Day 343 Whatever Makes You Happy!

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 60

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

How did we ever get to the point as Christians to think that righteousness could not be exciting?  Crazy!  Just to be “righteous” IN CHRIST is one of the most exciting things in life for a Christian!  Read on as Michael Wells tells us how God wants us to LIVE in such a way that we feel extremely comfortable “doing whatever makes me happy,” and that can be righteous!!!

Day 343

Whatever Makes You Happy!

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. --Hebrews 12:2

The Spirit is always whispering to me, “Do whatever makes you happy!” The enemy has invested a good bit of time getting believers to buy into the lie that walking after the flesh is satisfying and that righteousness is somehow less than exciting, if not downright boring. One time in a foreign country I sensed that the Lord wanted me to take a walk and listen, but I was not going to go. I started to leave, then came back, thinking that the man who had organized my meetings would want to talk to me. However, he walked right by and never saw me. I decided on the walk. Here is what happened next. As I walked, the Lord spoke, "Why do you hang onto your self life?" I thought long and hard to answer, "Because I think I can find some enjoyment.” Just then an old woman with a cane appeared, dragging a bag and her purse. I passed her and then was quickened to stop and turn back; she was fearful at seeing my suit and being on a lonely road. I reached in my pocket, opened her hand, and inserted some money. She immediately broke down weeping and explained something in her native tongue. She sounded hopeless, something about having to go and having nothing. She cried so much that I reached forward to hold her as she wept. I only said, "Jesus." I walked away, crying myself, and the Lord spoke, "Do the things you hold onto give you that much joy?" I turned to look once more at the old woman, and she was gone. All night I could smell on my clothes the distinct odor of a homeless person, but the aroma had a sweet memory attached to it. Nothing compares to God's little surprises. The Lord did not bless her so much as He had blessed me through this encounter. And the Spirit continues whispering to me, “Do whatever makes you happy!”

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Four times Michael mentions “the Lord” and “the Spirit.”  Each time there is a monumental lift in our spirit with what each had to say.  There is an instantaneous quickening of our soul to the realization that we must not listen to any voices other than that of our Good Shepherd.  He always directs us to “green pastures” and “still waters.”  Those are the most satisfying.  Those are the most helpful.  Those make us the most happy.  Past experiences with our Lord and knowing His voice lead me to have the proper thoughts that lead to “doing whatever makes me happy.”

We should ALL be having encounters like Michael mentions.  We should ALL be blessed by God’s little surprises as Michael mentions.  How could any of us, after walking with our Lord for some time, ever continue to think (or, believe…God help us!) that “walking after the flesh is satisfying and that righteousness is somehow less than exciting, if not downright boring”?  Therefore, how could any of us continue to walk there?!?

IF YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO INTERACT WITH ME ON SOMETHING MICHAEL HAS WRITTEN, AND/OR ANY OF MY THOUGHTS, PLEASE NOTE THE EMAIL ADDRESS JUST BELOW MY NAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 95 - Feeling Overwhelmed

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 59   

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

A profound truth: REST comes from simply abiding.  All the “doing” is not of Him.  Soak on the words of Michael in today’s study, and get a picture in your spirit of just what you need to drop off the schedule…

DAY 95

 

