Fragrance of Christ

We heard a Scripture at Church yesterday:

1 Cor. 2:14-16

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,

and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved

and among those who are perishing.

To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death,

and to the other the aroma of life leading to life...

...and when I saw these photos, I thought this was a perfect illustration. These pictures show a piece of art by 82-year-old Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama. She created this "Obliteration Room" as a completely white canvas - furniture and all. Over the course of 2 weeks at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, thousands of children pasted stickers all over the room - wherever they wanted to:

Just think - if each dot represents the fragrance of Christ that exudes from our lives - we can cover the earth with the love and glory of Christ in a few weeks...

The Paths of the Lord - Part 4

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

I will advise you and watch over you

Psalm 32:8

What an awesome Scripture!! The bottom line in all this talk on pathways is that the Lord as our lives under control. These have been some difficult years, but even so, I am determined to keep my eyes on Him. We are watching Him for this promise to come to pass:

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;

even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

Psalm 65:11 (NLT)

A prayer for this year as we serve the Lord in many nations:

For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home.

I will create rivers for them in the desert!

Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

Once we have our own lives established on the paths of the Lord; once we are living according to His ways; once our course is established, then we will participate with Him in making pathways for God's people to come into His kingdom. I can't think of the greater privilege - to make pathways in the wilderness and rivers in the desert so that people everywhere can come flooding into God's Kingdom.

I am sure that we need to join our voices with John's:

He is a voice shouting in the wilderness:
'Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming!

Make a straight road for him!' "

Mark 1:3 (NLT)

I can't think of a better way to prepare the way of the Lord than through worship.

Pathways of the Lord - Part 3 HERE

Pathways of the Lord - Part 1 HERE
For a new post on God's Footsteps - HERE

The Paths of the Lord - Part 3

Hosea 14:9 (NLT)

Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those who are discerning listen carefully.
The paths of the LORD are true and right,
and righteous people live by walking in them.

But sinners stumble and fall along the way.

In Psalm 139 we see the Lord taking great interest and care with the path of our lives and every direction we might take:

Psalm 139:3

You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways

There is no doubt that some of the paths we run after are dangerous and life-damaging to our faith journey:

Psalm 1:6 For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Prov. 4:14 Do not do as the wicked do or follow the path of evildoers.

Jer. 18:15 These can be counted on, but not my people! For they have deserted me and turned to worthless idols. They have stumbled off the ancient highways of good, and they walk the muddy paths of sin. (NLT)

Once we set ourselves down one of these paths, a simple wrong move can cause everything in our lives to crash:

...however, a few simple instructions, followed with all our hearts will keep us from destruction:

• Refuse the path of evil - turn from it and keep yourself from its temptations

Ps. 119:101 I have refused to walk on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to you word (NLT)

• Allow God's Word to become like a light that shows the way for your feet. These are days of uncertainty and trial, yet the Lord's word is faithful and true and will aways provide light for our paths

Ps. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (NKJV)

• Once the Lord shows you the way, allow yourself to run towards that path. Don't put it off for another day - run in the direction He has made for you. As you do this your heart will be set free

Ps. 119:32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free (NIV)

• Give thought to the direction you take. Don't allow yourself to be swept away by the latest trends; or the chances of life that will always carry with it some unintended diversions or hidden perils. It is not an accident that has you in the place you are today - it is the result of conscious thoughts and many decisions along your journey

Prov. 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established (NKJV)

• The wicked man in Psalm 1:1 stops walking down his path - he actually stops to look at the sin he has stumbled upon. We find him standing (not walking) in the path of sin. He eventually sits down in the place of the sinner and becomes a scoffer of the righteous. We are called to walk down God's path of life and find ourselves planted like a tree beside refreshing water - our lives end in prosperity and fruitfulness:

Psalm 1

1Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;2But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.3He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.4The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.6For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Pathways of the Lord - Part 2 HERE
Pathways of the Lord - Part 4 HERE

The Paths of the Lord - Part 2 (8 Pathways)

We need to begin with our Hosea verse again:

Hosea 14:9 (NLT)

Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those who are discerning listen carefully.
The paths of the LORD are true and right,
and righteous people live by walking in them.

But sinners stumble and fall along the way.

