Upside Down Living

I remember Grandma making a pineapple upside down cake. She placed rings of pineapple, with a cherry in the middle of each ring, on the bottom of the pan. Then she added brown sugar and butter. Next, she covered this yummy stuff with cake batter. After the cake was baked, she inverted it upon a plate revealing the pineapple and cherries that had been on the bottom now being on top. Finally, we got to eat it. It was delicious!

Upside down cake reminds me of our challenge to upside down living. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” It will definitely be upside down living if we follow Jesus’ directive in contrast to the world’s view. I recently read this comparison online. The world says, “Follow your heart.” Jesus says, “Follow Me.” The world says, “Believe in yourself.” Jesus says, “Believe in Me.” The world says, “Discover yourself.” Jesus says, “Deny yourself.” The world says, “Be true to you.” Jesus says, “Be true to Me.” Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Rather than just eating pineapple upside down cake, we have the opportunity to taste and see that the LORD is good (See Psalm 34:8) through spiritual upside-down living. Colossians 3:2 encourages us, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Today, I challenge you to this upside-down style of living. Together, let’s create a day of deliciousness by applying my grandmother’s directions. In reality, we have this privilege every day. From Lamentations 3:22-23 we learn that the Lord’s mercies are new every morning because of His faithfulness. If we eat a dessert, we like it made fresh. The same is true when living for the Lord. Nothing stale or leftover.

Our day’s first ingredient will not be pineapple – it will be God’s Word. Grandma’s brown sugar and butter are symbols of our reading and meditating upon God’s word and taking time to pray. This becomes the sweetest time of our day. Now the foundation of our day is in place for us to live a spiritually centered life.

According to Grandma’s recipe, now it is time to make the cake batter. For us, we will mix up our words, thoughts and actions with our behavior and motives. All the ingredients in proper proportions with lots of love. Jesus declared in Matthew 22:37, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” We must remember to add large amounts of God’s wisdom. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” With the Holy Spirit’s help, we will make a better batter than if we did it by ourselves. John 14:26 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” My favorite flavoring is God’s favor (better known as grace). 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

We pour this batter over the first layer already in the pan. Throughout the day, the cake’s ingredients blend and bake. No longer two separate layers. Proverbs 16:3 tells us,“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”

By the day’s end, the dessert is complete. We invert our cake upon a platter and present it back to the Lord. His glory is on top now even though we placed it on the bottom at the beginning. We can declare Psalm 115:1, “Not to us, LORD, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.” The result of our time alone with the Lord is now evident on top with the sweetness of His preeminence being infused throughout the whole cake. Romans 11:36 says, “For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever!”

This recipe’s presentation portrays Matthew 20:16. “The first became last and the last became first.” Better than eating a pineapple upside down cake is living a spiritually upside down life. It is divinely delicious!

Don’t Let Jesus Pass By

Jesus wants to be with you and in you. However, He appreciates an invitation. Do not let Jesus pass by simply because you did not invite Him to stay awhile. Let’s join Jesus on three occasions when He lingered a little longer.

In Mark 6:45-51, we read about the disciples caught in a storm on Lake Gennesaret. Jesus had sent the disciples ahead to Bethsaida while He took time to pray. The disciples were paddling as hard as they could to keep their boat afloat. Then, Jesus came walking on the water. He intended to keep going but the disciples called out to Him. He heard their cry for help and joined them in their boat. Immediately, the storm was calm. Jesus met their need when they called out to Him. The disciples did not let Jesus pass by.

My Reader, are you encountering a stormy situation in your lifeboat? Call out to Jesus. He is already nearby. He will not continue on if you call to Him. He will join you in your boatload of troubles. Watch to see how He manifests His presence when you are overwhelmed with water worries. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Please do not let Him pass by unnoticed.

Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman in John 4. To make a long story short, Jesus revealed His identity as the true thirst quencher by offering the woman living water. He told her He was the Messiah. She returned to town refreshed and renewed, but forgot her jugs filled with well water. She excitedly shared her Jesus experience with the people. They, too, came and experienced Jesus. However, they were not content with just a brief encounter. In verse 40, they urged Him to stay. Jesus accepted their invitation and stayed two days simply because they asked. Because they did not let Jesus pass by, they were blessed.

My Reader, do you have a spiritual thirst that you are trying to satisfy physically? Today, Jesus offers you Living Water through the Holy Spirit. John 7:37-39 says, “Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” I encourage you to ask Jesus to quench your thirst whether it be physical or spiritual. Spiritual dryness can happen. Take time to drink deeply of His Word. Don’t let time go by without spending time with Jesus.

In Luke 24:13-35, two men walked to Emmaus. Although they did not realize it, Jesus was their third companion. When they reached their destination, Jesus planned to continue on His way. However, they asked Him to join them for a meal. Jesus accepted their invitation. While sharing the meal, they became aware that Jesus was their guest. Then He was gone. However, Jesus’ presence clarified their concerns about Jesus’ resurrection. Then, they believed beyond a shadow of doubt. They returned to Jerusalem and reassured the disciples that Jesus was alive. Since Jesus did not just pass by, they gained deeper understanding of who He was.

My Reader, do you want to invite Jesus to join you on your journey today? Maybe you would like to ask Him a question. Do you want to share a meal with Him? Jesus breaking bread with Cleopus and his friend was a foreshadow or the sacrament of holy communion. Luke 22:19, says, “He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Remember Jesus. He is worthy of not being passed by.

Today, we do not have the privilege of spending time with Jesus in person as the characters in these biblical stories. However, He is waiting to receive a personal invitation from you. My Reader, the most important invitation you can extend to Jesus is to invite Him to live in your heart. He does not want to pass by you without extending you the gift of salvation. Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me. Romans 10:9 emphasizes, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,”’and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

After your initial invitation to Jesus, you must continue to be conscientious about not letting Him pass by. Continue to send Him more requests. An invitation can be extended through praise. Psalm 22:3 reveals that the Lord is enthroned upon the praises of His people.

Jesus will not pass by when you pray. He says in John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.” Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus will accept your invitation to be active in your life. Jesus continues in John 14:16-17, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.”

My Reader, do not allow Jesus to pass you by. Invite Him into your day. He will RSVP positively.

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AstralEmber
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Who Knows Best?

As a child, my favorite television program was Father Knows Best. (Aired in the late 1950s.) Each week this sitcom allowed me to visually experience the daily lives of a middle-class American family. Together, this father, mother and 3 children shared celebrations and challenges. Each family member had his/her personal ideas for handling life. Ultimately, their issues were resolved by the father knowing the best way to handle family and friend concerns. Good moral guidance was portrayed. The program’s conclusion always declared Father knows best!

To bring us up to date, we advance 70 years to 2026. We are going to make a spiritual application revealing that our Heavenly Father knows best. Let’s use a few scriptures to prove our point.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight. 
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7

I like the wording of verses 5 and 7 in the Passion Translation. Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make…. Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore Him with undivided devotion and avoid everything that’s wrong. Just like in the TV program, we each have our own opinion regarding how to live daily life. We think we know what we are doing. However, we will be much wiser if we trust our Heavenly Father’s wisdom. Our Heavenly Father knows best!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9

Usually, our first reaction is to do it our way. “Mine” is one of the first words a small child verbalizes when gaining the ability to make choices. “What would God do?”is not likely our first thought. However, the Lord clearly informs us that His thoughts and ways are better. Our Heavenly Father knows best!

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
I Corinthians 1:25

Actually, there is no foolishness or weakness found within our omniscient, omnipotent God. We are the ones who can be foolish and weak. We must give God preeminence according to Colossians 1:18 NKJV. Our Heavenly Father knows best!

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
Ephesians 3:20

If God’s capability is beyond what we can comprehend or even consider, why would we want to do it our way? We would be limiting God. I love the New King James Version of this verse. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

As children of God, we are part of His family. Proverbs 1:8-9 instructs us, “Listen, My son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”

Although the sitcom of 70 years ago was fiction, the message that Father Knows Best was true. Today, we live our days in reality. The spiritual message is still the same. Our Heavenly Father Knows Best!

disCOURAGE – COURAGE – enCOURAGE

As Moses neared the end of his life, he spoke Deuteronomy 31:6 to the people headed to the Promised Land. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.

In Joshua 1:5-6, the Lord spoke similar words to Joshua, the Israelites’ new leader.  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. The Lord reiterates the command to be strong and courageous in verse 7.

