This is an excerpt from an actual conversation that I had with my best friend. None of this is scripted or whatever. I took the liberty of editing a bit. Mostly it’s just grammatical structure and what not. Oh, and the names were changed. The letter “T” signifies my best friend, and the other one is me. Obviously. Actual additions are made in italics and the color blue. I don’t know if the color blue will show up on the blog (I’m editing this in Word) so I made it italicized as well. I -know- that that transfers. Anyway…after the line is the new(er) part. Btw, -anyone- may feel free to fix anything where I may have been wrong. You may either post it in a comment, or send it to me in an email. Thank you for your time, and God bless…
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T: So I read something someone wrote, and they basically said that they had had an epiphany. That epiphany was that God created evil and let Lucifer reside over it, and that He also created hell as a kingdom for Lucifer because it was His way of still showing His love…and that Lucifer didn't completely fall all the way down to earth. Just half way -.- .............I need your thoughts on this please, cause no one else speaks any sense :P
Rev (sXe): Ok. One: that's kinda difficult. Since God created everything, then it's a good argument to say that he created evil. Personally, I think that there is a balance to everything. It's part of free will. Io...it's not so much that He -created- it (to me), but that He -allowed- it to be. Idk...it starts to look like a chicken and egg scenario. Had to start somewhere. Trufully, idk. What I -do- know is that no one was forced to do anything. Whether God actually created evil or not is a moot point (to me). People always want to blame God for things…when they actually -do- acknowledge His presence. Nope. Not His fault.
Lucifer was one of the three strongest angels in Heaven. He was also beloved of God. Kinda like Judas (note: I’m not saying that God showed Judas particular favor, just that he was a disciple…kinda favor off top, you know?). He was strong enough to convince a third of all of the angels to join him in his rebellion. God didn't -give- him anything. He allowed it to happen, and Lucifer naturally took over being the strongest, and starting the rebellion in the first place. God created Hell as a punishment Matthew 25:41. It states that clearly in the Bible. And Lucifer didn't really -fall- anywhere. We call it that because he "fell from (God's) grace". He was CAST out of Heaven.
When he was cast out of Heaven it is presumed that he tried to take Earth over. Idk. I just think that he was jealous that God had a new creation that had His love, and he wanted to get back at God. Being that he already lost and knows that he can't win, he instead got at Him through his creations. kinda like keying a car to get revenge on the owner. Of course we have more value than a car, and it's so serious that God cursed an animal for the rest of its existence for being party to Lucifer's villainy. Lucifer wasn't supposed to fall -anywhere- specific (I’ve read verses that say that Lucifer is going to end up in Hell. It mentions him being there, but apparently he’s not bound down there yet if he walks around on the Earth (I Peter 5:8). So far, I haven’t noticed anything saying that he was cast straight to Hell to begin with. I could be wrong. Anyone who knows differently, feel free to correct me. Please and thank you.), he was just cast out of Heaven. That's punishment enough. Think about it...you're used to seeing God's face all day every day and enjoying bliss while being the musical leader and enjoying dominion over (presumably) a third of the angels (presumably, cause it's thought that he reigned over the third that he took with him), then you get cast into nothingness. There -was- no Earth as we know it, then. "And the Earth was w/out form, and void; and darkness, was upon the face of the deep" (Gensis 1:2a). So...he was cast out of eternal light into the blackness of space.
-Then-, when he caused man to fall, God punished him again...I think. Idk. I just know that there's no record of God making Hell before that. There was no need. One punishment, one crime. God forgave him, but didn't forget so he wasn't allowed back into Heaven. Well...idk. Maybe he -would- have been had be repented and actually -asked-. I can't say for sure...but, yeah. No Hell before men fell. Not that I can find. So...yeah. Hope that helps a bit??
T: Yea. You said basically what I've been saying to him, but he came back and said that he researched it and that his eyes are wide open..............................sometimes I get real defensive, especially when it's about God. So...I had to step back and say to myself, “Am I arguing out of my own frustration that someone actually has the audacity to say this, or is what I'm saying real?”
Rev (sXe): Researched? As in...the Bible?
T: No. I doubt it. -.- That's the thing with these people, they all talk about research and noone even bothers to open the bible.
Rev (sXe): Cause...no one else was around then. And, I'd -love- to see -those- verses. Man...don't even worry about it. I figured it out when I went through my doubting stage. People who's lives don't mean what they want it to, who aren't as important as they'd like to be, or who don't want to accept the idea of an omniscient higher Being like to think that -they- know the secret truth about God, and all Christians are wrong. One problem...they never even bother to live their lives right!!! I mean...I -know- I'm not wrong. But, if I was, I'd rather be slightly wrong and living a good life, then all right and living messed up. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9 [minus “that”]" says nothing about religion or a certain set of beliefs
T: So, I spoke to someone else about this and they said for me to think about it like God's wrath...so basically what they meant was that God does have it in Him to be dark and evil, and that He created Lucifer to embody that. Basically -.- And that He knew from jump that Lucifer would rebel, so it all kinda fell into place.
Rev (sXe): ...but Lucifer was -beautiful-! Which is why he can still appear as an angel of light. He was created perfect and whole. Just like we were. It was -choice-. Free will. Something that people refuse to acknowledge with their excuses and bs Yeah...He knew it would happen. He knows all. He also knew that Adam would eat from the tree. Again...free will.
People are going to complain no matter what. If it -didn't- go down like that, the same people would complain that “God doesn't trust us, ‘cause if He did He'd give us free will and let us make our own decisions trusting that we'll turn to Him”. That “He's trying to hide something”, or “He's a control freak”.
Man...people are -stupid-! Just don't feed into it, T. Your faith is strong, don't let pseudo-intellectuals who wouldn't know a verse if it fell on them, and who haven't been inside of a church since they were last made to, try to dictate -your- faith for you. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12c). But...the start is salvation, not posturing. Yah mean?? :P
It's like poor people trying to tell you how to get rich when you're already rich. Why listen?? -Not- trying to discourage you from asking me q's. -Very- glad that you did. I -love- theological and intellectual discussions. Been too long since I had one. Just tryin to tell you that it doesn't matter who's smarter between you and the person that you are talking to (though I'm sure you are), we're supposed to approach God as children, anyway.
T: Not all all hun! Lol, please! Me be caught up in all that nonsense? No way! I am loyal to God to the BONE! Real talk
Rev (sXe): Oh. Idk...I kinda had flash backs. I had a phase when I was all deep into that religious conspiracy stuff like Immortal Technique saying that Mary Magdalene had Jesus’ children (didn't think that part was true, but I was listenin to people who did) and the Apocrypha and all that. Eventually I -got- the Apocrypha. Guess what? It's like...the same as the Bible :P (note: It’s the same language style) But the people who read that whole thing religiously don't read the Bible. I finally pulled my head out of my butt and moved on from that. So...I was kinda talkin to younger me, not doubting you :P
T: I see lol. I actually have an awesome edition of the bible...an archaeological/historical one so it has so many references and notes...I read up on that in there. I've never been one to be caught up in conspiracies...I DO realise that there are things we need to know so we don't get brainwashed and that, but I draw the line and just walk with/by/for my faith. Knowledge is a wicked thing oft times. (btw…that whole “Ignorance is bliss” thing that people say isn’t a complete quote. The -whole- quote is “When Ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise – Thomas Gray's, "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College" (1742)) You and I both know that. And the more you know, the more you will be held accountable for. I forgot the book that's from- do you remember?
Rev (sXe): YES!!! :P
T: can't even remember if it's N or OT :p (New or Old Testament). I think it's something Paul said....
Rev (sXe): "to whom much is given, much is required", is the exact syntax of the KJV.
T: what book?
Rev (sXe): Luke 12:48
T: you know, the thing with me...although I have read aLOT, I don't know my Bible passage for passage and all that. And I really should. I get lazy to be honest.
Rev (sXe): I don't either. I just googled it ;) I know a lot, but I can't keep the chapter, verse, and books right. It helps that I'm almost always right with the words and wording. So...it generally pops up on the first try. You don't have to have the passage if it's in your heart. It -helps- when talking to other people, but you don't need chapter and verse number IMHO. If they're smart, they'll check up on you to make sure that you're right, anyway.
T: Awww, my exact sentiment :) Thank you for validating me/that :p So yah.
Rev (sXe): Not me, it's the Bible :P Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word in all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so"
T: “I know a lot, but I can't keep the chapter, verse, and books right Rev (sXe): it helps that I’m almost always right with the words and wording. So...it generally pops up on the first try. You don't have to have the passage if it's in your heart. It -helps- when talking to other people, but you don't need chapter and verse number IMHO”
T: that's what I meant
Rev (sXe): Oh. Gotcha
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“18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” (Romans 1:18-25)
Breakdown: God is mad at anyone who would twist the truth, or say that it is wrong, because everything that anyone needs to know is already known to them. God showed it to them. Even the things that you can’t see, you in essence -can- because He explained the whole thing to you -just- to make sure that you wouldn’t have an excuse. But, when people see God in life, they insist on saying that it’s something else. They aren’t even thankful, they just think it’s them (man) who is all and, in their foolishness, their error is compounded into wickedness. Though they thought themselves to be wise, they instead became fools and changed the glory (Praise, majesty, pride. Pride as in “what it is that makes Him so great and different from us”) of God into something that they could better understand like images of men or animals.
Does that sound familiar? It should. Ever heard of a “Jesus piece”, or seen a “depiction” of Christ? First off, Jesus didn’t even look good. “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2b). Second: He -definitely- wasn’t Caucasian. There’s a bit of debate about what he was and wasn’t. I don’t -care- what race or color my Lord was. Why does it matter? What does it change?? Anyway…idk. I mean…the hair thing, too. He probably -did- have long hair is He was traveling all the time with nothing more than the clothes on His back. I don’t think He was particularly worried about “Hey, barber? A little off the top and sides, please. I have to look good for their depictions and pre-conceived notions of/about me. Thanks” This is just one of my pet peeves. Let it go, man. Save some people from burning in Hell. Don’t worry about how much melanin the Son of God had, or whether or not his tan was beyond the power of SPF. *smh* anyway…I just wanted to put my little plug there because the convo was about the same thing, believe it or not. That whole thing about Jesus having kids is the product of an overactive imagination (IMO), and our -insane- need to have to understand the unfathomable or, barring that, mar the image of perfection that we cannot understand being of sin and born to/in it. Look…He was perfect. He still is. We don’t understand Him. We know as much as we need to. We have enough on our hands just trying to figure out His Will for us, and staying in it. You’ve got better things to do. Seriously. If you’re bored, go soul-winning. That one doesn’t get old. Why, you say? Because you never run out of people to lead to the Lord. If you do? Move!
…I’m not saying that I walk around slaying people with the Spirit (who came -up- with the idea of the Spirit as a weapon, anyway?? Did a Bible search. Didn’t find it. I find it insulting that “the comforter” is referred to in weaponized terms. Seriously, people! Stop messing it up for the -rest- of us!!), I’m also not trying to quantify -everything- having to do with God. There’s some things that I don’t understand. -Great-! Yes, -great-! I don’t want to be responsible for that knowledge, anyway. True story.
Anway…off my soap box. Stay -in- the Will of God, and -out- of His business just cause you’re bored and don’t understand. Just say that you don’t understand. It happens. There is an entire -type- of science that is dedicated to uncertainties and chance/probability. It’s called “quantum”. So…let’s try having a little “quantum” faith, huh? Yeah.
Friday, May 28, 2010
ATTENTION!!!
If you read this, then it applies to you. This is for real. As of -right now- I am removing everyone from my mailing list. If you get this email twice, no I didn't repost on the same website. It just means that you are in my mailing list on -both- sites. I have a blog site, -and- a poetry site. I -really- hope that you all realized that >.<
There are different reasons for this ranging from people not actually knowing the url of my webiste (where I'm actually posting this things), to people leaving comments in the wrong place (when they -do- leave a comment), to a -much- lower traffic volume on my site than people that actually read me, to me wanting to be able to contact more people telling them when I have posted something new, to me wanting the versatility of just encouraging people with a daily word or being able to switch or add places that I post to in the future should need be. Basically, all road lead to Rome. Rome is Twitter for sake of argument :P
Now...if you don't want to follow me on twitter, you just want to be updated with the things that I write about, you can always click on the "subscribe" link on my blog. There is one for subscribing to posts, and one for subscribing to comments. The difference is: that won't give you the full post in your email anymore, you'll only get a snippet. Which means that you'll have to click the link that is provided on the email and actually come to my site, now. Look...I'm not trying to difficult, but I would like an idea of how many people -actually- read me, and I would also like LOVE, more comments
So...my twitter information is as follows. For those of you that don't know, I will soon monetize my writting under the pseudonym of "Rev" (short for "Revelations"), and under the company name of sXe (short for silent expressions). Unfortunately, that was already taken as a twitter name (both "sXe", and "Rev"), so I used the fall back. Trufully speakin.
http://twitter.com/ trufullyspeakin
full name: sXe
email: silentexpression@gmail.com
Or you can just click here
So...my twitter information is as follows. For those of you that don't know, I will soon monetize my writting under the pseudonym of "Rev" (short for "Revelations"), and under the company name of sXe (short for silent expressions). Unfortunately, that was already taken as a twitter name (both "sXe", and "Rev"), so I used the fall back. Trufully speakin.
http://twitter.com/ trufullyspeakin
full name: sXe
email: silentexpression@gmail.com
Or you can just click here
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Step out of your comfort zone...
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:23-24)
You know...I honestly believe that -lot- more things would be done for God if people would only feel more "comfortable" doing them. This isn't going to devolve into: "we should find a way to make it easier for people to serve God". No...this is almost exactly the opposite. People should get over their little personal hang-ups and realize that there is something -much- bigger than them going on. I was reminded of that recently.
First, let me say that I do -not- fancy myself a prophet. I know that I know things that I should not know, and sometimes it is a bit more in advance of the event happening than I may be comfortable with, but I don't seriously purport myself to be a prophet by any means. However, recently God revealed to me/laid it upon my heart...I don't know the correct way to say it, I just -knew- that my father's pastor was about to go through something. Mind you, I have only met the man once. The one time, he spoke words of prophecy that are still coming true. Most impressively, he spoke on things of differing ranges as in short-term, medium, and long-term. And they are happening just as he said it. And he was a bit too specific for it to be "coincidence" or false "psychic" guessing, if you are wondering. I have a bit of a Gift for Seeing (discernment) and Knowing, but I still have a hard time believing in prophets. Probably because I have seen -so- many people puffed up with themselves, or so impressed with what they're doing that they leave the Holy Spirit somewhere behind them in their need to be seen. There are two big reasons I don't tell people about having Gifts (even in small doses). 1) If -I- have trouble believing, why wouldn't you? 2) I don't want to be seen. Getting off topic, but I Know that my dad's pastor is going to be going through something. It's not made clear to me -what- it is. Just that it is. And...idk what's going on. What I do know is that before I have acted on such Knowledge and been told that I was wrong. I don't know what happened. I could have been mistaken, or the person could have been refusing to receive. It's not for me to say, only to do. So...I'm a bit hesitant, but I do. I start by asking my father to pray for him, because I know that my dad will remember much better than I will. Then it become more and more plain to me that it's -not- something that I'm making up or misinterpreting. And this one song kept playing in my mind. It's a song that I heard down in Pastor Steele's church way back when. It's called "Don't Stop Praying For Me", and it says: "Don't stop praying for me/even though it may seem/that everything's fine/in this life of mine./Don't stop praying for me/for there's no way to see/what kind of load/waits for me down the road..."
