Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts: December 2012

Monday, December 31, 2012

My Heart’s Cry

Wondrous, Holy God my soul pants for you. How I long to be wrapped in the splendor of heaven’s glory, of beauty’s truth. For I am like David, decreeing into the heaven that you are the one thing I desire, and the center of all I seek. Your glory’s song burns, as eternal embers in my heart, drawing me nearer to your throne. Redemption’s kiss stains my soul, drawing me deeper into your arms—into your presence. Your love is mine; and my love is only for you. I will sing of your sweetness. I will sing of your majesty. I will the song of my heart.”

We are created in the image and likeness of a Holy God. This means we are intrinsically designed for worship. In the beginning, the bible tells us that Adam and Eve walked with God—that His glory shrouded them. He knew their thoughts and they knew His heart. He talked to Him, could look at Him and could touch Him if they so chose. The first spirit-filled man and women enjoyed abundant provision, joy, and glory. Eden was perfect setting for worship and adoration; and absolutely exists today—in our soul.

The soul is comprised of the mind, will and emotions. It is the epicenter of thoughts and feelings. It is the place where we can commune with a Holy God, journey with Him and allow His provision and joy to overtake us. In that place—that Eden-esque place—we can kneel closer to throne established in our hearts. We can bow lower in reverence of heaven’s power and grace. We are God’s handiwork and we are created to worship Him in spirit and in truth just like the angels.

Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the four living creatures, and the elders. There were thousands and thousands of angels,12 saying in a loud voice: “The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise!" 13 Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying: "To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever." 14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders bowed down and worshiped.

The bible says that everything that has breath will praise the Lord. It says that every knee bows in reverence and every tongue confesses that Christ is indeed the Lamb of God. Worship isn’t something that we do; it’s who we are. To worship the Father is the heart cry of each of us.

Monday, December 24, 2012

It Is Well

“As the heavens through bountiful whispers proclaim the splendid works of an awesome God, so too should my life be that all who behold its miraculous wonders would know there is indeed a God in heaven.”

Life is full of roller coaster like experiences that leave you feel exhilarated one moment and completely nauseated the next. You find yourself on top of the world, beating your chest in victory and triumph. Next thing you know, you’re wallowing in the trenches trying to ascertain what went wrong. There’s a reason for the saying life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. There’s a reason the bible tells us to be strong and very courageous. To live this life, you have to be.

It’s understandable that you’re going to get knocked down. You’re going to be tossed around like a ship without a sail or worse. Just know this: God is not surprised. As a matter of fact, He’s got a plan in place. Truth be told, He had the plan in place eons ago—and by eons I mean when He first called forth light into the world. God is not finite. He sees the beginning, the end and everything in between. His capacity to conduct our lives is only surpassed by His deep-seeded love for us. The Creator of heaven and earth LOVES us. What’s more, He is not caught off guard by our circumstances. If you find yourself feeling like life’s vice grips have you by the jugular, just know that God is still moving on your behalf and the feeling will pass. When your heart and soul become weary and it seems all hope is lost, God will indeed raise up His holy banner decreeing to the adversary—and all those who stand with him—that his reign is over. God is not the kind of God that needs to back track, re-focus and then move forward. He’s the kind of God that sees the end results and preps us to handle what occurs in between. He is our rod and our staff—our edifier and our encourager. He constantly journeys with us ever careful to guide us through the wavering and often time tumultuous tides of life.

The bible says never have the righteous been forsaken. It also reminds us that the Lord is our present help. It confirms to us that even though chaos and uncertainty surround us on all sides, God promises to lead us by the still waters. He promises to restore our soul.

Looking inward to resolve your own problems or circumstance will only yield anxiety, stress and fear. Looking to Great I AM, however, will yield peace of mind, hope and joy. Why joy? Because the bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. There is joy in knowing that despite how it feels, you’re never alone because the Chief Advocate is always with you.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Crazy Christian

We live in a time where things that were once considered upright, just or simple common sense is clouded or condemned by things that are frivolous, futile and simply bass ackward. For example, did you know that in many states in this country that it’s perfectly legal for a 14-year-old to have an abortion without parental consent? Yet it’s illegal to mention the name of God in the pledge of allegiance or even in schools? Are you aware that years ago, a former CEO of a well-known company was sentenced to 3 years in prison for stealing $3 billion? At the same time, a married couple was jailed –and their 2-year-old daughter placed in foster care—for accidentally forgetting to pay for a $5 sandwich while leaving the grocery store. Clearly, there’s a problem.

These types of scenarios are very prevalent in today’s society. Decency, forgiveness and common courtesy are all but dead while religious prejudice, social injustice and deceit are rampant. Times have changed and with it comes a new kind of assault: indifference. Suffering is at an all time high. Sickness, disease and death run amuck while some of us are content to live within the four walls of our church buildings. We are content with the occasional outreach for the underprivileged or the once-in-a-blue-moon canned food drive for the homeless. We savor the self-centered ideology that continually perpetuates the nauseating notion that THIS is what Christ died for. Not so. The Lord says, "My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55-8-9

Here’s what God says we should do:

Free the people you have put in prison unfairly and undo their chains. Free those to whom you are unfair and stop their hard labor. Share your food with the hungry and bring poor, homeless people into your own homes. When you see someone who has no clothes, give him yours, and don't refuse to help your own relatives. Isaiah 58: 6-7

The scripture makes it quite clear what His body should be accomplishing in the land. We are the arms, legs, feet and face of Christ in the earth—our deeds should reflect that. We ARE Christ’s bride. We ARE His body. We will respond accordingly. We serve a God who has unlimited resources. Money is no object. If God be for us, none can stand against us. If we are doing the will of the Father in the land, there is NO good thing He will withhold from us. We have the backing of the El Shaddai, the Lord of Hosts, and the Supreme Creator, shouldn’t we be crazy enough to believe that we can and will do all things through Christ who gives us strength? I’m a crazy Christian. Are you?

Monday, December 10, 2012

Condemned No More

One of the most comforting passages in the bible is definitely Romans 8:1-4 which states Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

There is NO condemnation to those who are in Christ. This means every time your adversary rushes in to flood your heart with guilt because of past sin, you can rebuke him. It means for every time you opt to do the wrong thing instead of the right thing, you can repent knowing that the charges against you have been dismissed. Because of Christ’s work on the cross, you have been freed from the law of sin and death. What a powerful concept!

For far too many people, condemnation is a powerful reality. The same way stress or anxiety wrecks havoc on the mind and the body, is the same way condemnation damages the spirit and the soul. If allowed to fester, condemnation can escalate into thoughts of suicide, sickness, anger, rage, bitterness, depression and self-contempt. It can constrict the mind—as a vice grip does an object—bringing with it wave after wave of deep-seeded pain and crippling isolation which can be very difficult to escape. But all things are possible to him who believes.

Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross nullifies the power of condemnation. Because He was in the likeness of sinful flesh and was an offering for sin, Christ’s death means that sin was and is defeated. The bible tells us that he made an open spectacle of the adversary as he reclaimed power and victory over sin, death and condemnation. His death settled the dispute. His resurrection reinforced His victory; decreeing once and for all that those who believe in Him are no longer subject to condemnation’s sting.

You no longer have to feel ashamed for your past. You no longer have to hang your head in shame because of what you’ve done. Christ’s blood—has and will always—cleanses the inner places of your soul. The blood He shed is powerful enough to free those in captivity—be it emotional or spiritual. Purpose in your mind to live surrendered to the things of the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to guide you in your deeds and thoughts. For scripture says that if we fulfill the things of the spirit, then we will be lead by the spirit. Do not live according to your sinful self, instead live uprightly and give no leeway to condemnation.