Plowing in the Cold

Proverbs 20:4 "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg at harvest and have nothing."





Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.







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I think a lot of times we as Christians and people, and Americans, often get tired of plowing. Very few reading this may be farmers, or even remotely close to such a profession (indeed I am not much of a simple gardener even), but I know that this still applies to my own life as it is.

I think, in my life at least, a person may go on for weeks or months throughout the school year, or in the work place, or at the market place, day in and day out doing one thing, and one thing only. Work, work work and more plowing and shearing and pruning and harvesting. Work. We people, especially in high school, would give a great deal simply to have no responsibility and simply sit for a few days and simply REST without doing ANYTHING at all that is required of us.
And then winter comes.

Yeah. We don't want to go out there and PLOW EVEN MORE when we've been plowing out and working our faces off for the rest of the year.

There's just one problem with this. While it is good to rest, we must also realize that when the time calls for it, it is good to work.

And according to Proverbs, it is only the sluggard who "will not plow for reason of by cold." And doing this also costs the sluggard something beyond just getting work done. "Therefore shall he beg at harvest." If we don't plow now, when it's hard, when it stings us in the wind, then we will pay for it later. This is what this verse said to me.

Beyond this, in the other verse I mentioned, it says to "work heartily as for the Lord and not for men."

The reason why we must plow now, in the cold, is not because we try to further ourselves, or so we can work less later. It is to provide for us in the future, and it is because it was to this end that God has created us to function.

To work. To work heartily. In the cold.

And most importantly, for Him.

I know not all who may read, but I write this to honor Christ. And that is all that matters.

Even at Maine West, God Has Control

Daniel 4:35

...But He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and no one can ward off His hand...

Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.


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I wanted to write a short post about all of the cuts that are happening, which I'm pretty sure all of you know about (if you are from Maine West). I know that a lot of us, like me, are upset about at least one of the potential cuts, whether it's a teacher or a club/sport. The reason I wrote Daniel 4:35 is because it says that God's will will always be done. It really shows His sovereignty and power over all; and I think that it can also be comforting, like in this case, that He is always in control. Even if what we want doesn't get done, we can know that everything is going as He wants (and because He is holy and righteous, we should rejoice in that). No board member or anyone else involved can change that (or, ward off His hand).

Romans 8:28 was actually the first verse that came to my mind when I started thinking about my post. What's really great about it is that no matter what happens, God will turn all things for the good of those who love Him. The cuts might not be what we want or expect, and it might not even be the best for us academically, but we can know that God will work this out for our spiritual good, even if we don't understand why or how. And again, no one can change that.

I still encourage all of you to go to the meeting at Maine East on Wednesday (and I'd go too, except I help with Awana Sparks that night), but if things don't go the way we want it or the way we think it really should be, I just want to remind you (and myself) that we can trust that God is in control and will work it for our good, no matter what happens.

Rule or Die

Proverbs 16:32 "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city." Proverbs 25:28 "He that has no rule over his own spirit, Is like a city that is broken down, And without walls."

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I have not posted in a really, good long while. This is mostly due to neglect. I am a busy person, but every person is a busy person so there is no excuse in that sentiment. Nevertheless, I have been thinking about things for a while, reading a chapter of proverbs in the morning, and then reading the same chapter of proverbs before bed (when that hour comes). But one verse that has struck out to me has been these two.

What does it mean to truly have "rule" over one spirit? According to proverbs, a person who has this is "better than he who takes a city", and a person who does not "is like a city broken down, and without walls."

For a Christian, to have "rule over one's spirit" means to have your life be in submission to Christ. Before Christ, we were our own, blinded in our sinful ways. Now, we have Jesus, and He is the King of the castle.

So if we are Christians, and He is the ruler of our spirits, does that mean that every Christian will always have rule over their own spirit? No.

