The remarkable thing about parables

I almost broke out in a roar at the breakfast table this morning…

while Barbara and I were discussing something relative to Jesus speaking in parables.  All of a sudden, as I was reading Matthew 13:13, I remembered this is Friday the 13^th, a day of superstition for those who are not Living in the Mind of Christ.  For those people, parables are somewhat of a superstitious thing…

Of course, what is remarkable about Matthew chapter 13 in the first place is this is where we find the first recorded parables of Jesus.  To top it off, after He made His first declaration, His disciples came to Him and asked why He was speaking to the multitudes like that.  His answer is staggering: (my paraphrase) “so they won’t understand.”  Say what?!?  Read 13:1-17.

Now, the question is: are parables “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning”?  OR, are they “heavenly stories with a heavenly meaning”?  Sort of depends on which mind you are operating in, doesn’t it?

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Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

There is nothing the presence of Christ can’t overcome

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

Divine Wisdom vs human wisdom

how does Divine Wisdom differ from human wisdom?

Divine Wisdom is the wisdom of God, His Mind.  Human wisdom is the wisdom of the “natural mind,” that mind humans are physically born with.  Both minds are capable of possessing a tremendous amount of information.

God’s Mind is complete; He is Omniscient.  God’s Wisdom does not change with the times; it is eternal.  All Christians possess God's Mind.

The natural mind will always be incomplete.  It begins in a babe with very little information, and can be added to as time goes by.  The wisdom of the human mind is changeable.  All Christians possess this natural mind.

We Christians possessing the Mind of Christ should always first and foremost be Living in His Mind.

When someone tries to move us into the natural mind, keep in Mind (no pun intended!) that medical books have changed, math books have changed, science books have changed, geography books have changed, & English books have changed…BUT, the Holy Bible (God’s Holy Word and Wisdom) has not changed, except for some perverted modern versions.

We Christians are to be Living in the “faith which was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3), and use only that of the natural mind that fits a need of the moment and doesn't conflict with God's Mind.

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Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

There is nothing the presence of Christ can’t overcome

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

Mapquest, GPS, or JPS?

which do you use the most???

Our good Christian friend, Beverly Mills Engelhardt, recently sent a writing from a pastor I had heard of years ago through Michael Wells…Bill Loveless, Boerne, TX.  Bill’s writing had given a picture and discussion of life being more like using Mapquest (which is usually used to tell you a “route” to take to get to a place) or GPS (which give you a location of a place on a map) for directions in life.  It is a good devotional.  However, as I recently posted, our friend in Pennsylvania, Tom Hagen, whom God gave the idea of JPS – Jesus Positioning System – speaks of how He sees Jesus putting him in the right place at the right time, all the time.  Beautiful!

Yes, it is practical for Believers to use the technology of GPS or Mapquest (or, any other map technology…they are phenomenal, aren’t they?!?) to navigate from Point A to Point B, or to locate some business/point on a map that we are interested in.  BUT, the bigger question is this: WHY are we looking for a particular spot or business?  WHY do we want to know the “way” to somewhere on the map?  The “WHY” is because of The WAY…our Lord Jesus Christ.  He knows WHY He wants us to be someplace, WHERE that someplace is that He wants us to be, WHEN He wants us to be there, HOW we are to get there, and WHAT He wants to do through us at that particular someplace.  WOW!

Check out Proverbs 3:5-6 and 16:9 for clarification of WHO is determining the “why, where, when, how, and what”…and IS The Real Way.  Need more “proof”?  Here’s a couple of instances in history.  Check out the stories in Genesis ch.37 thru ch.50, culminating with verses 50:19-20, AND Acts ch.16, particularly vs. 6-11.

GPS & Mapquest are good.  Nothing beats JPS.  Well, amen! 

To receive each post to this blog, go to www.leemccmviews.blogspot.com and register in top right corner.  Follow instructions to start getting an email of each post.  To look at ALL posts, look at LOG of posts on blogsite.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

There is nothing the presence of Christ can’t overcome

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

if I can't live the "Christian life"...what can I do?

If I can’t live the “Christian life”…

because there is only One person who has ever lived it, and that is Christ Himself, what can I do?  Well, the so-called “Christian life” is actually a description of Christ’s Life.

Jesus tells us in John 14:6 and John 11:25 that He is The LIFE.  The Greek zao speaks of God having Life independent from anyone, and from Whom all Saints receive His Life.  Colossians 3:3-4 tell us Christ is our life.  1 John 5:11-12 specifically state that only Saints have Christ and His life.  And John 6:57 tells us Jesus Lived by the Living Father, and we shall Live by Christ.  Grasp these and you can move to abandon to His Life being Lived through you.

Only the Resurrected Christ IN me, can Live His LIFE through me.  So then, What can I do?  Know God's Truth, believe His Truth and choose to allow Him to Live His Truth through me.  It’s called “walking in His Truth” or “walking in His Spirit.”  Putting one foot forward and watching Him take over!

If YOU are TRYING to live His LIFE, how is it working for you?

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

there is nothing the presence of Christ can’t overcome

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

tremendous benefits of "being weak"

how many of us recognize these three tremendous benefits of our “being weak”???

the Apostle Paul made this strange statement (end of verse 10) that few ever stop to really grasp the totality of its importance for all Believers…

     “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in

        weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of

        Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,

        in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then

      am I strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

“for when I am weak, then am I strong” – sort of negates the idea of trying to be “strong” for Christ’s sake, doesn’t it?

Think on these 3 tremendous benefits of our “being weak”:

1.     humility & sympathy – how do we boast in efforts of our weakness?  yet, how tender we can be toward the faults of others when we stay cognizant of our weakness!

2.    turn to Christ – ever notice when we are helpless, we turn to prayer.  when our strength is exhausted, in our weakness we reach out a hand for His.

3.    Christ’s strength becomes ours – Paul acknowledged all things done through him were actually the strength of Christ (Philippians 4:13).  Paul acknowledged his weakness, received Christ’s strength by the grace of God.

We have opportunity to recognize these benefits and enjoy Christ’s strength, just like the Apostle Paul did.  Well, amen.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

There is nothing the presence of Christ can’t overcome

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

Strength in weakness???

when will we learn there is Strength in weakness?

Wise men realize their weakness and their dependence.  Unwise men never recognize their weakness and live in independence.

The Apostle Paul gave us the classic declarations of a Saint recognizing weakness and dependence on God:

     “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.”  1 Corinthians 2:3

So, how did Paul ever minister in such a powerful way as we know he did?  Well, he gave us his answer:

     “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was

       not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God

       which was with me.”  1 Corinthians 15:10

Saints living in Holy Spirit learn quickly that with Christ’s presence the very thing that is their weakness can be transfigured into HIS STRENGTH.

His presence overcomes at the point of our weakness.  DO WE HAVE A MINISTRY OF WEAKNESS?

My friend, Michael Wells (Abiding Life Ministries Int’l) has two volumes of My Weakness for His Strength that are my “workbooks” for living in weakness, enjoying Christ’s strength by the grace of God.  These are available at 303-972-0859 or www.abidinglife.com .  Over 700 applications of Christ’s strength for our life in this life (virtually every issue or situation you will ever face).

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

There is nothing the presence of Christ can’t overcome

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

"Christ crucified" has the answer to every ill of mankind...

"Christ crucified" has the answer to every ill of mankind.  How is that?

Think about it.  In Christ’s crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection we find the atoning work of Christ.  Can’t His atonement lead folks to live in love and peace with one another?  Those whose sins have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ and are abandoned to God will live Lives of love, peace, and righteousness.  Those Saints will only seek the heart of God in every aspect of life.  If ALL people were like that, every public problem would be on the way to being solved…no more hatred, no more “racism,” no more murder, no more theft, no more divorce, no more …(name it).

What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus! 

Tell someone about God’s “Easter” story…

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

there is nothing the presence of Christ can’t overcome

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696