Remember & Get Happy

And the people murmured against Moses saying, What shall we drink? Ex 15:24

Let's rewind to a few events immediately before this murmuring:

• God sends a deliverer to the nation of Israel who are enslaved, who cried to him for relief.


• God brings plagues of bloody water, locusts, gnats, flies, hail, dead livestock and the death of the firstborn and others, none of which touch the Israelite nation or their land in Goshen.


• God frees them from Pharaoh, severe labor and beatings.


• God sends them out of Egypt with the silver, gold and clothing of their taskmasters.


• God leads them by a Cloud by day, a Pillar of Fire by night.


• God splits the sea as 2 walls so Israel can escape their enemy and makes a wash of their enemy with the very same water. They even watch the Egyptian army wash up on the beach.

What leads a nation, or a single man, who has received so much by the grace of God to murmur against and question God's willingness to provide the simplest of things? Foolishness. To forget his blessings is to refuse his blessing. Don't forget. Remember and rejoice. And they came to Elim, where were 12 wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees and they camped there by the waters. Exo 15:27

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom 8:32. How is it daughter, son, that God will not give you all things together with Christ? What have you forgotten of His mercies toward you? Remember, receive, be happy.

Remember

A reminder that any lasting change we get comes from the root of a thing.

I have been delivered from 2 nasty habits, sugar and oversleeping, for very long periods of time which were effortless and blissful to sustain. I was happy and at peace. Then before I knew it, I was dwindling back into a place of being bound to the habits I hated so much and that caused so much pain and collateral damage. I went from No, thank you to eating cookies, candies and pop for breakfast lunch and dinner virtually overnight.. and I was confused at how drastic the change was. Again, this wasn't an exercise in will power that I lost. I was free from the urge entirely to take even a hint of sweets and I jumped out of bed in the morning.

You might say I wasn't truly delivered in the first place then. Perhaps. But I'll tell you what God showed me this evening. I'll tell you what I forgot that was keeping addiction and failure at bay. I forgot that He was the one who was doing it. For the life of me, I could not control my sweet tooth even when I'd seen it wreak absolute havoc in my body and I've been fired from 3 jobs from oversleeping. The pain is real but what was more painful was the inability to escape the cause- the inability to just, well, STOP. So when days of freedom rose out of nowhere and with no effort on my part, I was relieved and I tried to keep it going. I began TRYING to regulate my diet and TRYING to get up earlier. This freedom arrived without conscious effort, mind you, but I was compelled to sustain it, feed it, keep it going.

I see tonight that this is where it goes downhill. It's a gift dummy and God can't operate in the same room where we keep trying to run Him over or run Him out! Either He's doing the work and freedom is a gift, or I'm doing the work and bondage creeps in. I had forgotten the nights long before the freedom came when I'd said quietly, "Sugar does not rule me. Oversleeping does not rule me, God rules me." And I'd forgotten these prayers because they weren't long or arduous or time-consuming in the slightest, but the simple, effortless words you forget the next minute and with the next load of laundry. This "prayer" occupied little space in my day. We remember what we work for, but what costs us nothing we can't accept. We naturally start working for what is free and in forgetting that our freedom was finished in Him, we run Him out and chase our freedom out just as fast.

I'm not saying there is no physical work entailed with the relinquishing of certain habits. I am saying that if will-power could save a man, the whole world should be perfect because no one with bad habits, at least no one I know, really wants to be in failure. Lasting change starts with the Root, to see the work that God is doing inside of us independent of anything we can add, and in no need of anything we can do but to stay in touch with the fact that it is happening and keep that fact in view. His work in us becomes the fruit through us. RECOGNIZE Him as vine, source, supply, ability, power, strength, sap, capacity and you will be as He is without sweat-- that is the Promise. We would do well to learn how to be as puppets and we might adopt the same indomitable smile across our faces as God-made dolls.

Around the Bend

Reading the Bible straight thru has its benefits.

