Day 223 - Prejudice

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 271

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

In this day’s writing, Michael Wells gives us a marvelous look at one of society’s ills that is prevalent around the globe, no matter where we might stop.  And, he speaks of God’s uncomplicated answer to solving this huge issue.  May we put on our spiritual eyes, ears, and mind so that we can hear what God is trying to tell us in this beautiful piece.

DAY 223

Prejudice

But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. --Luke 23:34

Prejudice! What an ugly social ill. America is accused of it justifiably, yet I have never been to a country that did not practice it. Every race has within it those who are prejudiced. Many of us were encouraged from youth by the government to dislike the Russians and the Japanese, and now that same government enforces laws against discrimination. Women hate men and men hate women. People are too tall, too fat, too skinny, too short, too stupid, too educated, too spiritual, too carnal, too legalistic, and too liberal. Do not trust parents, do not trust teenagers, do not believe husbands, know that employers are out to get you, and do not share a weakness with your wife.

             

Upon recognizing and pointing out prejudice in a society, many attempt to fight it with more prejudice toward those who have it, discriminating against and avoiding them at all cost. It is vexing to become like one’s enemy, with bigotry and distrust driving hate and dislike. How is prejudice destroyed? Like all other societal ills, it is incredibly simple to cure with love! Once love enters the equation, everything changes. Love is not selective but inclusive. Love does not sort out who is right or wrong but shows no partiality and makes us more than conquerors.

           

On one occasion I was talking to a friend of a different race; he had made a conscious determination that he and his children would learn all they could about their culture. My response was, “Has all the information you have learned concerning your race changed your marriage, given wisdom in raising your children, or taken away the feelings of inferiority, failure, or depression?” He admittedly said no. I then responded, “Neither has the study of my race.” Jesus never commented on the outer life. He was racist toward the inner life, the life of Adam, the life that causes misery, and He wanted it dead and replaced with His life (Galatians 2:20). Once we receive His life, we receive love, which frees us from all of the above and gives the needed wisdom for daily living.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

In what I consider to be one of the most parabolic (having hidden spiritual meaning that transcends the literal words written or spoken) statements of the New Testament (Luke 23:34), Jesus makes a declaration that millions of people would consider to be ridiculous…for these would say, “HOW could the crucifiers not know what they were doing?  They just nailed him to the cross.”  Yet, we who KNOW (because we have been given the spiritual eyes, ears, and mind of Christ) KNOW what Jesus was saying.  A perfect example of Michael’s recognition that “Jesus never commented on the outer life.”  These were words about the “inner” life that the crucifiers didn’t know a thing about…they were crucifying God.

As he always does, Michael draws the day’s writing down to an incredible Truth: Jesus was all about wanting the inner life of Adam dead and replaced with His life…some people have a ministry around this “Exchanged Life.”  Great Truth! 

ALMI takes it to the next step: “Once we receive His life, we receive love, which frees us from all of the above and gives the needed wisdom for daily living.”  Well, amen.  It is a huge victory to come to the realization of “who we are IN Christ.”  Just that alone helps innumerable Saints to move on day by day.

IF every living human could be Born Again, and be allowing Jesus to live His Life through every one, prejudice would be non-existent.  But the bible makes it clear that will never happen.  But, while each Believer is here on earth, we can give Jesus the opportunity to show some there is another way that is The Way.

May 2018 be the most “Christ-Lived-out-in-you” year of your life to date!

p.s.  May I suggest to you that you procure all the books and materials of ALMI that are not currently in your library, that you listen to all the verbal materials available on the website, and that you share ALMI with as many folks in 2018 as you can.

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

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Day 216 - Oranges

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 270

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

Some of us like “sweet and sour pork” when we visit our favorite Chinese restaurant.  There is a wonderful flavor in the mixture of those two distinct ingredients.  But, when expecting something sweet, and getting something sour…whew!  What a shock!

