary to the advice above and is cautioned against in Proverbs 6:12. How can we be free of ‘accusation’ – a standard of leadership -- as is called for in scripture if we allow froward speech to come from our heart, soul or spirit via our mouth?

As we move into our prayer closet to be one on one with the Grand Designer of Life let your hearts be free of discord, your soul be free of perverse intent and your Spirit be free of contrivance that you may continue on your eternal journey of ‘renewal’ both in heart and Spirit.

In closing: Please remember Jesus confidently established in Matthew 19:26: “…with God all things are possible.” When you fully understand the gravity of those 6 words you will know “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Homework: Think upon the words and attitude of King David as he invited God: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if [there is any] wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” If you can stand the scrutiny and confess your dependence on God then this homework is self explanatory.