A couple of days later I call my father back to tell him that whatever is going to/supposed to happen, that it will most likely happen within the next four days. And then I just let it go at that. Why? Because it made me uncomfortable to "push" my knowledge on other people.
Then, tonight, I felt a -strong- stirring in my spirit to make the call personally to this Pastor. I was pretty sure that he remembered me, but I was embarrassed to say the -least-. Internally I was like, "now God...I know better than to doubt you, but if I'm getting this one wrong, please don't let it be too bad". So I txt my father for the pastor's number. My dad is busy. Ok...I can leave it at that, right? Wrong. The feeling is stronger. So, I call my father's wife. -She- doesn't have the number. She says "you father has it, but he's in a meeting". "I know...that's why I asked you :) ". She has the pastor's wife's number. So I text the pastor's wife and sort of explain who I am (since she -doesn't- know me), and politely as possible as to speak to her husband. At this point, I'm not trying to be all "I HAVE A -WORD- FROM THE -LORD-!!" So I don't even mention what I need the number for, I just ask to be put in touch with her husband. She says that she'll have him call me. I Know that it won't be tonight. And I am supposed to complete this tonight for some reason. At this point I just want to get it over with, to tell the truth. I'm not going to pretend like I'm Mr Super-spiritual, because I'm not. I'm -very- much human, and I didn't want to be bothered to be flat honest. I -really- didn't want to be embarrassed. Well...my dad called me back as soon as he got out of his meeting. Thank God for people that follow up. I don't know anyone that does the way that he does. So...I have a number now. I txt the pastor to ask if it would be alright to call him tonight. I -still- don't want to put anyone the -slightest- bit out of their way and be wrong. The pastor ends up calling me back and I get embarrassed.
I get embarrassed because he is so -thankful- that someone would be in tune and listening to God enough to bless his life the same way that he blesses other people's lives. I -still- don't know what he was/is going through, and I don't -want- to know. It's none of my business. I was just the messenger. But it felt -mighty- good to be a part of something so much bigger than myself. For a moment I stepped out of my skin and it blessed me to bless someone else because...God is -still- working and moving all over the world. He doesn't -need- you, He -wants- you. You just have to make yourself available to Him...
About two Sundays ago the person who brought Word was talking about availability when dealing with the things of God. He was saying something to the effect that we as a people are generally too busy. Too busy to do the work of God.
God doesn't need you to be super talented or super good looking. Moses had a speech problem, and he was sent to speak not only to greatest leader of the known world at that time, but also his step-brother. His -younger- step brother. The murdering son-of-a-slave whom Pharaoh's daughter had "taken pity on", only to have him turn on her and her people one day, willfully (because that's how they would have seen it), this guy who can't even speak and should rightfully be in jail, has the gall to talk about a burning bush, the demands of the monotheistic God of the slaves who has no likeness (btw...why haven't we figured out that He -does- have likenesses all over -everywhere-? We were made in His image, weren't we? Look in the mirror!), and how it would be in the Pharaoh's best interest to destroy his people's economy by letting go their nation's greatest asset. The Hebrew slaves. You think that was comfortable for Moses? Or how about David being the runt of the litter to the point where he was left out to tend the sheep when Samuel came by to anoint the next king of Israel (I Samuel 16) You would think that a father would want -every- son on hand, just in case. Apparently they thought so little of David that he wasn't even worth consideration(I Samuel 16:11). Or, take for example Jesus Himself. "he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2b). It doesn't matter what a person looks like, or what talents they have: "for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (I Samuel 16:7b).
What the man said that brought it heavy and hard to -my- heart was that "When you make yourself available, God will make you capable". He said that when God was looking for disciples His recruitment pitch went like this: "follow me". The man said that if you want to follow God, you have to make yourself available. And then, the part that -hurt- was when he made the point that PROXIMITY is not AVAILABILITY. Read that again. We can be -near- the Will of God, we can be -by- the Will of God, we can be in God's house on Sunday, we can look and act the part, but being close or being in the right place isn't the same thing as being open and available to be -used- by God. What is it that God is asking of you, or telling you to do? God doesn't always demand. Most often He simply asks, and we deny our own selves blessings simply by refusing His request! Other times He demands and, when something hugely dramatic happens because we ignored Him for years, -then- we sit up and take notice and all of a sudden it's a huge testimony. I don't want to get started, but you'll have to ask Dr Breakthrough about getting more information on "Divine Interception vs Divine Intervention". He knows someone who is coming out with a book on that, and let me tell you that is going to be powerful starting from the -name-!
The moral of the story that I started to tell was that two people were blessed just because I stepped out of my comfort zone to do what I was told. And I -really- needed that confirmation. I had, in fact, asked for it. Only to find it in encouraging someone else. -Never- underestimate the power of blessing other people, and don't take the chance of missing the chance to be blessed...by blessing others. It's 1:46 am and my thoughts are starting to run together. Just make yourself available, and God will take care of the rest.
Make this song your prayer:
| | | | | | | |
v v v v v v v v
You know...I honestly believe that -lot- more things would be done for God if people would only feel more "comfortable" doing them. This isn't going to devolve into: "we should find a way to make it easier for people to serve God". No...this is almost exactly the opposite. People should get over their little personal hang-ups and realize that there is something -much- bigger than them going on. I was reminded of that recently.
First, let me say that I do -not- fancy myself a prophet. I know that I know things that I should not know, and sometimes it is a bit more in advance of the event happening than I may be comfortable with, but I don't seriously purport myself to be a prophet by any means. However, recently God revealed to me/laid it upon my heart...I don't know the correct way to say it, I just -knew- that my father's pastor was about to go through something. Mind you, I have only met the man once. The one time, he spoke words of prophecy that are still coming true. Most impressively, he spoke on things of differing ranges as in short-term, medium, and long-term. And they are happening just as he said it. And he was a bit too specific for it to be "coincidence" or false "psychic" guessing, if you are wondering. I have a bit of a Gift for Seeing (discernment) and Knowing, but I still have a hard time believing in prophets. Probably because I have seen -so- many people puffed up with themselves, or so impressed with what they're doing that they leave the Holy Spirit somewhere behind them in their need to be seen. There are two big reasons I don't tell people about having Gifts (even in small doses). 1) If -I- have trouble believing, why wouldn't you? 2) I don't want to be seen. Getting off topic, but I Know that my dad's pastor is going to be going through something. It's not made clear to me -what- it is. Just that it is. And...idk what's going on. What I do know is that before I have acted on such Knowledge and been told that I was wrong. I don't know what happened. I could have been mistaken, or the person could have been refusing to receive. It's not for me to say, only to do. So...I'm a bit hesitant, but I do. I start by asking my father to pray for him, because I know that my dad will remember much better than I will. Then it become more and more plain to me that it's -not- something that I'm making up or misinterpreting. And this one song kept playing in my mind. It's a song that I heard down in Pastor Steele's church way back when. It's called "Don't Stop Praying For Me", and it says: "Don't stop praying for me/even though it may seem/that everything's fine/in this life of mine./Don't stop praying for me/for there's no way to see/what kind of load/waits for me down the road..."
A couple of days later I call my father back to tell him that whatever is going to/supposed to happen, that it will most likely happen within the next four days. And then I just let it go at that. Why? Because it made me uncomfortable to "push" my knowledge on other people.
Then, tonight, I felt a -strong- stirring in my spirit to make the call personally to this Pastor. I was pretty sure that he remembered me, but I was embarrassed to say the -least-. Internally I was like, "now God...I know better than to doubt you, but if I'm getting this one wrong, please don't let it be too bad". So I txt my father for the pastor's number. My dad is busy. Ok...I can leave it at that, right? Wrong. The feeling is stronger. So, I call my father's wife. -She- doesn't have the number. She says "you father has it, but he's in a meeting". "I know...that's why I asked you :) ". She has the pastor's wife's number. So I text the pastor's wife and sort of explain who I am (since she -doesn't- know me), and politely as possible as to speak to her husband. At this point, I'm not trying to be all "I HAVE A -WORD- FROM THE -LORD-!!" So I don't even mention what I need the number for, I just ask to be put in touch with her husband. She says that she'll have him call me. I Know that it won't be tonight. And I am supposed to complete this tonight for some reason. At this point I just want to get it over with, to tell the truth. I'm not going to pretend like I'm Mr Super-spiritual, because I'm not. I'm -very- much human, and I didn't want to be bothered to be flat honest. I -really- didn't want to be embarrassed. Well...my dad called me back as soon as he got out of his meeting. Thank God for people that follow up. I don't know anyone that does the way that he does. So...I have a number now. I txt the pastor to ask if it would be alright to call him tonight. I -still- don't want to put anyone the -slightest- bit out of their way and be wrong. The pastor ends up calling me back and I get embarrassed.
I get embarrassed because he is so -thankful- that someone would be in tune and listening to God enough to bless his life the same way that he blesses other people's lives. I -still- don't know what he was/is going through, and I don't -want- to know. It's none of my business. I was just the messenger. But it felt -mighty- good to be a part of something so much bigger than myself. For a moment I stepped out of my skin and it blessed me to bless someone else because...God is -still- working and moving all over the world. He doesn't -need- you, He -wants- you. You just have to make yourself available to Him...
About two Sundays ago the person who brought Word was talking about availability when dealing with the things of God. He was saying something to the effect that we as a people are generally too busy. Too busy to do the work of God.
God doesn't need you to be super talented or super good looking. Moses had a speech problem, and he was sent to speak not only to greatest leader of the known world at that time, but also his step-brother. His -younger- step brother. The murdering son-of-a-slave whom Pharaoh's daughter had "taken pity on", only to have him turn on her and her people one day, willfully (because that's how they would have seen it), this guy who can't even speak and should rightfully be in jail, has the gall to talk about a burning bush, the demands of the monotheistic God of the slaves who has no likeness (btw...why haven't we figured out that He -does- have likenesses all over -everywhere-? We were made in His image, weren't we? Look in the mirror!), and how it would be in the Pharaoh's best interest to destroy his people's economy by letting go their nation's greatest asset. The Hebrew slaves. You think that was comfortable for Moses? Or how about David being the runt of the litter to the point where he was left out to tend the sheep when Samuel came by to anoint the next king of Israel (I Samuel 16) You would think that a father would want -every- son on hand, just in case. Apparently they thought so little of David that he wasn't even worth consideration(I Samuel 16:11). Or, take for example Jesus Himself. "he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2b). It doesn't matter what a person looks like, or what talents they have: "for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (I Samuel 16:7b).
What the man said that brought it heavy and hard to -my- heart was that "When you make yourself available, God will make you capable". He said that when God was looking for disciples His recruitment pitch went like this: "follow me". The man said that if you want to follow God, you have to make yourself available. And then, the part that -hurt- was when he made the point that PROXIMITY is not AVAILABILITY. Read that again. We can be -near- the Will of God, we can be -by- the Will of God, we can be in God's house on Sunday, we can look and act the part, but being close or being in the right place isn't the same thing as being open and available to be -used- by God. What is it that God is asking of you, or telling you to do? God doesn't always demand. Most often He simply asks, and we deny our own selves blessings simply by refusing His request! Other times He demands and, when something hugely dramatic happens because we ignored Him for years, -then- we sit up and take notice and all of a sudden it's a huge testimony. I don't want to get started, but you'll have to ask Dr Breakthrough about getting more information on "Divine Interception vs Divine Intervention". He knows someone who is coming out with a book on that, and let me tell you that is going to be powerful starting from the -name-!
The moral of the story that I started to tell was that two people were blessed just because I stepped out of my comfort zone to do what I was told. And I -really- needed that confirmation. I had, in fact, asked for it. Only to find it in encouraging someone else. -Never- underestimate the power of blessing other people, and don't take the chance of missing the chance to be blessed...by blessing others. It's 1:46 am and my thoughts are starting to run together. Just make yourself available, and God will take care of the rest.
Make this song your prayer:
| | | | | | | |
v v v v v v v v
Saturday, May 15, 2010
All of My Help Cometh From The Lord
Patris ignosco mihi. Enim ego peccatus.
Give me strength, Father. Give me strength, and give me patience. Only You understand. Only You would make my life better. Only -You- would take my pain. Every day that is made more plain. My faith shall make me whole.
Psalm 91:1-4
"# He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
# I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
# Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence.
# He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler."
Glória Patri
et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper
et in sæ´cula sæculórum
...
In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spirítus Sanctí
Amen.
(people ask about my faith. and try it. but...in the end? people fail you. sometimes they even take delight in disappointing you just to see you fall. but i know where to lean. herein lies my strength. i trust and depend on no man. with no woman lies my heart. i am my own person. i accept full responsibility for my actions. and...in the end? i will be judged. but i will -not- be found wanting. of this, i swear)
Friday, May 14, 2010
You're Listening to the Wrong One (part 2)
Part 2:
So...still "tightening the belt". Got a little down, and when I get down I go through bouts of almost extreme laziness (not so that it affects hygiene, or even how I look, but I don't clean up and it kills my OCDness. extreme to me) and backbreaking diligence. Well...I'm not really on the diligence part of the cycle. Anyway...I took out a loan cause I have a 500 dollar deductible (read up about the car issues in the last post) and I didn't have that on me. So...I take out a loan for 1k. I only tell you that to explain what I'm about to say. So...I'm like, "10% of 1k (for tithe) is 100...but...sorry, God. I'll get you back. You know I would if I had it". Um...how many of you know that you -shouldn't- test God. I mean, -ever-??? Yeah. So, I notice a few discrepancies on my credit card and checking account. I finally get around to calling during their work hours. Apparently someone borrowed my identity to use my credit card. Also, I had racked up like 200+ in "returned transfer" funds. As shocking as that sounds, allow me to explain. It gets less shocking. Much. So...what had happened was (don't you love when it starts out like that? :P means an excuse is coming...) I had four transfers set to go automatically. Three from one bank account to the other in the same bank, and one to another bank (tithe). Well...the MC no longer has to pay me regularly as of Apr 20th, but I forgot about those transfers. So I'm going about my business and I get text alerts (cause I have it set up like that) on my phone telling me about insufficient funds to transfer. I figure, "too late to do anything about it now (plus I was out of town), oh well". I get more the next day. Here's what happens. -Any- returned transfers are an auto charge of $30. Even in-house. And they auto-retry the next day. I have four transfers. Four times 30. Times 2. 240. So...I call them up and grouse a bit like "man, I wish I would have known or something" and then I do my Harris thing where I tell them about my woes and shamelessly make them feel sorry for me until they help me. This is generally accompanied with prayer. This time it was proceeded by prayer. Guess what? -While- I was on the phone, they removed almost $120 dollars off of the charges that I had (in all fairness) racked up through stupidity and sloth. It's just me being lazy setting up auto-transfers. I do it that way so that everything's auto and I don't have to remember. Anyway...also, they're going to removed the fraudulent charges off of my credit card, and credit that money back to me within the next 3-5 business days. 7-10 business days for a new card. Um...God got His tithe, you heard?? Not only that, but I got a testimony to bring to my atheist friend's house.
