The Value of the Lost

In Luke 15:2, Pharisees and scribes complain that Jesus is receiving sinners and eating with them. Strong’s Concordance shows that the word translated sinners, G268, comes from another word, G264, meaning simply “to miss the mark.” Jesus then tells three stories which show the great value He attributes to those who have missed the mark (Lk 15:3-32).

Jesus says that whenever a change of heart occurs (repentance) in a“sinners”, heaven celebrates. He speaks of them as beloved treasures that are lost. There is no rest until each treasure is found; then celebration is required. Jesus ends each of the three stories with an invitation to friends and neighbors to celebrate also.  

Jesus continues in Luke 16 to tell stories chastising the religious leaders for their greed and lack of concern for the people. That which God considers treasure is not at all what they consider treasure.

I cried the day I realized I would have made the perfect Pharisee, full of judgment and scorn. The Pharisees had no idea they were the ones truly lost, truly missing the mark. I had been equally clueless. However, when a Pharisee has a change of heart (repentance) heaven celebrates. That is the love of God.

“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Lk 19:10 NASB)

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

"Lift Another Up" Lifestyle

...in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 
(Ph 2:3b NKJV)

I am to lift another up as Jesus lifts me up.  I am to humbly lead others to the higher life that Jesus paid for us to walk in. There should always be those in my life that I am lifting up and those that are lifting me up. This is the lesson that I see in the above scripture.

I came to understand this verse in this way after looking at the meanings of the words in the Strong's concordance.  This is what I found:

       in lowliness of mind - G5012 - humiliation of mind, i.e. modesty
       let - G2233 - to lead, i.e. command (with official authority); figuratively, to deem, i.e. consider
       each - G240 - one another
       esteem - G2233 - to lead, i.e. command (with official authority); figuratively, to deem, i.e. consider
       other - G240 - one another
       better than - G5242 - to hold oneself above, i.e. (figuratively) to excel; participle (as adjective, or neuter as noun) superior, superiority
       themselves - G1438 - him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons) my-, thy-, our-, your-) self (selves), etc.

So, Philippians 2:3b could read:

Humbly lead one another to lead one another to hold oneself above him.

This wording, though awkward, ministered to me. 

The writer of Hebrews wrote similarly, And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities. (Heb. 10:24 AMP)

This is a function of the church of Jesus Christ. We are to offer our ceiling to be another's floor, lifting each other higher and higher in love, in wisdom, in understanding...

I love this life!


Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Limitless

My God will never leave me nor forsake me (Dt 31:8). I am grateful that I can call on Him at any time.  However, I want a fuller relationship with Him than one in which I call on His presence when I need Him.

My Lord is a gentleman.  He does not force Himself upon me.  He is the all powerful king of heaven and earth and can do whatever He wants but because He unconditionally loves me, He constrains Himself to honor me, to honor my wishes, to honor my boundaries.

I want no boundaries with my God. I want full immersion in the limitless abyss of His love.  I want my life to be abandonment of all else to be one with all that is my Lord. If this requires the process I am living, let the process be quick, God.

Holy Spirit teach me to be aware of limits I may place upon the freedom I allow God in me, around me and through me. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, my understanding to embrace truth.

Your will be done, Lord, on earth as it is in heaven - Your kingdom manifest fully on earth.

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Even Greater Things

Jesus said, before He was crucified and went to heaven, “I can guarantee this truth: Those who believe in me will do the things that I am doing. They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father...I will not leave you all alone. I will come back to you."  (Jn 14:12, 18 GW)

Jesus said, after He was crucified and went to heaven, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”   (Mt 28:18-20 GW)

Jesus said that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him, and He would be with us until the end of time. Jesus had now been given greater authority than he had while He lived as a man on the earth. He manifests that greater authority through us who believe so we can do the things Jesus did and even greater things. He guaranteed it.

I love this life!

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Being a Girl

Growing up, I did not like being a girl. The males in my life were powerful. They could take from me and I wasn’t strong enough to protect myself.

As an adult, I see the wonder and power that is woman and am delighted to be one. God is my protection; in Him, all my needs are met and I am strong. Being a girl, a woman, is a high calling with supernatural benefits. God made no mistakes in creating us.

