Change Your Mind

“Change Your Mind”
by Kathy

Babies and brains are delicate, easy to harm. Some of us had loving parents who were o so careful. Some of us did not. Many bear invisible wounds from childhood.

Life is hard. One child, lame, struggles and falls, alone. Another, sturdier, is supported by loving hands all around.

It’s not fair. Not as the world sees things.

Yet faith leads us to believe God is building our souls. By adversity or by blessings.

It is hard to understand with our natural mind. Only the “mind of Christ” can accept it. And scripture tells us we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:16)

Then why do we have so many problems with our “minds”? Depression, anxiety, addiction, ADD, OCD, o my. Labels abound, fixes elude. Only God has medicine powerful enough.

It helped me to understand that the BRAIN is part of the BODY, but the “mind” is part of our SOUL. Big difference. Can’t always change the brain, any more than you can change blue eyes or crooked bones. But you can have the “mind of Christ” by choosing to agree with the Word, thinking like God thinks.

I sometimes joke that I have the “mind of Christ” and the brain of Frankenstein. Can’t always overcome the neurochemical glitches. But learning, implanting, speaking, and thinking God’s truth enables me to serve Him with joy anyway, live above the circumstances that almost crippled me. And, sometimes, amazingly, even gets down to the physical brain and heals it. Silent little miracles of faith.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… Romans 12:2
Since scripture tells us to renew our minds, it is plain that God Himself thinks it is possible. Just like invisible GERMS can cause colds and flu, our invisible thoughts can cause all sorts of havoc in our souls. These “cooties” of wrong thinking, thoughts that are contrary to God’s truth, make us prey to all sorts of chemical havoc in the brain as well. But God has provided healing in His Word.
He sent His word and healed them… Psalm 107:20

Long after our broken brains are dust, our souls will retain the fruit of our efforts to plant and use these bits of scripture. God’s truth becomes part of our eternal vocabulary of worship and praise. We will be glad forever.

And we can start now.

Regrets–I have a Few

Frank Sinatra used to perform a song about doing things “his way,” one phrase in that song was “regrets–I have a few.” I can relate.

When I have a “regret” attack I say a “thank You Lord that I am in the washing machine” prayer. That’s true, you know. Jesus went through the cross experience in order to win the authority to wash souls to perfection. He knows the washing business. He knows the difference between dirt and no-dirt. He has gone to school on suds, on hard-water vs. soft-water, on theories of agitation cycles and soaking times. He is the Maytag of the soul-washing business.

I am an observant kind of fellow. Did you know that? I observe that my soul needs constant washing. My soul thinks stuff and chooses stuff, and dirt just happens. But, because I live in the Washing Machine, my soul just stays washed. The washing power of Jesus always over-powers dirt. His part is to keep on washing me. My part is to keep on trusting Him to do a good job of it. So, I don’t waste time and breath in telling my Washing Machine how dirty I am, I just praise Him for being willing and faithful to keep on washing me–perfectly clean.

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 1 John 1:9 (AMP)

And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (AMP)

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life. Romans 5:10 (AMP)

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22 (NASB)

Okay, so, I’m in the Washing Machine, and I can’t out-sin the washing effectiveness of it. I’m a forgiven-one. That’s really good. Thank You, Lord Jesus. But what about the consequences of my bad choices here on Planet Earth–I have to live with that, don’t I?

Well, no, you don’t. You have a choice available to you. You have the option of receiving training in a  Special Forces unit. You can become a Bond-servant of the Lord Jesus. Not all Christian make it through to graduation, but it was the hope of the Apostle Paul that all would strive for it.

¹ THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God, ² With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.] ³ If indeed God permits, we will [now] proceed [to advanced teaching]. Hebrews 6:1-3 (AMP)

So, there is good news! If one learns to cooperate with God in the present, there are things that can be done about our mistakes in the past.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Regrets–turned–to good?

“Life’s Cycles” by Bob Rose

Excitement builds as the shoot breaks through,

the leaves spread,

teasing and heightening the suspense.

The bud appears, and then the flower,

Revealing the depth of the beauty within.

Frost comes,  and life retreats leaving behind Memories,

which will brighten the Winter ahead.

Bob Rose now lives in the Wyoming/Nebraska neighborhood–the far North country, but he lived in Texas for awhile and worked with me as a Christian counselor here in Austin. He writes, sings at weddings, reviews books for publishers, and ministers to church congregations and families. This is a sample of his photography and poetry skills. I miss him and his sweet wife, Kathy and their three sons, now grown.

Is My Spirit In My Left Elbow?

