You will need to have read yesterday's post to understand this one.  So if you haven't read it, please do so now.  Don't worry I'll be here when you get back!
wee note - you do know that anything in blue and underlined in my posts are links?  You just click on them and another webpage will open.

Ephesians 6:11-17

Yesterday we looked at how Colton Dixon on American idol, chose the song “everything” by lifehouse, as well as his life witness for Jesus.  He has said after this, he wants to go into Christian music.

"I was just collecting myself and saying God use me I want Him to shine through first and foremost."
He said that in reply to Ryan (the host of the show) when Ryan asked him what he was thinking. 
I need to be reminded of that, do you?

Today I want to concentrate more on the skit.  Hopefully by now you have had time to watch it and think about it and look at the link to an article describing it.  You may even know of someone that needs to watch it, or use it as an aid in describing spiritual warfare, showing someone what is going on in their life.  Because it speaks to all of us, as we all go through temptation and battles in our lives, I thought it could be helpful for us to examine it further.  If you look immediately under the youtube video in this link, the person gives a description of what each person represents.

If we journal our thoughts and bible verses then it can be helpful to us when we are under spiritual attack to stop, realise what is happening and pray, and go back and look at the bible verses we thought were helpful.  I have noted down what struck me in the skit, what did you notice?

It opens with Jesus, dressed in white. 

White depicts Jesus's purity and righteousness.  In Mark 9:3 Jesus is dressed in white, but a white that no bleach on earth could get to be that white.  Only God’s righteousness can take away our sin, whatever we do we will never be clean enough.  Our best moral deeds is like filthy dirty rags compared to Jesus (Isaiah 64:6)  But great news when we become Christians Jesus clothes us himself, giving us the clothes of salvation and the robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10, Revelation 19:8)

Purple sash – purple depicted royalty as only the richest wore it as the dye was very hard to make. Jesus is the king of kings and lord of lords.

Jesus pours out His blessings, grace and honour and holds no good thing back (Psalm 84:11) and bestows them on the girl.  This is the beginning of their relationship when she had a first love for Christ and was making Him Lord of her life. 

She also “tasted and saw that the Lord was good.” (Psalm 34:8) She danced. (psalm 149:3  2 Samuel 6:14)

The girl when walking closely with God can and does imitate God. (Ephesians 5:1)

Then she allows herself to be distracted from Jesus and is ‘wooed’ away by the evil one, allowing herself to fall into temptation.  Different temptations are portrayed, lust, greed, vanity, drugs, suicidal thoughts. We see her ‘cutting’ herself, eventually hitting the bottom considering suicide. 

All this time we see Jesus never giving up, trying to get her attention but she wouldn’t or didn’t want to listen.  This depicts in the bible how often we are told that God’s voice is a whisper and we have to be still and quiet to hear Him. (psalm 46:10) 

Why are we encouraged to go away on our own? (Matthew 6:6)  Jesus Himself gave us the example as He went alone to pray.  Because he knew how easily we are distracted either by things we need to do or how quickly we can become enticed by our desires (James 1:14.) So by removing all distractions and being alone with God we can focus on Him. Then we can hear Him and be strengthened by Him.

Then the girl remembers her first love, how good it was walking with God.  Jesus is at the side drawing her to him.  This picture is describing James 4:8 

A spiritual battle is being waged over her.  There are different things that this illustrates -

• It can be hard for some people to give up things even though they want to.
• Non Christians are in this battle but don’t know it, whatever the evil one will think keep this person in darkness he will use.

 God is drawing you to Him, either as a non Christian for salvation or as a Christian wanting a restored relationship with God.
(edit - due to further explanation needed - not enough space to do so now)

When the girl realised this (1 John 4:4) and had faith and trusted God, they were all held back.  She humbled herself before Him again. This whole latter scene depicts James 4:7,8,10.

The falling of the evil one or power of temptations

Did you notice that it was when she went on her knees, giving everything over to God that was when Jesus held it all back?

