Good morning Zebras,

This is going to be the last post for a while.  In two hours, I leave for South Korea to see Katherine and I’m not taking my computer.

This is my third visit and I only go when I feel God tells me to.  Usually He only tells me, but this time He told her as well.

A few months ago, I felt like I was supposed to ask Katherine when she had some time off work so I could go for a visit but I never got around to it.  Instead I received a text from her that said: “I know this is rather random but I feel like I am supposed to tell you I have three days off in May.”

We worry so much about tossing out fleece and giving God suggestions that we forget He can open doors, without us lifting a finger, for those who keep His Word and do not deny His name.

Revelation 3:7–8: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”

Years ago, I bought a very expensive blouse at the urging of a friend.  It looked great and I wanted to buy it, but on my own I would never have spent that much on a blouse.  After I wore it, I checked the washing instructions and found it was dry clean only.  Dry cleaning is expensive and I wouldn’t have bought it had I known, so it hangs in my closet unworn.

I think that’s what a lot of people have done with God.  They “bought” Salvation without anyone explaining to them the fine print.  When God revealed the true cost of discipleship they decided to hang Him in the closet and only put Him on for special occasions and when it is time to die.

Salvation is not something we can leave hanging in the closet.  God expects us to wear it 24/7. 

1 Peter 1:14–16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

I love you Zebras, I am off for what I know is a God ordained time of rest and prayer for and with my daughter.  If it is God’s plan I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.  If not this was a good message to end on.

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

Lessons from the yoga floor:

If you want to do the difficult poses you must learn to ground your feet and fix your eyes on one immovable spot.

When asked to participate in something that makes them feel uncomfortable people will opt out when given the chance.

And a teacher passionate about the spiritual side of the practice makes me uncomfortable, I am there only for the exercise.

Lessons from the Bible:

Our feet must be firmly ground in Jesus.

Partial participation is not an option.

To know Jesus is to love and obey. 

Luke 6:46–49: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?  I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Our eyes must be fixed upon Him.

Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

And just like I can go to yoga and get the parts I like without believing what they are teaching, because they want me to come more than they want me to believe, churches may have gone a little too far trying to lure in the world.  We are not yoga, people should not be comfortable if they are only there for the social programs.

Good works is a way to bring people in, it should not be what keeps them there.  Jesus was not happy with the people who only followed Him for the food. He used the food as an illustration to show that He was “the bread from heaven” upon which people should really eat.  (John 6:22-70) Worshipping Jesus and honoring God is the real work of the church.

I love you Zebras so much, ground your feet in the truth of Christ, keep your eyes focused on Him and do not change or water down the Gospel just to get someone to like you.

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

Let’s look at two passages on Temptation.

James 1:13–15: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Every man has their own temptation.  Mine involves ministry.  I put so much of myself in everything God has me write and do, the human side of me wants some reassurance it is being read or watched.

On Facebook, the only way to know how many people have read or watched something is when they react and I have learned how to deal with that.  Not true on the Blog or YouTube.  Both of those sites have counters that tell how many times the post has been viewed.

Last Monday, after the Easter sermon, the Blog caused me to stumble when I looked at the counter and it said “0.”

I say stumble not fall, because I know how to right myself.  I tell myself the truths I already I know.  I am not doing this for men, I am doing this for God and I have no idea how or when God is going to use what He is asking me to do.  My job is just to obey and leave the results to God.

But that doesn’t mean stumbling is fun, it isn’t, it hurts and if left unchecked it could send me down and dark and negative road filled with self-pity and anger eventually disqualifying me for ministry. So, I quit looking at the counters when I put up the new post.  I post quickly and go.  Lingering and looking is what got me into trouble.

I share this not so you can reassure me or make me feel better, but so that you will stop and think about your own Achilles heel and the things that cause you to stumble.

Temptations come that’s part of living in the world, how you react to them is up to you.  And from personal experience I have found it easier to avoid situations that cause me to stumble, or prepare beforehand, than to try and fight my way back.

