Jesus Christ is Lord, and the Lord's law is written on the heart

Insights, Wisdom and Reflections

•   A body whose parts are directed from any place but the head is out of control, in disorder. There can only be order in his body when Jesus alone governs. 18.Aug.1987 [25.Nov.2007]

•   No one is a failure who knows Jesus, and no one is a success who does not know Jesus. Everyone who knows Jesus is a success. 25.Oct.1988 [9.Dec.2007]

•   He who leads in service is a true leader. Unless we lead in building and rebuilding the temple of Jesus' body, we all suffer. 1.Mar.1990 [2.Dec.2007]

•   Evil cannot flourish, cannot even exist where there is wholeness. The devil needs an opening to do its work, and if a person is whole, there are no openings to allow the filth, evil and fear of the devil's toolbox to enter. 10.Dec.1992 [16.Dec.2007]

•   The battle is one for our mind. Satan seeks control over it. YHWH seeks submission and obedience from within it. We must be single-minded: all in Jesus, not double-minded, tossed about by the enemy's lies. 7.Feb.1993 [24.Dec.2007]

•   Anyone who tells people that, or treats them as if, they cannot do YHWH's work or pray for themselves or renounce and overcome Satan's power by themselves (through the power in Jesus) is a liar and false teacher. 7.Feb.1993 [30.Dec.2007]

•   Jesus came to set us free-- body, soul and spirit, but we must choose freedom over bondage, healing over sickness, wholeness over brokenness, life in him over life in the world. We must follow him, wherever he leads, rather than pursue the seductions of the world. 7.Feb.1993 [6.Jan.2007]

•   We cannot blame the devil for our own misconduct. Satan merely tempts. We choose to stray. We decide who or what will reign in our lives. 7.Feb.1993 [2.Mar.2008]

•   "Pastors" who encourage dependence on themselves are false teachers and prophets. The dependence can take many forms-- needing the preacher to "feed" the person, or to teach and explain scriptures, or to pray for or direct the spiritual growth and development. YHWH does not command obedience to those who lead, nor dependence on them. 7.Feb.1993 [1.Mar.2009]

•   A key ingredient to freedom is accepting responsibility for our own lives, not expecting others to do for us or blaming others. We must want to be whole and then seek it.The pattern should not be sin, confess, sin, confess, etc., because eventually "I give up" follows. The Lord's pattern is sin, confess, resist. 7.Feb.1993 [8.Mar.2009]

•   John Wesley wrote: "We know no gospel without salvation from sin." Meditating on this, I asked YHWH, "What is sin?" The answer jumped into my mind: Defilement and disobedience, having in mind things of YHWH-- defilement that leads to bondage to Satan and a carnal world, disobedience that rejects YHWH's kingship. I also asked, "What is salvation?" The thought came: Deliverance and healing unto holiness. 10.May.1995 [20.Jan.2008]

•   As I am reflecting on Heb 2:14, having wondered about Satan as a spirit in each of us, I begin to see that maybe YHWH was in my musings: Death is of the devil, 'satan' is that in each of us that would deceive and lead us to death. Having been put to death as a man, Jesus consumed that power of death and made it powerless for all who receive new life in him. Ironically, the more we seek of this life, the more we are led to death. The more we seek of Jesus, the more we are led to life, zoe, abundant life. 22.Feb.1996 [7.Sep.2008]

•   All gifts are given to show who YHWH is and whose we are. 1.Oct.1996 [9.Mar.2008]

•   When you have been wounded or hurt, beware lest you react or respond without considering your own part in the matter. Self-righteousness deludes us into condemning and rejecting someone who has said or done something that offended or hurt us. It prevents any consideration of what may have been going on in the other person. It prevents any consideration of what was said or done to make the other person speak or act as that person did. 24.Feb.1997 [16.Mar.2008]

•   Self-righteousness merely feels wounded and hurt and angry and therefore is justified in passing judgment on the other person. It utterly fails to see an opportunity to minister to the other person with the same love and compassion that led Jesus to ask from the cross, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they are doing." 24.Feb.1997 [28.Sep.2008]

•   We can sense the progress of our healing when we quickly recognize our own self-righteousness. And we can rejoice in our healing when we do not receive someone else's words or acts as wounding us anew or opening old wounds, but instead we consider what we did or said and, even more, turn to YHWH to guide, instruct and direct us in ministering to the other person. 24.Feb.1997 [23.Mar.2008]

