Day 2 - Add a One to All Your Zeros

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 124

         

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 the weekly thoughts I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner. 

How many times in life have you had someone say something so simple and seemingly so minuscule…that turned out to be so profound?  Michael shares one of those moments in his life that turned out to be so profound.  Enjoy this one…then make sure the One is in front of all you are counting on!

Day 2

Add a One to All Your Zeros

Jesus said to him, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” --John 14:6

While I was in India speaking at a school, one of the dorm parents asked to talk to me. He turned out to be a great blessing to me as he sat sharing about so many things. He had been a Brahman, one of the elite of Hinduism, worshipped as a god. He had always been taught that there were many ways to God, and yet he began to wonder, “Do I have the right way?” It was this questioning and the Holy Spirit that had brought him to Jesus. Once he confessed his faith, he was banned from going to his house, and after sixteen years, his father died without reconciliation. He is now tolerated and allowed to visit his house, so long as he does not stay. He really does not care, for he has found Jesus. The most interesting point he made was about writing on a chalkboard his qualifications for being a Christian. Under talent he put zero. Under ability he put zero. Under intelligence: zero. Under people skills he put zero. In every category, he put a zero. He looked on the board and all he had written was a line of zeros. Then a man said to him, “Let me show you something. All you have are zeros, six to be exact. Now we will add one to all the zeros, the only ONE that matters. We will add Jesus to all your zeros.” The man then put a one at the front of all the zeros and said, “See? When I added the ONE to the front, where Jesus belongs, your zeros have now become one million. Add Jesus to your zeros and your weaknesses become your strength.”

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Beautiful!  Simple, yet so profound!  Just add the One to the front of all I am counting on, and I now have strength in all my weaknesses!  Hallelujah!

Man is so conceited to think he can be “something,” isn’t he?  Ooops, that includes you and me.  Oh, my.  Well, amen.  Now I know better. 

The question always is:  Will I admit I am a zero?

Michael gave me one of these little tidbits one time: My IQ is not much.  I’ve never had it “figured,” but I know it can’t be much.  But God gave me the Mind of Christ when I was Born Again, and now I can draw upon His IQ of one hundred million kazillian.  Pretty good, huh?  Thank you, Lord, for this magnificent gift. 

Oh, yeah…I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.  Thank you, Lord, for this magnificent gift.

He is the One who at the front makes all my zeros become something.  Amen.

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

NOTICE: a new 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

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 6 - Abiding-Life People

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 123

         

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 the weekly thoughts I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner. 

“Abiding-Life People,” what a delightful moniker for Born Again Believers who have come to realize what being “in Christ” really is.  Michael points out the very essence of the spiritual totality of His life in us.  Enjoy!

Day 6 

Abiding-Life People

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. --II Corinthians 2:14

In the Rocky Mountains we have what is called the “high country,” my favorite place. As I ascend in the hot summer, I can experience what appears to be a perpetual springtime. Beautiful! In late summer I find the berry bushes and the wild strawberries. They have not been tampered with and therefore are very small in appearance, but grand in flavor. They are not like the huge grocery-store berries that are big but have no flavor. These are small and powerful, and they are hard to get to because of the bushes and thorns. Attempting to eat them means I will be scratched. Is it worth it? It is to me. Many fruits are bigger, but not tastier. When I eat one of these berries, the small seeds have a tendency to stick in my mouth. I spit them out in the hope that there will be new growth.

In many places I have seen the message of abiding in Christ initially spit out, only to grow years later. The seed of abiding is so resilient. Abiding-life people are like the berries at high altitude: small with a fragrant aroma and the fruit so pungent. Let the years speak against the minutes; we are the lesser people in this great time, the abiding people, the berries of high altitude, the fragrant aroma of the world. 

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Don’t you just love it (in addition to joining the Apostle Paul in giving thanks to God) that God “always leads us in His triumph in Christ”?  What a victory!  And then to top it off, He makes known (“manifests”) “through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”  Only God can create that “sweet aroma.”  Amen.

And, Michael gives us an astounding thought: “the message of abiding in Christ initially spit out, only to grow years later…the seed of abiding is so resilient.”  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to take a poll or survey or “whatever we would call it”…of ALL those enjoying the Abiding Life world-wide, and find out when EACH: 

(1) First identifies some sort of “introduction” (seed planting) of the truths of “abiding,” and then,

(2) Acknowledges the “revelation” of the truth in such a way that each “saw” it and it became a reality in their life. 

And to be able to calculate an “average” length of time between the “planting” and the “harvest” of this magnificent LIFE.  Hallelujah!

“Fragrant aroma…fruit so pungent.”  To God be all praise!

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

NOTICE: a new 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

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 1 - Abiding Is The Hardest Word

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 122

         

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 the weekly thoughts I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner. 

Having preached in different places to folks of a different language with an interpreter translating what I say…I too have encountered what Michael is talking about relative to the translator struggling to come up with a word in the other language to convey what I said in English.  In fact, sometimes they just simply say, “We don’t have a word for the word you used.  Can you say it another way?”  In today’s writing Michael points out the importance of understanding exactly what Jesus was saying when He spoke about Himself BEING the Vine, and then how our “abiding” is so much of our relationship to Him.  May God give you great insights into this teaching.

Day 1

Abide Is The Hardest Word

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. –John 15:4

Having spoken through hundreds of interpreters in nearly that many languages, I consistently find that the hardest word in the Bible to translate is abiding. Many languages use the word remaining, and yet that does not quite cover this important word, for Jesus did not use an analogy of the vine, saying that He was like a vine; He said that He was the Vine. Every vine preaches and teaches Jesus. Abiding is the culmination of His work and is everything, for in abiding we receive the Everything, Jesus. Is it not amazing that the whole work of Jesus is revealed in this one word? It would also make sense that the enemy would work to obscure the word. Abiding: holding me in Him, His life in me, cleansing, revealing what I am, kept safe from so much disease, a moment-by-moment existence, eternal life. Abiding, abiding, abiding. Wonderful!

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Isn’t it amazing that Christianity is so much more than:

·                I am a Christian.

·                I am going to Heaven when I die.

And it is NOT an endeavor to try or work to “be” a Christian, or a better Christian.  

Look carefully at what Michael points out:

1. “Abiding is the culmination of His work and is everything, for in abiding we receive the Everything, Jesus.”

     Culmination: the end or final result of something.  As a Christian I HAVE (not “need to get”) the Everything, Jesus.  All that He is, I have.

2. He is “holding me in Him, His life in me, cleansing, revealing what I am, kept safe from so much disease, a moment-by-moment existence, eternal life.”

     I HAVE and AM all these things.  What an incredible realization expanding my being a Christian (what Christianity is) past the two simple statements I mentioned at the first.

Each and every day, moment-by-moment, I can live all of this with a greater expectation of what God is going to do in and through my life.  Amen!

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 240 - Self-hatred

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 121

         

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 the weekly thoughts I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner. 

Life is full of deception and deceivers.  We like to say, “fool me once…shame on you, fool me twice…shame on me.”  And with things we can physically “see,” it is more difficult for someone to fool us twice.

However, we also live in a spiritual world where our enemy, known as the Deceiver, finds it easier to fool us more than once because we can’t see things as easily as we can in the physical world.  Michael gives us great insight into something that brings much defeat in the lives of many Christians…and a beautiful way to begin to get on the road to victory.

DAY 240

Self-hatred

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. --Romans 11:36

Is it really self-hatred? Do I really hate myself? No, self is still worshipped through self-hatred. I merely hate the hatred. Self is still the focus and remains alive and well. "I hate myself because I cannot be more Christian and overcome sin." Really? Actually, you love self and are upset that the king of your kingdom is not doing better. Who said self could do better? You are only discouraged in your pride in self. You thought that it could do so much and was going so well, but now it has failed you. You do not really hate self; you hate that self is not stronger. If you hated self, you would accept the death sentence on it, see the thing that you thought was taking you out as actually bringing you in, and boast in your weakness. Because of so great a sacrifice as what Jesus made on the cross, regret is a luxury that a believer does not have. When he has sinned, he can call on the marred Jesus for cleansing and forgiveness, for to continue to wallow in shame and self-loathing is simply pride. Admit where you are to leave where you are. Admit your love of self, that you want it to do better, and that you want glory. At that point you can have a move from God. As He lives Life through you, His peace will fill your days.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

