Day 79 - East Meets West!

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 223

         

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.

For the first 35 years of my life I lived by the wisdom of this world.  But that was not surprising since I did not know the Lord Jesus Christ.  Oh, what a difference a “meeting” does make!

DAY 79

East Meets West!

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” --I Corinthians 3:18-20

Those in India say it, and it is an obvious truth: If you go east long enough you will find yourself west, and likewise, if you go west long enough you will find yourself east. Maybe those in the West have yet to travel far enough east, and those in the East have not traveled far enough west. Eastern Religion, in the absence of fact, draws pictures. There never was a boy with an elephant head, and drawing it does not make it so. Please, travel a bit further to the West. On the other hand, no one in the East would question the existence of God, and when I say that Jesus spoke to me, no one questions it, for God must be alive. However, in the West, many have yet to believe that there is evidence of a God, and to say one has heard Him is to border on insanity. Those in the West need to travel a little more to the East. In the East miracles are an accepted part of life, and yet they have opened the door to the false and the deceiving. In the West, those without an inner awareness that Jesus is actually alive and active IN them seek miracles OUTSIDE them as proof that He exists. Move east a little and discover the greatest miracle: Christ can dwell within a believer. In the West it is believed that the flower must be dissected in order for man to understand it, and yet that destroys the beauty. In the East the flower must simply be smelled. In the West a bridge made out of water is unthinkable; in the East many have walked on ice across a great river. In Christ, East meets West; the facts of the earth and the faith of heaven blend perfectly without conflict. In Him everything created on the earth and in the heavens merges without contradiction. This place many believe is impossible to find, the place where East meets West, is not a place but the person of Jesus!

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Today I live by the wisdom of God.  How?  Searching the Scriptures for “Life Verses” that give me His wisdom and that bring Life (His Life) to my life.  Simple.

And every one of those scriptures takes me to one place…no, One Person…Jesus Christ.  And show me His Life living through me.  Well, amen.  I enjoy Him and His Life!  Beautiful!

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

Day 75 - Do Not Muzzle the Ox

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 222

         

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 hurried and hectic day and time (often brought on by our crazy decisions) we find ourselves far too often spending too little “time apart” with the Lord.  I appreciate Michael’s thoughts on this issue…

DAY 75

Do Not Muzzle the Ox

Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. --Deuteronomy 25:4

We are commanded not to muzzle the ox, a passage applied to the fact that a workman is worthy of his hire. However, in talking with many believers, I believe that it also can apply to our spiritual lives in a different way. In many of the countries that I visit, the people are working seven days a week. In Asia they are only now thinking of reducing to six-day workweeks. In the West, the cost of living has gotten to the point that both husband and wife must work, often only passing by one another sometime during the day. These situations have spiritually muzzled believers. We are not given the time of refreshing before the Lord that we need. We are not allowed to eat of the Lord. It is not right. Every believer needs to take time away. If Jesus took time apart, then we, His disciples, surely need it. Time apart with the Lord is not a luxury but a necessity.

One summer I finished my travels with a total of five days off from January to July; only a day here and there between trips did I have in which to prepare for the next trip. In the end I could not hold a cup of coffee without shaking. I took two weeks in the mountains to do nothing but pray. The tremors stopped, I was energized, and I was fresh in the Lord. I am seeing this as something every believer needs, not just half an hour in the morning but a few days away from others. I know that thought may be shocking to those who cannot imagine doing anything without their mates. However, everyone’s place is in the hub of life with the Lord alone; it would be good for them to remember that wives or husbands first and foremost belong to the Lord. Concentrated time with Him will change everything. Everyone needs time to step back and watch what falls apart; those things were of man, and everything that stays is of His making. Believers would find that they can continue working if they are not muzzled.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Michael gives me some very critical points that I need to be careful to take heed of:

1.  I NEED to take time away.

2.  My time apart with the Lord IS NOT a luxury but a necessity.

3.  Time apart, including some “days,” and not just some “minutes” each day.

4.  Concentrated time with the Lord changes everything.

Then, Michael draws attention to something I, along with others, need to become more aware of…and look for: “watch what falls apart; those things were of man, and everything that stays is of His making.”  Wow!  Easy to observe.  Why would it be difficult to acknowledge?

Through it all, I do not want to be “muzzled” to any extent that it would keep me from working as God leads…

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

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 69 - Does Life Matter?

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 221

         

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.

