Preposterous? Maybe Not.
The instructor of my bible college class once asked. “What is your favorite sin?” “That’s preposterous,” my self-righteous mind responded. “A Christian wouldn’t have a favorite sin because all sin is repugnant.” In the years since that class I have thought many times about the sins I preserve and protect in my life.
Perhaps I am alone in this. Probably not. Maybe we call it our personality, our temperament, a habit, a family trait, or “the way I am,” but we Christians do seem to have favorite sins. And, as with all things “secret,” our loved ones are often well aware of them.
The sin we want to keep is not easy to locate. It hides from us in plain sight with a voice much like our own. It comforts and coddles us and lulls us into complacency.
But there is a way to rout it out and destroy its hold. The next time your favorite sin peeks out of its hiding place – or someone points it out; don’t defend it. Confess it immediately to the Holy Spirit. Express repentance – ask for forgiveness – then sincerely invite Him to help you change.
This more-than-graphic illustration will clarify how the process works: You come home from working out; you hang your t-shirt on the bathroom door knob, and jump into the shower thinking, “Perhaps I’ll just wear it again tomorrow.” But when you get out of that shower, feeling fresh and clean you head straight to the hamper with that smelly shirt, barely able to touch it. You didn’t notice how dirty the shirt was; you couldn’t even smell it, until you were clean.
Once you and your favorite sin have been exposed to the Holy Spirit’s cleansing power you will find the sin intolerable.
Tina Green 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
WHAT DOES IT REALLY SAY?
True Love: A Real Valentine
A couples group was asked to read several versions of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The versions used were NIV, KJ, NKJ, AMPL, TLB, New English, and The Message. The group was asked to list what a true lover will do and what a true lover will not do. When the project was completed couples were asked to insert their loved one’s name and read it to their partner. This is their finished product.
Because I love you, ________, I will never give up on you. I will not envy you or become jealous of you. I will not boast about what I have done for you. I will not be proud or haughty. I will not try to draw attention to myself at your expense. I will not be conceited, arrogant, prideful, or rude. It will not always be “Me, first”. I will not insist on my rights or on having my own way. I will not be self-seeking. I will not be touchy, resentful, or fretful. I will not recount evil you have committed against me. I will not hold grudges or keep track of the wrongs I have suffered. I will not become easily angered or frustrated. I will not want more from you than you can give. I will not force my wishes upon you.
Because I love you, _______, I will be patient with you and kind to you. I will rejoice in the truth about you. I will protect you and trust you. I will always be hopeful about you and my hope will endure under all circumstances. I will persevere. I will endure and bear up under anything and everything that comes our way without weakening. I will ever be ready to believe the best about you. You can trust me. I will always want what is best for you. My love will never fade or become obsolete. My love for you will never end.
How about sending (or reading) this to your loved one(s) on Valentines Day?
Posted annually.
©Tina Green 2/2008
Monday, January 30, 2012
A STORY
THE FARMER’S SON
(An ancient fable, origin unknown)
A farmer farmed on land that belonged to the king. From time to time he would send gifts to the king to show how well he was doing. One day he sent his son to take a calf to the king. The boy started off with the calf but the calf saw some green grass it wanted to eat. Soon it had wandered so far away that the boy could not catch him. When he told his father what happened his father said, “When you take a calf to the king, tie a rope around its neck and pull it behind you.”
Soon after that, the father gave his son a small bag of gold coins to take to the king. The boy carefully tied a rope around the bag and pulled it behind him. When he came to the castle he presented an empty bag. All the coins had fallen out of a big hole caused by dragging the bag along the bumpy road. The boy’s father later told him, “When you take coins to the king, place them in your cap and put the cap on your head.”
Later the boy was asked to take some fresh butter to the king. He immediately put the butter in his cap and put in on his head. When the warm sun came out and beat upon his head, the butter melted and ran down his cheeks. When he arrived back home his father told him, “To take butter to the king, my son, you put it in a large bowl filled with cool water and cover it with a towel.
When his father asked him to take a fine laying hen to the king, the boy remembered the instructions. He put the hen in a large bowl full of cool water and put a towel over it. When he got to the palace he presented the king with a drowned chicken.
I don’t remember the end of this story, but I often think of it when I counsel couples. People seeking help will diligently apply the right instruction in the wrong situation and then they can’t figure out why it didn’t work. Many also do this with the Word of God. They want to apply the instruction to their partner, rather than applying it to their own hearts so that the meaning of the instruction can be made clear to them for their circumstance. Good counsel is useless if it is not applied intelligently. Seek the Lord’s wisdom before you try to follow advice from another source.
Tina Green © 2006
(An ancient fable, origin unknown)
A farmer farmed on land that belonged to the king. From time to time he would send gifts to the king to show how well he was doing. One day he sent his son to take a calf to the king. The boy started off with the calf but the calf saw some green grass it wanted to eat. Soon it had wandered so far away that the boy could not catch him. When he told his father what happened his father said, “When you take a calf to the king, tie a rope around its neck and pull it behind you.”