I had a check returned to me today. It was sent -after- my loan had been paid off. The check had a sticky attached that simply read "Paid Off". I want you to know right now that when you get to Heaven and you see the looong list of sins that you've committed both intentionally and accidentally/unknowingly, both through action and in your heart, I want you to know that at the end of that "invoice", so to speak, over the price that says "the wages of sin is Death" there's a little post-it note about the size of the sign that hung from the cross. The sign that said "King of the Jews". And, on the back of that post-it it says "Paid in Full. ps: don't worry about this one, Pops. He/She is with me" :) Are you feelin me?
There is -nowhere- beyond the site and reach of our God. There is no -one- beyond His love. There is -nothing- to hard for Him. Back when I used to lead singing for children's church we used to say it kinda like this: "My God is so -big-, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do...for -you-!"
To be completely honest with you, I'm a bit of a closet adrenaline-junkie. I like to live on the edge. And it's actually a little fun, and feels like I'm getting direct attention from Him, to live day-by-day just watching Him work in wondrous ways. I'm not stupid, I gotta get off of my butt and get moving in the right direction. There's no need to be carried when you can walk, but still...it's kinda like kids that act up to get attention. I can use the attention at the moment.
So...let me take this time out to list some of the things that I am thankful for:
God
My parents (who did a fine job, i must say. my mother is the toughest woman that i know)
The fact that my parents are proud of me (and not just a little bit)
my siblings
the fact that my siblings and i get along (even if we do annoy each other sometimes)
My Grandmother
My family that loves and respects me
the love of a Godly woman (no, I'm not naming names)
my friends
a working car (that is beautiful, btw)
my destiny is falling in place. both parts.
my talents and abilities and the will to drive them
the double portion of my father and firstborn's blessing (sorry, Chris :P somehow I Esau's hair, but Israel's blessing)
spiritual gifts (separate from talent and abilities)
my health and life
my sanity
guidance
etc, etc, etc...
i have clothes and food and options and skills and...-so- much. honestly, sometimes it's so much that it gets a bit overwhelming. and sometimes i wonder just -which- gift should i pursue atm, and that is a -good- feeling, actually... Idk. "Bless the LORD, oh my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His holy name"
Daniel Golden. My cousin. I love his voice, man. No homo.
So...still "tightening the belt". Got a little down, and when I get down I go through bouts of almost extreme laziness (not so that it affects hygiene, or even how I look, but I don't clean up and it kills my OCDness. extreme to me) and backbreaking diligence. Well...I'm not really on the diligence part of the cycle. Anyway...I took out a loan cause I have a 500 dollar deductible (read up about the car issues in the last post) and I didn't have that on me. So...I take out a loan for 1k. I only tell you that to explain what I'm about to say. So...I'm like, "10% of 1k (for tithe) is 100...but...sorry, God. I'll get you back. You know I would if I had it". Um...how many of you know that you -shouldn't- test God. I mean, -ever-??? Yeah. So, I notice a few discrepancies on my credit card and checking account. I finally get around to calling during their work hours. Apparently someone borrowed my identity to use my credit card. Also, I had racked up like 200+ in "returned transfer" funds. As shocking as that sounds, allow me to explain. It gets less shocking. Much. So...what had happened was (don't you love when it starts out like that? :P means an excuse is coming...) I had four transfers set to go automatically. Three from one bank account to the other in the same bank, and one to another bank (tithe). Well...the MC no longer has to pay me regularly as of Apr 20th, but I forgot about those transfers. So I'm going about my business and I get text alerts (cause I have it set up like that) on my phone telling me about insufficient funds to transfer. I figure, "too late to do anything about it now (plus I was out of town), oh well". I get more the next day. Here's what happens. -Any- returned transfers are an auto charge of $30. Even in-house. And they auto-retry the next day. I have four transfers. Four times 30. Times 2. 240. So...I call them up and grouse a bit like "man, I wish I would have known or something" and then I do my Harris thing where I tell them about my woes and shamelessly make them feel sorry for me until they help me. This is generally accompanied with prayer. This time it was proceeded by prayer. Guess what? -While- I was on the phone, they removed almost $120 dollars off of the charges that I had (in all fairness) racked up through stupidity and sloth. It's just me being lazy setting up auto-transfers. I do it that way so that everything's auto and I don't have to remember. Anyway...also, they're going to removed the fraudulent charges off of my credit card, and credit that money back to me within the next 3-5 business days. 7-10 business days for a new card. Um...God got His tithe, you heard?? Not only that, but I got a testimony to bring to my atheist friend's house.
I had a check returned to me today. It was sent -after- my loan had been paid off. The check had a sticky attached that simply read "Paid Off". I want you to know right now that when you get to Heaven and you see the looong list of sins that you've committed both intentionally and accidentally/unknowingly, both through action and in your heart, I want you to know that at the end of that "invoice", so to speak, over the price that says "the wages of sin is Death" there's a little post-it note about the size of the sign that hung from the cross. The sign that said "King of the Jews". And, on the back of that post-it it says "Paid in Full. ps: don't worry about this one, Pops. He/She is with me" :) Are you feelin me?
There is -nowhere- beyond the site and reach of our God. There is no -one- beyond His love. There is -nothing- to hard for Him. Back when I used to lead singing for children's church we used to say it kinda like this: "My God is so -big-, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do...for -you-!"
To be completely honest with you, I'm a bit of a closet adrenaline-junkie. I like to live on the edge. And it's actually a little fun, and feels like I'm getting direct attention from Him, to live day-by-day just watching Him work in wondrous ways. I'm not stupid, I gotta get off of my butt and get moving in the right direction. There's no need to be carried when you can walk, but still...it's kinda like kids that act up to get attention. I can use the attention at the moment.
So...let me take this time out to list some of the things that I am thankful for:
God
My parents (who did a fine job, i must say. my mother is the toughest woman that i know)
The fact that my parents are proud of me (and not just a little bit)
my siblings
the fact that my siblings and i get along (even if we do annoy each other sometimes)
My Grandmother
My family that loves and respects me
the love of a Godly woman (no, I'm not naming names)
my friends
a working car (that is beautiful, btw)
my destiny is falling in place. both parts.
my talents and abilities and the will to drive them
the double portion of my father and firstborn's blessing (sorry, Chris :P somehow I Esau's hair, but Israel's blessing)
spiritual gifts (separate from talent and abilities)
my health and life
my sanity
guidance
etc, etc, etc...
i have clothes and food and options and skills and...-so- much. honestly, sometimes it's so much that it gets a bit overwhelming. and sometimes i wonder just -which- gift should i pursue atm, and that is a -good- feeling, actually... Idk. "Bless the LORD, oh my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His holy name"
Daniel Golden. My cousin. I love his voice, man. No homo.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
You're Listening to the Wrong One (part 1)
Ok...so I've been basically absent from my blog for a little while. I've been traveling and being a Wildchild (in the Christian sense). Don't ask, cause I won't tell you, anyway. But...a few things occurred to me between then and now. Or, perhaps, I should say that I have been reminded of a few things. And my faith (previously thought to be mountain-moving strong) has been tested in small ways, bringing me closer to a realization of just how small I truly am next to Him "Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God." - R.C. Sproul (stolen from a friend/acquaintance's facebook status
You know...sometimes you forget that even though God is all-powerful, all-seeing, and all-knowing, He still has time for -your- "small" problems.
...the was basically the Prologue :P
Part 1:
I Kings 19:1-4
For those of you unfamiliar with the story, or who don't want to have to look it up (lazy :P), this is the story of Elijah. Jezebel hears about how Elijiah's straight -slayin- fools (Mount Carmel. Proved some "prophets" false, and then cleaned up with a sword. And by "cleaned up", i mean "ended lives" I Kings 18) and she gets mad cause they're -her- pet "fools". And she so happens to be the queen. So she send a messenger with a 300-style edict "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time" I Kings 19:2. So Elijah does what any rational man would do when confronted with wrath of a queen. He runs.
One thing...right -before- this he's calling down fire from Heaven. Now he's running from a wicked queen. He runs and he lays down and he's like "God? Kill me. I'm done" (basically. I Kings 19:4b). He all but has a burnout. But God doesn't get mad. He sends an angel to minister to him, then he tells him that He's got 7 -thousand- that haven't bowed the knee to Baal. Elijah's saying that he's the only one and God goes "um...you wanna tell that to my other 7 -thousand-??" btw, this isn't in the world. This is just in Israel. It's just striking that Elijah is asking God to kill him and talking to him all upset off of the word of this chick (basically she's just "this chick" at -best- when compared to God). Not saying that he didn't have a reason to fear for his life. I'm just saying that he was listening to the wrong one. If it was his time, running would only make him die tired, you know? God's like "Yo. Eli (cause that's what God calls him in my mind). You're listening to the wrong one, dude. Remember me? Master and Creator of the Universe? Yeah. I'm still here. No days of." Then God throws him a bone and gives him a successor and the best retirement plan -ever-. You've heard of a golden parachute, right? Problem with that is that it doesn't get better, just steadily worse. It's letting you down softly. How about a golden -chariot-. That goes -up-. Not down. How about -that- view. Seriously...did he just go God-speed, or did he take a leisurely journey through the cosmos and all that. Was he the first astronaut?? Sorry. I have a weird mind. You know what I mean. He got his reward in -spades-. One of two that didn't die. Even Jesus died, though he rose again. This guy didn't have to. Listen to the right one. He'll never let you down... (to be continued)
Dan "the man" Golden
You know...sometimes you forget that even though God is all-powerful, all-seeing, and all-knowing, He still has time for -your- "small" problems.
...the was basically the Prologue :P
Part 1:
I Kings 19:1-4
For those of you unfamiliar with the story, or who don't want to have to look it up (lazy :P), this is the story of Elijah. Jezebel hears about how Elijiah's straight -slayin- fools (Mount Carmel. Proved some "prophets" false, and then cleaned up with a sword. And by "cleaned up", i mean "ended lives" I Kings 18) and she gets mad cause they're -her- pet "fools". And she so happens to be the queen. So she send a messenger with a 300-style edict "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time" I Kings 19:2. So Elijah does what any rational man would do when confronted with wrath of a queen. He runs.
One thing...right -before- this he's calling down fire from Heaven. Now he's running from a wicked queen. He runs and he lays down and he's like "God? Kill me. I'm done" (basically. I Kings 19:4b). He all but has a burnout. But God doesn't get mad. He sends an angel to minister to him, then he tells him that He's got 7 -thousand- that haven't bowed the knee to Baal. Elijah's saying that he's the only one and God goes "um...you wanna tell that to my other 7 -thousand-??" btw, this isn't in the world. This is just in Israel. It's just striking that Elijah is asking God to kill him and talking to him all upset off of the word of this chick (basically she's just "this chick" at -best- when compared to God). Not saying that he didn't have a reason to fear for his life. I'm just saying that he was listening to the wrong one. If it was his time, running would only make him die tired, you know? God's like "Yo. Eli (cause that's what God calls him in my mind). You're listening to the wrong one, dude. Remember me? Master and Creator of the Universe? Yeah. I'm still here. No days of." Then God throws him a bone and gives him a successor and the best retirement plan -ever-. You've heard of a golden parachute, right? Problem with that is that it doesn't get better, just steadily worse. It's letting you down softly. How about a golden -chariot-. That goes -up-. Not down. How about -that- view. Seriously...did he just go God-speed, or did he take a leisurely journey through the cosmos and all that. Was he the first astronaut?? Sorry. I have a weird mind. You know what I mean. He got his reward in -spades-. One of two that didn't die. Even Jesus died, though he rose again. This guy didn't have to. Listen to the right one. He'll never let you down... (to be continued)
Dan "the man" Golden
Sooner than later
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:" (Isaiah 55:6).
It seems to me that we go the wrong way in times of hardness: "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:8-10). This is from the story of Adam and Eve. What happened was, God told Adam that he could do or eat anything that he wanted. There was only -one- rule. Do on eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:17). Eventually, they did it anyway. So we get to the point where God comes to talk to them, like He does every day, and they hide. After sewing fig leaves together to try to cover their nakedness. I'm not going to get into the fact that you can't believe in caveman as being our prior evolution instead of idiots in caves, and still believe the Bible, cause Adam and Eve were -sewing-. No, I'll leave the alone for right now, what strikes me is that there was only thought of self. Adam didn't even think about the fact that he'd been walkin around the same way that he had been made (naked) for a while now. In fact, God made him, -and- his dangly parts, (excuse the image) and said "it is good" (Genesis 1:31). So now they're seeking to improve on what God said is good. But...the point is that we turn the wrong way.
Many people say that they can't come to God, or they can't come to church, because they have to get something right in their life first. I -will- say that I don't believe you should be in a position of any sort of authority in the church with unresolved issues in your life, but that doesn't mean that you should wait to come to Christ, or to come -back- to his fold. Yes, it -is- hard to give up some things, or to get rid of some things. Even as a Christian. But, He can not only strengthen your resolve, but He can remove your craving for that thing and let you get back on your feet. The trick is to listen to Him vice everyone else "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippian 4:13) You may say, but I don't have the strength to do that. Good. "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." (II Corinthians 12:9) Let me tell you about a little trick that I learned. When people are telling you that you'll never do it, that you'll never hold to your resolve, that you can not put down or pick up what it is that you need to move on...tell them that they're right. You can't. Luckily, you don't have to. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4)
He didn't promise you a rose garden, He promised you that He'd get the job down. Get out of the way and let Him do what He came to do. Let go and Let God.
Just...do me, and yourself, a favor? Make it sooner than later...
CeCe Winans: His Strength is Perfect
It seems to me that we go the wrong way in times of hardness: "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:8-10). This is from the story of Adam and Eve. What happened was, God told Adam that he could do or eat anything that he wanted. There was only -one- rule. Do on eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:17). Eventually, they did it anyway. So we get to the point where God comes to talk to them, like He does every day, and they hide. After sewing fig leaves together to try to cover their nakedness. I'm not going to get into the fact that you can't believe in caveman as being our prior evolution instead of idiots in caves, and still believe the Bible, cause Adam and Eve were -sewing-. No, I'll leave the alone for right now, what strikes me is that there was only thought of self. Adam didn't even think about the fact that he'd been walkin around the same way that he had been made (naked) for a while now. In fact, God made him, -and- his dangly parts, (excuse the image) and said "it is good" (Genesis 1:31). So now they're seeking to improve on what God said is good. But...the point is that we turn the wrong way.
