Micah 6

Listen to what the Lord says:

“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. “Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.

“My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. 

Listen! The Lord is calling to the city —and to fear your name is wisdom— “Heed the rod and the One who appointed it. Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house, and the short ephah, which is accursed? Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins. You will eat but not be satisfied; your stomach will still be empty. You will store up but save nothing, because what you save I will give to the sword. You will plant but not harvest; you will press olives but not use the oil, you will crush grapes but not drink the wine. You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”

Max Lucado

I had the pleasure of sitting in on a simulcast of Max Lucado speaking on the subject of Grace, which happens to be the title of his new book coming out. Here are some notes on the lesson.

John 8:2-11 some interesting points on this passage was that the woman was caught in adultery. That really hit home for me, as I have been caught in my sin a number of times. How does Jesus handle this? He stoops down and starts writing in the dust (or dirt), taking a lower position that the woman. When the people being to verbally push Jesus, he stands up and defends her. Isn't that interesting? Jesus defends me just as much, if not more so than that of that woman.

There was also a passage in Hebrews 7, although I am uncertain of the verse.

Romans 8:34 Jesus doesn't condemn. If I am to be like Jesus, then I shouldn't either.

Ezekiel 35:25-26 When I give Jesus my heart, he returns the favor. Jesus needs to dwell within me. When god hears my heartbeat, whose heart does he hear? My heart or the heart of Jesus?

Grace is what is done by Jesus IN me. Heaven into me. So why do I still behave bad? Transplants take time, it is a gradual process. Be strong in the grace. Grow in the grace. Have the heart of a sponge and not of a rock. Stand in the grace of God. Become a grace shaped person!

1st Corinthians 9

1st Corinthians 9: I am reading both books of Corinthians right now by the request of my wife. So far, it has been good reading. In this chapter, I see that I have to become all things to all people in order to save some. The race is marked out for me. I have to work for my recovery. I have to become something more than I already am so that I might save myself.

You see, I have become the homeless. I have become the jobless. I have become really good at being an addict. And now it is time to become something better. Now it is time to become someone recovered. As I type this at rehab, I reflect on that I have nearly 50 days pure and sober. I've lost my wife and kids, but there is hope that someday I will get them back, although to me it looks bleak. My friends have more hope about it than I do.

Anyway, it is nearing time to have to walk away from the computer, so I will close out there.

Pure in Heart: Lesson 3

Purity of Heart: 100% Satisfaction from God alone

Sexual Purity is 100% satisfaction from our spouse

Genesis 2:22-25 God and Adam were alone for a while with a complete spiritual relationship. Adam is giving a spouse God took a bone from next to his heart. Eve was created to be enough for Adam. Eve and Adam were enough emotionally, physically, and spiritually. He didn't need anyone else. She was enough to complete him sexually.

Ephesians 5:1-4 100% of our sexual gratification should be from our spouse. No place for jokes or improper thoughts because we are God's holy people. Sin doesn't belong with us. We are to be set apart from sin. Ephesians 5:7 Do not partners who do not hold the standard.

Matthew 5:27-29 Jesus takes away the look. Impurity is even looking at a woman. It is serious. How serious do we take the long look or the second look that brings the sexual fantasy?

1 Timothy 5:1-2 No sexual gratification going until it is a husband and wife.

Hebrews 13:4 Rules out sexual fantasy, pornography. Sex should be 100% about your spouse. Rules out masturbation. It is selfish, does not unify with anyone, and does not involve the spouse.

Mark 10:17-27 Living a pure life is possible with God.We become who we are with training with God. It is doable and a joy, not a burden. A beautiful life God gives to his children. The best sex are reserved for disciples who are living this pure life.

2 Timothy 2:22 Will I flee evil and will I pursue righteousness?

Exercises: Get an pencil and write out how I am getting sexual pleasure, sexual hits outside of marriage. Am I willing to hold to God's standards?

Pure in Heart: Lesson 2

Matthew 5:8
No greater promise than to see God.

Pure by definition

Pure honey has the only ingredient honey.

If I have a pure heart the only thing in there is the desire to please God and love God.

The Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:7-9. It is a pure place undefiled by sin. God's first son, Adam, gets to take walks with him, name creatures, and did all sorts of things with God. Adam was 130 years when Seth was born. Adam and God were alone for years attending the Garden for possibly years naming animals and having God to himself. Purity equals God alone.

Would I be fine with God alone, with everything stripped away? Would I be fine with just God and no ESPN, no Texas Rangers, no house, no friends, no family, no car... just me and God. Would I be full of joy? Am I drawing complete satisfaction from God?

Psalm 62:1-7

Sexual sin is the lie that God is not enough. God will not satisfy my desire. Addiction is the refusal to cling to God as the only person who can fill our deepest longings and ease our relational pain.

Blessed at the pure... if we are blessed, we can have our fullness in God alone.

Exercise: Take some time and picture when I was innocent before sexual sin had polluted my world. Try to reconnect with this time. Try to reengage what was going in my life in this time. I may need to create a place.

#2: Make a list of things that may compete with God for where I find my sole satisfaction. What do I look forward to on a daily basis. Fast from these things.

Psalm 63:5

Everywhere I look I will see God.