Lessons from the Gospels 5– The Ultimate “Karma”

 People believe in karma – that the universe pays you back for good or bad deeds. It is not real. I think it might be an attempt by non-believers to explain why what you do seems to come back to you.

But it really is a law of God that what you do comes back to you, and it is not “karma” or coincidence. We see it here, in chapter 7 of Matthew.

Matthew 7:1-2 {NLT] 1 "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

Judge others and you get judged by the same standard of measure.

Matthew 7:12 [NLT] 12 "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

Here is the Bible version of “you make your own luck” or “karma”. Now, it is not saying that what you do to others will be done exactly you. It is saying that how you treat others should be how you want them to treat you. Too often we see that when someone treats others badly, they still expect to be treated nicely or with respect. You’ve seen the videos where a store employee treats a shopper badly or a shopper treats a store employee badly and then gets surprised when it turns back on them.

Matthew 5:7 [NLT] 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Now, if you treat a Christian badly, they are going to still treat you with love and respect because THEY live the Golden Rule, even if you do not. I’m just saying that we would not find the same to be true of people without any kind of faith walk to guide them.

Bible readers will know that even the Old Testament shows that this is how God intended for life to work – that what you put out there will come back to you.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 [NKJV] 1 Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. 2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

Peek back at Matthew 5:7 [NLT] 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

God is the ultimate assurer that “what goes around, comes around”. Even if others don’t pay you back in kind, God will see that you get back what you give out – for good or bad.

It is HE who pays back good for good or evil for evil, not some mystic karma. We believers are to pay back good for good and good for evil. We are not the arbiters of what others deserve.

The ultimate and just Judge sees what others do AND what we do (the good, the bad or the ugly) and He gives us the opportunity to experience it right back – from Him.

We might weather a payback of ugliness in this life, be we certainly don’t want that on judgment day. No. Instead we count on God’s mercy over our sins, faults and mistakes.

So, again, we need to remember the scripture we started with. Matthew 7:1-2 {NLT] 1 "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

Come judgment day, “ain’t nobody got time for ‘karma’”. Mercy, patience, forgiveness, grace… If we want these on judgment day, sweet sisters, we must by using that measuring stick on others.

I welcome your questions and comments. You can write me in the chat or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

Lessons from the Gospels 3 – Knowing

When Jesus said (as recorded in Matthew 11:12) "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence...” He may have been thinking about the time (before time began) that Satan attacked the very throne of God. (Luke 10:18) Or He may have been thinking about the time that Pharoah had all the Hebrew babies killed. Or when Herod killed the Jewish babies from age 2 and under because he knew the Messiah had been born – just not exactly when.

When I think of a major attack on the plan of God, I think of Matthew 4:1-11, where we see Satan attacking Jesus after Jesus had been fasting 40 days and 40 nights. Make know mistake about it, Jesus and the Father knew Satan would come after Him. The Holy Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to prepare for it. I invite you to read the whole thing before reading the rest of this blog. I’ve pasted it at the end of the blog so that you can do so if you like.

This is not a physically violent attack, like the killing of babies, but it was a violent attempt to attack Jesus’ mind, heart, character and obedience.

Jesus used His knowledge of scripture – the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, as we read in Ephesians 6:17 – to cut away Satan’s temptations.

But He used more than just His knowledge of the words of God, sweet sisters. He used His knowledge of who He was, as outlined in them.

Satan knew the scriptures too. After his first temptation failed, Satan used the scriptures in his next two efforts. Satan did not know who he was. It seems like he believed he could still win. It seems to me that if  he really knew who he was – the loser in every battle – he might have acted differently.

What about you, sweet sister? Do you know, I mean REALLY KNOW who you are? Is that knowledge and belief strong enough to be a protection against the attacks that Satan throw at you? Especially the ones that being with “if”.

You one of the “beloved” children/people of God. Psalm 60:5; 108:6; Song of Solomon (the whole thing is an analogy of God’s love for His people).