Soon after that, the father gave his son a small bag of gold coins to take to the king. The boy carefully tied a rope around the bag and pulled it behind him. When he came to the castle he presented an empty bag. All the coins had fallen out of a big hole caused by dragging the bag along the bumpy road. The boy’s father later told him, “When you take coins to the king, place them in your cap and put the cap on your head.”
Later the boy was asked to take some fresh butter to the king. He immediately put the butter in his cap and put in on his head. When the warm sun came out and beat upon his head, the butter melted and ran down his cheeks. When he arrived back home his father told him, “To take butter to the king, my son, you put it in a large bowl filled with cool water and cover it with a towel.
When his father asked him to take a fine laying hen to the king, the boy remembered the instructions. He put the hen in a large bowl full of cool water and put a towel over it. When he got to the palace he presented the king with a drowned chicken.
I don’t remember the end of this story, but I often think of it when I counsel couples. People seeking help will diligently apply the right instruction in the wrong situation and then they can’t figure out why it didn’t work. Many also do this with the Word of God. They want to apply the instruction to their partner, rather than applying it to their own hearts so that the meaning of the instruction can be made clear to them for their circumstance. Good counsel is useless if it is not applied intelligently. Seek the Lord’s wisdom before you try to follow advice from another source.
Tina Green © 2006
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Mutual Pain
When he needs you the most
Picture this scene: A speeding truck hits a man in an intersection. He lies badly injured while the truck speeds on, hitting and injuring his wife in the next block. Each partner lies helpless in the street wondering why the other has not come to offer comfort or care.
This is the emotional condition of many married couples. The scene is complicated because marital wounds are undetectable to the naked eye. Each partner believed the other was fine while they suffered. Months and years later they may still harbor the feeling that the other could or should have done something to help. This kind of bitterness and unforgiveness can eventually destroy a relationship.
For instance, when a wife is disappointed she rarely realizes how painful it is for her husband to disappoint her. He may have done something thoughtless, or stupid, or even destructive. He knows she is wounded but he cannot fix it. She is not consoled by his admissions and apologies so he feels helpless. There is no one to comfort him. He wants to go to her for comfort but she pulls away, so he pulls away. She reads his attitude as cold and uncaring.
Ladies, my husband says when a man disappoints his wife is when he needs her the most. This is an excruciating demonstration of the one flesh concept. It would be good if partners could change places and feel the other’s pain. Then the need for patience and forgiveness would be obvious.
I would love to know what you readers think of this.
Tina Green, 2011
Picture this scene: A speeding truck hits a man in an intersection. He lies badly injured while the truck speeds on, hitting and injuring his wife in the next block. Each partner lies helpless in the street wondering why the other has not come to offer comfort or care.
This is the emotional condition of many married couples. The scene is complicated because marital wounds are undetectable to the naked eye. Each partner believed the other was fine while they suffered. Months and years later they may still harbor the feeling that the other could or should have done something to help. This kind of bitterness and unforgiveness can eventually destroy a relationship.
For instance, when a wife is disappointed she rarely realizes how painful it is for her husband to disappoint her. He may have done something thoughtless, or stupid, or even destructive. He knows she is wounded but he cannot fix it. She is not consoled by his admissions and apologies so he feels helpless. There is no one to comfort him. He wants to go to her for comfort but she pulls away, so he pulls away. She reads his attitude as cold and uncaring.
Ladies, my husband says when a man disappoints his wife is when he needs her the most. This is an excruciating demonstration of the one flesh concept. It would be good if partners could change places and feel the other’s pain. Then the need for patience and forgiveness would be obvious.
I would love to know what you readers think of this.
Tina Green, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Delight of His Eyes
The Delight of His Eyes
My husband and I, aglow from the recent celebration of our Golden Anniversary, slid into our seats at church next to a couple who have been married fifty-six years. We greeted them and as the service continued I was aware of their interactions. He held the bible for her as they read and adjusted her wrap when she was chilly. Once he whispered in her ear and she giggled softly. As we stood in prayer and I laced my fingers into my husband’s I could see they, too, were holding hands. Later they stood together beaming as they greeted members of their large, lovely family. I have seen this stately gentleman open her car door, smiling at his pretty little wife as though they met last week.
God has placed within man the ability to love his wife as his own body, to esteem her more highly than himself. Sometimes we see this remarkably demonstrated, like when two men covered their wives with their own bodies during the Gifford shooting rampage. God called Ezekiel’s wife “the delight of your eyes.”
Clearly some men show no inclination whatsoever to open car doors, and it isn’t easy to sit there waiting for your husband to do something you are capable of doing for yourself. But if he is so inclined the wait is a small sacrifice. What a sad thing it would be if women, in their desire for equality, were to deprive husbands of the opportunity to be what God intended, our cover, protector, defender, lover, and friend.