10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. Gen 4:10 (NASB77)

This scripture speaks of the time when two brothers fought and Cain killed Abel, and Abel’s blood cried out to God from where it was spilled onto the ground. Was Abel’s spirit in his blood? Is my spirit in my blood?

Perhaps we should move on to consider the functions of the spirit. Dr. Charles Solomon wrote in his book, “Handbook To Happiness,” that the functions of the human spirit are intuition, conscience and communion, and he suggested that for further study one might benefit from reading the following Christian books:

“What Is Man?” –T. Austin-Sparks

“Rivers of Living Water” –Ruth Paxson

“Principles of Spiritual Growth” –Miles Stanford

This posting continues the “Body, Soul, Spirit” posting of Aug. 29, 2009. On the “wheel” diagram of that posting you can see the “spirit” wedge has the words, intuition, conscience, and communion. I have read the three books, but it is pretty deep stuff. Actually, I have not put that much effort toward understanding the functions of my spirit-part, but rather toward understanding the functions of my soul-part. However, I have benefited from looking at Dr. C. I. Scofield’s study notes on “spirit” (lower-case “s”). I’ll put them here for to assist your own study. His notes are placed on the same Bible page as the scripture that the notes pertain to. I’ll do the same here.

Paul writes:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, ” Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Cor 2:6-16 (NASB77)

Scofield’s Notes For “words” in Verse 13

(1) The writers of Scripture invariably affirm, where the subject is mentioned by them at all, that the words of their writings are divinely taught. This, of necessity, refers to the original documents, not to translations and versions; but the labours of competent scholars have brought our English versions to a degree of perfection so remarkable that we may confidently rest upon them as authoritative.
(2) 1Co 2:9-14 gives the process by which a truth passes from the mind of God to the minds of His people.

(a) The unseen things of God are undiscoverable by the natural man (v. 9).

(b) These unseen things God has revealed to chosen men (vs. 10-12).

(c) The revealed things are communicated in Spirit-taught words (v. 13). This implies neither mechanical dictation nor the effacement [erasing] of the writer’s personality, but only that the Spirit infallibly guides in the choice of words from the writer’s own vocabulary (v. 13).

(d) These Spirit-taught words, in which the revelation has been expressed, are discerned, as to their true spiritual content, only by the spiritual among believers 1Co 2:15, 16 (See Note for Rev 22:19)

—End of Scofield’s Study Notes

What do I conclude?

I am satisfied that God has given into my spirit the necessary capacity to know Him (and to know Him more), to love Him (and to love Him more) and to understand Him (and to understand Him more). I have also received a “cleansing of my conscience from dead works, to serve the living God,” (Heb 9:14). I’m not sure of the meaning here, but I think He has washed me, and is washing me so completely that He is not ashamed to have me serve Him. Thanks, Jesus!

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb 9:14 (NASB77)

Streams In The Desert

Grace is like water in the desert, it brings life.

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 (NASB)

Since God is relating to people on Earth according to grace, (He’;s rainin’ it on ’em right now) it seems to me a good idea that I should, too. . .relate more, that way, to people. Only, well, its just not my style. So, its rather difficult, and I forget, a lot, to do it. . .you see.

What does “according to grace” mean, anyhow?

I must mean something like, “in agreement with grace.”  So I really do see that if God is thinking grace, it would be a good idea for me to think it also. I know something of what God thinks about my wife. He thinks that she is a precious soul. He thinks that all the time. Sure, He does. That’s very graceful of Him.  I might try–sure, I might–well, I don’t want to crawl out on a limb about this, so I’ll move along to the next paragraph.

Hebrews 13:9 (NASB) Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited.

Varied and strange teachings carry me away? Hmmm!? How does that work, I wonder? I’m not so easy to carry off, not much chance of it. That’s not our Texas way to do nor to talk. Those strange teachings better not try that on me! Huh!

I like that next part though–that “good for the heart” part–strengthed by grace–amen! I need to think on what “heart” might mean–and also what “strengthen” might mean–and “grace,” too. Lots of words, here. The strange teachings carry me away from something, maybe the good teachings carry me toward something.

So, what kind of teachings carry me toward, or forward? Grace teachings? What’s a grace teaching?

A stream in a desert–my desert heart? Man oh man–my lawn could sure use a stream of water right now. A good rain would be sooo graceful. How about it, Lord? I know what–I’ll think on rain!

Body, Soul and Spirit

There are only two verses in the New Testament that mention all three aspects of humankind:

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 5:23 (ESV)

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4:12 (ESV)

As you can see, the word “body” does not appear in Heb. 4:12, but the phrase “joints and marrow” allude to the human body, I think.

