One Thing I Forgot
Yes. One more recommendation.
As I've been simplifying and basking in Truth, one little book given to me by a friend and written by
a man who died nearly seventy years ago has helped me soooooooooooo much. It's a book of daily
Truths, and that's good, because I can only absorb a little at a time—it's that eye-opening and Light-
casting. Yes, it's written in a bit of the KJV-type of English, but it still makes sense. And as I pick
that little book up every day and savor the day's quota of Truth, I always come away thinking,
"Yes. This is exactly how it's supposed to be. This is Truth." And my soul concurs by the way it
hums with delight as I process what I've read.
Yeah, you know the book. I've talked about it many times before. But if you haven't checked it out
yet and you're serious about knowing Jesus and the Truth, please consider it. After reading it, you
won't come away feeling coddled or placated like you do with some devotionals. You'll come
away challenged, refreshed, and invigorated. And maybe even a bit convicted? Truth does that. It
always demands for us to choose. Accept? Or deny? Follow hard after it? Or pooh-pooh it away?
What's the book? Of course, it's My Utmost for His Highest, a compilation of snippets from the
teachings of Oswald Chambers.
Here's the main concept (Truth) in the entire book he so clearly challenges us to receive: Our
Christian walk is not about imitating Jesus, or trying to be more like Him, more holy and good.
Jesus Christ is all about Redemption—changing us completely into what He wants us to be. It's not
about us keeping our rights to ourselves and vowing to be good (or more Christ-like). It's all about
us giving up our rights to ourselves—giving ourselves completely to God, and Jesus then changes
us by pouring Himself into us. We become more like Him because He literally lives in us.
This is salvation, redemption, and transformation as it should be. And it can only happen when we
get out of the way.
Truth is tough to grasp sometimes. It demands so much of us. Or, in a way, so little. But it's still
Truth. And until we come face to face with it, we'll just continue on in something less. We'll never
experience all that God has for us.
So those are my four recommendations. Gayle, Matthew, Margaret, and Oswald. Teachings about
the nature of who Jesus is, a visual portrayal of that nature in action, music that reaches to the
depths of all He is, and Truth laid bare. All of it taking us back to the Word of God, helping us
interpret and visualize it as we have never understood it or seen it before.
And so. That's it. I'm totally grateful for all the wonderful teachers, pastors, missionaries, and
musicians who are faithfully proclaiming God's Truth. But I'll stick with my very short list. And
with the One who physically lives inside me, teaching and guiding me to Truth. He always speaks
of Jesus. Never seeks glory or honor for Himself. Yep, He's the Holy Spirit. And I wouldn't even
have an inkling of what Truth is apart from Him.
The Holy Spirit is the very essence of Jesus Christ. He's first on my list. Hope He's first on yours
too. : )
VcD,
donna
Yes. One more recommendation.
As I've been simplifying and basking in Truth, one little book given to me by a friend and written by
a man who died nearly seventy years ago has helped me soooooooooooo much. It's a book of daily
Truths, and that's good, because I can only absorb a little at a time—it's that eye-opening and Light-
casting. Yes, it's written in a bit of the KJV-type of English, but it still makes sense. And as I pick
that little book up every day and savor the day's quota of Truth, I always come away thinking,
"Yes. This is exactly how it's supposed to be. This is Truth." And my soul concurs by the way it
hums with delight as I process what I've read.
Yeah, you know the book. I've talked about it many times before. But if you haven't checked it out
yet and you're serious about knowing Jesus and the Truth, please consider it. After reading it, you
won't come away feeling coddled or placated like you do with some devotionals. You'll come
away challenged, refreshed, and invigorated. And maybe even a bit convicted? Truth does that. It
always demands for us to choose. Accept? Or deny? Follow hard after it? Or pooh-pooh it away?
What's the book? Of course, it's My Utmost for His Highest, a compilation of snippets from the
teachings of Oswald Chambers.
Here's the main concept (Truth) in the entire book he so clearly challenges us to receive: Our
Christian walk is not about imitating Jesus, or trying to be more like Him, more holy and good.
Jesus Christ is all about Redemption—changing us completely into what He wants us to be. It's not
about us keeping our rights to ourselves and vowing to be good (or more Christ-like). It's all about
us giving up our rights to ourselves—giving ourselves completely to God, and Jesus then changes
us by pouring Himself into us. We become more like Him because He literally lives in us.
This is salvation, redemption, and transformation as it should be. And it can only happen when we
get out of the way.
Truth is tough to grasp sometimes. It demands so much of us. Or, in a way, so little. But it's still
Truth. And until we come face to face with it, we'll just continue on in something less. We'll never
experience all that God has for us.
So those are my four recommendations. Gayle, Matthew, Margaret, and Oswald. Teachings about
the nature of who Jesus is, a visual portrayal of that nature in action, music that reaches to the
depths of all He is, and Truth laid bare. All of it taking us back to the Word of God, helping us
interpret and visualize it as we have never understood it or seen it before.
And so. That's it. I'm totally grateful for all the wonderful teachers, pastors, missionaries, and
musicians who are faithfully proclaiming God's Truth. But I'll stick with my very short list. And
with the One who physically lives inside me, teaching and guiding me to Truth. He always speaks
of Jesus. Never seeks glory or honor for Himself. Yep, He's the Holy Spirit. And I wouldn't even
have an inkling of what Truth is apart from Him.
