Reflection on Reflections

We are made in his image

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1: 27

Therefore, each one of us has the capacity to become like Christ.

For freedom Christ has set us free
-------
By his death on a cross the veil has been torn

And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3: 18

Do I want to look more like Jesus?

Then I must look to Him.

No more dwelling on the things of this world.

He is my maker. I am the clay.

He is my Father. I am his child.

To set the mind on the flesh is death,

but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8: 6

Do I want peace? Then I must look to Him.

Do I want to know joy? Then I must look to Him.

Do I want to be self-controlled? Then I must look to him.

Etc. Etc.

We are made in his image. We are his children. Therefore, let us reflect our Heavenly Father.

Even common thoughts on human development can help point the way. A child reflects the one holding them in their hands. It is true. In looking at a parent who smiles, a son or daughter will respond with a smile.

iCommit to Begin Anew: I will turn my head towards him, look up, and boldly gaze into the eyes of God; the one who holds me (& you) in his hands.

It’s a very intimate place to be. Full of love and grace . . . and mercy!

“Hear” are some words from a great song I like to sing. Please follow the link to Jami Smith.com for more.

Wash Over Me

Jami Smith and Janet Hubbell

© 2002 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music/ASCAP

Only You - The Lord who is God - can take this heart

Only You can take this mind

Only You can take this life

And make it look like Jesus

Crucify the Flesh

Romans 6: 6

We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be

enslaved to sin.

• Crucified with Him!
• Made to be an example.
• Our flesh 'hung out to dry'.

When others shouted, “Crucify, crucify him!” Jesus did not save himself. Nor did he defend himself. Instead Jesus chose to write the gospel story of redemption through His blood shed for the remission of sin.

That is Love defined; and not retribution through violent acts of lashing-out, human bloodshed, or even slashing.

Jesus, while on the cross, did not curse them. He was simultaneously blameless (innocent of charge) and blame-less (no pointing of the finger and yes, forgiving). He blessed them. He prayed for them. “Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23: 34).

And like a lamb going to slaughter, he willingly laid down his life for you and me.

It may seem upside down in the mind’s eye, but in his dying Jesus Christ showed us how to live. Examine these scriptures: Luke 6: 27 – 38. We are called to avoid sin and we are called to sacrificial living; that is, to Love actively by the laying down of our lives.

Therefore, let us choose to crucify the flesh and live redeemed.

On a personal note:

I smile. One Resurrection Sunday a parishioner angrily said that the white draping on the cross looked like the pastor family’s dirty laundry. At the time these words stabbed. However, knowing more of the love of Jesus and his FORGIVENESS this day, I am better able to forgive . . . and now rejoice.

There is a peace that comes with full understanding that it is my dirty laundry hanging there on the tree!

It’s right where it needs to be . . . and I’m right where God wants me to be.

How Beautiful it is to see

Christ’s Blood Shed for Thee!

FRANK(talk)in(g)Sense

Frank Talk

iGoogled: In researching crushed rose petals I found it very interesting, and personal to me, that Frankincense is also used as a raw material for perfume. It is clear that Frankincense, in addition to embalming and other more common medicinal purposes, is significant to producing a pleasing aroma.

iLearned: Frankincense comes from a tree of the genus Boswellia. The species is called Boswellia sacra or B. sacra with the root word meaning holy.

iSurmise: In addition to what I have been told, Frankincense was given to Messiah to signal His Holiness.

iPonder: How great and good God is!

There is no mistake the Jesus Christ should be given such a gift of Frankincense. He is the one who is Holy.

The aroma of Christ is lovely; it is a fragrant offering of laying one’s life so that others might live.

1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage. . . 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:1-2,10-11

iUnderstand: Wise men in offering a gift of frankincense to Messiah are guided by Wisdom. Wisdom comes only from The Holy Spirit and not an avatar of one’s own making.

iDesire Christ.

iSeek Christ.

iFound Christ.

iWorship Christ.

iLove Christ.

iPray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.

Now iRejoice. Amen.

Most Precious and Crushed

Crushed Rose Petals are used for the most expensive perfumes.

So while a full bloom rose is deemed beautiful, this is not the end for some. Some flowers are saved to be crushed . . . like a redeeming act of God.

At first glance, it seems like a precious, beautiful, delicate, living thing is utterly destroyed; however, this is not an ordinary affair. The one crushed becomes a useful treasure for the king and the rose is considered nothing short of being highly-esteemed, -valued, -desirable, -prized, and ultimately called “most precious.”

Do you see the parallel?

When a life is poured out it becomes a pleasing fragrance for the King of Kings.