There are at least two schools of thought about the human make-up, that we are three-part (tri-chotomous), or we are two-part (di-chotomous). (It sounds like an African animal, or perhaps a sinus condition.)

Dr. Charles Solomon’s “Wheel” Diagram #1

The Greek word for “spirit” is pneuma, and for “soul” the word is psuche, and for “body” the word is soma. None of this is conclusive proof that man is “di” or “tri,” but I am pretty much settled with the tri-chotomous, or tri-unity, the term that Dr. Solomon preferred when he first published the Wheel diagrams.

Well, so what?

Understanding Truth, and thinking Truth is what sets us free from a former way of thinking.

Next posting I’ll try to get into the functions of the pneuma aspect of our makeup.

The Main Thing

In learning to think in agreement with God its important to remember what is that thing at the top of God’s agenda. Knowing this top thing is an essential element in understanding why God does what He does; and to knowing how to get in on what He’s doing.

The main thing is the building-up of the church, the bride of Christ–that is, souls saved and souls discipled.

We live in the the time of history of this event. It started 2000 years ago. It will perhaps be completed quite soon.

What does this mean to you? A lot! Not Much. Pretty important. Nothing really. Confusion.

What are the things in your life that mean more to you than the building-up of the church?

For me, the church is most important. I can say that. I can choose that. I can think a-long with God for a string of moments, a short string, but then I forget. I get distracted. A man wrote a book about it. He entitled the book, “The Tyranny of the Urgent.” His point was that there is a plethora of mundane life events that powerfully demand our attention–like the ringing of a telephone. I get distracted and often stay distracted for too long a time.Oh, woe. You are different, I know. Good!

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words – true or false ?

“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand–”

This is an artist’s view if the Jordan River as it nears its demise in the Dead Sea. The trees along bankside are thinning out in number and size. The grass and bushes have given way to Summer’s heat. The water slowly carries along its load of mineral-salts and silted soil, and will soon dump it into the ever-hungry chasms of the Great Rift.

It is said that Jesus was baptized by John “where there was much water.” Perhaps it was here. Can you hear the voice of John, as he cries out, “Behold the Lamb of God–Who takes away the sin of the world.”

Perhaps pictures and words together give us a deeper Truth than either one alone.

“–and Cast A Wishful Eye.”

Do you know the old hymn? It has been a message of hope for believers down through twenty centuries.

Do you have Spiritual paintings in your home? Paintings with a message of hope?

More- As A Man Thinks

“As A Man Thinks” (continued #3)

by Ran Butler Stovall

The Bible has somewhat to say about “living by faith,” and “walking by faith.”

I think about it. I think, “Am I doing this–or these?”

And I think, what does “thinking” have to do with “living.” Or with “walking?”

I also think, what does “faith” have to do with “living” or “walking?”

Well, I’m sure that– I’m not sure!

But it seems to me that sometimes I think “faith” thoughts, and sometimes I don’t.  It also seems to me that a “faith” thought is thinking that is in agreement with God’s thoughts.  Perhaps this “faith thinking” is the secret to the “living” and “walking.”

“Hey, God. I deserve a vacation,”  is not,  a faith-thought.  (I might need a vacation, but I’m sure that  God knows that I don’t deserve one.)

“Dear God, I’m so irritable these last few days. Perhaps I need a vacation. You are the Provider of all my needs. Show me Your will, I pray.”

That sounds more like the mind of Christ.

In Proverbs 23:7 (NASB) I read a little something about myself: —for as Ran thinks within himself, so he is (some slight paraphrasing included).

I need to be more careful about what I think.

As A Man Thinks (continued)

As A Man Thinks (continued #2)

by Ran Butler Stovall

I’ll think-out-loud for a minute.

There is a lot of negative evaluation going on–including my own.

There is a good amount of positive evaluation, too–including my own, at times.

There is thankfully, much Truth evaluation going on–yes, me too, at times.

Personally, my initial evaluations are too often negative (greased lightening fast)–less often positive–rarely Truth.

My re-evaluations (30 seconds after awareness. or 30 minutes after, or 30 hours after) come after I have thought things out a little.  Usually the negative slides to positive, or even climbs the hill up to Truth. My emotions follow along,  rather half-heartedly, and my behaviors follow the changing emotions.

The Lord Jesus admonished His disciples; “If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine, and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” [John 8:31-32,  New American Standard Translation]

Free from something?

Free to something?

What do you think?