All About Him

Spiritually: Grow Up!

2007-03-19T10:56:05-07:00

I heard a message recently where the speaker talked about a flight simulator exercise designed to help aspiring pilots recognize the signs of oxygen deprivation. Students record the physical sensations they experience as the oxygen level is reduced in the chamber. An aching leg muscle, hair that stands on end, a finger twitch--the S0S signals are unique to each person--but the message is identical, urgent and missing it can be fatal. The idea is to make sure each pilot knows how his or her body reacts to the loss of oxygen. Learning the lesson under controlled circumstances trains the student to recognize and react to the physical message.

So it is in the discussion of what constitutes spiritual maturity. Paul tells us that the mature are ". . .those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14 NKJ). According to Paul, discernment requires active, repeated use of our senses in our pursuit of God. Exercising our senses in pursuit of God is a practical matter.

Corporate worship services offer a controlled environment to exercise your senses because God is always present there. Even if you are not consciously aware of Him, your body will react physically to His presence. Open up your senses to Him and memorize what it feels like to be with Him.

To be a mature Christian is to be so familiar with what it feels like to encounter God that even the slightest counterfeit becomes obvious. Discernment. Each body has a unique, physical response to the presence of God. This particular preacher spoke of a sensation of heat in his left hand when God is around. Remember that it is God's glory is to conceal clues. He then reveals Himself to us when we actively seek Him. Recognize and memorize the clues your senses provide the next time God is in the room. Make up your mind to look for him-. Don't wait for Him to come to you.

This is the fundamental difference between "babes" and "grownups" in Paul's analogy. It's the "Seek and you shall find" promise, where the tables are turned and the pursuer God becomes the pursued. We need to use every tool He has given us to find Him. We especially need to employ our senses, because they are instinctive and pre-wired to detect Him. Physical awareness may be your first clue to supernatural activity. It may be the only one you get and could be the only one you need to discern and avoid the distraction of evil as you pursue God.

As the speaker noted, sometimes there is no audible voice, no still small voice, no bizarre circumstances or coincidences, no flashing lights. Sometimes the only way to know what your dealing with is that your left hand just got hot. Or that it didn't.

Ode To A Dying Friend

2007-03-19T10:49:34-07:00

You are a strong and mighty warrior
In the army of the Lord.
There is no distance you can't travel
Because your standing on His Word.
You have taken up His challenge.
Now you can lay down your sword,
'Cause every strong and mighty warrior,
Will find her refuge in the Lord.

   The is no grave that can hold you
   On the road from Calvary.
   And you will never be alone
   When you take that journey.
   There is no way around the fire
   But you can lay down your sword.
   'Cause even strong and mighty warriors
   Take their refuge in the Lord!

I have watched you as you traveled,
I have seen you face your fears.
You have been my inspiration,
And I have shared your tears.
I have seen your bonds broken,
a captive, set free!
And when I look into your eyes--
I see the light of Jesus
Looking at me.

   There is no grave that can hold you
   On the road from Calvary.
   And you will never be alone
   When you take that journey.
   There is no way around the fire,
   But you can lay down your sword.
   'Cause even strong and mighty warriors
   Take their refuge in the Lord.

G. Baker 2007

No Greater Love

2007-03-15T16:41:34-07:00

The Creator waved His hand

And from nothing made the land

And He filled the earth with wonders
We will never understand
From the dust He made a man
In His own image, by His own hand
He gave every man a voice
He gave every man a choice
There is no greater love
There is no greater love
Than a man who would lay down his life
For his brother
The war has long been won
Though the battle rages on
And echoes through the sands of time
As every man
Makes up his own mind

Jesus came unto His own
But to them He was unknown
Still the Word became flesh and dwelt among us
And it was painful tears He cried
On the night before they tried Him
When justice was denied Him
Those He loved
Crucified Him
There is no greater love
There is no greater love
Than a man who would lay down
His life for his brother
The war has long been won
Though the battle rages on and on
And echoes through the sands of time
As each one of us
Makes up his own mind

We get to choose
Which side we’re on
Will it be death for me
Will it be victory
I’m choosing victory

There is no greater love
There is no greater love
Than a man who would lay down
His life for his brother
The war has long been won
Still the battle rages on
And echoes through the sands of time
As each one of us
Makes up his own mind

You’ve got to choose.

He Loves You

2007-03-08T13:05:52-08:00

Saw an old friend
The other day.
We talked awhile,
Had a lot to say.
She told stories.
I had tales of my own.
Of the roads that we traveled,
And the people we’d known.
Then she told me
How she cried,
How her life just
Passed her by.
I saw her face,
Tears in her eyes,
And I knew,
So I said,
Jesus loves you!
You’re worth it.
Even though he knew
That you would never be perfect.
He wants
What only you have to give
And He died
So you could live

Then I told her the story
About God’s son.
How He died
Because He loved everyone.
How they beat Him,
Pierced His side,
How the sky turned black
On the day He died.
How the tomb must have looked,
On the third day,
With an angel outside
And the stone rolled away.
How He loves me
As much as He loves you.
How I knew
That Jesus loves you!
You’re worth it.
Even though he knew
That you would never be perfect.
He wants
What only you have to give
And He died
So you could live

She asked me
She said
“How can it be
That He loved me so much
That He died for me?
What did I do
To inspire Him so
That He’d lay down His life
Tell me, How do you know?”
And I said
“He’s been here with me
Every time that I cried,
When I wanted to die.
And I know
He loves me
As much as He loves you
I know it’s true
Because He loves me
I’m worth it
Even though he knew
That I would never be perfect
All that I have to give is His
Because He died
So I could

Live with him
Forever
In heaven
At the foot of the Father’s throne
I call it home
And I get to be there
And you can to
Because He loves you
You’re worth it
Even though he knew
That you would never be perfect
He wants
What only you have to give
And He died
So you could live