Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "renewing-of-the-mind"
MachoMan vs. GodMan
You may say in your heart, "My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth." But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth [Deuteronomy 8:17-18].
The first sentence of that quotation (v.17) expresses the words of the natural man, the person who was born a sinner. Such a one is egocentric, which means his life and world revolve around himself. He is a self-made man, you see. Nobody ever gave him anything. He worked hard all his life to get to where he is at.
The second sentence of the quotation (v.18) reveals the spiritual man, the person who was reborn a saint. Such a one is christocentric, which means his life and world revolve around Christ. He is a remade man. Whatever he achieves is God's blessing to him, not his own goodness or strength.
The way to understand Christ and what He wants with us individually can only come via the Bible. And we need the Holy Spirit to teach it to us personally. This scenario is known as quiet time alone with the Lord. It should be the Christian's standard daily exercise regimen. Spiritual maturity is not possible without it.
This Thanksgiving let's thank the Lord Jesus, the GodMan, for all the blessings He's given us. Let us not take the glory to ourselves by claiming to be Mr. MachoMan.
The first sentence of that quotation (v.17) expresses the words of the natural man, the person who was born a sinner. Such a one is egocentric, which means his life and world revolve around himself. He is a self-made man, you see. Nobody ever gave him anything. He worked hard all his life to get to where he is at.
The second sentence of the quotation (v.18) reveals the spiritual man, the person who was reborn a saint. Such a one is christocentric, which means his life and world revolve around Christ. He is a remade man. Whatever he achieves is God's blessing to him, not his own goodness or strength.
The way to understand Christ and what He wants with us individually can only come via the Bible. And we need the Holy Spirit to teach it to us personally. This scenario is known as quiet time alone with the Lord. It should be the Christian's standard daily exercise regimen. Spiritual maturity is not possible without it.
This Thanksgiving let's thank the Lord Jesus, the GodMan, for all the blessings He's given us. Let us not take the glory to ourselves by claiming to be Mr. MachoMan.
Time To Cut the Grass
A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever [Isaiah 40:6-8].
What to do when I encounter a deluge of difficulties? Hmm. Now let me think... I guess I could throw a pity party and invite all the naysayers I know. That might be fun. Naw. I think I'll take a rain check on that one.
I got it! I'll go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and hope I never have to wake up. Ah, the old ostrich policy at its finest. That always works. Not! Toss that one on the rubbish heap too.
Dear me. What shall I do? I could stand on the street corner and strum my guitar, giving my best impersonation of Bob Dylan with some poetry set to music. I could sing all about how no one likes me and life isn't fair, and soar off into the nether world as I reminisce about the good old times back in the day. Yeah, but that's a dead horse I don't want to beat.
Okay. So what will I do in response to the doldrums of my existence? Well, thus far all my approaches were to gaze far and wide in all directions horizontally. What I failed to do was to take a gander vertically. The horizontal gaze fixes the eyes on man—or as Isaiah worded it, on "all flesh", both myself and other people.
And therein lies the crux of the matter, my dear friends. "All flesh" is like grass and its loveliness is no more than the flowers in the field. Have you noticed how long grass and flowers last? Let me tell you: not long!
The contrast to "all flesh" is to be found in the phrase "the word of our God ". So how long does the Word of God last? That would be "forever", and methinks "forever" is a wee bit longer than how long grass and flowers last.
That settles it. Isaiah's logic is irrefutable and irresistible. I'm going to handle my deluge of difficulties by hieing off to the prayer closet with my Bible, and spending time alone with the Lord Jesus. Why don't we all go and do likewise?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
What to do when I encounter a deluge of difficulties? Hmm. Now let me think... I guess I could throw a pity party and invite all the naysayers I know. That might be fun. Naw. I think I'll take a rain check on that one.
I got it! I'll go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and hope I never have to wake up. Ah, the old ostrich policy at its finest. That always works. Not! Toss that one on the rubbish heap too.
Dear me. What shall I do? I could stand on the street corner and strum my guitar, giving my best impersonation of Bob Dylan with some poetry set to music. I could sing all about how no one likes me and life isn't fair, and soar off into the nether world as I reminisce about the good old times back in the day. Yeah, but that's a dead horse I don't want to beat.
Okay. So what will I do in response to the doldrums of my existence? Well, thus far all my approaches were to gaze far and wide in all directions horizontally. What I failed to do was to take a gander vertically. The horizontal gaze fixes the eyes on man—or as Isaiah worded it, on "all flesh", both myself and other people.
And therein lies the crux of the matter, my dear friends. "All flesh" is like grass and its loveliness is no more than the flowers in the field. Have you noticed how long grass and flowers last? Let me tell you: not long!
The contrast to "all flesh" is to be found in the phrase "the word of our God ". So how long does the Word of God last? That would be "forever", and methinks "forever" is a wee bit longer than how long grass and flowers last.
That settles it. Isaiah's logic is irrefutable and irresistible. I'm going to handle my deluge of difficulties by hieing off to the prayer closet with my Bible, and spending time alone with the Lord Jesus. Why don't we all go and do likewise?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
MachoMan vs. GodMan
You may say in your heart, "My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth." But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth [Deuteronomy 8:17-18].
The first sentence of that quotation (v.17) expresses the words of the natural man, the person who was born a sinner. Such a one is egocentric, which means his life and world revolve around himself. He is a self-made man, you see. Nobody ever gave him anything. He worked hard all his life to get to where he is at.
The second sentence of the quotation (v.18) reveals the spiritual man, the person who was reborn a saint. Such a one is Christocentric, which means his life and world revolve around Christ. He is a remade man. Whatever he achieves is God's blessing to him, not his own goodness or strength.
The way to understand Christ and what He wants with us individually can only come via the Bible. And we need the Holy Spirit to teach it to us personally. This scenario is known as quiet time alone with the Lord. It should be the Christian's standard daily exercise regimen. Spiritual maturity is not possible without it.
This Thanksgiving let's thank the Lord Jesus, the GodMan, for all the blessings He's given us. Let us not take the glory to ourselves by claiming to be Mr. MachoMan.
The first sentence of that quotation (v.17) expresses the words of the natural man, the person who was born a sinner. Such a one is egocentric, which means his life and world revolve around himself. He is a self-made man, you see. Nobody ever gave him anything. He worked hard all his life to get to where he is at.
The second sentence of the quotation (v.18) reveals the spiritual man, the person who was reborn a saint. Such a one is Christocentric, which means his life and world revolve around Christ. He is a remade man. Whatever he achieves is God's blessing to him, not his own goodness or strength.
The way to understand Christ and what He wants with us individually can only come via the Bible. And we need the Holy Spirit to teach it to us personally. This scenario is known as quiet time alone with the Lord. It should be the Christian's standard daily exercise regimen. Spiritual maturity is not possible without it.
This Thanksgiving let's thank the Lord Jesus, the GodMan, for all the blessings He's given us. Let us not take the glory to ourselves by claiming to be Mr. MachoMan.
Time To Cut the Grass
A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever [Isaiah 40:6-8].
What to do when I encounter a deluge of difficulties? Hmm. Now let me think... I guess I could throw a pity party and invite all the naysayers I know. That might be fun. Naw. I think I'll take a rain check on that one.
I got it! I'll go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and hope I never have to wake up. Ah, the old ostrich policy at its finest. That always works. Not! Toss that one on the rubbish heap too.
Dear me. What shall I do? I could stand on the street corner and strum my guitar, giving my best impersonation of Bob Dylan with some poetry set to music. I could sing all about how no one likes me and life isn't fair, and soar off into the nether world as I reminisce about the good old times back in the day. Yeah, but that's a dead horse I don't want to beat.
Okay. So what will I do in response to the doldrums of my existence? Well, thus far all my approaches were to gaze far and wide in all directions horizontally. What I failed to do was to take a gander vertically. The horizontal gaze fixes the eyes on man—or as Isaiah worded it, on "all flesh", both myself and other people.
And therein lies the crux of the matter, my dear friends. "All flesh" is like grass and its loveliness is no more than the flowers in the field. Have you noticed how long grass and flowers last? Let me tell you: not long!
The contrast to "all flesh" is to be found in the phrase "the word of our God ". So how long does the Word of God last? That would be "forever", and methinks "forever" is a wee bit longer than how long grass and flowers last.
That settles it. Isaiah's logic is irrefutable and irresistible. I'm going to handle my deluge of difficulties by hieing off to the prayer closet with my Bible, and spending time alone with the Lord Jesus. Why don't we all go and do likewise?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
What to do when I encounter a deluge of difficulties? Hmm. Now let me think... I guess I could throw a pity party and invite all the naysayers I know. That might be fun. Naw. I think I'll take a rain check on that one.
I got it! I'll go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and hope I never have to wake up. Ah, the old ostrich policy at its finest. That always works. Not! Toss that one on the rubbish heap too.
Dear me. What shall I do? I could stand on the street corner and strum my guitar, giving my best impersonation of Bob Dylan with some poetry set to music. I could sing all about how no one likes me and life isn't fair, and soar off into the nether world as I reminisce about the good old times back in the day. Yeah, but that's a dead horse I don't want to beat.
Okay. So what will I do in response to the doldrums of my existence? Well, thus far all my approaches were to gaze far and wide in all directions horizontally. What I failed to do was to take a gander vertically. The horizontal gaze fixes the eyes on man—or as Isaiah worded it, on "all flesh", both myself and other people.
And therein lies the crux of the matter, my dear friends. "All flesh" is like grass and its loveliness is no more than the flowers in the field. Have you noticed how long grass and flowers last? Let me tell you: not long!
The contrast to "all flesh" is to be found in the phrase "the word of our God ". So how long does the Word of God last? That would be "forever", and methinks "forever" is a wee bit longer than how long grass and flowers last.
That settles it. Isaiah's logic is irrefutable and irresistible. I'm going to handle my deluge of difficulties by hieing off to the prayer closet with my Bible, and spending time alone with the Lord Jesus. Why don't we all go and do likewise?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
MachoMan vs. GodMan
You may say in your heart, "My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth." But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth [Deuteronomy 8:17-18].
The first sentence of that quotation (v.17) expresses the words of the natural man, the person who was born a sinner. Such a one is egocentric, which means his life and world revolve around himself. He is a self-made man, you see. Nobody ever gave him anything. He worked hard all his life to get to where he is at.
The second sentence of the quotation (v.18) reveals the spiritual man, the person who was reborn a saint. Such a one is Christocentric, which means his life and world revolve around Christ. He is a remade man. Whatever he achieves is God's blessing to him, not his own goodness or strength.
The way to understand Christ and what He wants with us individually can only come via the Bible. And we need the Holy Spirit to teach it to us personally. This scenario is known as quiet time alone with the Lord. It should be the Christian's standard daily exercise regimen. Spiritual maturity is not possible without it.
This Thanksgiving let's thank the Lord Jesus, the GodMan, for all the blessings He's given us. Let us not take the glory to ourselves by claiming to be Mr. MachoMan.
The first sentence of that quotation (v.17) expresses the words of the natural man, the person who was born a sinner. Such a one is egocentric, which means his life and world revolve around himself. He is a self-made man, you see. Nobody ever gave him anything. He worked hard all his life to get to where he is at.
The second sentence of the quotation (v.18) reveals the spiritual man, the person who was reborn a saint. Such a one is Christocentric, which means his life and world revolve around Christ. He is a remade man. Whatever he achieves is God's blessing to him, not his own goodness or strength.
The way to understand Christ and what He wants with us individually can only come via the Bible. And we need the Holy Spirit to teach it to us personally. This scenario is known as quiet time alone with the Lord. It should be the Christian's standard daily exercise regimen. Spiritual maturity is not possible without it.
This Thanksgiving let's thank the Lord Jesus, the GodMan, for all the blessings He's given us. Let us not take the glory to ourselves by claiming to be Mr. MachoMan.
Time To Cut the Grass
A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever [Isaiah 40:6-8].
What to do when I encounter a deluge of difficulties? Hmm. Now let me think... I guess I could throw a pity party and invite all the naysayers I know. That might be fun. Naw. I think I'll take a rain check on that one.
I got it! I'll go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and hope I never have to wake up. Ah, the old ostrich policy at its finest. That always works. Not! Toss that one on the rubbish heap too.
Dear me. What shall I do? I could stand on the street corner and strum my guitar, giving my best impersonation of Bob Dylan with some poetry set to music. I could sing all about how no one likes me and life isn't fair, and soar off into the nether world as I reminisce about the good old times back in the day. Yeah, but that's a dead horse I don't want to beat.
Okay. So what will I do in response to the doldrums of my existence? Well, thus far all my approaches were to gaze far and wide in all directions horizontally. What I failed to do was to take a gander vertically. The horizontal gaze fixes the eyes on man—or as Isaiah worded it, on "all flesh", both myself and other people.
And therein lies the crux of the matter, my dear friends. "All flesh" is like grass and its loveliness is no more than the flowers in the field. Have you noticed how long grass and flowers last? Let me tell you: not long!
The contrast to "all flesh" is to be found in the phrase "the word of our God ". So how long does the Word of God last? That would be "forever", and methinks "forever" is a wee bit longer than how long grass and flowers last.
That settles it. Isaiah's logic is irrefutable and irresistible. I'm going to handle my deluge of difficulties by hieing off to the prayer closet with my Bible, and spending time alone with the Lord Jesus. Why don't we all go and do likewise?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
What to do when I encounter a deluge of difficulties? Hmm. Now let me think... I guess I could throw a pity party and invite all the naysayers I know. That might be fun. Naw. I think I'll take a rain check on that one.
I got it! I'll go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and hope I never have to wake up. Ah, the old ostrich policy at its finest. That always works. Not! Toss that one on the rubbish heap too.
Dear me. What shall I do? I could stand on the street corner and strum my guitar, giving my best impersonation of Bob Dylan with some poetry set to music. I could sing all about how no one likes me and life isn't fair, and soar off into the nether world as I reminisce about the good old times back in the day. Yeah, but that's a dead horse I don't want to beat.
Okay. So what will I do in response to the doldrums of my existence? Well, thus far all my approaches were to gaze far and wide in all directions horizontally. What I failed to do was to take a gander vertically. The horizontal gaze fixes the eyes on man—or as Isaiah worded it, on "all flesh", both myself and other people.
And therein lies the crux of the matter, my dear friends. "All flesh" is like grass and its loveliness is no more than the flowers in the field. Have you noticed how long grass and flowers last? Let me tell you: not long!
The contrast to "all flesh" is to be found in the phrase "the word of our God ". So how long does the Word of God last? That would be "forever", and methinks "forever" is a wee bit longer than how long grass and flowers last.
That settles it. Isaiah's logic is irrefutable and irresistible. I'm going to handle my deluge of difficulties by hieing off to the prayer closet with my Bible, and spending time alone with the Lord Jesus. Why don't we all go and do likewise?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