Feeling Overwhelmed

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. --Matthew 23:15

If one were to take all of the lists of the emphases from every group or denomination and stack them on his desk, he could make a complete collection of all things that presumably urgently need to be done by the Christian. All of the books on prayer, spiritual warfare, marriage, family, authority, church, witnessing, forgiveness, abuse, counseling, spiritual experiences, and intellectual pursuits could be stacked up; he could just keep adding, placing on top whatever all the groups say that believers really need to know and do. One might want to start in the city next to mine, where there are over two hundred international ministries, each distinctive and each with its own special emphases. Next, if the person is strong enough, brave enough, and has the will power, he can dive in and start doing all of the above. How long would it take him to be exhausted? See how high Jesus set the bar? He did it for a reason: to exhaust us and push us to something much more simple, abiding. Simple abiding; I love it so much. I do not need the list of what Jesus did; I have exactly Jesus dwelling in me. Simply acknowledge that in Him we abide. Throw away the stacks, sit back, and let Him show us what He will do through us today. We will not be able to compete, and others will try to condemn us when they see our freedom, but the Lord’s works, true works, will put them to shame. Rest in Jesus just for the joy of it. No one can keep all of those lists but Him, and even Jesus did not keep them all at once! We will keep what we need to keep in His order as He keeps it through us. It is not passivity, for we must show up; that is the one thing we must do. We can put our hand on our hearts first thing in the morning and say, “Jesus, You are welcome here. Come and live what needs to be lived this day.” Enjoy the blessed rest.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Wow!  The Scribes and Pharisees abound today, don't they!  And just like in Jesus' day, 99% of them are not coming close to keeping all the "lists" they dole out.   And I have seen many Christians that have felt like a "son of  hell" after reaching a point of total exhaustion trying to be the kind of Christian these teachers and preachers talk of.

How many of us have had the lists???  And how many lists???  And how many have made the effort to be “strong enough, brave enough, and have the will power” to “dive in and start doing all of the above”???  And how many have been exhausted, or perhaps…burnt out???

The biggest question is this: how many have come to the point of abiding and resting in Christ?  And watched Him “do” as only He can do…through us.

Here’s some more questions to ponder:

1.     Do you have a book you are reading right now that is pointing out something or all
          that you need to do to… (you can complete that point).
2.    Do you have a list you are working on?  Lists?
3.    Have you rededicated yourself recently?  Or, resolved to “do”…?
4.    Have you ever made note of how long it has taken you to get exhausted trying to
          complete a list?
5.    Are you still wearing one of those WWJD bracelets?  Or, one like it?  Still have
          one around???
6.    Has the awareness of having “exactly Jesus” dwelling in you become real to you?
7.    Do you really believe Michael’s words: “We will keep what we need to keep in His
          order AS HE KEEPS IT THROUGH US?  (caps are my emphasis)

If you have any desire to interact with me on something Michael has written, and/or any of my thoughts, please note the email address below.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 94 - Feeling Guilty

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 58

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

Guilt or guilty feelings devastate more Christians than most folks realize.  It is easy to understand why: if we don’t understand what guilt is, and what it’s purpose is, we fall in bondage to a lie of it being something else.  That “something else” is what is so devastating to so many.  Michael Wells gives incredible insights into the real meaning and purpose God intends for guilt to play in a Christian’s life, and gives God’s way of getting past any guilt and moving on to victory!

DAY 94

Feeling Guilty

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. --Romans 8:1

Jesus is the Way written into every fiber of our being and consciousness. When we invite our own way into our being, we come apart, so sin and punishment are one and the same. Guilt, then, comes not solely for what we have done but to keep us from doing it again. Guilt is not the result of our actions; coming apart is the result of our actions. Guilt's primary purpose is for the future avoidance of repeating bad choices. This is an important distinction to make, because guilt is not dealt with by mentally going back into the past, but by making a change of direction now; at that, guilt not only goes away but also has a positive effect on our lives. Once the change in direction has occurred, any reappearance of the sense of guilt over an issue is false guilt.

One man I knew, then a great-great-grandparent, had slaves in the home as a youngster; when he would come home from school, he would find his favorite slave, an elderly man, and make him give him rides on his back, up and down the road. Once the boy became a man, the day came when guilt visited him. Vexed by his selfishness, his way, he realized he had never thought about whether the old man was tired or not after having worked all day, and as a boy he had made the man continue to labor. He was guilty of his selfishness. He could not go back to that time as a child, but he could change direction that day, which he did, and from then on he chose always to help anyone who had been a slave. Guilt had played its part, done its job, and was no longer needed, having produced a positive outcome. After the change in direction, if guilt did return, it would be false guilt sent by the enemy for waylaying condemnation. Guilt that leads to a change in direction is true guilt. Guilt that leads to condemnation is false guilt.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

A profound truth:  Guilt’s primary purpose is for future avoidance of repeating bad

                             choices.

A profound result:  Making choices for a change in direction in life that leads to all

                               guilt going away and enjoying all the positive effects on our

                               lives!

