"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Good

Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!


Today's word: good

What do you think the word good means?

In what ways can something bad (in earthly terms) be something good (in eternal ways)?

Explain what this phrase means to you:  "God is good, all the time."

What is good about Good Friday?


Let me know what you think!!


"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28, NLT)

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep." (John 10:11, NLT)


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

WHAT WAS JESUS THINKING?

Sometimes I ponder…

One of the things I think about is what might go through my mind if I knew that I was dying.  In those last few hours as I approached the gates of eternity, what would be my most important thoughts?  

What would I want to communicate to my loved ones? 

In this week leading up to Easter, I'm pondering Jesus.  Hanging on the cross, battered and bruised, weak and suffering, He knew He was dying.  In those last hours before He died…

What was Jesus thinking?

So, I'm taking a look at His last words, and speculating on what might have been going through His mind.


1. "Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

The message:  Forgiveness

In an amazing act of humility and love, Jesus looked at His enemies, the people that were responsible for killing Him, and asked His Father to forgive them.  The message of forgiveness was of utmost importance to the Savior.  It was the purpose and the motivation for Him to complete His mission on earth. In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"Look at My example.  Forgiveness trumps evil.  Forgive others, as I am forgiving you."


The Lesson: Forgiveness is important.  Embrace it, and pass it on.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37, NIV)



2. "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

The message: Faith 

Jesus didn't make this moment of salvation theologically complicated, or personally difficult – no, He just spoke an unmistakable, clear promise that anyone who believed in Him would be saved.  Even if it was a last-minute repentance.  Jesus offered hope to sinners, and it was another important message He wanted to pass on.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"Believe in Me, and you will be saved.  And when you die, you will join me where I am, and live in My Presence forever."


The Lesson: Faith alone saves.  It saves in an instant, and it lasts forever!

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…" (Ephesians 2:8, NIV)



3. "Dear woman, here is your son." And He said to His disciple, "Here is your mother." (John 19:26-27)

The message: Family

Was Jesus self-absorbed in His own struggle, His own suffering? No, even at the end, in His supreme moment of agony, His tenderness shone like a beacon to everyone at the foot of the cross.  Jesus did not think of Himself.  He took care of those He loved – and at the same time, He was taking care of us.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages – 

"Take care of those you love, both family and others.  Love them like I do."


The message:  Family is important.  People are important.  Look out for them like Jesus did.

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." (John 13:34, NLT)



4. "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" (Matthew 27:46)

The message: Fear

I believe that Jesus had to battle real fear.  I don't think for a second that Satan kept silent when Jesus was hanging on the cross.  I believe that the taunts in those last dying hours were escalated.  The lies must have been a torture all their own.  And can you imagine a greater fear than the moment when God had to turn His back on His beloved Son?  Jesus experienced all the wrath, judgment, and penalty for every sin – He experienced it alone.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"It isn't a sin to feel fear.  I've felt it, too.  But, because of what I'm doing right now, you never, ever have to fear separation from my Father or from His love."


The Lesson: Fear is part of being human.  But it doesn't have to consume us.  Love overcomes fear.

"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love." (1 John 4:18, NLT)



5. "I am thirsty." (John 19:28)

The message: Fragility

Jesus was a human being.  While He lived His life on earth, I'm sure there were times when He was sick, and achy, and hungry, and tired.  And on the cross, He had moments of genuine anguish.  He bled, He hurt, He grew thirsty.  Dying is lonely human business, and Jesus died a real, physical death. I believe this statement was important for Jesus to express so that we would understand that He was like us, fully human. He understood what that feels like.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"I'm a human like you.  And I understand the struggles and weaknesses you experience.  But because of what I'm doing right now, someday you will receive a new imperishable body!"


The Lesson:  Jesus knows what it means to be human.  Talk to Him about everything.

"Because God's children are human beings--made of flesh and blood--the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death." (Hebrews 2:14, NLT)



6. "It is finished." (John 19:30)

The message: Finality

This phrase is a translation of a Greek phrase that means "paid in full." Yes, Jesus paid the price. Totally. Completely. And in this moment, in this statement, Jesus proclaimed the humbly jubilant truth that once and for all, the price was paid – by Him, and only Him.  We can never do enough to win God’s approval – we can never bridge the gap between a holy God and sin-filled people. Jesus did what we couldn't do. He bought us reconciliation with the shedding of His blood.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"I have done what I came to do. I have borne the sins of the world. I have brought salvation to all people." 


The Lesson:  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Only Him – the only way.

"…so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:28, NLT)



7. "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" (Luke 23:46)

The message:  Freedom

Now, in the last seconds of His earthly life, Jesus expressed utter and total trust in His Father.  Having felt abandonment, He still believed that God was there.  God still cared.  God would take care of Him. And with those last words, He breathed His last. Jesus gave up His Spirit.  He rested in the promises of His Father's words – that this moment was NOT the end of the story.  Jesus saw the death of believers as the ultimate freedom, the final release from the slavery to sin.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages – 

"Trust your life to the Father's hands.  Death has no more power over you.  Enter the door to freedom."


The Lesson: Slavery to sin is over.  The fear of death has no power. Jesus has overcome.  We will live forever!

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 
(1 Corinthians 15:55, NIV)



These were the last words of Jesus.

And last words hold a mighty power.  They are important, and well worth listening to.

On this Easter, I'm pondering what Jesus might have been thinking on the cross – what He might have been saying to the world.

And Lord, I am listening.

Into the darkness,
The Light of the World came...

And the Son still shines! 

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

"After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.  As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.  'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!'"  (Acts 1:9-11, NLT)

"And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life."  (Revelation 21:6, NLT)

How are you celebrating Easter this year?

Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Pamela at A SHELTERING TREE
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Holy Spirit

Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!


Today's word: Holy Spirit

How would you describe the Holy Spirit - His character, His purpose, His work?

How would you describe the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit?

How does the Holy Spirit work in your life?


Let me know what you think!!


"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26, NIV)


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

THE BATTLE I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT

There are true confessions…

…and then, there are TRUE true confessions.  Confessions that are painful to make – because they make us look really, really bad.

I'm going to make one of those today.

It all started yesterday morning…Sunday morning…God's Day.

Yup.

So, I had my alarm set for 7:00 AM – giving me plenty of time to snooze a bit, and then get up and get ready for the 9:00 AM service at church.

But, when the alarm went off, I realized that I didn't FEEL like going to church.  I had a bit of a headache, I didn't feel like I had gotten enough sleep – but the truth of the matter was that I just plain didn't WANT to go to church…period.

Didn't want to smile, didn't want to visit with people, didn't want to be convicted by the sermon.

You see, I knew that our pastor was finishing his ten-week series on the Ten Commandments.  And this week, the message was going to be about coveting.  I just wasn't looking forward to that particular "thou shalt not"…

I rolled over and went back to sleep.

But, when I finally woke up again at 9:17 AM, I started to feel convicted. For one reason, "The Hub" wasn't going with me to church this week.  And so, I felt I should set a good example, be a testimony.

And I felt that God probably wanted me there.

So I got up and got dressed and put on a face (the Maybelline face, not a happy face) – and finally went in to grab something to eat before I went to the 10:45 AM service.

Doing the right thing.

But not in the right frame of mind.

I was super crabby.  Like *bite your head off* crabby.  Snappy, snippy, yappy, naggy.

And "The Hub" got the brunt of my bad mood.

(Nice testimony, huh?)

I can't even remember what we talked about in the 15 minutes before I left. All I know is that there wasn't a nice word in there.  There wasn't a good attitude.  Love, joy, peace – HA!  I single-handedly mangled every single fruit of the Spirit in one *wrong side of the bed* harangue.

I'm glad "The Hub" didn’t say "God bless you" as I walked out the front door – I think I would have punched him.

As I drove down the winding, twisty road from our house, I was so irritated.

"I'm so tired of driving this switchback road," I thought to myself. Riding the brakes, watching for squirrels darting out into the road, sliding a bit in the dirt left over from the snow.

Every single time I want to do something.

Oh, and on Saturday, we had had to make our expedition *down the hill* to do the "big city" stuff we have to do from time to time.  The banking at the branch, the shopping at a "regular" market, the picking up of a prescription.  Luckily, this was one of our faster trips – only 3 ½ hours.

Inconvenient.

I'm not going to share all the lovely thoughts I had on the drive to church.  Suffice it to say, they weren't good – they weren't godly.

That's the true confession.

The TRUE true confession is coming next.

I enjoyed it.

Yes, you heard me right.

I did NOT WANT to change my attitude.

This happens to me sometimes.  Sometimes I just like being bad or mad.  I enjoy being crabby.  I like being sarcastic and mean-spirited.  I like talking back and being disagreeable.  I find it almost fun doing my best to be as hard to get along with as possible.

I enjoy not being NICE.

Maybe it's because I'm mostly nice, most of the time.  And maybe I just get tired of the effort.  Or maybe it's just that sinful nature of mine that likes to be let out of the cage once in a while.

No excuses – just the honest truth.

As I continued driving down the road to church, I knew I was in a battle.

A battle I should fight – but it was a battle that I didn't WANT to fight.

So, I walked into church as a quietly rebellious believer.  I arrived late on purpose so I didn't have to visit with anyone – (I am terrible).  I sang the songs rather half-heartedly.  I put my offering into the plate.  I went through all the *proper”* motions.

All the time knowing that I needed God to help me.  Not just to get me out of my bad mood – but to help me WANT to get out of my bad mood.

Well, the message that our pastor gave was inspiring.  Challenging, convicting – in all the best ways.  Yes, he addressed the issue of *coveting* – the uncontrolled desire to acquire – to possess something or someone that we don't have.

But, he also spent a great deal of time on the issue of contentment.

About how so many sins seem to emanate from wanting something other…

I painfully began to realize that what I WANTED was to have my bad mood.  That I wanted to hold on to it – like it was my right, my possession. I wanted to let it percolate and permeate my spirit.

I realized that I was once again allowing myself to be DIS-content with everything.  My aching body, my inconveniences, my husband who wasn't going to be sitting next to me in church, my new house – on and on and on.  

(Notice the theme?  My, my, my…)

I realized that I was being discontent with kindness, gentleness, and goodness.  I was seeking something other…

Something angry, and selfish, and mean.

I was essentially making an idol of my feelings.

Ouch.

TRUEST true confession?

I am a sinner.

And I need – oh how I need – my Lord.

Of all the things that our pastor said, these were the words that hit me over the head – words that God said directly to me:

"DO NOT REPLACE ME."

Once again, I was reminded that I only have one throne in my heart.  And there's only room for one person to sit on it.  It's my choice.  Do I want a snappy, snippy, yappy, naggy tyrant?  Or do I want my Savior?

We closed the service with this song – and at the very end, the congregation sang it *a cappella*.  My voice cracked, suddenly and unexpectedly, right in the middle of it:


Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face – (this is where I lost it),

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.


Yes, contentment leads us to say, "Lord, give me a grateful heart."

And might I just add –

"And Lord, please help me fight the battle I don't want to fight…

…the one against my SELF."



"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." (Philippians 2:13, NLT)

Portrait of a Woman in a Bad Mood?

Do you ever have an *un-godly* attitude that you don't feel like changing?  What do you do about it?

Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY

Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY

Charlotte at WINSOME WEDNESDAY

Pamela at A SHELTERING TREE

Bonnie at FAITH BARISTA

Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

***SIDENOTE: I am having difficulty with some inappropriate comments getting past the Google spam filter.  I apologize for this, and if it continues to be a problem, I might have to enable comment moderation.  Just wanted you to know!  

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"