God certainly did not create woman to be of a lower class than man. Man and woman are of God, made in His glorious likeness and image. He would never have created us to be used, His glory cheapened. The differences of God’s children are meant to reveal unique aspects of His glory on the earth. The light of His glory should never be put under a bushel (Mt. 5:15). The abuse of girls, of women, throughout the world is unconscionable

My Heart is Full

There's nothing on earth that didn't come through God(John 1:3, Col. 1:16). This is why anything I need, I can receive through Him too.  He created everything and every person.  He's the source of the love that flows through every person...

He truly is my source of all. If I lacked parental care, I can crawl up into Abba's lap and receive His parental care. My heart is full. If I need a friend, the Holy Spirit fills my need. My heart is full. Whatever it is, the provision is available to receive. 

I love to spend time with God simply enjoying our relationship. Jesus practiced spending time alone with God (Mark 1:35,Luke 5:16, Matt. 26:36). The more it becomes my practice, the more consistent my life.  My heart remains full.

I wish everyone knew God in this way, that their hearts were full. The Holy Spirit leads one to this relationship and transformation. I cannot carry the care of hearts in need, the care belongs to The Lord (1 Peter 5:7).  I can share who I am and what I have.  I can share the fullness of my heart and speak of the wonder of God (Mark 16:15). It is my privilege and honor to do so.

Hush Voices

I need not ponder and wonder and worry about things.  I can ask the Holy Spirit.

For example, earlier today distant voices were accusing me of failure. Maybe I am detached.  Maybe my emotional growth is stunted.  Does anyone really know how to love…
…

Hush voices, I know how to love.  God’s love has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a reads:
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Looking back over my walk with God, I see significant growth in the qualities listed in these verses.

Again, I need not ponder and wonder and worry about things.  I can ask the Holy Spirit.  He doesn’t speak in innuendos, He speaks truth in love.

I love this life!

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Learning in a Way That's Uniquely Me

I wanted to be a chemist.  I'm constantly curious; I love the process of questioning, experimenting, learning...

I didn't become a chemist, but I'm realizing that I apply the same motivation to learning about God.  When I hear of some new aspect of God that I haven't experienced, my faith responds.  I determine to see how it works.  I practice (experiment with) living it out in my life through faith.  I experience my beliefs.

For example, if I see myself seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), how can that work out experientially in my life?  If I'm to do what I see the Father do (John 5:19), how do I live a lifestyle of seeing what God does and doing it?

I love the process of learning these things. 

I love this life!

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

No Throw-Aways

God is the giver of life.  Every person is formed and fashioned out of his love (Psalm 139).  

One day when I was irritated with people in general, I realized that out of respect for God, I should be respecting each person with whom I come in contact.  Out of respect for God's love and honor for people, I should love and honor people. People needn't deserve my respect, my love.  It's my choice to give out of my covenant relationship with God.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells 3 stories about the value of the lost.  A man searching for a lost sheep, a woman searching for a lost coin and a father waiting for his lost son to return.  Each story was a picture of God's desire for us to rejoice with Him when the lost is found.  The stories show great value attributed to the lost. 

Luke 19:10 reads, "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."  

The ultimate value placed on the lost was the life of Jesus. 

I must value them accordingly.

There are no throw-away people.

 

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

The Prophetic Life

I'm learning about the prophetic life. 

I know that God speaks to us according to John 10.  His followers (sheep) have listening ears to hear God, and can share what is heard with others.  I'm learning to ask God questions about people and how I can cooperate with Him to share His love with each one.  I'm learning to ask questions about what's happening in the spirit realm.  As different situations arise, how should I pray?  How should I speak?  What should I do?

It's opening a whole new aspect of living in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I love this life!

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

What About Me

Would the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, follow my thoughts and speech with an Amen?  That is, could He agree with them?

I've been noticing what I think and say about myself.

Even if I have never heard any person say anything positive about me, my God is always speaking love over me.  Always.

He speaks that I am in Him, all beautiful, all gracious.  He has given me the freedom to express my individuality and my unique expressions surprise and delight Him  The ways I choose to reveal the glory He has placed within me make Him smile.  I am dear to Him; He just loves me!

And yet, what do I think and say about myself?

My thoughts and words about me are changing to be in agreement with God's thoughts and words.

I love this life.

Copyright 2013, Leah Lambert Smith

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

I have known fear.  I lived with the knot in my gut for years.*

I hadn't really thought about my heart being troubled.

According to Strong's Concordance,  the word heart (G2588) in John 14:27 means the thoughts or feelings (mind).  

Let not your heart be troubled.  

The words Let and trouble are both G5015, meaning of uncertain affinity, to stir or agitate.  Affinity is an attraction, a natural liking.  So both Let and trouble mean an uncertain liking.  Agitate means to disturb, to move to and fro, as uncertainty can move one's thinking back and forth, pro and con.

So, Let not your heart be troubled could read - Agitate not your thoughts or feelings to be agitated.  Maybe once I start the agitation, it continues on its own?  I can relate to that.

I've recently found that though I felt fear in my gut, trouble I feel in my upper back with tightness across my shoulders.  I've been feeling that tightness a lot lately.   Why am I agitated?  Of what am I uncertain?  

Here is another opportunity to grow, to practice peace.**

I know of what I  am certain.  I am thoroughly loved.  My God has prepared my way.  End from beginning, all is well.  I can rest peacefully in the faithfulness of God.

I love this life.

* Read Overcoming Anger .
**Read Practice Makes Peaceful.

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Note - John uses this same word (G5015) in reference to Jesus' spirit being troubled in John 11:33, John 12:27 and John 13:2.

Make the Decision

The best you can think of people is that they unconditionally love you.  I wrote about it here.

So…that voice that wonders – Do they love me? That voice that accuses – If they loved me they wouldn’t… That voice that declares – Nobody loves me. Make the decision and these voices are mute.

I’ve made my decision. My husband loves me. My children love me. My parents love me. My in-laws love me. My friends love me…

Generally speaking, people love me.

It is my decision to have that viewpoint – they love me.

The decision not only frees me from negative thoughts; it creates positive thoughts.

I love this life!

Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith

Why Aren't I Hearing This?

I've been turning on some of my handy dandy technological wonders to no sound recently.  Easily fixed, but odd.  The third time it happened, I knew God was saying something to me.  Most people who don't hear God don't even know there are fascinating happenings they could be sensing.  I'm wondering what my part is to hear things of the spirit consistently myself and to communicate the opportunity to others.

Hmmm...this is a post I'll probably be updating often..as I hear more...

I love this life.

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Practice Makes Peaceful

I am secure 
In My Father's Secret Place
So very sure
Hidden in His love and grace
There is no fear
Strong enough to penetrate
Through these mighty wings that shield
My Father's Secret Place  
Copyright 2002  Leah Lambert Smith


I've had some worrisome (born of fear) thoughts today.  If I believe "there is no fear strong enough to penetrate through these mighty wings that shield my Father's secret place", how does worry mesh with the concept of my thoughts being a secret place with God (see prior post)?  

There is a heavenly secret place of God, under his rule and reign, that is totally free from fear.  But then there is my mind, where I have free will.  My mind is an amazing place set up to be filled with wonder, confident creativity and intimate discussions with the Holy Spirit (the mind of Christ)...or it can be a timid place full of fear, anger, and insecurity.  I can go back and forth between the two.  It's my choice.  It's when I keep it as a secret place with God, that no fear will penetrate the love, grace and mercy that flow there.

So, I practice consistent thinking.  I renew my mind (Romans 12:2).  I cast down and take captive thoughts that don't line up with God's truth (2 Cor. 10:5).  Practicing with daily challenges, such as today when I worried, sets me up for success when the challenges are greater.  As always, the Holy Spirit facilitates, changing me from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18).  Practice can be work, but progress is delightful. 

I love this life.

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Synergy

Galatians 5:22-23  (NCV)
But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.

Notice how it reads when I turn around the list of the fruit of the Spirit.  The first list is from the verse above and the 2nd list is tweaked a bit.  I wanted to put similar words in each list together, thus the odd spacing:

1)  self-Control,  gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, patience, peace,         joy,          love.

2)  I  control the gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, patience, peace and joy of my love.