Isn’t it amazing that circumstances have become the dictator to so many of whether life is good, life is bad, or life matters…we have just had another presidential election in America, and the result has led ½ to say “good,” ½ to cry “bad,” and untold numbers in the midst of the “bad” to think that perhaps life doesn’t matter…who knows what they will do…

Michael draws a contrast to life in man’s world, and Life in God’s realm…well, amen.

DAY 69

Does Life Matter?

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. --I Corinthians 10:31

I often hear sermons wherein the listeners are admonished to live for the future. The argument is that all we possess, anything we have ever done, or any illness that has overcome us will not matter in heaven. In fact, the worries, hurts, and disappointments of today are not even to be considered in light of the great someday when we will be in heaven and all of God's promises are revealed. All that will matter in heaven are the things of heaven. However, the goal in life when this emphasis is embraced becomes "hanging in there," just toughing it out until heaven. Consequently, this emphasis leaves some of us believing that the daily components of life simply do not matter. The contention that life is misery was continually told to one struggling fellow; he was assured that if he would just hang in there until heaven, relief would then come. Finally, he made what would seem to be a quite logical leap as expressed in his suicide note. In light of how he perceived that teaching, he simply decided to bypass the struggle and misery of daily living and go directly to bliss.

Some emphasize knowledge as the end goal of the earthly, daily experiences of life. That is, every situation in life is to teach us something. If we are faithful to learn, we go to heaven having become experts at living on the earth. However, the understanding of how to live on earth would not appear to be of great practical value in heaven, and who among us maintains that learning the hard way from our experiences is appealing? Do we relish a continuing education course that instills firsthand knowledge from such hardships as watching a loved one die, observing a child on drugs, hearing the news of an unfaithful mate, or losing a job? Just how will all of this knowledge help in heaven? If life is to teach, many believe they have already learned enough. Is life just an endurance test?

Others have declared that the purpose of life is doing. "It matters not what you believe; what do you do?" When things get tough, they assert, the tough get going. The adversities in life are meant to separate the sheep from the goats, the successful from the failures, and the weak from the strong. Every event in life is a challenge, but they maintain that man can get the job done. They will keep every command and despise those who do not. The interesting thing is that their definitions of success are always contrived to reflect the scope of their own abilities, and the problem is that if life presents one adversity that cannot be mastered, then what was the purpose of overcoming the previous thousand? I have consistently found that it only takes three questions to discover what any particular doer cannot do. I have seen many half-built bridges around the world; construction was going so well until some one thing hindered, but that one thing was the most important thing. Is the purpose of life's circumstances to see how much we can overcome? 

I listened to an old man in Ukraine as he related his prison experience of twenty years, followed by another seven for refusing to renounce Christ. He told of miracle after miracle that took place during his incarceration. My spirit leapt within me, for I was so encouraged with hope by the testimony. I could not bring myself to say that all of his suffering was bad, for he had been led to participation in Life in new and wondrous ways. "And as for you, you meant evil against me, {but} God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive" (Genesis 50:20). When it is revealed that "all things" work together for the good of those who love Him, we come to understand that nothing is meaningless. A flat tire, the rebellious child, empty pockets, a lost inheritance, or the death of a loved one all move me toward Life. Paul understood. "Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not" (Romans 12:14). When God, in His love, mercy, and grace, decides to move me near, the problems line up one behind the other. They step forward one at a time until I give up and turn to Him. Once in His lap, I so enjoy myself that I look back at the problems and thank God for them. 

We believers do not have to fear that when lying on our deathbeds we will have to say, "Life was meaningless." We did not know which car to buy, so we prayed. We did not know what to do for the child, so we prayed. We were suffering with ill health, and we prayed. We were rejected by family, so we prayed. None of the mundane or miserable circumstances of life were meaningless to us when they propelled us into the Father’s presence.

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Life as a Christian matters…because God designed it to be Christ’s Life living through His children.  Colossians 1:27.  Galatians 2:20.  Well, amen.

Michael points out great Life verses such as 1 Corinthians 10:31, Genesis 50:20, (Romans 8:28, “all things”), Romans 12:14…and, of course, Michael always points us to “Life on the Mount” (Matthew ch’s. 5, 6, and 7).

With Christ living His Life through us, no circumstance of life is meaningless…but, propelling us into the Father’s presence…thank you, Michael, for pointing us to the unfathomable riches of the Life of Christ once more.

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

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

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

Day 68 - Does God Have a Sex Drive?

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 220

         

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.

If you ever spent much time (well, maybe just even a little time!) with Michael Wells you knew he had a great sense of humor…one that was always testing your thought processes.  Today’s writing is spot on with that!

DAY 68

Does God Have a Sex Drive?

For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. --II Chronicles 16:9

Does God have a sex drive? Maybe a better question would be, “Why does God give man a sex drive?” There are few things within man as dangerous as the sex drive, which has been the cause of untold misery and suffering. Why, then, knowing the misuse that would come about, did God give man such a desire? Man is made in the image of God, and therefore, understanding God can come from looking at man, just as looking to God can bring understanding about man. As we look at man the legitimate question can be asked, “Does God have a sex drive?” The answer is an astounding, “Yes!” However, we must define the sex drive properly. Its purpose is actually the pursuit of intimacy. This is why those addicted to sex will never find satisfaction, for they are attempting to fulfill the craving for intimacy through the repetition of a physical act. Sex without intimacy is nothing more than feeding the flesh a junk-food snack, which brings only a very temporary physical satisfaction. The question, then, becomes, “Does God have an intimacy drive?” Yes!

I was joking with some of the young men in a Bible school and telling them I knew that as they entered the lecture hall, their eyes were moving to and fro in the hope of making eye contact with one of the young women. If that happened, they would get encouraged and next begin to pass by the girl on a frequent basis in anticipation that perhaps the fleeting glance was something more. If that effort were rewarded, they would have the confidence to talk to the girl, ask her out, and begin to woo her. One day they would be quite excited if the young woman told them that she had chosen them! It is the drive for intimacy that causes all such behavior.

Now multiply the sex drive times one hundred, call it the drive for intimacy, and you will begin to get a picture of the drive for intimacy that exists within the love of God. His eyes search to and fro for the one who will meet His glance. If our eyes meet His, he begins to woo us, and one day we choose Him! God’s drive for intimacy is so great, and yet it is constrained by our choice. He does not practice spiritual rape. We must choose Him, desire Him, and respond to His advances. How often we hear how man thinks that God does not love us! That is foolishness! 

Through God’s drive for intimacy, He wants to conceive something in our spirit, not our mind, will, or emotions. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20). We stand enthralled at a virgin birth where Christ was formed in Mary. However, He has been birthed in us, also. A conception, in the love of God, has taken place in every child of God. When the sex drive is defined properly as the drive for intimacy, we understand both God’s heart and man’s need for intimacy. Satan does not have a creative bone in his body; he must watch to see what God is doing and then tempt us with something that is off. We see this clearly when Moses was with the magicians that could only attempt to duplicate what God did first. Therefore, when God creates the drive for intimacy, Satan sees the opportunity for perverting it and offers man the possibilities for physical activity with the exclusion of intimacy. The problem with a lone physical act’s not bringing the desired expression of intimacy yields a drive for sex that is quite animalistic and unsatisfactory. There is no need to discuss where it goes from there. Sex as expressed in the world is simply off!

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

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

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

Today’s text has been one of my most favorite (and most often quoted) verses for almost 35 year…almost from the first year I was Born Again.  I don’t remember who first pointed out this verse to me, or how I came to know of its existence, but I guarantee you it was not addressed in the manner Michael has now done so!  LOL!  And I never thought of it as such…just relished that God was looking for someone whose heart was completely His…and I want His Soul in me to be the heart I am operating in, and to experience His strength.

Now, if you read and re-read today’s writing, Michael has hit upon a major point of

God’s love for man, and also reveals one of the missing elements of life for multitudes (“intimacy”), just as “relationships” have gone missing somewhere along the way.

The pursuit of intimacy.  The importance of choice, desire, and response.  The conception and birth in every child of God.  All of these draw our focus to reveal the explicit intimacy that our Heavenly Father’s heart has for us.

Michael gives us an incredible truth that we must not miss, nor ever forget: Through God’s drive for intimacy, He wants to conceive something in our spirit, not our mind, will, or emotions.  He HAS (in every Born Again Believer) conceived this intimacy IN OUR SPIRIT, not in our SOUL (mind, will, or emotions).  Beautiful!

So, today, I choose to move in intimacy with God in my Spirit (I use and emphasize the capital S because at my being Born Again the original Adam spirit was crucified with Jesus, and I do possess His Spirit now and forevermore).  Well, amen!

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

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

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

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