Reliance | Branch 36

I read an article a couple of weeks ago that called out some well-known preachers as false prophets. One of which happened to play a large role in cultivating my own faith. While I couldn't dispute some of the points that were noted, I believe that the author’s approach was also out of line. The sheer tone of the article made me grieve as it seemed to carry one of hopelessness. I didn’t fully support either side of what was presented. I was taken aback and stutter struck. 

It made me question so many things. What I was taught as a child. What we teach now at church. What beliefs others might share. Not just at church, but in family, friends, and in authors of books that line my shelves. Most importantly, the article made me question my reliance on others to provide a version of the word; instead of my going straight to the source. How well do any of us know how well another knows the word of God?

Is our only message about God what we hear from our Pastor on Sunday, or is it third hand news from a coworker that goes instead? How much of what we know is truly what we know or only what we’ve been told? At what point do we think that we’d recognize a misinterpretation? Who exactly are we following?

What about me…?  Am I at times a false prophet? The whole purpose of this blog was a commitment to develop my own relationship with God.  To cause me to commit to that quiet time alone with him for study, thought and reflection. I am human though, just like our preachers, our parents, our friends, our praise teams, etc. None of us are too strong or too smart to be misguided.

This type of situation is a pivotal moment for many in their own faith. Many would feel that same frustration and just throw in the towel. “I don’t know what to believe.” “I can’t trust anyone.” While, I may not have all of the facts straight, I have experienced enough evidence in my life to know that God is real and his answers are worth seeking out. My questions in this situation were geared more toward direction and not him.

There is a piece of commentary in my bible that I think of a lot when it comes to doubt.  It’s based on verses John 20:25-28. Thomas (one of the disciples) doubted Jesus’s return. He said “unless I see nail marks and unless I can put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

The commentary says “Some people need to doubt before they believe. If doubt leads to questions, questions lead to answers, and the answers are accepted, then doubt has done good work. It is when doubt becomes a lifestyle that doubt harms faith. When you doubt, don’t stop there. Let your doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for the answer.”

In verse 27 Jesus and Thomas were standing face to face. Jesus told Thomas to reach out and touch his hands and to place his fingers into Jesus’s side. Verse 28 ends with Thomas proclaiming “My Lord and My God!” because he was able to confirm it for himself.

Whether it is doubt, confusion or simple curiosity, often the only answer that will satisfy is the one that we get for ourselves. Firsthand information or even identification is so much more powerful than what we have heard others testify to. Thomas would never have been satisfied without touching Jesus for himself.

There are many, many different methods and approaches for sharing the word of God. Being exposed to a variety of styles and interpretations will help us maintain balance, so that we aren't hung on one method alone. Even methods that we don’t necessarily like or agree with can still hold a valuable purpose. -Particularly, when they activate thoughts and fire motivation for each of us to start digging into the word.

The result may or may not be different than what we set out to find but everything is a teachable moment. -Especially when we take it back to the ultimate teacher. If you find yourself doubting something, ask God what he would like to show you.  Then don’t stop digging and praying and listening until you find peace (the answer that satisfies). For me, this moment has spawned a lot of possible changes in how I study the word, maybe even in how I “blog” and perhaps even more changes in other areas.

I always thought that there was a verse that said “even his correction is good.”  I found several others verses instead that simply state that we are wise if we love his word and his discipline. Either way, it’s very timely. Why, just in my last post, I said something about how I might not like when he first brings something to light but if I just hang on and ask him to show me something with it, I have always wound up thankful for it in the end. 

With his correction, I know he’s there. If another corrects me and I don’t like it, I can take it to him and he will tell me what I need to know. I have learned so many valuable things about myself in that light.

Earlier this year I said that I needed to be somewhere different with my faith by the end of 2013. As the months have unfolded, I have consistently felt like he was realigning me. The deeper I go, the more I feel his hand working in my life.  This moment, revealed another root for him to realign. It hurt when he pulled it up but I know that where he’s redirected me is such a better place.

And because I love a good testimony, let me also add that the Sunday before I read that article, I read the verse “CAUSE me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning; For in thee do I trust: CAUSE me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee.” (Psalm 143:8 ASV). 

Tears welled up in my eyes and I prayed it in our Sunday School class. The following morning, I read that article.  Does he not answer our prayers?  Has he not caused me to look yet another layer deeper at the person that he has called me to be and what he wants me to know about him?

The day after that article as I rode to work, I passed a church sign that read “Prayer does not change God’s mind, it changes you.” Isn’t that the truth?!  I asked for a cause and it brought me to my knees. I will be the one making the changes because of it. For it is Jesus Christ that is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).



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The word "branch" was used in the title because it relates to one of the tree characteristics from an earlier post.

Reflecting | Branch 23

The last few months have sort of been a slow motion of God and I doing comparisons. Like reconciling the checkbook. Here is my list of my debits and credits. How do they line up with his word. Sometimes it feels like a line item by line item process. Unlike the dreaded checkbook, I love this kind of reconcile. Maybe not when he highlights an out of balance item for the first time; but after the thought has had time to settle...

I also love that when God is dealing with us about something, he continues with it until we get it. That is, as long as we continue with him. He plants these little seeds of correction that I might not understand at first but then when I am out of balance, he 'highlights' it again in real time. I can then see exactly where or what he's showing me.

I know that he is trying to teach me 'stillness'. Stillness can be applied in every area of our lives but for now that lens is focused on my mouth. Here are some of my examples.

1. How passive aggressive, sarcasm and even good natured humor can tear another down. We never know how the devil is working in someone's life and so if our words don't build another up, why say them at all?

2. I often over explain when it's unnecessary and even describe myself or my personal situation(s) with a negative tone. It doesn't represent how I feel about me or even who God created me to be. I think that it's a habit from an old place but it really doesn't fit me anymore. It's time to let it go!

3. Is my mouth so full of words that even though they are not all negative, the goodness is lost in the sheer quantity of what is being said?

All of the above and many other examples represent useless chatter. If it doesn't serve not only a purpose but the specific purpose of building up, is it in fact useless, or even worse... destructive?

The misuse of words doesn't sound like such a big deal but if I have to spend more time correcting what I just said, it can get rather exhausting.  Wearing myself out, isn't exactly the kind of 'stillness' God has in mind. Not only that but our mouth is often the first thing that people notice about us and the only thing that they remember later.

The Bible is full of verses about the power of the tongue and controlling the mouth but I am thinking of James 1:24 (NLT) instead. "But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like." 

I love that. "Face in a mirror". I didn't understand that verse when I first read it. But it just makes so much sense now. Doesn't the bible say that we are each made in his image? Aren't we all called to reflect a glimpse of God to all who see us, including ourselves? 

If that's the case, shouldn't we start in front of that mirror every day to 'fix' our eyes on our maker? To 'tweak' our thoughts 'just so' and 'blot' our lips to remove any excess? Do we truly see ourselves with the same purpose and vitality that we were made with and will we remember to display it when we walk away from the glass?

Later in the day when inadequacy begins to knock, will we return to that mirror to 'touch up' what has worn away. Reconciling our flesh against our father's truth. Restoring the fullness of hope and inviting his word to not only penetrate but to purify what we offer of ourselves.

The very next verse says "But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." (James 1:25 NLT)

Free of the burden of heavy habits and then something to fret over later. Free knowing that we encouraged another and that by doing so, we encourage ourselves. Free to know the peace that comes with excellency when we obtain it. Free to anyone who believes...

Sometimes stillness isn't about not doing anything but more about allowing ourselves time to pause and think about who we are. As we realign our heart, his image comes into view. Then our reflection follows suit.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

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Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:17, 20, 21 NASB)



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The word "branch" was used in the title because it relates to one of the tree characteristics from an earlier post.