Today, I want to focus on the names of these pathways. I can find 8 different paths mentioned in the Word. Each of these paths indicate different strengths that are needed in our character in order to enjoy the journey and reach our destination:

• The path of (everlasting) life: 
Ps. 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Ps. 139:24 

Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (NLT) (See also Prov. 5:6; 12:28)

• The path of God's commands: 
Ps. 119:32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. (NIV)

Ps. 119:35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. (NKJV)...for that is where my happiness is found. (NLT)

• The path of the upright (righteous): 
Prov. 15:19 A lazy person has trouble all through life; the path of the upright is easy! (NLT) (...the path of the upright is a highway - NIV)

• The path of justice: 
Is. 26:7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just. (NKJV)
Is. 40:14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding? (See also Prov. 4:18)

• The path of wisdom...or the path of understanding: 
Prov. 15:24 The path of the wise leads to life above; they leave the grave behind. (See also: Prov. 21:16; Is. 40:14 (NIV)

• The path of peace: Lu. 1:79 

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace." (NLT)

• The path of blessing: 
Jn. 13:17 You know these things -- now do them! That is the path of blessing. (NLT)

• The path of truth: 
2Tim. 2:18They have left the path of truth, preaching the lie that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; and they have undermined the faith of some. (NLT)

No matter how difficult the journey, or how much work we need to do on our hearts, set yourself on these spiritual pathways, and you will surely walk into blessing.

The Pathways of God - Part 1 HERE
The Pathways of God - Part 3 HERE

The Paths of the Lord - Part 1

I love this Scripture from Hosea:

Hosea 14:9 (NLT)

Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those who are discerning listen carefully.
The paths of the LORD are true and right,
and righteous people live by walking in them.

But sinners stumble and fall along the way.

I am going to take a few days to look over some scriptures on pathways. I am drawn to this concept as we begin the journey of 2012, and I am determined to find even more ways to take my heart on the sweet journey towards God's presence.

These are just a few meditations on taking this journey into God...

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

There is a progression of three things here:

He shows us the path we need to be on. He doesn't hide it, or taunt us with the possibility of guidance or direction - He has promised to show us the path we are supposed to be on. He doesn't keep this from us because we are too poor, too sinful, too faithless...no, He has the path of life for each one, and it is readily available. We need to open our hearts today for the Lord to show the way.

Secondly, once we are on HIs path, we will find the greatest joy in all the earth: the presence of God. This is the fullness of joy - the joy of joys! Nothing can compare to His presence.

Thirdly, He opens His hand to those who are on His pathways. This is His hand of promise, protection and provision. God seems to have a secret plan to bless and delight His people...only it is not such a secret plan, it is just that we fail to see it.  Some live as though God is out to punish them at every turn, but God's true desire is to open His hand of blessing. Even his difficult pathways will lead to treasures. So we could say...

Proverbs 4:18 

But the path of the just is like the shining sun,

That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

Paths of the Lord - Part 2 HERE

7 Things That We Are In Christ

Here are 7 interesting scriptures that describe who, and what we are with Christ. Our faith is not something that happens to us, but is a result of our relationship with our victorious Savior and our imitation of His triumph over death and suffering.

We are:

1.         Crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20).

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

2.         Dead with Christ (Colossians 2:20).

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--

NLT You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as,

3.         Buried with Christ (Romans 6:4).

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

NLT For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

4.         Made alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).

…even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

NLT that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!)

5.         Raised together with Christ (Colossians 3:1).

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

6.         Sufferers together with Christ (Romans 8:17).

,,,and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

NLT And since we are his children, we will share his treasures--for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

7.         Glorified together with Christ (Romans 8:17).

…and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

NLT And since we are his children, we will share his treasures--for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Worship Arts Conservatory

We had a very sad fatal crash of our school server over the December period. Our trusty friends, Mark Carruth and Corky Seevink have helped us get up and running again, and our January class begins today "Worship Missions and World Evangelism".

You can still access "Worship Arts Conservatory" at our old site:
www.worshiparts.org

Our message boards and classrooms are now in a new place and you can e directed there once you sign up.

Come and join the fun!

You can join in the classes at the beginning of any month - go HERE to find the up-coming courses.

7 Things God Loves

If God loves these things - maybe we should give our hearts to them as well...

