Poiéma

 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Workmanship means "what has been made." The word, workmanship, which translates the ancient Greek word poiéma, is the idea that we are God's beautiful poem.  The Jerusalem bible translates workmanship as "work of art or masterpiece."

"Believers are God's workmanship because they have been created (only a work God can do) in Christ Jesus." Walvoord & Zuck

Our purpose?

To walk in good works.

"God has prepared a path of good works for believers which He will perform in and through them as they walk by faith. This does not mean doing a work for God; instead, it is God performing His work in and through Believers." Walvoord & Zuck

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13

Guzik writes, "God saves us not merely to save us from the wrath we rightly deserve but also to make something beautiful of us. We become God's Work of Art."

I love that.

Beautiful art results from a beautiful walk with our Creator, from The very One who made us. To think that even before time began, (God is not limited in time) God knew me. He created my structure and my looks; and then He gifted me with talents and abilities to fulfill His purpose for my life to glorify Him.

I don't always feel like a Work of Art.  Sometimes I feel like I'm a result of a Paint-By-Number Craft kit.  But thoughts like that don't come from my Creator, they come from my enemy who wants to defeat me in my thoughts, so it will cripple my walk in the Lord.

I think our walk would be more fruitful, if, before we even get out of our beds in the morning, we say to our Lord, "Thank you for this day and for loving me enough to use me for your glory. No matter what I face today in the ugliness of this sinful world, help me to remember I am your Work of Art."

I am valuable...

    I am treasured...

        I am your Work of Art and Masterpiece, because,

            You, Lord, Created me!

                But that's just me!

Roadblocks, or Detours?

 Webster defines roadblock as:

    a-a barricade often with traps or mines for holding up an enemy at a point on a road covered by fire

    b-a road barricade set up especially by law enforcement officers

    c-an obstruction in a road

    d-something that blocks progress or prevents an accomplishment of an objective.

Webster defines detour as:

    a-a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure (a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route

A friend recently said to me, "I just don't get it...I know things happen but often there seems to be roadblocks when I plan to do something."

I've been there; have you?

If you have, you are not alone, and you share the same frustrations as many great people of faith listed in the Bible.  I'm so thankful the Lord saw fit to give us so many examples of roadblocks and detours in the lives of the faithful.  It reminds me that there is no new thing under the sun and that most of us go through similar things in our lifetime.

The question that remains is this:

When a roadblock or detour prevents you from your will, are you going to give-up and murmur, or will you accept God's Will, and allow Him to work His purpose in your life in His timing?

Discernment is also required when you come face to face with a roadblock or a detour.

You must ask yourself:

    Is this roadblock/detour self-made?

    Is this roadblock/detour man-made?

    Is this roadblock/detour a snare of the devil to cause you to sin?

    Is this roadblock/detour caused by poor decisions in your life? Or,

    Is this roadblock/detour from God Who is redirecting you to the road you are meant to travel?

I asked Google about biblical roadblocks, and this is what it told me: "The bible is full of examples of roadblocks (unexpected, frustrating halts) and detours (unexpected changes in direction) used by God to guide, protect or prepare His people for a better purpose, often transforming a seemingly negative situation into a positive outcome."

The most common roadblock in Scripture is about the Apostle Paul and his missionary journey in Acts 16:6-10. Paul was specifically forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, but because of that 'roadblock' it led to the gospel spreading in Europe.  

When you think about the Israelites in Exodus 13, God didn't lead them directly into Canaan, but on a longer route that would be safer for them and that would allow them to avoid going to war with the Philistines.

When Moses killed the Egyptian, he experienced a 40-year roadblock in the desert, but it served as a training ground for leadership and hearing God's voice from the burning bush.

Even by the death of Ruth's husband, she went with her mother-in-law into a foreign land, and this detour led her to joining the lineage of David by her marriage to Boaz.

You see, God has a purpose and a plan for each and every one of us, and sometimes it takes roadblocks and detours to fulfill that purpose.

"Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:16

Before we were ever born, God knew all the days of our lives. He knows our birth and He knows our death. God has marvellously and meticulously made plans for each of our lives.  We have a personal God and we each have a personal purpose.

God loves each one of His children, and He only wants what's best for us.  

Sometimes our journey will require roadblocks and detours for His purpose and plans to be fulfilled.

Not all roadblocks and detours lead to dead ends.

Not all roadblocks and detours are permanent.

Sometimes they are placed in our path to redirect us back to God's Will.

Roadblocks can protect us from unseen dangers...

    Roadblocks allow us to wait on God's timing, and to prepare us for what lies ahead...

        and roadblocks allow us to trust God for a better, often unseen destination...

            But that's just me!

 

"Be thankful for closed doors, detours and roadblocks. They protect you from paths and places not meant for you." Unknown

Obscenity

"The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness."

Proverbs 10:32

"God's righteous men and women have a sense of discernment in what they say.  They are skilled in saying what is acceptable, so the wicked have a talent to speak what is crooked or perverse." Guzik

"The wicked man knows as well what is perverse, and that he speaketh forth. As the love of God is not in his heart, so the law of kindness is not on his lips." Clarke

I was driving to an appointment yesterday when I stopped at a red light.  When the light turned green, the truck in front of me remained stopped.  I patiently waited for a few seconds and realizing that the person inside the vehicle was texting, I lightly tapped on the horn.   I was answered by a hand sticking out of their open window with an obscene gesture.  Sigh

That seems to be the popular thing to do in our world today.  Not only the gesture but the actual obscenity in words and speech.  Seems like there is no refrain, manners or common courtesies when it comes to such profanity.  It's the word used all over the News, by the lips of rioters and even those who serve in Congress.  While watching the State of the Union Address on TV last night, even those who represent our Country wore buttons with the obscenity directed at our National Security Officers.

When I was a kid, that word was the Biggest Badest Word of them all.  To utter such a word was spoken at high risk.  Mouths were washed out with soap, back sides sore from an immediate paddling, and being sent to our rooms with no hope of early release.

But not today.  Obscenity is spoken with no thought of its vulgarity. Not only by men, but by women.

It's expected from those who do not know our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but by the mere fact of mention in God's Word, obscenity is addressed to Believers.  Obscenity is clearly reproved and admonished in Scripture.  To think that Obscenity had to even be addressed as a problem among Believers is sad, and yet necessary.

Believer, if you have a problem with obscenity, it's time to examine your heart, because it begins with a heart issue.  Jesus taught that speech reflects the heart; evil, corrupt, obscene words indicate an inner issue.  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Words of Jesus, Luke 6:45

Jesus also warns that we will be held accountable for every word we speak and give an account for every careless word spoken. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37

What should our words be?  Edifying.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6

"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Psalm 34:13

How can keep from speaking words that should not be uttered? By asking God to set a watch over our mouths and lips.

"Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3

Christian, our words should not match those spoken of the world...

    Our words should be spoken in love and with compassion...

        So that the world can know Who our Father is and Who we live for...Christ.

            But that's just me!

"Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten."

Carl Sandburg

Robbed, or Richly Rewarded?

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Philippians 3:7-8

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching for unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

In context, Chapter three of Philippians is all about leaving behind the Law and pressing toward Jesus Christ. "Paul considered as loss, not only the things already listed in verses 5 and 6, but everything.  In exchange for the confidence in the flesh, Paul gained the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ personally as his Lord and Saviour.   His former 'gains' were all 'rubbish' so that he might gain Christ. Nothing else mattered to him anymore." Walvoord & Zuck

In application, the Lord showed me something the other day in these verses.  He called out 'my perspective' on my life and compared it to 'His purpose.'  Suddenly my life looked completely different.  In all transparency, I have a tendency to look back over my life and find the "I wish" instead of "His Will."

When I reflect on my childhood, which by no means was perfect, I do look back on it fondly.  I grew up with my cousins and grandparents constantly.  My cousins were more like my siblings.  At times, we lived only a few houses away from each other and of course, every holiday and special event was always spent together.  I wanted the same for my children, but being married to a man in the Military, special events and holidays were often spent alone or on rare occasions spent with friends.  Birthdays, graduations, weddings, the birth of children, and even funerals were replaced with cards and photographs.  Cousins seemed more like strangers, and to be honest, I have often felt robbed because it seemed like my life was not spent as I had imagined.

But then the Lord showed me what Paul had lost; and compared to what he had gained, the loss was no longer important to him.  Instead, he put his past behind him.  He forgot about it and kept his focus on Jesus Christ and what all he had gained!

Looking back on my life, I realize that I may not have been where I wanted to be, but I have been exactly where God wanted me to be.

By being where God wanted me to be, I learned of my need of Salvation and my need for a Saviour.

From now on, should I ever look back, I won't look back in regret, I will look back with gratefulness.

I haven't been robbed of anything...

    I've been richly rewarded with everything...

        In Jesus Christ...!

            But that's just me!

Substitutes and Imitations

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:13-14

I've been thinking a lot about substitutions and imitations for over a week now.  It all started when I made the mistake to whip up mashed potatoes before I realized I had no milk in the refrigerator.  I quickly Googled substitutes for milk, and then diligently searched for an item that I could use that was stashed in the back of the fridge. Interestingly, there are a lot of substitutes for milk.  In fact, there are a lot of substitutions that can be used for many things when it comes to recipes.

