Tag: judgednot

God knows the heart of our work.

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

One act. Two hearts. God knows the heart of our work.

In our work, we are personally responsible for how we build with the resources we choose to use. The catchy part is, God knows our hearts. He knows when we serve with a heart of Gold. He knows when our pretentious heart of Silver is an act of flammable hay. He knows when we feel like all we have to offer is straw, yet he beholds your heart as a Precious Stone.

Friend be honest with yourself. For God knows your heart.

I am personally responsible for the materials I use to build me.

You are personally responsible for the materials you use to build you.

You and I personally create the church of God. You and I are the church, individually and corporately. Do you see the big picture? Do you see your impact? Do you see the power that you have to construct the church of God with the right materials?

Gold. Silver. Precious Stones. In the Old Testament, these three materials were used to construct the physical temple of God. Solomon’s construction is detailed in Scripture5 . Throughout its descriptive construction, gold, silver and precious stones were gifted to the craftsmen to embellish the building process of the temple. Oh, to see how richly it glittered the evidence of being God’s house!

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – 1 Corinthians 3:11-12

Wood. Hay. Straw. These three materials get a bad rap because they are flammable. I get that concept but allow me to state this one simple truth. These three items were created by His hand, cradled his infancy, and supported his final breath. We do not magnify these items, but we do not deny their availability and usefulness to withhold the brightness of his personal work of love. They were natural elements that got the job done. No, they do not have any eternal gain, nor do they offer any substantial growth. But at times they can be useful and efficient.

Gold, silver, precious stones. What are they to you? How can you dig for gold, search for silver, and display precious stones in you today? Take Paul’s warning of how you build to heart and Shine the evidence of being His. Oh, to see how richly you shine the evidence of being God’s house!

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Wisdom is an Attainable Thing. Get Wisdom.

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

Wisdom is an attainable thing. Often a thing we all desire. Most definitely a thing learned. As a human, we attain some level of wisdom simply by living. Wisdom is the discerning or judging of a matter to see if it is right or true or a lasting idea. Life teaches us wisdom. Paul wants to place a sharp contrast between the wisdom that we attain in our humanity from the wisdom we receive from the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.

He also wants to place a sharp contrast between wisdom that we learn from men and/or religious teachings from that of the wisdom from God. Separating one wisdom from the other is difficult. Especially for those of us who can relate to being raised to live under the wisdom of man via religious teachings. For wisdom of man seeps into our very being, so that, when we hear of a contrasting concept we battle guilt and uncertainty. For some, fear and insecurity overwhelm.

Paul models a brilliant suggestion in siding this contrast. Use a two-edged sword. Look again at what he said in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Paul studied Jesus Christ.

He knew God growing up. He met Jesus along the way. He was filled with the Spirit. He was following Jesus. Yet, he studied Jesus Christ and Jesus’ heart of love. This is the mighty power of the wisdom of God. His wisdom cuts to the heart of all wisdom. It discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart of the wisdom offered before you. And Paul chose to neglect all of his Biblical teaching as he studied Jesus Christ. This is brilliant. And slightly nerve-wracking. For knowledge brings confidence and drive. Paul had both. But he chose rather to start over. All confidence in his knowledge and wisdom were set aside. All drive to accomplish what mattered above all else were diminished to a mere nothing.

Everything was new and frightfully uncomfortable. Paul was scared, shaking in his boots, and stumbling over his words. Certainly not the Paul we compare ourselves to or desire to hold a match next to. You know who he was? He was a follower of Jesus who was learning how to follow Jesus by studying Jesus through the gift of wisdom that was in him since the moment he chose to follow Jesus.

This is you and me. This is our truth. We have knowledge and wisdom that have naturally settled its place in our heads. Then we met Jesus. We too have the wisdom of God in us. We too have the choice to make as to which form of wisdom we cling to, utilize, and grow.

Oh, that we follow Paul in his example and become students of Jesus Christ.

If you are engaged in an internal religious battle, I pray you will set your battle aside. Perhaps write each of those war-zone statements on a piece of paper, then read the story of Jesus and his heart of love. You will find His words written within the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew-John). You will read of his heart, his actions, his manners, his responses, and his purpose. As you read through these books, I truly believe you will find truths to write over the statements on your paper. Over time, and through his truth, you will silence the war within. You will grow in wisdom of God. You will experience a whole new feeling of freedom to be the child of God you were destined to be. Not in man’s wisdom but in God’s.

EXCERPT from Judged Not: Living your life in the Freedom of Judgment

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

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One time, I learned to trust His voice

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

God will speak to each of us in different ways and in different seasons for His purpose. “One time” I learned to trust His voice. Here are a few of those stories. Our stories will be beautifully unique. And the more we learn to hear and listen to His voice the more our stories are going to be endless.

The Single Guy

One time, I approached a single guy in a bookstore with a smile and a hello. Approaching single guys with a smile and a hello ended after I got married. It had been a couple of years; I was out of my game.  But this man stood there, alone and visibly hopeless. As I got closer, I noticed he was staring at the Religious section. “I don’t know what your question is, but I know the answer is Jesus,” spilled from my nervous smile. Starting up conversations with single guys may not be my normal, but it is God’s. God touched that man’s heart that day; I was just simply there. Often this man crosses my heart. Often this man is laid at the foot of the cross.

Linda

One time, the Lord asked me to approach a stranger after a church event and to call her Linda. Not knowing her face or name, I confidently proclaimed a heartfelt, “Hey, Linda!” This stranger looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “I needed to know that someone knew who I was.” I had never seen this woman before. Confidently calling women by name may not be my comfort zone, but it is God’s. Such a small, nerve-wracking moment in my life touched the heart of this woman in a way God knew she needed at that very moment.

Patiently Listening

One time, I learned about a tv show called, Dr. Who, for a solid hour. This girl sitting before me talked eagerly all about her infatuation with this show. I had nothing to add to the conversation, for I had no clue as to who Dr. Who may be. However, once she trickled her excitement to a close, she thanked me for just listening to her. When she thanked me for simply listening to her talk about a tv show, God nudged my heart.

When this girl said to me that it was my turn to talk and hers to listen. I knew what God was nudging. She introduced me to Dr. Who, then I got to introduce her to Jesus Christ. I may not enjoy long, television show conversations, but God does. For in those long moments of listening, someone feels like their words matter. And they do. They matter to Jesus.

Then there was the first time.

I was 16 years old, flying from Las Vegas to New York by myself. I was sitting in the middle seat. Doing what I do when I got scared, I pulled out my Bible and buried myself in the comforts of my favorite words. Sitting between me and the window, sat a man named Bart. Bart raised his glass of whiskey at me with a kind smile and nod of acknowledgment. I didn’t know Bart, nor did I know Jack. But God did.

This man asked me questions throughout our flight together. And I answered each one. Some of his answers I could answer out of my love and knowledge of the Scripture. Some of his questions were answered with statements bigger than me. You see, as soon as Bart asked a question, an answer rang within me that made sense, so I said it out loud to a stranger as a 16-year-old. Jesus was the topic of conversation throughout this flight. One day, I will see Bart again because God met him where he was through the innocence of a 16-year-old girl.

It’s About Jesus!

Each of these moments were a one-time snapshot in my life. They grew me in my willingness to trust the Lord’s voice without changing my habits or my opinions or altering my personal convictions. Because none of these moments were about me. They were not about wine or single men or tv shows or calling strangers by their name or whiskey. These moments were about individual people that matter to Jesus.

~ This is an excerpt pulled from chapter nine of Judged Not: Living your Life in the Freedom of Judgment.

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