Love,

Jill

Pentacost

Good morning Zebras,

I love you.  Thank you for your prayers they made a difference. I pray you are blessed by the result.

If you want to follow along mark your Bible at Acts 2 and 19, John 20 and Luke 4. I would also encourage you to grab a pencil because other Scripture is quoted as well.  

Love,

Jill 

Good morning Zebras,

Yesterday some of you might have noticed I pulled down the post and changed the picture.

I had no strong feelings about which picture to use, either a cute clipart or something real. So, I sent Gary a text but I didn’t wait for his response. I put the post up with the cute photo.  When he replied “real” I had to pull down the post and change it.

And the lessons continue.

First, if I had a strong leading on the photo I wouldn’t have asked Gary, I would have done what I felt God was telling me to do. But I didn’t so I asked to see if Gary did since the story was about him. God gives us other godly people to help us.  Pass

Second, once I asked I should have waited for his reply. Gray and I are partners.  If was silly to ask and then not wait.  Patience is a virtue.  Fail

And third, when I got the reply I requested I needed to honor Gary by following his leading and use the photo he suggested.  Pass 

Although this an example using something that doesn’t really matter, I can’t stress enough how important it is to have someone in your life who loves you, loves God, knows His Word and is willing to speak truth into your life. And how vital it is to your walk that you listen.

James 5:19–20 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

If you ask the advice of a godly person, you should be ready to listen to their answer. Hopefully the reason you asked them was because you needed advice and you respected their opinion.  

There is nothing more dangerous than going around asking until you get the answer you want. Eventually you will get it, even if it is wrong.  And I have found a story often repeated seems to mutate into complaining or gossip.  In that case, you may be the one causing someone to sin. 

I love you Zebras, so much, please do not consistently shake off godly council, or ask for advice when you really don’t want it.  Iron sharpening iron is God’s gift to His people.  Our responsibility is not to abuse it.     

Love,

Jill

P.S.   The person who gave Gary the wrong advice felt really bad that he got towed, but not bad enough to pay the $400.  When you give people the wrong advice they may suffer.  Perhaps that is why the Bible says teachers will be judged more strictly.  If you are teaching, even one person, make sure you know what you are saying is true.

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 

Good morning Zebras,

Yesterday Gary got his car towed.  He was assured by the security guard he could park in a certain spot.  Turns out he couldn’t and the building management towed his car.

It was an expensive lesson, but it will be worth it if even one person hears this truth:

Do not listen to the wisdom of men, they can say what they want, but that does not change anything.  God is the one in charge. Just because we don’t teach the wrath of God doesn’t mean it has ceased to exist.

I love you Zebras, so much and I want each of you to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

But as Oswald pointed out yesterday that accolade is for the servant who uses what God has given them.  The servant who buried his gift was called lazy and wicked but that isn’t the worst of it.  The parable continues:

Matthew 25:29–30: “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.  And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

People can say you are free to live however you want, that God has no expectations, that Salvation was a gift with no strings attached.  But please don’t believe them.  Because that isn’t what God says.

Salvation was free to us but it cost Jesus His life.  Although there aren’t “strings” there is transformation and gratitude which means we want to live a life honoring to Him.  And God expects us to use what He has given us for His honor and glory.  

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

I don’t know if I’ve used this analogy before, but God brought it up yesterday so I’m writing it again.

Prior to watching Bull Durham, I  didn’t know the catcher is the one who controls the pitcher’s throw.  I knew they sent signals back and forth but I never really thought about why.  And it may be that it isn’t even true but it was true in the movie.

We are the pitcher, God is the catcher.  He is calling the shots, we are just throwing the ball. And if we get too full of ourselves and start shaking off the catcher’s signs, and throwing whatever pitch we want, like the pitcher did in Bull Durham, then everything goes badly.

The thing I seem to have to learn over and over again, is just to throw.  Not to question what God is telling me to do no matter how small the signal.