Many people say that they can't come to God, or they can't come to church, because they have to get something right in their life first. I -will- say that I don't believe you should be in a position of any sort of authority in the church with unresolved issues in your life, but that doesn't mean that you should wait to come to Christ, or to come -back- to his fold. Yes, it -is- hard to give up some things, or to get rid of some things. Even as a Christian. But, He can not only strengthen your resolve, but He can remove your craving for that thing and let you get back on your feet. The trick is to listen to Him vice everyone else "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippian 4:13) You may say, but I don't have the strength to do that. Good. "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." (II Corinthians 12:9) Let me tell you about a little trick that I learned. When people are telling you that you'll never do it, that you'll never hold to your resolve, that you can not put down or pick up what it is that you need to move on...tell them that they're right. You can't. Luckily, you don't have to. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4)
He didn't promise you a rose garden, He promised you that He'd get the job down. Get out of the way and let Him do what He came to do. Let go and Let God.
Just...do me, and yourself, a favor? Make it sooner than later...
CeCe Winans: His Strength is Perfect
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
One Day You’ll Understand…hopefully
Twice recently and I had the opportunity to remember that I am not the boss. About two weeks ago I suddenly realized that my dwindling resources and lack of income necessitated a “tightening of the belt”, so to speak. Now, my sister had already commented earlier one and the fact that tightens should always be given and never forgotten. However, I decided that since there was no other readily available source of money for me, if necessary, my tithe would become a loan...which was right about the time that I got the feeling that I should -not- pursue the path that I had set before myself. At this point in time I feel the need to point out that many times in life we are confronted by a crossroads of sort. Which is to say: a decision. God doesn’t speak so much anymore with a physical voice (at least…not to me), so there is a better chance of getting it wrong when He’s talking and when it’s just our own selfish desires, or a sentience much more sinister. Anyway, I say that to say this: I’ve noticed that when it’s something that I want, it -must- be God. When it’s something I -don't- want, it’s all “I’m not so sure this is you, God. Might need a bit more guidance. In the meantime, I’m gonna do -this- over here…” :P don’t lie if you do the same thing. So, yeah. But this one was so obvious that I was just like, “Look…it’s not that I don’t trust that you can make a way from nowhere, but I’m pretty sure that you prefer to work with something. Be that as it may, I’m gonna just hold on to this just in case”. So…here’s the plot. I have one bank that basically -only- stores my tithe. Sometimes I send money there when I need to get a large amount out and don’t want to pay ATM fees. So, I transfer money from this bank to the bank that I actually use to buy and do stuff all of the time. It’s basically a statement, right? Crossing the Rhine, so to speak. A declaration of intent. So I transfer some of the money (I tend to forget to take my tithe to church, so it kind of builds up). About two or three days later, when I actually get around to checking my account, I see that the Marine Corps has issued me a check. “See? I told you”. God 1, me 0.
So something bad happened in my family, and it was time to go home. That fact was further impressed upon me by my father who gave me gas money. And then I did 2k dollars worth of damage to my car. Via Beagle. I will never like a Beagle, now. Anyway…I don’t want to get into it, but it was (obviously) an accident. It involved a Beagle. The dog. My car didn’t fair well, in the end. I was about to just stay in NC, despite God telling me to bless and be blessed, but then I remembered that my father had given me gas money. Money that I had specifically -not- touched because I have a thing about only using people’s money for what they intended it for. That’s when I actually accept it. I think my father is the only one who can give me money without a fight. And even he, sometimes, just gives up. Anyway…btw, don’t get it confused, I am -very- thankful for my father’s help, and for people in my life who would be willing to help me out financially. I am also very stubborn, proud, independent, and I’d rather someone save their money and lend me their ear or opinion when I need it instead. -That's- why I don’t want to accept money. People give you money and they feel that they’re done with the situation. “Well I gave you (x amount) of dollars, what -else- do you want from me??” “but I didn’t ask you for money” “yeah, but you took it, didn’t you?” not that that has ever happened to me so much, but I don’t want it to, either. So…I go home and I’m reading my Bible and I get the urge to share with my mother what I was reading (I Kings 19:1-4. That requires a whole separate post ), and it ends up speaking to me. She was offering me money and I’m all “I’ll be good”, until I’m saying, within the next 5-10 minutes, “sometimes it’s not always the big miracle. It seems like we’re always looking for the big miracle, but sometimes it’s just the little things that add up to the big things, and we just have to accept the help of others around us and pool our resources to…ok. Yes, mom. You can give me money if you want to” :P that’s actually about verbatim what happened. You can ask her. I literally trailed off as I heard what I was saying and it was like *God smack* “Oh”. God 2, me 0.
What am I saying? Well…I started out thinking that I would write according to one subject, but I ended up writing about another. Basically, God is in the details. Don’t forget that. And don’t overlook the power and strength of those around you. Not in and of themselves, but in the fact that sometimes they are put in your life for “such a time as this” (Esther 4:13, 14), and sometimes His strength is perfect through many other arms. And you may even gain some friends/wisdom/life lessons along the way. Don’t over look what He doesn’t. He knows the number of hairs on your head, so start paying attention. It's like the story of the (presumably) Christian man during a flood:
---A warning was announced on the local radio and TV of the immanent flood warning people to leave the area. After that, the sheriff drove around to make sure that everyone had evacuated the area. He came to one man’s house, and found that the owner was still there, so he told him to get into his jeep and avoid the coming flood. The man replied, “Don’t worry, the Lord will save me!”
Well, the floods came and the man had to go up to the second floor of his house. A rescue boat came by. “Get onboard, the flood is going to get even worse!” the rescue worker cried out.
But the man said, “Don’t worry, the Lord will save me!”
The flood did get worse! The man had to go up on his roof to avoid the rising water! A helicopter flew over his house. “Grab the rescue line,” they hollered to the man. “Don’t worry,” the man hollered back, “the Lord will save me!”
The waters rose further, the man was washed away ... and he drowned!
Thankfully, the man wound up in heaven. But, when the man saw God, he strutted right up to God and said, “Why didn’t you save me? I waited for you!”
God replied, “I sent you a jeep, a boat, and a helicopter! What more did you want me to do?! All you had to do was get onboard!!”.---
Moral of the story: sometimes God sends others to help you along and you just have to accept their help. That’s still part of trusting in Him. In fact, it can be harder cause you -know- that He won’t let you down, but people still have free will…
-Revelations
So something bad happened in my family, and it was time to go home. That fact was further impressed upon me by my father who gave me gas money. And then I did 2k dollars worth of damage to my car. Via Beagle. I will never like a Beagle, now. Anyway…I don’t want to get into it, but it was (obviously) an accident. It involved a Beagle. The dog. My car didn’t fair well, in the end. I was about to just stay in NC, despite God telling me to bless and be blessed, but then I remembered that my father had given me gas money. Money that I had specifically -not- touched because I have a thing about only using people’s money for what they intended it for. That’s when I actually accept it. I think my father is the only one who can give me money without a fight. And even he, sometimes, just gives up. Anyway…btw, don’t get it confused, I am -very- thankful for my father’s help, and for people in my life who would be willing to help me out financially. I am also very stubborn, proud, independent, and I’d rather someone save their money and lend me their ear or opinion when I need it instead. -That's- why I don’t want to accept money. People give you money and they feel that they’re done with the situation. “Well I gave you (x amount) of dollars, what -else- do you want from me??” “but I didn’t ask you for money” “yeah, but you took it, didn’t you?” not that that has ever happened to me so much, but I don’t want it to, either. So…I go home and I’m reading my Bible and I get the urge to share with my mother what I was reading (I Kings 19:1-4. That requires a whole separate post ), and it ends up speaking to me. She was offering me money and I’m all “I’ll be good”, until I’m saying, within the next 5-10 minutes, “sometimes it’s not always the big miracle. It seems like we’re always looking for the big miracle, but sometimes it’s just the little things that add up to the big things, and we just have to accept the help of others around us and pool our resources to…ok. Yes, mom. You can give me money if you want to” :P that’s actually about verbatim what happened. You can ask her. I literally trailed off as I heard what I was saying and it was like *God smack* “Oh”. God 2, me 0.
What am I saying? Well…I started out thinking that I would write according to one subject, but I ended up writing about another. Basically, God is in the details. Don’t forget that. And don’t overlook the power and strength of those around you. Not in and of themselves, but in the fact that sometimes they are put in your life for “such a time as this” (Esther 4:13, 14), and sometimes His strength is perfect through many other arms. And you may even gain some friends/wisdom/life lessons along the way. Don’t over look what He doesn’t. He knows the number of hairs on your head, so start paying attention. It's like the story of the (presumably) Christian man during a flood:
---A warning was announced on the local radio and TV of the immanent flood warning people to leave the area. After that, the sheriff drove around to make sure that everyone had evacuated the area. He came to one man’s house, and found that the owner was still there, so he told him to get into his jeep and avoid the coming flood. The man replied, “Don’t worry, the Lord will save me!”
Well, the floods came and the man had to go up to the second floor of his house. A rescue boat came by. “Get onboard, the flood is going to get even worse!” the rescue worker cried out.
But the man said, “Don’t worry, the Lord will save me!”
The flood did get worse! The man had to go up on his roof to avoid the rising water! A helicopter flew over his house. “Grab the rescue line,” they hollered to the man. “Don’t worry,” the man hollered back, “the Lord will save me!”
The waters rose further, the man was washed away ... and he drowned!
Thankfully, the man wound up in heaven. But, when the man saw God, he strutted right up to God and said, “Why didn’t you save me? I waited for you!”
God replied, “I sent you a jeep, a boat, and a helicopter! What more did you want me to do?! All you had to do was get onboard!!”.---
Moral of the story: sometimes God sends others to help you along and you just have to accept their help. That’s still part of trusting in Him. In fact, it can be harder cause you -know- that He won’t let you down, but people still have free will…
-Revelations
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Mountain Mover
"These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him" (John 12:16)
Now...I don't know about anyone else, but I can hold a grudge. Not that I see it that way, but apparently I can. I just see it as, "I can forgive you, but I'd be stupid to forget". You know, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me". Now...that's not the grudge part. The grudge part is being able to recount every single thing that lead up to, and maintains that state. I can say that it's just a good memory, but I think, at the end of the day, that it's really just an inability to let it go. I was reading this passage and it just seemed like God was saying to me, "Son...you may not see it now, but it will all make sense some day. This happened for a reason, just as everything happens for a reason". Which isn't to say that we are never at fault for things. Sometimes the reason is just to teach your stubborn self a lesson, or that God would keep His word "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). However, sometimes it's just preparation. I went 2.25 hours last night to hear my dad speak. One of the things the he said that I really like was that he used to ask God to remove the mountains (problems) in his life. Then, one day, it seemed as though God said to him, "Son, I'm not trying to remove the mountains in your life, I'm trying to make you a mountain climber".
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Most people know the song Ain't No Mountain High Enough, but it's amazing to me how few people actually apply that to their lives. That song is beautiful in that it has so many applications. And, I don't know how many people know this, but, before music went so far down hill, a lot of great songs were written from or inspired by something in the Bible. This one is a lot more obvious than most "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39). The song says, "Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough, to keep me from getting to you". So, first God is saying to us "don't be afraid/don't worry, I'm not going anywhere". However, there's also another connotation to it. There is no mountain, nor valley, nor river, nor ocean, nor creature that is able to keep us from our destiny. There is nothing more powerful than a determined child of God (Philippians 4:13), except the God behind the child (Matthew 28:18). God says, I have to make you a mountain climber, to build your faith in Me, that you can be a mountain mover, all by yourself (Matthew 17:20).
...-That- is powerful. You can hear a hundred sermons, and a thousand well-meaning folks, and they'll stop at God moving mountains for you. Like Miss Tawana Williams said last night (my father wasn't the only speaker at the event) "Pick up your bed and walk" (John 5:8). You see, there are certain things that you -must- do for yourself.
oh...that just gets me up on my soap box. Are my dad would say: "Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?" Are you tired of being broke? You see, being broke isn't just a monetary thing. In fact, that is most the most gentle form of being broke because it can be fixed, and because money does -not- equal happiness (even if it -is- a good down payment -paraphrased from rapper Fabolous). No, the broke I'm talking about is more emotionally broke, or broken. I've found that when you have taken all that you can take, you begin to stop feeling. That is emotionally broke. You can't afford to continue feeling a continue your life at the same time, you must make a choice. I think everyone knows what emotionally broken is. Then you have spiritually broke. You miss a Sunday, and one turns into two, and two turns into two-and-a-half, and all of a sudden your life is getting harder, your praise is a little more strained, and temptation and sin are tag-teaming to do the rope-a-dope on you. Spiritually broke. You go back to church, the preacher has a message from God specifically for -you-, and you walk out of there on cloud nine thinking "my cup runneth over" (Psalms 23:5c). There is physically broke, but I'm not a healer, I'm just saying that if you can move a mountain with faith, you can move an arthritic knee without pain. That's all I'm saying.
Actually...let me pause here for a moment. Isn't it amazing that the same people who claim that they believe God can do -anything-, and that they're trusting Him to come through for them in a mighty big way, are hesitant to believe that He can match Bengay, a warm bath, some ice, and an anti-inflammatory?? What, God isn't a healer, anymore? Or is arthritis too much for the healer of palsy? (Mark 2:3-12) Is restoring a knee harder than restoring a life?? (John 11:44) You are only bound by your faith. You are only -hindered- by your faith. That sounds weird until you think about it. If you can move a mountain with your faith (Matthew 17:20), how many mountains have you moved lately?? Well...the Bible says nothing about how you look, or how you dress, how you walk and talk, what your education is, even what your religion is (religion is just a set of beliefs, not the belief itself. -That- is a relationship. "A relationship will take you to Heaven, while religion will take you to Hell" - Myron Golden We are to be followers of Christ, the only thing that labeling a religion truly does is serve to divide us and alienate the world...but that's a different story for a different time). What matters is your faith. So, if you're being held back it's by your -own- faith. Step your faith game up (Funny thing. As I was writing that past sentence, I accidentally wrote in the name of the person about whom I need the most faith and patience. Some would call it a Freudian slip, I call it a message. It made me smile to think that He was thinking of me, so I just had to share)
I"m getting waaay off track, though. Where was I? Oh being "broke". So the question that He asks the man on his back that has had palsy for longer than I've been alive is "Wilt thou be made whole?" (John 5:6c). Now...that may seem like a callous thing to say. Of course he does, right? That's not what God is asking Him. God is asking him is he feels that he needs physical wholeness. God is asking "do you need this to feel whole? Is this going to make you happy". That might not make as much sense as I would like it to make until taken into context. -Just- before this Jesus had given the man the biggest gift that He could. He told the man "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee" (Mark 2:5). Now...if anyone else is confused, there are different perspective across the different gospels. Man wrote as they were moved by the Spirit, but they still had their own ideas about what was most important. In John, the most important part, the focus, was on the man taking responsibility "wilt thou be made whole", whereas in Mark the focus was on the scribes and their lack of belief in Jesus. All that to say that this was just an aside to Jesus. "Look...if it's easier for you, you're healed. ...Is everyone happy now?" It isn't hard for Him. It never was.
