Just Honor God Blog

The Myth of More

2011-03-06T20:29:00.003-05:00

If money and the accumulation of stuff brings happiness, then why are so many people discontent, anxious, and depressed?

The portal to happiness has nothing to do with possessions, though we are constantly bombarded with a plethora of stuff promising it and much more. The Myth of More is fueled by things that quickly lose their value, eventually become outdated, and cause countless unpleasant feelings and unfulfilled expectations.

Our spirit knows this, but our mind refuses to accept it, turning us into, what one author called, “a nation of schizophrenic consumers”--splurging on luxuries and extravagances, while neglecting the things that really matter. Thinking we are “rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” stifles the whispers of our discontent heart.

Not only does our soul’s discontentment remind us that there is more to life than the shallow pursuit of things that do not last, it also allows us the opportunity to approach the rest of life with the end in mind--eternity.

Happiness is not an entitlement, however, eternity is unavoidable.

Who Is Reading This Blog?

2011-02-28T02:07:00.004-05:00

FREE MEANS FREE!

Send me an email from the contact on http://www.justhonorgod.com/ and I will send you, at no charge, 5 JHG items. All you need to do is copy and paste this paragraph along with your name and address. The items and mailing is free. This offer is good from March 1 - 15, 2011.

It is my prayer that this offer and your promotion of this message to others, will generate some attention to the JHG Movement.

Why So Many Comandments?

2011-02-24T04:48:00.003-05:00

Why So Many Commandments?

"And [Jesus] said unto them, 'The sabbath was made for man,

and not man for the sabbath" (Mark 2:27)

If we were made for God's commandments, we would grudgingly obey them out of obligation. We would submit to each commandment as it lord's itself over us. Investing ourselves into honesty, forgiveness, love, and prayer, while avoiding lust, gossip, bitterness, and fear would make us servants to God's non-negotiable absolutes.

But, if God's commandments were made for us, we would willingly obey them out of privilege. We would invest ourselves into honesty, forgiveness, love, and prayer, and avoid lust, gossip, bitterness, and fear because these commands are in our best interest.

In other words, God did not create commandments for the purpose of man serving them. Ratherm he created commandments in order that they might serve man.

You see, being honest (obeying a commandment) serves me well because it keeps me in good standing with myself, most other people, and most definitely God.

God created commandments for our best interest--they serve us well. This is the spirit of the law, as opposed to the letter of the law. It is easier to obey God when I understand that His requirements are in my best interest, rather than obeying Him simple because He said so.

What do you think?

The Wandering Wonderer

2011-02-19T00:25:00.002-05:00

Our Sunday evening services are currently being devoted to the spiritual journey that leads believers into the heart of God. The life-long process includes three distinct, yet overlapping phases. The first is a self-crisis, which brings us to the end of our self-reliance, self-indulgence, and self-concerns. The second is a self-surrender, which leads us to abandon God or abandon ourselves. In doing so, the third phase--Spirit empowerment--becomes available, desirable, and experienced. I would like to read your comments on your own spiritual journey.

Just Honor God,
Rick

My "I" Problem Chapter 11

2010-07-10T21:15:00.001-04:00

These are random and general thougts I put together this evening for the start of the next 50 devotions. I would love to see your comments and thoughts, suggestions, etc.

The Beginnings of Chapter 11 for
MY "I" PROBLEM WITH LOVING GOD

"the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him"
(Deuteronomy 13:3b-4)

_________________________________

As with many verses in Scripture, they start off well enough and before I know it, I am doubled over in spiritual cramps. "The Lord your God" is a wonderful phrase, emphasizing a two-fold appreciation for his name and a possessive pronoun that reminds me he is more than God, he is MY God. What thoughts of privilege, relationship, adventure, and companionship.

Then comes the first wave of spiritual cramps, "God proveth you." He comes intimately close to me, I open myself to him and, at my most vulnerable moment, he hands me a trial so difficult, so exhausting that it brings in to question the one thing I dare not consider, do I really "love the LORD"?

My pain increases, hopes of deliverance fades, and my heart and soul are stripped of the frills and thrills of comfort zone Christianity. And the Spirit whispers to my brokenness, "[Do you] love the LORD you God with all your heart and with all your soul"? Without hesitation, I am painfully aware of the answer, "No, I do not; but I want to."

Again, the Spirit speaks, not to my guilt but to my desire, "Walk after the LORD your God (keep following and pursuing Him), and fear him (honor Him and no other, not even yourself), and keep his commandments (do what He says without concern for consequence or logic), and obey his voice (listen to His wisdom when He applies commandments to your specific life-issues), and ye shall serve him (humbly take your position as servant, allowing Him to be Master), and cleave unto him (hold on to Him like nothing else matters, because nothing else matters)."

This is my "I" problem with God's Word. I want the softness and sweetness of warm moments with the LORD and abhor with much dread the possibility that He may allow tribulations to interrupt my sanitized idea of spiritual intimacy. Yet, everything in me knows that such love is superficial and unrealistic. Love for God is only developed through times of suffering, for it is in those moments that I clearly see how much I have given Him my heart and soul. My pursuit of Him despite obstacles, my intent to honor Him no matter what, my allegiance to His commandments , my sensitivity and obedience to His still small voice, my willingness to receive what the Master gives, and my unyielding dependency on Him during times of affliction only work to strengthen and solidify my love for Him.

Angels and Demons

2010-07-09T21:50:00.011-04:00

This Sunday evening we start a new series called THE UNSEEN STORY of Angels and Demons.

Our world is a physical one, which we can experience with our senses, measure, dissect, theorize, and put into a formula. It is rather easy to live in the assumption that “what you see is what you get.” However, I remind you that what you do not see is far more important than what you do see--the invisible, but always present world of angels and demons.

You can read Part 1 of THE UNSEEN STORY of Angels and Demons by going to our homepage (http://www.JMBCWV.com) and clicking on the sermon title under Evening Service.

I am interested in your comments and thoughts about angels and demons. Also, don't forget to sign in as a follower.