On Sunday, at God’s request, I got up, got dressed, put on my makeup, set up my sound equipment and got all ready to preach a sermon to no one.  Twice God told me to text Gary and tell him not to come home until I was done.  Both times I shook Him off.

Gary was at church with his mother, the service started at 10, so I figured there was no way they were going to be home before Noon.  I was going to be done long before then, since the imaginary service started at 11.  I played a few worship songs to get in the mood and then started to preach.  At 11:15, as I was halfway through the sermon, I saw our van come around the corner and Gary and his mom arrived for Easter brunch.

You would think, that if I am willing to dress up and set up as if I was preaching to real people, that I’d have been willing go all the way and send Gary a text!  Nope!  Not me, I learn the hard way!  So, what should have taken me twenty minutes took me the rest of the afternoon and I am sure it wasn’t as good as the interrupted “take” would’ve been.

This Sunday, I am once again going to get up, dress up and set up as if I’m preaching to real people.  The imaginary service will start at 10.  This time I would appreciate your prayers, the message is after all for you.  Please pray I say only what I am supposed to say and that I do everything I am supposed to do, with the goal of making a video to encourage those who listen.

Thanks,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

I am always praying and asking God what it is I should write.  As soon as one post goes up I start praying about the next.  It is the same way that I used to do the lessons for the girls in Awana.  As soon as club was over I would start praying about the next week’s lesson with eyes open to see what God wanted me to teach them.

Yesterday God taught me this.

I needed to get somewhere and I couldn’t be late.  Because of that there was an urgency to my movements.  I abandoned the dishes half finished, I only brushed my teeth for one minute instead of two and I skipped walking the dogs.  Getting to my appointment was the most important thing.

In my rush, I grabbed the can of dry shampoo instead of hairspray.  As soon as I squirted it I knew I had the wrong one, but the cans look so familiar they are easy to confuse. And I thought, “I need to throw that can of dry shampoo away it only causes me grief.”

That is when I knew what I was supposed say: God’s people have lost their sense of urgency. They think they have all the time in the world to get to know God, reach others with the Gospel and get their lives right before Him.  So, they put off till tomorrow what they should be doing now.

And they have so many incorrect thoughts in their brains, psychology, new age, etc., that sometimes when they are reaching for a Biblical truth they grab one of them instead and it is causing them grief.  Half a truth is not truth. 

I love you Zebras, so much.  We do not have all the time in the world because no one knows the time and date of Christ’s return, it could be today.  Do not put off till tomorrow something God is telling you to do.

And we need to clean out the “drawers of our brains” and throw away every thought that cannot stand up under the light of Scripture.  Because when you are in a hurry it is easy to grab the wrong thing.

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

Everything I write to you God uses in my life as well.

On Saturday as I was preparing to make Sunday’s video I went on YouTube to check out the video requirements.  I had trouble loading the last video because it was too big and I thought maybe a link to YouTube would work better.

According to my page if I wanted to upload videos longer than fifteen minutes I would need special permission.  So, I told God “Well, if you want me to upload this video to YouTube it will be less than fifteen minutes.”

And I heard. “Fleece.”

I didn’t want to put the video on YouTube and I was looking for confirmation that I didn’t have to.

Obeying God means obeying God.  It means doing the things you want to do and the things you don’t.  It means risking looking foolish and overcoming fears. It means caring more about pleasing God than about what men think of you.  It means being still and hearing His voice. 

Following hard after God is work and it is not for the lazy or faint of heart.

I love you Zebras; the video went up on YouTube on Sunday as God requested.  Hopefully you saw the link.   

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

Years ago my adult nephew lived with us for a couple of years.  One day as I was happily headed out the door to work, probably quoting Scripture on the way, he turned to my husband and said, “What 

world does she live in?’ It’s not the same one I do.”

Something happened recently that made me realize we live in the world of our own making.

If you choose to live in fear, worry and sin then that’s where you’ll live.  But if you choose to live in the world of God, in love, joy and peace, then you will live there.

On Friday, I realized someone had probably taken advantage of us financially.  At that point I had a few choices. I could confront them, I could “pretend” like it didn’t bother me or I could give it to God, trusting He would take care of it and let it go.  I chose Door Number Three.  Why?  Because of 

these verses.

Luke 6:27–28 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Anyone can love the people who are nice to them, but we are called to love like Jesus who loved everyone, including the people who put Him on the cross.

Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

I don’t want to live in the world I see.  I don’t want to live in this dog-eat-dog, every-man-for-himself place.  But, of course I do, at least my body does, but my mind can live wherever it wants.  As proof, I present the stoning of Stephen and the words of Peter.

Acts 7:54–60 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.  Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

I love you Zebras, do not let the world trick you into thinking you’ve got to live like them to survive.  You don’t, you always have a choice.  And I believe with my whole heart that God will come through if you chose to honor Him. 

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

You have no idea how excited I am to preach an Easter sermon to God’s church. Not to “a church” but to the church, to anyone who desires to live a life honoring to the Lord Jesus Christ and wants to listen. 

One of my favorite songs is Chris Tomlin’s “No Chains on Me.”  To me the song is about the excitement and freedom of following Christ and the revival that will follow when people understand that.  The bridge repeats “the walls are coming down” five times.  To get a revival we need to break down the walls that divide us and focus on what we have in common, our love of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It is exciting for me to think “What could have less walls, then a free internet ministry, open to everyone who wants to come, with only one goal-to unite God’s people to love, honor and worship Him?”

I love you Zebras, so much, praying God uses this small effort to further His kingdom and encourage His people. Happy Easter!

Love,

Jill

P.S. If you want to follow along with the Bible reading, put a bookmark in the four Gospels at the resurrection story.  In the general area of Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, and John 18-20 and also at Isiah 6. 

Click on this link for the video.

Easter Sermon

Good morning Zebras,

In yesterday’s z-mail I mentioned I prayed and waited on God’s confirmation before going ahead with something I thought He wanted me to write about.   I waited because I know I have complete freedom to go to yoga, but I do not want to use that freedom to cause others to stumble.

In Pauls’ charge to the Corinthians about eating meat sacrificed to idols, he writes this:

1 Corinthians 8:1–13 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up…So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one…But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.  For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?  So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.  When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.  Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

Paul is saying we should never use the freedoms, given to us by God, if they are going to cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble.  God gives us freedoms not so that we can indulge ourselves but so we can use that freedom to serve others.   

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

So I waited, I knew if God wanted me to share what He had shown me He would make it clear.

You notice I did not say I “threw out a fleece” as I waited. That’s because years ago, when I used that phrase with my daughter she told me that most theologians consider Gideon’s need to throw out a fleece (Judges 6) evidence of his lack of faith.  I had never heard that!  Don’t we say we are “tossing out a fleece” as evidence of our faith in God? 

As subtle as it sounds there is a difference between waiting on God to confirm something and throwing out a fleece. When you toss out a fleece you are giving God directions on how you want Him to respond on one specific issue.  Which is different than just waiting for God to make His will known.  I know because I’ve done both. 

I love you Zebras, I know you don’t want to do anything outside of God’s will, and you won’t if you are willing to wait for Him to make it absolutely clear.  And he will, with or without a fleece.

Love,

Jill

P.S. Funny side note I went to look for an image to accompany this post.  I Googled “fleece” and got this. So, here’s our challenge…Wear fleece, wait on God!!  

Good morning Zebras,

I love you so and I believe without a shadow of a doubt that God can use anything to teach us if our eyes are focused on Him.

Almost a year ago God sent me off to yoga.  My first reaction was much like Ezekiel’s’ when God told him to eat unclean food.

Ezekiel 4:14 Then I said, “Not so, Sovereign Lord! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”

But in my case God did not relent.  He reassured me that He was more than able to protect me from their false gods and sent me on my way.

The first thing I noticed was that people enter yoga studios with a sort of reverence.  They are coming with an expectation to receive something spiritual and they act according.  (I wasn’t sure I was supposed to share this because I don’t want you to focus on yoga, yoga isn’t the point, God’s people lack of reverence for God is the point. It disturbed me that people entering the house of a false god were more reverent than God’s people are when they enter a church.)

