Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Day 130 - Jesus Is The Issue

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 184         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive these thoughts in an easy manner. 


Our youngest grandson celebrates his 18th birthday today.  He is a fine young man.  His Grandmommie and I couldn’t be more proud of him (just like the other 3 grandkids!).  He also will be graduating high school in a month.  I pray this blog entry will be an inspiration he will remember the rest of his life on earth.



DAY 130

Jesus Is The Issue


Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord Your God, and serve Him only.” –Matthew 4:10

But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” –John 4:32


Jesus, during the wilderness experience, a time of being cut off from all outside sources of appetite, fed His Spirit with the things of God (peace, will, wisdom). He had no appetite for the things of the world, and so the temptations would have been foreign to Him, things He would have had to try to choke down with water, bit by bit. He just said, “No.” We have all had times in our lives when sin held no attraction because God was our focus. When He is not our focus, we obsess on our own spiritual condition, which does nothing in terms of bringing about a remedy.

Can you take up the challenge to stop thinking about your own spiritual condition? It is more difficult than you think, but your spiritual condition is not the most important matter; Jesus is of ultimate importance. Your latest tragedy is not the concern; His spiritual position is the issue. Lay everything aside to read about Christ, think about Him, pray to Him, and ask Him to pray for you. Forget the earthly concerns and lose all appetite for sin, for in Him you will find everything you have looked for elsewhere in vain.

I do not live for what others consider to be the spectacular; what I consider impressive is being able to walk across the room and bless the enemy that has offended. But I will mention one thing that happened to me, and it can be taken or left! I do not intend to start a cleverly devised, fantastic ministry centered in an experience. Having said that, one night I awoke to a sound that I cannot describe, for there are no words with proper definitions to describe it. I heard it in that place of connection to God, in the spirit. The sound was sad, lovely, compassionate, and painful, but again, these words fall short of expressing what was revealed to me to be spiritual weeping in heaven. To enter into it was painful and yet releasing (if those words even make sense), as if I were entering into the pain of God. In ministry I will continue to emphasize that what He permits, He could prevent; that this world is not out of control; and that He created the world to accomplish in us His purposes: the loss of our pride, strength, righteousness, glory, and kingdoms. However, through this experience, which lasted off and on for several days, I was aware of the pain in heaven over the very things that exist on earth. Why do I share this occurrence? For the simple reason that we think too much of ourselves, our tragedies, our injustices, our losses, our sicknesses, and too little of Him and the weeping of heaven. I will never forget that sound. I can nearly close my eyes and hear it now! We, as believers, need to remember we are destined for heaven!    

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth         
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



It is so easy to let life today detract us from The LIFE that is IN us as Christians.  Jesus.  God tells us succinctly in Colossians 3:3-4 that Jesus is supposed to BE OUR life.  Actually, He says He IS our life, but we forget/ignore/deny(?) that and let the cares and other issues of life carry us away from Him.  Think about it: thinking about our spiritual condition can do that.  Concern for food, water, housing, clothing, health, family, job, transportation, all the cares of “life”…  Wow!  All too often all-consuming, if not all too over-whelming.  All the while, we can forget or neglect to think of Jesus.

Grandson (and all the grandkids), don’t ever forget: Jesus is the issue.  His spiritual POSITION in your life IS what is important.  Soak on and take to heart Michael’s words: “Lay everything aside to read about Christ (not a religious book, even some Bible readings, but that which speaks OF HIM), think about Him, pray to Him, and ask Him to pray for you.  Forget the earthly concerns and lose all appetite for sin…for IN HIM you will find everything you have looked for elsewhere in vain.”



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                               936-559-5696

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Day 348 - Who Among Us Is Like Jesus?

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 183
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive these thoughts in an easy manner. 



This day’s writing of Michael’s brings back memories from over 30 years ago, when I first became a Christian.  Those were some interesting days…happy as Larry to be a Christian, oftentimes struggling to live like one.  Until one winter day in Colorado…



DAY 348

Who Among Us Is Like Jesus?

