More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show.
Former President, George W. Bush once said that, “America is the land of the second chance...” Full Quote
If our country can be known as a place of second chances, then how can the churches lead the way in this area and be the trendsetters? Could it possibly be by preaching and practicing grace as much as possible?
What is grace? One author states that, “Grace is an essential part of God’s character. Grace is closely related to God’s benevolence, love, and mercy. Grace can be variously defined as ‘God’s favor toward the unworthy’ or ‘God’s benevolence on the undeserving.’ In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us abundantly, in spite of the fact that we don’t deserve to be treated so well or dealt with so generously.” From gotquestions.org
The point of this lesson can be found in the old hymn More About Jesus. The first line reads as follows, “More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show.” As followers of Christ, we need to allow Him to be our True example of showing grace to others. Our light in a dark world needs to relay the message that God’s grace is amazing, rather than not so amazing. It is of no use to us to know what grace is if we never intend to apply it. James 4:17 (NLT) “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” Therefore, it is sin to know what you ought to do with grace and then not do it. So how do we know how to show or what to do with grace?
As followers of Christ, I’d like to encourage each of us to take a step back, reevaluate, and rethink outside of the traditional / status quo mindsets concerning how we’ve been implementing grace and then begin viewing and applying it the way Jesus did.

Let us consider who Christ chose to do life with and show grace towards, regardless of how any of them ever treated Him. Christ provided us an example of choosing to do life with and show grace towards the ones who…