Whether it is the world, other Believers, or ourself, there is “shock” when what comes out of us as a Believer should be “sweet,” but turns out to be “sour.”  Michael gives us an interesting look at this life perspective…

DAY 216

Oranges

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. --Colossians 3:12-14

Once a fellow took an orange and asked his audience, "What is in this orange?" Everyone answered, "Orange juice." However, once he squeezed the orange, black goo gushed out instead of the expected sweet juice. We can think of our own life as the orange. Throughout our Christian life we find ourselves being squeezed, and that squeezing reveals what is within us, whether something sweet or the black goo of self-centeredness. When our flesh life is revealed through the squeezing of others, do we prefer to focus on the person or circumstances that squeezed us, the injustice involved, and the error of their way? Or do we concentrate on our own carnal response? It is far too easy to accumulate arguments condemning the behavior of others and justifying our own. However, a believer never has an excuse for self-centered behavior, for we live by a spiritual absolute that no matter what, we never have an excuse for not loving. When the believer finds himself squeezed and the black goo oozes out, he must admit his condition and not focus on the others who squeezed him.

In India a story is told of a Mogul king who, upon wanting to pick a successor and retire, assembled by invitation some five hundred young men from the kingdom. He presented a seed to each of the young men and asked that they plant it and tend it for one year, at which time the king would examine each of the young men's seeds and determine who would be king through what he saw. One of the young men took his seed home, planted it, fertilized, watered, and tended it day and night, and yet nothing grew. At the end of a year the young man told his father he was too embarrassed to present his empty pot to the king. His father persuaded him that since he had done his very best, he should not be embarrassed and must go present himself to the king truthfully, no better or worse; he had worked hard and must present himself honestly. Therefore, the young man went to the city on the day he was to present himself to the king. With his empty pot he took his place with the other young men, all of whom had pots that held banana plants already bearing fruit, mango trees, or a variety of beautiful flowers. The king began his inspection, examining all five hundred young men with their plants. As he walked past the only boy with an empty pot, the king hesitated briefly and then continued examining the others. Eventually, though, the king returned to the boy with the empty pot and announced, "You will be the next king!” “Why,” asked the young man, “should I be king when I have nothing?” The king responded, "I boiled all the seeds before I handed them out so none could grow! You alone have presented yourself in honesty, and you will be the next king." Remember, there was a man who asked his son to be healed by Jesus, who responded, "If you believe." The man then presented Himself in truth by saying, "I do believe! Help me in my unbelief." The boy was healed. The King rewards honesty and exalts the humble. Many times the need of the believer is the simple one of presenting himself before God in honesty, no better and no worse than he is and without justification!

As couples we often initially attracted our mates through being loving, kind, self-sacrificing, complimentary, and forgiving. With the passing of time, once the discovery was made that the spouse could not meet our deepest needs, the behavior deteriorated to complaining, judging, self-serving, anger, bitterness, blaming, and carnality. At this point we can either present ourselves to God and confess our carnal behavior or with great zeal begin to look for excuses for our negative behavior, which are most easily found by holding a magnifying glass up to the mate to reveal all his or her glaring faults; these we can proclaim as having caused our carnal lifestyle. This is all done in the hope that we will be excused and our mate condemned. This reminds me of the Kansas tornado, the circumference of which is where all the damage takes place, for there is nothing within its center. It is a great whirl around emptiness. There are those of us who continue to destroy everything outside ourselves, and yet we remain empty, totally unfulfilled by such behavior. Stop destroying, stop excusing, admit our true condition, and we will find that "out of our innermost being will flow rivers of living water."

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

God gives us a vivid description of “out of our innermost being will flow rivers of living water”: the chosen of God (that means a whole lot of things to a whole lot of different Believers!), “holy and beloved,” having “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone.”  And adds: “just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

Michael’s message always is: “Stop destroying, stop excusing, admit our true condition,” along with his constant admonition to “focus and abide in Christ.”  This is an uncomplicated, practical guidance to Christ’s Life of abundance for every Believer.

WHEN will we acknowledge, accept, and appropriate His Life for ours?

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

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Day 215 - Only Trust What Jesus Has Done In a Person

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 269

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

It really is remarkable that many folks, including Christians, are totally unaware of anything that “Jesus has done in a person.”  Crazy, isn’t it?  Salvation is by God alone.  Taking to Heaven is by God alone.  But, life here in between…? 

DAY 215

Only Trust What Jesus Has Done In a Person

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. --Galatians 2:20

Let me tell you a secret about others. The only measure of dependence you place on them should be on the things God has done in them. Depend on them for anything else and they will let you down. When we see strong people, we have the tendency to want to trust them. However, if it is a fleshly strength that we are trusting, then one day they will let us down. At times I have told people of my strengths, my boldness, or my knowledge, and I have heard others do it, as well. Such talk is foolishness, for we are covertly asserting that we can be trusted, followed, or listened to because of our strengths. This is proof positive that we are not to be trusted. It is better to hear of someone’s many weaknesses and work alongside that person, for in each place he is weak, he is reliant upon God’s strength. If a man tells me he was very critical until God worked in his heart, revealed his own wickedness, and then lifted him up, I know that such a man is safe with my problems; I will not receive judgment from such a one, I will receive grace.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

“But, life here in between”…oh, wait, life with a small “l” is flesh….Life with a capital “L” is Christ’s Life.  And Michael specifically tells us “that” is what we should only depend upon when looking to someone else.  Well, amen!

May we Live His Life here in between Salvation and Heaven, and only trust in His Life in others.  For instance, His Faith…

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

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Day 195 - Lust

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 268

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

We learned at an early age that 2+2=4.  However, how many have learned that this formula can be applied in life to other than mathematics?

Michael gives us a perfect illustration of the “other application” in his first two sentences in this day’s writing…

DAY 195

Lust

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God. --I Thessalonians 4:3-5

It is impossible to lust over someone you love, and you are to love your neighbor as you love yourself. The real root of lust, then, is lack of love for mankind. When you lust, you see the person as an object, a thing, not as the possession of God, the creature for whom He died. Lust is taking an animate object and treating it as inanimate. When you see people on the street, at school, in the office, on television, or in advertisements, do you recognize their aliveness and potential for knowing Christ, or are they merely things? The first contact with someone is very important, for it is the sensation from which can spring a relationship. In the beginning, if someone is viewed as merely an attractive object, no matter how lofty the relationship becomes in your mind, the end will be rejection. The object, like a new set of golf clubs, will lose its glitter. True love never views another as an object, but always values the person. Jesus has proven that we never lose our attraction, for we are bone of His bone; we belong to Him. We are vital! 

           

Many have come to the place where they despise lust in their lives, so they focus on overcoming it, which is a basic error! To refer again to an analogy, think of a pink elephant with black polka dots. Once the image is firmly placed in the mind, try to forget it. A person cannot forget the thing on which he is focused; neither can lust be overcome by focusing on it. Jesus is a genius in His dealing with lust! We are not to suppress it, focus on it, or try to kill it; rather, He replaces it with another focus, LOVE! Jesus never destroys desire, but the sex drive is supplanted by a higher desire, the desire to love. 

           

Love wants what is good for others. An affair, mindless sex, and premarital sex do not have roots in love but in self-centered, temporary pleasure. Love is wonderfully freeing and therapeutic as the great reconciler; bringing together a God-given desire--which under self’s control would become animalistic--with a genuine expression of love (read Song of Solomon). If a man truly loves, he will not use the prostitute, for her good is his desire. 

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

So, Michael has given us 4 things to meditate on, then ask God to implement them to the fullest in our life…His Life becoming them in our life:

1.  Love mankind, removing any wrong lust from our life.

2. Value each and every person.

3. Keep our focus and desire on LOVE.

4. Live in LOVE with a WANT for what is good for others.

HIS LIFE and HIS LOVE…freeing and therapeutic!

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

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Day 198 - Marriage Spiral

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 267

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

Leave it to Michael to address one of the least addressed truths of Scripture.  And he points us to God to see how this truth is manifested…

DAY 198

Marriage Spiral

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. --Genesis 2:24

One of the sure signs of oneness in marriage is our ability to make our mates miserable. When we think about other couples, their misery is not ours. That is, their mates do not make us unhappy. How could they? We are not one with them! Oneness is an interesting term in the Bible used to explain the body of Christ, our relationship with Jesus, His relationship with the Father, and, of course, marriage. The best illustration for oneness is found in a mixing bowl. When we place flour and sugar in the bowl and turn on the mixer, the flour and sugar become one. At that point it is impossible to separate the two. If we try to add food coloring only to the flour, we will find it quite impossible, for it has also united with the sugar. When we marry, God turns on the divine mixer and blends the couple together. Marriage is not an attempt by two individuals to live together; on the contrary, it is the death of individuality. As the beaters turn, either one throwing dirt at the other will find himself dirty as well. Even Satan recognizes this oneness, for he appeared before God requesting to destroy Job. God allowed Satan to proceed with the one condition that he could not take him. Satan subsequently took Job's flocks, children, servants, crops, wealth, and even his health. There was one thing that Satan did not take: his wife! Why not? Because even Satan knows that a man's wife is his very life, and he had been commanded not to take the life of Job. The wife was safe.

           

Many believers have marriages that suffer from what I call marriage spirals that occur when the conduct of one creates in the mate an abhorred behavior. For example, a husband is made to feel that he is a failure at home. This causes him to spend longer hours at work where he is appreciated, which causes him to be a greater failure at home, which in turn drives him feverishly into his work. To come out of the spiral, both must begin to relate to their mate differently, not on the basis of unconstructive behavior but on the basis of heart’s desire.

Do you know your mate's deepest heart desire? Ask him or her. You will be surprised. The believer's desire will be to be a blessing as a mate, to be a godly mate and parent, and even to make you happy.

The purpose of marriage is not to have someone to do for you; rather, it is so you have someone to do for. Happiness will only come as you love and do for others. Leave it to God to do for you. When asked to list the characteristics of a perfect spouse, most often people will list things only God can provide: love, listening, help, and patience. Notice that the feet needed to fill those shoes belong to Jesus. If you want a happy mate, then you must point your mate to Christ, who alone can meet those needs.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Perhaps “oneness in marriage” is one of the least addressed, studied, and understood key truths of God’s plan for husbands & wives.  Goodness, this is huge!

From a chronological standpoint, God’s declaration of “they will become one flesh” is only 55 VERSES into the Bible!  And God gives His “indissoluble union” idea of marriage…that is “oneness” to the “n”th degree.

Woman is absolutely essential to God’s plan.

Woman was made from man.

Man is responsible for the marriage and its oneness.

These are some of the most essential premises of God’s law for marriage that we glean from Genesis ch’s 1 & 2.  This “oneness” yields the needs of the husband and wife being met…when Christ is the source to meet the needs. 

Michael speaks to a huge truth pertinent to this “oneness”: “only God can provide…Christ, who alone can meet those needs.”  (in case you ‘need’ a reminder: God and Christ are One).  Husbands and wives make a grave mistake trying create “oneness” and meet the needs of their spouses that only God/Christ can meet. 

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

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com  

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

Day 196 - Man Is Like a Piece of Paper

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 266

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

Many of us have tried to physically fold an 11½ X 8½ piece of paper into as many folds as we possibly could, to get that paper to a fold so tiny that one dark dot could not be put on it…incredible!  How could that happen?  Aha, life brings some crazy results our way, doesn’t it?  Check out how Michael illustrates the cause of “our folding.”  Then shows how only Christ can “unfold us” and HEAL that which sin has done to us.  Excellent read today!

And by the way, this is Thanksgiving week…this “day” gives us much to be thankful for!

DAY 196

Man Is Like a Piece of Paper

But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

–Colossians 1:22, 23

I often think in terms of man’s being like a piece of paper, born a blank sheet. Because of the pride of his forefathers, any blank sheet is cut off from God. Man begins to look to others to meet his needs, though only God, the Father, can provide what he seeks. Therefore, black dots begin to appear on the paper. An easy remedy is to fold the paper so that the dark spots are not seen. Next come other spots, another disappointment, another rejection, and the solution is the same. Fold the paper! On and on it goes until the paper is a teeny square, so small that no dot can fall on it. But how tightly folded it is! Did you know that houses are being made of cardboard? The secret was to find a way to compress the paper to the point that it could not take on moisture. So is man, compressed to the point that life-giving water cannot penetrate it. How many are walking around as little folded bundles, having forgotten the first spots? Only Jesus can unfold us. Some have been folded for so long that the paper nearly cracks as it is unfolded. But unfold He does; He will reveal and heal the very last spot. Our life is one in which we are constantly being unfolded. Nothing will remain hidden from His sight. “Come and do Your work, Spirit of Jesus.” 

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Isn’t it incredible that we Believers have been reconciled (changed from one state to another…unregenerated to regenerated) to God by Christ’s death on His Cross?  Our believing the record that God gave of His Son, and trusting in Christ’s shed blood for our salvation and remission of our sin, has led to our being made holy and unblameable and unreprovable in God’s sight.  WOW!

And Michael gives us a pictorial depiction of the “folding” (“black dot upon black dot”), until we find ourselves folded to the “nth” degree (actually seeing ourselves as “a sinner”), and the Gospel Light shines through.  Or, even after salvation, the “folding” can continue.  But, as a child of God, Christ begins to “unfold” us to freedom in Him.  Hallelujah!

Until our cry of “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!” is manifested in His appearing in the clouds, we can enjoy the manifestation of Michael’s request: “Come and do Your work, Spirit of Jesus!”  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

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com    

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

Day 194 - Loving the World?

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - # 265

         

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.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

So-called “love/hate” experiences seem to be the norm for way too many folks.  God gives us exactly WHY this is the case.  Look at Michael’s great description of some instances where he disciple folks, and their wrong focus.

DAY 194

Loving the World?

If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. --John 15:19

I have asked men and women alike who have fallen in lust with a perfect face and body, “How much are you willing to pay for sex?” Often they act surprised, but I know they are just in lust with a person, not in love. They overlook all the lacking qualities of character in favor of hoped for fulfillment of fleshly desire, which is too bad, since a fleshly person will beat the love right out of a mate. Of the men and women that I disciple, those who married just because of fleshly attraction have less sex than anyone else. It seems that after marriage the “beautiful” mate must prove that he has something more to offer than sex and withdraws. When the honeymoon is over, the true lack of character of the person is revealed, and in time, the love “felt” is beaten out of the mate. Why say all of this? Because I want to make an analogy about the world! It looks good, but marry it, and it will beat the love held for it right out of a person. I was once asked, “If drugs were legal and free, could I take all I wanted to and be happy?” The answer was, “No, you could not. The world does not work that way. Once it gets you, it will abuse you and will, in time, beat the desire you had for it right out of you.” That is why drug users eventually become suicidal. One fellow asked, “If it were legal, I would have several wives, or at least several affairs to fulfill my sex desire.” Well, many have done just that and come to pieces. They did not come to pieces because the behavior was illegal, but because man is made in the image of God, and to act in a manner not supported by God is unnatural. The world is a vicious lover, but once it has you, it will not let go easily, and all the while it will continue to hammer the love you have for it out of you. In this way, God does not fight the world but uses it.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

The Apostle John, the disciple “whom Jesus loved,” gives us the foundation for the writing of this day: the world has its own, and Jesus has His own.  The world loves its own, and hates those that belong to Jesus.  Those who belong to Jesus are to love one another, and to not love the world.  Pretty uncomplicated, isn’t it?  Yet, we Believers are prone to forget, or forsake, God’s instructions for us!

Isn’t it interesting how Michael was able to give specific insight to so many regarding lust and love.  (I wish he had told us how many “received” his identification of their issue!)  I love Michael’s direct correlation of “true lack of character” and “the lacking qualities of character” with love missing from an individual.  That gives us something to check out in our own life!

The God-part of Believers is created in the image of God, and “to act in a manner not supported by God is unnatural.”  I believe I hear Michael whispering, “It doesn’t suit us!”

Now here is the missing part in so many Christians’ day to day experiences: Believers have two minds: the natural mind we were physically born with, and the Mind of Christ we were given at our spiritual birth.  IF we choose to fluctuate between those two minds, we can have a “love/hate” experience with ourselves…or with another Believer.  Choosing the natural mind doesn’t “suit” us!  It leads to acting in a manner that is not supported by God and is unnatural for a Believer!

Perhaps the best news is what Michael ends this writing with: “God does not fight the world but uses it.”  That reminds me of something I love…”And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  It is the “unnatural actings” that lead us back to our need for Christ!  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

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

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