So..."wilt thou be made whole"? Would you rather hold on to the things that are holding you down, or are you willing to let them go so that you can climb mountains on your journey to learning how to -move- mountains?
The choice is yours...as it has -always- been. Everything in life is choice.Even -Especially- unhappiness.
Don't hold it against them. It's not worth it, and it's probably hurting you -much- more than it will ever hurt them. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Let -Him- work it while -you- stay in your lane.
Don't -give- up; -get- up! (Proverbs 24:16a)
Now...I don't know about anyone else, but I can hold a grudge. Not that I see it that way, but apparently I can. I just see it as, "I can forgive you, but I'd be stupid to forget". You know, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me". Now...that's not the grudge part. The grudge part is being able to recount every single thing that lead up to, and maintains that state. I can say that it's just a good memory, but I think, at the end of the day, that it's really just an inability to let it go. I was reading this passage and it just seemed like God was saying to me, "Son...you may not see it now, but it will all make sense some day. This happened for a reason, just as everything happens for a reason". Which isn't to say that we are never at fault for things. Sometimes the reason is just to teach your stubborn self a lesson, or that God would keep His word "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). However, sometimes it's just preparation. I went 2.25 hours last night to hear my dad speak. One of the things the he said that I really like was that he used to ask God to remove the mountains (problems) in his life. Then, one day, it seemed as though God said to him, "Son, I'm not trying to remove the mountains in your life, I'm trying to make you a mountain climber".
-------------
---------------
Most people know the song Ain't No Mountain High Enough, but it's amazing to me how few people actually apply that to their lives. That song is beautiful in that it has so many applications. And, I don't know how many people know this, but, before music went so far down hill, a lot of great songs were written from or inspired by something in the Bible. This one is a lot more obvious than most "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39). The song says, "Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough, to keep me from getting to you". So, first God is saying to us "don't be afraid/don't worry, I'm not going anywhere". However, there's also another connotation to it. There is no mountain, nor valley, nor river, nor ocean, nor creature that is able to keep us from our destiny. There is nothing more powerful than a determined child of God (Philippians 4:13), except the God behind the child (Matthew 28:18). God says, I have to make you a mountain climber, to build your faith in Me, that you can be a mountain mover, all by yourself (Matthew 17:20).
...-That- is powerful. You can hear a hundred sermons, and a thousand well-meaning folks, and they'll stop at God moving mountains for you. Like Miss Tawana Williams said last night (my father wasn't the only speaker at the event) "Pick up your bed and walk" (John 5:8). You see, there are certain things that you -must- do for yourself.
oh...that just gets me up on my soap box. Are my dad would say: "Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?" Are you tired of being broke? You see, being broke isn't just a monetary thing. In fact, that is most the most gentle form of being broke because it can be fixed, and because money does -not- equal happiness (even if it -is- a good down payment -paraphrased from rapper Fabolous). No, the broke I'm talking about is more emotionally broke, or broken. I've found that when you have taken all that you can take, you begin to stop feeling. That is emotionally broke. You can't afford to continue feeling a continue your life at the same time, you must make a choice. I think everyone knows what emotionally broken is. Then you have spiritually broke. You miss a Sunday, and one turns into two, and two turns into two-and-a-half, and all of a sudden your life is getting harder, your praise is a little more strained, and temptation and sin are tag-teaming to do the rope-a-dope on you. Spiritually broke. You go back to church, the preacher has a message from God specifically for -you-, and you walk out of there on cloud nine thinking "my cup runneth over" (Psalms 23:5c). There is physically broke, but I'm not a healer, I'm just saying that if you can move a mountain with faith, you can move an arthritic knee without pain. That's all I'm saying.
Actually...let me pause here for a moment. Isn't it amazing that the same people who claim that they believe God can do -anything-, and that they're trusting Him to come through for them in a mighty big way, are hesitant to believe that He can match Bengay, a warm bath, some ice, and an anti-inflammatory?? What, God isn't a healer, anymore? Or is arthritis too much for the healer of palsy? (Mark 2:3-12) Is restoring a knee harder than restoring a life?? (John 11:44) You are only bound by your faith. You are only -hindered- by your faith. That sounds weird until you think about it. If you can move a mountain with your faith (Matthew 17:20), how many mountains have you moved lately?? Well...the Bible says nothing about how you look, or how you dress, how you walk and talk, what your education is, even what your religion is (religion is just a set of beliefs, not the belief itself. -That- is a relationship. "A relationship will take you to Heaven, while religion will take you to Hell" - Myron Golden We are to be followers of Christ, the only thing that labeling a religion truly does is serve to divide us and alienate the world...but that's a different story for a different time). What matters is your faith. So, if you're being held back it's by your -own- faith. Step your faith game up (Funny thing. As I was writing that past sentence, I accidentally wrote in the name of the person about whom I need the most faith and patience. Some would call it a Freudian slip, I call it a message. It made me smile to think that He was thinking of me, so I just had to share)
I"m getting waaay off track, though. Where was I? Oh being "broke". So the question that He asks the man on his back that has had palsy for longer than I've been alive is "Wilt thou be made whole?" (John 5:6c). Now...that may seem like a callous thing to say. Of course he does, right? That's not what God is asking Him. God is asking him is he feels that he needs physical wholeness. God is asking "do you need this to feel whole? Is this going to make you happy". That might not make as much sense as I would like it to make until taken into context. -Just- before this Jesus had given the man the biggest gift that He could. He told the man "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee" (Mark 2:5). Now...if anyone else is confused, there are different perspective across the different gospels. Man wrote as they were moved by the Spirit, but they still had their own ideas about what was most important. In John, the most important part, the focus, was on the man taking responsibility "wilt thou be made whole", whereas in Mark the focus was on the scribes and their lack of belief in Jesus. All that to say that this was just an aside to Jesus. "Look...if it's easier for you, you're healed. ...Is everyone happy now?" It isn't hard for Him. It never was.
So..."wilt thou be made whole"? Would you rather hold on to the things that are holding you down, or are you willing to let them go so that you can climb mountains on your journey to learning how to -move- mountains?
The choice is yours...as it has -always- been. Everything in life is choice.
Don't hold it against them. It's not worth it, and it's probably hurting you -much- more than it will ever hurt them. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Let -Him- work it while -you- stay in your lane.
Don't -give- up; -get- up! (Proverbs 24:16a)
A "Good" Day
I have asked God for "peace that passes all understanding"
I fill my quiet moments with trying to understand it
I am endlessly thoughtful
Besides: "good" is a state of mind.
and, as "of the mind",
mine is in a State ruled by me.
So, if i am -not- doing "good",
then, perhaps, it is my -definition- that is faulty.
Or, perhaps, I should not be the one
who is ruling my mind...
I have remembered how to relinquish control to Him.
He has never let me down.
And, sometimes, it is easier to follow
then it is to lead...
Yes, I am doing "good". How are you??
(And, yes. For all you grammarians out there, I know that "good" should be "well". I just don't care. "Good" works better for my purposes)
I fill my quiet moments with trying to understand it
I am endlessly thoughtful
Besides: "good" is a state of mind.
and, as "of the mind",
mine is in a State ruled by me.
So, if i am -not- doing "good",
then, perhaps, it is my -definition- that is faulty.
Or, perhaps, I should not be the one
who is ruling my mind...
I have remembered how to relinquish control to Him.
He has never let me down.
And, sometimes, it is easier to follow
then it is to lead...
Yes, I am doing "good". How are you??
(And, yes. For all you grammarians out there, I know that "good" should be "well". I just don't care. "Good" works better for my purposes)
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
A Good Woman...
First...I have to say that I am not a -true- misogynist...there are still some females that I respect. They just happen to almost all be in my family :P But seriously...having relationship issues and there are some things that I think this generation needs to realize. "A good name is better than precious ointment..." (Eccle 7:1). So, I'm feeling all self-righteous and then I keep reading... "(For) There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Eccl 7:20) so...I am part to blame, as well. Which means that I need to get off of my high horse and acknowledge that, already.
I do know that what I could really use in my life is A Good Woman. Unfortunately, I am at an impasse. "...one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found" (Eccl 7:28). And thus, the source of my Conundrum. "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31)...I think I can wait. That's all that this post is about. Finding the strength to wait. Abram (Abraham) and Sarai (Sarah) were promised a child by God...they didn't wait and their blunder resulted in the war between Arabs and Jews that stretches to this day (the story of Abram and Sarai's impatience can be found in Genesis 16). Man's biggest mistakes seem to be behind a female...perhaps finding the right one is one of the most important things that you could do. In the end, the wait, and possible loneliness, are both worth missing out on the pain of finding the -wrong- one. True story. So...to those that are still looking, of any age, I encourage you to continue to wait on the Lord. Seek His face and resolution sure, but wait on Him and His time...and there is a time for -everything- (Eccl 3:1)
-Peace and Unity
I do know that what I could really use in my life is A Good Woman. Unfortunately, I am at an impasse. "...one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found" (Eccl 7:28). And thus, the source of my Conundrum. "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31)...I think I can wait. That's all that this post is about. Finding the strength to wait. Abram (Abraham) and Sarai (Sarah) were promised a child by God...they didn't wait and their blunder resulted in the war between Arabs and Jews that stretches to this day (the story of Abram and Sarai's impatience can be found in Genesis 16). Man's biggest mistakes seem to be behind a female...perhaps finding the right one is one of the most important things that you could do. In the end, the wait, and possible loneliness, are both worth missing out on the pain of finding the -wrong- one. True story. So...to those that are still looking, of any age, I encourage you to continue to wait on the Lord. Seek His face and resolution sure, but wait on Him and His time...and there is a time for -everything- (Eccl 3:1)
-Peace and Unity
"The Battle is Not Yours (It's the Lord's)"
Apologies on how long it's been since I've posted. There are no excuses. Moving on, then...
So...I've been down a bit. My life has suddenly taken some downward turns relationally and it's gotten to the point where I'm actually morbidly fascinated with what's going on, it's kinda got me detached like it's not happening to me. What does continuously amaze me is how people who claim that they love you and always will seem to take some sort of sick pleasure in intentionally or negligently making your life -so- much harder. Anyway...I hadn't read my Bible in a couple of days and I just -needed- a word from God today. -Right- now. It's a good thing that I keep a Bible in my car, cause I'm out of town. Now let me just pause here a second to say...can I get a witness that God's not always on schedule, but He's -always- on time?? I mean...-wow-! So I'm all ragin about females and life and how people suck and then I'm thinkin..."I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from which cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made Heave and Earth" (Psalm 121:1-2), right? So...what am I doing depending on people to begin with?? It's not like I don't already know better from -many- previous experiences. So I crack open my Bible...and I got a testimony.
This Bible I haven't really used for anything other than church for years. But I was given this Bible December 28th, 1996 after I got salvation confirmation. I can't tell you the last time that I wrote in this Bible. So...I see notes from back when I used to outline possible future sermons (around the age of 12), and I get intrigued. Now...this is how the Lord works. I can't remember the last time that I even looked through these passages, but I look through them today, and it was -exactly- what I needed. Twice. Allow me to share it in a two part-er. This post, and then the next. The first one is almost exclusively Scripture. The Bible speaks for itself.
The passage is Isaiah 40:28-31:
"27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?(resume reading)
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.(resume reading)
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.(resume reading)
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:(resume reading)
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.(resume reading)
Now...I was -literally- about to write someone and ask what I had done to deserve something that had happened...and then I read verse 27. Every question needs an answer, right? So then there is verse 28 to answer the question. God says "What? You Don't know?? God ain't phased. You better -ask- (pronounced "ax") somebody!" Just in case you're still a bit confused, He goes on tell you that "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength (verse 29). You might have heard that another way before. It's in a song and it goes something like "All of my help cometh from the Lord" (based off of Psalm 121:2). He's saying that He doesn't need anything. He's got this all by Himself. Just trust Him. Don't try to He-man it because "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall"Verse 30. And, to wrap it all up "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Verse 31).
Those verses were referenced as "Wait Upon the Lord"
Also, this is still in the front of my Bible, there was a reference to "Fear thou not":
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10). God is once again saying, "Don't worry about it. I got it".
Let me tell you...that took about 2 minutes to make me smile and marvel at the fact that His ways are -much- higher than mine (Isaiah 55:9), which is to say, that He has plans that stretch longer than my lifetime. It's nice to know that -someone- knows what's going on and even has an intelligent design for it all. Cause Heaven knows that -I- sure don't :P
Anyway...if you'll excuse me, I have to go sharpen my nails so that I can more securely hang onto my sanity by just my fingertips :P
God got it, y'all. Now and always. It's gotta be more than coincidence, but right now I'm listenin to "The Battle is Not Yours (It's the Lord's)".
Amen.
So...I've been down a bit. My life has suddenly taken some downward turns relationally and it's gotten to the point where I'm actually morbidly fascinated with what's going on, it's kinda got me detached like it's not happening to me. What does continuously amaze me is how people who claim that they love you and always will seem to take some sort of sick pleasure in intentionally or negligently making your life -so- much harder. Anyway...I hadn't read my Bible in a couple of days and I just -needed- a word from God today. -Right- now. It's a good thing that I keep a Bible in my car, cause I'm out of town. Now let me just pause here a second to say...can I get a witness that God's not always on schedule, but He's -always- on time?? I mean...-wow-! So I'm all ragin about females and life and how people suck and then I'm thinkin..."I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from which cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made Heave and Earth" (Psalm 121:1-2), right? So...what am I doing depending on people to begin with?? It's not like I don't already know better from -many- previous experiences. So I crack open my Bible...and I got a testimony.
This Bible I haven't really used for anything other than church for years. But I was given this Bible December 28th, 1996 after I got salvation confirmation. I can't tell you the last time that I wrote in this Bible. So...I see notes from back when I used to outline possible future sermons (around the age of 12), and I get intrigued. Now...this is how the Lord works. I can't remember the last time that I even looked through these passages, but I look through them today, and it was -exactly- what I needed. Twice. Allow me to share it in a two part-er. This post, and then the next. The first one is almost exclusively Scripture. The Bible speaks for itself.
The passage is Isaiah 40:28-31:
"27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?(resume reading)
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.(resume reading)
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.(resume reading)
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:(resume reading)
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.(resume reading)
Now...I was -literally- about to write someone and ask what I had done to deserve something that had happened...and then I read verse 27. Every question needs an answer, right? So then there is verse 28 to answer the question. God says "What? You Don't know?? God ain't phased. You better -ask- (pronounced "ax") somebody!" Just in case you're still a bit confused, He goes on tell you that "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength (verse 29). You might have heard that another way before. It's in a song and it goes something like "All of my help cometh from the Lord" (based off of Psalm 121:2). He's saying that He doesn't need anything. He's got this all by Himself. Just trust Him. Don't try to He-man it because "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall"Verse 30. And, to wrap it all up "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Verse 31).