1Ki. 10:9 He Loves Israel Forever (2Chron. 2:11)

1Ki. 10:9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king to do justice and righteousness.

Ps. 37:28 He Loves Justice

Ps. 37:28 For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever;

Ps. 11:7 He Loves Righteousness (Ps. 33:5; 146:8)

Ps. 11:7 For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

Ps. 87:2 He Loves The Gates Of Zion - because Zion is the place of worship and His presence

Ps. 87:2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob

Prov. 3:12 He Loves Those He Corrects Like A Father Loves His Son

(Heb 12:6)

Prov. 3:12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Eph. 5:29 He Loves The Church (Rom. 1:7; 5:5; 1Thess. 1:4; 1Jn. 4:16)

Eph. 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the Church.

2Cor. 9:7 He Loves The Cheerful Giver

2Cor. 9:7 So let each one give as repurposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

God doesn't want our money - He really wants our hearts. He knows that where our heart is, our money will follow right along, so when He calls for us to give, He is really finding one more way to draw our hearts to His love.

Go to 7 things God hates - HERE

Proverbs 6:16-19 - 7 Things God Hates

Here are seven things that God hates:

Proverbs 6:16-19

NKJV

These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

A proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren.

Message

Here are six things GOD hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion:

  eyes that are arrogant,

a tongue that lies,

hands that murder the innocent,

a heart that hatches evil plots,

feet that race down a wicked track,

a mouth that lies under oath,

a troublemaker in the family.

1. Pride, arrogance (the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others – Amp.)

2. Lying

3. Murder of innocents

4. A heart that plots wickedness

5. Willingness for evil

6. False witness – one who lies under oath

7. One who sows disunity and trouble within families



Go to - 7 Things God Loves: HERE

Wisdom - James 3:17

James 3:17 (NLT)

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times,

and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds.

It shows no partiality and is always sincere.

James 3:17 (Message)

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others.

It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings,

not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.

According to James 3:17, there are 8 components of wisdom:

                                                     
Wise people are pure (holy) In fact, holiness is the foundation for wisdom.

Wise people are peaceable

Wise people are gentle

Wise people are willing to yield (reasonable)

Wise people are full of mercy (compassion)

Wise people exhibit good fruits (kind actions; good deeds)

Wise people are without partiality (unwavering; free from favoritism)

Wise people are without hypocrisy (always sincere)

The intellect of the wise is like a glass;

it admits the light of heaven and reflects it—Augustus William

Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view—Bill Gothard

Holidays

I've been busy with family over the Christmas/New Year season. Having so much fun and enjoying everyone. Now I need to clean the house after "playing" for so long.

I will be back blogging soon.

‎I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 
Psalm 27:13

Retirement Places

My friend Richard sent this:

You can retire to Phoenix , Arizona where... 1. You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade. 2. You've experienced condensation on your hiney from the hot water in the toilet bowl. 3. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town. 4. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food. 5. You know that "dry heat" is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door. 6. The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! OR You can retire to California where... 1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house. 2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway. 3. You know how to eat an artichoke. 4. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party. 5. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is (same in Michigan). 6. The 4 seasons are: Fire, Flood, Mud, and Drought. OR You can retire to New York City where... 1. You say "the city" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan . 2. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map. 3. You think Central Park is "nature." 4. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual. 5. You've worn out a car horn. (Ed. Note: IF you have a car). 6. You think eye contact is an act of aggression. OR You can retire to Minnesota where... 1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco .. 2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas. 3. You have more than one recipe for casserole. 4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons. 5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction. OR You can retire to the Deep South where... 1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store. 2. "Y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural. 3. "He needed killin" is a valid defense. 4. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Mary Ellen, Betty Jean, Mary Beth, etc. 5. Everything is either "in yonder," "over yonder" or "out yonder." It's important to know the difference, too. OR You can retire to Colorado where... 1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car. 2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and so he stops at the day care center. 3. A pass is in the mountains and does not involve a football or dating. 4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail. OR You can retire to the Midwest where... 1. You'll never meet any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name. 2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor. 3. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day. 4. You end sentences with a preposition: "Where's my coat at?" 5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, "It was different!" OR FINALLY You can retire to Florida where... 1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon. 2.. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars. 3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist. 4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state. 5. Cars in front of you often appear to be driven by headless people.