The Holy Spirit is the very essence of Jesus Christ. He's first on my list. Hope He's first on yours
too. : )
VcD,
donna
He's watching the man who had leprosy, the frowned-upon man
who would cause people to run in the other direction when he
came by, the man no one would ever dare touch. He's watching
that man react to the fact that now he is healed. Touched by the
Teacher. Healed in an instant.
The man said to Him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make
me clean."
Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am
willing," He said. "Be clean!"
who would cause people to run in the other direction when he
came by, the man no one would ever dare touch. He's watching
that man react to the fact that now he is healed. Touched by the
Teacher. Healed in an instant.
The man said to Him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make
me clean."
Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am
willing," He said. "Be clean!"
about Jesus . . . page two
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| Mark 7:20-23 And Jesus said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." |
| Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. |
| Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. |
| Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
| 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all. |
| Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. |
| Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. |
| Hebrews 9:12, 15 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all. And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death. |
Who He Was
Yes, He still IS. That's the most beautiful thing about Jesus. HE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!
But let's talk past tense here. Let's take some time to fully examine who He was when He walked
on this earth. No, not as the Almighty Creator who spoke this earth into existence. But as the tiny
baby who arrived helpless and hungry in that barn in Bethlehem. As that young teenager who
freaked out His mom and dad by not joining them on the return trip home from Jerusalem after the
big feast. Can you imagine just how freaked out Mary and Joseph were when they couldn't find
their son after three days?
I love to imagine Jesus as He helped His father in the shop. Working the wood. Do you ever think
He got a splinter? Pounded His thumb with the hammer? Oh, I bet He did.
I'm sure sweat poured down His face, leaving tracks on His dirty and dusty cheeks as He played
games with His friends. Do you think He had lots of friends? You know? I think He did. Even
though His very existence carried the frowned-upon mystique of "You're illegitimate, so therefore
you're no good," I think He was a happy, friendly boy. I think His friends were also the ones who
often heard, "You're no good." And I think they all often groaned aloud when their mothers called
out to them, "Are your chores done? Come on in now. It's time for dinner. Don't make me say it
again!"
And later. When He hand-picked the twelve men He knew would later go into all the world and
spread the good news about Him, do you ever think He looked up to heaven and whispered to His
Father, "Are You sure about this? I mean, Peter? He's such a hothead. And the rest of them just
aren't getting it."
Do you ever think He looked up to heaven, spread wide His arms, and pleaded to His Father, "Can
You tell Me again . . . just why am I here?"
You know? No. I don't think He ever pleaded like that. He knew exactly why He had been sent to
this earth. And it wasn't about anything anyone would normally assume about the Son of God
coming to earth. Jesus was sent to live and die. In the meantime, just how He lived revealed His
nature. Who He was reveals to us even now exactly who God the Father is. The same nature that
made Jesus who He was is the same nature that makes God who He is. They are One in the same.
This is what Jesus prayed for in John 17. Five times He repeated Himself in this prayer. ". . . that
they may be one as We are one." Have you read this prayer lately? He's not just praying for His
disciples.
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that
they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the
world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that
they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be perfect in one, and
that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John
17:20-23
One with Yahshua, one with Yahweh. All held together by the Spirit of God—the very essence of
Yahshua Himself. Our very natures being transformed into His. This is what the world will see in
us . . . this is how the world will know we are His. And this is what will draw the world to Him.
For He is, indeed, irresistible.
Vaya con Yahshua,
donna
Yes, He still IS. That's the most beautiful thing about Jesus. HE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!
But let's talk past tense here. Let's take some time to fully examine who He was when He walked
on this earth. No, not as the Almighty Creator who spoke this earth into existence. But as the tiny
baby who arrived helpless and hungry in that barn in Bethlehem. As that young teenager who
freaked out His mom and dad by not joining them on the return trip home from Jerusalem after the
big feast. Can you imagine just how freaked out Mary and Joseph were when they couldn't find
their son after three days?
I love to imagine Jesus as He helped His father in the shop. Working the wood. Do you ever think
He got a splinter? Pounded His thumb with the hammer? Oh, I bet He did.
I'm sure sweat poured down His face, leaving tracks on His dirty and dusty cheeks as He played
games with His friends. Do you think He had lots of friends? You know? I think He did. Even
though His very existence carried the frowned-upon mystique of "You're illegitimate, so therefore
you're no good," I think He was a happy, friendly boy. I think His friends were also the ones who
often heard, "You're no good." And I think they all often groaned aloud when their mothers called
out to them, "Are your chores done? Come on in now. It's time for dinner. Don't make me say it
again!"
And later. When He hand-picked the twelve men He knew would later go into all the world and
spread the good news about Him, do you ever think He looked up to heaven and whispered to His
Father, "Are You sure about this? I mean, Peter? He's such a hothead. And the rest of them just
aren't getting it."
Do you ever think He looked up to heaven, spread wide His arms, and pleaded to His Father, "Can
You tell Me again . . . just why am I here?"
You know? No. I don't think He ever pleaded like that. He knew exactly why He had been sent to
this earth. And it wasn't about anything anyone would normally assume about the Son of God
coming to earth. Jesus was sent to live and die. In the meantime, just how He lived revealed His
nature. Who He was reveals to us even now exactly who God the Father is. The same nature that
made Jesus who He was is the same nature that makes God who He is. They are One in the same.
This is what Jesus prayed for in John 17. Five times He repeated Himself in this prayer. ". . . that
they may be one as We are one." Have you read this prayer lately? He's not just praying for His
disciples.
