Larry M Lawrence- Mysteries

031202 Finding God in the Mystery of every day

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Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

            Yes, but when? Soon and very soon. He is coming again. Remember the line from the Jack Hayford hymn- “There has not failed, one word of all His promise. All He has promised He has done just as He said…” Can you take any comfort from this today? I surely do. But, there is yet a time of waiting and serving that we must endure, through which we are called to persevere. In a world where we are constantly told to give up, to surrender to the inevitable, to look only to the grave, we must stand and shout defiantly that this is not our fate. Jesus is coming to take us home to heaven but for the time being we are to demonstrate the same kind of love that led Jesus to the cross. That is hard. Learning to love or enemies is hard. Learning to give ourselves over to prayer is hard. Learning to have the courage to face our friends with love when they reject us is hard. The Way is narrow and steep. Are you discouraged yet?

            The only remedy for this is to see the face of Jesus as he restores and shows love to all of His disciples sharing with them the mission they must undertake to “be making disciples as they go [into all the world}. (My translation.) Until then, learn to forgive yourself when you are weak, then get up and keep walking.

031201 Finding God in the Mystery of every day larrymlawrence.com also Facebook, search Larry Lawrence Mysteries, Twitter, Instagram LinkedIn, Tumblr

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians%201%3A9&version=AKJV

The great mystery of prayer and the un- imaginable power to be found there is perhaps the most profound thing we discover as we grow in our walk with Jesus.

Perhaps even more difficult to comprehend is why, when we know that prayer is our greatest resource, we commonly look to prayer as a last resort rather than our first best effort to comprehend God’s unfailing love.

031107 Finding God in the Mystery of every day

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Deuteronomy 2:4 And command the people, saying, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore, watch yourselves carefully.

     Jesus told his disciples that He was sending them out like sheep among wolves. So too we as we go about the King’s business need to be on our guard and be circumspect in all we say and do, never forgetting that as Paul reminded us so well, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) So, whether we live or we die is not issue, but to be watchful for any possible kindred connection in our humanity, and to present faithfully the love of Jesus by word, by deed, and by the exercise of the spiritual gifts expressed in Galatians 5:22. (Particularly that of self-control, knowing when it’s time to shut up.)

            But know this. We are entering enemy territory whenever we go out the door. Just as the Israelites went out and met their brethren and the various Canaanite peoples, we are going into a world that is pre-disposed to hate us. In some parts of the globe, it is forbidden by law to even speak the name of Jesus. I wonder what the rulers and authorities in those places are so afraid of. Perhaps they have not yet heard the good news of the incomprehensible grace of our Father God in our King Jesus. How incredibly sad.

031106

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And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . – Joshua 24:15 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua24:15&version=AKJV

That there is an objective truth is a fact well known to those who love Jesus. There is also a cynical axiom that says; “Given a choice people will always vote in favor of their stomachs.”

With regard to the recent elections, it seems clear that there is a new socio-political axiom to be aware of. (In reality, it had always been there, but perhaps now it must needs be factored in whenever expectations are being formulated about which way politics will shift.) Simply stated; “People will follow their own chosen path of unrighteous behavior into every extreme.” God forgive us.

031104 Finding God in the Mystery of every day

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See all of the Whitney Chronicles Mysteries at Xulon press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, and,wherever books are sold.

ISAIAH 53: 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. – Isaiah 53:1-3 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah53:1-3&version=AKJV

Cast your memory back to that first realization of awe, just to know that what Jesus did in Jerusalem that day was His gift to you. From the deep, deep well of His Father’s love, he poured out His life as a sacrifice to pay the blood debt of your sin. HALLELUJAH!

031102 Finding God in the Mystery of every day

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Acts 28: ² And the natives^[a] showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.

            In a scene no doubt oft repeated around the globe people rely on one another for simple kindness and care regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes a shared experience of danger or privation helps to make us more aware of the need to reach out to help someone else.

            As the winter heating season is upon us there is little doubt that there are some who may “slip through the cracks” of our social safety nets. Sometimes it is as simple as a few gallons of kerosene. Sometimes it is as complex as helping with housing, or a whole home renovation. Some of these projects require the gathering of resources both human and monetary. We will never know unless we ask. People are proud, and the approaching Nativity season rather heightens those particular sensitivities.

            It is not for you or I to judge the fortunes of others. Very simply we need to be the eyes, hands and feet of Jesus in a desperate seeking world.