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. --John 15:7

I have a challenge for those who have been believers for many years. Read through the commands of Jesus and see, after all these years, how well you are doing. How much progress has been made? Has there been a ten, twenty, thirty, or forty percent improvement? How do you act at your worst now? This is not turning into a guilt-based article; I just want to make the point that you still fall way short. Why? I believe there are two things that we must always keep in mind when reading the commandments of Jesus. First, He was setting a standard that unregenerate man could never keep. The bar was being set so high that no one would be able to reach His level of righteousness. Peter listened every day and knew well the teaching to love an enemy. The end result was cutting off a man’s ear! Often overlooked is one aspect of Christ’s teaching: that it reveals not only what man should do but what man cannot do. Second, Jesus did it all; He did what He taught, and He did it freely, naturally, consistently, and without struggle. Therefore, He proved it could be done. Here is the secret to dealing with commands we cannot keep, commands that must be kept, and commands that He kept easily. The solution is simple: We admit we cannot; He moves and keeps them through us. It will be Christ in us living through us as though it is us, but it is not us. We do not aspire to live like Jesus; we gave that up. It is really Jesus living through us. Beautiful!


Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



Do any of you recall that old song sung so often in church years ago…
”To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus.  All I ask is to be like Him.  Through this hard trial from earth to glory, oh how I long to be like Him. 
He’s so meek and lowly, so meek and lowly.  Jesus is ever humble and holy, humble and holy.  oh how I long, oh how I long to be like Him.”
And we skipped out of church to go out and TRY to be like Him.
And then we didn’t quite “be like Him” all week.
Then we walked slowly back into church to sing again…

Or, one person changed it up a bit…
“I want to be more like Jesus…”
Aha, just “more like Him.”
And you know the end to that next week…

Well, what did you think of Michael’s challenge? How did you fare?  What % improvement have you accomplished “after all these years”???  How did you feel at “How do you act at your worst now?”

I love thinking and knowing that although Jesus may have set a standard that an unregenerate man couldn’t possibly keep…it is the same for me, a regenerate man.  I love thinking and knowing that Jesus “did it all”…lived a perfect life…kept all the rules, laws, and standards.  AND I LOVE thinking and knowing that Jesus IS my life as a Christian now (Colossians 3:3-4)

I have joined Michael and said, “I admit I cannot,” and Jesus moves and keeps them through me.  I now experience Christ in me living through me, as though it is me, but it is not me.  It REALLY is Jesus living through me!  Well, amen.



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                936-559-5696

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Day 323 - What Counts

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 182
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive these thoughts in an easy manner. 


Most everyone who has known Michael Wells or his writings (especially his trip reports over the years of places and people God took him to) have heard of “the head.”  As Michael mentions in the first sentence of paragraph 2…it has been vexing, or haunting, to all.  But the truths of Michael’s report are what may well be what vexes or haunts us most…


DAY 323

What Counts


The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. --I John 2:17

Travel can be enlightening when encountering a lifestyle so different from the one accustomed to at home, such as having to become consumed with searching for the basics of water, food, shelter, transportation, and someplace to exchange money. 
           
My brother and I had a vexing—no, haunting—experience when traveling in the Amazon region. At one point along the way we both stopped in amazement, as though we were looking at an optical illusion, for there on the sidewalk was a head, a human head with a body smaller than a box of cereal and bereft of arms, legs, stomach, and clothing, but the mouth held a pencil used to draw flowers on a small piece of paper. We left some money in a small bowl placed alongside and walked away wondering. Wondering at how much of what consumed our daily lives would apply to this person. Wondering at how we complain over such comparatively insignificant things; wondering at what this person’s response would be were we to approach and relate how someone had offended us or how our Christmas celebration might be a bit slim this year. The head was disturbing and mysterious; his image would not leave us. This person with nothing had found life tolerable; he expressed a beauty within through simple art. In contrast, many with a multitude of worldly attributes, accomplishments, and possessions cannot stand life. The head was a good example of how life is not found outside man but within. I began to ask myself how much of what is taught in Christendom would apply to this person. I was left with the conclusion that if what we teach cannot be accomplished by this person, it is not simple enough to apply to anyone else. The deep life comes through faith and the activity of the soul and spirit, not the activity of the body. All doing is to be the result of faith.  

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



I have heard people say they cannot believe the story of “the head” to be truth.  I have seen a picture Michael took that proves him.  But what has amazed me even more is the great number of people who have told me they do not believe life is found within man, but outside.  Who constantly complain over comparatively insignificant things.  Who are constantly offended.  Who live lives that are consumed by events that would not apply to “the head.” 

And then I think of how much IS taught in Christendom that would not apply to this person.  And I come to the same conclusion Michael came to: if what we teach cannot be accomplished by “the head,” then it is not simple enough to apply to anyone else.

God said that “without faith it is impossible to please Him.”  That takes me to the activity of my soul and spirit, and not to concern myself with the activity of my body.  Faith will take care of that.  That is deep enough for me.



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                               936-559-5696

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Day 82 - Experience

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 181
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive these thoughts in an easy manner. 



It seems man has a passion for the “School of Hard Knocks.”  Not wanting to listen to others who have trod the path they are about to head down, man goes about to gain his own experiences…learning experiences…taking some “hard knocks” along the way.  Well, that’s OK…”everybody learns that way”…they say!

Michael shows us Jesus did things differently…



DAY 82

Experience


Even if I have truly erred, my error lodges with me. --Job 19:4

Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. –Titus 3:14

A friend may show you a shortcut that saves several hours of walking, and you may prove your friend correct once you take his suggestion and walk the new way. If at a later time this same friend tells you that the path is destroyed and you are to go another way, should not your history with the friend dictate that you listen and follow through with his altered advice? Learning from his experience would help you not experience the wrong path yourself.

Experience is way overrated! Look at what experiencing is teaching our society! It is teaching that immorality can kill, set the wrong course for a young life, and set in motion addictions that can be fought for years. Experiencing is showing couples the damage done to marriages through bitterness, self-centeredness, and unfaithfulness. 

Jesus did not need to experience every dull thing; He learned by a more excellent way, the way of faith. He became a man, lived as a man, and experienced living by every word that proceeded from His Father. Experience is good, but the experience we need is from listening to God, our Father. What Jesus teaches in Matthew 5 - 7 is not just a revelation from heaven that facts of earth do not confirm. All of life proves what He taught, for His teaching is written into creation itself. Therefore, we do not need more experience in going the opposite way, not only breaking the commands of the teaching but breaking ourselves against them. There is nothing new to be learned through experience; all guiding principles have been learned and written down in Scripture, in the visible and invisible world, and within man.


Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



I guess this boils down to us deciding whether we want to try FAITH or EXPERIENCE.  As Michael points out, “the experience we need is from listening to God, our Father.”

I love Michael’s last words: “There is nothing new to be learned through experience; all guiding principles have been learned and written down in Scripture, in the visible and invisible world, and within man.”  Well, amen.

One of my most favorite hobbies is to compile what I like to call “Life Verses.”  Those words from a page of Scripture that bring Life to my life!  When I read the words of John 6:63, (Jesus speaking) “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life…I have to declare these words bring such joy unspeakable to me.  I want LIFE in my life!  I want to have all that God can give me from His Holy Scriptures.  I have had all the “hard knocks” that I can stand!

And you know what is CRAZY?!?  Three verses later, “many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”  Why?  Verse 64 tells us, “But there are some of you that BELIEVE not.  For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that BELIEVED not, and who should betray Him.”            (capital letters for emphasis)

Do we as man “believe not,” and must try things out (experience things) instead of trusting God’s words first?



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                      936-559-5696