From the Kitchen Table

The Kitchen Table

Day 29

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:  “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ​‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.  Acts 13:13-23

The will of God is something that we do, not just believe or think and talk about.  In the end, it’s something that we do.  If our heart has really been touched and transformed it will show up in what we do and how we do it.  It’s in what we do that we discover the true desires of the heart.  This isn’t a life that we get by works but it is a life that we live by will.  Acts 13:36 says that after David had served God’s purposes in his generation, he passed away.  David accomplished his work because of his will.  We just can’t hide our will, it comes out in what we do, how we talk and where we go.  We know how this works; we must want what Jesus wants and that only happens as we believe and behave in Jesus.  Changing our will requires complete and total surrender to God.  It’s something we will deal with all of our lives but it’s also something God will develop in our of our lives as we trust and obey Him.  Can you imagine a world where everyone does the will of God because everyone desires the will of God?  That’s heaven!  That’s God’s will for here.

The Kitchen Table

Day 28

“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, ​‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ​‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”  Acts 22:12-121

If we’re going to live this life that Jesus bought and brought us there’s something we’re going to need to realize. The life isn’t lived by rules but by revelation.  God revealed Himself to Paul and Paul had to respond to that revelation.  That’s how God’s will works in our lives.  The life we live is the one we have chosen to respond to.  The life we live from now on will be a life of revelation where God reveals who He is, what He loves and where He is going.  We either respond to His will, making it our will or we live in the will of our foe and our flesh like we talked about yesterday.  There is no law against the will of God, that’s why this life is not about rules.  But there is revelation which comes to us as we spend time with the Lord, see who He is and value what He wants.

The Kitchen Table

Day 27

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.           2 Timothy 2:22-26

Listen closely, we can’t really discover the will of God for our lives if we don’t take responsibility for our lives.  Until we learn to live above the passions of our youth, we will become trapped by the devil into doing his will not God’s will.  Youthful passions are those passions to be loved, liked and let into the circle.  When our passions are greater than our principles it’s easy to pervert the will of God in our lives and for our lives.  Until we are willing to take responsibility for our lives, we will continue to wreck-havoc on the will of God for our lives while wrecking-havoc on God’s will for other people’s lives.  That there is the will of the devil.  So often we think the devil does his thing by bringing sinful things into our lives but usually he does his thing by using the sinful passions already in our lives.  We break that hell’s power with a heavenly passion for God and His will for us and those around us.  If we feel like the devil is working his will in our lives, we shouldn’t look outside until we’ve looked inside to see if he isn’t leveraging our own passions against us.  And you know what?  It’s always a good thing when we let God be honest with us.

The Kitchen Table

Day 26

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.  The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen                    1 Peter 4:1-11

We have been created to love, live and laugh in this life.  How we do that differs depending on who we ask.  How we live this life will depend on where we live it from.  We can live from our flesh or from our faith.  Peter admonishes us to keep loving, keep living with respect and keep laughing (or keep enjoying this life) as we serve God’s will for today.  I know that others are convinced that you live, love and laugh by catering to the desires of a fallen human race but that’s not how it works.  If we let our need for entertainment enslave us to the cravings of our fallen nature then we will find ourselves drowning is the debauchery, maligning our own reputation and crying over our lost opportunities.  Jesus once prayed, “not my will but your will…” when he faced the cross.  Keep this privilege of prayer close to your heart.  It’s here, in the privilege of prayer that Jesus overcame the feeding frenzy o the flesh and it’s where we will do the same.  Knowing God’s will for our lives will become clearer and clearer as we spend time with Him in prayer.  It’s there, with Him, that our attitudes and ambitions are changed.  Knowing God’s will for our lives will involve a struggle because we will have to choose to live in faith or in the flesh and the best way to deal with that struggle is to spend time with the Father. 

The Kitchen Table

Day 25

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.            Colossians 4:2-6

This is another day that the Lord has made, and He has plans for this day too.  God’s will for this day isn’t automatic but achievable.  It’s something we discover as we spend time with God and spend our time on God.  God can do anything without us but chooses to do everything with us.  The God of this universe is waiting to work with us and the way we discover His will is through prayer and obedience.  That prayer and obedience is driven by a passion for the presence and purpose of God.  God’s will is not automatic but it is achievable through those who have trained their emotions and expectations to see and serve God.  It’s what happens as we spend time with God and for God.  It’s an amazing thing when God opens the doors, gives us wisdom and works through our lives to share heaven here.  Keep Looking!