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that
they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the
world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that
they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be perfect in one, and
that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John
17:20-23
One with Yahshua, one with Yahweh. All held together by the Spirit of God—the very essence of
Yahshua Himself. Our very natures being transformed into His. This is what the world will see in
us . . . this is how the world will know we are His. And this is what will draw the world to Him.
For He is, indeed, irresistible.
Vaya con Yahshua,
donna
Greatest In The Kingdom
The disciples argued. A lot. One of their favorite arguments was "Who will be the greatest in the
kingdom?" James and John's mother even got involved. One day she brought them to Jesus and
said, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in
Your kingdom."
Now, the Bible only tells us what Jesus said in response. It doesn't give us His nonverbal reaction.
But . . . do you think, at least inwardly, that He rolled His eyes just a tad as He answered her?
Maybe. Ahh, but, then again, I doubt it. Jesus knew this was coming. He knew their thoughts. And
when He replied to His disciples about their "Who is the greatest" debate, I think He knew His
reply would blow their dusty little socks off.
". . . whoever desires to become great among you," He said to them, "let him be your servant. And
whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come
to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26b-28
"If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and a servant of all." Mark 9:35
"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no
means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4
". . . he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet
I am among you as the One who serves." Luke 22: 26b-27
Now here's the clinker: When Jesus talked about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God,
just whom was He talking about? Wasn't He talking about . . . Himself? Wasn't He (and isn't He
still) the greatest figure in, not only the kingdom of God, but the entire universe from eternity past to
eternity yet to come?
Yep.
Jesus was talking about Himself. He was, is, and always will be the greatest in the kingdom of God.
Hmm. We could take a lesson.
: )
VcD,
donna
The disciples argued. A lot. One of their favorite arguments was "Who will be the greatest in the
kingdom?" James and John's mother even got involved. One day she brought them to Jesus and
said, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in
Your kingdom."
Now, the Bible only tells us what Jesus said in response. It doesn't give us His nonverbal reaction.
But . . . do you think, at least inwardly, that He rolled His eyes just a tad as He answered her?
Maybe. Ahh, but, then again, I doubt it. Jesus knew this was coming. He knew their thoughts. And
when He replied to His disciples about their "Who is the greatest" debate, I think He knew His
reply would blow their dusty little socks off.
". . . whoever desires to become great among you," He said to them, "let him be your servant. And
whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come
to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26b-28
"If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and a servant of all." Mark 9:35
"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no
means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4
". . . he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet
I am among you as the One who serves." Luke 22: 26b-27
Now here's the clinker: When Jesus talked about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God,
just whom was He talking about? Wasn't He talking about . . . Himself? Wasn't He (and isn't He
still) the greatest figure in, not only the kingdom of God, but the entire universe from eternity past to
eternity yet to come?
Yep.
Jesus was talking about Himself. He was, is, and always will be the greatest in the kingdom of God.
Hmm. We could take a lesson.
: )
VcD,
donna
How He Saw Other People
One of the things I find most peculiar about God and the way He works is this: take a hard look at
Him and the way He works, and you'll soon discover His ways are totally opposite from the way
things are done in this world. The way He does things is totally polar opposite from the way we do
things.
Hmm. Sorta makes one wonder, doesn't it?
We're all about doing things on our own, pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, working hard,
going the extra mile to get the things we need. The harder we work, the better off we'll be. The
more self-centered and independent we are, the better. And one day, all of our hard work will pay
off—we'll finally be the boss. We'll finally be the one dishing out orders and taking it easy while
everyone else around us works hard to please us.
Sadly, this is even the case in most of our churches.
But this is not what our Lord Jesus was all about.
I find it delightful that the true nature of Jesus is so positively opposite to the true nature of man.
Jesus came to serve others, not to be served. He came to be a servant, a slave, and He was, indeed,
the only totally others-centered, servant-hearted human being ever to walk this earth. But you know
what? Though He was a servant to all, He never allowed anyone to manipulate Him to do
something He didn't want to do. He was never driven by false motives. He was never coerced.
He chose to serve. And He chose how He would serve, and whom He would serve.
He didn't heal everyone at the Pool of Bethesda.
I like how Gayle Erwin, in his book The Jesus Style, is so quick to point out this fact about our
servant-hearted Lord. It's wise for us to consider this, so we ourselves are not manipulated as we
allow our Lord's servant heart to shine through us. "A servant's job is to do all he can to make life
better for others—to free them to be everything they can be," Gayle says on page 50. "Yet,
enslavement is not what I am talking about. Servanthood is a loving choice we make to minister to
others. It is not the result of coercion or coercion's more subtle form, manipulation."
Jesus chose to fulfill His destiny as Messiah. He lovingly chose to step into our world, to walk this
dusty earth, to fulfill His role as Savior. He chose to serve, rather than being served. He chose to
fulfill His love, and His Father's love, to us by being a servant to us, rather than a brutal dictator.
He always respects our ability to choose, and waits patiently for us to make our choice.
This is how He saw other people. "How can I make that person's life better? What can I do to love
them and serve them at this moment?"
Always a choice for Him. "Do I seek their well-being at this moment . . . or My own?"
Always our choice to follow Him, to live as He lived, to serve as He served.
Can we do it on our own? Nope. No way. Not a chance. But when He lives through us, how we
see other people will change. We'll begin to see them with His eyes. We will, as well, become
more others-centered and servant-hearted. Just like Him.