You are blessed. Matthew 13:16; 5:1-10

You are the reason that Jesus came to the earth and gave His life. We cannot afford to only look at this from the vantage point that He came for everyone. He came specifically for me. He came specifically for you. Revelation 17:14; Matthew 20:16.

You are Holy and a member of the Royal Priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9.

Knowing scripture is so very, very important to withstanding the attacks of the devil. But it is not enough. If you don’t know who you are, if it is not a truth you feel to your core, the “sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God” is held in a weak hand.

Sweet sisters, let’s put up our strength in battle by focusing on really knowing who we are to our Beloved Father and to our Savior.

I welcome your comments and questions. Write me in the comments section here or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

[Mat 4:1-11 NLT] 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 3 During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." 4 But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, 'He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'" 7 Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the LORD your God.'" 8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will kneel down and worship me." 10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'" 11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Letters from the Beloved: Three-fold Cord

1 John 5:6-8 [NIV*] 6 This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

Why was John, the beloved, adamant that it was water AND blood AND Spirit? These are not the three parts of what many religions would call the trinity. Remember that John, the Baptist, was baptizing with water before Jesus began His ministry. Many came to him upon repentance and were baptized in the water.

But that was only part of the process, as John, the Baptist, knew and confessed to his followers.

Matthew 3:11 [NKJV] "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

When Jesus was ready to begin His earthly ministry, He went to John to be baptized. At that time the Father sent a visible representation of the Spirit descending upon Jesus. Perhaps this was not just to show that Jesus was the beloved Son of God, but also to confirm what John had been saying – that is, that there was a further need for baptism by the Holy Spirt. The water of repentance was/is not enough.

Later, the disciples, who were likely all baptized by John as well (we know specifically that some were followers of John, so it is a reasonable assumption), received the Holy Spirit [See Acts 2:1-4]. Prior to receiving the Holy Spirit, they were hiding from the religious leaders of the time. After the receiving of the Holy Spirit, they became bold preachers of the Gospel, most being martyred for it.

This – the dramatic change possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—is why water baptism does not stand alone.

1 John 1:7 [NKJV] But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Jesus made it clear to the disciples before hand that they would only receive the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, after He gave His blood for us. In his recounting of the Gospel message, John, the beloved, records this part of Jesus’ final words to His disciples in John 14:16-21. The King James Version uses the word Comforter. It is rendered “Helper” in the New King James and English Standard Version and translated “Advocate” in the New International Version. These are the roles of the Holy Spirit within us or for us – advocacy, comfort, and help.

But the Holy Spirit cannot come to dwell in us as “old wine skins”. [Luke 5:37] We first have to be cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus.

1 John 1:7 [NKJV] But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Following the words of Jesus and the further writings of John, the beloved, we see that these three are in agreement because each one is needed in order for us to live out our faith.

The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, talks about the strength of a three-fold cord.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 [NKJV] Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Together, the cleansing blood of Jesus, the repentance and symbolism of water baptism, and the indwelling of the Holdy Spirit, are the unbreakable three-fold cord of our Christian walk. No one of them can stand alone in our efforts to truly be changed.

Let’s review.

The blood – Jesus’s cleansing blood washes away our sins so that we might become something new.

The water – Baptism is our outward symbol of commitment to putting off the old and becoming new.

The Holy Spirit – It’s indwelling is what drives change from the old person into the new person, whose spiritual image reflects God and whose outward acts do His work on earth.

Sweet sisters, we need all three, and, thankfully, our beloved John mapped it out for us.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the chat or at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org

*Please note that I’m suing the NIV for these verses. The King James and New King James versions have added text that are not in the original scriptures. These words were added by the translators to support the Trinity Doctrine. Adding things to scripture that were not inspired in the original text is a dangerous business. [See Rev. 22:18] The text is pure, God breathed and perfect without human additions.

Letters from the Beloved – Condemned or Confident?