So, I waited and prayed. God confirmed yesterday it by leading me to this. 

Tozer from his book “What Ever happened to Worship”                                                   

“Do you quietly bow your head in reverence when you step into the average gospel church?

I’m not surprised if your answer is “No.”

There is grief in my sprit when I go into the average church, for we have become a generation rapidly losing all sense of divine sacredness in our worship.  Many whom we have raised in our churches no longer think in terms of reverence-which seems to indicate they doubt that God’s Presence is there.

In too many of our churches, you can detect the attitude that anything goes.  It is my assessment that losing the awareness of God in our midst is a loss too terrible ever to be appraised.”

Amen. Without the sense of the divine presence of God in the church, God’s people have lost the most important part of gathering together.  And the really sad part is we have been doing it this way so long, we don’t even know what we are missing.  

Acts 2:42–47 (The Fellowship of Believers) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Some people focus on the fact that no one had need, I focus on the fact that everyone was filled with awe.

Love,

Jill

Dear heavenly Father, I love you so, forgive us, we have tossed the Holy God of Israel out of our churches and let the wisdom of the world in.  We have lost so much and gained so little.  Please Lord, please open our eyes to see You as You really are and put a hunger in the hearts of Your people to love, honor and worship You. Amen

Good morning Zebras,

The promised continuation of the tirade I just posted.

God’s people need to learn what sin is.  Unforgiveness-sin, eating a cookie-not sin.  

Mark 7:14–23 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.  Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’” After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.  “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’?  For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”)  He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’  For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’”

Listen to me, understand this-we are just like the Pharisees, too focused on the outside appearance while our hearts are hard, jealous, prideful and unforgiving.  Looking good on the outside while neglecting the inside is exactly what Jesus ranted at them about. 

Matthew 23:27–28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Or maybe we are the disciples too dull to understand what Jesus is saying.  Greed, malice, deceit, slander, envy, pride and foolishness.  These are the things that make a man unclean. 

Honestly, I want to get a megaphone and shout it from the rooftops: God does not care about your outside appearance, that is what man cares about, God cares about your heart!!!

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 

Saul, the first man chosen to be king of Israel, was a handsome man, a man who looked the part, but his good looks didn’t help him keep the job of king. When he disobeyed God’s orders he was rejected and replaced by David, a man after God’s own heart, a man who would do whatever God said.

1 Samuel 16:1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

The story of Saul and David is never far from my mind. God does not need any of us, He could use a rock if He wanted to but He chooses to use us but only if we listen and obey what He is telling us to do.    

I love you Zebras, so much, appearing righteous on the outside may fool the world but it doesn’t fool God.  (And honestly, it probably doesn’t even fool them.)  So, give up, quit trying so hard, be still and get to know God and He will transform you into the person you are pretending to be. 

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

Sorry, I realized I didn't post this on Tuesday. 

Yesterday, three times God showed me it is important to know who it is you are calling upon.

2 Corinthians 11:4: "For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough."

In many ways, I think we have put up with the preaching of a Jesus that is different than the one revealed in the New Testament. We have focused almost entirely on His mercy and grace and overlooked His holiness.

It will not be possible to overlook the holiness of Christ when He returns. He will not be returning as the lamb but as the lion come to judge the world.

I am concerned God’s people are following teachings that are not Biblical. There is no place in the lives of Christians for a pattern of sin.

1 John 2:1–2: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

In the Old Testament, the high priest went into the holy place once a year to make atonement for Israel’s sins. They were God’s chosen people and prior to the cross they were under a system of sacrifices. A system that foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:7: but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.

Please note the word "unintentional."

Jesus Christ is the lamb of God who went in and made permanent anointment for the sins of the whole world. His blood covered all of our past, present and future sins. But once we are children of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the desire to sin and to live a life that distances us from God should be gone. His blood is there to cover our unintentional sins not flagrant sins made in complete defiance of the Word of God.

