Wheels of Glory! Blog

In Search of a Thankful Heart pt 2 – VOTD.08.08.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | August 8th, 2017 | by

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.  Hebrews 12:28

Last time we saw that a genuinely thankful person is satisfied in the moment. (How many songs proclaim that ‘Jesus is all I need?’) But we miss that in the ‘now’, because other emotions take center stage. We looked at a few of these seemingly innocent gratitude-breakers and today we’re going to look at a few of the more diabolical ones:

We can’t be thankful and be Arrogant, Impatient, Greedy, Bored, or Judgmental. Why would this be? Because thanksgiving can only come from a humble heart… Thankfulness can only be felt by those who know that no one owes them what they’ve gotten.

In the same way Impatience stems from an attitude of, “my time is more important than yours.” In other words, it stems from arrogance. Thankfulness stems from Love…Love is patient, and true gratitude can only spring forth from love (1 Cor 13:4).

Thankfulness can’t be greedy. The two are opposites. Thankfulness says, “I am satisfied.” “I have enough.” A greedy spirit never has enough. (Col 3:5)

Bored?? Yes, a thankful heart isn’t bored. Boredom nearly always results from dissatisfaction in the moment; this is the opposite of thankfulness. Face it, there are always things to do. But a bored person isn’t stratified with the options… that person wants MORE… No wonder it’s often said that boredom is a tell-tale sign of moral issues at some level or other. (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

In Search of a Thankful Heart pt 1 – VOTD.08.07.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | August 7th, 2017 | by

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.  Hebrews 12:28

According to today’s verse we are receiving the kingdom of God… the very presence of the King is being received by us… not just once, a long time ago at an altar, but continuously, right now… It’s not some day in the future in heaven, either. It’s continuously, right now…

Since we are receiving the presence and majesty of Jesus on a continual basis, “Let us be thankful”. What an understatement! You would think that since we’re receiving a Kingdom we’d be overwhelmed with gratitude, but apparently Hebrews has to remind us to be. I wonder why?

Why do we have so much trouble being thankful in the NOW? Today’s verse suggests it’s because we aren’t satisfied with the Kingdom we’re receiving. I suspect that’s because we have trouble being satisfied with Jesus in the now.

There are some seemingly innocent emotions that can be gratitude-breakers in our lives. Fore example, how can we be thankful and be Angry, Depressed, Discouraged, Jealous, or Full of self-pity? These things are incompatible with genuine gratitude. Here’s why: (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

Recreated in His Image – VOTD.08.01.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | August 1st, 2017 | by

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.  Psalms 148:13

Last time we learned how Jesus is the dreaded Lion to those who run from Him, while He’s the tender Lamb to those who seek Him.

If we are seeking Jesus, we are already in the holy of holys, next to God’s heart (Eph 2:6). Veil after veil has been removed (2 Cor 3:16). This enables us to experience the intimacy with our Savior.

While the North American Church has led many into a salvation experience with Jesus, we’ve often not led them into the beauty of God or experiencing Him in our every-day lives.

I say this not to tear down those who come across as “super saints”, but to build up those who know they are simply ordinary saints, because in the end the super-saint is a mirage… there is nothing but ordinary saints out there. Some Christians are experiencing Him far more fully than others, but all believers have been recreated in His image and He loves us. (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

Lion and Lamb – VOTD.07.31.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | July 31st, 2017 | by

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:8

We don’t have to be second-class Christians. God is able to make all grace overflow in you and me. Why? So we’ll have all we need to abound in Jesus and in His work. It’s all from God and He makes His grace overflow in us through Jesus.

Not all Christians are overflowing in grace. You and I can make the Lord our refuge, our dwelling (Ps 90:1), or we can try to run away from Him.  The first is blessed and the second is tragic.

The Bible refers to Jesus as the “Lion of Judah”, and the “Lamb of God” (Rev 5:5/Jn 1:29). There is a tension there.

When the Lion of Judah roars, those who are running from Him had better be afraid. When the Lamb of God draw those who are running toward Him to Himself, those who seek Him, will find Him in a deeper way than they ever thought possible.

Jesus alone is our ultimate protection and safety. Jesus has eyes only for us, and demonstrates His incredible love over and over. He’s relentless in His tenderness for those who seek Him… He’s relentless in his provision of security and passion for us (Ps 27:8). (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

The Big Question – VOTD.07.24.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | July 24th, 2017 | by

Last time we brought up a burning question about maintaining and growing in the presence of God in our lives. The answer to the big “Question”… really to all questions regarding spiritual growth is given to us by Jesus in these two words:

“Follow Me.” (Mk 1:17, 2:14)

Today we have a throng of unbelievers who think the whole Christian experience can be summed us in words like: “follow My religion” or “follow My rules” – Worse, even some believers go through their lives thinking that that is the essence of spiritual living.