•   Prayer is food to the soul. 15.Oct.1997 [27.Jan.2008]

•   Humility is the proper position for prayer, and humility is a condition of the heart. 15.Oct.1997 [28.Oct.2007]

•   As children of YHWH, we are valued not for who we are but for whose we are. One of the frequent words I receive from YHWH is an encouragement to take a particular action or forbear from something "because of who I am and whose you are." 4.Nov.1997 [4.Nov.2007]

•   In the Old Testament, YHWH spoke most often to Israel as a nation. In the New Testament and the time since Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit, he speaks to men as individuals and members of his body. 4.Jan.1998 [5.May.2008]

•   True class is not demonstrated by wealth, breeding, family background or history, nor by power or prestige. It is demonstrated by the way a person behaves under different circumstances. 16.Jul.1998 [13.Jul.2008]

•   Characteristics of low class behavior include selfishness, dishonesty, sexual promiscuity, greed for more when one has enough, racial and other prejudice, discourtesy, arrogance, and abuse of others. 16.Jul.1998 [20.Jul.2008]

•   Characteristics of high class behavior include generosity even when in need, honesty, gentleness, viewing and treating everyone else as an individual, courtesy, humility, integrity even when faced with harm, loving others as much as oneself. 16.Jul.1998 [27.Jul.1998]

•   Those who are weak in faith try to get others to share their beliefs in hope that will confirm their validity. Those strong in faith don't care who agrees. 8.May.2001 [21.Oct.2007]

•   A man who leaves the ways of YHWH to taste the ways of the world is like the little gray field mouse that leaves the shelter of rocks to forage while the eagle flies overhead. 12.May.2001 [15.Mar.2009]

•   Children raised to put others before themselves are a treasure and blessing to all; but children allowed to indulge themselves are a curse to themselves and others. 18.Jul.2001 [22.Mar.2009]

•   The world is slow to forgive and seldom rewards; a person's good deeds often fade when a bad one follows. But YHWH is slow to condemn and always rewards; good deeds accumulate while many bad ones are forgiven. 24.Jul.2001 [3.May.2009]

•   Preaching the love of YHWH without the judgment that wants forgiveness is like rice pudding without salt: Even with added flavoring it tastes flat. 24.Jul.2001 [10.May.2009]

•   True worship is acknowledging YHWH as master, lord, and king, with full authority over us; doing it from the innermost part of our being, our spirit, as a recognition of what is true and that to which we are commited, even to death (Rev. 12:11); giving thanks for who he is, what he does, and his lovingkindness; and rejoicing, expressing gladness. [Reflection on John 4:23-24 that I recorded in my Bible] c2002 [12.Jul.2009]

•   YHWH's wrath is the fire that removes dross (sin) from his people. The Holy Spirit is the fire in those born of the Spirit who seek to please him. 1.Mar.2003 [17.May.2009]

•   Satan uses truth to decorate falsehood. 21.Apr.2004 [11.May.2008]

•   There is no peace in the world. The world offers only trial and tribulation. He who looks to the world for his provision and peace deludes himself. Peace is found only in Jesus, who gives rest in the Father by the work of his Holy Spirit. 16.May.2004 [21.Feb.2010]

•   The eagle soars high; its eye surveys all movement below.
The mouse sees no danger near; it ventures from its lair.
The great king sees all; his eye pierces a man's heart.
The man sees no danger near; he ventures into the world.
Can the mouse ignore the eagle as it pursues its ways?
Can the man ignore YHWH as he pursues the world's ways?
10.Jun.2004 [6.Dec.2009]]

•   Only a holy (perfect, complete, undefiled) person can approach the holy God. No one can achieve that condition apart from Jesus, no matter how good by worldly standards, because YHWH set the standard in Jesus, and only in him can the standard be met. 31.Aug.2004 [14.Oct.2007]

•   Without knowledge of the one true God, people seek security and comfort in what they can see and touch. 2.Sep.2004 [30.Mar.2008]

•   Divisions among the people of YHWH reflect our inability to hear and obey him. 20.Nov.2004 [18.May.2008]

•   Just as the ark held the two tablets, so our "hearts", our spirits, hold YHWH's torah today. 23.Nov.2004 [11.Jan.2009]