The Jesus we preach, the all loving, completely forgiving Jesus, who lets us live however we want and doesn’t expect anything from us is not the Jesus of the Bible. He is a different Jesus and I think it is the product of the incorrect teaching of the Gospel.

Jesus Christ came to close the gap between God and man because He loved us, but also because God is holy and righteous and somebody had to pay the price for sin. We would never be able to stand in the presence of God without the blood of Jesus Christ.

Love and Mercy, Holy and Righteous, two sides of the same coin.

Personally, I think we take our own sin far too lightly and focus way too much on the sins of the world and to me that seems backwards. The phrase “judgement will start with the church” came from 1 Peter 4:17 (a really great chapter about what it means to be a steward of God’s grace which starts with “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.”) and it is backed up by the first three chapters of Revelation.

Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of the lukewarm church, it is time to let Him in.

Love,
Jill

Good morning Zebras,

I had a different z-mail written for today, a follow-up to yesterday’s tirade. 

I just finished reading “The Boys in the Boat.”  For me the biggest thing about the boat was the humility and strength needed to row as a crew.  Each person had to be in top form and each person had to row in unity with the other men.  They all had to follow the person in front of them and pass on the stroke count to the person behind.  That was the only way they could win.

The main character of the book never felt like he was good enough to be in the boat.  Turns out each boy felt the same way.  They all thought the other men were better and they were determined not to be the one to let the team down.

I wanted to quote a paragraph from the book, but I couldn’t find it.  Probably because God wanted me to quote this instead:

Philippians 2:3–4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Humility is decidedly lacking in this world and in the church.  The idea of dying to our own desires and living for others sounds good on paper but unfortunately that seems to be where it stays. We say we are concerned about God, but when it comes down to it mostly what we are concerned about is how God affects us.

None of us are good enough to be in God’s boat.  None.  But to win the race of reaching the world we need to strengthen ourselves and learn to row together.

I don’t know it you really want to listen to this, because if God ever really gives you His eyes even for one second, it will change your life forever. 

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

Todays’ Oswald: “Have you made the following decision about sin-that it must be completely killed in you?”

Note that sin is singular, not plural. 

I have been told many times that God works on our sins one at a time, not true.  We work on our sins one at a time, God worked on SIN. 

Romans 6:6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—

Jesus Christ came and conquered sin and death and then gave us the opportunity to do the same.

I was never successful at overcoming individual sins, because it was like a game of whack-a-mole, I’d knock one down and another one would pop up until I realized God had given me the power to just turn off the game.

I know I keep saying the same thing, but quit trying so hard and put all of that energy to good use by getting to know God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Because if you are still stumbling and struggling there is one of them you don’t understand.

I love you Zebras, happy Monday.

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

Today's post is a sermon for a Sunday afternoon. If you choose to listen, please listen all the way to the end. 

Sorry, the picture isn't perfect, I'm still learning.

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

I love you.

I have two children, a daughter 23 and a son 21.  Years ago, God showed me my primary role in my children’s life was prayer warrior.  He would take care of them, guide them, protect them and teach them, through me and through others, my job was to trust, follow His leading and pray.

Recently I have been praying for Nick a lot.  There have been some decisions in his life that needed the wisdom of God.  So almost every morning I get up and text him something encouraging to remind him that prayer cover is awake and on the job.

Some days he responds and some days he doesn’t.  If he goes multiple days without responding I start to feel underappreciated which is silly because I know he appreciates my prayer.  But it was also very convicting when I realized how often I forget to thank God for the same thing. 

Romans 8:26–27: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

Romans 8:34: Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

The Holy Spirit and Jesus both pray on our behalf, they just don’t send us a daily text.  And although I thank Him for a lot of things, I don’t think I thank Him for that often enough.    

Forgive me God for expecting my son to show gratitude for the tiny little prayers said on his behalf when I forget to thank You for constantly interceding on my behalf.   Lord, I love You, forgive me for taking Your intercession for granted.  Amen.