She realised that at the cross Satan was “checkmated” he had no power over her, only if she let him.  Christ is victorious. (1 Corinthians 15:57, Romans 8:37, 2 Corinthians 2:14)
I can go on, but do you get this important point?
If you are like me you need to hear it every day.

What also thrilled me was when the audience cheered at this point. It did me good, how about you? (bad English intended!)

I was thinking that it gave us the tiniest insight into what heaven and angels everywhere must be doing every time someone becomes a Christian. (luke 15:10)

Also it’s a picture of how we should be with other Christians.  We have to be encouraging them cheering them on (Hebrews 10:24-25) and not be the opposite and tearing them down.

This skit represents a Christian but the middle of it can represent the non believer.  If you are reading this and are not sure you are a Christian or are going through this, you can have the ending of this skit. 

Would you like that? 
If you do come to Jesus now and the ending is yours!

continuing the testimony or witness posts, this is also a no dog post

Acts 13:36a ..”David had served God's purpose in his own generation..”

There’s a song “I want to serve the purpose of God in my generation.”  At the end of his life that is what was said of David. 

I watched Colton Dixon on American Idol last night, singing the worship song “everything.”  He is unashamedly open about being a Christian.  He doesn’t come across as ‘in your face’ about it, but simply tells his story.  The theme for the evening was 'your idol' how they inspire you and sing something from them that they wrote.  How wonderful and refreshing that he chose Jesus and turned the theme around!

When watching him I thought about that verse, how he is relevant and is reaching out to his own generation.  Last night he moved the judges as they could tell he was really feeling it and it was being sung from the heart. 

When we are real, walking closely with God, God shines through so everyone can see Him.  Colton is just living out his faith, and was telling his story which no one can take away from him.

Are we reaching out to our generation, showing God and serving out His purpose?  Colton is, he is reaching his generation, my generation is different again. 
I was encouraged in my faith and thrilled to see it, showing me in a new way of what living for God looks like.

This is a further story in the Christian post.  I did not know the producers tried to ‘tone down his faith tweets’ I guess it explains why music seems to come quickly at the end of his song when he is talking about God.

Below is "everything" by lifehouse, the link is an explanation of the wordless skit you will see being performed, which is by mission Baltimore and what or who each person represents.
Please scroll down the article and read it, as it really helps.

It’s powerful, so relevant to teenagers and problems they can go through.  As you can see by the description in the link, I wouldn’t recommend that young children should watch this.  Watch it all the way through, the ending is wonderful.

Below is ‘everything’ sung and uploaded by Colton Dixon (this isn’t him on American idol)

words for “Everything” by lifehouse 

Find me here, and speak to me
I want to feel you, I need to hear you
You are the light that's leading me to the place
Where I find peace again
You are the strength that keeps me walking
You are the hope that keeps me trusting
You are the life to my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms and you give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
You steal my heart and you take my breath away
Would you take me in, take me deeper now
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

Cause you're all I want, you're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
Everything, everything

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this (repeat)

Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Sometimes this verse is hard to put into practice as there are days if we could either press the rewind or fast-forward button we would do so and on extreme days sometimes a cartoon like dynamite stick seems the best way to go.  And yet we are encouraged in this verse, to be reminded that today, even if it’s an awful day, God made it.  So we can stop and look and truly be thankful for it, even if it is just learning a lesson or handing over a situation to God.

I was thinking about this when we had a couple of warm days this week and I managed to get out into the garden and then I kept getting bitten by midges.  Compared with most other things in life midges are probably the smallest problem we have but I thought it was a good analogy.

In the winter, which is the least favourite season for many people, have you noticed there are no midges?  But when we are walking our dog or are outside in the cold and rain, we can be so focused on the bad weather we don’t notice or appreciate this fact.  Just like I appreciate God doing this, as I truly notice and am thankful for this.  Another little reminder from God, ‘I’ll help you through the winter days and times of your life.’ 

In spring, (and it seems to me) through autumn we can be plagued with midges and if you are like me I always seem to have a big welt from them, somewhere on me.  We have a lot of ‘walks’ in Seattle around water and trees and our garden backs onto a greenbelt with a wood – a lot of trees overhanging our garden, which apparently midges love.  Usually I avoid my favourite walks when I know the big swarms of midges will see me and say ‘great it’s our favourite person, let’s hound her and follow her everywhere!!’

So it’s good on those bad days to take a breather and remember something good, it does our spirit good as well as our health when we try and relax a bit and put everything in perspective.

It’s good to have a trigger to try and start our thinking this way.
Mine are midges, what’s yours?

“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” 1 Peter 3:14-16

For those of you who were hoping that we would be done with zombies and get back on the main road, I can tell you we are.  It seems so long ago that I started talking about Hamish in the dog park, and for those of you who recall me saying I wouldn’t go back to one, I’ll explain.  Anthony was with me in case I needed help, it was a huge dog park – about 40 acres, and it was pouring with rain, so it wasn’t busy.

We have looked at how grotesque sin really is, both for a Christian as well as the ‘lost.’  Now we move on to our response to it.  We don’t shut ourselves away from it, or run in the opposite direction.  We are in the world not of it, we practically are surrounded by it without being enticed by it or corrupted by it.

We are called to share the good news with the lost. (Mark 16:15)  But what does this look like practically, how do I do it? 

1) With love.  If we don’t have love we are just loud clanging symbols.  Either talking or even in practical works - as it could come across as a duty. 
(If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT)
When you love someone it’s obvious to the person, it makes a difference.

2) We don’t win people to Christ.  God draws men to himself (John 6:44) so we have to pray for them, and pray for ourselves for love and patience.

3) We have to stop at 1 Peter 3:14 and not get drawn into arguments 2 Timothy 2:23. 

Back to Hamish in the dog park!  He struck me as how I should be with non christians.  He doesn’t wag his tail but wags from the waist.  He went up to every dog he saw with complete friendliness, openness just wanting to connect and play with them.  We drained his energy beforehand so he wasn’t over eager or annoying.  He was met with indifference, growls, ignored and yet he never took it to heart.  He didn’t go away feeling sorry for himself and decide not to ‘talk’ to the next dog.  He never retaliated but was always as eager to say ‘hi’ to the next dog that came along.  There was one dog who wanted to play, but sadly the owner didn't want that.

Hamish is by no means the perfect dog and has his moments but that day he was the perfect example of how we should be.  Being open, friendly and ready for people that are put in our path.  Not taking anything too much to heart if we are insulted but ready for the next person and not falling into the temptation of hiding in a corner feeling sorry for ourselves, using it as an excuse to not be open to the next person.  As that lone dog who wanted to play with Hamish, it just takes that one person who is receptive to us.

Depending on the day or the person I can and have fallen into each of the above category.  I either pray for the person and for a change in heart in them but don’t pray for more love towards them.  I also have realised that I have crossed the line from giving a reason to why I am a Christian into a discussion on different subjects, which draws a line in the sand and a ‘your side’ ‘my side’ mentality which is hard to break down and the feeling of wanting to ‘win’ a discussion or argument.

We personally are going to be insulted, lied about – the verse says ‘when!’  The question is how are we going to respond, “in gentleness and respect for them?” As the always most important goal we have as Christians, is to share the good news of Jesus with everyone.

Warning this post isn’t for kids!

This was just going to be in two parts but it’s now going to be in 3 parts as I really want to concentrate today on a point I just touched on last time. I want to do this as I know sometimes I need this visualisation and I don’t want to sanitise it up like Christians are apt to do, so warning it’s more graphic than last time. 

We read “while we were still sinners Christ died for us” and the verse is so well known we don’t stop and really think about what it means, how horrible sin is to God – so in the last entry I was trying to give an image that may stick – to insert ‘zombie’ instead of the word ‘sinners.’  We also sanitise what Jesus went through in the hours before he died and how horrific it was, but a lot of movies just have a clean white towel around his waist and a bit of sweat on him.  When in reality he would be so disfigured, covered in blood from the crown of thorns and the loads of lashings he suffered on his body among many other things.

Yesterday we looked at the state of the non believer.  Today I want to look at the unsanitised concept of dissatisfaction or slight envy Christians can have in looking at others.

“But God..” in his mercy, love and grace we are saved, born again.  We are alive in Christ, we are no longer that zombie.  We are no longer spiritually blind (2Corinthians 4:3-4) and we also begin to think differently as God works in us.(Romans 12:2) But sometimes we have hiccups and temptations along the road, so I want to give you an added practical thing to help today to get our eyes focused on God when it happens.

Previously I said about non Christians “No one would envy them, want what they have, they would see how pathetic and lost they really were.” I want to explore that more today as I think sometimes we don’t see them like that and sometimes think that their lives look good! - The actor in Hollywood with homes around the world and personal chefs, or the super rich that a million dollars would be pocket change to them.

You may think, “I’m not like that.”  Great!  But have you ever wished you could have what another Christian has?  Ever thought, ‘I can’t have people around to my home as a lot of Christians in my church have lovely homes and I’m a bit ashamed of mine?’ Or ‘that Christian has a good job or can afford to go to luxury places for a holiday, why can’t I?’

I once saw a scene on TV of a deformed zombie, with skin falling off him, limbs deformed and broken, blood everywhere eating a cow.  I had to stop watching it as it was so horrible.  I hope by now you have stopped reading for a bit being really grossed out as that was the point.  If it didn’t gross you out, take the scene or any other that you can think of and go further.  Why? So when we start thinking like that, or are disappointed that we didn’t get that job promotion, raise etc, we can visualise putting on ‘spiritual’ glasses and see the thing we envy or wanted as that cow.  Often it’s not even a material thing.  Sometimes in those deeply disappointing moments the only thing that works quickly is something as shocking as that.  So we can snap out of it quickly, turning to God.  If we let weed seeds roam in our mind, they can take route and start pushing out the good things.

If you are walking closely with God, and God has said ‘no’ to you regards something, then be glad!  God wants the best for you, and if you got that promotion or whatever you were envious of and it wasn’t the right timing or right for you at all, then it would be like that scene.  It would have hurt you in some way.  If it’s not in God’s plan for our lives, or we don’t trust God for where we are in life, then we are like that zombie – not as the living dead, but slowly destroying ourselves with desires and hunger after things that God has said no to.  God may say yes to something later when it would be a blessing to us but we have to trust God when he says no, that it wouldn’t be good for us.

God has a plan for YOUR life, tailor made for you, perfect for you.  Money, spouse etc there is nothing wrong with them, and can be a very good thing if God chooses to bless you with them.  But if you hunger after it, wanting it more than God and even bypass God when he says no, then it will be very destructive.

Trust God He wants the best for you! (Jeremiah 29:11)

I know I need to see my sin, if I would give into temptation, as something as reviling as that zombie scene.  As it is just like that to God. And when God says no, when I’m tempted to feel sorry for myself and start feeding myself ‘weed seeds’ in my mind and heart, I need to see that as destructive to me as that scene. I will never be that zombie as God has saved me, but I don’t want to act like that zombie again, do you?

On Saturday Anthony managed to get a day off so we all enjoyed a walk at the dog park in the pouring rain.  I don’t know if it was that dogs were more intelligent than Hamish, knowing it was raining so they were subdued but I began to take notice when person after person said to me and seemed surprised, ‘he’s happy,’ ‘boy is he enjoying himself.’  Everyone including the dogs seemed to be miserable.

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…”  Ephesians 2:1-5

Our ladies bible study is going through Ephesians and the beginning of Ephesians 2 talks about how before we were Christians we were dead.  Non Christians don’t know that basically they are the walking dead, driven by their own appetites and desires which is leading them deeper into destruction. 

Have you ever watched a zombie movie, even an old black and white one?  Even if you haven’t I think there is an image in your mind when I mention the word.  There is even a TV series about zombies here in the US, called “the walking dead” and I thought what a brilliant description that is of non believers. I don’t know why but I was thinking this when we were walking Hamish, seeing the contrast between Hamish and the other dogs. 

If somehow we could give people ‘spiritual’ glasses and they would see themselves as how God sees them, the walking dead.  No one would envy them, want what they have, they would see how pathetic and lost they really were.  Unlike zombie movies were the dead are lost and the living are scared of them, afraid of turning into one, here it is the exact opposite.  There is hope for the walking dead - Jesus.

Even though we all were like zombies, grotesque, Jesus still loved us and died for us while we were like that!  We as Christians - the living can bring this good news, so the dead can become alive in Christ.  The most amazing two words in this passage - "but God."  What a wonderful God we have!

Do you know anyone that likes zombie movies?  Maybe this analogy can help you illustrate the gospel in a relatable way to them.

(Reading those verses 1-3, I can't help thinking that whoever came up with the concept of zombies must have been reading the same verses as well!)

I take multi-vitamins and supplements in the morning along with Hamish.  Before you think I am cuckoo, Hamish’s supplement is glucosamine for dogs.  When he was a young puppy I noticed he was bunny hopping while he was running which can be a sign of hip dysplasia.  So I started him on it and I have seen some improvement.  I take vitamins to help me in my daily tasks, by either helping prevent colds or give me an added boost.

I don't mean to supplement our salvation as it is by grace alone we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9).  But we can take our spiritual vitamin daily, which like our daily vitamins, can help to give us a spiritual boost or help prevent or fight spiritual attacks.

I don’t mean reading our bible or praying as that is not a vitamin or supplement as it is our main ‘food.’  We get our strength from God, and we can’t supplement that.  So we have looked at what I don’t mean so let’s look at what I mean.

My definition of a spiritual vitamin –
‘Anything that further encourages you to read the bible, pray, praise or walk closer to God and is in obedience to Him and glorifies Him.’ 

We are all so different, we have different tastes, and personalities so one vitamin will not fit all.  We don’t have a legalistic religion so it is not limited to only Christian books and music.  You may have discovered for yourself what helps but if you haven’t here are just a few suggestions; the list I think is endless. 

Poetry – either writing it or reading it, we have a Christian poet in our women’s bible study

Art – Painting, Sculpture, tapestry, cross-stitch (my Mum made a cross stitch of names of God)

Walking our dog – I know I am moved and have some good prayer times when walking, looking at creation

Being outdoors – enjoying God’s creation

Music – I have enjoyed many impromptu praise sessions by listening to some ‘secular’ music as it can be very moving

Praise/Christian music – many find that helpful, bringing our thoughts directly to Jesus

Sermons – either download to your ipod or listen to it in your car, or I listen to a radio station that mainly plays sermons cut up into 20 min segments

Reading – from inspirational uplifting stories, to Christian biographies.  It doesn’t all have to be sweetness and light, if that’s not your taste – Frank Peretti is a Christian author that is a bit different, not everyone’s taste.  But that’s the point of this!

I can’t think of other things, but maybe you can, don’t be limited in your thinking, break out of your mould. Try making some music, or writing poetry or doing some art to get your mind on Jesus.  You may find something you love and is different to give you new encouragement in your walk with Jesus, and another avenue you can use to share Jesus with others.

Isn’t it wonderful that we have freedom in Christ, not as an excuse to sin or be selfish but so we can explore our own tastes?  There is one body but many parts just stop and think about how many parts there are in the whole body. (I Corinthians 12:12)
We all have different gifts, but we also have different things that move us spiritually.