• Betrayed Him
  • Judas (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:48).
  • To invest in him, to love him, to dine with him, and to serve him/wash his feet.
• Persecuted Him.
  • Saul…chiefest of sinners (Acts 9:4; 1 Timothy 1:15).
  • To continue to prick his heart.
• Rejected Him.
  • His own didn’t receive Him (John 1:11-13).
  • His own wanted him dead.
  • His own ran away from Him (The Prodigal Son).
  • To still choose to love them and die for them.
• Denied Him.
  • Peter (Luke 22:54-62).
  • To seek him out, forgive him and entrust him to feed his sheep.
• Yet because of His nature, grace was always His first go-to response.
• Christ also responded by loving, forgiving, inviting, awaiting and chasing after, rather than chasing out.
  • Loving.
    • John 15:12 (NIV) My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
    • Mark 12:30-31 (NIV) 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
      • He loves you whether it was your first time and or only offense, or whether it was a repeated offense of yours. Nothing can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).
    • One of the verses from the love chapter is 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) [Love] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
    • 1 John 4:19-21 (NIV) 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
  • Forgiving.
    • Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
    • Luke 23:34 (NIV) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
    • He lived out his 70 x 7 model of forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22; John 4:1-42, the woman at the well; John 8:1-11 the woman caught in adultery; Revelation 3:19-20, the erring church…He rebukes, forgives and disciplines/chastens the one’s He loves).
  • Inviting.
    • Zacchaeus…went to his house to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:1-10).
    • Paul and Peter…join me in feeding my sheep (John 21:17), come with Me into all the world (Mark 16:15).
    • Call and be saved (Romans 10:13). Come and follow me (Matthew 4:19).
  • Awaiting.
    • The Parable of the Lost Son / The Prodigal Son
  • Chasing After.
    • Matthew 18:10-14 (NIV) The Parable of the Wandering Sheep
      • “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11]  12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
    • Mark 2:17 (NLT) When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
  • Chasing Out…describes a Pharisee.
    • Matthew 23:13-15, 23 (NLT)
      13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either. 15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!
      • “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
    • 1 Corinthians 11:17-34…Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper
• Your responses.
  • Find your identity in Christ, not necessarily some Church or Christian institution. Ultimately the Bible – IT judges the heart, not some man-made handbook, board or committee. When man judges aside from God’s word, it is no wonder our young people live as though they can never please anyone, or that they can't be used, or that they could never be forgiven for what they've done, and then leave their Church/faith because of how the legalists / judgmentalists have treated them.
    • Matthew 7:1-5 (NLT) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
• Matthew 18:15-35 Dealing with Sin in the Church
• 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV) 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.”
• Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
• Just keep in mind and remember these truths…
  • CHRIST is THE perfect example of One who preached and practice distributing GRACE. One author states that, “Jesus Christ is the embodiment of grace, coupled with truth (John 1:14).” From gotquestions.org. Sounds like a good source to turn to and learn from.
    • John 1:14 (ESV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
    • John 1:17 (ESV) For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
    • John 1:16 (ESV) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
      One author points out and reminds us that, “Jesus is full of grace, and John says that, from that fullness, we (John, his original readers, and the rest of us who have trusted in Christ) have received grace and more grace. One hallmark of any interaction with Jesus is grace. Christians receive grace and then more grace—grace served on top of grace—grace and then, in place of that, more grace. The point is that Christ is full of grace, and those who know Him get showered with grace.
      The Amplified Bible translates John 1:16 this way: ‘Out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].’ What’s abundantly clear is that, when we come to Christ, He dishes out grace in heaping, huge servings.
      In John 1:17 Christ is contrasted with Moses and the law. Of course, the law and God’s dealings with Israel did involve grace and truth, but the emphasis was more on obedience and punishment. In the New Testament, law is often contrasted with grace. The law emphasized God’s divine standards and the inability of fallen mankind to meet them, while grace rescues fallen humanity from deserved punishment. The law pinpoints the problem, and grace fixes the problem.
      Romans 5:20–21 says the same thing in a slightly different way: ‘The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’” From gotquestions.org
  • We all have a past, present and future.
    • 1 Kings 8:38 (KJV) which shall know every man the plague of his own heart
    • 1 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT) “Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
  • That God Himself is the agent working on and changing the heart in someone’s life…we can’t do that.
  • Don’t give up on God doing His work (thinking He can’t do this without my intervention and assistance), and don’t give up on those He’s doing a work in.
    • Romans 7 records for us that the Apostle Paul really struggled doing that which was right. Yet God went on to use Paul in amazing ways. Praise the Lord that He didn’t give up on Paul and that He doesn’t give up on you and I either.
  • We’re all in a sanctification process (allow for God’s perfect way and timing to mature the heart of another).
  • None of us have arrived.
  • And we’re all in trouble the day we forget these truths.
  • Satan would love to distract and disrupt God’s working in each of our hearts. Satan would also love to discourage us during the process of growing and assisting others. Don’t panic. It takes time. You may never personally witness the huge victories, but don’t fail to celebrate the small or any victories as you notice them occurring along the way.
  • Christ will see to it that consequences fit the crime…He alone knows how to perfectly reach the heart so that it can respond with proper change.
    • Sometimes we want the sinner to pay for their sin. We must not forget, “The fact that grace is a gift means that nothing is owed in return.” From gotquestions.org
• Resist beating yourself up for the rest of your life as a constant reminder / self-inflicted punishment.
  • Even though man’s actions don’t reflect forgiveness, and even though man at times can’t await to release the guillotine…just understand this TRUTH about Who He is.
    • 1 John 1:9 (NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
    • See Matthew West’s lyrics below under Grace Wins. Many times we allow the guilty verdict applied to us by others to define us…to become our identity. “If you find me guilty and continue to remind me of my wrong doing, then I must accept that I'm guilty for life.” Let’s put an end to allowing guilt to win every time. Place yourself around others who remind you that grace wins every time, not around those who remind you of the chains that you should put back on and live in until they unlock them for you when they see fit / think you’ve suffered long enough…suffering until you’ve fully appeased them and they can now release you from your guilt.
• Self-Examination.
  • Lamentations 3:40 (NIV) [Therefore,] Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
• Repent.
  • Revelation 3:19b (NIV) So be earnest and repent.
• Go and sin no more.
  • John 8:10-11 (NLT) Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
  • Don’t abuse grace.
    • Romans 6:1-2; 14-15 (ESV) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
• There is hope found in distributing and receiving grace.
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:16 (NIV) May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
  • One author reminds us that “Grace does not stop once we are saved; God is gracious to us for the rest of our lives, working within and upon us. The Bible encourages us with many additional benefits that grace secures for every believer:
    • Grace justifies us before a holy God (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:6; Titus 3:7).
    • Grace provides us access to God to communicate and fellowship with Him (Ephesians 1:6; Hebrews 4:16).
    • Grace wins for us a new relationship of intimacy with God (Exodus 33:17).
    • Grace disciplines and trains us to live in a way that honors God (Titus 2:11–14; 2 Corinthians 8:7).
    • Grace grants us immeasurable spiritual riches (Proverbs 10:22; Ephesians 2:7).
    • Grace helps us in our every need (Hebrews 4:16).
    • Grace is the reason behind our every deliverance (Psalm 44:3–8; Hebrews 4:16).
    • Grace preserves us and comforts, encourages, and strengthens us (2 Corinthians 13:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17; 2 Timothy 2:1).
    • Grace is actively and continually working in the lives of God’s people. Paul credited the success of his ministry not to his own substantial labors but to ‘the grace of God that was with me’ (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace is the ongoing, benevolent act of God working in us, without which we can do nothing (John 15:5). Grace is greater than our sin (Romans 5:20), more abundant than we expect (1 Timothy 1:14), and too wonderful for words (2 Corinthians 9:15). As the recipients of God’s grace, Christians are to be gracious to others. Grace is given to us to serve others and to exercise our spiritual gifts for the building up of the church (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 3:2, 7; 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10).” From gotquestions.org
    • So where would we be without any evidences of grace? If we’d all just be thankful and realize that our country distributes second chances, and that God forgives 70 x 7, then think about how that’d help improve our mental health. Striving to expect or be perfect in the eyes of man will only create tension, frustration and depression. Let’s do our part in improving the well-being of others and follow God’s lead in this area of grace by showing it each time in every situation. Trust me, the more you learn about Jesus, the easier it will become to distribute grace. Learn about Him in His word, not a man-made book.
• Hymns:
  • Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin 
  • More About Jesus The first line reads as follows, “More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show.”
• Songs:
  • Broken Things by Matthew West
    • “The pages of history they tell me it’s true
      That it’s never the perfect; it’s always the ones with the scars that You use
      Oh, it’s the rebels and the prodigals; it’s the humble and the weak
      All the misfit heroes You chose, tell me there’s hope for sinners like me” Full Lyrics
  • Grace Wins by Matthew West
    • There’s a war between guilt and grace
      And there fighting for a sacred space
      But I’m living proof
      Grace wins every time Full Lyrics
  • Cody Carnes – Run To The Father lyrics
    • [Verse 1]
      I've carried a burden for too long on my own
      I wasn't created to bear it alone
      I hear Your invitation to let it all go
      I see it now, I'm laying it down
      And I know that I need You
      