Enjoy your weekend Zebras knowing you are loved and prayed for.

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

Recently my computer decided to start displaying the wrong time.  I don’t know when it decided to do that, but I know when I finally noticed.

I was sitting doing my quiet time, glanced at the time on the computer, thought I was late, jumped up and ran for the shower.  On my way out the door, I noticed that clock in the kitchen had a different time.  I wasn’t late I was an hour early!

I really couldn’t believe it, computers, when they’re working, are so trustworthy!  Well, usually. 

Which felt like the perfect intro into the third lesson from Daniel 1:5b. 

The reason it is important we respect the leadership of our church is because we are called to obey them.

Hebrews 13:7–12 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith…Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Allowing poor leadership to run the church does not honor God and it sets people up to sin because Spirit-led people find it difficult to obey people who are led by the flesh.  Of course, the opposite is also true, worldly, lukewarm Christians find it difficult to follow a Spirit-filled leader. But either way, once a person is in leadership going around complaining about them isn’t okay-it is sin.

Maybe it would be better to leave a position vacant rather than fill it with a “warm body.”  If God wants the work done, He’ll bring the “right man” and if He doesn’t then we probably shouldn’t be doing it anyway.

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.  If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Revelation 3:1–2 “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.”

We don’t need more events or ministries we need more power in the ones that we do. (That was part of the message from yesterday’s video.)

I love you Zebras, it is okay to do less and pray more, because as Oswald pointed out, “intercessory prayer is the only ministry that has no pitfalls.”

Love,

Jill

Good morning Zebras,

It is an audio day. 

Love you Zebras, enjoy your day!
Jill

Good morning Zebras,

I love you.  Here is Daniel part two.

Daniel 1:5b They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

Notice that Daniel and his friends had to undergo training before they were able to enter the king’s service.  If training was necessary to service an earthly king, shouldn’t it be more necessary to serve the King of Kings?

Luke 6:39–40 He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?  A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Training doesn’t necessary mean seminary or even Bible College, to me it means is a person trained by Jesus.  A person who is excited and passionate about God.  A person who cares more about others than they do about themselves.  A person who is willing to die to his own plans and dreams and instead live for God.  A person whose life declares that they love Jesus.

Instead we look for the best warm body we can find who is also willing to take the job because it is so difficult to find volunteers.  And the jobs must get done…right?

Look at the requirements Paul laid down for picking men to give daily distribution to widows, a job we would give to anyone.

Acts 6:3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.

Full of the Spirit and wisdom…to distribute food.

A church is only as good as the leaders.  Everyone in leadership, not just the pastor, should be someone whose faith we admire and whose life we would be willing to emulate. God taught me that.

Love,

Jill  

Good morning Zebras,

I love you!

Daniel 1:5b They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

Daniel and his friends were taken into captivity with the purpose of being trained to go into full time service for the King.  We all know the story, Daniel refused to eat the King’s rich food, not for health reasons, but because God had given the Israelites dietary laws. 

We however we do not have dietary laws because Jesus declared all foods “clean."

Mark 7:18–23  “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’?  For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”)  He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’  For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’”

What we have is the directive found in James.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Putting aside the widows and orphans for a moment let’s focus on “keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  That is what Daniel was doing when he refused the king’s food.  He was preventing himself from being polluted by food he knew he wasn’t supposed to eat.

Our job then is to do the same thing, not just in regard to food, but in regard to everything.  The world is an onslaught of things that want to pollute our faith. Things that want to pull us off track, water down the truth and make us lose the joy of living for Jesus.  It is like living in a big puddle of mud that wants to stain our garments of white.

Revelation 3:1–4 …I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent… Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

It is not the “things we do for God” that prove we are a follower of Christ, it is how well we keep ourselves from being influenced by the world.  Since we can’t remove ourselves from the world we need to remember to wash frequently in the cleansing power of the Word of God so that none of the “mud of the world” sticks.   

Love,

Jill