An Example

Pure Nard was used to anoint Messiah. Like a crushed beautiful rose, it flowed from the passionate love Mary had for her Savior (see Mark 14: 3 – 9; Matthew 26: 6 - 13). . . and how much more it flowed from the veins of Jesus Christ in passionate love for his people.

In plain speech, our model is JESUS CHRIST. He showed us how to live and how to die. He willing gave up his life and submitted himself to the will of the Father (Isaiah 53: 10); choosing to be crushed and crucified (not obliged).

This not only represents a costly gift of love, it is LOVE.

Homework

Come close and gaze at the Beautiful and Most Precious Rose

It is He who shed his blood and rose.

Conquering death. A mighty feat.

Such Victory!

Our Scripture Reading:

Isaiah 53: 4 -5; 12

4 Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed . . . 12 Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Our Victory Song:

Jesus Christ poured out for the remission of sin!

Our Battle Charge:

Ephesians 5: 1 – 2

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Additional reading: 2 Corinthians 2: 14 – 17.

On True Beauty

On True Beauty

I’ll skip the first few steps of script;

Found written in a common garden text.

Because this is what I know:

Jesus Christ aRose.

God speaks the Word; causing things to be.

He gives us growth and flowers to see.

Yet there is still something greater than these;

Ah . . . ‘Tis only when Jesus Christ is seen!

To Walk in Freedom

Lord, I thank you forever. You love me, save me, and forgive me of all my sin. You set me free!

THANK YOU FOR FREEDOM.

Thank you for another reminder this week of all that you have done. In the past I chose death; but by your gracious hand and unfailing love I receive life.

I never want to live apart from you, for my freedom is in you and you alone.

THANK YOU JESUS.

Thank you for Psalm 119

44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever. 45 I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

Commentary: Self-help is a vanity; fleeting and worthless.

What a Difference a Word Makes

1 Chronicles 19: 1 – 5

¹ Some time afterward, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him. ² David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, for his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. When David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites, to console him, ³ the officials of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent consolers to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” ⁴ So Hanun seized David’s servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away; ⁵ and they departed. When David was told about the men, he sent messengers to them, for they felt greatly humiliated. The king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.” (emphasis mine)

Much like the passage found above, I am asking you to take a closer look at the path embarked upon when one person exposes another in an unloving manner. Do you see how a single negative word from a naysayer can expose underlying fear, thereby increasing the likelihood of lashing out? Or likewise, how easily an ‘exposed’ and offended person suffers emotional trauma?

It does not matter whether this unloving and highly-personal exposure is done with malice, by force or is purely accidental in nature. The result is the same. Humans experience acute humiliation when their flesh is exposed, made to be an example (for all to see) or simply disgraced by the hint of scandal. Since we are made of flesh and blood we can not avoid it. This path is taken regardless of whether the exposing is purely physical in nature (as seen in scripture above) or spiritually-speaking as an uncovering of our sinful, flesh-filled ways (seen in the Book of Genesis).

The primary purpose of this teaching, however, is not to depress but to help lift you up through the proclamation of the Good News. You have been bought with a price, redeemed and chosen through Jesus Christ. God’s grace has been extended to you. Jesus, the very Lamb of God, shed his blood. Without blemish he became a perfect offering for our sin. He was a man of suffering. He was despised and rejected on our behalf in order that we might be adopted as the sons and daughters of God.

Hear the word of the Lord:

Ephesians 1: 7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

He lavished his Love on us. Now, Let us rejoice!

The secondary purpose of this teaching is to gently remind me of the reason why Christians, should practice the discipline of extending great grace. Look at King David’s response. In a Christ-like manner King David responded with kindness and gentleness allowing the injured to have time to heal. While these two fruits of the Spirit are some of the most under-rated (or least tasted) ways in the church today, they are given to us for a purpose: to assist in the giving of new life to others.

Made in the image of their creator, the fruits of the Spirit are life-giving fruits.

With God’s help we are called to do the same. . . so let us be doers of the Word (James 1: 22) ; choose to crucify our flesh (Galatians 5: 22 – 25); and become first responders in times of fear, shame, humiliation and personal offense.

Our weapons are not of this world (Ephesians 6: 10 – 20). Come armed with the Word of God.

Matthew 5: 44

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (emphasis mine)

Intimacy

The Marks of Intimacy

True friends spend a lot of time together.

They seek each other out and talk non-stop.

They cherish one another.

They trust each other.

They tend to hold the same world view.

They talk about everything (esp. kids).

Physical appearance doesn’t really matter.

They cry, laugh and dance together.

They go on walks.

They break bread and dine together.

God too wants to see these marks in you – between you and him. And before long you will hear these very words written for you:

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made know to you everything that I have heard from my father.

John 15: 15