But as we’ve seen, Jesus said, “Follow Me.” It’s all about Jesus – not Christianity, not Christians, but Christ.

I was at a seminar on evangelism, after I’d written the last few weeks of meditations, and the speaker brought up a parallel thought: The excuses many non-Christians bring up for not accepting the Gospel revolves around the Christians and churches they’ve known.

“Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites”
“All the churches want is money”
“I’ve known some drug dealers who behaved better than some ministers”

Was Jesus a hypocrite? Was Jesus all about money? Did Jesus live His life in anything less than righteousness? (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

Only Jesus – VOTD.07.18.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | July 18th, 2017 | by

We’ve been talking about walking in the presence of God and that if we want more of the presence of God we have to want His will… Jesus must reign. But the legitimate question is raised… What is His will?

The answer is those 2 simple words we spoke of in our last meditation:

“Follow Me.” (Mk 1:17, 2:14)

He didn’t say, “Follow your instincts” or “Follow your best intentions”. Even if it would do us any good, He knew we could never do that with any consistency. The problem we have as humans is that even when we have some idea of what is good and right we can’t do it consistently, let alone with a pure motivation.

We are addicted to sin; worse, we are addicted to sinfulness. Who is going to save us from THAT?

Not good intentions or sincerity
Not good leaders
Not even good peers

Only Jesus.

Let me tell you something, if God’s presence is in your life and mine, sinning will be more painful, more difficult, more quickly repented of. We will not be able to function outside of His presence.

Wheels of Glory! Blog

Following – VOTD.07.17.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | July 17th, 2017 | by

“Follow Me.” Mark 1:17, 2:14

In the final analysis, walking in the presence of Jesus come down to two simple little words: “Follow Me”. Those of us who want more of the presence of God have to want to be with Him where He is. To be with Him where He is, we must want His will.

There simply isn’t any other way… Jesus must reign. But the legitimate question is raised… What is His will?

Consider those two words from Jesus that answer almost every question regarding what we are supposed to do as Christians. “Follow Me.” It’s Jesus’ personal invitation which He extended to us who would be His disciples. And He continues to extend this invitation to every one of us who want to walk in discipleship.

“Follow Me.”
(more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

Fountain of Life – VOTD.07.11.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | July 11th, 2017 | by

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 10:11).

Our words will either be a fountain of life or a fountain of poison. Fountains of life are contented, people. Fountains of poison only come from uncontented hearts.

We conclude our brief look at some of the hundreds of verses related to our words as a “tongue-check”.

–Do We Try to Evade Responsibility for Our Words?
     “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…. And I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment; for by your words you shall be justified and by your words you shall be condemned” (Matthew 12:34b, 36-37).
     “As a madman who casts firebrands and deadly arrows, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I was only kidding'” (Proverbs 26:18-19). (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

Why did I say that? (pt 4) – VOTD.07.10.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | July 10th, 2017 | by

Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abusive words. Proverbs 15:28

The words we speak are a peek hole into our entire being. It’s not so much that some people are better at controlling their words than others. It’s that some people are content with God (“God-loyal”), and some aren’t… and our words show us how much we’ve allowed the Holy Spirit to transform us.

–Do we Talk Too Much?
     “In the multitude of words there is no lack of transgression, ” (Proverbs 10:19).
     “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter” (Proverbs 11:13).
     “The lips of a Righteous person know the kind thing to say, but the wicked are always saying things that hurt.” (Proverbs 10:32
     “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer” (Proverbs 15:28). Allow others time to answer. Beware of people who want you to give them a quick answer.

–Do We Choose Our Words Cautiously and Fairly?
When we oversimplify, generalize and lump together the righteous and unrighteous we curse them both.
     “He who … condemns the righteous, … is an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 17:15).

–Do Our Words Abuse, Brow-beat, Amount to Humiliation or Mockery?
     “With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor” (Proverbs 11:9). Note: I have seen Christians destroy their neighbor by their SILENCE when they could have corrected a story they KNEW to be untrue.
     “But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you not be consumed of one another” (Galatians 5:15). (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

Why did I say that? (pt 3) – VOTD.07.04.17

Posted in Verse of the Day | July 4th, 2017 | by

“She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue”  Proverbs 31:26

In the proverb describing an excellent wife, her character is summed up in what proceeds from her mouth. How do we open our mouths? With wisdom and kindness or with foolishness and unkindness?

We continue our checklist for our tongues.

–Do We Criticize People Before First Speaking with Them and Seeking Their Restoration?
     “And if your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone ” (Matthew 18:15). Going to anyone else with our criticism before going to the person we are criticizing directly is condemned here.
     “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him…. The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him” (Proverbs 18:13, 17). Believing one who criticizes without going and getting the story from the other side is condemned here.
     “Debate your cause with your neighbor himself, and disclose not the secret of another, lest he who hears it correct thee and your shame will not turn away” (Proverbs 25:8-10). (more…)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »