That face only a Mother could love!

Psalm 149.4

You’ve heard the old southern phrase I am sure. I say it when I look at our dog – Rascal the pug. Honestly, it works with him perfectly. Almost daily when I look at his face the thought hits me, “Here’s a face only a mother could love.”

But oh what a face! Come on now, you know that there is a face that just came to mind for you. It’s the face of someone you love dearly. And every time you see their face either in person or with your mind you cannot help but smile.

The reason that person makes you smile is because of the relationship you have with them. I am the father of four unbelievably talented children. All of them are athletes excelling in their individual sports. Here’s a challenge, all of them are leaders too. (Try raising four leaders in one household, it’s awesome and loud.) And, no matter which one of them I see first their face always makes me smile.

I know what you are thinking. Sure, they make you smile they are your kids. Okay, guilty as charged. But here’s the jump to the point for you today. Are you a child of God? Are you a Christ follower? Has salvation come to you through Jesus Christ?

If so, guess what? Just the sight of your face creates pleasure in our heavenly Father. He loves you. He delights in you. He is even pleased by the sight of you. Listen to this: “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149.4).

The Hebrew word of pleasure is ratsah. This is awesome because it means to delight in the appearance of one. Oh yeah, it even means to believe in you. Don’t let this slide by you today. Our Father, Jehovah, when he adopted you into his family signified through that moment that you are his child. Because you are his child you are delight to him and he really does believe in you.

How can you fail today? Jehovah believes in you. After all you have a face your Father loves.

Always Enthusiastic,

Dr. Rusty Newman

Igniting Worship from my Heart

Ever try and start a gas grill without any propane? You might get a spark but you will not achieve the burn! And I know the old song says "It only takes a spark..." but honestly it takes much more than that for worship to flow freely from our hearts to Jehovah. 

Recently I was refreshing my vision for the ministry and found this statement that still holds true for me. It focuses on the three aspects of my spiritual life that are essential to me in following Jesus. 

We exist to ignite passion for God, inspire life, and invest life because Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

What does this look like? Just the Ignite part mind you. 

Ignite Passion for God
To me this is my expression of heart worship to Jehovah. It takes more than a spark to burn with a passion for Him. It requires being surrendered to His Spirit completely. Because real worship can only ignite through the infilling presence of His Holy Spirit. This is "spirit and truth" stuff that Jesus talked about in John 8. 

So consider these thoughts on worship:  

·         Worship is the surrendered heart presenting love and affection to the Lord.

o   Worship is an act of adoration from the heart of the worshipper toward the Lord.

o   Corporate worship (thisi s a church service) is a vitally important focus of the church ministry

§  CW must be engaging in the sense of sight, sound, and energy – this is the place for creativity. Staying fresh in worship through creativity expression, song, testimony, use of technology (but don't lean too much here - the lamps blow! and the electricity sometimes fails - but Jesus never does). 

§  CW must be encouraging in order to elevate the spirit to sense and respond to the presence of the Lord – this is the place for anticipation of the “God Moment” in worship when we invite God to speak to us.

o   Private worship (this is your devotional time) is an essential aspect for the Follower of Jesus.

§  PW must be a daily practice that seeks to connect with God through Prayer, Reading the Bible, and mediation (or thinking about) God expressing himself through our lives

§  PW must be a fresh response to the current conditions of our life regardless of the position we find ourselves in whether on top of the world or in the valley

§  PW must be a fresh renewal of our walk and way with Jesus everyday

·         

God is Great! Great Personality

There is a story of a Scottish woman who earned a modest living by peddling her wares along the roads of her country. Each day she would travel about, and when she came to an intersection, she would toss a stick in the air. Whichever way the stick was pointed was the way she went. On one occasion an old man stood across the road from her as she tossed the stick into the air once, twice, three times. Finally the old man asked, “Why are you throwing that stick like that?”

I’m letting God show me which way to go by using this stick,” She said.

“Then why did you throw it three times?” the old man asked.

“Because the first two times, He was pointing me in the wrong direction,” was her reply}

So what is God like? Can we somehow manipulate him into doing what we want? 

2 Misconceptions:

(1) God “cosmic-kill-joy”

(2) God “sweet docile grandfather that’s indulgent”

(I’m trying to avoid an academic study of God & his attributes. This is not for knowledge only but to know HIM.)

Before we talk Personality let’s talk to SPIRITUALITY    (John 4:21-24)

God is spirit

·        No limit by a body (we struggle with body image and issues)

·        No limit by geographical location (4:21, Acts 17: 24 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.”)

o   Cannot box in the power of God 

o   He is indestructible

Personality of our God

Ex: Hold personality because he is personal

(Consider the world religions – Hinduism (polytheistic) yet part of the Brahma – seeking Nirvana: place to cease striving & rest.) 

Jesus said – “come to me and find rest”

 God is personal

·        Individual being –Exodus 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.

o   Hold a self consciousness

o   Holds a will (the will)

·        Capable Being

o   Feeling (Jealous God)

o   Choosing (Jacob I have chosen)

o   Social Relationships (reciprocal)

§  Spoke with Moses face to face as a friend speaks

§  Incarnation: Jesus lived this out – consider the wedding party

·        Holds a Name – Exodus 3:14

o   Psalm 20: 7, Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

o   Communicates his name

o   Characterized by his name  

§  Elohim, El Elyon, Jehovah, Jehovah Rapha 

·        He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!

·        He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!

·        He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times

Bring to us: (1) You can approach God

·        He is not a machine, Gov’t agency, or genie in a bottle

·        He holds deep affection & relationships

·        Hymn: He walks with me and talks with me

(2) You can love him for what he is, not for what he can do for you

{Country Road running yesterday with the old dogs chasing me…}

For you shall not go out with haste, Nor go by flight; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12

He always was, He always is, and He always will be…
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!
He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!