•   Authority invests the holder with the right to be obeyed (see Num. 27:20, Mark 1:22,27). Power merely gives the holder the means to enforce obedience. A person may have one without the other. Jesus has both and invests his people, as a body, with both. [A note I wrote in my Bible at Matt. 28:18-20] 3.Feb.2005 [13.Jan.2008]

•   YHWH disciplines those he loves. The rest he leaves to the consequences of their choices. 15.Mar.2005 [18.Nov.2007]

•   Belief in Jesus is more than a mental activity. It requires obedience, love, true faith (trust), sincere desire to please, and constructive adherence and devotion to YHWH as revealed in Jesus. [A reflection on John 14:12] 25.May.2005 [2.Nov.2008]

•   In John 21:3-6, Simon was returning to his old life, but he caught nothing: his work was to fish for people and do it through Jesus. Without Jesus, he could do nothing. 1.Jun.2005 [4.Jan.2009]

•   Carnal men seek to conform others to what they believe, at least partly to confirm what they believe and partly to justify the way they treat others. This is at least part of what motivates Muslims and Hindus to persecute those who accept Jesus. 5.Aug.2005 [6.Jul.2008]

•   All are rebellious, deserving death: YHWH merely treats each according to what fulfills his will for all. [A reflection on Rom. 9:16-18] 14.Aug.2005 [18.Jan.2008]

•   For centuries, YHWH was patient and forbearing with Israel's unfaithfulness, and he has demonstrated the same qualities toward us. [A reflection on Rom. 9:22-24] 14.Aug.2005 [24.Jan.2008]

•   We are to renounce the shameful past, not justify our acts by adulterating YHWH's word, as "gays" and liberal churches do today. [A note I wrote in my Bible at 2 Cor. 4:2] 6.Sep.2005 [29.Mar.2009]

•   The upright rejoice in YHWH's grace and mercy, in all his works. This is wisdom. 8.Dec.2005 [9.Nov.2008]

•   Even though the law was read and explained to them (Neh. 8:5-8), the Jews who returned from exile did not obey-- as if they did not "get it" (Neh. 13). Even today, people sit in church buildings, hear YHWH's word, and return to worldly sin, even those who profess faith in Jesus. [A note I wrote in my Bible at 2 Cor. 3:14] 21.Apr.2006 [20.Jul.2009]

•   The relationship between YHWH and his people was external in the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible, and could be forced (e.g., 2 Chr. 34:33). In Jesus, the relationship has become internal (as promised in Jer. 31:33 and Ezek. 36:26-27). A change of heart, mind and will was not required to serve YHWH in Old Testament time, but that change marks the difference between Jesus' people and people of the world. 5.Nov.2006

•   Even the most harmless and innocuous of worldly pleasures can become sin when they displease YHWH, when they replace YHWH in our thoughts and affections, when they separate us from him. 12.Dec.2007 [25.May.2008]

•   Jesus accepts us in his service no matter how weak our love of him. [A reflection on Jesus' instruction to "tend my sheep" in John 21:17, after Peter's third affirmation of his affection for Jesus] 17.Feb.2008 [16.Nov.2008]

•   Righteous living consists of doing right things and speaking right words. Doing righteous deeds without telling about YHWH's gracious lovingkindness in Jesus glorifies only the actor, while telling the good news of how Jesus changes lives without doing what pleases the Father makes the message a lie. 20.Apr.2008 [23.Nov.2008]

•   "Evil" is that which seeks its own. "Good" is that which serves YHWH and others. 2.Oct.2008 [30.Nov.2008]

•   Between the hammer of desire and the anvil of consequences, a person's life takes shape. 16.Dec.2008 [24.May.2009]

•   Until we have declared Jesus to everyone, the end will not come. This is the goal of the true Church. [a reflection on Mark 13:10 and Matt.24:14] 20.Dec.2008 [5.Jul.2009]

•   Just like the temple called by YHWH's name, our being called by Jesus' name means we belong to him and make his name known. [A reflection on 2 Chr. 6:33] 9.Jan.2009 [14.Feb.2010]

•   The younger son in Jesus' parable treats his father as if dead, just as too many Jews in Jesus' day treated YHWH and as many Christians do today, seeking his wealth but not his rule over their lives, walking away from him. But the loving Father waits patiently for their return and rejoices when they do. [A reflection on Luke 15:11-32] 2.Feb.2009 [29.Nov.2009]