So remember along with your ‘daily bread’ to take your spiritual vitamin!  It will help get your thoughts onto Jesus throughout the day, who is your source of strength.

We already looked at how our dogs can remind us to not to worry about things (link) they have faith in us that we will provide their needs and so too do we need to have faith in God that He will provide our needs.  Looking at our dogs are great reminders at how we should be.

What is your hope in?

Before you say what you think you should say, stop and think about it, practically what is your hope in?

When the stock market crashed and you lost a fair bit of your savings were you worried? 

Is your house in negative equity
(or underwater/upside down if you are in the US) are you losing sleep over it?

When the financial markets are doing well do you have peace, and when they don’t are you worried?

Following on from our last talk, I will share that since we have been married we have known: unemployment twice, once for an extended period of time, financial struggles, just pay our bills but didn’t know how we would get through Christmas many years, worrying about bills, job insecurity, job security, some money over each month from paying the bills so we could save a bit, not gone on any holiday for years, to being able to save up over years to go on holiday to see our family.

For at least a couple of years, we have been in negative equity.  The house three doors down from us is in foreclosure (one of six in our development) and is on sale for nearly 50% less than what we bought our home for.  To make it worse, it’s been up for sale for over 3 months and it still hasn’t sold.

I know part of the reason why we have gone through financial hard times, is that a lot of people have financial struggles, so we then can identify with them.  We have proved through it all, that our hope isn’t in material things, it’s in Jesus.  It’s not easy going through financial hard times (I have had my moments!) but sometimes it is freeing seeing our finances so fickle, as we realise we can’t trust in money to get us through life as it can be gone tomorrow.  We know only God can save us from sin, but sometimes we have to remind ourselves that God is where we put our trust – our everyday needs, our spiritual, our practical trust.

Money can come and go, but there is one who never changes and will always be with you, helping you through whatever you face – God.  Paul learned this secret -

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:11

Look at the word “learned” Paul had to learn this; we all have to learn it.  Some are faster learners than others!  It’s not money that gives us peace, only in God can we say “we have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” 

There are days that I am still learning, it might not be in financial matters anymore but hopefully in every situation that arises I am a quick learner, and leave it with God.

So is your hope in your retirement fund, savings or is it in God?

I have shared with you before, how Hamish follows me around.  Sometimes different things come to me when he does it and I will share them all with you one day. Today it was this verse, that I had been thinking about.  He brings a smile to my heart when he follows me and is such a blessing to me.

"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  Psalm 23:6          

Sometimes we can become so familiar with a verse that we don’t stop and really analyse it.  I did that with this verse.  It was thanks to my Dad preaching on this verse, when I was putting his sermon onto powerpoint that the meaning really hit me.  That the promise to Christians is that goodness will follow us through life.

“Goodness will follow whatever happens to me even the bad, the evil, and the difficult.”   So I’d like to look and explore this point further today.

We know that we will go through tough times here on earth but in our shadow of our footsteps, goodness and blessings will come out of it. (see also Romans 8:28) Not just for us but for others.  Do you ever think that those tough times you have gone through; God wants you to use that to help others?  Your story, of how God has or is helping you through something, can be used by God either to help bring someone to Himself, or to help others grow in their Christian walk.

Your story is unique because you are unique.  We don’t know what other people are going through, but if we are more open with what we have been through and share how God has and is working in that area, then that non Christian really will see that we understand, because we have experienced it as well.

You can be the start of someone’s healing by allowing God working through you.  It doesn't mean that you have to stand and shout the most painful part of your life from a street corner; maybe it’s just to a friend or colleague.

So remember the goodness and blessing that came from that situation you’d rather not dwell on, isn’t just for you but for others.  They can be helped, healed or even come to know God by you sharing your story and faith with others, by allowing God to work through you.

Isn’t that the ultimate goodness and blessing that could come from “the bad, the evil, the difficult” in your life?  That someone could come and know God through your willingness to share how God has worked in your life!