Cool.
VcD,
donna
One of the things I find most peculiar about God and the way He works is this: take a hard look at
Him and the way He works, and you'll soon discover His ways are totally opposite from the way
things are done in this world. The way He does things is totally polar opposite from the way we do
things.
Hmm. Sorta makes one wonder, doesn't it?
We're all about doing things on our own, pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, working hard,
going the extra mile to get the things we need. The harder we work, the better off we'll be. The
more self-centered and independent we are, the better. And one day, all of our hard work will pay
off—we'll finally be the boss. We'll finally be the one dishing out orders and taking it easy while
everyone else around us works hard to please us.
Sadly, this is even the case in most of our churches.
But this is not what our Lord Jesus was all about.
I find it delightful that the true nature of Jesus is so positively opposite to the true nature of man.
Jesus came to serve others, not to be served. He came to be a servant, a slave, and He was, indeed,
the only totally others-centered, servant-hearted human being ever to walk this earth. But you know
what? Though He was a servant to all, He never allowed anyone to manipulate Him to do
something He didn't want to do. He was never driven by false motives. He was never coerced.
He chose to serve. And He chose how He would serve, and whom He would serve.
He didn't heal everyone at the Pool of Bethesda.
I like how Gayle Erwin, in his book The Jesus Style, is so quick to point out this fact about our
servant-hearted Lord. It's wise for us to consider this, so we ourselves are not manipulated as we
allow our Lord's servant heart to shine through us. "A servant's job is to do all he can to make life
better for others—to free them to be everything they can be," Gayle says on page 50. "Yet,
enslavement is not what I am talking about. Servanthood is a loving choice we make to minister to
others. It is not the result of coercion or coercion's more subtle form, manipulation."
Jesus chose to fulfill His destiny as Messiah. He lovingly chose to step into our world, to walk this
dusty earth, to fulfill His role as Savior. He chose to serve, rather than being served. He chose to
fulfill His love, and His Father's love, to us by being a servant to us, rather than a brutal dictator.
He always respects our ability to choose, and waits patiently for us to make our choice.
This is how He saw other people. "How can I make that person's life better? What can I do to love
them and serve them at this moment?"
Always a choice for Him. "Do I seek their well-being at this moment . . . or My own?"
Always our choice to follow Him, to live as He lived, to serve as He served.
Can we do it on our own? Nope. No way. Not a chance. But when He lives through us, how we
see other people will change. We'll begin to see them with His eyes. We will, as well, become
more others-centered and servant-hearted. Just like Him.
Cool.
VcD,
donna
How He Led
"The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, ... But not so among you." Luke 22:25a,
26b
Our Lord Jesus saw people in a way that was consistent with His nature. He chose to serve them
because He knew their value. In our systems and institutions of leadership, we don't recognize the
value of people or view them in the way Jesus does. For us, submission is upward to that one
"supreme being" (or that one "supreme knucklehead") at the top. Yes, this usually works well for
republics and banks, but it never works well in our churches.
I love how Gayle Erwin says it in his book The Jesus Style. Page 58. "He (Jesus) put no pressure
on the masses to submit to the leader, but instead put the pressure on leaders to be slaves of all."
Page 59. "One who leads in the style of Jesus does not use forms of coercion nor does he depend
on institutional position for authority. Instead, by serving people, he leads as they recognize his
ability and choose voluntarily to follow."
Page 60 and 61. "There are so many ways that the nature of Jesus is in direct opposition to the
leadership patterns of the world that have been unquestioningly adopted by the church. ... We
cannot finish with worldly systems what was begun by Jesus working through the Holy Spirit."
Not just in our churches, but in our homes as well. Fathers loving their wives as Jesus loved the
church. Wives submitting to their husbands. Children submitting to their parents. Page 62.
"Submission gone sour is the result of not understanding the nature of Jesus."
Jesus never lorded anything over anyone. This is how He led.
No wonder we follow Him. : )
VcJ,
donna
"The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, ... But not so among you." Luke 22:25a,
26b
Our Lord Jesus saw people in a way that was consistent with His nature. He chose to serve them
because He knew their value. In our systems and institutions of leadership, we don't recognize the
value of people or view them in the way Jesus does. For us, submission is upward to that one
"supreme being" (or that one "supreme knucklehead") at the top. Yes, this usually works well for
republics and banks, but it never works well in our churches.
I love how Gayle Erwin says it in his book The Jesus Style. Page 58. "He (Jesus) put no pressure
on the masses to submit to the leader, but instead put the pressure on leaders to be slaves of all."
Page 59. "One who leads in the style of Jesus does not use forms of coercion nor does he depend
on institutional position for authority. Instead, by serving people, he leads as they recognize his
ability and choose voluntarily to follow."
Page 60 and 61. "There are so many ways that the nature of Jesus is in direct opposition to the
leadership patterns of the world that have been unquestioningly adopted by the church. ... We
cannot finish with worldly systems what was begun by Jesus working through the Holy Spirit."
Not just in our churches, but in our homes as well. Fathers loving their wives as Jesus loved the
church. Wives submitting to their husbands. Children submitting to their parents. Page 62.
"Submission gone sour is the result of not understanding the nature of Jesus."
Jesus never lorded anything over anyone. This is how He led.
No wonder we follow Him. : )
VcJ,
donna
How He Taught
"You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher,
have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example,
that you should do as I have done to you." John 13:13-15
Ahhhh . . . with Jesus it was never, "Do as I say, not as I do." Maybe that's just another reason why
He's so irresistible?
Jesus, who was actually named Yahshua (or Yeshua or Y'shua to the Jews), was also named
Immanuel, which means "God with us." He truly was God walking among us, being with us. And
even as He taught, He remained "with those" He taught. He didn't draw them out of their lives and
into a classroom to lecture them safely from behind a protective podium. He lived His life right
along beside them, teaching them as they lived. He didn't set aside only a certain amount of time to
teach. His schedule was open—He was always available to answer questions and further expound
on His parables. He didn't spend the bulk of His time teaching the great hoarding masses. He
mainly concentrated His efforts on teaching His twelve disciples. He knew they would later get
His message out. That soon, after His death, the Good News would spread exponentially across the
globe.
Yet, even as He taught them, He never "lorded it over" them. He never taught them anything they
didn't see already being lived out in His life. He never told them to do anything that He Himself
had not already done. He never asked them to do something He Himself was not willing to do.
Leadership by example is the best way to lead. Being taught by someone who examples the lesson
is the most effective way to learn. This is how Jesus taught. He was, and still is, our best example
of living the way God the Father wants us to live.
Can we live the way God the Father wants us to live without knowing His Son, Jesus, and without
following the example Jesus set before us?
Nope. Nuh-uh. Not a chance.
VcJ,
donna
"You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher,
have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example,
that you should do as I have done to you." John 13:13-15
Ahhhh . . . with Jesus it was never, "Do as I say, not as I do." Maybe that's just another reason why
He's so irresistible?
Jesus, who was actually named Yahshua (or Yeshua or Y'shua to the Jews), was also named
Immanuel, which means "God with us." He truly was God walking among us, being with us. And
even as He taught, He remained "with those" He taught. He didn't draw them out of their lives and
into a classroom to lecture them safely from behind a protective podium. He lived His life right
along beside them, teaching them as they lived. He didn't set aside only a certain amount of time to
teach. His schedule was open—He was always available to answer questions and further expound
on His parables. He didn't spend the bulk of His time teaching the great hoarding masses. He
mainly concentrated His efforts on teaching His twelve disciples. He knew they would later get
His message out. That soon, after His death, the Good News would spread exponentially across the
globe.
Yet, even as He taught them, He never "lorded it over" them. He never taught them anything they
didn't see already being lived out in His life. He never told them to do anything that He Himself
had not already done. He never asked them to do something He Himself was not willing to do.
Leadership by example is the best way to lead. Being taught by someone who examples the lesson
is the most effective way to learn. This is how Jesus taught. He was, and still is, our best example
of living the way God the Father wants us to live.
Can we live the way God the Father wants us to live without knowing His Son, Jesus, and without
following the example Jesus set before us?
Nope. Nuh-uh. Not a chance.
VcJ,
donna
Just Who Is This Man?
He's watching Matthew, the frowned-upon Jewish man who
collected taxes from his fellow Jews to give to the Romans,
and He's just about to say to him, "Follow Me."
Matthew got up and followed Him.
collected taxes from his fellow Jews to give to the Romans,
and He's just about to say to him, "Follow Me."
Matthew got up and followed Him.
Yep, this man is Jesus. The man who loved to eat fish.
The man who touched lepers. The man who spent most of
His time with the lower-class types, who called fishermen
and tax collectors to "Come and be my disciple."
He calls us. "Come to Me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest."
"Abide in Me, and I will abide in you."
"I am the Way . . ."
The man who touched lepers. The man who spent most of
His time with the lower-class types, who called fishermen
and tax collectors to "Come and be my disciple."
He calls us. "Come to Me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest."
"Abide in Me, and I will abide in you."
"I am the Way . . ."
May we, like His disciples, drop everything and follow Him.
Who is this scraggly looking man? Can He really be . . . God?
: )
VcY!
donna
Who is this scraggly looking man? Can He really be . . . God?
: )
VcY!
donna
The Nature of Jesus
What makes Him tick. Who He was, is, and always will be. How He acts, what He says, and why.
Until we fully comprehend these things about Him, we can never fully know who He is. If we don't
fully know who He is, how can we speak in His name? How can we pray "in the name of Jesus" if
we don't fully know what that means?
Praying in His name requires us to pray in a way that completely aligns with His nature. We cannot
pray in His name apart from His nature. It's a waste of breath.
Say I was to say to you, "Camy Tang told me I could take your laptop. Hand it over. She said it
would be okay, that you wouldn't mind at all." Well, first of all, you would mind, because you
would instantly know Camy would never say it was okay for anyone to steal anything. That goes
against who Camy is. It goes against her nature. Now, if I told you she told me to say to you, "Go
ahead and crank up that dialogue in your novel a few notches—put in a little wasabi to liven things
up," you would know that was exactly what she said because that advice follows who she is and is
an example of what works for her. She's asking you to do what she knows has worked for her. And
hey. If it worked for her, maybe it'll work for you.
Camy's nature is one of honesty, generosity, and unabashed joy. If I was to tell you something using
her name but that went against her nature, you would instantly know I was lying. It wouldn't be
something Camy would say or do. No matter how persuasive I might be, you would know I'm lying
because you know Camy. You know who she is.