For the fruit of the Spirit to grow richly in my life, cooperation of my self and the Spirit is required.

The Spirit of God is never a bully.  He won’t force mature fruit upon me.  He doesn’t make me do anything.  He has come along-side so that I can be and do so much more than I could on my own.  That’s grace.   It’s an amazing synergy.

I love this life.

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Do I Stink?

I love this life! I am head-over-heels wildly in love with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I am adored and cared for by the Almighty God whose love for me is unconditional and limitless. It’s truly a life abundantly above and beyond what I could ask or think (Eph. 3:14-20).
 
Therefore, it has grieved me that people I love have cast aside, and even vilified, what I consider so precious because they have been hurt by Christians.

Life in Jesus is a process. Though I was reborn into His life, like a baby, I have to grow up. 1 Peter 2:2 (AMP) reads, “Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation.”
Growing up is messy. When I misbehaved as a child, my mother would say, “Stop showing your butt!” – as in – there of parts of you that should remain hidden. If I am truly growing in Christ, I can’t just hide everything about my behavior that is uncomfortable to see, it has to be gone from me.

Romans 8:13 (AMP) reads, “For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.”

I am habitually in the process of getting rid of dead stuff that has been a part of me. Dead stuff tends to stink. I mean, it can nasty stink! I must appear foolish always walking around bearing nasty dead stuff that that has risen to the surface, and is now in the process of falling off.

AHA!

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NIV)

God loves to choose that which appears foolish to communicate His truths. God chose a shepherd boy to kill a giant (1 Samuel 17). He chose singers leading an army to overcome the enemy (2 Chronicles 20).  It appeared to the Jews absolute foolishness when Jesus said whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will have eternal life (John 6:53-66)

I know there are times I can be dismissed as a nasty, smelly, foolish hypocrite. I understand that. But there are things occurring amidst the stink, times that God’s glory is perceived shining clearly through me and into the life of another, as  I’m being changed from glory to glory.  This is not the way I would have set it up; this is God’s plan, His wisdom (His sense of humor?).  The more I meditate on it, the more beautiful and powerful it is.  The Holy Spirit prepares a heart to receive Jesus.  I trust He knows people well enough to touch their hearts in a way that supersedes anything smelly carnality may have inflicted upon them.

I love this life.


Note – I received this aha moment while reading this sentence in this blog post of Jason Ministries – “So what the world sees from the carnal Christian is not Christ’s reflection, but the agitated filth that is being forced away from the spirit.”

Another Note – Here’s a bit more insight on this subject – True Life and Beloved, Let Us Love.
And Another Note – Speaking of messy, I just wrote a blog post wondering how I may look in the spirit realm when I lack self-control. I entitled it “Incontinence” (yes, I went there).

Incontinence

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

While reviewing the fruit of the spirit, I looked up each fruit in Strong’s concordance. Temperance is Strong’s Number G1466. The definition reads:

From G1468; self control (especially continence)

The word continence jumped into my imagination. Two definitions of continence are:

1. Self-restraint; moderation.

2. Voluntary control over urinary and fecal discharge.

I used to carry a lot of of anger.  At the least it was expressed through snide remarks.  Sometimes it was fully revealed. It was an area where I showed incontinence, lack of self-control.  I wonder if, during those times of incontinence, it might appear in the spirit realm as if I were wetting or soiling myself .  How appropriate that would be!

Physical incontinence tends to occur at the periphery of life, infancy and old age. One, I would expect to change with maturity; for the other, I might feel pity.

If someone shows lack of self-control toward me, I can certainly empathize.  I hope for his or her future, believing the person will change with maturity.  I don’t dismiss communication made during such times. There may be bits of truth I can see expressed amongst the sludge…

I love this life.

Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith

Love-Colored Glasses

Believing the best of someone, means I see that person as complete, whole and mature. I speak and behave in a way that acknowledges the person is of value to God and therefore worthy of my respect.  End from beginning, through love, I can choose to see good regardless of the person’s behavior.  My view is consistent as if I see through love-colored glasses.  Love-colored glasses have an anointing on them (a super-power!) of confidence and leadership.  The wearer steers his part of any relationship or conversation in a loving direction.