As I was reading what Michael wrote, I began to think of how often I have made a comment like, “I hate it that I can’t do …”  Or, “I hate it that I am so …”  Sad thing is that all my “hatred” of those things has not led to a change (victory) over any of them.  But with Michael’s counsel, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

“Self-hatred” has gotten the best of many a Christian…particularly when focusing on being a “better” Christian, or not overcoming sin, or not doing more (for God), etc.  To discover that what we think is “self-hatred” is really not self-hatred, that we merely hate the hatred (and, not self), and that self is still our focus and remains alive and well…WOW!...that brings LIFE (Christ’s life, Truth) to the surface.  Now I can SEE what is really my problem, what needs to be dealt with, and how to start dealing with it!  Amen!

So, Self and Stinking Pride need to be dealt with.  Acknowledging “where I am” is a huge acknowledgement (grounded in humility) that enables me to begin to leave where I have been BY THE GRACE OF GOD.  I have moved to a place where Christ can live His life through me…and His peace will fill my days.  Hallelujah!

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 239 - Seeing The Lord In Everything!

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 120

         

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 the weekly thoughts I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner. 

Every day lots of things happen in our lives…but do they just “happen”?  I suppose many of us just see most of these things differently than Michael tells about in this day’s writing…

DAY 239

Seeing The Lord in Everything!

And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left. And thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow! The LORD has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are {taken} in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!” Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now, and cut off his head.” But the king said, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses, and if the LORD has told him, ‘Curse David,’ then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him. Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed, and cast stones and threw dust at him.

--II Samuel 16:6-13

Here was the greatest king in all of Israel allowing an ignorant man, a lesser man, to cast insults and stones upon him. David feared that the man might actually be a messenger of God. In short, David was able to see God in the situation. The true strength, greatness, and faith of David are revealed in this simple situation. Do we see God in every situation? If not, we can begin by taking a trip to the forest, for there we must read from a different book, the book of creation. Examine everything there in detail. Look at how everything is put together perfectly. In this place we may begin to see that our lives are put together perfectly . . . that God only allows, in His love, what is perfect for us. We believers are going to end well; however, in a circumstance today God will reveal the thing that needs dealt with lest it make our lives miserable in the future. David could see God at work in a man that was cursing him. What do the drivers cutting us off in traffic, the mate ignoring us, the impertinent office worker, or the rebellious child reveal in us? Is it God’s not creating but using something in our lives? Can we take a step back and see God?

Let me give you an example. I rented a car and was overcharged $20. How unfair! However, God showed me something. The proof of my faith in His provision does not only come through willingly giving to a stranger, but in unwillingly having money stolen from me. It was God. Do I really believe that He provides my money? Do I believe that He is my security? Do I believe that it is up to me to keep my finances within my control? I stood there and could see that it was not the car rental employee I needed to deal with, it was God, and so rather than wanting to stop the situation, I wanted to yield to it. Another time I took a “romantic” dinner cruise with my wife off the coast of Hawaii. Everyone had assigned seats. We walked to the top deck for a view and returned to find someone sitting in my wife’s seat. We had to sit apart on our romantic cruise. In my spirit I knew it was God. I just thought, “God bless you,” and was able, yet not I, to lay it aside. Make no mistake; it was God. All of you chosen of God must know that nothing is happening in your lives that is an accident. We all want to be like Christ but shy away from the experiences that would reveal Christ in us. Let the people around us throw their stones and curses. We are much better off yielding to it than taking their heads on a platter. 

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

My, oh my…how often have I “missed God” when I was not aware of this truth.  And even after becoming aware of this truth, how often I do not think of it as I am facing a situation.  Oh, God, give me a constant awareness of You being in every situation in my life!

Ok, here’s my checklist:

1. I want to “train” myself to see God in every situation.

2. I choose to believe that God only allows, in His love, what is perfect for me.

3. I want to see what God is revealing to me that I need to make sure is dealt with before it makes my life miserable in the future.

4. Is there anything in my “belief system” that needs correcting?

5. I choose to believe that nothing happens in my life that is an accident.

Now I am ready to face 2015 with a great perspective about all situations!  Well, amen!  Thank you, Lord!

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

To access another weekly blog on Michael’s book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, go to Getting Out of the Wilderness by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com  

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

leemccm@gmail.com

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