We do this to Jesus all the time. We tend to speak for Him, saying things in His name, but saying
things that totally go against His nature. If we're truly His, His nature should speak for itself
through us with every heartbeat and breath. It's much like writing a novel—showing rather than
telling. It's sooooooooooooo much better for us to allow Jesus to show Himself through us than for
us to simply say, "Jesus is neat. Trust Him. Oh, don't look too closely at me, cuz God is still
working on me. But let me just tell you how good He is. Someday I'll live it out the way I'm
supposed to. Someday you'll see it in me. But, until then, just take my word for it."
If the people we are saying this to don't know who Jesus really is, all they will know about Him is
what they see in us. Is this enough?
Speaking in His name requires huge responsibility.
Yes, we're all on a journey—none of us are where we should be with God. His purposes are in our
journeys, not the end result or destination. But until we fully know Him and are totally His, we
should be particularly careful about how we speak for Him, how we use His name, and how our
lives reflect what we say.
I could exercise all my persuasive powers to convince you that Camy wants you to hand over your
laptop to me. But before you allow yourself to be completely convinced, you'll pick up the phone
and give her a call. As you should. Because you know her. You know her nature well enough to
know that what I'm saying in her name is a lie.
How well do we know our Lord? How easily are we convinced to believe what others are telling
us about Him?
Name and Nature. Can't have one without the other.
May we all vaya con Jesus, both in His name and His nature.
donna
What makes Him tick. Who He was, is, and always will be. How He acts, what He says, and why.
Until we fully comprehend these things about Him, we can never fully know who He is. If we don't
fully know who He is, how can we speak in His name? How can we pray "in the name of Jesus" if
we don't fully know what that means?
Praying in His name requires us to pray in a way that completely aligns with His nature. We cannot
pray in His name apart from His nature. It's a waste of breath.
Say I was to say to you, "Camy Tang told me I could take your laptop. Hand it over. She said it
would be okay, that you wouldn't mind at all." Well, first of all, you would mind, because you
would instantly know Camy would never say it was okay for anyone to steal anything. That goes
against who Camy is. It goes against her nature. Now, if I told you she told me to say to you, "Go
ahead and crank up that dialogue in your novel a few notches—put in a little wasabi to liven things
up," you would know that was exactly what she said because that advice follows who she is and is
an example of what works for her. She's asking you to do what she knows has worked for her. And
hey. If it worked for her, maybe it'll work for you.
Camy's nature is one of honesty, generosity, and unabashed joy. If I was to tell you something using
her name but that went against her nature, you would instantly know I was lying. It wouldn't be
something Camy would say or do. No matter how persuasive I might be, you would know I'm lying
because you know Camy. You know who she is.
We do this to Jesus all the time. We tend to speak for Him, saying things in His name, but saying
things that totally go against His nature. If we're truly His, His nature should speak for itself
through us with every heartbeat and breath. It's much like writing a novel—showing rather than
telling. It's sooooooooooooo much better for us to allow Jesus to show Himself through us than for
us to simply say, "Jesus is neat. Trust Him. Oh, don't look too closely at me, cuz God is still
working on me. But let me just tell you how good He is. Someday I'll live it out the way I'm
supposed to. Someday you'll see it in me. But, until then, just take my word for it."
If the people we are saying this to don't know who Jesus really is, all they will know about Him is
what they see in us. Is this enough?
Speaking in His name requires huge responsibility.
Yes, we're all on a journey—none of us are where we should be with God. His purposes are in our
journeys, not the end result or destination. But until we fully know Him and are totally His, we
should be particularly careful about how we speak for Him, how we use His name, and how our
lives reflect what we say.
I could exercise all my persuasive powers to convince you that Camy wants you to hand over your
laptop to me. But before you allow yourself to be completely convinced, you'll pick up the phone
and give her a call. As you should. Because you know her. You know her nature well enough to
know that what I'm saying in her name is a lie.
How well do we know our Lord? How easily are we convinced to believe what others are telling
us about Him?
Name and Nature. Can't have one without the other.
May we all vaya con Jesus, both in His name and His nature.
donna
P.S. I'm sure it happened one day. Jesus sat on the
boat with His disciples as they waited for the nets to
fill with fish so they could make a few bucks for Judas
to put into their treasury. Jesus wanted to help
somehow, but, of course, His expertise was building
things with wood, not catching fish (no, His expertise
was fishing for men, remember?). Can you just picture
it? As He tried to tie down a rope dangling from the
main sail, He didn't exactly know how to do it, and He
needed John, one of the true fishermen in the bunch, to
help Him.
Jesus being taught. Hey, it happened, I'm sure.
boat with His disciples as they waited for the nets to
fill with fish so they could make a few bucks for Judas
to put into their treasury. Jesus wanted to help
somehow, but, of course, His expertise was building
things with wood, not catching fish (no, His expertise
was fishing for men, remember?). Can you just picture
it? As He tried to tie down a rope dangling from the
main sail, He didn't exactly know how to do it, and He
needed John, one of the true fishermen in the bunch, to
help Him.
Jesus being taught. Hey, it happened, I'm sure.
Can't you just picture John showing His Master and Lord how to tie down that rope? Not just
telling Him, "Do this and do that," but, "Here, let me show You." What a kick that must have been
for him. (No wonder he's smiling.)
And how cool it must have been for Jesus . . . to see how His own example was being followed.
Even in something as simple as tying down a rope.
