Living Stones for God’s House

 

 

An opal stone comes in a variety of hues - black, white, orange, navy and green to name a few. Although their color may vary, they are all shot through with iridescent swirls that attract attention and mesmerize gem lovers like me. 

 

My favorite aspect about them is that opals are considered by jewelers as living stones. We too are living stones, built into a spiritual house by God (1 Peter 2:5). Light deflecting through opals hits hard, transparent silica spheres, producing the luminous rainbow colors. God’s light shines through us as well.

 

Opals are not found in large veins like many precious stones but scattered over a large area of miles in each direction. Most are nestled in the clefts of the rocks. God scatters His Saints throughout the earth to live as testimonies to His reality and blessings in a converted life, but He also protects us in the cleft of the Rock of Christ.

 

Opals must be protected from heat and detergents that "dry" the gem. Jewelers encourage opal owners to soak this brilliant stone in mineral oil to retain its sparkle. We too need frequent time to soak in God’s Spirit to keep us vibrant and useful for His service.

 

Our peculiarities in our carnal nature make us uniquely human for God to use for His glory. God promises that, if we allow His holy light to shine through us daily, He will prevent our life’s circumstances from wavering to extremes of hot or cold, so that we will never crack, but continue to sparkle for His glory (John 16:33).

 

Prayer:

Father God, You make us flourish in our spirit, which sanctifies our soul and heals our flesh. Even with repeated health issues, You give us the wisdom and courage to detox our life, including not eating processed foods, sugar, gluten, dairy and other elements that we are allergic to without knowing it unless You teach us by Your Spirit or through functional medical doctors.

 

Help us to remember to drink daily from Your Word and to remain hidden in the cleft of Your Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ. Immerse us in Your Spirit, so that Your light in us shines so brightly that men will see our good works and glorify You (Matthew 5:16). We want to praise and honor You with our thoughts, words, and deeds. We pour out praises of thanksgiving to You each moment of our day, and we give you all the glory and honor for Your marvelous works on our behalf.

 

Thought for the Day:

We do not discriminate in the fellowship of the church, but we include every race, nationality, dialect, and personality; however, we do insist on members adhering to the primary principles of the scripture and living according to its dictates rather than the liberal, all-inclusive attitude of the world today; everyone is welcome to attend, but God only offers membership in His family to adherents of Biblical Truth who are living stones.

- John 3:16-18

 

The Rich Treasury of God’s Glory

 

 

Out of the riches of His glory, God allows us to be strengthened and reinforced in our soul and spirit for our work in our service to Him (Ephesians 6:16, Amplified Bible). Through our faith in Him, Christ abides in our heart, and we are deeply rooted and standing firmly and securely on His love for us (Ephesians 6:17, Amplified Bible).

 

His intimate presence fills and floods our entire being with the power and strength to understand with all the Saints, the breadth, length, height, and depth of His love for us. His nurture and provision far exceed anything available to us in this finite world. We experience the richest measure of God within us (Ephesians 6:18-19, Amplified Bible).

 

This is the hope and goal of our calling in Christ: to be filled through our entire body, soul and spirit with all the fullness of God. Immersed in His presence within and surrounding us, we perfect the reality of living in complete serenity. This entices us to simplify our life, to live frugally, and to make God’s Kingdom the reason for all our efforts in this life.

 

God works through every surrendered Saint as we abide in His presence. We remove anything in our life that is not absolutely relevant to promoting God’s Kingdom, which allows us to live unencumbered by the cares of this world. 

 

We learn to resist the draw of materialism in order to remain uncluttered by this world’s goods. This allows us to walk in total peace and joy by God’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:15-25). The distractions of life on this planet no longer pressure us or monopolize our attention.

 

We are no longer pulled in a multitude of different directions, so we can focus on God’s perfect plans for each moment of our day. When we feel God’s peace leave us, we can stop, slip into a quiet place, and focus our attention on our spirit, body, soul until He reveals to us how to regain our footing on His protective straight and narrow road.