•   To the foolish, pretty speech with empty words sounds wise. 29.Mar.2009 [31.May.2009]

•   A man who buys trusting only in pleasing words and a friendly smile pays twice. 29.Mar.2009

•   The fool values change regardless of consequences; but the wise prepare for earthquakes and hurricanes. 29.Mar.2009 [12.Oct.2009]

•   The flea is an unwelcome guest that steals to feed; the cockroach feeds in the dark but flees in the light; the Godly are welcome and feed at the master's table. 30.Mar.2009 [4.Nov.2009]

•   Jesus carried our iniquity to the cross, another solitary place. He now carries our iniquities to heaven each time we confess-- as a permanent scapegoat not just an annual one. [a reflection on Lev. 16:21-22] 30.Apr.2009 [28.Feb.2010]

•   A wise man secures his house against the coming hurricane, but the fool watches the waves churned up by the storm. 14.May.2009 [26.Jul.2009]

•   Those who seek change without considering consequences pursue a pack of wolves that will turn on them. 14.May.2009 [9.Aug.2009]

•   Someone without integrity makes vows easily when trouble attacks but breaks them just as easily when trouble subsides. 14.May.2009 [16.Aug.2009]

•   Someone without integrity speaks boldly to a friendly audience but runs from his own words when confronted. 14.May.2009 [23.Aug.2009]

•   A faithless wife turns on her husband because she cannot have what her neighbor has, but a wife who accepts and encourages her husband reaps many rewards. 14.May.2009 [30.Aug.2009]

•   A man who mistreats his wife and children has a poor return for his efforts, but a man who treats his wife and children with love stores up years of happiness. 14.May.2009 [6.Sep.2009]

•   The immature cry, "me, me, me" and "mine, mine, mine," but those of true worth give freely and value others. 14.May.2009 [13.Sep.2009]

•   Impatience has driven many off the cliff, but the wise take time to seek the counsel of those worth knowing. 14.May.2009 [20.Sep.2009]

•   The counsel of those who seek to please carries a hidden cost, but Godly counsel enriches and restores. 14.May.2009 [27.Sep.2009]

•   Wearing a cowboy hat does not make one a cowboy, but Godly people reveal their integrity by their deeds, as well as their words. 26.Jul.2009 [5.Oct.2009]

•   Praise given too quickly leads to regret and shame, but respect for others earns regard from YHWH. 4.Nov.2009 [15.Nov.2009]

•   Legalism and rituals cannot transform hearts. [A reflection on Luke 5:36] 18.Nov.2009 [22.Nov.2009]

•   We evidence love by caring about someone or some thing. The more we care, the more we love. Agape love adds a desire to take care of another person without thought of return. Agape love gives and does not demand, sacrifices but does not suffer. 16.Jan.2010 [24.Jan.2010]

•   Healthy, rewarding relationships depend on mutual love. When agape love prevails, the relationship thrives. 16.Jan.2010 [31.Jan.2010]

•   When we find people who have been reborn through Jesus Christ and who enjoy healthy, rewarding relationships with one another, we find the true church. 16.Jan.2010 [8.Feb.2010]

•   Without a ladder, the man cannot repair his roof. Without YHWH, he cannot heal his soul. 19.Jan.2010 [8.Mar.2010]

*YHWH or YHVH is the English representation of the four Hebrew letters that spell the name of the God of the Bible, the one true, living God worshipped by Jews and Christians. YHWH was the name by which he identified himself to Moses in Ex. 3:14. According to references that I've read, the exact pronunciation of YHWH's name was lost in antiquity, but the generally accepted pronounciation in common English is "Yah-weh" or "Yah-way". Some translations of the Bible, such as the KJV and NASB, substitute "the LORD" for his name, following a practice begun before Jesus' birth.

YHWH revealed himself in various ways to the children of Israel in the Hebrew Bible, which Christians call the Old Testament. He also revealed himself in and through his son Jesus Christ and acts, among other ways, in and through Christians by the Holy Spirit. Because the word "God" is being used today to designate all kinds of human inventions, although accepted for centuries in English as a name for YHWH, I prefer to use the name that YHWH chose for himself rather than "God" or "the LORD" as I did in early versions of my writings. Please read The Name of the One True, Living God for a fuller discussion.