Recently I met friends for breakfast at Perkins.  I smiled when one of them asked the waitress, "Can I substitute toast for an English Muffin?"  The answer, "Yes!"

In Sports substitutions are made for injured athletes.  There are substitute teachers, costume jewelry, and false religions.  If we really take a good look around there are a lot of substitutes, imitations and (beware) just plain fakes.

But there is one thing that cannot be substituted:  The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8-9

And what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3,4

Friend, be sure you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Substitutions are great for recipes...

    but there is no substitution for Jesus Christ...

        But that's just me!

Religion or Relationship?

"And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more?" Judges 18:24a

There is a sad account for us to read in Chapter 17 and 18 in the Book of Judges.  It begins with a man by the name of Micah who steals silver from his mother.  Not knowing that it was her son who had stolen her silver, the mother then curses the one who has stolen her silver. When Micah hears of the curse by his mother, and so that he would not fall under her curse, he confesses to his mother that he was the one who had taken it and restores it back to her.  Upon the return of her silver, she gives Micah a portion of that to make a graven image and a molten image, to set up in their house so that they could worship them.  And because in these days, there was no king in Israel, and every man did that which was right in their own eyes, Micah did as his mother asked. He even went above what his mother asked of him, and he made an ephod and a teraphim and consecrated his sons to become his priest.

Along comes a Levite.  Micah asks the man where he came from and where is he going, and when Micah learns that he was just looking for a place to sojourn, Micah invites this Levite into his home to be his priest. Micah gives this man a suit of apparel, provisions and a salary.  Once Micah sets up idols to worship, and consecrates a Levite to be his priest, he says to himself, "Now I know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest." Judges 17:13

That my friend, is how false religions and pagan practices begin.  Micah had no business setting up idols to worship, and he had no business consecrating a priest.  

We see the same thing in our world today:  Man made religion.

But religion is temporary and religion will leave you empty.

Micah's story continues in Judges 18.

The children of Dan go out and search the land and as they do so, they lodge in the house of Micah.  They ask the Levite if God is going to prosper the way they are going, and the priest, (who took no counsel of God) told the children of Dan what they wanted to hear.  (False religion will also tell you what you want to hear) Not only did they like what they heard from this Levite, but they liked what they saw in Micah's house, and when they left, they offered a higher position and a higher wage to this Levite, and they took Micah's carved image, the molten image, the ephod and teraphim.

When Micah sees what they have done, he and his neighbors run out to meet the children of Dan, and that is where we hear such tragic words from the mouth of Micah: "...and what have I more?"

You see, Micah did not have a Relationship with God, he erected a Religion.  Without his images and his earthly priest, he had nothing.

Religion is nothing more than a man-made imitation of what seems right.  God created us to worship, and he created us to worship Him. 

Man wants to fill that void with everything and anything but God.

What seems right in the eyes of man?  Works.

But a Relationship with Christ is GRACE. Ephesians 2:8-10

Religion is duty, repetitious prayers, beads, Creeds.

A Relationship with Christ is GRACE.

Religion is temporary.

A Relationship with Christ is eternal.

Micah was left with nothing.

In Christ we have everything!

Practiced Religion...

    or a Personal Relationship with Christ...

        The choice is yours...

            But that's just me!

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Words of Jesus.  Matthew 6:19-21

If I Were to Ask You...

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

1 John 5:4-5

My cousin texted me a few days ago and told me that she had just watched an excellent movie and recommended that I watch it as well.

So, I did and she was right.  I was not disappointed.  The movie is called Overcomer and was filmed in 2019. It's a movie about a basketball coach whose team faces an uncertain future when their town's largest manufacturing plant shuts down.  People move away, and the coach is asked to coach cross-country.  A sport he doesn't even consider a sport and doesn't even like.  His team? One lone girl.   What happens next changes the lives of all involved.

In this movie, her coach asks her, "If I were to ask you who you are, what is the first thought that enters your mind."

This young girl reflects on her life and hesitates to answer, and yet later she realizes that she feels unwanted and unloved.

As the movie moves forward, this young girl gets saved.  Her teacher tells her to go home and read the first two chapters in Ephesians and asks her to write down everything the bible teaches her about Who She Is in Christ.

This is her list-

-I am blessed-

-I am chosen-

-I am adopted-

-I am accepted-

-I am redeemed-

-I am forgiven-

-I am an inheritor-

-I am a gift-

-I am sealed-

-I am empowered-

-I am loved-

-I am saved-

-I am created-

...and Jesus died for me, and I am a child of God!

In Christ, we are no longer defined by our past, by our wealth or poverty, by our career, or even by what others have said we are.

No, we are now defined In Christ!

If I were to ask you...

    Who you are...

        What comes to mind...?

            But that's just me!