Let’s delve into the meaning of courage. When first thinking about courage, we may primarily envision being physically brave – not being afraid of what we will encounter. However, spiritual courage includes the inner strength of faith and hope. With courage, we receive an added dimension of ability to face our challenges. This is what God offered the people before crossing the Jordan River.

Once again, the Lord gave them a reminder in Joshua 1:9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. This time the Lord not only emphasized for them to be courageous but also not to be discouraged.

The prefix “dis” presents a different perspective. “Dis” means “lack of” or “not.” We have a choice when walking through our difficult circumstances. We can continue forward with courage or we can get stuck in one place if discouraged. Will we choose to simply rely upon our own strength or are we willing to rely upon God? Our courage may ebb and flow, but God is always faithful. As quoted earlier in Joshua 1:6, the Lord promised, “I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Jesus made a similar promise to us in Matthew 28:20. Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

There is another prefix that can be attached to courage – “en.” According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “en” can be defined as to “put into” or “cover with” or “go into.” For us, to encourage someone means to stand with someone who is struggling. We have the opportunity to impart spiritual stamina known as faith. We can remind them of II Timothy 1:7. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. This is inner spiritual courage – not just outward physical courage. Our encouragement can help one who is discouraged to gain courage to keep going.

Let’s make a personal application of our word study. “Be strong and courageous” continues to be God’s daily directive. This command is not limited to the Israelites. However, it is not always easy to courageously move forward. We may need encouragement to keep us from discouragement. I Thessalonians 5:11 tells us, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” Romans 5:15 encourages us by saying, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”

Psalm 27:14 NKJV says, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” May we personally be encouraged by this verse. Then may we have the courage to encourage those who may be discouraged.

A Good or Bad Choice?

Good and bad, and sometimes humerus, experiences create memories. Years ago, our daughter-in-love had taken our granddaughter to her first dental appointment. As they were leaving, our granddaughter was offered a prize for a good check-up. She surveyed her choices. Although she wanted two things, she could only have one. Seeing this as a teaching opportunity, her mother asked if she was going to make a good or bad choice. While clutching two prizes in her hands, she responded, “A bad one!” and began to run out of the office. She did not get far before Mom grabbed her and helped her make a good choice. Although there were consequences for her bad choice, our granddaughter did get one prize.

There is a spiritual lesson hidden in this incident. As children of God, we have a Heavenly Father who cares for us. Throughout our lives, we make many choices – some good and some not so good. Jesus says in John 16:13, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” The Holy Spirit helps us make good choices and convicts us if we make bad ones.

In Romans 7:14-25, Paul tells about his struggles with good and bad choices. Although he wants to make good choices, he says sin stirs up a desire causing him to make bad choices. Paul is unable to overcome some choices simply by his own willpower. In verses 14-16 he declares, “I am a human being made of flesh and trafficked as a slave under sin’s authority. I’m a mystery to myself, for I want to do what is right, but end up doing what my moral instincts condemn.” His behavior and his desires are not always the same. So, how does he manage to make good choices? Paul answers this question in verses 24-25. So, who has the power to rescue this miserable man from the unwelcome intruder of sin and death? I give all my thanks to God, for His mighty power has finally provided a way out through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! (Quotes from The Passion Translation)

Scripture gives us guidelines to help us make good choices. Galatians 6:7 warns, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” We must be cautious when making decisions. James 4:7 encourages, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Then we will be able to make good choices. Another helpful tool is prayer. Matthew 26:41 tells us, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Our spirit will allow us to make good decisions while the flesh entices us to make bad ones.

However, if we make a bad choice, we are given a chance to correct it. This requires that we admit we have made a bad choice. Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” 1 John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Choices abound for Biblical characters and for us.

The first choice in described in Genesis 3:1-7. The serpent challenged Eve regarding what God had said. Trusting the serpent more than God, she made a bad choice and ate fruit from the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden. All of us still suffer the consequences of this bad choice.

In Joshua 24:15, the Israelites were given a choice. Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. At the end of the verse Joshua declares his decision. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Paul made choices. Early in his life, he made some bad choices. Later, he made good choices. He fulfilled the Lord’s command of Isaiah 43:18-19. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”

At the beginning I shared about our granddaughter’s bad choice. She is still making choices. Through good parental guidance and developing her own faith, she has learned to make good choices. Today she is a beautiful young lady completing her doctorate degree in piano pedagogy and performance.

My Reader, join me in choosing to make good choices!