      [Chorus]
      I run to the Father, I fall into grace
      I'm done with the hiding, no reason to wait
      My heart needs a surgeon, my soul needs a friend
      So I'll run to the Father again and again and again and again
      Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
      
      [Verse 2]
      You saw my condition, had a plan from the start
      Your Son for redemption, the price for my heart
      And I don't have a context for that kind of love
      I don't understand, I can't comprehend
      All I know is I need You
      
      [Chorus]
      I run to the Father, I fall into grace
      I'm done with the hiding, no reason to wait
      My heart needs a surgeon, my soul needs a friend
      So I'll run to the Father again and again and again and again
      Oh-oh, oh-oh…
      Again and again and again and again (Oh-oh, oh-oh)
      Oh-oh, oh-oh… (Oh-ohh)
      
      [Bridge]
      My heart has been in Your sights
      Long before my first breath
      Running into Your arms
      Is running to life from death
      And I feel this rush deep in my chest
      Your mercy is calling out
      Just as I am You pull me in
      And I know I need You now
      
      [Chorus]
      I run to the Father, I fall into grace
      I'm done with the hiding, no reason to wait
      My heart needs a surgeon, my soul needs a friend
      So I'll run to the Father again and again
      I run to the Father, I fall into grace
      I'm done with the hiding, no reason to wait
      And my heart found a surgeon, my soul found a friend
      So I'll run to the Father again and again and again and again
      Oh-oh, oh-oh…
      Again and again and again and again (Oh-oh, oh-oh)
      Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
      Again and again Link to Lyrics
  • The God Who Stays by Matthew West.
    • You're the God who stays
      You're the one who runs in my direction
      When the whole world walks away
      You're the God who stands
      With wide open arms
      And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
      From the God who stays Full Lyrics

What about you? Would you be willing to love on someone who you knew would either or had already betrayed, persecuted, rejected or denied you? Maybe you relate with one of the examples above…do you believe that God loves you no matter what and that He continues to eternally pursue you? He still desired for the above examples to follow Him and to be used by Him after their sin…He’s not finished with you (Philippians 1:6).

I'll not post any of my devotionals again until February 24th. Enjoy the continued study on the imagination of the heart.
Nate
Part 2 of 2.

Surround yourself with encouraging people…people who believe in you. Use your unique gifts and talents for His glory.

• As Steve pointed out in our first lesson, “Your problem is, you keep telling your imagination to the wrong people. See if you want to kill a big dream, tell it to a small-minded person. It’s dead. How many times…have you had a tremendous idea? Something you thought was the one, and you went and told it to your loved ones and your so-called friends and they shot it down. I mean you was convinced that it was just, oh man, it just came to you, and you told it to them and they shot it down. And you thought since they was your loved ones and your friends and they got your best interest at heart you believe them, you was wrong…you let them talk you out of what God got for you.”
• In Henry Drummonds book The Greatest Thing in the World, he states that, “You will find, if you think for a moment, that the people who influence you are people who believe in you. In an atmosphere of suspicion men shrivel up; but in that atmosphere they expand, and find encouragement and educative fellowship…And if we try to influence or elevate others, we shall soon see that success is in proportion to their belief or our belief in them. The respect of another is the first restoration of the self-respect a man has lost; our ideal of what he is becomes to him the hope and pattern of what he may become.” (page 34).

 
For further study on the Imagination…
Growing up we’ve all been encouraged by teachers and parents to use our imagination.
In athletics we use our imagination during the off season, practices, pregames, etc.
Here are some examples of Free Time where our imaginations tend to kick in most often: On Computers, On Phones, Time at the Pool / Beach, Watching Movies, Listening to Music / watching Music Videos, Binging on TV Series, Involved in Art (posters, t-shirts, etc.), Parties coming up, Anything that involves “doing” (an activity) has the potential for our minds to aimlessly wander away from our goal of bringing Glory to God.
School: Studying for tests, working on projects, etc.
What can we fill our minds with? What ideas can occupy our minds?
So what do you think of when you hear the term “imagination”?

• Here are a few definitions from The American Heritage Dictionary…
  • Image- A reproduction of the appearance of someone or something; especially, a sculptured likeness.
  • Imagine- To form a mental picture or image of; create in the mind.
  • Imagination- The formation of a mental image or concept of that which is not real or present…fantasy…imagination given free rein; especially to elaborate mental representation having little similarity to the real world.

Below are some Cautions and Facts about the power contained in the Imaginations of mankind:

• Be sure that your imagination is in line with God’s preferred will for your life.
  • What you dream or fantasize about may very likely be completely out of His will for any of His followers. So just because you imagine something doesn’t mean it must be God’s will for you. Again, take ever thought and imagination captive.
  • 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
  • Align your desires with His desires (Proverbs 10:24; Psalm 20:4; Psalm 21:2; Psalm 37:4;  Psalm 145:19).
  • Ariticle: How can I know if the desires of my heart are from God?
• Resist excuses for not using your imagination.
  • Many a people are full of excuses, lazy, and live in fear of failure. It’s easier to not try, then it is to explore what God has for them.
  • Moses using his lack of eloquent speech as an excuse not to accept God’s will for him. Moses asked God to use his brother Aaron instead. Moses missed out (Exodus 4:1-17).
  • The masters servants were entrusted with his property. The unfaithful/disobedient servant chose to hide / bury his talents (Matthew 25:14-30).
• Don’t walk by sight. Step out in Faith (the unseen).
  • 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
  • Doesn’t mean that we can’t be discerning.
  • Allow your continued perseverance, availability and faithfulness to Him to prepare you for what He has for you in the days, months and years ahead.
    • Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
    • Isaiah 6:8 (NLT) Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
    • Hymn: I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go (Lyrics)

It may not be on the mountain height
Or over the stormy sea,
It may not be at the battle’s front
My Lord will have need of me.
But if, by a still, small voice he calls
To paths that I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:
I’ll go where you want me to go.
(Chorus)
I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Over mountain or plain or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;
I’ll be what you want me to be.
Perhaps today there are loving words
Which Jesus would have me speak;
There may be now in the paths of sin
Some wand’rer whom I should seek.
O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,
Tho dark and rugged the way,
My voice shall echo the message sweet:
I’ll say what you want me to say.
(Chorus)
There’s surely somewhere a lowly place
In earth’s harvest fields so wide
Where I may labor through life’s short day
For Jesus, the Crucified.
So trusting my all to thy tender care,
And knowing thou lovest me,
I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:
I’ll be what you want me to be.
(Chorus)

• Imaginations are connected to the heart in Scripture. Heart and mind mean the same thing.
  