I’m not there yet.

I suppose my cry of, “Where’d I put my glasses!” can have spiritual connotation.

When circumstances show me an area of love I need to grow into, it’s time to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and change.  If I tried to change myself, I would fail.  The Holy Spirit has a great track record of changing me from glory to glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18 is my favorite scripture, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  This scripture contains amazing hope for us all.

I look forward to a transformed Leah.

I love this life!

Copyright 2012 Leah Lambert Smith

Light of Christ

I carry light, the full spectrum of light.

Light reveals.  

Keep the light uncovered and lifted high.

The higher light is lifted, the less shadow remains.


Copyright 2013. Leah Lambert Smith

Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Luke 11:33-36 NKJV
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

Age

There is something about an older man
An older man of integrity
You know he has had many opportunities to choose the coward's way
To give in to fear when courage is hard
But that is not his lifestyle
He has taken responsibility when faultless
He has shown wisdom in patience
And grace and mercy to the undeserving
These qualities render him worthy of respect
And reveal unique beauty
His eyes speak of his goodness
There is something about an older man
An older man of integrity

I Am a Fruit Bearer

God’s love in me is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  Jesus assures in John 15:4 that I will bear the fruit of God’s love as I remain in Him: 

“Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4 AMP)

This love doesn’t depend upon anyone’s actions toward me. I make the decision that remaining in God and bearing His love is my chosen lifestyle. I don’t always hit the mark, but the Holy Spirit teaches me and encourages me in this process of growth.

I love this life!

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith

Faith Hope Love

1 Corinthians 13 (known as the love chapter) ends by teaching that faith, hope and love remain and the greatest of these is love. 

This is how I check my love for others:

1) Do I have faith in them? Hebrews 11:1 teaches that faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Do I see as reality the good God created in others (though it may not be apparent at the moment)?

2) Do I have hope for them? Do I live in expectancy that positive change can occur in people at any time?

3) Do I show love? If I have faith and hope, I desire to do good toward someone. I don’t want to “do good” out of a desire to people-please or fix someone’s life. The truth of God’s love is so much greater than what my mind could imagine love to be.  I need to be Spirit-led.  Sometimes I am to show love through prayer, an act only God sees.

Fulfilling others expectations is not love. Showing the love of God goes above and beyond expectations. The acts of love shown through God’s love honestly meet the needs of giver and receiver.

By the way, I also apply faith, hope and love to myself.  I am to love others as I love myself (Matthew 22:39).

I LOVE THIS LIFE!

Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith

Stuck in Religion?

When I was younger that I felt I couldn’t do something because, as a Christian, I had been taught it was wrong.  As I was praying during one of these times, it dawned on me that God doesn’t run a prison. I was free to do what I wanted.

The question was – what did I really want?

I scheduled some alone time and researched possible consequences. The process taught me a lot and was liberating as I carefully weighed pros and cons.

I could do this because I'm not stuck in some religious prison.  Jesus died to set me free!  My relationship with Him certainly influences my actions, but He is not a dictator forcing me to behave in a certain way. 

Of course, one of the blessings of this life is that I have access to the wisdom of the ages (thank you Holy Spirit).  It’s certainly a wisdom I’d want to access during my decision-making.

I love this life!

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith
Note:  This blogpost was drawn from a response I made to a comment on my post entitled Restraint

You know you love me.

“…God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5 ESV)

God loves me. 

God's love includes abundant love for me. 

If you are born of God, His love has been poured into your heart.

Therefore, there is abundant love for me poured into your heart.

 

I love this life.

Copyright 2013. Leah Lambert Smith

Do you need help?

I was codependent most of my life.  One characteristic I had as a codependent was the need to help fix other people's problems.  I always thought I was doing a good thing.  When I saw my "help" for what it was, I saw pride and disrespect.  What made me think I had all the answers? What made me think someone wasn't capable of solving their own problems without hearing my opinion? 

I now always point to God as the answer to every issue.  His wisdom is always available.*  I desire to limit my words and actions to God's leading, even as Jesus did.  I help as I am led, knowing that God's answer to someone's need is so much greater than any answer I could produce. 

I love this life.

*James 1:5 (NIV) - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith