Numbers 23:19
God is not man that he should speak falsely, nor human,
that he should change his mind. Is he one to speak and not
act, to decree and not fulfill?
NAB
Does this verse surprise anyone? Basically it is saying that "....God is NOT human..." and then goes on to list some of the shortcomings we humans have, yet He, God Jehovah, does not. Things like: lying, changing our mind, or talk about the big things He is going to do, having no desire to do them, just wanting us to believe Him in time to vote. You could say : God IS NOT a POLITICIAN. Wow, that is a relief:)
We humans have many drawbacks, or to put it another way: "SINS". God does NOT SIN, He can't, it is NOT possible. Sin is a part of THIS world, brought here by Satan, Lucifer, who tried to take God's place in Heaven, and God, Jehovah, the ruler of the Heavens and all that is, said: "Are you kidding me? Ge away from me you jerk" and threw Lucifer and all his demons (One third of all angels) down to Earth, (I have a feeling that when he landed it was with a thud and hurt his ego, and his back side:)) Why couldn't God, in His wisdom, sent Satan somewhere else? Maybe Saturn, or better yet, another Galaxy. Because God, knowing Lucifer was going to doubt Him, had all this planned millions of years ago. God wanted a creation, us, Mankind, to choose Him, and thus needed another choice for us. Thus Satan became that "Other" choice.
We see movies all the time about Satan, someone is "taken over" by a demon, or Satan himself. They do all kinds of bad things, they are supernatural, they speak with a very scarey voice...........But Satan, Like God is not human. There are very BIG differences, though. Satan has decided to lie, and he is very good at it. He has decided to manipulate us, and is also extremely talented. Satan tells us the "Big Plans" he has for us, that we will be rich, have everything we want.............he is the master politician, if you will.
Enough about that slimy guy, Satan, let's talk about our God, Jehovah. God does not lie, He doesn't tell us His future for us, and then say He changed His mind, that we aren't going to be that important as He first said in the kingdom of Heaven. He doesn't say: "You know what, I changed my mind, I am going to give that assignment I told you about to Henry, over there, you just need to do your own thing, good luck.
If, at anytime in your life, God made you a promise and it has not been fulfilled yet, it WILL be done. It may have been years and years and years ago, and you may have almost forgotten about it, but He has not. God fulfills His promises, always. God cannot lie, it is against His very being, He cannot tell us something and then forget about it, it's in His thoughts, He WILL do it , because He told you He would, end of story, enough said.
Have you ever known someone who doesn't believe this? Sure, the guy at work who argues with you every time you bring up what God told you about something. "You actually think God talks to you?" "God doesn't care about that situation, He has other things on His mind, like how He is going to destroy the world". "Yeah, He told me 20 years ago that He wanted me to be a missionary, and nothing ever happened, why should I believe Him?" Ever hear anything like that? Maybe you have said something like this. I have. God never makes a promise, a statement, a word from His mouth that He does not keep. Many times, He keeps them in a much different way then we expected in our human understanding, but He will keep those promises. My Mom died almost 2 years ago, she had cancer and suffered terribly. God spoke through many in our family, and friends, of how He was going to heal her. She did not receive a healing here on this Earth, But she IS HEALED in Heaven, talking to Jesus and worshiping, dancing, praising Him at His throne. God has His ways, and in our human state, we see things from only one perspective, ours.
Have you ever told someone who does not believe in Jesus, that if they are wrong and Jesus does not exist, that the whole thing was a fairy tale, then by serving Him, what have you lost? BUT if He is real, as you are saying, and you turn your back on Him, and do not serve Him, you lose everything, your very soul. Play the odds, I tell people, serve the Lord Jesus, make Him the center of your life, what ya got to lose? If I am wrong, you'll just live a good life, and raise a family in church, what is wrong with that? But if your wrong, well , there will be no way out of hell.
We just do not understand who God is. If your serving Him, and know He loves us, then you understand a little, but still we cannot comprehend His "Self" People who call themselves Atheist, or Part
Atheist, or Just Don't know if there is a superior being or not" are really just trying to make themselves feel better. All they want to do is Prove to you, with man made science, that God does NOT exist. That is where they fail, the "man made science". You can throw all kinds of studies, numbers, statistics.....at me, but I WILL not change my mind, I have NO Doubt who made me, and all in this world. You can tell me a zillion times how the monkeys came from the trees and turned into my great great great grandfather, but I DO not believe it. Why? because "God is not a man that he should speak falsely, nor human that he should change his mind. Is he one to speak and not act, to decree and not fulfill?" God has told us through His word, and through millions of other ways, that He made all there is. According to this scripture, If I believe Him, then there is NO WAY that I would believe anything else.
