Valley Christian Church, Artesia, NM

In introducing one of her lessons in the “Stepping Up” series, teacher, Beth Moore, told of an email she received about a lady over ninety years old who was in a rest home. One day when she was asked how she was doing after having a few rough days. She responded by saying, “I’ve moved my mind up, so I’m fine.” I absolutely love that response! Don’t you? What a wonderful way to live and think. 

My problem is that when I go through rough patches in my life, instead of moving my mind up, I have a habit of moving my mind down. When I face a relational challenge, my mind goes to negative ways of handling it or all the bad fallout that can happen. When big bills all seem to hit at once, I immediately think of all the reasons it will never get any better. When disappointments come my way, I sink to the bottom in my thoughts almost immediately. I DON’T LIKE THAT ABOUT MYSELF!  It’s a stronghold that really has a grip on me at times. 

Recently, however, I have been going in a better direction...yes, moving my mind up. There are many reasons for this: 1) Reading more and more in the Psalms and feeling the heart of the Psalmist as he faces almost every situation by looking up. “I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1,2). 2) Reading about wonderful examples like Joseph who faced more disappointments than I have and hopefully ever will have. Yet, “The Lord was with him”, and he faithfully loved and served God no matter how hopeless his situation was. 3) Observing great examples of upward mind-moving in other people...most notably my wife.

She spends hours each day moving her mind up through prayer, scriptures, and serving others. I saw the fruit of that when she had cancer six years ago, and I saw it again this week. Her father died in California, and though she wasn’t able to be there, she had a glorious visit with him two weeks ago. This is the first loss of a family member she has experienced for a very long time, and neither of us knew quite how she would respond. She, of course, had a cry, but she didn’t let it get the best of her. The next morning, I heard her laughing in the kitchen, and she told me that she had been wondering why she wasn't overcome with grief; if perhaps there was something wrong with her, when all of a sudden she heard  The LORD say, "Excuse Me...'a peace that passes all understanding???' "

That’s what happens when you move your mind up. The things here below on this earth just don’t keep you down because if you’re always moving higher in your thoughts toward God, you start to soar on eagle’s wings, and who wouldn’t rather fly than fall?

I don't know about you, but I'm moving my mind up, and I hope you will also.

Ever read the book of Leviticus? I just finished reading it as part of my Bible reading plan and can understand why I’m hearing your collective groans as you even think about it. 

Part of what makes us groan is just reading about the sheer volume of rules, especially everything that God told Moses was unclean and all the sacrifices that were necessary so that you could be pronounced clean. If you’re like me, you probably have all kinds of questions about why so many things were unclean. I could understand why God said it was wrong to have same-sex relations or to be involved in divination or sacrificing children to the pagan god, Molech. But why were certain foods unclean...why were the natural bodily functions of men and women unclean...why couldn’t a man cut his hair or clip his beard certain ways (by the way, that one is right next to the verse that says don’t put tattoo marks on yourselves)...why? Some day I’ll do an in-depth study of Leviticus, but something tells me I’ll still have just as many questions.

However, God did give me two big take-aways that spoke to my heart and maybe will speak to yours also. the first is this: Because of sin and it’s effects, there is nothing good in my humanity that can dwell in the presence of God.

Every single rule, offering, and sacrifice that is commanded is for one purpose: so that people could come before God’s glorious presence at the Tent of Meeting...the Tabernacle. Every rule illustrates just how unclean we are and that it is impossible to come before God as we are. Every sacrifice shows us that God will grant us his presence only when he pronounces us clean because a life has been given. All of this points toward Jesus, the perfect sacrifice for our sins. And praise God - even though I am a sinner, he has accepted Christ’s perfect sacrifice as payment for my sin and I can stand before him pronounced clean...white as snow. Do I hear an Amen? 

A second big take-away for me is that God wants his people to be holy. In almost every chapter, God says he is holy, and he says, “Be holy because I am holy.” In the last chapter, God gives a glorious list of promises that are the results of his glory and presence based on this condition: “if you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands” (Leviticus 26:3). But then in verse 14, he says, “But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands...” and lists the consequences that would befall them. Most frightening to me is verse 17, “I will set my face against you...” How horrifying!

I know that we are not saved by works, but by faith in Jesus...I know that Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law and nailed them to the cross. But he didn’t nullify the command to “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Take a moment this week to read Leviticus 26 and ask some tough questions. Is it possible that God removes his hand of blessing from us...sets his face against us...hides his glorious presence from us (even believers) because we are not holy, but instead, conformed to the world? 

Just thinking!

In the 28th chapter of Genesis, Jacob has one of those ‘a hah’ moments that defined his relationship with God. He had deceived his blind father, Isaac, pretending to be his older brother, Esau, so that he would receive his father’s blessing. And now, fearing that Esau would kill him, he fled to his Uncle Laban’s which was 400 miles away. On the way he stopped one night at a place he named Bethel where he had a dream with angels going up and down a stairway and God speaking to him saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” (Genesis 28:13,14) 

After Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it.” (vs. 16)

I’m guessing Jacob had heard that promise hundreds of times. God originally gave it to his grandfather, Abraham, and reassured him with it several times. God also shared that promise with his father, Isaac, as no doubt Abraham did as well. Grandpa Abraham must have shared that promise with Jacob many times before he died, and Isaac would have done the same. Now Jacob, almost 40 years old suddenly realizes all the promises are true. ‘A hah!’

I think the same thing happens to all true believers regardless of our background. We can spend a lifetime hearing about God, his promises, his love, his work, and his plans. We may have even come to the point of believing all this as a child or perhaps later in life. But we all have a defining ‘a hah’ moment when it seems God suddenly speaks to our hearts and we think,“Wow...God is real...He is who he says he is...He is awesome in power...He does love me with an everlasting love...He does keep his everlasting promises...He is working in my life.” 

As a minister, I wish I could create those ‘a hah’ moments for you, but I can’t anymore than Abraham or Isaac could for Jacob. But I will be faithful to pray for you and share God’s Word with you, believing with all my heart that some day at some moment when you least expect it, you will say, “God really is with me.”

This blog post from Beliefnet News will get you thinking for sure and it is especially relevant to our teaching this week from Galatians 2.

The Bridge, an offbeat church in a Flint, Michigan shopping center, is offering tattoos to its members. It also offers occasional classes in cage fighting, poetry slams and auto repair.

“A Michigan pastor who says he’s doing everything he can to reach out to people who don’t feel comfortable at a traditional house of worship has opened a tattoo parlor inside his church,” reports Businessweek magazine.

But tattoos? What’s next, mixed martial arts? Professional wrestling exhibitions? Actually, the Bridge church has already offered both. It seems the Rev. Steve Bentley says his ministry is built on his conviction that mainstream Christian evangelism has become ineffective and irrelevant to most folks.

But what about Leviticus 19:28, which plainly says, “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves.” That would seem pretty straightforward.

Yeah, counters Bentley, but what about Isaiah 44:5, which proclaims in part: “This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’ and … another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord.’ And will name Israel’s name with honor.”

Bentley says the context of the Leviticus prohibition is a list of pagan practices the ancient Israelites were to shun. Godly tattoos praising the Lord are allowed.

Bentley teaches Christians are free to tattoo their bodies since he believes New Testament believers are not bound by the Old Testament laws to gain a right relationship with God. The Bridge actually teaches that if Christians obey laws of the Old Testament, they must also be bound by Jewish rules restrict eating shellfish or pork, trimming one’s beard, or grilling cheeseburgers. Indeed, the Apostle Paul writes that the Old Testament Law was designed by God was to lead people toward Jesus.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:24-25).

ESPN football analyst, Cris Carter, reviews NFL plays or situations that seem to outrageous and beyond acceptable logic, and concludes with the now popular phrase, “C’Mon Man!” I’ve heard it enough times now that when I saw part of a television show this week, that was the first phrase that came to mind.

This week’s CBS episode of “Harry’s Law” was about a woman who hired Harry (short for Harriet, the lead character) to be her attorney and argue that a guerilla should be granted status as a person. In the courtroom, the judge said that had never been done in this country. Harry reminded the judge that this had become case law in some countries in Europe and said, “I realize that the United States of America is not as evolved as Europe or for that matter many apes.”

C’MON, MAN!

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)

What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:4,5)

On August 30, 2005 Coast Guard Lieutenant Iain McConnell was ordered to fly his H46 helicopter to New Orleans and to keep that machine flying around the clock for what would turn out to be a heroic rescue effort. None of his crew were prepared for what they were about to see. They were ahead of every news crew in the nation. The entire city of New Orleans was under water. On their first three missions that day they saved 89 people, three dogs and two cats.

On the fourth mission, despite twelve different flights to New Orleans, he and his crew were able to save no one. None! They all refused to board the helicopter. Instead they told the Coast Guard to bring them food and water. Yet they were warned that this extremely dangerous. The waters were not going to go away soon. Sadly, many of those people perished because of their refusal to be rescued.

In the Gospel we come face to face with the Son of God and with the greatest rescue effort of all time. The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 1:3-5, “Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Unfortunately, many, like those in New Orleans will perish because they either reject the gospel or turn to a different gospel which tells them they have what it takes to ride out the storm of sin and its devastation. Only Jesus, who gave Himself for us, can rescue us from this present evil age. That’s the real good news and that’s the real gospel.

Becky Kelly has recorded a very special song that hits us right in the heart about how we put all the trappings of Christmas before the Baby of Christmas. The words of the chorus are:

Where’s the line to see Jesus?

Is he here at the store?

If Christmas time is his birthday,

why don’t we see him more?

Where’s the line to see Jesus?

He was born for me.

Santa Claus brought me presents,

but Christ gave his life for me.

And then the last line of the song says,

Where’s the line for the Lord?

As we navigate our lives through the busy holiday trappings during the Christmas season, my hope and prayer is that there would be lines of people desiring to gather with their Church Family and worship the gift of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. 