• Imaginations are seen and known by the One who created the heart (mind)…God. He is our Creator and nothing about us is a secret to Him. He understands and knows that the imagination is evil in nature. He knows our every thought and intent. He even knows when our evil imaginations are used against Him.
  • Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. KJV
  • Deuteronomy 31:21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. KJV
  • 1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. KJV
  • Job 21:27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. KJV
  • Nahum 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. KJV
  • Nahum 1:11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor. KJV
•  Imaginations can be placed and prepared in our hearts by God. He can cause this to happen by way of placing thoughts and circumstances in our lives.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: KJV
• Imaginations are developed at a young age.
  • Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. KJV
• Imaginations can be distorted and confusing. What we allow our eyes to see affects our imagination. Imaginations can enter our mind by what we see.          
  • Proverbs 23:33 Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. NIV
• Imaginations develop through premeditation.
  • What does it mean to premeditate?
    • Premeditation to do that which is evil/wicked and mischievous in nature.
    • Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. ESV
    • Psalm 140:2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. KJV
    • Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, KJV
    • Psalm 38:12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. KJV
    • Psalm 62:3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. KJV
  • Premeditated imaginations are limitless.
    • Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. KJV
    • Psalm 73:7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits. NIV
  • Premeditation to do evil against just our ememies.
    • Psalm 21:11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. KJV
  • Premeditation to do evil against our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
    • Zechariah 7:10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. KJV
    • Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD. KJV
  • Most disgustingly, premeditation to do evil against our Creator.
    • Job 21:27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. KJV
    • Nahum 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. KJV
    • Nahum 1:11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor. KJV
    • Lamentations 3:60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me. KJV
    • Hosea 7:15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. KJV
• Imaginations can be self-created.
  • Jeremiah 23:17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. KJV
• Imaginations can be deceitful and misleading…that which is contrary to peace and joy.
  • Psalm 38:12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. KJV
  • Proverbs 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. KJV
  • Jeremiah 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. KJV
  • Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? KJV
• Imaginations can become of way of living/acted out.
  • Isaiah 65:2 All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations— NIV
  • Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do: but they did them not. KJV
  • Jeremiah 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. KJV
  • Lamentations 3:61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me; KJV
  • Does my mind have a “delete forever” option in it? Therefore, what I accept/enter into my mind holds a place there while in our unglorified bodies. We don’t so easily grow out of our imaginations. They can haunt us spiritually for a very long time.
  • Committing the impossible. Something you said you’d never give into has now become a single act or an everyday way of living for you.
• Imaginations can block out wisdom.
  • Jeremiah 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me: KJV
• Imaginations can get us off the spiritual track.
  • Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. KJV
• Imaginations can lead to idol worship.
  • Jeremiah 9:14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: KJV
  • The imagination without discernment can cause some to join cults, accept false beliefs, and accept false religions, which have incorrect views of God and salvation.
  • Image- Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” NIV
  • Exodus 32:1-4 story of The Golden Calf 1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” 2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” NIV
  • Created in His image (character) yet we use the mind our Creator gave us to create images/idols/imaginations contrary to our Creator.
• Imaginations can be worthless/empty (in vain).
  • Psalm 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? KJV
  • Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? KJV
  • Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. KJV
• Imaginations can backfire on us.
  • Psalm 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. KJV
• Imaginations lead to destinations.
  • Luke 1:51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. KJV
• Imaginations should be self-examined on a regular basis.
  • Deuteronomy 29:19 And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: KJV
  • 1 Kings 8:38…each one knows the plague of his own heart…NKJV 
• Imaginations that are evil can be left behind (dealt with/taken care of).
  • Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. KJV

How can I train or control my imagination? Or, with so much going on around us how can we prevent feeding our fleshly/evil imaginations?

• Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
  
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; KJV
  
• Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. NIV
  
• Deuteronomy 13:3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. NIV
  
• Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ NIV
• Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. NKJV
• First Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. KJV
• Second Timothy 2:22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. NLT
• Bouncing eyes and ears - Proverbs 4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. KJV
• Read and Study God’s Word - 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV
• 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: KJV
• Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. KJV
• Become heavily involved in ministry (if qualified…some responsibilities are menial for a reason).
• Church attendance - Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. KJV
• Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Ephesians 6:16-17 - Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
• Titus 1:15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. NLT 2 Peter 3:3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. NIV
• Ephesians 4:17-23 (ESV) The New Life 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

Does my heart/mind/thoughts/imagination reflect / align with my father’s (God or Satan) heart/mind/thoughts/imaginations?
Song: “I can only imagine” by Mercy Me (Here’s a wholesome thought/song to think on).
Hymn: Nothing between (www.hymnsite.com)
1.            Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
               naught of this world's delusive dream;
               I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
               Jesus is mine, there's nothing between.
Refrain:
               Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
               so that his blessed face may be seen;
               nothing preventing the least of his favor;
               keep the way clear! let nothing between.
 
2.            Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;
               habits of life, though harmless they seem,
               must not my heart from him ever sever;
               he is my all, there's nothing between.
3.            Nothing between, like pride or station;
               self or friends shall not intervene;
               though it may cost me much tribulation,
               I am resolved, there's nothing between.
 
4.            Nothing between, e'en many hard trials,
               though the whole world against me convene;
               watching with prayer and much self denial,
               I'll triumph at last, there's nothing between.

Hymn: Search me O God (www.cyberhymnal.org)
Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.
I praise Thee, Lord,
For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word,
And make me pure within.
Fill me with fire
Where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire
To magnify Thy Name.
Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord
In me abide.
O Holy Ghost,
Revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival,
Start the work in me.
Thy Word declares
Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now,
O Lord, I humbly plead.

Announcements:

• STRONG Foundation:
  • Marriage Conference.
    • It is on our website under the Events tab.
    • Needs.
      • Donations.
        • Are to be sent/taken to the Ahrens Foundation. 
          • Donations will go towards the STRONG Foundation and we can use them for the conference. Go ahead and note or earmark your donations on your memo section of checks for the conference.  Skip Lowe
        • We’re in need of about 2-3 thousand dollars at this point.
      • Volunteers (Parking, Janitorial, Greeters, etc.).
      • Prayers.
      • See Skip, myself or any pastor if you have a desire to help in any way.
• Ox Strong Store closes March 1st.
• BROWN Strong is Launched.
• Ox Strong Women is Launched.
• STRONG Suit is on its way.
• NEXT Ox Strong:
  • We are holding our March Ox Strong get together on the first Saturday of the month…March 7th.
  • Van Harden will be our guest speaker.
• Challenges:
  • Continue dating your wife and children/grandchildren…doesn’t mean an expensive date…dollar menu works great.
  • Continue memorize scripture…doesn’t have to be from BROWN STRONG, but make every effort to be in His word somehow.
  • Additional challenge from what Chief spoke on? See Below.
• Reminders:
  • March 7th is our next get together.

Chief Tupper’s Challenge:
 
He has been involved in law enforcement for 28 years…he’s been Chief of Police these last 16 years.
Is a believer in Christ, and challenges himself each day to be better in his walk with the Lord.
Fell into faith and values by accident.

• Had an abusive upbringing (drunken father).
• Learned two primary lessons from his mom.
  • Perseverance…endured a lot, but was driven by his Christian faith.
  • Faith…she instilled it in him from a young child. 2 Timothy 1:5

What gets him through each day in law enforcement?

• Prayer and Faith.

2018 and 2019 were two of his most challenging years in law enforcement. He dealt with…

• The Marshalltown tornado in 2018.
• And the three missing persons in 2019.  
  • Corey Brown was one of the missing persons.
    • This one was particularly difficult for him to deal with because social media was heavily criticizing a mom for being a mom. He did all he could to get the focus off of blaming Corey’s grieving mother.
    • He prayed and asked God what to do…and he was led to write an article in the local newspaper. SEE THE ARTICLE IN FULL BELOW.
    • This put many readers at ease and made them feel much better after reading it.

Reminders:

• God has a plan for all of us.
• We have an ability to impact the lives of other people either positively or negatively.
• We never know what someone else is going through internally.
• May there be a snowball effect to help and love on others.
  • Let them see your smile.
  • Give them a pat on the back.