Well, amen!  That is life…Christ’s life.  And what a beautiful, guilt-free life it is.

What is the first thing Michael points out that we do that starts our downfall?

What is the immediate effect of our making that erroneous decision?

Is guilt even present at that point in time?

What do you think about Michael’s statement: “sin and punishment are one and the same”?

How many Christians do you think are dealing with “false guilt” over something God is not holding them accountable for?

For many, many years I have had folks come to the pastor’s office in all kinds of contortions over varying degrees of guilt relating far too often to something they did, or that someone did to them, years and years before.  How tragic that we haven’t been able to get Christ’s freedom message across to the church body.

However, when a Christian is not aware of, or completely sold out to, all they are in Christ, all they have in Christ, and who Christ is in them…truth is unable to set them free.  Let me correct that…Truth is unable to set them free.  See the difference?  In many instances the discipleship programs are teaching facts and leaving out the Person (of Christ).  There is no fact of truth apart from the Person of Truth.  And that is what makes Christianity so much different from any religion.

If you have any desire to interact with me on something Michael has written, and/or any of my thoughts, please note the email address just below my name at the  bottom of this.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 55 - Condemnation Reveals the Heart

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 57

         

Michael’s book is available through: 

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

A profound truth:  NO CONDEMNATION.
Another profound truth:  Obedience is a separate topic from acceptance.
The question is:  If need be, will we confess our sin of disbelief in the Son, turn from
     it, and acknowledge His work?

DAY 55

Condemnation Reveals the Heart

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. --Romans 8:1

Often when I am speaking I want to make a point by asking everyone in the audience that has experienced condemnation as a Christian to raise their hands. Everyone who raises his hand has, at one time or another, been like the Galatians, who had cast Christ aside and put their trust in something else. “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace,” Galatians 5:4. When we have trusted in something other than Christ and have failed, we felt condemned because we believed that our standing in God was based on our behavior. The sense of condemnation is a revelation of where our hearts look to find peace, either in Jesus or in our own effort. Obedience is a separate topic from acceptance. If acceptance were based on our obedience, then what would Christ really mean to us? As it is, with our acceptance secured in Him, He means everything to us. If we want to be free from condemnation, we must not determine to do better but rather confess our disbelief in the Son, turn from it, and acknowledge His work.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Have you ever felt “condemnation”(guilt) based on your behavior?

How much have you felt it?  For how long?

Has it ever crossed your mind to think that your feelings of condemnation stemmed from believing your standing in God was based on your behavior?

Have you ever thought that a sense of condemnation is a revelation of where your heart is looking to find peace?

All of these questions are indicative of the fact that way too many Christians have never been taught, or have never understood, ALL that we are “IN CHRIST.”  I remember Bro. John preaching on Ephesians, ch. 1, and the several things mentioned in those first verses that gave a glimpse into who I was in my new-born state of having become a Christian (at an age just 10 days before I turned 35).  Hooooo-boy!  Did I ever get excited at hearing and discovering what God said about me being a Child of God!  And the first bible study of a particular book in the Bible that we were involved in was a retired pastor coming to our church for “Church Training” (5pm on Sunday evenings, just before Evening Service) and teaching on the Book of Romans.  When he got to Romans 8:1, my heart leapt again!  For the 33+ years of being a Christian, I have not felt “condemned”…simply because I had the privilege of being taught from the start that my peace was “in Christ,” and not in anything I did or did not do.

PEACE.  ACCEPTED.  LOVED. 

Interestingly, for 15 years I just hung on who I was “in Christ.”  And then we met Michael Wells…and he took me to another level:  Who “Christ is in me”!  Aaaaahhh!  This Christianity thing really is good!

IF YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO INTERACT WITH ME ON SOMETHING MICHAEL HAS WRITTEN, AND/OR ANY OF MY THOUGHTS, PLEASE NOTE THE EMAIL ADDRESS JUST BELOW MY NAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 335 - We Love With His Love

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 56

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

If we see ourselves as unlovable, it would follow that we would have difficulty feeling loved.  What is even more of an issue is that sometimes we see others as being unlovable!  What do we do then?