Don’t forget all of the Whitney Chronicles books available at Amazon, Xulon press, Books a million, Wal Mart books, Barnes and noble,

031101 Finding God in the Mystery of every day

Your comments or questions are welcome

Contact me at larrymlawrence.com or,

e-mail- larrymlawrence@larrymlawrence.com  (*New e-mail), or

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1 Timothy 2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

                 With an election in the offing, it might be wise to examine this particular scripture reference from Paul to his spiritual son Timothy. Why should we pray for despots and politically corrupt politicians? Why should we pray when history shows us the inevitable backsliding of even the most upright and well intentioned of people when they throw their hats into the ring? Paul lays it out in a 4-part call to prayer for us. 1. Petitions, what we would like to see happen. 2.) Prayers, invoking the will of God to intercede in our situation. 3.) Intercession, this is where the rubber meets the road. We must find a way in our own hearts to pray for the people who whether by “hook or by crook” come to power. And finally; 4.)  We must learn to pray with Thanksgiving for what God has done and what he will do.

            This is hard to hear because we easily enter into an incomplete “love” (Philleos) toward a person or cause we support, and we are bitterly disappointed when the voting goes the other way. This is where the true love (Agape) of the Spirit filled Christian submits completely to God’s will and accepts that HE has heard our prayers and will answer them in due course. Go and Vote! It is an investment in the future.

031006 Finding God in the Mystery of every day

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Acts 16:18 She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

Proverbs 12:16 Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.

            Many years ago, I had the unfortunate experience of having my wallet stolen in a swarm attack in the Plaza San Francisco in La Paz Bolivia. When I noticed the wallet was gone, I was able to cancel the cards and replace identification. Fortunately, my passport was in the safe back at the Seminario del Nazareno for we were all required to carry a copies of that document around our necks.

            So, how does this relate to the texts above? Paul was no doubt sharing the truth of Jesus She was in fact being used by the merchants who sold little idols to the people to whom Paul was trying so desperately to bring to a knowledge of Jesus. While I was in Bolivia as a church leader, I felt it was necessary at the very least to approach the Civil Guard who gathered in clusters on the street corners armed with AK-47 rifles. One of the more senior guards simply remarked to me. “Senor. You are a big guy. Why didn’t you just hit them when they attacked you?” (Most Americans tend to be taller and heavier than the average Bolivian.)

            I wasn’t looking to start a fight, just as Paul didn’t want to start a fight, but sometimes these things are visited upon us whether we like it or not. God used what happened to Paul to bring glory to Himself. In some small way, my Holy Spirit informed ability to differentiate between “stuff” and substance I hope brought some measure of glory to God before my team members and the people I worked with there.

031005 Finding God in the Mystery of every day

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e-mail- larrymlawrence@larrymlawrence.com  (*New e-mail), or

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2 Corinthians 3:6 (New International Version)

 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life

.

            Looking back at several years of ministry at every level, counseling, preaching. teaching, compassionate outreach, revivals, hospital visitations etc. I am brought to this place to which Paul ascended at such an auspicious moment in world history. From this standpoint I find it hard to believe what a pharisaical heart I had. Fresh out of Bible college my mind was full of religious systems and protocols, and woe to those who espoused anything different. Paul here is expressing an enormous truth that should give every leader pause. Are we living, breathing in His Spirit ministering this “New Covenant”? Or are we using the same old hackneyed religious systems and strictures to “control the flow” and keep the organization going?

            In the illustration above the person has taken something apart and can’t quite figure out how to put it back together. How like her we are when we try to dissect and formularize the ministry of Jesus, let alone the whole Word of God. Forgive us Father.

031004 Finding God in the Mystery of every day

Your comments or questions are welcome

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e-mail- larrymlawrence@larrymlawrence.com  (*New e-mail), or

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Jeremiah 17:13 Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
    all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust
    because they have forsaken the Lord,
    the spring of living water.

¹⁴ Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;
    save me and I will be saved,
    for you are the one I praise.
¹⁵ They keep saying to me,
    “Where is the word of the Lord?
    Let it now be fulfilled!”

Have you ever heard the term “putting the cart before the horse”? It refers to a wrong-headed perspective on the need or ide expressed and then proceeding in such a way that disaster is inevitable. This is the attitude many people bring to the table when they try to treat with God over one thing or another. The “You show me yours and I’ll show you mine” approach to devotion or supplication is definitely not a starter. This is easily learned from even a cursory study of Scripture and the consequences of a lesson not learned between people.

We must come before God “emptying ourselves” (Philippians 2) of everything except a will to love, obey and serve the most high God.

I have found a deep peace

That I never had known

And a joy this world could not afford

Since I yielded control

Of my body and soul

To my wonderful, wonderful Lord

Haldor Lillenas 1938