Mt. 5:14,16 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (v.16) In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Velvet leaf and Shatter cane seeds may survive in the soil for up to fifty years. These seeds will germinate when exposed to sunlight for a fraction of a second. Any type of tillage may enable the seed's exposure to sunlight for as little as 1/1000 second. Germination leads to growth and emergence.
The soul’s seed of salvation awaits exposure to Christ’s light (Jn 1:4). Light produces germination and abundant growth.
Just like plant seeds, the exposure necessary for germination may only be 1/1000 second. Will your light be under a bowl when tillage of someone’s heart exposes their seed? Will they miss the opportunity for exposure to the light of Christ? ‘Tillage’ may include physical, emotional or spiritual challenges; or realizing there is “something more” to life.
Christ’s light radiates through us in a variety of formats: generosity of money, food, physical assistance, listening and many more variable too numerous to mention. Your financial support of a ministry may enable someone in the dark to experience and grow in the light of Christ. Seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance in shining your light of good deeds.
Your light shines as you internalize scripture, continually converse with Christ, seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance; including the Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding necessary to achieve Christ’s will for your life.
You may be the exposure to the light of Christ someone has been awaiting after 50+ years of darkness. Serve Christ; keep your light fully illuminated, always!
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
Running on Faith Ministry Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Submitting to the Sword
Ephesians 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
As an agronomist, I would pull out my Buck pocket knife to dig in the soil searching for newly planted seeds. The abrasive soil slowly dulled the once razor sharp blade. Similarly, a crooked or flimsy knife blade is absent value and earned confidence. Would you confidently approach a task requiring precise, clean cuts with such a knife? I too would lack notable assurance of accurate work.
Yet, frequently I hear those studying the Holy Bible attempt to drag the sword of the Spirit, the word of God through abrasive dirt. Further attempting to bend and twist the sword’s blade in an effort of avoiding cutting out their favorite beliefs and activities.
One church bishop denounced using scripture as a weapon. I don’t know about you, when my opinions contradict with scripture; my opinions are wrong. Attempts at altering the sword include, but not limited to: “Jesus is one of many routes to salvation,” “The Bible is out of date regarding divorce, marriage and sexuality.”
However, man has no power over God’s word, the sword of the Spirit. Even if we bend, twist and cause it to be flimsy in our mind; this sword remains straight and razor sharp from eternity past to eternity future, alpha and omega. This consistency benefits sinners submitted to Christ for forgiveness and salvation.
Anything parallel to the sword remains safe and uncut. Only those things out of alignment with scripture, the sword of the Spirit, will be cut and removed. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God, Jesus is the word made flesh; Jesus is the sword of the Spirit made flesh.
Submitting ourselves to Christ allows his light to fully illuminate our life, enabling confession and repentance of our sins to him. This allows permanent removal of these thoughts, words and actions by Christ the sword.
Removal of our sin by the sword of the Spirit purifies us before the Father. This removal is only possible with a razor sharp, straight, firm sword. Dodging the sword of the Spirit is dodging confession and repentance. Yes, the sword does inflict pain at times; however the pain of removal of sin and enhancement of righteousness is exponentially eternally worth it.
Just as patient undergoing surgery for the removal of deadly cancer tumors requires healing, we sometime require healing after the sword of the Spirit removes deadly thought, words, actions and habits from our life.
When facing the sword of the Spirit, Jesus Christ the word made flesh, we either respond with “I am Redeemed,” or “I am Offended.” The redeemed are released from their sin; healed and renewed in their relationship with the Father. The offended are cut by the sword of the Spirit, yet refusing submission for healing, redemption and renewal.
Submit yourself to Christ, the sword of the Spirit made flesh; for removal of sin and healing and renewal of your soul.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
www.rickemeyer.com
As an agronomist, I would pull out my Buck pocket knife to dig in the soil searching for newly planted seeds. The abrasive soil slowly dulled the once razor sharp blade. Similarly, a crooked or flimsy knife blade is absent value and earned confidence. Would you confidently approach a task requiring precise, clean cuts with such a knife? I too would lack notable assurance of accurate work.
Yet, frequently I hear those studying the Holy Bible attempt to drag the sword of the Spirit, the word of God through abrasive dirt. Further attempting to bend and twist the sword’s blade in an effort of avoiding cutting out their favorite beliefs and activities.
One church bishop denounced using scripture as a weapon. I don’t know about you, when my opinions contradict with scripture; my opinions are wrong. Attempts at altering the sword include, but not limited to: “Jesus is one of many routes to salvation,” “The Bible is out of date regarding divorce, marriage and sexuality.”
However, man has no power over God’s word, the sword of the Spirit. Even if we bend, twist and cause it to be flimsy in our mind; this sword remains straight and razor sharp from eternity past to eternity future, alpha and omega. This consistency benefits sinners submitted to Christ for forgiveness and salvation.
Anything parallel to the sword remains safe and uncut. Only those things out of alignment with scripture, the sword of the Spirit, will be cut and removed. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God, Jesus is the word made flesh; Jesus is the sword of the Spirit made flesh.
