Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 85

Fulfilling the Law of Christ

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2, NIV)



I once heard a friend say she had a hard time bearing criticism from everyone except one person. She then went on to explain that the reason she could accept it from this one person in particular was because she knew this lady loved her and had her best interest at heart.



This friend's honesty is probably pretty accurate for all of us. When we sense that someone truly loves us, we're willing to hear what they have to say, even when the message is something we don't want to hear.



The opposite is also true. When we don't get a sense that people love us, we tend to close our ears to what they have to say. Why? Because it's hard for us to believe they truly have our best interest at heart. Their words seem to be more about molding us into what they want us to be. In other words, manipulation (and no one likes to be manipulated).



Galatians 6:2 refers to the law of Christ, but what is the law of Christ? These verses will help explain:



"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40, NIV)



"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35, NIV)



Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:15-16, NIV)



I suspect that many of us, including myself, have a difficult time showing love and also a difficult time accepting it. But love is the mark of a mature Christian. Even more importantly, it's how the world knows we're Christ followers.



So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13, ESV)



Heavenly Father, forgive us for not loving each other the way You've commanded us. What disgrace we bring to Your body in front of a watching world--a world that needs to know You. God, help me to be more like Jesus, sharing Your love with everyone and not just the ones that meet my expectations. Help me to carry the burdens of others to express my love for them and for You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Holy and Happy

I've heard it said that God didn't come to make us happy, but to make us holy. While I understand the sentiment of this statement, I don't believe it's entirely scriptural.



Yes, God is certainly concerned with our holiness--so much so that He sacrificed His only Son as an atonement for our sins. But I don't believe that holiness comes at the exclusion of happiness. In fact, I believe happiness is one of the by-products of holiness.



During the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:3-10, Jesus gave us the beatitudes, which point to a blessed and happy life. (The Amplified Bible uses a parenthetical to the word "blessed" as "happy; to be envied.") Notice all the qualifications Jesus gives for this happiness: poor in spirit (those who recognize their spiritual need for God), those who mourn and are broken-hearted, the meek (those who turn control of their life over to Christ), those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart (those with a single-minded devotion), the peacemakers (those who actively pursue peace), and those persecuted for their right-standing with God.



I love the picture here! Words like poor in spirit, mourn, meek and persecution don't make us think of happy people, but These are the very people Jesus was calling blessed and happy!



The truth is that following Jesus is a happy life, in spite of troubles. The treasure within us is "good news." If we're so busy being holy that we lose our joy and happiness, a lost and dying world will want nothing to do with the treasure we carry. Nothing is so off-putting as a bunch of dour-faced Christians. (And I have a feeling that God finds it offensive, too!)



An obvious point worth stating is that no amount of unhappiness will make us holy. In fact, nothing we can do in our own strength will make us holy. Holiness is a sanctification and a setting apart of a person by God for His work, service and glory. For those of us who follow Christ, His blood makes us holy, and that holiness brings a blessed happiness and joy that the world needs and longs for.



Father God, thank You for the sacrifice made on our behalf that we might be both holy and blessed/happy. Thank You that this blessed and holy life You've provided isn't hindered by circumstances and hard times. Instead this blessedness causes us to lift our grateful voices to You and to proclaim Your goodness and Your good news to a lost and dying world. May our joy be contagious and infect everyone we come in contact with so that they question us about the hope in our hearts. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.

Learning To See From a Heavenly Perspective

If anyone could have turned into a bitter and hostile man surely it was Joseph.



Despised by his brothers. Sold into slavery. Dead to his father. Unjustly accused and imprisoned. Forgotten by those he helped.



But look at how he responds to his brothers once he has risen to power and they need his help:



"And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you....to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God." (Genesis 45:5, 7-8a, NIV)





Oh, that I would be so quick to recognize the sovereign hand of God and to see circumstances from a heavenly perspective! Everything happens for a reason, and even things we consider as bad, God can use for good (though it may not feel like it at the time).



When their father Jacob died, Joseph's brothers humbled themselves before him, fearing that he would exact retribution for the way they had treated him. But once again Joseph responds in grace and forgiveness, realizing God's sovereignty.



But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid, Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:19-20, NIV)



Father, thank You for using hard times not only to draw us closer to You, to grow us, and to teach us, but also to prepare us for what lies ahead, to help us examine ourselves and our beliefs, to be stronger and better people. Help us to learn how to see earthly circumstances from a heavenly perspective, and be quick to extend forgiveness and grace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Better Question To Ask

When we go through difficult circumstances, it's very normal and human to question why. We don't understand why a good God would allow such a thing. I once heard a friend mention that she had learned not to ask "Why me?" and had instead learned to say "Why not me?"



I understand her thinking. None of us should ever be so arrogant to believe that we're somehow above trouble and difficulty.



But recently, I've learned an even better question to ask.



What is God trying to teach me through this?



I'm not trying to suggest that every trial is allowed in our lives because God is trying to teach us a lesson, but I am suggesting that there is an opportunity for God to grow us through hard times.



Even Job was able to learn a valuable lesson through his ordeal. Here's just a snippet of what God taught him.



"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? .... Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? Let him who accuses God answer Him." (Job 38:4; 40:2, NIV)



After a second round of questioning by the Almighty, Job answers, and his words reveal that he has indeed learned about God.





"My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5-6)





Notice that Job isn't repenting because he thinks he's done something to deserve his difficulties. He's repenting because he didn't trust more fully the One who allowed the difficulties in the first place. God always has something to teach us, and we always having something we need to learn. It may just be the storms of life where He can best get our attention.



Father God, as much as we dislike difficult circumstances, help us to realize that You can use those hard times to teach us and grow us. May we willingly submit to Your Lordship and learn what You would have us learn. Amen.

"The Power of Humility" by R. T Kendall

ABOUT THE BOOK :



The Power and Freedom of a Humble Life

Pride is often the true reason why we get our feelings hurt, why we feel rejection, why we won't admit to mistakes, why we want to be seen with certain people, and why we stay angry.

Jesus gives us the perfect example of a powerful life lived without conceit, smugness, or arrogance. So why do we not want to admit to our pride? It is because of our pride!



In The Power of Humility, R. T. Kendall challenges us to look deeply into our hearts and motives to recognize the pride and self-righteousness there. Using personal stories and enlightening examples from the Bible, he demonstrates how pride interferes with a close relationship with God and reveals how to overcome pride and become more like Jesus.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR :

R. T. Kendall was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London, England, for twenty-five years. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, he was educated at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Oxford University. He is well known internationally as a speaker and teacher. Dr. Kendall is the author of more than forty-five books, including Total Forgiveness, The Sensitivity of the Spirit, The Thorn in the Flesh, Grace, Pure Joy, Imitating Christ, and The Anointing: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.



MY REVIEW :

Though I didn't agree with everything the author mentioned, overall I felt like The Power of Humility is a great book and one every Christian could benefit from. I was once again reminded how much pride infiltrates our lives. Unforgiveness, superiority, works-based religion, holding grudges, an unwillingness to admit and repent of sin, self-righteousness, anger, jealously, self-pity, hypocrisy, boasting, judgmental attitudes, and much more can all be traced back to pride. I recommend this book.

Lord, Is It I?

They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?" (Mark 14:19, ESV)



Jesus had already told His disciples what was about to happen, though in their humanity, they still didn't quite realize the full impact and importance.



Now he adds another element. "One of you will betray me."



Can you imagine the hush that must have fallen over the upper room? Then a soft murmuring as the disciples, one after the other, ask: "Is it me?"



One would think that after three years with Jesus, the disciples would be close enough to Him that they would be confident of their ability to stay true to Him.



But they knew. They knew that no matter their good intentions, their will to stay strong and endure, that they were capable of the worst.



No wonder Paul advised: Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12, ESV)



Paul had been there and done that. He thought He was serving God when persecuting the people of The Way.





The truth is that we're all capable and we're all guilty. We'd be wise to check ourselves on a regular basis by simply asking: "Lord, is it I?"



Lord, during this time when we reflect on Your death and resurrection and all that it means for us personally, help us to also open ourselves up to the Spirit's perusal. Lord, I fail You, and therefore betray You, on a daily basis. Show me the error of my ways so that I might walk in closer fellowship with You. Remove my pride in thinking that I stand, when I'm on the verge of falling. Thank You for loving me so much that You died in my place to set me free. Amen.

Seeking Wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10, NIV)





All of us want to be wise, and wisdom begins with fearing God. We cannot be wise without a reverencing Him. This reverence necessitates that we remove ourselves, with our pride and selfish desires, in order to discover His path and His way.



I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. (Proverbs 8:12, NIV)



I (Wisdom) love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. (Proverbs 18:17-19, NIV)



The benefits of wisdom are many. Who doesn't want to be prudent, to have knowledge and discretion? Yet God adds even more benefits, not according to the world's definitions, but as He defines them: honor, wealth, prosperity. His benefits far outweigh any material wealth.



