Crowned

Why do geese fly south? Jim Rohn used to say “Because they are geese”. Geese have a genetic code built into them that assures that they will follow a certain pattern systematically. That is until weather patterns change then they observe another program or another is downloaded from an infinite divine source. A good friend of mine exclaims that everything is energy, and all energy has the divine built into it. Creation naturally moves in an ordained manner. Solomon in Ecclesiastes stated that “All the rivers flow to the sea, yet the sea is not full.”


Jesus exhorted us to consider the fowls of the air, and closely observe the lily. By doing these things we bring context to our lives in this respect. If God would clothe the lily, and feed the sparrows, will He not take care of you? He then declares that we should first seek the kingdom of God and all things would be added to us.


Throughout the years my faith has evolved with my theology, but there are many mysteries that remain. There is much that I don’t understand and probably at the forefront is the question of sin. One of my teachers once told me that sin is the result of unbelief. After a careful consideration of these words I would have to almost agree. (we will expound on that later) The mystery is “Why does man go his own his own way, while the rest of creation flows in the divine order. Why do geese fly south, beavers build dams, and yet a man beats his wife, children are abused, wars are fought.


What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?


For thou hast made him but little lower than God, And crownest him with glory and honor.






God has crowned man! He has made man in His own image with abilities that far exceed the rest of creation. The highest of all God’s creatures, struggles with power, and control. The third part of the brain the cranium is what really separates man from the rest of the kingdom. Here lies the ability to reason, to deduct and to record communication. As intelligence is rapidly expanded in man, so concern grows. Where is this all going? How will it all end up?


When I contemplate eschatology, and theory about the end of time as we know it I can become overwhelmed. When engaged in a conversation with those who believe a certain way, and gleefully have it all figured out, I often comment “when I figure out how to get the “in Christ” thing right, I will put some energy into the end times. So where is it all going? Only heaven knows, but a couple of things that I do know, I see through a glass darkly and God is good.


I have a hard time believing in a mad vindictive God. If that were the case, why did he show me such mercy?


Who is this king of Glory? He is the lord of Hosts!

The Feast

I have been reading from Solomon’s proverbs this morning. He spoke volumes about our thought life and the positioning of the heart. Let’s begin with an example.

Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil. But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

The Hebrew word for afflicted literally means “to be depressed in mind”.  On the other side of the coin is the merry heart.  The merry heart has a continual feast, or the blessing just keeps coming and coming. I like that. It reminds me to keep my heart in the right position. Solomon said in another place. “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.”

Wow! I am thinking the feasting sounds good right now. My heart, your heart is powerful! Out of heart are our boundaries set, or as our heart is enlarged.  When the psalmist David was in hiding in a cave he proclaimed. “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.”

By singing praises we position our most powerful instrument the recreated heart. Out of your heart flows life. Out of our inmost being flows the course of our life. 

You may say to me “I can’t help it, I am depressed today” I can relate. I have been there. The psalmist David has been there. We are instructed in another place “for the spirit of heaviness, put on the garment of praise”! 

Put on that garment! Don’t wait another minute! Put it on, put it on! Reposition your heart today.

Higher Thoughts= Higher Ways

           ISAIAH 55:7-9 the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

       Notice the Prophet says the wicked man should forsake his way. The way is trodden path a habitual way of acting or a course of life. The way is a system of thought which has become an action that is accomplished on a regular basis.

     

      Unrighteousness begins in the thought life. Everything begins in the thought life and the thought life gives birth to a way or a habit.

       Change your thinking=Change your life. Notice that way here is equated to action, and also is accentuated by the word “wicked”. The unrighteous man is told to deal with his thought life.