Submitting ourselves to Christ allows his light to fully illuminate our life, enabling confession and repentance of our sins to him. This allows permanent removal of these thoughts, words and actions by Christ the sword.
Removal of our sin by the sword of the Spirit purifies us before the Father. This removal is only possible with a razor sharp, straight, firm sword. Dodging the sword of the Spirit is dodging confession and repentance. Yes, the sword does inflict pain at times; however the pain of removal of sin and enhancement of righteousness is exponentially eternally worth it.
Just as patient undergoing surgery for the removal of deadly cancer tumors requires healing, we sometime require healing after the sword of the Spirit removes deadly thought, words, actions and habits from our life.
When facing the sword of the Spirit, Jesus Christ the word made flesh, we either respond with “I am Redeemed,” or “I am Offended.” The redeemed are released from their sin; healed and renewed in their relationship with the Father. The offended are cut by the sword of the Spirit, yet refusing submission for healing, redemption and renewal.
Submit yourself to Christ, the sword of the Spirit made flesh; for removal of sin and healing and renewal of your soul.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
www.rickemeyer.com
Friday, May 27, 2011
You have not, because you ask not. Ask and you shall receive.
At the beginning of each seminar, I encourage the attendees to let me know of anything they hope to attain from the seminar. This invitation and inquisition is repeated several times throughout the day.
Frequently, someone assures they will gladly share any apparent uncovered material with me; yet these very people stay silent through the final request.
The evaluation sheets are distributed to each attendee. A few of these silent attendees write on their evaluation forms of their disgruntlement of material failing to be covered in their desired format.
Yes, they ignore the inquisitions; remaining silent, illustrating their false promise of speaking up, with each probing. They then freely and openly complain on the evaluation form; they believe they lacked a brochure promise yet refrain from asking.
While cooling down from today’s run, the Lord reminds me that me and many others virtually always do the same with him. He specifically invites us to ask him of anything in His name.
We either fail to ask or fail to align our request(s) with His name. We then complain to anybody and everybody about our lack of receiving.
If our omniscient, all knowing, Lord seeks our requests; is it permissible for me to inquire in the seminar room? He has used this experience to teach us that just as I, a sinner, am sincere in these inquisitions; the perfect, almighty God is exponentially more authentic in His invitation of our requests.
If you believe you and I lack a Biblical promise let us inquire if we are asking congruently with scripture. Perhaps we lack the wisdom to recognize the Biblical promise, perhaps the Lord delivered in a format different than expected.
No one expected Jesus to be born in a feed trough inside a livestock lean to. Jesus entered and occupied the world with humility and wisdom; yet the world expects great things to exist with brash complication.
We lack, because we fail to ask and observe with Christ’s wisdom. Ask ye shall receive!
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
www.rickemeyer.com
At the beginning of each seminar, I encourage the attendees to let me know of anything they hope to attain from the seminar. This invitation and inquisition is repeated several times throughout the day.
Frequently, someone assures they will gladly share any apparent uncovered material with me; yet these very people stay silent through the final request.
The evaluation sheets are distributed to each attendee. A few of these silent attendees write on their evaluation forms of their disgruntlement of material failing to be covered in their desired format.
Yes, they ignore the inquisitions; remaining silent, illustrating their false promise of speaking up, with each probing. They then freely and openly complain on the evaluation form; they believe they lacked a brochure promise yet refrain from asking.
While cooling down from today’s run, the Lord reminds me that me and many others virtually always do the same with him. He specifically invites us to ask him of anything in His name.
We either fail to ask or fail to align our request(s) with His name. We then complain to anybody and everybody about our lack of receiving.
If our omniscient, all knowing, Lord seeks our requests; is it permissible for me to inquire in the seminar room? He has used this experience to teach us that just as I, a sinner, am sincere in these inquisitions; the perfect, almighty God is exponentially more authentic in His invitation of our requests.
If you believe you and I lack a Biblical promise let us inquire if we are asking congruently with scripture. Perhaps we lack the wisdom to recognize the Biblical promise, perhaps the Lord delivered in a format different than expected.
No one expected Jesus to be born in a feed trough inside a livestock lean to. Jesus entered and occupied the world with humility and wisdom; yet the world expects great things to exist with brash complication.
We lack, because we fail to ask and observe with Christ’s wisdom. Ask ye shall receive!
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
www.rickemeyer.com
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Panic
Have ever been in an instant and severe panic? A few moments of go, such panic struck like lightening. I was returning to my motel room, walking across the parking lot, with clean clothes after completing laundry in Salem, Oregon. As I approached the entrance, my mind shifted from deep thoughts to, “why is the third parking space north of the entrance now empty?”
My rented Jeep was no longer where I last parked. How could this happen? Parking, locking and pulling the keys instantly replayed in my mind. Did someone break into my room and steal the keys to steal the vehicle? I must call 911 and the car rental company. How did this happen!? I anxiously approached my room to door to open, enter and investigate.
Another moment of panic, my room number changed and I was locked out. Glancing ahead, I quickly and embarrassingly realized I had entered too soon. My vehicle and room were still as they were last left. Thinking deeply and being up 23 ½ hours the previous day while speaking and traveling can result in a loss of focus.
I entered the room, looked out the window at the vehicle; my heart rate rapidly descended. A still, quiet voice spoke in the silence saying that this is the same type of panic is realized by those who fail to recognize Christ as their Savior. Those who fail to recognize and accept Christ as the Word made flesh, a member of the Triune God, who is also the one and only God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Their panic will be exponentially worst and remain eternally.
Believing a vehicle stolen causes a tremendous initial panic. Are you helping people avoid the great eternal panic in answering the great commission in making disciples of all nations; baptizing them in the name of Jesus? Each of us is called to different roles in this commission. Seek the Lord’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding to fulfill your role on his team. Avoid the panic!
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
www.rickemeyer.com
My rented Jeep was no longer where I last parked. How could this happen? Parking, locking and pulling the keys instantly replayed in my mind. Did someone break into my room and steal the keys to steal the vehicle? I must call 911 and the car rental company. How did this happen!? I anxiously approached my room to door to open, enter and investigate.
Another moment of panic, my room number changed and I was locked out. Glancing ahead, I quickly and embarrassingly realized I had entered too soon. My vehicle and room were still as they were last left. Thinking deeply and being up 23 ½ hours the previous day while speaking and traveling can result in a loss of focus.
I entered the room, looked out the window at the vehicle; my heart rate rapidly descended. A still, quiet voice spoke in the silence saying that this is the same type of panic is realized by those who fail to recognize Christ as their Savior. Those who fail to recognize and accept Christ as the Word made flesh, a member of the Triune God, who is also the one and only God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Their panic will be exponentially worst and remain eternally.
Believing a vehicle stolen causes a tremendous initial panic. Are you helping people avoid the great eternal panic in answering the great commission in making disciples of all nations; baptizing them in the name of Jesus? Each of us is called to different roles in this commission. Seek the Lord’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding to fulfill your role on his team. Avoid the panic!
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
www.rickemeyer.com
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Listen
I stood in the seminar room explaining the ‘M’ on a table in the workbook stood for “Month.” The attendees and I discussed the significance of defining variables, symbols and acronym in effective communication for two or three minutes. We then moved on to the next topic when the lady who had been disruptive all day; asked the meaning and definition of ‘M.’ I politely repeated for the fifth or sixth time, that it stood for “Month.” Fortunately our Lord occupied and controlled my tongue; allowing me to speak with patience and mercy.
Initially, despite remaining outwardly calm; internal turmoil steadily increased. Previously, Mary (not her real name) admitted to being distracted with activities at work while attending the seminar. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit reminded me that His communication with me strongly resembled my communication with Mary.
Christ frequently communicates with me and others. The others quickly capture the message, even though our Lord graciously repeats the message five, six or even one hundred times. In my busyness, worrying about other activities, I miss His voice. Later, I anxiously and annoyingly demand the Lord speak to my heart; explain what is going on and why. Christ and the Holy Spirit, softly, kindly and patiently repeat the message yet again until I get my mind off of activities, focusing on my surroundings.
What about you? Are you listening? Do you get frustrated when the Lord “fails to provide the answers,” only to realize Christ has been speaking while you were focused on distractions? Are you receiving Christ’s message delivered through those whom seemingly annoy you.
We are designed with one mouth, two ears and two eyes. Most events include at least two sides of the story to observe and hear. Let us hear and see Christ in the world both directly and indirectly, using an eye and ear for each. Let Christ’s voice and illumination enter and occupy both sides of our heart and mind.
Seek for Christ to occupy your tongue, speaking through you.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
www.rickemeyer.com
Initially, despite remaining outwardly calm; internal turmoil steadily increased. Previously, Mary (not her real name) admitted to being distracted with activities at work while attending the seminar. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit reminded me that His communication with me strongly resembled my communication with Mary.
Christ frequently communicates with me and others. The others quickly capture the message, even though our Lord graciously repeats the message five, six or even one hundred times. In my busyness, worrying about other activities, I miss His voice. Later, I anxiously and annoyingly demand the Lord speak to my heart; explain what is going on and why. Christ and the Holy Spirit, softly, kindly and patiently repeat the message yet again until I get my mind off of activities, focusing on my surroundings.
What about you? Are you listening? Do you get frustrated when the Lord “fails to provide the answers,” only to realize Christ has been speaking while you were focused on distractions? Are you receiving Christ’s message delivered through those whom seemingly annoy you.
We are designed with one mouth, two ears and two eyes. Most events include at least two sides of the story to observe and hear. Let us hear and see Christ in the world both directly and indirectly, using an eye and ear for each. Let Christ’s voice and illumination enter and occupy both sides of our heart and mind.
Seek for Christ to occupy your tongue, speaking through you.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
www.rickemeyer.com
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