My husband and I, aglow from the recent celebration of our Golden Anniversary, slid into our seats at church next to a couple who have been married fifty-six years. We greeted them and as the service continued I was aware of their interactions. He held the bible for her as they read and adjusted her wrap when she was chilly. Once he whispered in her ear and she giggled softly. As we stood in prayer and I laced my fingers into my husband’s I could see they, too, were holding hands. Later they stood together beaming as they greeted members of their large, lovely family. I have seen this stately gentleman open her car door, smiling at his pretty little wife as though they met last week.
God has placed within man the ability to love his wife as his own body, to esteem her more highly than himself. Sometimes we see this remarkably demonstrated, like when two men covered their wives with their own bodies during the Gifford shooting rampage. God called Ezekiel’s wife “the delight of your eyes.”
Clearly some men show no inclination whatsoever to open car doors, and it isn’t easy to sit there waiting for your husband to do something you are capable of doing for yourself. But if he is so inclined the wait is a small sacrifice. What a sad thing it would be if women, in their desire for equality, were to deprive husbands of the opportunity to be what God intended, our cover, protector, defender, lover, and friend.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Warring in the Spirit, 2 -- When Bad Things Happen
When Bad Things Happen . . . .
Sometimes, out of nowhere, things happen that you cannot understand. The pain, the loss, the suffering make no sense. You begin to wonder how you ended up in this place. I recently found myself on the sidelines while two friends, and a grandchild went though such experiences. We should find reassurance in Scripture:
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, [he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
But how are we to respond? I have learned that it is important to remember that our Father who will allow these calamities will use them to build the man or woman he designed us to be. Modern Christianity often ignores the role of struggles in our lives. Since we are not taught much about our spiritual battles we can fall prey to trespassing spirits (messengers of Satan) who take advantage of this time to torment us. They try to convince us that God is not with us, that we are alone and better plan to guard or protect ourselves.
This can lead to all kinds of sins and errors, committed under the temptation to trust our own devices. As we seek God’s comfort we must also guard our hearts against these lying spirits. We can decide to be resentful, depressed, angry, fearful, or reckless if we forget there is a plan. I pray that my loved ones who are tested now will not make any change that cannot be biblically defended. All thoughts, attitudes and actions we make in our efforts to escape or avoid pain must be able to pass the test. We must rely on the weapons of warfare the Lord has provided.
Sometimes, out of nowhere, things happen that you cannot understand. The pain, the loss, the suffering make no sense. You begin to wonder how you ended up in this place. I recently found myself on the sidelines while two friends, and a grandchild went though such experiences. We should find reassurance in Scripture:
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, [he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
But how are we to respond? I have learned that it is important to remember that our Father who will allow these calamities will use them to build the man or woman he designed us to be. Modern Christianity often ignores the role of struggles in our lives. Since we are not taught much about our spiritual battles we can fall prey to trespassing spirits (messengers of Satan) who take advantage of this time to torment us. They try to convince us that God is not with us, that we are alone and better plan to guard or protect ourselves.
This can lead to all kinds of sins and errors, committed under the temptation to trust our own devices. As we seek God’s comfort we must also guard our hearts against these lying spirits. We can decide to be resentful, depressed, angry, fearful, or reckless if we forget there is a plan. I pray that my loved ones who are tested now will not make any change that cannot be biblically defended. All thoughts, attitudes and actions we make in our efforts to escape or avoid pain must be able to pass the test. We must rely on the weapons of warfare the Lord has provided.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Early One Morning
Sometimes we comfort ourselves, finding solace when we slip into unbiblical attitudes and behavior. I was thinking about this one day as I considered what I would do differently if I had only one month to live. How easy it is to think that my current trial, whatever it may be, gives me an “out”, an excuse, from the Word's instructions. But we have an example. I remembered this little clip from an article I wrote several years ago. I just thought I would pass it on again.
Early one morning, after a particularly difficult week and a challenging weekend, Jesus went to visit some friends. These friends had just recently abandoned his cause, and one had even denied knowing him. But, that morning they had been up working most of the night. Recognizing that they were hungry and discouraged, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God Incarnate, King of kings, Lord of lords, the Lamb of God who was tortured, bled and died for the sins of the whole world, the Risen Savior. . , . . . .
. . COOKED BREAKFAST. (John 21:1-13)
Early one morning, after a particularly difficult week and a challenging weekend, Jesus went to visit some friends. These friends had just recently abandoned his cause, and one had even denied knowing him. But, that morning they had been up working most of the night. Recognizing that they were hungry and discouraged, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God Incarnate, King of kings, Lord of lords, the Lamb of God who was tortured, bled and died for the sins of the whole world, the Risen Savior. . , . . . .
. . COOKED BREAKFAST. (John 21:1-13)
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