: )
Comments
Oh my gosh, you know, it never occurred to me that Jesus wouldn't know how to fish! That's kind of
neat, actually!
Camy
telling Him, "Do this and do that," but, "Here, let me show You." What a kick that must have been
for him. (No wonder he's smiling.)
And how cool it must have been for Jesus . . . to see how His own example was being followed.
Even in something as simple as tying down a rope.
: )
Comments
Oh my gosh, you know, it never occurred to me that Jesus wouldn't know how to fish! That's kind of
neat, actually!
Camy
That's An Interesting Thought
Camy's last comment got me to thinking. Thanks for that, by the way, ladyfriend . . . thanks for all
your comments! Not just yours, but all y'all's. Thanks for reading and tossing in your two bits from
time to time. This is kinda fun, isn't it?
So. Back to that interesting thought. Did I overstep my bounds just a wee bit by suggesting Jesus
didn't know how to fish? Hmm. He was God, wasn't He? Why wouldn't He know how to fish?
Funny, cuz almost as soon as that question started rolling around my wee brainpan, an answer
started rolling around in there with it. (Sort of a quiet place, my wee brainpan, this early in the
morning. Especially without my tea.) Anyway, yes. Jesus was God. We know that. But He was
also fully human. So. Here's what I think.
If someone would have handed our Lord a book about bio-electrical chemical engineering written in
Russian . . . (Hah! Gotcha, Camy!) ; ) . . . not only would He have been able to read it, but He
would have easily understood every word. And not just that, He would have immediately started
making notes of the places where those Russians flat out got it wrong.
However . . .
If one of the disciples would have handed Jesus a contraption he had never seen before but was told
it played music and said, "Lord? Would you take this strange contraption we've never seen before
and play us a song?" Jesus would have said, "Um . . . no. Thanks. I mean, yes, I can tell you what
that is. It's a twenty-first-century saxophone. It plays wonderful music. In the hands of a master."
"Well, aren't You the Master?" one of them would, of course, say.
"Yes, you call Me Master, and you say well, for so I am." (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
"So, play us a song."
By now, I can just see Jesus's face turning a bit . . . red. Can you see that look of concern crossing
His expression? Why? Because knowing what a saxophone is, how it works, and even how to
make it play music is not enough. What Jesus would be lacking at this moment is practice. After
about ten minutes, perhaps, of simple practice, He would have been fine. But that first few minutes?
Stand back. Hold your ears. Let Him get the hang of it first.
Why? Because He was also fully human. Sometimes, no matter how much we know about how to
play a saxophone, or how to shoot a free throw, or how to maneuver around on MySpace (and yes, I
did finally sign my life away to join up), it's not until we can practice a wee bit on our own before
we can DO these things. Brain knowledge needs to get transferred into our fingertips.
Know what I mean?
Jesus, of course, had all the knowledge of the universe at His fingertips. But, if He was, indeed,
fully human, those fingertips needed to practice some of that knowledge first before that knowledge
could be displayed.
Like tying a rope. Sure, He could have done it. But if it was His first time, it would have been a
struggle. Figuring it out. Transferring that head knowledge into His fingers. Tying that rope just the
way it was supposed to be tied.
The pity is, of course, that John spotted Him during that "transferring" process. (That process we
call practice.) Taking pity on his Master and Teacher, and, also applying the techniques his Teacher
used, John said, "Here, Lord. Let me show You. Here's how You do it."
Sometimes, even as we know how to do something and practice it on our own, we still benefit from
someone showing us.
Being our example. Ahh. Something Jesus never had to practice. That was something He knew
how to do from minute one.
See? Interesting, huh? Whaddaya think?
VcJ, even if His first three minutes of saxophone playing turn out to be hideously unbearable,
donna
P.S. Okay, um, this analogy can only be accurate if . . . well, if they didn't have saxophones in
heaven. I mean, who knows. Maybe Jesus was an accomplished player already. Maybe He spent
eons before the earth was even created playing just for the fun of it.
Hey, it's possible.
Camy's last comment got me to thinking. Thanks for that, by the way, ladyfriend . . . thanks for all
your comments! Not just yours, but all y'all's. Thanks for reading and tossing in your two bits from
time to time. This is kinda fun, isn't it?
So. Back to that interesting thought. Did I overstep my bounds just a wee bit by suggesting Jesus
didn't know how to fish? Hmm. He was God, wasn't He? Why wouldn't He know how to fish?
Funny, cuz almost as soon as that question started rolling around my wee brainpan, an answer
started rolling around in there with it. (Sort of a quiet place, my wee brainpan, this early in the
morning. Especially without my tea.) Anyway, yes. Jesus was God. We know that. But He was
also fully human. So. Here's what I think.
If someone would have handed our Lord a book about bio-electrical chemical engineering written in
Russian . . . (Hah! Gotcha, Camy!) ; ) . . . not only would He have been able to read it, but He
would have easily understood every word. And not just that, He would have immediately started
making notes of the places where those Russians flat out got it wrong.
However . . .
If one of the disciples would have handed Jesus a contraption he had never seen before but was told
it played music and said, "Lord? Would you take this strange contraption we've never seen before
and play us a song?" Jesus would have said, "Um . . . no. Thanks. I mean, yes, I can tell you what
that is. It's a twenty-first-century saxophone. It plays wonderful music. In the hands of a master."
"Well, aren't You the Master?" one of them would, of course, say.
"Yes, you call Me Master, and you say well, for so I am." (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
"So, play us a song."