I am amazed at the amount of envy which goes on from creation to Joseph and his brothers, where I'm currently parked. Geese! Eve is envious of the knowledge of good and evil and goes for it, Cain slays Abel out of envy for his acceptance, Rachel and Leah, full-fledged sisters, battle for years to be more than the other in the eyes of Jacob, Isaac & Ishmael, Jacob & Esau and now Joseph. What strikes me is not the envy between all these people (although it is refreshing to see modern day issues reflected early on), but their inability to find satisfaction despite their conditions, despite relationships, despite what they had or wealth they came into.

I keep reading and I am duly noting the lack of emphasis the Scripture gives to male-female relationships, mother-child relationships and so on. Between all these people, there was much to be grateful for and satisfied with, but want for more prevailed until they met with satisfaction in God. There isn't enough in a man, not enough in a child, not enough in a land for a woman to find rest and peace. So it seems and I think modern day life bears that out when we get down to it. The only thing that really satisfies is God. If only we could turn to Him first instead of last, seek him first and not the other. Sure would save me alot of tiresome roads. I am learning that going around the bend is not a road but a circle, a detour to bring me back to the same spot where I can go down the straight road or go around the bend... again.

Ability to Overcome

God has ministered to me about this wall and I want to pass on the lesson. Everyone has a wall. Let's call this wall, Gatekeeper. Gatekeeper is a faithful guardian. Gatekeeper makes sure that what you do doesn't bring you into God's rest. Gatekeeper smiles at us as we buck against her with all our might, trying to break through to what's on the other side: achievement, fulfillment, success, wholeness, happiness, health, affluence, freedom from addiction, contentment etc. She smiles as our sweat pours out down her cool, smooth exterior, pooling to the floor. She is relentless, absolutely unforgiving of our push. The harder we push, the cooler she behaves, and just smiles at us.

You see, there is a pushing that comes from an understanding of the law-- from understanding that I have to do something in order to have what I desire. Yet, still there is a push which comes from understanding grace-- from understanding that I have to receive something in order to see what I desire manifest. There is a pushing that comes from reliance on me and there is a pushing that comes from a reliance on Him. The pushing which relies on me produces nothing. If anything, it produces frustration because nothing yields, nothing really gives. The pushing which relies on Him produces after His kind and bears the fruit of His blessing. The pushing which relies on Him manifests the finished work of Christ on the scene of my life.

How could I know the difference between pushing in my strength and pushing in His? For me, the differene was defined as I got more acquainted with His Person and My Personality. As I grew, I began to understand who His Person is inside me as compared to a Personality inside me with entirely opposing traits. As both this Person and this Personality became more distinct, more delineated, I became more passionate toward the One and aware of the opposing nature of the other. This is different from knowing 'right from wrong', this brings change and transformation into your life, not condemnation. It became easier, natural, for action and behavior to flow from His Person--- it wasn't a choice. As I gained exposure to Him, His behavior flowed from me increasingly. I was able to push because there was a force of character behind it that was bigger than me and bigger than my little 'will' which I had so relied on in the past. My will is a dead force, even what it can achieve, when anything, never sustains. His will, on the other hand, is a Person and in that Person is a compelling force which thrusts out living water onto your life manifesting fruit for fare.

What am I saying? I'm saying the will we've always wanted does not exist as we may have pursued it. Will-power which roots in self does not exist in the Kingdom. Any objectives pursued on will-power will run out of gas. Human will-power requires something of man, a limited resource-- man/ourselves is no resource at all and we will fall short of meeting our needs to get the job done. God's Will-power is not a natural substance, a natural conviction in our minds that we have to nurse, but a forceful Person within us who cannot be defeated, altered or compromised by circumstance. His Will-power can't be increased or decreased and it certainly doesn't give out because it is a Person at essence.