A number of years ago, Orel Hershiser was pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They had just won the World Series, and Orel had been named the Most Valuable Player.

One of the TV shows about the series showed him in the dugout just before the 9th inning started. He was leaning against the wall, and his lips were moving.

When Orel appeared as a guest on the Tonight Show, Johnny Carson asked him what he had been saying. "I wasn’t saying anything," Orel responded. "Well then, tell us what you were doing." Finally Orel replied, "I was singing." Johnny said, "You were singing? I didn’t know you were a singer. Come on, let’s here it!" And Orel said, "Nah. I don’t want to." And the audience clapped and said, "Yeah! Let’s hear it!” 

Finally Orel Hershiser started to sing: "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise him above Ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen!"

Johnny Carson sat at his desk speechless. The whole audience was dead silent. Then one person stood up and started clapping, and soon the whole audience joined in applause.

This was Orel’s way of saying, "Lord, the only reason I’m a Most Valuable Player is because you are a Most Valuable God. You’re the one who gave me my ability. You’re the reason why my life has been so blessed. Lord, I respect you, adore you and love you."

That is the essence of “Mary’s Song” known as the “Magnificat”.in Luke 1:46-48, we read, "My soul glorifies the Lord And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed."

Praise of God was the subject of Mary’s song. She was not singing about herself, she was praisefully proclaiming the salvation of God. Her soul was glorifying, that is declaring the greatness of the Lord, and her spirit was rejoicing in God her Savior.

Neither Orel Hershiser nor Mary found occasion to glory in their own greatness, but took their honored position as an opportunity to magnify and praise the Lord.

May we also become the kind of people who If someone asks us why our lips are moving, we might just respond with, "Praise God From Whom all Blessings Flow."

That about says it all sometimes, because when we really start making a list of all that God has done, we don’t have enough time to complete it or enough paper to finish it. At least that has been my experience this week as I have tried to be more aware of all God’s blessings in my life.

Like most of you, I’m sure, I began with thinking about all of the ways that God has blessed me physically this year: good health, my home, the daily provisions of food, supplying financial needs, and on and on. But the more I started thanking God, the more I was thanking him for people in my life. I realized that beyond anything else, I’m thankful for relationships.

I’m thankful for my family: for Debra who loves and respects me when I don’t deserve it; for Heath and Adam and their hearts that belong to the Lord and the way they love me also; for 9 grandchildren who all love Jesus and love and respect one another and their parents. 

I’m thankful for my Church Family: for the leaders in our church who love and respect one another and who support me even when I’m down; for all the servants who work behind the scenes every single week to help us prepare for our weekly gatherings; for all who support this Church with their tithes and offerings; and for everyone who shares words and actions of love and encouragement.

I’m thankful for my Spiritual Family: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit whose love and tender guidance I’m feeling more and more of in my life; for forgiveness, mercy, love, grace, hope, and power; for the precious gift of oneness with them.  

It really is all about relationships.

Have you ever asked God to draw you closer to him? I love the old hymn that says, “just a closer walk with Thee; grant it Jesus is my plea”. That’s the deep down need and cry of our hearts at times, isn’t it? But have you ever asked yourself what God might do to draw you closer?

Popular speaker and writer, Dr. Tony Evans, shares this story that illustrates how a wild ride can draw us closer.

When my wife, Lois, and I started dating, I came up with a strategy to encourage her to fall more in love with me. She was a lot in love with me from the beginning, but I wanted to increase that.

What I decided to do was to take her to the amusement park. Once we had wandered around the amusement park for a while, and had enjoyed some of the games and food, I coolly asked her if she wanted to ride the Wild Mouse. Lois had never been on the Wild Mouse ride before. But I had. I knew how wild the Wild Mouse really was. She didn't have any idea because it looked like an innocent ride.

I knew Lois' personality and that going on the Wild Mouse would be a tough situation for her. But I hadn't told her that. I had only mentioned that we should go on a nice ride together.

So we got on the Wild Mouse. The thing began to shoot out making it seem like our small car was going to fly right off of the edge of the track. Lois screamed. Then she scooted closer to me. Our car veered to the right and then shot out again making it seem like we were going to zoom straight out into mid-air. Lois screamed again. Then she scooted even more closely to me this time. By the end of the ride, Lois wasn't sitting far away from me at all. She was sitting as close as possible. That had been my plan.

I had wanted Lois to sit closer all along. The Wild Mouse accomplished that.

Sometimes God puts us on a wild ride. Life seems to be out of our control. At times, God allows these situations because He knows they will move us closer to Him and when we get closer to Him, we will discover that He is more than we ever imagined Him to be.

For many weeks now we’ve been praying for 8-year-old Kayci to receive a new heart. She and her family and loved ones have been on the ultimate wild ride virtually living at a hospital with their lives completely in turmoil while waiting for God’s healing. Yet in reading their posts and journal online you see that they are all drawing closer to God.

It sure gives new meaning to the phrase, “enjoy the ride”.