 

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for having a perfect plan for our life before You ever formed us in our mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-16). Teach us that only our totally Spirit-led thoughts, when acted upon, will bear any fruit for Your kingdom. When we sit quietly in Your presence, we allow You to conform us from the inside out.

 

Remind us to rid our soul of distracting inner clutter, as well as cleaning our home and office of all unnecessary physical clutter. We make more room for You by simplifying our life and having a garage sale to empty our surroundings of distractions and encumbrances that would keep us from serving You with our whole heart, soul, strength, and body (Mark 12:30).

 

Thought for the Day:

God’s still, small voice cannot compete with the distorted distractions and overpowering clutter of an unsubmitted life, and we miss out on fulfilling divine appointments that God has planned for us; only our thoughts, words, and actions that are completely inspired by God will give us lasting treasures to enjoy throughout eternity.

 

First Fruits of Our Blessings

 

 

One of my girlfriends grew up with her missionary parents in Brazil. She dwelt most of the year safely ensconced in boarding school. But summers brought carefree days in the remote, native village where her parents toiled to share the Gospel of Christ. 

 

Supporters often sent them gift boxes from the USA, and the missionary family eagerly anticipated the arrival of these coveted items. Sugar, coffee, American ethnic goodies, candy for the children, popcorn and staples and other treats often peered at them from the brimming gift boxes. 

 

The family always put the unopened box on the coffee table in the center of the room. They made a ceremony out of opening the container, giving thanks to God before they ever removed the tape, which sealed the box. 

 

The children knelt around the table, leaning up in order to view the desirable objects at the soonest possible second. Their parents, grown up but still children within, held the same enthusiastic expectancy. The whole family always smiled with delight as they examined the carefully chosen gifts from their loyal supporters.

 

One day, however, instead of the fulfillment of their joy, disappointment resulted when they opened the box. Inside was a large, heavy glass jar, full to the brim with USED tea bags. The donors, obviously proud of their sacrifice, reminded them that several cups of tea could come from one bag.

 

How many of us are also guilty of giving God our “used teabags”, and trying to pass them off as our reasonable service (Romans 12:1)? Do we give Him the leftovers of our time, talents, and money - using them first for our own benefit and glory, and then giving Him our scraps?

 

Prayer:

Father God, Christians all over the world exhibit this same attitude. They take the first fruits of their earnings, as well as the blessings You provide for them, and they consume it upon their own lusts. Then they give You their used leftovers or simply put a tip in the offering basket/box.

 

Help me not to have this same habit and outlook in my life. I often wondered about the mentality behind such a crass and selfish gesture. Due to the heavy glass jar, the money saved in postage alone could have sent the missionaries a dozen boxes of new tea bags. Teach us how to give You all the honor and glory that You deserve.

 

Thought for the Day:

God gives us a mandate to give ten percent of our first fruits to Him, and His Word declares that giving anything less than ten percent is actually robbing from God; we do not really want to steal from the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Ruler of the Universe, so instead, let us give Him our all. 

- Malachi 3:8-18

 

A Good Marriage - A Fiancé’s Proposal

 

 

When my boyfriend and I dated for three months, He played this song for me, and vowed to love me like this from beginning to end of our future life on this earth. He called it, “Our Song” and it has been “our song” ever since this day. Whenever we hear it, we get all emotional and dreamy-eyed as we gaze at one another and sing with the recording.

 

Of course, we are all human, and life gets in the way, but he has valiantly kept these words as his “instruction manual” for a good marriage. He recently came across the song again in his collection, and he brought his computer into our living room, sat with me on our love seat, and sang it to me along with the artist.