Consider it this way, I can cross a desert with a water flask or I can run a river through the desert. God ran a River through you to fund all your activities. His River in you is an endless Source and supplier. Your water flask of self-effort, or brow-beating labor is the end of you. Throw out that old flask. It can't produce the yield, the fruit or harvest. The River is already rich because Jesus paid for you to have endless supply. He doesn't want you exhausting yourself. He wants you receiving Himself from within you to water all your life's endeavors. Only in receiving His grace will you find the Power to flourish and that power is not your own. Only when you forsake what you can do will there be freedom to discover what He has done. Only when you slide down the wall does the pressure of your self-reliance give way to discovery of something beyond what you can do. You can't go on vacation until you stop working. You can't work and rest. I don't know the key to discovery, as it seems most have to hit the wall and die before they truly see the Grace that provides all things for them. When you cease from your work of being your own Savior, you'll find Him and boy can He push His quality of life into your chaos and bring order. Your labor is not to sustain yourself, but to fight off working for yourself so that you can receive His work as finished.

I hope this helps. This is the best I have to offer for right now.

Adam was Here

Tag that old nature!

Areas of my life that defy the wholeness of Christ are areas that I consciously tag with 'Adam was here'. When there isn't enough $ in the checking account or the food is running short of the month or a relationship is failing, I tag the scene/scenario with 'Adam was here.' Why?

Because the truth is that I have the nature of Christ. When I affirm my true nature, it springs forth onto the scene of my life overcoming the obstacles that once defeated me. If I look at a failure and say, 'I failed', not only do I falsely affirm that I am that old nature inherrently but in doing so I seal my fate because there is no hope for changing that old person. She is hopelessly defeated and condemned. She breeds destruction and failure in everything she attempts, so I don't want to say that she is me. Yes, that nature is a part of my life and can certainly affect me and can even rule my life, but she-- that old nature-- is not the sum total of my existence. I never affirm her!

Some may say my practice shucks responsibility. The results prove otherwise. If you believe you are a failure-- the old nature-- you will be. Destruction, failure and brokeness will rear its head across your life. When you believe that you are a new creature and refuse to accept that you are a mere human, subject to your flesh, without a Savior, you will produce wholeness across your life. The flaws and shortcoming will disappear because your focus has turned to the Light. Light, when accepted, consumes darkness. Sometimes, we put up a self-righteous parasol and block out the Son, commiserating in our lack, defeat and sin. In Christ, it is impossible to see yourself as a failure. When you will see and accept His finished work-- Christ in you, the hope of glory, your life will change and your thinking will be illuminated until you are a shadow of your former self-- in terms of what men see.

So, never fear. When you are utterly failing in something or your results are a day late and a dollar short of the fullness of Christ, tag that old nature. Say, "That is the old nature (Adam) in my life!" Flood your thinking with the truth that you have been made Christ in Him and His results will follow your acceptance of His presence working in you. You will begin to recognize an Ability within you to take down the obstacle you've been fighting, immediately or in time provided you bathe your mind with the truth versus labeling yourself Adam, a failed man. It is easier to accept that 'Adam was here' than it is to view yourself as Adam-- powerless, hopeless and condemned. It's easier because it's righteous, not because it's irresponsible. Righteousness-consciousness produces after righteousness. In view of Christ in you, there is hope for glory--- hope for the fullness of God's plan being met in your life.

NEVER ACCEPT THE FAILURES IN YOUR LIFE AS A REFLECTION OF YOU. THIS IS THE SILENT, SUBTLE AND DEADLY LIE-- THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF DEFEAT.

The Crazy Banquet

YOU WERE HONORED WITH CHRIST JESUS!

What lengths men go to in order to secure the esteem of others! What fights started to defend or sustain one's respect! What demand men place on others for honor and what Love they set aside to command it!