Chief Tupper lives by 3 Christian Values…Values in which he challenges his staff with regularly:

• Every day come ready to serve with passion.
  • Do what you love and give it 100%.
  • Use your imagination and see where God will take it.
• Serve every day with compassion.
  • Christ knew that one day His face would be spit in, yet he served with a compassionate heart.
  • Live by the golden rule of policing.
    • How would I want my loved one to be treated? Do unto others…
• Lead with a sense of urgency.
  • Urgency in the minor and major reports. What might be considered routine/normal and minor to me, might be considered the most traumatic event in the life of another.
  • There are weeks where the Marshalltown Police Dept. receives 800 calls for service. They need to be ready to respond to what’s important to another.
    • 2 Timothy 4:2
  • On July 19, 2018 Chief Tupper placed himself in a strategic position as the tornado was approaching Marshalltown so that he’d be ready to immediately respond.  
    • This was the scariest moment in his life. He had no idea what he was going to do. He just knew he had to be ready.
      • He spent a few moments in prayer, especially since he knew his wife and two children were located in other buildings downtown (the direct path of the tornado).
      • He thought about his mom.
      • He thought this was it.
    •  After the tornado passed through he darted for the police station…along the way he witnessed many people surfacing from the rubble (amazingly no one was killed in this tornado).
      • He asked his boss, “What now?” She replied, “You’re in charge.”
      • He went back to his office…prayed and reviewed his values.
      • He was reminded that God prepares us and puts us in these situations for a reason.

 
Nate’s Challenge:

• Who and or what gets you through tough times? What’s been instilled in you that prepares you for such moments in life? Take some time to reflect and give thanks for all He’s taught you and brought you through in life.
• Sam Yoder suggested a book to read if you haven’t already…it’s called “Lead for God’s Sake.”

 
Guest Column: Sometimes Tragedy Happens and No One is to Blame
POSTED 9:54 AM, JANUARY 29, 2019, BY STAFF WRITER, UPDATED AT 09:57AM, JANUARY 29, 2019
This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Corey Brown (WHO-HD)
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — This guest column by Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper, on the tragic death of Corey Brown, first appeared in the Marshalltown Times-Republican and is posted here by permission of the paper and Chief Tupper.
This past week our community was dealt yet another horrific blow. Corey Brown was a good kid from a great family. This tragedy will forever alter the Brown family and in many ways our community. All of us who call Marshalltown home are hurting. If you are a parent, the senselessness of this event is heartbreaking. Why do things like this happen?
I have witnessed more tragedy than I care to remember or discuss over the course of 26 years working in the law enforcement profession. I have witnessed and investigated unspeakable horrors. I have held the hand of far too many parents as they mourn the loss of a child. Any senseless or unexpected loss of life is difficult to deal with but when a child dies, it hurts in ways that for me are indescribable. When tragedy strikes, we want answers. We want accountability. There must be someone or something to blame. We speculate. We theorize. We pontificate about our own experiences. We convince ourselves we would have done something different to prevent tragedy had it been us in the shoes of those dealt the horrible blow. Maybe this is how we cope. Maybe this is how we try to convince ourselves such horrible things will never happen to us. We know better after all and someone must have done something wrong to cause this.
I am sorry to say sometimes tragedy just happens. It sucks. It hurts. Sometimes there are no explanations, no answers, nobody to blame. It is the harsh reality of life. I hate it. It breaks my heart. Tragedy can, does and will affect all of us at some point in our life. None of us are immune. How will you want people to treat you? Will you hope for a compassionate response?
I have been disappointed in the national media coverage of this recent tragedy. They have sensationalized, and inaccurately reported, irrelevant details in an effort to hint someone must be to blame. Some keyboard warriors on social media have done the same. They all have lacked basic human decency as they push out their theories and speculation. It must stop. This is wrong. The Brown family deserves, and needs our support, our love. They deserve compassion. There is nobody to blame here, folks. Corey Brown did nothing wrong. The Brown family did nothing wrong. They were the victims of unfortunate circumstances that could have just as easily visited our own families. Tragedy sometimes just happens. All you can do is support one another. As community members, we must rise up to support the unfortunate souls touched by tragic events.
The Marshalltown community is a proud and loving community. We all stand with the Browns. We will support them as friends and neighbors as they would support us under similar circumstances. God bless Corey Brown! Please pray for the Brown family.