 

I think that the words are beautifully penned and really capture the heart of a woman and what she really needs from her spouse 

(The capitalization below is mine… kat):

 

“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman

 

To REALLY love a woman 

·      To UNDERSTAND her 

·      You gotta know her DEEP INSIDE

·      HEAR every thought - See EVERY dream

·      And give her wings when SHE WANTS to fly

·      Then, when you find yourself lyin’ HELPLESS IN HER ARMS

·      You know you REALLY LOVE a woman

 

When you love a woman

·      You TELL HER that she's REALLY WANTED

When you love a woman 

·      you TELL HER that she's THE ONE 

·      'Cause she NEEDS somebody to TELL HER that 

it's GONNA LAST FOREVER
So tell me have you ever really
REALLY, REALLY ever loved a woman?

[Verse 2]
To really love a woman 

·      LET HER HOLD YOU 'Til YOU KNOW HOW she needs to be touched

·      You've gotta BREATHE her - really taste her

·      'TIL YOU CAN FEEL HER in your blood
And when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
You know you really love a woman

[Chorus]
When you love a woman

·      You TELL HER that she's REALLY WANTED

·      When you love a woman, you TELL HER that SHE'S THE ONE

·      'Cause she NEEDS somebody to TELL HER 

·      that you'll ALWAYS BE TOGETHER
So tell me have you ever really
REALLY, REALLY ever loved a woman?

 

·      OH - YOU GOT TO GIVE HER SOME FAITH - HOLD HER TIGHT

·      A little TENDERNESS - gotta TREAT HER RIGHT

·      Then, she WILL BE THERE FOR YOU, takin' GOOD CARE OF YOU

·      YOU REALLY GOTTA LOVE YOUR WOMAN***
Then when you find yourself LYIN' HELPLESS IN HER ARMS
You know you really love a woman

[Chorus]
When you love a woman

·      You tell her that SHE'S REALLY WANTED

·      When you love a woman you TELL HER that SHE'S THE ONE

·      'Cause she NEEDS somebody

·      TO TELL HER THAT IT'S GONNA LAST FOREVER
So tell me have you ever really
REALLY, REALLY ever loved a woman?

[Outro]
Yeah, just tell me have you ever really
REALLY, REALLY ever loved a woman?
Oh, just tell me have you ever really
REALLY, REALLY ever loved a woman?

 

Prayer: 

Father God, it is Your desire for a man to lay down His life for his bride, just like Jesus did for us (Ephesians 5:25-26, 33; Proverbs 31:10). Your Word uses His love for us as an example of how a husband loves his wife (Proverbs 18:22). In return, she will easily submit to and care for him (Colossians 3:18-19), because he understands her (1 Peter 3:6-8), listens to her, considers her needs, cherishes her, feels compassion for her, and really, really loves her (Ephesians 5:28). 

 

So, help us to pay attention to each other as we converse, to take each other seriously, and to have empathy for one another’s sorrows and joys, even if we cannot really relate to how our spouse feels. Remind us that if we want a loving husband and a meek and quiet wife, we will make our marriage significant in our life, in our schedule, and in our soul – our thoughts, emotions and choices (1 Corinthians 7:3-4). Teach us how to prioritize our marriage, to show Your unconditional love to one another, and to allow Your Spirit to direct our steps together continually.

 

Thought for the Day:

We all want a fulfilled marriage, but as humans that is hard to find; therefore, it is only as we become one flesh that we really, really love one another, then God will teach us to dwell together in unity with one another, to prefer each other, and to consider our spouse’s needs as intently as we pay attention to our own desires. 

- Colossians 3:19; Genesis 2:24; Mark 10: 8-9; Matthew 19:4-6

 

NOTES on the song:

“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” is a song written by Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen and Robert John “Mutt” Lange, and recorded by Adams for the film Don Juan DeMarco. The melody is used as a musical motif throughout the film, and the song is featured three times in the movie, twice performed by other artists in Spanish, and finally performed by Adams himself during the closing credits. 

 

The Adams version of the song, which features flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia, is featured on the soundtrack album and also on the album “18 til I Die.” The music video was shot in Spain at Casa los Pavos Reales, Málaga. Starring Cecilie Thomsen and Amira Bryan Adams

 

https://genius.com/Bryan-adams-have-you-ever-really-loved-a-woman-lyrics

 

Success in Tribulation

 

 

We often think that God is punishing us or failing to protect us when we go through a trail. Sometimes, tribulation comes as a result of our reaping the consequences of our carnal choices. At other times, we are so busy working for God that He cannot work in, for, and through us (Ephesians 2:10). 

 

The key to success in tribulation is to learn to seek God’s guidance each moment of the day, to rejoice regardless of the situation, to look for God’s hugs that He provides for us throughout the day, and to hide under the shelter of His wings (Psalm 61:4). 

 

For instance, my former husband of twenty-two years told me that he saw no option for us but divorce. This threw me into immediate turmoil. I thought our marriage would last until death parted us, but he sold our home and struck out into the great unknown to seek his place in life.

 

I had to relocate, find several jobs to support myself and wonder where God was in the midst of all the stress and chaos. I knew that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:9); and I married a Christian Pastor, so why was this happening to me? God immediately started to provide for me. 

 

Taking me back to my supportive natural family, God put it in their hearts to take me under their wings. He healed my soul by opening the door at a Montessori training school and divorce recovery programs at two separate local churches, though which He introduced me to women friends going through similar circumstances. 

 

Confirming to me that He intended to provide for me and not to injure me, God gave me hope for my uncertain future (Jeremiah 29:11). Two years later, I met and married a Pastor whose wife divorced him. God restored our ministries and gave us unconditional love through His presence in each other.

 

Prayer:

Father God, You love us enough to sacrifice Your Son on our behalf (John 3:16). You never leave us or forsake us (Hebrew 13:4-6). At times, You must discipline us for our errant behavior, or to prod us back on Your chosen path for us (Ephesians 2:10; Jeremiah 29:11). It may be painful for a little while, but it all brings about in us Your peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11). 

 

Remind us that the disciples often found themselves in turmoil, but Jesus always came to them at just the right moment (Mathew 14:22). When they floundered in an angry sea, and prepared to meet their death, He was there (Mark 6:48); and another time, when their hope ebbed, Jesus walked out to them on the water and provided for them. Thank You for always caring for us as well.

 

Thought for the Day:

Through His care for them, Jesus proved to the disciples that He truly was the Son of God, and tribulation is also our opportunity to grow deeper in our faith, love, union, and devotion to God; at times, faith is all that gets us through the murky waters of life, and just reading God’s Word always provides stability and hope for us as it increases our faith in God’s faithfulness.

– Matthew 14:33; Hebrews 12:6-7

 

Comfort in Trouble

 

As we abide in Christ, He is our portion forever (Psalm 73:26). We find our rest in Him during every time of trouble. We learn from Him, and we draw closer to Him. Once the current, negative circumstance is over, we find our roots clinging more firmly to Him. 

 

Even during prosperity, He remains the center of our focus and the joy of our soul. We praise Him with gratitude in our heart and walk by faith in God’s faithfulness. He joys over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). The abundance and compassion of His love is more real to us with each passing day.

 

As we trust in God alone, He establishes our path and provides us with the resources we need to walk in His victory. Where He leads, we follow. We keep our spirit in tune with Christ in us, and our soul (our mind, choices, and emotions) is led by His Spirit (Romans 13:14). 

 

The power and draw of the world, our flesh, and the devil decreases as the Spirit of God transform us into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Our rebellion, self-centeredness, and love for this world diminish as we abide in Him, and He abides in us (John 15:4). 

 

We submit to God, resist the devil, and he must flee from us (James 4:7). Even if Satan uses pain and suffering to sidetrack us, we firmly stand on the faith of the Son of God who loves us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20). We rest in Him, as God restores or replaces everything that Satan tried to steal from us.

