FUZZY MATH - Part 2

Today I concluded the lesson "FUZZY MATH - 1+1=1". After reviewing the five men we discussed last week who walked with God (Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Peter), I introduced one last man of faith: Habakkuk.

This short, three-chapter book shows Habakkuk's journey from faith to faithfulness. We learned that men of faith who trust God can and do question God.

Habakkuk was a man who "wrestled" with God by expressing his outrage at the violence and injustice that had overcome Judah. "How long, O Lord, will I call for help and Thou wilt not hear?" Habakkuk 1:2. 

After enjoying 31 years of significant spiritual reformation in Judah under the leadership of King Josiah, Habakkuk watched as God allowed the Babylonians (Chaldeans) to rise to power. "Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs." (Habakkuk 1:6)

The book of Habakkuk is a steady progression upwards (spiritually) towards God from worry to worship and from fear to faith. In this lesson, we looked at the six practical steps that Habakkuk took to get "tight" with God: 1) Desire 2) Withdraw 3) Wait 4) Watch 5) Write it Down 6) Worship

In the end, Habakkuk said, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

In these two lessons titled FUZZY MATH, we learned that God is working in us to teach His highest goals until His purpose and our purpose become ONE... 1+1=1.

FUZZY MATH - Part 1

This week we started by looking at how God created in people, as well as animals, the desire to be joined with another person/animal--to feel connected, significant, and valued. To be loved. Thus, when one is added to one, the result is one.

Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:6-9

Before Sue Marie and I were married, I had read Into the Glory, a book by Jamie Buckingham about the Jungle Aviation and Radio Service. It mentioned that Jim and Elisabeth Elliot had inscribed in their wedding bands Psalms 34:3. The verse reads: "Oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together." Sue Marie and I were inspired by the Elliot's lives and felt that the verse in Psalms explained perfectly what we believed was the ultimate purpose for our marriage. We chose to inscribe the same verse in our wedding bands.

The last scene in the movie: The Notebook (by Nicholas Sparks) is a wonderful example of how two can become one.

She asked, "Do you think our love can take us away together?"

He replied, "I think our love can do anything we want it to do."

God desires to have a oneness with us that exceeds our human imaginations. It is His greatest command that we love Him above all else. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-38.

God is working in us to teach His highest goals until His purpose and our purpose become one. I spent the remainder of the class highlighting five men who walked with God and became one with God. How God's purpose became their purpose. These men were: Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Peter.

Next week, I will continue with the lesson, FUZZY MATH, as we look at another very interesting character: Habbakuk. Habbakuk's situation will point us to SIX STEPS TO GETTING TIGHT WITH GOD. 

CRACKING THE COCONUT - Living in God's Will

Cracking a coconut is not an easy task. No better place can this be seen than in the movie Cast Away. In this movie, Tom Hanks does a great job of dramatizing how difficult it is to crack open a coconut. Remembering that scene, I thought about how hard it is for Christians to break free from their hard outer shells of independence from God and willfully surrender to His will for their lives.

I began the class today with a challenge. Each Sunday, we all need to take time to prepare our hearts for the few minutes we have together. I used the example found in the Parable of the Sower. Only with our sins confessed and our hearts pure will we see God: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Matthew 5:8.

The lesson focused on how difficult it is for us to empty our hearts of the clutter that keeps us in bondage--constantly clouding our ability to see God's will for our lives. We have been conditioned from childhood to accumulate, accumulate, accumulate. As we fill our nest with our worldly possessions (literally and figuratively), we strive to store them in a "safe" place (locked in our hearts) and guard over them. These possessions become our "treasures": "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21. I can say from experience, the thing you love the most will usually be the thing God uses to get your attention. He does not want to compete for our love. I can hear Him now telling me, "You can do it the easy way or the hard way...it's up to you."

The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler shows us an example of the tight grip our practical lives have on us and how difficult it is to release them for something much better (100x). In order to know God's will for our lives and live out God's purpose, we MUST confess our sins and be filled with God's Spirit. This is a minute-by-minute process.

We all stand at the crossroads of "our will" and "God's will". Only in a state of ABSOLUTE SURRENDER are we able to fully live in God's design for our lives. Because of the Resurrection of Christ, we possess all we need or could ever want: A home in Heaven awaits us; a life free from guilt and shame; God's unconditional love; no fear of death; and the Holy Spirit to give us power and direct us in our purpose.

"I have been crucified with Christ; It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..." Galatians 2:20

The foundation of a wonderful marriage is the understanding of ABSOLUTE SURRENDER and COMMUNICATION.  When we surrender everything to God, Jesus has told us that we will receive "a hundred times as much in this present age..." Mark 10:31. There is nothing in this life that even comes close to what God wants to give us as a result of our surrender to Him. The tough part is believing it--or "Cracking the Coconut."

For the remainder of 2013, I plan to continue sharing on the topic of "walking in God's will." Beginning in 2014, we will spend a few weeks dissecting the results of your "Strengths Finder" test (which I hope you will all complete before the year ends). I am asking everyone to complete the thirty-minute, on-line test and turn in your top 5 strengths (talents). We are posting the talents on our bulletin board. NOTE: Each couple will be given a book which includes a code to take one test. The second code (for your spouse) can be purchased online for $10 (the address is in the back of the book).

After we complete the initial series on the Strengths Finder, I am planning a series based on Larry Crabb's book: The Marriage Builder.

In between our series, I plan to have a Jeopardy-type review. We will play Jeopardy using each of the previous Sunday lessons as a category. So far we have two categories: HEART FOR GOD and CRACKING THE COCONUT. For example: With the Jeopardy board on the screen, you might call, "Mike, I'll take CRACKING THE COCONUT for $100." If you get it right, you get to keep playing. With each correct answer, you will accumulate points that can be redeemed for prizes: a dinner for two, etc. So, if you miss a class, be sure to review the blog. All of the questions will come from our lessons.

Beyond that, we can discuss what direction might best benefit everyone. I have a lot of ideas, but this is your class. It needs to be a place where you grow in wisdom and become better equipped to live life skillfully.

CRACKING THE COCONUT - Living in God's Will

A HEART FOR GOD

This week I pointed out that the divinely orchestrated circumstances of a Christian's life are not always what they appear to be and are seldom the main issue. God's main concern is your spiritual growth. The circumstances are simply tools that bring to light areas in your life that need work. When Jesus fed the 5,000 (John 6:1-21), his focus was not on the bread but on the hearts of the people. The key verse this week to commit to memory is Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Life is filled with choices and we constantly find ourselves at the crossroads of decisions. Only with a pure heart will we be able to know and choose God's will for our lives. With a pure heart you gain the power of the Holy Spirit to guide you. 1) Recognize any sinful attitudes 2) Confess them to God 3) Call on His Spirit to fill your heart.

Two key factors in a successful marriage are 1) Absolute Surrender and 2) Communication. These two factors dovetail with the answer that Jesus gave when asked, "What are the greatest commandments?" He answered in Luke 10:27: 1) "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind..." 2) "and, Love your neighbor as yourself."

Only when we are completely surrendered to God and His Word as THE absolute in life can we be the best husband or wife possible. Effective communication takes wisdom and experience. It is learned. It also requires that you know your spouse. The first step in learning to communicate effectively with your spouse is to love her/him more than yourself. After all, who is your closest neighbor.

A HEART FOR GOD