From the Kitchen Table Day 24​

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:1-10

What can a believer do to serve God? Serve others for God! The Bible calls it sowing when we serve because when we live out God’s goodwill personally it affects others publicly. God has chosen to do His will in and through us who believe. God has chosen to change the world today by working His goodwill in us and through us. In fact, we discover God’s will for our lives as we give ourselves to serve God’s will in others. People who don’t know God’s will for their lives probably aren’t showing and serving God’s will to others. When we begin to sow into the lives of others, God begins to show us His will for our lives. And this sowing of God’s goodwill isn’t about being nice but rather obedient to the Spirit. Learning to listen and live by the Spirit is the secret to living in and living out God’s goodwill for our lives. If we don’t live by the Spirit we will live for our flesh, taking care of me and mine. God wants us to know His goodwill for our lives and He’ll show it to us as we make know His goodwill to others.

The Kitchen Table

Day 23

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.                         John 15:5-10

What can man do to honor God?  That’s part of the plan, honoring God with our love and our life.  But how do we honor the God who is all-powerful, all=knowing, all-loving and all-holy?  What can we do except surrender everything to Him?  What can we do except live in His love with thankful hearts?  We were deceived and damaged by the life and lies of hell and sin, our understanding was warped by what’s wrong and we could do nothing to really honor God except bow our knees and our hearts before the all-loving God and say, “I surrender”.  Our humility is His honor and God is honored or glorified when we let Him do His thing in us and through us.  Only God can do something big enough to bring honor to Him who is Lord of all things.  All we can really do seems like such a small thing but it’s really a very hard thing and that thing is to simply surrender to His love for us.  Surrender to His love.  That’s what honors the Lord who will then be honored when His thing is worked out in our lives.  That’s called bearing fruit.  Living in God’s love is God’s will for us and all we can really do is to surrender to His love and let it do His thing in us and through us.

From the Kitchen Table

Day 22

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;  his love endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.  Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.  They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.  Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.  He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.  Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.  Psalm 107.1-9

Your life is on God’s mind and if you let Him, He will satisfy your hunger and thirst with good things.  The table of the Lord is on the other side of thanksgiving.  God will not force His will and gifts on us, but He will set a table and save a seat for us.  It’s impossible to know God’s will for our lives if we don’t know or believe that He loves us.  He loves us and He keeps us in His heart and mind to bless us.  Two critical exercises that we must fill our lives:  Thoughtfulness and Thankfulness.  If we want to live in the blessings of God, then we must be thoughtful of Him and thankful for Him.  The psalmist writes, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…”  Want to be thoughtful and thankful?  Keep talking about what God has and is doing for us.  He loves us and we are constantly on His mind and in His heart.  What a great way to live.

From the Kitchen Table

Day 21

​ O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  So, I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.  Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So, I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands                                                Psalm 63:4

Nothing satisfies like Jesus.  Nothing starts our day off on the right foot like personally declaring and dedicating ourselves to the love of God.  You see, we will live for what we look at.  We have a choice today to either set our eyes on here or on heaven.  Setting our eyes on heaven, we will see the power and glory of God.  Not everything here is evil and always bad, the problem is that the things this life has to offer cannot quench our thirst for life.  Believe me when I say that knowing and living in God’s love will be the greatest decision we can ever make.  How do we look at and live in God’s love?  Lift your eyes toward heaven and make a personal declaration and dedication to live in God’s love all along the way.  His love is better than life.

From the Kitchen Table

Day 20

​ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness  for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 Psalm 23

Life is tough without togetherness.  We can think that its pleasures, possessions and prosperity that makes life fun and fulfilling but it’s actually the presence of others that makes life fun and fulfilling.  Psalm 23 is about walking through this life with the best friend a person could possibly know, God.  Life is about love and until we discover God’s love for our lives, we will struggle finding fulfillment and fun in life.  Love values the lives and longings of others.  And that value is shared.  The psalmist writes about the value God has for him and how he, as an individual, values the presence and passion of the One who values him.  When I’m with Him I find what I really need, and it is refreshing.  And when I’m with Him, I find peace and security even in the midst of my enemies.  When I’m with Him, I just know that everything is going to be alright.   People trade this relationship for all kinds of other recreational activities but it’s this relationship that’s most rewarding.  I’m not alone, He is with me all the way.