DAY 335

We Love With His Love

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. –John 13:35

As I mature, I relate to Peter in deeper and deeper ways, ways in which I wish I did not. Christ’s question to me, “Michael, do you love Me?” can elicit the response, “Lord, You know that I like You.” No need lying to Him! He knows my deepest attitudes. What amazes me is His response back, “Well, I do really love you.” How can He say that? Because He is the epitome of Love that is always being acted out. He tells us to love an enemy. Does He not do what He commands? If I am His enemy, will He not love me? He tells us to forgive when offended. Will He not then forgive when He is offended? We see the Sermon on the Mount as a teaching to follow and forget that it describes His actions, attitudes, and behaviors toward us. Love qualifies Him to be God!

Do you have the revelation? He loves you! He loves your few hairs left on your head, the way your eyes squint, your height, your looks, the shape of your hands, that odd-looking toe, the wrinkles, the way you speak, and every other aspect of your uniqueness. You do not believe me. I will let eternity speak against the years. I can wait; I will be proven right. When you get to heaven, you will see yourself as He sees you. When you do, you will not ask to have anything changed. You will even keep your so-called deformity. Many of you have gone your whole lives believing yourselves to be unlovable. Unlovable simply does not exist for perfect Love. 

Do you have the revelation? He loves you! He has an intense yearning for you. Some of you are grandparents who know the excitement that wells up within when your grandchild is coming, the abundance of photos you take, the writing down of the child’s sayings, and the attention you direct to his every little act. Multiply that times one billion and you might get an inkling of God’s love for you. If you can see it in the deepest part of your being, then anything that He asks of you, you quickly do without question, knowing the request is based in love. The obedience of Jesus toward the Father was not a task, something that must be performed implicitly; rather, His obedience was always a joy because He had the revelation of God’s love. If God, who loved Him so much, asked for something, that something must be firmly rooted in perfect love. Jesus was so convinced of God’s perfect love that when He was asked to go to the cross, He went with joy. I do not mean He was laughing, but He knew perfect Love was up to something, such as that the cross meant a crown! God is Love! Hebrews 12:2, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” You see commands as coming from an authoritative father figure, one who is keeping you from having fun, and you fight obedience. God is not your earthly father! The missing dynamic in perfect obedience is the revelation of perfect love. How can you believe God and act if you are not first convinced of His love? II Thessalonians 3:5, “And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.”

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

For you, what is the most important statement in today’s writing?

Name 3 people you feel are “unlovable”:

   1.

   2.

   3.

Do you have the revelation of God’s love for you?

How are you going to be able to “love the unlovable” from now on?

Interesting, isn’t it…we who have Christ in us could feel ourselves as being unlovable.  How is that?  Two things…first, not having the revelation of God’s love for us.  Second, feeling with the feelings we were born with (as a Lost Man), instead of feeling with His feelings that became ours when we were Born Again. 

So much of this ties back into Michael’s writing in his book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, in chapter 6, where he shows our tendency to see issues or events as the “problem” when the fact is that our identity is what is causing us to respond as we do.  I strongly recommend you getting Sidetracked In The Wilderness and soaking on the freedom-giving truths Michael expounds upon there.

I love Michael’s statement: “Unlovable simply does not exist for perfect Love.”  No matter who we are, what we have done, where we have been, what somebody else thinks about us or how they treat us…our being unlovable does not exist for God.  Hallelujah!

I also love: “The missing dynamic in perfect obedience is the revelation of perfect love.”  WOW!  How we have argued and discussed the why’s and wherefore’s of God’s commands, and tried to figure out how we could get around them or ignore them.  All the while, He is trying to show us through Christ’s life on earth that no matter what He asks of us we can obey with the joy of Jesus, knowing the request is based in His love.  Amen.

Love with His love…an irresistible challenge!

IF YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO INTERACT WITH ME ON SOMETHING MICHAEL HAS WRITTEN, AND/OR ANY OF MY THOUGHTS, PLEASE NOTE THE EMAIL ADDRESS JUST BELOW MY NAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

                                                     leemccm@gmail.com

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