So, my son Jacob and I decided it was time for a father and son getaway and we love taking Amtrak to allow us to stretch our legs and minds.   Riding the train (for us), is therapeutic because it allows us to slow down and look at our beautiful world and meet ALL kinds of people.

After taking the train and spending the weekend in Denver with Jake and yes, in 70-degree temperatures, it was suddenly  and sadly time for us to return to Iowa.  Jake and I had such an amazing time and I think it is such a special opportunity to meet new people in new places.  We laughed….a lot too, which is the ultimate Soul Vaccination.

As we entered Denver Union station to board our train home, I was suddenly overcome with God’s grace and I stopped to look up and was speechless with the glory of the moment.  God told me to listen with  my eyes and I told Jake that we are going to meet an angel….of course he was like, “C’mon dad, you’re holding up traffic!”  Let me be clear, I usually don’t do these things or have these feeling….seriously!  SEE ATTACHED Picture of “The Moment”.

Anyway, after I had “my moment”, Jake said that we should sit outside because it was a beautiful evening and we could spot trains, which we love and have a passion for more than most train geeks, and know  a lot of things about trains down to infinite details.   So, as we were sitting outside and talking, a young man approached us and I was selfishly like, “Oh no, who is this guy, and he looks like he is a little rough.”  The young man began speaking rapidly and moving back and forth and naturally I am thinking this is not a person I want to be around.   Then, he started talking about trains and in more detail that I had ever heard….I mean elaborate details!!

After a while, Jake and I looked at each other in astonishment and Jake said, “Dad this person is a genius.”  I agreed, and we both knew that this young man was also Autistic.   Then, I am wondering how and why is he here without any supervision?  He talks to strangers and he might talk to the wrong person.   Remember, I was ready to walk away or worse, tell him to leave my son and I alone, so this could not end up well for this vulnerable person.

Well, out of the shadows a women emerged with a cart and luggage.  She came right up to Jake and I and said, “My name is Victoria, thank you for talking to my son Matthew, as he is a little nervous because he is travelling to Naperville to see his father for the first time alone on the train.   I immediately responded by saying that Matthew is a brilliant young man and we have been utterly amazed with the complexity of knowledge he has.   She responded with a thank you and that of course, she agreed with my assessment.

So why this story?  

There are a lot of lessons for us men to consider here:

• We have a lot on our plate in this world:  wars, sickness, impeachment, divisiveness, envy, cruelty, jealousy and mis-judgment issues. Slow down and listen to God through your eyes!
• We are not here on this planet to judge.   It is  our duty to mind to our own sinful nature, our own families, and to better ourselves.
• Speaking of judgment, never judge a book by its cover.  Love every man.

Matthew was an innocent young man making a courageous journey and I told Jake that this was a reminder of how God makes beautiful things for us in unabated Glory.  Matthew taught me about trains (big time) and he taught me that all men are created equal, and most of all that God is justice and he is the path of righteousness and humility.

In closing, I gave Victoria (Matthews mom)  on the station platform my card and I told her that she can call me and that Jake and I would check on Matthew.  She was clearly touched by our offer and she texted me within the hour to thank me for being Matthew’s guardian angel on his first trip alone.  Jake and I had two of the finest home made doughnuts in the worlds we were going to savor on the ride home, but Jake said we should give them to Matthew.  I thought this would be a grand Idea the next morning before disembarking at Ottumwa, Iowa, Jake and I went back to Matthew’s car one last time to check on him and we gave him our cherished doughnuts,  Matthew was elated!   Later that day, Matthew’s mom sent me a thank you note and attachment of a picture of Matthew with our doughnuts. She said he was saving them to share them with his dad.  Unbelievable!!  SEE ATTACHED, “The Joy of God’s Grace”

My son notched another hole in his belt to manhood and I have long admired Jake for his giving heart and compassion towards others.  Jake is going be a father someday and I KNOW he is going to be a special man, husband and dad.

I am eternally grateful and at peace knowing that I have Ox Strong in my life.  I have become a better father, son, husband, brother, and leader.

Matthew 7:1-5

1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Skip Lowe