By now, I can just see Jesus's face turning a bit . . . red. Can you see that look of concern crossing
His expression? Why? Because knowing what a saxophone is, how it works, and even how to
make it play music is not enough. What Jesus would be lacking at this moment is practice. After
about ten minutes, perhaps, of simple practice, He would have been fine. But that first few minutes?
Stand back. Hold your ears. Let Him get the hang of it first.
Why? Because He was also fully human. Sometimes, no matter how much we know about how to
play a saxophone, or how to shoot a free throw, or how to maneuver around on MySpace (and yes, I
did finally sign my life away to join up), it's not until we can practice a wee bit on our own before
we can DO these things. Brain knowledge needs to get transferred into our fingertips.
Know what I mean?
Jesus, of course, had all the knowledge of the universe at His fingertips. But, if He was, indeed,
fully human, those fingertips needed to practice some of that knowledge first before that knowledge
could be displayed.
Like tying a rope. Sure, He could have done it. But if it was His first time, it would have been a
struggle. Figuring it out. Transferring that head knowledge into His fingers. Tying that rope just the
way it was supposed to be tied.
The pity is, of course, that John spotted Him during that "transferring" process. (That process we
call practice.) Taking pity on his Master and Teacher, and, also applying the techniques his Teacher
used, John said, "Here, Lord. Let me show You. Here's how You do it."
Sometimes, even as we know how to do something and practice it on our own, we still benefit from
someone showing us.
Being our example. Ahh. Something Jesus never had to practice. That was something He knew
how to do from minute one.
See? Interesting, huh? Whaddaya think?
VcJ, even if His first three minutes of saxophone playing turn out to be hideously unbearable,
donna
P.S. Okay, um, this analogy can only be accurate if . . . well, if they didn't have saxophones in
heaven. I mean, who knows. Maybe Jesus was an accomplished player already. Maybe He spent
eons before the earth was even created playing just for the fun of it.
Hey, it's possible.
How He Saw Himself
Humility is a word that carries all sorts of meanings for people. When someone is being humble,
how are they acting? Is it just an act?
I like how Gayle Erwin defines it on pages 74-76 of his book The Jesus Style. "Humility is simply
seeing ourselves as we actually are, no higher nor lower. It means being gut-level honest about
ourselves—being up front. It means knowing who we are and owning that—and owning our
emotions. It means living without hypocrisy. One of the most loving things I can do for someone is
to be honest (humble) about myself so they don't have to sift through my deceptions. I doubt that
when Jesus greeted the disciples in the morning, they had to ponder over what He really meant. His
being the same 'yesterday, today, and forever' probably didn't mean that He had no emotions or
moods, but may have meant that He was always honest about them; always an 'I am.'
"Humility might well be described as 'walking in the light.' Humility chooses to be real, to hide
nothing, to be open."
Open and honest about ourselves. I think that defines humility. And it certainly defines how Jesus
saw Himself. Yes, He knew who He was, and He didn't hide that knowledge. But He never used
His position for selfish gain, to manipulate someone else, or to put Himself into a superior position.
He was (and still is) the greatest in the kingdom, and yet He came to serve, not to be served. In His
humility, He was angry when He felt anger, sad when He felt sadness, and happy when joy
overwhelmed Him. He never hid His true feelings. He always lived openly and honestly, revealing
His true nature in everything He did.
Again, we could take a lesson. If there is one place on earth where we should be able to come and
be open and honest about ourselves, bringing our hurts and feelings openly to share with others, it
should be our church. But how often do we clam up tightly even as we walk through the front doors?
Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as
little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles
himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Our humble example, serving us, leading us, and teaching us. Showing us the Father as only He can.
VcJ,
donna
Humility is a word that carries all sorts of meanings for people. When someone is being humble,
how are they acting? Is it just an act?
I like how Gayle Erwin defines it on pages 74-76 of his book The Jesus Style. "Humility is simply
seeing ourselves as we actually are, no higher nor lower. It means being gut-level honest about
ourselves—being up front. It means knowing who we are and owning that—and owning our
emotions. It means living without hypocrisy. One of the most loving things I can do for someone is
to be honest (humble) about myself so they don't have to sift through my deceptions. I doubt that
when Jesus greeted the disciples in the morning, they had to ponder over what He really meant. His
being the same 'yesterday, today, and forever' probably didn't mean that He had no emotions or
moods, but may have meant that He was always honest about them; always an 'I am.'
"Humility might well be described as 'walking in the light.' Humility chooses to be real, to hide
nothing, to be open."
Open and honest about ourselves. I think that defines humility. And it certainly defines how Jesus
saw Himself. Yes, He knew who He was, and He didn't hide that knowledge. But He never used
His position for selfish gain, to manipulate someone else, or to put Himself into a superior position.
He was (and still is) the greatest in the kingdom, and yet He came to serve, not to be served. In His
humility, He was angry when He felt anger, sad when He felt sadness, and happy when joy
overwhelmed Him. He never hid His true feelings. He always lived openly and honestly, revealing
His true nature in everything He did.
Again, we could take a lesson. If there is one place on earth where we should be able to come and
be open and honest about ourselves, bringing our hurts and feelings openly to share with others, it
should be our church. But how often do we clam up tightly even as we walk through the front doors?
Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as
little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles
himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Our humble example, serving us, leading us, and teaching us. Showing us the Father as only He can.
VcJ,
donna