Primal Book Review

As someone who is passionate about the body of Christ, I am constantly searching for anything that continues to fuel and clarify that passion. "Primal" not only satisfies that craving, it dares you to awaken your spiritual senses. Primal, re-introduces you to God's highest calling on humanity, the Great Commandment.

One of the most difficult endeavors has to be giving fresh perspective to a familiar Scripture. Within the study of Scripture, it seems that familiarity often breeds unfamiliarity. Mark Batterson re-covers the Great Commandment and adds texture and significance.

Like any good author, Mark helps you to move through the pages. The book balances depth with readability, affirmation with challenge, and ideals with implementation.

The new year it's a time in which we often look for new challenges and goals. If you are looking for a great way to begin the new year, this book is it!

On the blank back pages of the book, I have written several goals for my spiritual growth that have been inspired by this book, I pray it would do the same for you.

Check it out at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Quest-Lost-Soul-Christianity/dp/1601421311/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Christmas Traditions: Traditions That Reveal The Real Jesus

This will be our topic during the Christmas Season.

I love "Navidad!" I don't think any culture celebrates Christmas like the Puerto Rican culture. In fact, I think that Puerto Rico could change its name to "Belen" or Bethlehem, for the way that the Christmas season is embraced and celebrated.

There are lots of Christmas Traditions: special family gatherings, unique family customs, and of course meals and drinks that are reserved for this time of the year only.

Traditions are effective, for they help remind and reinforce any essentials that we seek to celebrate. Which, poses the question: what are the essentials that Jesus wants to celebrate and remember? What traditions can we practice that will reveal him?

We will focus on these three:

1. A Tradition of Redemption
   
2. A Tradition of Preparation
   
3. A Tradition of Celebration
   

Should the traditions and celebrations of the first coming of Jesus prepare us for his second coming?

Godliness + Contentment = Real Wealth

Scripture provides us with a formula for attaining great wealth. In 1 Timothy 6:6, if we have Godliness (Christ-likeness) and we add Contentment (satisfaction with what we have) we will be the possessors of "great gain."

Contentment could be defined as: to be satisfied, to be find pleasure in what we currently have.

Which is easier: to be godly or to be content? I must admit, I find contentment to be elusive. Dissatisfaction with what I have can creep up undetected. Whereas in my personal life I tend to guard against sin, I don't think I have set up my "sin-radar" to detect a lack of contentment. Dissatisfaction, just never appeared threatening. But, it is clear that a lack of contentment will rob us of real wealth.

We tend to be more familiar with godliness-training (1 Timothy 4:7-8). But Paul also declares that contentment is "learned" something to be trained at (Philippians 4:11-12). We need to learn contentment in "all circumstances." Contentment is a spiritual life-skill.

Dear Jesus, I desire "great gain," this real wealth. Teach me to be content, to be satisfied, to enjoy what you freely give to me. Help me, may Holy Spirit convict me when I am not walking in contentment. Teach me this secret of being content for it is the secret of being wealthy.

 

 

Provision Is Found On The Way Of Sacrifice

Is there a difference between the names that God calls himself and the names that humans give to God? "Yahweh-Jirah" = "God Provider" is not a name that God calls himself in Scripture but one that Abraham identifies God as (Genesis 22:8). Abraham was describing God's nature to his young, promised son Isaac.

Abraham was describing a God that he knew personally, as description that could be traced to an intimate knowledge of God. Intimate enough not just to describe, but to give identity.

What is more important to this naming of God is the context of the event. While his son Isaac was carrying wood, Abraham was carrying the heavy burden of the mandate to sacrifice his long-awaited son and promise. When asked by Isaac about the fact that there was wood but no animal for the sacrifice the moment was ripe for God's revelation.

Abraham knew God as his "God Provider" but, Abraham discovered this attribute of God on the difficult way of sacrifice. To be honest, the road of sacrifice is not the first place I look for provision, however, this is the first place humanity found provision.

Could it be that the place of provision is also the place of sacrifice? Could it be that this road is the place God has chosen to reveal his intimate, provisional nature?

"Insider" Relationship With An "Outsider" Mentality

In the Gospel of Matthew 8:5-13 we witness an "outsider," [outsider to the Jewish culture] a Roman Centurion was asking Jesus for help, for his servant in "terrible suffering." Jesus offers to go with him to his home, to treat him as an "insider," but the man responds expectantly- no I am not worthy to have you under my roof, I am not worthy of being an "insider."

Being an "outsider" played in his favor. He did not have any prior, self-imposed limitations to what Jesus the Man/God could do. All "insiders" often asked Jesus to touch and heal. Healing was connected (and limited) to proximity. The "outsider" did not even need proximity; he knew that Jesus must have God-Authority and therefore, could heal in a way never witnessed by anyone else.

What if we had "Insider" Relationship With An "Outsider" Mentality? What if he had the affiliation and connection with Jesus without the being routinely limited to what we are used to.