My favorite promise in this verse is that those who seek wisdom will find it. The same promise is made in the New Testament.



If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5, NIV)



Not only does God generously give us His wisdom, He does it without criticizing and finding fault. How horrible it would be to ask for wisdom, and have God say: "Yeah, you need it. Just look at how you've messed up. How stupid are you, anyway?" 



The world and Satan constantly accuse us, but God, in His great and infinite wisdom, says: "Here it is. I'm giving you the wisdom you seek and more. It was yours all along. All you had to do was ask."



Father God, thank You for the wisdom that comes only from You. Help me to fear and reverence You as I should. Forgive me for getting in Your way. Thank You for giving us wisdom when we ask with right hearts and for giving it generously and without criticizing. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Danger of Pride

Whether we care to admit it or not, pride motivates much of what we do and is a huge part of who we are. But the Bible reveals that it is also one of the things God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19).



Anytime we feel hurt, rejected, defensive, troubled, resentful, bitter, jealous, or angry, we would be wise to dig deeper and see if our pride is involved. If we uncover evidence that pride is indeed involved, we'd be wise to run the other direction.



Pride will cause us to make wrong decisions, feel superior to others, seek revenge, retaliate, rebel, and more. The problem lies not only in the fact that God hates pride, but that it the exact opposite of what Christ has called us to--meekness and humility.



Oh God, forgive me my stubborn pride. Help me to remember that You have called us to a higher path. Open our eyes to see our pride, and help us to turn from it, running instead to Your open arms. In Jesus' name, Amen.

There's Nothing We Can Do

We don't like to hear the words: "There's nothing we can do."



Why?



First of all, the statement implies that all our striving has been in vain. That the battle is over and finished.



Secondly, our society has taught that with enough willpower and intestinal fortitude we can accomplish anything. While that has some truth in the physical realm, in the spiritual realm it's false and contradicts what God has done.



Consider the following:



There's nothing we can do . . .

                                                     to earn grace or salvation.



There's nothing we can do . . .

                                                    to repay God.



There's nothing we can do . . .

                                                    to atone for our sins. 



There's nothing we can do . . .

                                                    to justify ourselves.



There's nothing we can do . . .

                                                    to make God love us any more.



There's nothing we can do . . . 

                                                    to make God love us any less.



All our striving IS in vain. The battle IS over. It IS finished. Jesus has already done for us what we cannot do for ourselves. That's not only good news. It's great news!



Father, thank You for doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. Help us to always remember what it cost You to make that possible. May we quit wavering between faith and self-justification and follow You wholeheartedly. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"That's When I Talk To God" by Dan & Ali Morrow (Blog Tour)

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!



You never know when I might play a wild card on you!





Today's Wild Card authors are:

Dan and Ali Morrow



and Illustrated by



Cory Godbey





and the book:

That's When I Talk to God David C. Cook (April 1, 2011) ***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***



ABOUT THE AUTHORS:



Dan and Ali Morrow are parents of two wonderful daughters. When they're not writing children's books, they like to go on adventures around their Colorado home. They are the authors of That's Where God Is (2010), their first children's release.



Visit the authors' website.





ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:



Cory Godbey illustrates, animates, and writes for Portland Studios, a creative firm dedicated to telling great stories and pursuing excellence in art.



He has contributed to projects such as Zune Arts, Flight graphic novel anthologies, and has worked with many major publishers.



Recently, Cory was accepted in the acclaimed Society of Illustrators Annual.



Cory seeks to tell stories with his work.



He also likes drawing monsters.



Visit the illustrator'swebsite.





SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Targeted to children four to eight, That's When I Talk to God mirrors the day of the typical child, creating an opportunity for readers to put the practices in the story to use in their own lives. Through beautiful illustrations and an engaging, familiar character, readers can relate to That's When I Talk to God. Children will learn to go to God with their fears, their joys, their questions, and their desires. They will also learn the hows, whens, and whys of praying to the Lord in a way they can easily apply to their own experiences. And adults will be reminded to communicate the benefit, simplicity, and beauty of prayer.







Product Details:



List Price: $12.99

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 36 pages

Publisher: David C. Cook (April 1, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1434700186

ISBN-13: 978-1434700186



AND NOW...THE FIRST FEW PAGES (Click on the pictures to enlarge them!):

















My Review:

See my review here.