How the Apostle Paul ministers to me! He was so content to just be in Him, in Christ. Often, even those who may be great servants, or even the greatest servants, may lose sight of and devalue the Honor given us in the person of Jesus Christ. Men of all professions require of others what they have not received in Christ. Some command endless attention, a substitute for the only Attention who fills. Others command respect, not truly understanding how much God honored man with Jesus and continues to honor him. He made us His children, adopting us as His own when we couldn't qualify for His presence, His riches, His ability-- things which now, we have all received in Christ. It is enough to be in Him, to consider ourselves honored of Him.

Imagine (if it were possible) that every time you came over to my house, I kill my only child, my perfect child so that you can then come in and enjoy the abundance of my house and table. I do this not only for you, but for each and every guest who arrives after you, I slay my beautiful child. Now I have 5 or 6 guests who lost sight of what they have received, the greatest Love. They ignore the Love given them and begin to fight over the food on the table (which is unlimited by the way). They vie for what they can give one another or do for themselves. They crave honor of men over the honor of God. God and His benefits becomes intangible to these deaf and blind guests. They rate themselves high and rank one another by their own opinions forgetting that each man's Price was the same. My guests enjoy very little.

One snatches up desserts and continues to eat profusely to make sure he is not left hungry or without the luscious benefit of a sweet pastry. Another spits in his eye for being so selfish and greedy. One cries and is distraught that there is fighting. One is envious that I gave so much pie to another guest. All the while, there is endless pie in the back. Would there not be peace if all remained conscious of the Gift, constantly receiving His fullness? Is there cause to envy what another is actively partaking in when all were given the same Gift? Is this not one crazy banquet scenario! Everything has been paid for at the highest cost of our Host. He honored each of us with His greatest treasure, His son. We have a new nature in Him and an Inheritance too.

There is no gift or benefit given to man that is not given to all men. There is no exhausting this gift and His benefits, Christ in us-- our Inheritance. Shall we dine?

You Need No Ability

When we truly understand that all the giftings in others are for us and from Another, competition loses its footing and we never look to ourselves for Ability, we simply possess all things.

It is enough to be in Him! The great Apostle Paul floods his writings with this message that it is enough to be written in His book, known by Him, rewarded of Him. He is our exceeding great Reward and our reward is in Him.

IT IS ENOUGH!

In ourselves, we lack so much to do His work; we lack so much to do any work that we desire to do. We can't accomplish our goals, we can't complete the average tasks--- and when we do, there is often little peace to match the accomplishment. Oh but in Him there is an abundance of all things needed! We can lack for everything, the wisdom, the inherent ability to pull off the job, but when we allow His residence, His presence to penetrate our lives--- when we let His ability fly right over our weaknesses--- we see that we don't need a thing but Him. This must be revealed in you. To know it is not enough, but when you begin to walk in peace (real and instinctual, not artificial patience) across your circumstances, then you have understood what I've laid down here.

You don't need to be confident because Christ comes through you with His own confidence, not something you had to create or concoct. You don't have to know how to solve the problem. Only learn how to give problems over to the One in you who has the all-knowing witts. I cannot tell you how to do this; only the Spirit can reveal the 'how' for your life. What I can tell you is the 'in Him' existence is the one which meets all your problems and challenges with forceful, agile ability and overcomes and dominates your obstacles weaving peace through your entire life by the Spirit within, Christ the hope of glory. REMEMBER, I did not say your circumstances would be peaceful. I say that you will be peaceful in them when exercising 'in Him' living! We look to ourselves for so much more than we can handle-- there is a Source that contains everything that tackles life and that Source is tapped from within you.

Relax family, our Inheritance is the same. You have no advantage over me nor I over you. We have been made One in Him. Your advantages and gifts are for me, not against me, your inheritance to be shared in joy. My advantages are never my own in Him, but for you, my Body. In this, there is no competition! All of your strengths, skills and abilities to produce any lasting result stream from one Source to bless all around you. When we truly understand that the giftings in others are for us and from Another, competition loses all footing and we never look to ourselves for Ability, we simply possess all things.