 

As we partake in His holiness, our union with Him deepens, His comfort fills our soul, and His joy is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). As God’s Spirit removes the carnality in our flesh, He fills us instead with His fruit, which is the nature of God in us (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

Prayer:

Father God, daily we come closer to the point of finding our satisfaction totally in You and our heart in deeper harmony with Your purpose for our life. We enter times of alone-ness to become all-one with You. We find our comfort in You, rather than in any person, place, or thing in this world. You are our all sufficiency (2 Corinthians 12:9). During trials, we look for the seed for a miracle that You plant in every one of them.

 

When we lose our self in You, we care more for Your Kingdom and righteousness than we do for the pursuits of this world. This pruning results in more fruitfulness in our life, all for Your glory (John 15:5,8). We bear the fruit of Your Spirit to edify and nourish Your Body and all those in our world that You bring our way. 

 

Thought for the Day:

When we see adversity approaching, we hide under the shelter of God’s wings, and we abide in Him moment by moment, walking in His Spirit throughout the day; His love fills our soul, and our cup runs over with agape love for our self as well as for everyone we meet; His compassion in us allows us to comfort others with the same comfort that He provides for us.  

- Psalm 91:1; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Psalm 23:5

 

Spectators or Servants of God

 

 

The church is the Body and Bride of Christ, commissioned to carry the gospel into all the world, and especially in our local community. We reach out with the gospel of Christ to friends, relatives, work and hobby associates, and neighbors (Mark 16:15-16).

 

It is ludicrous to expect our church to have the personality, ministries, outreach, and worship identical to every other church in town, because God gives each congregation His own unique flavor to meet the need for which He designed each particular congregation.

 

We faithfully pray to the Lord of the Harvest to bring workers into the field; and we serve as an example of a loving, outreaching, soul-winning, hardworking member of the local church where God calls us. When we do this, we see God's hand faithfully supplying all the needs in our life and in the life of that congregation.

 

We feel blessed to be a part of His work in our community as we partake in the events and share God’s love with our neighbors. We also care about and contribute financially, as well as with our time and efforts to supply the needs in the facilities which God provided for our congregation to meet.

 

We serve in ministries in our local church as the Lord calls us to assist, working in an area that we find interesting, and remaining faithful to that calling until God directs us to serve in a new direction in our church body (Romans 12:4-5).

 

When we see a need, or something that is blocking the growth of our church family, rather than complaining, ridiculing, gossiping, and looking for another church, we put our hand to the plow and help to change things for the better. A little sweat and hard work usually pay off.

 

This may require that we increase our financial giving, spend more time supporting the church leadership and ministries, and take the initiative to ask the leadership for ways in which we can be the most help to the Body as we allow them to equip us for this ministry (Ephesians 4:12-16).

 

Prayer:

Father God, raise up congregations across the nation that are committed to You, to one another as Your family, and to our community. It is so easy for a person to “divorce” a congregation and to go across town to find one that better suits their needs, with no regard to Your will for them in service to that original congregation. Help us to covenant together in faith and loyalty, regardless of issues that hurt or irritate us.

 

Remind us to fellowship around the Gospel of Jesus instead of the worship or preaching style, the size of the bulletin, the number of lights and instruments used on the stage, etc. Teach us to agree on the central truths of Your Word and to live by these truths rather than by our personal preferences and carnal desires. Inform us about the true meaning of our spiritual gifts, and also help us to find a place to use those gifts for the mutual edification of the Body in which You call us to serve. 

 

Thought for the Day:

Contrary to popular belief, the church is not a gathering of spectators called to criticize the music, minister, and ministries of a particular congregation; before we were even conceived, God had a plan for our life, and He calls us and places us in a certain church in order to serve that part of His Body in any needed ministry to which He calls us.

- Ephesians 2:10; Jeremiah 29:11