Let’s be clear, if we repent and ask forgiveness, God forgives us. In fact, Psalm 103:12 [NKJV] tells us that, “As far as the east is from the west, [So] far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Our sins are gone. Outta here!

So then, why would John, the Beloved, need to say this: 1 John 3:20 [KJV] “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”?

The New Living Translation put is this way: “Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.”

The fact that I may feel condemned or guilty, even though God has pronounced me innocent by the sacrifice of Jesus, must be perplexing to the heavenly beings. The fact that I would retain a feeling of condemnation or guilt after my sins have been removed as far as east is from west, might feel like a bit of a slap in the face to Jesus, who went through a horrible death to remove my sins from me.

Do I think I know better than God? Do I think the sacrifice of Jesus is not enough for me – for my sins? That’s not logical. It is, however, all too human.

The love of God is unfathomably great, generous – even reckless as the praise song “Reckless Love” (Cory Asbury) describes it. We don’t deserve it, could never earn it. So, sometimes we can get tempted by Satan to doubt it – to feel condemned in our hearts.

Perhaps our doubts stems from the fact that it takes so little to receive God’s forgiveness. He is not like the many false gods who require human sacrifice – passing sons and daughters into the fire to appease him. Instead, our loving Father sacrificed His son for us.

Unbelievable. Incredible. I know my sins. I am undeserving. But, when I repent, confess, and call upon the sacrificial blood of Jesus, God gives forgiveness to me anyway.

Sweet sisters, as incredible, expansive, endless, and reckless as the love of God may seem to us, we must give His forgiveness the respect it is due. That is, we must accept it, leave those sins far away (where God put them) and walk confidently forward in forgiveness.

We must let go of guilt and condemnation. Satan doesn’t want us to. But our Heavenly Father insists that we do.

The Beloved Disciple tells us in 1 John 3:21-22 [NLT] “Dear friends, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.”

Did you catch that? We know that if we don’t forgive others, God will not forgive us. But John seems to be saying that if we want to receive our petitions, we can’t languish in unforgiveness of ourselves either. Nothing can stop our faith in God like holding on to the guilt and unworthiness that Jesus has washed away. We are holding up our own answered prayers when we hold onto guilt and condemnation.

Let it go! God wants to put it as far from you as the east is from the west. Hand it over. As we said as children, “no takesies backsies”!

If our prayers feel stuck, it might be because our hearts still condemn us for what the Father has sought to put away.

“Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.”

Every human is a mix of good and evil. We will struggle with sin until the day we die. But we, as believers, have a resource for removing condemnation and guilt, giving us the freedom to walk in obedience and bold confidence – giving us the potential to receive whatever we ask.

Let me leave you with the potent words of Dara Maclean in her song “Suitcases”:

You can't run when you're holding suitcases
Yes, it's a new day, throw away your mistakes
And open up your heart, lay down your guard
You don't have to be afraid

 Just breathe, your load can be lifted
There's a better way when you know you're forgiven
Open up your heart, lay down your guard
You don't have to be afraid

 There's nothing holding
You back now, just run

 Drop the baggage of past condemnation and run your race with the lightness of forgivenes, sweet sister.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments section or at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org

No One Wants to be Job, Part 2

If you’ve never had something happen that was so traumatic (for your or someone you love) that you collapsed to the floor, face down and prayed something like, “What the inferno, God?!”, I’d just like to tell you that the day may come for any Christian.

John 11:41-42 [NKJV] 41 Then they took away the stone [from the place] where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up [His] eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said [this], that they may believe that You sent Me."

Not every Christian will go through Job-level trials. Not every Christian will know someone who does. But I believe that most of us who walk the Christian walk for more that a couple of years will have a moment or moments like this.

Last week I talked about being “Jobed” by God – that is God allowing Satan to persecute you to something like the level that Job endured. I also mentioned that when this happens to someone we care about, one of the best things we can do is to respond like Job’s friends – in the first seven days they were with Job. That is, we can sit quietly with them and share in their suffering.

When we are done sitting together in quiet reflection, we are going to want to pray a mighty prayer that saves, keeping in mind James 5:16 [NKJV] 16 … and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

“Effectual fervent” is defined as “to be active, efficient:—do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in)”.

If you are hoping for a magic formula for prayers that work, you may be disappointed. These words really mean no more than being active in prayer. No secret recipe for specific words to say or position to sit in, or length of time or warrior’s prayer closet needed.

God is simply telling us to mean it when we pray. Don’t phone it in. Be active in the prayer.

When we pray about Job-like trails, we will probably get emotional and that is perfectly fine. God can handle your tears and shouts. That is being active in prayer. We won’t “phone it in” on those days.

But let’s also keep in mind that if our prayers are focused by quiet and still, even just in our hearts, they can be “effectual” and “fervent” too. Remember: there is no magic formula. We should not make God out to be like Baal – or at least like the servants of the false god, Baal, thought he was – needing cries and jumping around and cutting ourselves to get attention. [See 1 Kings 18:20-29]

Elijah’s prayer was two verses long (compared to 9 verses – and multiple hours – of cutting and crying and pleading from the prophets of Baal) and brought down fire from heaven.

1 Kings 18:36-37 [YLT] 36 And it cometh to pass, at the going up of the [evening-]present, that Elijah the prophet cometh nigh and saith, 'Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to-day let it be known that Thou [art] God in Israel, and I Thy servant, that by Thy word I have done the whole of these things; 37 answer me, O Jehovah, answer me, and this people doth know that Thou [art] Jehovah God; and Thou hast turned their heart backward.’

Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead with a short prayer of thanksgiving. John 11:41-42 [NKJV] 41 Then they took away the stone [from the place] where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up [His] eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said [this], that they may believe that You sent Me."

Job-like trials do not happen to God’s people behind our Heavenly Father’s back. He knows what’s happening. You don’t have to be long and loud to impress God with your sincerity and faith. Be honest. Be truthful. Believe. God knows your heart. Just be you before Him and you too can “avail much” for yourself or others being “Jobed”.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments section below or email me at any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

Connection: To Infinity and Beyond

We have been focusing on connections this week. Today, I invite you to connect to the future that God gave in a vision to John, as outlined in my most favorite scripture.

Revelation 21:4 [NLT] He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."

The beauty of this scripture brings me to tears (ironic, I know). As we see the pain and sorrow, the death and crying all around, from those near, like family and friends, to those far, in impoverished and war torn countries, we long for the fulfillment of this scripture.

The land and the people will be washed with healing waters. Romans 8:22; Rev. 22:1-5.

And all those who thirst for Him, for a better life, for opportunity, for truth, for a better life will find living water. John 7:37-38

Today, I invite you to connect to your future - our future. This world is temporary, but what we look for, hope for, and pray for, what God offers to all who believe now and in the future, will last to infinity and beyond!

Praise God that this is His promise to us!

I welcome your comments. You can write in the comment section or email me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

Connection: Connect to Someone Different

The early New Testament Church had a connection problem.

There were whole cities who lost out on miracles because they could not connect the Messiah who came with the Messiah they expected. (See Mark 6:1-5 for example)

The disciples could not always connect the dots properly between Jesus’ words and what they were to learn. (See Mark 16:6-12 for example)

The leaders of Jesus’ time had trouble with the fact that Jesus connected with “sinners” because they ranked the sins of others as worse than their own.

They had trouble connecting with the fact that the Gospel was meant for people like the Samaritans and the Gentiles.

But the Gospel message is for everyone, regardless of race, country, social status, gender, history, etc. Our shared state of “sinner” and “redeemed” and, most importantly, “child of God” is all the connection we should need.

So, today, I invite us to connect to someone “different” than us. LMK how it goes.

You can write me in the chat or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

Connection: Connect to Your Dream(s)

I’m reading the book of Mark right now, looking at the ministry and works of Jesus through this shortest of the Gospels. Today, as I read chapter 5, I was struck by the response or reaction of the people of Gardarenes to the miracle of the casting out of a legion of demons from the man living among the tombs.

Rather than being amazed (in a good way) or joyful or thankful, they were fearful and asked Jesus to leave. And I wondered how many times fear has led me to not asking for something - or just asking too small.

Today, I invite you to connect or reconnect to a big dream that you have been fearful or hesitant to ask for in the past. Do not ask small and risk turning away big miracles and greater works of Jesus in your life.

Almost anything we asked can bring glory to God if done according to His will. So, do not second guess God and whether or not He will give you the desire of your heart. Just ask and expect God’s mightly response.

He may surprise you with how He responds or how He makes it come true. However, sweet sisters, we cannot let fear of a no, or worse, fear of a “yes” cause us to turn Jesus away when we know in our hearts (and from scripture) that He wants to give BIG.

If you are bold enough, please share your dream with me, so that I can pray for it too. You can write me in the comments or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMInistries.org.

Connection: Connect to your Creator via Creativity

We are the children of God. He is the great Creator, not only of the universe and all that it is in, but also of His work in us.

As His children, we are also creative beings. He has gifted us with creativity that shows up in a variety of ways.

Today, I invite you to connect to the Creator via creativity of your own. Ideas: Draw, paint, write a poem, color a picture, sing praises instead of praying them, thus creating your own music for God to hear, make a macaronic necklace or create something from playdough. Or even just take a photo of God’s beautiful creation. Your creation doesn’t have to be “good” in your eyes or the eyes of others, it just needs to be inspired by joy or thanks or love.

If you dare, I invited you to share it with us here - or at least tell us about it.

Blessings to all my sweet, creative, fellow children of God out there!

You can respond in the chat/comments section here or write me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

Connection: Connect to Nature, God's Creation

Today, I invite us to connect to nature, with a walk in the woods, or time sitting on a porch or focusing on the sunset.

Romans 1:20 [KJV] tells us that we can find a deeper understanding of God in nature. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The beauty of God’s creation is all around us, even if we find ourselves in a city. Let’s focus today on finding a way to focus a little more on the beauty of nature, wherever we find ourselves today, sweet sisters.

Connection: Reconnect to Someone

Today, I invite us to reach out to someone we have lost touch with or that we feel disconnected from at this time. Could be an estranged family member, someone who used to attend church with you, a friend who is not as close as he/she used to be.

You could simply say, “I miss you” or “I love you” or “I’m thinking of you and I am thinking of you and I hope you are well”. Ask God to give you the words that will reach them and to reconnect you IF it is His will to do so.

We are to be light and hope, joy and peace, sewers of seeds - just like Jesus Himself when He walked this earth. We don’t know what will happen as a result of making the connection. Perhaps you will just momentarily brighten someone’s day. Whatever happens, you’ll know you made the effort and so will God. He will be pleased.

If you feel so moved, please share your results, or why you chose who you did, or why you are disconnected. I always love hearing from you. You can post a comment on this blog site or email me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org

Connection: Go to a new place with God.

Sometimes, even the most spiritual of us find that there are certain places we don’t go with God. Maybe it is that this part of us feels to broken to offer up to our perfect God. Maybe we are so disappointed in ourselves that we can imagine nothing more from God than His disappointment. Maybe it feels to damages for His healing, so we think “why bother?” Or maybe we feel a wish, want, dream is too small or “worldly” and don’t want to take up God’s important time with something like that.

Sweet sisters, please don’t prejudge God’s interest, willingness, love or forgiveness.

Today I challenge us all to go there - to open up to our loving, very interested, faithful Father about something new. Something you’ve held back for whatever reason.

He seeks to know and be known by us intimately. He wants to hear about every aspect of our lives, hopes, dreams and fears.

So “go there” with God today. I invite you to share you thoughts and feelings about it here on this blog or any time at Nancy@DyanmicChristianMinistries.org