The Star of David

The Star of David is made up of two over-lapping triangles. It has one triangle pointing upward the other pointing downward. I was pondering the other day about how the Star of David was formed and I was impressed with the following:

The triangle pointing upward represents our relationship with the Lord our God. As we grow in our relationship with Him we move nearer, growing ever closer, as we release our ways we gain His truth. Moving closer into His presence, drawing nearer by His grace – welcomed by His lovingkindness.

And the downward pointing triangle represents our relationship with our fellow man. The downward point of the triangle represents a focus on one’s self and as you grow in your relationship with the Lord, your focus moves/changes/grows to become less ‘self-focused’ and more focused on others – that is sharing the gospel and making disciples, encouraging and exhorting one another.

As the Holy Spirit works in us the closer we come to the Lord, the more we are changed into His image, and the more we become His true grace and truth disciples. Drawing close to God, opening our heart to man – there is no other way to be His disciple.

OWS

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) has been a topic in the world’s media as of late. And from my perspective it is an interesting response from the ‘street’ to what is going on in our country as well as other parts of our world. Frustration, disappointment, perceived ‘rights’ unmet, people who say that they are tired of greed, corruption and power brokering within the ‘establishment’ – coming together to ‘share’ their story; to establish some beachhead, although no one seems to know exactly what that is and/or what it means – a faction comprised of varying and various complaints against today’s society.

But, I want to direct your attention to a different OWS movement – Overcoming Worldly Struggles!

A body of redeemed people comprised of those who are ambassadors for the living Christ, who have been called to share His love with all who will hear. We are, as believers in Christ Jesus, members of this OWS movement that has the ability to change lives not just for the short term but for eternity! A movement that shares the message of God’s grace and truth which sets captives free, redeems his creation from the bondage of sin’s oppression, restores lives that have been ravaged by the fallen nature of man while bringing liberty to His ransomed; a new life in Christ and eternity in His presence.

I exhort and encourage the body of Christ to stand up, stand firm and stand boldly in proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ and His message of grace and mercy and redemption in these times. He has called us into action amongst this fray that is our daily life on this earth and He has provided us with all that we need to proclaim Him - sounding forth His message – how then shall we proceed?

Overcoming Worldly Struggles through Our Wonderful Savior…

No excuses

We live in a time where it seems that everyone has an ‘excuse’ for everything and it is usually to blame someone else, something else or anything else. Where is responsibility? Where is integrity and honor?

We know that the world’s way is to always blame it on anything but ourselves but what about God’s way? Aren’t we supposed to be people of integrity, of honor, placing the truth of God above the ways of the world? And when we make mistakes, which we all will do, aren’t we supposed to take responsibility for them and do the right thing? Admit it, ask forgiveness if appropriate, make it right and move forward – no excuses!

When we stand for God’s truth and as we fulfill our role as His ambassadors to this lost and dying world, we must be willing and able to stand up against the world’s ‘blame everyone else’ mentality and be people of integrity and honor – willing to admit to our mistakes, to the errors that we have committed, to omissions where we have fallen short.

The growing entitlement mentality that is sweeping our country continues to feed the beast that is “it is not my fault’ and someone else must be blamed for my shortcomings – I am surely not to blame. If my “rights’ are not met as I perceive them then I must make excuses for my actions and find a ‘guilty party’ to blame. This is the ‘excuse game’ run amok! If we must use pretext as a ploy to justify our position we might need to revisit our position. The question to ask oneself when considering a response to a situation that would normally generate an excuse: does it bring honor, is it based on integrity?

In short: to stand for His Name and to honor His glory means that there are NO EXCUSES!

The Truly Extreme Makeover

Some of you have watched the television show “Extreme Makeover’ where they take a family’s older house, undergo a complete makeover of the home and then present it to the family – their new home. Sometimes it is a renovation project where they improve upon the existing home that is usually in poor condition. Other times they completely destroy the existing home and start from scratch. The program brings people from the community together to assist with the project and there is always a very emotional ending as the extreme makeover home is displayed to the family and the community as they ‘move that bus’.

Well, I want to tell you about a Truly Extreme Makeover! Where the old home is gone and a new home is created – a complete renovation and the start of a new life!

- Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. [2 Cor 5:17]

- But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration (spiritual rebirth) and renewing (renovation/makeover) by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [Titus 3:4-7]

- …that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth [Eph 4:23-24]

The Holy Spirit at work in you, giving you an extreme makeover…and they rejoice in heaven.

So, are you ready to ‘move that bus’?