C.S. Lewis points out in the Chronicles of Narnia that God does not always do things in the same way. God is not limited to what we are used to, in fact, Scripture says that He is always doing new things (Isa 43:19), in new ways.

Dear Jesus, help me to be an "insider" in relationship, but an "outsider" in expectations. To allow you to move in mysterious ways. My affinity with you may be familiar, but the destiny you are carving out for me is on the outside of what I am used to.

Most Frequent Command In Scripture: Do Not Be Afraid

“Don’t Be Afraid” – The most frequent command in Scripture? Are you as surprised as me? Would you have even guessed that if someone asked you?

However, after thinking about it makes sense. Fear makes us aware of our limits and boundaries- Jesus, loves to challenge our limits and boundaries. Faith by definition is a challenge to what we have defined as “safe.”

Real Faith is risky, even dangerous. And as Jesus trains and develops our faith and trust in Him, there is but one method; confronting our fears and limits.
So if we are going to be trained by faith, if we are going to be transformed; then Jesus is going to place us in difficult circumstances that will push our limits and place us face to face with fear.

Peter was not invited (maybe invited himself) to walk on water when the water was calm and undisturbed. Jesus invited Peter to walk on water during a dangerous storm. Peter did not simply walk on water; he walked through a frightening and intimidating circumstance. It was not about walking in water, it was about confronting fear.

I am learning that circumstances that stretch my faith are fearful circumstances. I am learning that faith requires me to step towards Fear. What if fear was no longer a deterrent of growth for us? What if fear became a welcomed signal that God is near and working? What if the real peace I am longing for is found in the other side of fear?

Just for fun, here are a few Scriptures with this command; Step out.
Gen 15:1, Gen 26:24, Exod 14:13, Exod 20:20, 2 Chron 20:15, Dan 10:12, Acts 18:9, Rev 2:10

FINISHER WANNABE

Jesus made it crystal clear, he was a Finisher. Jesus regarded finishing way different than I do. In John 4:34 Jesus declared that his "food" was to do and FINISH the work that his father gave him. The Father gave him work and purpose for only one reason; to FINISH it (John 5:36).

Wow, his very sustenance was finishing the task given to him. Is that as foreign to you as it is for me? I am not a finisher- more like a professional starter. I start so many more books and tasks than I finish- sometimes I like to start a few a time.

Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What if I read this differently? Instead of being created to do works, what if I was created in Christ Jesus to finish good works?

Dear God help me to be a FINISHER. Create in me a craving, a longing for finishing what you prepared in advance for me to do. Transform me from a starter to a consistent finisher. Remind me that at the cross you cried out “It is FINISHED!” I want be a finisher like you.

Jesus' Power Over The Little Things

It truly is UNEXPLAINABLE, Jesus cares about the little things in our lives, the details that we would consider to be beneath his care and attention.
Surprisingly, He loves and works through the details of our daily events. Yes, He even uses those seemingly unimportant things to reveal to us the very important truths.

Jesus shows up when we allow Him the room and space of our "mundane."
What have I been missing? I chose to invite Him, to my routine, to my everyday, to my ordinary, to my unexceptional. Who knows, perhaps He will turn the water into wine. Perhaps He will add quality and quantity.

Dear Jesus, display your presence in my little things, please.

Wonder Wisdom

There is wisdom that comes come wonder. The exercise of wondering, considering, pondering on Jesus' works will always guide properly with the Truth that is the Way and is the Life.

At Northeast we are taking the next seven weeks to discover (maybe recover) the Wonders of Jesus on the Gospel of John.

John calls these wonders, signs. Signs communicate important information. In Scripture this information is not just important, but more importantly it is transformational.

Wisdom comes from wonder, wonder comes from observing and applying the signs of Jesus.

Lets Wonder together! Lets pray for fresh eyes that can recognize and appreciate the signs of Jesus. Lets discover some new perspective on Jesus. Lets recover any wonder we have lost.

Solomon's Labor Day Wisdom - "Getting" Is "Ghetto"

Solomon's Wisdom invites us to question our Labor, toil, and striving. What is all our "getting" us? Eccles. 2:22-24 says: "Getting" is getting us pain, grief and no sleep. A meaningless chase that leads nowhere with nothing. Getting is ghetto Solomon concludes.
The Alternative... nothing is better than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction on our Labor. This is a gift from the very hand of God. Labor Day is a good opportunity to examine what is our hand toiling for. Am I reaching to get stuff or my reaching for the enjoyment that comes only from the hand of God?

Also, check out these Scriptures for your Meaningful Labor Day. Isa. 55:1-2, Matt. 11:25-30

Wisdom - Can I Hear Her Now?

Proverbs 8:1 "Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?"
Apparently, wisdom is calling out; its raising her voice. Am I hearing her? Am I listening for her?

This blog is a seeker's attempt to listen and hear. Wisdom is showing herself in the details and moments of my life. I am trying to find the one who is already seeking me. I am trying to listen for the one who is already calling me.

Wisdom is not meant to be kept, in fact, wisdom demands that you share her freely. So I share her in this format.