Those verses were referenced as "Wait Upon the Lord"
Also, this is still in the front of my Bible, there was a reference to "Fear thou not":
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10). God is once again saying, "Don't worry about it. I got it".
Let me tell you...that took about 2 minutes to make me smile and marvel at the fact that His ways are -much- higher than mine (Isaiah 55:9), which is to say, that He has plans that stretch longer than my lifetime. It's nice to know that -someone- knows what's going on and even has an intelligent design for it all. Cause Heaven knows that -I- sure don't :P
Anyway...if you'll excuse me, I have to go sharpen my nails so that I can more securely hang onto my sanity by just my fingertips :P
God got it, y'all. Now and always. It's gotta be more than coincidence, but right now I'm listenin to "The Battle is Not Yours (It's the Lord's)".
Amen.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Remember -Now- Thy Creator...
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;" (Eccl 12:1)
I heard Pastor Kenny Grant preach on this subject. The entire chapter, actually. He broke it down wonderfully and showed all of us (at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Swatara, PA where Pastor Michael J Golden presides. My Uncle) something that we hadn't really seen or realized in that passage, before. Lately, I've been reading that passage quite a bit. I try to make reading my Bible the first, or -one- of the first, things that I do in the mornings. It -really- helps. True story. Anyway...what I've been seeing in it recently goes beyond "Don't wait until you're old to see out God". Allow me to share with you what it's begun to mean to -me-...
It says "remember", not "find" (Rev 2:30). Like Talib Kweli said "What do you mean, 'you back'? I ain't never went nowhere. Where -you- been, n*gga? -You- back! Apologize!!" Straight up, God never went anywhere. He's been waiting for you to acknowledge Him. And, when you push Him out of your life and walk away, He's shadowing you just waiting for you to acknowledge Him again. To look back at your life and wonder where you left Him (where it all began to go wrong). So...He never went away. -You- walked away from -Him- and He's just been waiting for you to turn around and acknowledge Him for a grip. Anyway..."Remember -now- thy Creator"
"In the days of thy youth" Before it's too late. Now...that doesn't necessarily -just- mean before you're too old. It can mean other things, too. The days of you youth, depending on how you look at the technical meaning of it, can be used to mean "soon". As in "now, as opposed to later". It seems like a small difference between old and young and now instead of later, but it's not. Let me go to the next point and I'll tie it in so that it makes sense.
"while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;" ok...now we get to the crux of the matter. This isn't always when you're an old and gray man/woman. Christopher Titus (comedian) said in "Love is Evol" that "if you've never contemplated suicide, you've never been in love". My point in that is the "evil days" and "the years...when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them" doesn't have to be when you're old. It can be so simple as when you're miserable outside of the Will of God. Especially in a relationship that you were never supposed to be in, that God is not in. It can simply read that you should seek God -now- before you regret it later. Or before you're in a bad way and miserable with your life. Think about how many miserable Christians you've seen. Now...think about how much it makes -you- want what they have. You don't. No one -wants- to be miserable. So...
Remember God -before- you're miserable. Seek His face -before- you regret it. Hindsight is 20/20, but the regret of memories -really- sucks.
"The older I get, the more I value the ability to learn without experiencing."
That's a quote from me. A'salaam Alaikum. Shalom Aleikum. Vaya Con Dios, and may the grace of God be upon you. Btw, grace is getting the good things that you -don't- deserve. So...may God grant you many good things that you do not deserve.
I heard Pastor Kenny Grant preach on this subject. The entire chapter, actually. He broke it down wonderfully and showed all of us (at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Swatara, PA where Pastor Michael J Golden presides. My Uncle) something that we hadn't really seen or realized in that passage, before. Lately, I've been reading that passage quite a bit. I try to make reading my Bible the first, or -one- of the first, things that I do in the mornings. It -really- helps. True story. Anyway...what I've been seeing in it recently goes beyond "Don't wait until you're old to see out God". Allow me to share with you what it's begun to mean to -me-...
It says "remember", not "find" (Rev 2:30). Like Talib Kweli said "What do you mean, 'you back'? I ain't never went nowhere. Where -you- been, n*gga? -You- back! Apologize!!" Straight up, God never went anywhere. He's been waiting for you to acknowledge Him. And, when you push Him out of your life and walk away, He's shadowing you just waiting for you to acknowledge Him again. To look back at your life and wonder where you left Him (where it all began to go wrong). So...He never went away. -You- walked away from -Him- and He's just been waiting for you to turn around and acknowledge Him for a grip. Anyway..."Remember -now- thy Creator"
"In the days of thy youth" Before it's too late. Now...that doesn't necessarily -just- mean before you're too old. It can mean other things, too. The days of you youth, depending on how you look at the technical meaning of it, can be used to mean "soon". As in "now, as opposed to later". It seems like a small difference between old and young and now instead of later, but it's not. Let me go to the next point and I'll tie it in so that it makes sense.
"while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;" ok...now we get to the crux of the matter. This isn't always when you're an old and gray man/woman. Christopher Titus (comedian) said in "Love is Evol" that "if you've never contemplated suicide, you've never been in love". My point in that is the "evil days" and "the years...when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them" doesn't have to be when you're old. It can be so simple as when you're miserable outside of the Will of God. Especially in a relationship that you were never supposed to be in, that God is not in. It can simply read that you should seek God -now- before you regret it later. Or before you're in a bad way and miserable with your life. Think about how many miserable Christians you've seen. Now...think about how much it makes -you- want what they have. You don't. No one -wants- to be miserable. So...
Remember God -before- you're miserable. Seek His face -before- you regret it. Hindsight is 20/20, but the regret of memories -really- sucks.
"The older I get, the more I value the ability to learn without experiencing."
That's a quote from me. A'salaam Alaikum. Shalom Aleikum. Vaya Con Dios, and may the grace of God be upon you. Btw, grace is getting the good things that you -don't- deserve. So...may God grant you many good things that you do not deserve.
All Power
(Matthew 28:18-20)
18)And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19)Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20)Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
This is a short but -very- powerful message. There are three very simple parts to it, to me.
1) All power is given unto me. God's saying "I got it. Whatever it is, I got it."
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."(Hebrews 4:15). I've heard a few people and comedians saying that Jesus having died a virgin means that there was a lot of things that He never really had to deal with. Two things to that. 1) He died at 33. That's a -long- time to be a virgin. Also...pretty sure that even in that time He had His version of groupies. I mean...He's God and He walks around performing miracles. He's freakin -perfect-! Literally. Pretty sure there were more than a few females that were interested in Him/wanted to have His kid. It's only logical. And He had no trouble hanging out with prostitutes. Pretty sure He got propositioned more than a little bit. You think that some barren woman didn't hit Him up and ask for the miracle of a child. And want -His- child?? Come on. Think about it. It's actually pretty amazing that He was a virgin for 33 years. Kinda puts a little more to the whole thing about sex being reserved for marriage. 2) Um...at the point where you know what people are thinking and you see the future, I think marriage gets a little easier. So...it wouldn't have really been harder for Him had He got married, though comedians like to say the opposite.
2)"Just do what I say in my name". You don't have to make anything up...develop any new curriculum...when in doubt, point them to the One in whom there -is- no doubt. Seems like a pretty simple formula. Besides, even if you -do- get rejected, they're not actually rejecting you. They're rejecting God's free gift. Try not to take it too personal.
3)"You're not alone". No matter what, He's there with you. "Even unto the end of the Earth": Forever and Always. No matter what you're going through, or where you are, He's there with you. And he's gone through it already (Hebrew 4:15). That means a lot, if you actually let it sink in. It's not "do as I say and not as I do/not that -I've- ever had to do it", but it's "do as I did". Period.
and then, at the end, there's "Amen". Amen means: "so be it". He says "I am with you always, even unto the end of the Earth. So Be It". There is life and death in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), and His tongue is saying that He will always be with -you-. Then He seals it with "so be it".
Think on that a bit as you go about your day and you're thinkin how hard it is to be a Christian today, and to keep a good testimony. When you think that no one's there for you and that you're not sure how you can/if you can continue to go on. He been there before, and He's there with you now. Amen
18)And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19)Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20)Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
This is a short but -very- powerful message. There are three very simple parts to it, to me.
1) All power is given unto me. God's saying "I got it. Whatever it is, I got it."
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."(Hebrews 4:15). I've heard a few people and comedians saying that Jesus having died a virgin means that there was a lot of things that He never really had to deal with. Two things to that. 1) He died at 33. That's a -long- time to be a virgin. Also...pretty sure that even in that time He had His version of groupies. I mean...He's God and He walks around performing miracles. He's freakin -perfect-! Literally. Pretty sure there were more than a few females that were interested in Him/wanted to have His kid. It's only logical. And He had no trouble hanging out with prostitutes. Pretty sure He got propositioned more than a little bit. You think that some barren woman didn't hit Him up and ask for the miracle of a child. And want -His- child?? Come on. Think about it. It's actually pretty amazing that He was a virgin for 33 years. Kinda puts a little more to the whole thing about sex being reserved for marriage. 2) Um...at the point where you know what people are thinking and you see the future, I think marriage gets a little easier. So...it wouldn't have really been harder for Him had He got married, though comedians like to say the opposite.
2)"Just do what I say in my name". You don't have to make anything up...develop any new curriculum...when in doubt, point them to the One in whom there -is- no doubt. Seems like a pretty simple formula. Besides, even if you -do- get rejected, they're not actually rejecting you. They're rejecting God's free gift. Try not to take it too personal.
3)"You're not alone". No matter what, He's there with you. "Even unto the end of the Earth": Forever and Always. No matter what you're going through, or where you are, He's there with you. And he's gone through it already (Hebrew 4:15). That means a lot, if you actually let it sink in. It's not "do as I say and not as I do/not that -I've- ever had to do it", but it's "do as I did". Period.
and then, at the end, there's "Amen". Amen means: "so be it". He says "I am with you always, even unto the end of the Earth. So Be It". There is life and death in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), and His tongue is saying that He will always be with -you-. Then He seals it with "so be it".
Think on that a bit as you go about your day and you're thinkin how hard it is to be a Christian today, and to keep a good testimony. When you think that no one's there for you and that you're not sure how you can/if you can continue to go on. He been there before, and He's there with you now. Amen
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Random note:
I -love- music. If you've never seen August Rush, you probably should. Here's a snippet with the most powerful-voiced little girl (Jamia Simone Nash) that I have -ever- heard. She turned eleven a mere two-and-a-half months before this movie was released.
Seriously...this is one of my favorite movies of all time...
Seriously...this is one of my favorite movies of all time...
Happy Resurrection Day
Hey Saints...and the rest of us :P
I just want to remind you that today is -so- much more than "Jesus is coming! Quick, hide the eggs!!" (got that from a comedian). Today my pastor, Chris Phillips of River of Life in Jacksonville, pointed out something that I hadn't really thought about before. He said "The stone wasn't rolled away for Him (Jesus) to come out, but for them (everyone else) to look -in-! To see that He wasn't there!" You know...I never really sat down to think about it, but I instantly saw that he was right. Not only that, but if you read the Bible (Matthew 28:2,5-6) you'll see that Jesus wasn't even -there- when the stone was rolled away (supposition. fact: there is -not- mention of Jesus leaving after the stone was rolled away and yet the Angel who did so says "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" Matthew 28:6). I don't know about you, it just makes me -feel- good to learn or realize something new every day. Other than that I don't really have any pressing and overwhelmingly new revelations to pass on to y'all except this one song that I keep playing over and over and over again
It won't let me embed the video, but the link is here. Donnie McClurkin - We Fall Down. It's the chorus that gets me "For a Saint is just a sinner who fell down...and got back up". Now -that's- powerful.
A couple of other favorites include
Father Can You Hear Me from Tyler Perry's movie "Diary of a Mad Black Woman;
Never Would Have Made It - Marvin Sapp;
God Is Trying To Tell You Something - Shug Avery from the movie The Color Purple;
PASS ME NOT - FANTASIA BARRINO from her movie on Lifetime, apparently;
and, of course, the new generation's "old faithful": Oh Happy Day from Sister Act 2.
And, uh...for the young(er) generation?? I didn't forget. I still rock with y'all. Like the preacher says "Hey...as long as they're praisin God's name, it's alright with me!" :P
- Peace in Unity
Be blessed
I just want to remind you that today is -so- much more than "Jesus is coming! Quick, hide the eggs!!" (got that from a comedian). Today my pastor, Chris Phillips of River of Life in Jacksonville, pointed out something that I hadn't really thought about before. He said "The stone wasn't rolled away for Him (Jesus) to come out, but for them (everyone else) to look -in-! To see that He wasn't there!" You know...I never really sat down to think about it, but I instantly saw that he was right. Not only that, but if you read the Bible (Matthew 28:2,5-6) you'll see that Jesus wasn't even -there- when the stone was rolled away (supposition. fact: there is -not- mention of Jesus leaving after the stone was rolled away and yet the Angel who did so says "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" Matthew 28:6). I don't know about you, it just makes me -feel- good to learn or realize something new every day. Other than that I don't really have any pressing and overwhelmingly new revelations to pass on to y'all except this one song that I keep playing over and over and over again
It won't let me embed the video, but the link is here. Donnie McClurkin - We Fall Down. It's the chorus that gets me "For a Saint is just a sinner who fell down...and got back up". Now -that's- powerful.
A couple of other favorites include
Father Can You Hear Me from Tyler Perry's movie "Diary of a Mad Black Woman;
Never Would Have Made It - Marvin Sapp;
God Is Trying To Tell You Something - Shug Avery from the movie The Color Purple;
PASS ME NOT - FANTASIA BARRINO from her movie on Lifetime, apparently;
and, of course, the new generation's "old faithful": Oh Happy Day from Sister Act 2.
And, uh...for the young(er) generation?? I didn't forget. I still rock with y'all. Like the preacher says "Hey...as long as they're praisin God's name, it's alright with me!" :P
- Peace in Unity
Be blessed
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Don't Make God Jealous
(note: I was supposed to do this yesterday, but problems with my internet provided me with the excuse not to. Forgive me. I am attempting to right that now...)
...don't make God jealous? What's -that- all about?? Well, I don't know about you, but tend to forget sometimes that we have more similarities with God than we think that we do (Genesis 1:27). One of these similarities is that God does indeed get jealous (Exodus 34:14).
You see...we go about our lives and work all day for the "Root of all Evil", but God gets the time, and money, that's left over. By the way, be careful of being "married" to your job (II Corinthians 11:2). Just as there have been divorces over a spouse being too "married" to their job, it isn't that far of a stretch to all but divorce yourself from all things Godly in pursuit of that next promotion, just losing yourself in work, or what have you...the caution is because God wants us for Himself, first.
Christ is to marry the church in the last day, right? (Rev 19:7-8) Btw...allow me to add a bit of clarity to that verse. -We-, being all who are saved, called according to His purpose, are Saints by God's definition (I Corinthians 1:2, Psalms 85:8). So then...we, the Church made up of the Saints, are to be married to Christ in the last day. What does a jealous husband (or future husband) do when he isn't getting enough attention? He gets rid of the competition, or he has no more use for the bride-to-be (Joshua 24:19-20). Note: it's not that God will never forgive you, it's just that He doesn't forget, so you should be careful thinking that you can do whatever you want to because "God is love" and your every sin is forgiven before you even commit it. I mean...all of that is true, but that doesn't mean that you can't still "catch a beating", so to speak.
Examine Exodus 20:4-5 with me for a minute. We look around at this point and notice the lack of any carved images of the Buddha or whatnot and think that we're good. "-I- don't have a 'graven image' ". I want you to know that -anything- that you place before God is a form of "a god". You may say, "but I don't pray to them". So...is -that- the measure of what makes a person, place, thing, or idea holy?? Then tell me...how often do you pray to God, then??? Now subtract when you're at church, when you're about to eat, and when you want or need something and re-answer that question. Don't worry, that pricks my conscious, too. Now, in the same breath you may just about pray to your car when you need it to start in the morning to keep you from being late to work. Does this seem familiar: "Pleeease start! -Please- start!! I got to get to work on -time- today. Come on girl/man". Now...personally my little "g" god is in my relationship. I find that i put the person that I am with absolutely and unequivocally first. When my conscious, or the Spirit within me, -is- pricked, I tend to try to placate it by saying that Shee is the woman that God has meant for me, so I'm just loving her the way that I should. With all of me. Do you think that is what God meant?? I'm not bashing women, but look what happened when great men of God listened to their wives more than they listened to God. Starting with Adam (Genesis 3:6). Adam saw the face of God -daily-, and still stumbled at the buzzer-beater, so to speak, for putting the wrong one first. Abraham, progenitor of the God's chosen people, wasn't immune to listening to the wrong person, either (Genesis 16:1-5). On the other hand, we have Job who pulled a Matrix and, thankfully, dodged that bullet (Job 2:9) preserving his testimony and, I believe, his life. He definitely wouldn't have gotten the blessing that he later received (Job 42:10-17) had he heeded such terrible advice.
-----------------------------
Bottom Line:
Put God first.
Seek God early and often and He will bless you for it (Prov 8:17-18, Matthew 6:33, Psalms 91:14b).
Set nothing before Him.
It's hard to seek His face when all that you can see is what you have set in front of Him. And sometimes, He just might remove that thing, if only temporarily, just to see -your- face again. This is a two-way relationship, not just some rituals and rigamarole. Never forget that. Just as your "significant other", or even your family or closest friend(s), doesn't want to have to wait around for you to decide to pay them attention, God wants your attention.
But, being a merciful God, He's not a tyrant with your attention (Psalm 37:4). He's not trying to smother you, it's just that He's called first dibs on our meager attention spans and He wants his fair share throughout the day.
Let me leave you with this:
Pay Him attention. It's the greatest investment that you could -ever- make.
(Yeah...I know that someone will quote me on that, after they get it. I just ask for credit where it's due [II Corinthians 10:15]. Yes, you can quote me as "The Truf", also. Please and thank you)
...don't make God jealous? What's -that- all about?? Well, I don't know about you, but tend to forget sometimes that we have more similarities with God than we think that we do (Genesis 1:27). One of these similarities is that God does indeed get jealous (Exodus 34:14).
You see...we go about our lives and work all day for the "Root of all Evil", but God gets the time, and money, that's left over. By the way, be careful of being "married" to your job (II Corinthians 11:2). Just as there have been divorces over a spouse being too "married" to their job, it isn't that far of a stretch to all but divorce yourself from all things Godly in pursuit of that next promotion, just losing yourself in work, or what have you...the caution is because God wants us for Himself, first.
Christ is to marry the church in the last day, right? (Rev 19:7-8) Btw...allow me to add a bit of clarity to that verse. -We-, being all who are saved, called according to His purpose, are Saints by God's definition (I Corinthians 1:2, Psalms 85:8). So then...we, the Church made up of the Saints, are to be married to Christ in the last day. What does a jealous husband (or future husband) do when he isn't getting enough attention? He gets rid of the competition, or he has no more use for the bride-to-be (Joshua 24:19-20). Note: it's not that God will never forgive you, it's just that He doesn't forget, so you should be careful thinking that you can do whatever you want to because "God is love" and your every sin is forgiven before you even commit it. I mean...all of that is true, but that doesn't mean that you can't still "catch a beating", so to speak.
Examine Exodus 20:4-5 with me for a minute. We look around at this point and notice the lack of any carved images of the Buddha or whatnot and think that we're good. "-I- don't have a 'graven image' ". I want you to know that -anything- that you place before God is a form of "a god". You may say, "but I don't pray to them". So...is -that- the measure of what makes a person, place, thing, or idea holy?? Then tell me...how often do you pray to God, then??? Now subtract when you're at church, when you're about to eat, and when you want or need something and re-answer that question. Don't worry, that pricks my conscious, too. Now, in the same breath you may just about pray to your car when you need it to start in the morning to keep you from being late to work. Does this seem familiar: "Pleeease start! -Please- start!! I got to get to work on -time- today. Come on girl/man". Now...personally my little "g" god is in my relationship. I find that i put the person that I am with absolutely and unequivocally first. When my conscious, or the Spirit within me, -is- pricked, I tend to try to placate it by saying that Shee is the woman that God has meant for me, so I'm just loving her the way that I should. With all of me. Do you think that is what God meant?? I'm not bashing women, but look what happened when great men of God listened to their wives more than they listened to God. Starting with Adam (Genesis 3:6). Adam saw the face of God -daily-, and still stumbled at the buzzer-beater, so to speak, for putting the wrong one first. Abraham, progenitor of the God's chosen people, wasn't immune to listening to the wrong person, either (Genesis 16:1-5). On the other hand, we have Job who pulled a Matrix and, thankfully, dodged that bullet (Job 2:9) preserving his testimony and, I believe, his life. He definitely wouldn't have gotten the blessing that he later received (Job 42:10-17) had he heeded such terrible advice.
-----------------------------
Bottom Line:
Put God first.
Seek God early and often and He will bless you for it (Prov 8:17-18, Matthew 6:33, Psalms 91:14b).
Set nothing before Him.
It's hard to seek His face when all that you can see is what you have set in front of Him. And sometimes, He just might remove that thing, if only temporarily, just to see -your- face again. This is a two-way relationship, not just some rituals and rigamarole. Never forget that. Just as your "significant other", or even your family or closest friend(s), doesn't want to have to wait around for you to decide to pay them attention, God wants your attention.
But, being a merciful God, He's not a tyrant with your attention (Psalm 37:4). He's not trying to smother you, it's just that He's called first dibs on our meager attention spans and He wants his fair share throughout the day.
Let me leave you with this:
Pay Him attention. It's the greatest investment that you could -ever- make.
(Yeah...I know that someone will quote me on that, after they get it. I just ask for credit where it's due [II Corinthians 10:15]. Yes, you can quote me as "The Truf", also. Please and thank you)
Friday, April 2, 2010
"Giving Credit Where It's Due" (II Corinthians 10:15)
Good morning. I try to get something out of my Bible every morning, and I try to read my Bible every morning. The first is -immeasurably- harder than the second, some days :P
Sidebar: This is my blogging site. Which means that I just write about my day and my life whenever it strikes me. The other one ("silentexpression") is my actual poetry site. Not that I can't/won't write poetry here, that's just not really what I want to use this site for, atm. Back to what I was saying...
So, this morning I'm reading death and destruction in Isaiah like "...um...Lord? I sure do hope that this doesn't have a lot to do with me..." :P but then it made sense at the 15th verse: "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness..." (Isaiah 10:15-16a.
Let me break that down a bit. In the modern vernacular God is saying "What're you so proud of? What did you -actually- do by yourself?? You're just the instrument. The tool. You are doing what you were made to do. Good job -not- messing it up, but -I- got this". Now...we realize that God is love and all that so He doesn't really talk like me. But that's the gist of it. Then 16a says "And that why you don't got nothin now. You're so great that you did all of this? Then do it again. Don't worry, I'll wait". And this is the problem that we run into. See...ever since I was a little one two -very- important things were made known to me by my father (yes. He taught me alot. And I mention it and reference him alot because I believe in giving credit where it is due as it is laid out in II Corinthians 10:15).
The first one is that God is in the habit of giving. Ask and ye shall receive (Luke 11:19). On at least two memorable occasions my father illustrated this by giving my sister and I a hundred dollars -just- because we asked him (mind you that both of us were under the age of 12 and this was in the 90's not too long after the corner store down the street stopped selling penny candy). That lesson is -still- coming in handy. Also...if they say no, ask again. Try it a little harder or a different way. If you keep trying you'll find a way.
The second one is that God likes to be praised, too. See Above. We just tend to forget. When you do something nice for someone it makes you feel good (even if you're embarrassed and you'd really rather that they didn't) when they acknowledge it to other people. It makes you want to do more. Don't forget God and He won't hold out on you (Psalm 91:14b). Case-in-point, I have atheist friends. They are still atheists. They are -all- aware of the fact that I have a relationship with God and that I'm not too shy about it. However, I respect them while respectfully telling them that I don't agree with them, and they afford me the same courtesy. Plus...it's -really- hard to deny that someone is undeniably blessed. It's pretty freaking obvious. I think this started when my father blessed me (at birth and then numerous times like...every time he -thinks- about me :P) and God and I kinda created a pact. He continues to bless me, and I am His rather vocal example. "Do what He wants and you too can be blessed like this!" I'm workin on a deal to be the spokesperson for blessings ;) That's not meant to be blasphemy. God has a sense of humor, so lighten up. Anyway...I was talkin to one of my atheist friends the other day, and I was explaining to her that I don't really have the choice of whether or not I want to believe in God. He works in my life so strongly and often that I'd have to make a conscious -choice- to ignore Him...and that doesn't work out too well. I tried it before. Anyway...the -very- next day I've got a testimony for her. A small thing, but -never- underestimate the small things. You don't need a big miracle, all you need is a bunch of small things. They add up. Trust. Plus...which is harder to believe in, that He turned water into wine and raised the dead, or that He made sure that you had enough money to get your hair cut, and sent someone your way to fill up your gas tank?? Yeah...we don't really think about that, but the World does. So...here's the plot.
Last Sunday a woman in my church got up and the pastor is announcing that she's moving. She needs help. It's during working hours. If you've got the time, lend her a hand. I'm on terminal leave (translation: -no- working hours). So I'm like...I've got a little time. God goes "such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). Pause. I want you to read that scripture and understand that He does not -need- you. He gives you the opportunity to be blessed through blessing other people. Joseph was blessed when he didn't condemn his brothers (Genesis 45), Job was healed when he prayed for the friends that reviled him(Job 42:10), and of course Esther was blessed when she remembered where she came from (Esther 8:7). Ok...resuming. So I get the lady's information. Important note, my phone is not working at this time so I give my email and request to be contacted via email cause my phone doesn't work. The plan is to get a phone -before- I help her move at 12 so that I can get/keep in contact. Day of: I put money down on the phone and they guy let's me walk out of the store with the phone trusting me to come back on the 15th with the rest of it (blessing number 1). Then, I help the lady move and she presses a Walmart gift card on me. That seems small...allow me to explain. I moved into my apartment in November. Some of my entertainment stuff is still in a container. I keep sayin that I'm going to get a little DVD rack from Walmart for like 10 dollars, but I forget. Now, I've got stuff to do that doesn't justify the expenditure. Then, the -night- before I helped the lady move I was like "...this is really bugging me. I think I'm going to make things stretch to get that DVD rack". So...-that- was the biggest blessing because it was just so timely. So...back to my atheist friend. I tell her and her reaction is (this is a quote) "Wow...yeah...stuff like that never happened to me. Even when I was a Christian".
People...you never know just how much the little things that you might take for granted, or might think aren't really that important or interesting to other people are. I have been reminded of that time and again. One thing that I forgot...like the parable of the sower planting seed (paralleled across the gospels in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8), you have to give a blessing to get a blessing. Even if all you have left is just a little oil in a cruse (I Kings 17) and you're about to make your last hotcake so that you and your seed can die. Understand that you have to be empty to be filled, His strength is perfect when our strength is gone (II Corinthians 12:9, and that when you start, sometimes He just won't let you stop (I Kings 17:15-16! I just wanted to let y'all know that God is alive and well. He hasn't taken a holiday...He hasn't fallen down on the job...and He isn't quite sure what this whole "recession" business is about, but He's seen worse (Genesis 45:11, and He's carrying on with business as usual!
If that doesn't put a little pep in your step, then perhaps your praise is broken :P
Get your praise-game up. Just keep smiling...it confuses and annoys the Devil, and it helps to remind God that He's got a blessing coming your way "Now...did I remember to -give- him/her that blessing?...oh well. I'll just give him/her another one. I've got plenty to spare and I -like- that smile" :D
Remember: praise where it's due. And smile with me, y'all. Make someone else's day
Sidebar: This is my blogging site. Which means that I just write about my day and my life whenever it strikes me. The other one ("silentexpression") is my actual poetry site. Not that I can't/won't write poetry here, that's just not really what I want to use this site for, atm. Back to what I was saying...
So, this morning I'm reading death and destruction in Isaiah like "...um...Lord? I sure do hope that this doesn't have a lot to do with me..." :P but then it made sense at the 15th verse: "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness..." (Isaiah 10:15-16a.
Let me break that down a bit. In the modern vernacular God is saying "What're you so proud of? What did you -actually- do by yourself?? You're just the instrument. The tool. You are doing what you were made to do. Good job -not- messing it up, but -I- got this". Now...we realize that God is love and all that so He doesn't really talk like me. But that's the gist of it. Then 16a says "And that why you don't got nothin now. You're so great that you did all of this? Then do it again. Don't worry, I'll wait". And this is the problem that we run into. See...ever since I was a little one two -very- important things were made known to me by my father (yes. He taught me alot. And I mention it and reference him alot because I believe in giving credit where it is due as it is laid out in II Corinthians 10:15).
The first one is that God is in the habit of giving. Ask and ye shall receive (Luke 11:19). On at least two memorable occasions my father illustrated this by giving my sister and I a hundred dollars -just- because we asked him (mind you that both of us were under the age of 12 and this was in the 90's not too long after the corner store down the street stopped selling penny candy). That lesson is -still- coming in handy. Also...if they say no, ask again. Try it a little harder or a different way. If you keep trying you'll find a way.
The second one is that God likes to be praised, too. See Above. We just tend to forget. When you do something nice for someone it makes you feel good (even if you're embarrassed and you'd really rather that they didn't) when they acknowledge it to other people. It makes you want to do more. Don't forget God and He won't hold out on you (Psalm 91:14b). Case-in-point, I have atheist friends. They are still atheists. They are -all- aware of the fact that I have a relationship with God and that I'm not too shy about it. However, I respect them while respectfully telling them that I don't agree with them, and they afford me the same courtesy. Plus...it's -really- hard to deny that someone is undeniably blessed. It's pretty freaking obvious. I think this started when my father blessed me (at birth and then numerous times like...every time he -thinks- about me :P) and God and I kinda created a pact. He continues to bless me, and I am His rather vocal example. "Do what He wants and you too can be blessed like this!" I'm workin on a deal to be the spokesperson for blessings ;) That's not meant to be blasphemy. God has a sense of humor, so lighten up. Anyway...I was talkin to one of my atheist friends the other day, and I was explaining to her that I don't really have the choice of whether or not I want to believe in God. He works in my life so strongly and often that I'd have to make a conscious -choice- to ignore Him...and that doesn't work out too well. I tried it before. Anyway...the -very- next day I've got a testimony for her. A small thing, but -never- underestimate the small things. You don't need a big miracle, all you need is a bunch of small things. They add up. Trust. Plus...which is harder to believe in, that He turned water into wine and raised the dead, or that He made sure that you had enough money to get your hair cut, and sent someone your way to fill up your gas tank?? Yeah...we don't really think about that, but the World does. So...here's the plot.
Last Sunday a woman in my church got up and the pastor is announcing that she's moving. She needs help. It's during working hours. If you've got the time, lend her a hand. I'm on terminal leave (translation: -no- working hours). So I'm like...I've got a little time. God goes "such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). Pause. I want you to read that scripture and understand that He does not -need- you. He gives you the opportunity to be blessed through blessing other people. Joseph was blessed when he didn't condemn his brothers (Genesis 45), Job was healed when he prayed for the friends that reviled him(Job 42:10), and of course Esther was blessed when she remembered where she came from (Esther 8:7). Ok...resuming. So I get the lady's information. Important note, my phone is not working at this time so I give my email and request to be contacted via email cause my phone doesn't work. The plan is to get a phone -before- I help her move at 12 so that I can get/keep in contact. Day of: I put money down on the phone and they guy let's me walk out of the store with the phone trusting me to come back on the 15th with the rest of it (blessing number 1). Then, I help the lady move and she presses a Walmart gift card on me. That seems small...allow me to explain. I moved into my apartment in November. Some of my entertainment stuff is still in a container. I keep sayin that I'm going to get a little DVD rack from Walmart for like 10 dollars, but I forget. Now, I've got stuff to do that doesn't justify the expenditure. Then, the -night- before I helped the lady move I was like "...this is really bugging me. I think I'm going to make things stretch to get that DVD rack". So...-that- was the biggest blessing because it was just so timely. So...back to my atheist friend. I tell her and her reaction is (this is a quote) "Wow...yeah...stuff like that never happened to me. Even when I was a Christian".
People...you never know just how much the little things that you might take for granted, or might think aren't really that important or interesting to other people are. I have been reminded of that time and again. One thing that I forgot...like the parable of the sower planting seed (paralleled across the gospels in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8), you have to give a blessing to get a blessing. Even if all you have left is just a little oil in a cruse (I Kings 17) and you're about to make your last hotcake so that you and your seed can die. Understand that you have to be empty to be filled, His strength is perfect when our strength is gone (II Corinthians 12:9, and that when you start, sometimes He just won't let you stop (I Kings 17:15-16! I just wanted to let y'all know that God is alive and well. He hasn't taken a holiday...He hasn't fallen down on the job...and He isn't quite sure what this whole "recession" business is about, but He's seen worse (Genesis 45:11, and He's carrying on with business as usual!
If that doesn't put a little pep in your step, then perhaps your praise is broken :P
Get your praise-game up. Just keep smiling...it confuses and annoys the Devil, and it helps to remind God that He's got a blessing coming your way "Now...did I remember to -give- him/her that blessing?...oh well. I'll just give him/her another one. I've got plenty to spare and I -like- that smile" :D
Remember: praise where it's due. And smile with me, y'all. Make someone else's day
Thursday, April 1, 2010
"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him" (Psalm 37:7)/aka Setting the Record Straight
1)Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
...
3)Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4)Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5)Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6)And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7)Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
More often then not, as a Christians, I think that we have a tendency to believe that we are entitled to something from God. As though it were His privilege to have us associate with His name. I don't know about anyone else, but I sometimes have a hard time divorcing success from lifestyle (ie: why is -he- doing so well living like the Devil??). Two things have occured to me that this passage drove home.
One, God doesn't need to punish "evildoers". If they're not Christians they're going to burn forever in Hell. Problem solved de facto.
Two, they're not His kids. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" (Heb 12:6a). I don't know about you, but I know that in my house it never mattered what whomever was doing down the street or up the block. It was always "well, that's them", "I'm not his/her parent", or "not in my house". If you ever still have doubts that this whole "saved" thing is more of a relationship and a -lot- less a bunch of rules and regulations that we call "religion" and just borrow on Sunday, this may help you out a bit. Btw, it's not a sin to still have questions and things that you doubt because you don't understand them, or don't think them to be right. It happens sometimes: "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24b). The trick is to have those questions answered before it becomes a stumbling block...but that's for another time. Back to the matter at hand.
God doesn't have to punish anyone for not turning to seek His face. There is a price tag for sin. That is punishment enough (first point). Along with that, if He actively set out to personally make the lives of everyone who -doesn't- turn to Him a living Hell, so to speak, that puts a serious dent in the whole "free will" thing. I mean...it's a basic Pavlovian response (I'm sure that there's a Bible passage for this or something, I've just been enamored with the idea of learned behavior since I was like...17 or something). It's the way that our society is run and how (in my opinion) parents that don't know how/don't have time to properly raise their kids do it. If you do something they don't like you get punished. End of story.
Not to say that punishment is a bad thing. It made me who I am today, and I'm -very- thankful for that. I mean that sometimes you have to let them touch the stove themselves cause you've already told them a thousand times, and that little burn will teach them a lesson they won't soon forget. That, and it always helps to know -why- you're getting punished. I remember that sometimes my mother used to re-iterate to me why I was getting spanked -while- it was happening. I'm sure I'm not the only one :P let me tell you, the "do you know why I'm spanking/spanked you?" speeches used to get to me worse than the pain sometimes but, to this day, I can only remember two spankings that I got that I didn't deserve. One, my mother honestly believed that I was lying until she finally gave up and literally told me "you're either the dumbest kid in the world, or you're telling me the truth"...she had been spanking me for so long, taking breaks to give me a chance to confess, that she got tired...and I think I was numb. We haven't had much of a problem with her believing me since then, and I was no older than 12 at the time. The other time...I don't even remember the circumstances. I just know that it was made known that I hadn't done it and her reply was that it was for "something else that you did that I don't know/didn't do anything about" :P true story. I hope that you get my rambling point. If God were to punish everyone that didn't turn to His face, then a lot of them would do it simply so that they wouldn't be punished, and not because they wholeheartedly -want- to. And, I don't know about you, but I'm not going to send my Son to Earth for some ungrateful wretches that spit on Him and revile Him (when they're not asking for stuff, miracles, and proof) and finally -kill- Him, just to have them dishonor that great sacrifice by accepting the gift only because they "have to" to make their lives easier.
In summary: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, my former "life's verse"...something I got from my Dad). Something that I realized -while- typing that...look at the chronological order of that verse.
You "mount up with wings as eagles": you feel as though you're on top of the world sometimes (like you first get saved, apparently).
You "run and not grow weary": you realize that there's a daily grind to be had. That life is a marathon and not a sprint. Someone said "To live above with those we love, -that- would be Glory. To live below with those we know? Well...that's a different story". Lastly:
You "walk and not faint": then you run into hard times. Then you start in with the Noah speech (I've been listening to Bill Cosby lately. He has this thing that he does about the speech that Noah had with God about the Ark and the animals and the idea of flooding the Earth. Hilarious and absolutely relateable) about how hard it's been for you and how your neighbors are making fun of you for building the Ark for however-many years, and how there's a -huge- mess in the bottom of the boat from all of the animals and you just -know- that it's going to be you who has to clean it up, etc. You might even have to endure the full-blown Job treatment. One of the scariest sentences in the Bible? "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job" (Job 1:8a). The response to that in the modern vernacular would be "God...how you gonna dime me out like that??" instead Job spits one of the most powerful verses in the Bible and one of the hardest lessons to deal with "...Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21)
If you haven't noticed, I'm on a complain-free kick here. It's a little rough sometimes, but it's -much- better in the long run. Trust in the Lord, wait patiently for Him (cobbled together paraphrase from Psalm 37:5 and 7).
Last thing: from the family chapter (Psalm 91) "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (Psalm 91:15).
Notice: "he will call...I will answer:" ie: He will "never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5), (Joshua 1:5), (Deuteronomy 31:8), (Deuteronomy 31:6).
"I will be with him in trouble;" (see above)
"I will deliver him, and honour him" now...what strikes me is that it doesn't say "he will call upon me and I will deliver him". No, the deliverance is -last-. -After- He's walked through the furnace with you. But "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid" (Mark 6:50). Sometimes we see the Hand of God moving in our lives and it disquiets or discomforts us. Don't worry, He's not in the habit of making our lives miserable for His own pleasure (Matthew 7:11), (Luke 11:13). But I want you to know something. No matter -what- you are going through, He will not allow you to be tried more than you are able to bear (I Corinthians 10:13). Even though His faith in us is a hard thing to bear some days...especially when it's greater than our own faith in ourselves and it's not Matthew 14:27 (immediately) that we see His face or His hand in our dealings. Look here: no matter -what-...when you're down to your last penny, last thought, and last prayer "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against the stone" (Psalm 91:11-12)
God's got it. Selah (pause. think about it)
Amen.
...
3)Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4)Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5)Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6)And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7)Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
More often then not, as a Christians, I think that we have a tendency to believe that we are entitled to something from God. As though it were His privilege to have us associate with His name. I don't know about anyone else, but I sometimes have a hard time divorcing success from lifestyle (ie: why is -he- doing so well living like the Devil??). Two things have occured to me that this passage drove home.
One, God doesn't need to punish "evildoers". If they're not Christians they're going to burn forever in Hell. Problem solved de facto.
Two, they're not His kids. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" (Heb 12:6a). I don't know about you, but I know that in my house it never mattered what whomever was doing down the street or up the block. It was always "well, that's them", "I'm not his/her parent", or "not in my house". If you ever still have doubts that this whole "saved" thing is more of a relationship and a -lot- less a bunch of rules and regulations that we call "religion" and just borrow on Sunday, this may help you out a bit. Btw, it's not a sin to still have questions and things that you doubt because you don't understand them, or don't think them to be right. It happens sometimes: "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24b). The trick is to have those questions answered before it becomes a stumbling block...but that's for another time. Back to the matter at hand.
God doesn't have to punish anyone for not turning to seek His face. There is a price tag for sin. That is punishment enough (first point). Along with that, if He actively set out to personally make the lives of everyone who -doesn't- turn to Him a living Hell, so to speak, that puts a serious dent in the whole "free will" thing. I mean...it's a basic Pavlovian response (I'm sure that there's a Bible passage for this or something, I've just been enamored with the idea of learned behavior since I was like...17 or something). It's the way that our society is run and how (in my opinion) parents that don't know how/don't have time to properly raise their kids do it. If you do something they don't like you get punished. End of story.
Not to say that punishment is a bad thing. It made me who I am today, and I'm -very- thankful for that. I mean that sometimes you have to let them touch the stove themselves cause you've already told them a thousand times, and that little burn will teach them a lesson they won't soon forget. That, and it always helps to know -why- you're getting punished. I remember that sometimes my mother used to re-iterate to me why I was getting spanked -while- it was happening. I'm sure I'm not the only one :P let me tell you, the "do you know why I'm spanking/spanked you?" speeches used to get to me worse than the pain sometimes but, to this day, I can only remember two spankings that I got that I didn't deserve. One, my mother honestly believed that I was lying until she finally gave up and literally told me "you're either the dumbest kid in the world, or you're telling me the truth"...she had been spanking me for so long, taking breaks to give me a chance to confess, that she got tired...and I think I was numb. We haven't had much of a problem with her believing me since then, and I was no older than 12 at the time. The other time...I don't even remember the circumstances. I just know that it was made known that I hadn't done it and her reply was that it was for "something else that you did that I don't know/didn't do anything about" :P true story. I hope that you get my rambling point. If God were to punish everyone that didn't turn to His face, then a lot of them would do it simply so that they wouldn't be punished, and not because they wholeheartedly -want- to. And, I don't know about you, but I'm not going to send my Son to Earth for some ungrateful wretches that spit on Him and revile Him (when they're not asking for stuff, miracles, and proof) and finally -kill- Him, just to have them dishonor that great sacrifice by accepting the gift only because they "have to" to make their lives easier.
In summary: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, my former "life's verse"...something I got from my Dad). Something that I realized -while- typing that...look at the chronological order of that verse.
You "mount up with wings as eagles": you feel as though you're on top of the world sometimes (like you first get saved, apparently).
You "run and not grow weary": you realize that there's a daily grind to be had. That life is a marathon and not a sprint. Someone said "To live above with those we love, -that- would be Glory. To live below with those we know? Well...that's a different story". Lastly:
You "walk and not faint": then you run into hard times. Then you start in with the Noah speech (I've been listening to Bill Cosby lately. He has this thing that he does about the speech that Noah had with God about the Ark and the animals and the idea of flooding the Earth. Hilarious and absolutely relateable) about how hard it's been for you and how your neighbors are making fun of you for building the Ark for however-many years, and how there's a -huge- mess in the bottom of the boat from all of the animals and you just -know- that it's going to be you who has to clean it up, etc. You might even have to endure the full-blown Job treatment. One of the scariest sentences in the Bible? "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job" (Job 1:8a). The response to that in the modern vernacular would be "God...how you gonna dime me out like that??" instead Job spits one of the most powerful verses in the Bible and one of the hardest lessons to deal with "...Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21)
If you haven't noticed, I'm on a complain-free kick here. It's a little rough sometimes, but it's -much- better in the long run. Trust in the Lord, wait patiently for Him (cobbled together paraphrase from Psalm 37:5 and 7).
Last thing: from the family chapter (Psalm 91) "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (Psalm 91:15).
Notice: "he will call...I will answer:" ie: He will "never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5), (Joshua 1:5), (Deuteronomy 31:8), (Deuteronomy 31:6).
"I will be with him in trouble;" (see above)
"I will deliver him, and honour him" now...what strikes me is that it doesn't say "he will call upon me and I will deliver him". No, the deliverance is -last-. -After- He's walked through the furnace with you. But "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid" (Mark 6:50). Sometimes we see the Hand of God moving in our lives and it disquiets or discomforts us. Don't worry, He's not in the habit of making our lives miserable for His own pleasure (Matthew 7:11), (Luke 11:13). But I want you to know something. No matter -what- you are going through, He will not allow you to be tried more than you are able to bear (I Corinthians 10:13). Even though His faith in us is a hard thing to bear some days...especially when it's greater than our own faith in ourselves and it's not Matthew 14:27 (immediately) that we see His face or His hand in our dealings. Look here: no matter -what-...when you're down to your last penny, last thought, and last prayer "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against the stone" (Psalm 91:11-12)
God's got it. Selah (pause. think about it)
Amen.
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