I used to ask how a Christian man could struggle with Pornography. That's because I was one of those, and I couldn't understand it. My life was miserable, and I didn't know what was going on. People said it was "common" and "normal" for people of my age to struggle with such a thing. But I knew--garbage. Those words are meaningless in Christ's kingdom! Against a Holy, Righteous God! Why do people who know Christ become unstable or have trouble fighting things like Pornography, drugs, alcohol, or bad video games, distasteful music, gossiping, slander, hate, jealously, covetousness--ANYTHING, fill in the blank? It is for this reason that this is even possible:

They do not have rule over their own spirit. Their "old man", their "old nature" is what is the problem, as is every Christian's problem. Basically, they are the problem. But it is the part that does not love Christ.

For at conversion, God creates in us a "new heart" and makes us a "new creation", the Bible says. When that person, the person that Christ created us to be, is in control, as Christians we are stable and have rule over our own selves, because Christ is our master. This is where all of us as Christians should be.

However, that is not always the case. Unbelievers have no problem sinning because their is only one master of their lives, and it is them. They are in control, and because of this, they unanimously have no problem with living sinful lives.

However as Christians this presents a problem, as man can not serve two masters. Whether it be God, money, lust, excitement, adventure, praise, man can only have one King of the castle at one time. If a Christian gets caught in an old sin, or even a new one, this presents a state of turmoil in his life.

The "castle" or "city"---basically his soul----is under siege. Christ is King, but it is a battle ground in the village. That is why Proverbs says that those with no rule over their own spirits "are like a city broken down, and without walls." Because when sin is trying to take over a believer's life, and the believer doesn't stop it, then it will. It waltz right on through and rip, tear, and pillage every single thing in a person's life that they had ever built, dreamed about, or hoped of nurturing. Sin will come to destroy you. That is what these verses say.

Paul talks in the new testament of a double-minded man as being "unstable in all his ways." Why is he unstable? Because he is at war! No town or city or even nation is stable or at peace when it is at war. The objective is to destroy the enemy, to shut them out and regain control. And this is precisely what these verses are getting at.

I don't know what these verses say to others, but to me it has said this thing:

"You will be victorious or die."

That is what dawned on me. A lot addicts of sin or substances are never freed from it because they do not realize this one thing: You can not beat an addiction step by step. There is no 10 Step plan that will help them, there are not a million Nicotine Patches in the world that can cut their habit. Either you have Total and Utter Victory, regaining your Rule over your spirit, or you don't--and then you die, because it kills you. It was on this realization that God gave me the ability and the victory to overcome my sin.

I used to be afraid of admitting such a sin. What would people think? But now that it is dead, now that Christ's sword is caught within its chest, being dead it no longer seems scary to me anymore.

Because Christ is stronger than sin. Maybe you aren't. Maybe you couldn't beat it in a game of checkers but Christ is always victorious. He never lost. Not once. In anything.

Thus you need only raise the sword, and Christ's arm shall be your victory. Complete victory, or utter defeat. It is the fight of your life, and it will be hard. But you must be determined and choose your victory, make it a decision, a final decision. If a Christian trusts in Christ and faces their sin with that choice, "I will not lose". If they choose victory, as Christ offers it, then they shall never be defeated.

I hope most of you won't be traumatized reading this. I hope this may help some people. We are all sinners; but the Christians have Christ as master.

I know not who shall read, but I know I have written to honor Christ, and that is all that matters.

Bless the Lord!

Okay, you may be thinking after these few months of no posts (by the way, this was actually posted on New Year's Eve, the date just got messed up) that this one will at least have something to do with Christmas or New Year's, but it's not. The thought did cross my mind to write something about it, but because there was so much that I could write and I didn't have the time I wanted, I decided that you could read the Christmas story for yourself if you haven't already this year. As for this post, I was meaning to do it for Thanksgiving, but things got a little busy. But it's been on my mind for a while, especially since I memorized the chapter, and I think it's a pretty good psalm; so here it is.

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Psalm 103:1-22

[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me,
bless His holy name.
[2] Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
[3] Who pardons all you iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
[4] Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness
and compassion;
[5] Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

[6] The LORD performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
[7] He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
[8] The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
[9] He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
[10] He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
[11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
[12] As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
[13] Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
[14] For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

[15] As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
[16] When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
[17] But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from
everlasting to everlasting on those who fear HIm,
And His righteousness to children's children,
[18] To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.

[19] The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
[20] Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of HIs word!
[21] Bless the LORD, all you HIs hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
[22] Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of HIs dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!


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First, you can probably tell that the focus of this Psalm is "Bless the Lord." The first blessing of God that David mentions is, "who pardons all your iniquities." Sometimes when I go through the chapter I have to actually stop and think about it: it's just so amazing that God would do it. The other things that God does for our souls are just as amazing, and you can see that He really is our Healer and Provider and He loves us enough to give all those good things to our souls. There is no wonder that our souls should bless the Lord because of His blessings and goodness to us, even when we fall into the pit.

The second part of Psalm 103 is pretty amazing, too. God has shown us His character; that He is "compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness." This part kind of makes me laugh when I hear that God was mean and unforgiving in the Old Testament--it's pretty much the opposite. David also gives the ultimate example of God showing this: His lovingkindness and forgiveness of sins. He hasn't punished us in the way we deserve; but rather, He has removed our sins from us, "As far as the east is from the west." Now that is awesome. I really find a lot of comfort in this Psalm, especially in the last verses here about His fatherly compassion and His knowledge that we are but dust. Although it is definitely not an excuse to sin, it is a comfort to know that He understands who we are and that He does give us compassion--that we don't deserve. God's grace to us is amazing.

This next part contrasts the lives of people and God's love. While people are here pretty much here today and gone tomorrow, God's love and righteousness lasts forever. It's just so cool how He is always going to be the good God He is, forever.

Verse 19 is really interesting, at least to me. By saying that "His sovereignty rules over all," it shows that He's not some wimp who decided He would be nice to us. He is the all-powerful God, and no one can get out from under His rule. It shows that He is awesome, which makes His forgiveness so much more amazing. The rest of the Psalm calls all to bless the Lord, from the greatest angel in heaven to the tiniest bug on earth; and of course, David's own soul.

I guess the reason that I wrote this other than to share a Psalm that I thought was really cool, is that I think that a lot of times we forget to bless the Lord. Even David had to remind His soul to do it. In the good times and the bad, a lot of us, including myself, tend to complain instead of praising God for who He is. He always loves us and blesses us, even in the worst circumstances. And if, say, you were sick, you can always remember that although your body may not be healed, God does heal the diseases of your soul, which is the most important part of you. There are so many reasons for us to praise the Lord, in His power, His love and forgiveness, His salvation, His blessings, and His works; and He is always who He is, no matter what you are going through. So as this year ends, and in all of the years to come, don't forget to bless the Lord.

Blog Update: A New Resource

We have a new Resource that I'd like to make available to you all. For now it will simply be called, "Other Blogs". Basically, it is a way for you guys to get more than just from what you get here.

One blog in particular that I want you to see is "Stories From the Loft."

It is something being done by a good friend of mine, and I think that you all would enjoy it.

http://storiesfromtheloft.blogspot.com/

Honorable Shame: Suffering Fearlessly for the Name

Acts 5:12-42 (KJV) "[12] And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. [13] And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. [14] And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) [15] Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
[16] There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. [17] Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, [18] And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. [19] But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, [20] 'Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.' [21] And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. [22] But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, [23] Saying, 'The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.' [24] Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. [25] Then came one and told them, saying, 'Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.' [26] Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. [27] And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, [28] Saying, 'Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.' [29] Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, 'We ought to obey God rather than men. [30] The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. [31] Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. [32] And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.' [33] When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. [34] Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; [35] And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. [36] For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. [37] After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. [38] And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: [39] But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. [40] And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
[41] And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
[42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

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It seems that a lot of us Christians today seem a little wary about this whole suffering thing. We tense up, and as Americans we often attempt to avoid suffering as much as possible. But it wasn't that way with the early church. In fact, they were honored. We don't like pain, we don't like shame, but the Apostles were honored that they were even considered for the participation of it.

In verses 12-16 we see that the ministry of the Apostles is growing, and it seems as if nothing is holding them back.

"[14] And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both men and women."

"Multitudes," it says. So in this part they've been pretty successful. Kind of like us, if we start doing something for God, and then He blesses it; maybe a little bit, or maybe even a lot.

But then in the next section, the trial comes forth. Something big happens that throws the entirety of everything out of whack.

"[17] Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, [18] And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."

So they're out there preaching and healing their hearts out, serving God with a passion, and then the higher ups come and throw them in jail! There have been a lot of times in my life where I felt led by the spirit to do something, but because of certain people around me, I was afraid to do it.
I'm sure others have had the same experience.

What I do know is that if I went ahead and ran with it, even in spite of that fear, it always turned out better for me in the end, than if I had given in and given up. And that's what happens here.

Now, God gets them out of prison and sends them back to continue their work, basically to do it again. And when they meet up with the higher ups, they do not get a welcome response:

"[27] And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, [28] saying, 'Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in His name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.' "

So that's their accusation. I love the apostles' response:

"[29] Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, 'We ought to obey God rather than men."

I love that. "We ought to obey God rather than men." And we really should. He demands it. And, Proverbs says "the fear of man is a snare."

So when the apostles were done speaking, the authorities were going to kill them, but Gamaliel, a Pharisee, said that if they weren't from God, that it would be God who put them down; but if they were from God then did not dare go against them.

So, instead of killing them, they just beat them a few times, and then they let them go.

"[40] And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go."

But even all this is not what gives me kicks about this passage. It is the next two verses that hit the nail on the head.

"[41] And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. [42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

That is just beautiful. There is no other way to put it. Before I saw this passage, I don't ever think I even thought about the concept that it might be honorable for me to suffer shame. It's almost as if they were admitted into a prestigious society, or given exclusive awards. But it was in the form of shame.

Again, I have no idea who or when people will read this. But I pray that those who do would be blessed by this example, and be encouraged by it to share their faith--to teach and preach Jesus Christ without ceasing. That is my hope, and I hope some of you are blown away by it. I was :)

Radical Labor: As for the Lord

Collosians 3:23-24

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will recieve the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

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This is a very popularly quoted scripture, and for good reason. It's giving us instruction about how to live our lives as we work. It says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men"(emphasis added). So anything that we do, whatever we do, whoever we do it for--it is not for those people that we work. Anything from getting out of bed to brushing our teeth to walking the dog to getting a grade to even changing the world. We work heartily, as for the Lord. This is not simply some spiritually-charged pep talk. This is an aspect of the way to live out life.

And why do we do this? What do we have to look forward to? Because of the fact that we know "that from the Lord you will recieve the inheritance as your reward."(emphasis added). So we know that we are to work heartily, as for Christ and NOT for men, and we know that we will receive the inheritence from Jesus Christ himself. But more than this, we know from the last line, that we actually ARE serving Jesus Christ, and should be serving Him, regardless of the task that we face. "You are serving the Lord Christ." I might not want to do something for myself, or for my parents, or for my teachers; but if I'm doing something for my Savior, the King and Ruler of the universe--then, it is WAY more important on my agenda. Maybe it is that way for you too.

I know that this is the time of the year when we just get so tired, that we start ceasing to care anymore. It gets like that, when you are sick of seeing the same classes, and the same grades, and the same everything throughout the year. We don't think it matters anymore; so little time left to go, and yet, so much to be done with. School is not over. Not yet. But that's ok. We are serving Christ. So don't be discouraged. Work heartily, as for Lord. I pray that many would be blessed by this word; not by my words, but Christ's.