Satan tries so hard to convince the world, that Humans are the smartest, that we have the answers to everything. When has mankind cured the common cold? Yes medicine has made tremendous strides in research, coming close to curing cancer soon, BUT what about that common cold? I believe God, in His wisdom, has left that one uncured to show us, that He grants us our wisdom, education, and knowledge and that He and He alone gives us the know how that we have. We praise our self's for our accomplishments, but who gave them to us? Acknowledge Him or not, He is the reason we have done anything.
It's going to get worse in our world, we are going to put Mankind above everything, including God Himself. We are going to worship our own accomplishments, we are going to become so much more arrogant toward anything Godly. It has already been happening for years. The things of God are made fun of, mocked, put down, been made "illegal". It will get worse, but God has promised He will prevail, and He will help us. And remember, What He promises He keeps. End of Story.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Condemnation or Rebuilding?
John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through him.
NIV
You ever think about "Condemnation" when you read this verse? What if it said "For God sent His Son into the world to condemn the world, so that He could start over with His creation and see if this time, the sinners would be perfect"? Did God have the "right" to send His Son, Jesus, into the world to condemn us? Of course, look at the shape of the world when Jesus became human, look at the much worse shape of it now. God, Jehovah, had many thousands of years before, tried to destroy the earth with a flood. Have you ever thought about how He felt after the floods destroyed all mankind except those on the Ark? Yes, those destroyed where living in sin, BUT they were God's children, He made them, He loved them. I think this is why He made the statement that He would never again destroy all mankind, it hurt Him to much. You see, God loves us, He loves you, regardless of your feelings toward Him, He loves YOU>
What is "Condemnation"? Webster says: : censure, blame. So if you condemn someone you not only blame them for a act, but you "censure" or never talk, visit, share the same space with them. Basically you turn your back on them and try and act like they never existed. Has God done this? Of course not, He could have, though. Does this mean we "Got Away with it?" No, it means God is our father, and although He still loves us, we disappoint Him at times. How much that hurts, that word, my Mom used it when I was caught doing something I was not supposed to be doing, and it hurt to hear. But if it was really bad and my Dad used that word, then it cut me to the bone. The last thing I wanted to do was to disappoint my DAD. Dad would not "condemn" me, turning his back on me, and erasing me from his life, although there were, more then likely, times he wanted to if only for a minute:)
I remember several years ago, I got home from work and there were these notices posted all over my apartment complex. "This property has been Condemned by the blah, blah blah association." These signs were posted on almost every building in our complex. Yes I know my complex is old, and isn't the nicest looking from the outside, but is comfortable inside, and I love the low rent. But bad enough to be Condemned? I don't think so. What was going to happen? What was I going to do? Of course me and a few hundred other families went straight to the Manager's office demanding answers. It turned out to be a over zealous Inspector who was new and had not taken certain foundation readings correctly. But for a few minutes, I pictured my apartment being "Condemned". You know, a big demolition crane with the huge steel ball swinging into my apartment and destroying it, forever. Because you see, "Condemned" means you have given up on something, you don't believe there is any hope to save it. No amount of repair will help, it is a lost cause.
Is that what God thanks me and you? A lost cause? NEVER. Remember: "...God DID NOT send His Son into the world to CONDEMN the world, BUT to save the world through Him." God, in His wisdom, KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt, that mankind, if given a chance, would turn around and acknowledge Him. We just needed a little help. So, God provided one, Himself, becoming a human, with all our problems,limitations, emotions, hurts, habits, SIN and die so that we would have another chance, and another, and another................if needed. This is how He "Saved the world through Himself".
I have often wondered what I would do if I were God. You ever thought about that? I would be alone in the universe, I know, because I would have destroyed all these sinful humans long ago. My patience would have ran out long before the flood. I would have given Adam and Eve and their family the boot about 5 minutes after they ate of that apple. "Disobey Me, huh? Your Gone" I am SO Glad I am not God. Aren't you?
God does NOT Condemn. He rebuilds. He is that carpenter that sees the building we can become, yes it will cost a lot, it will take a lot of time, but the outcome will be worth it. Don't destroy it, I'll rebuild it. We look at others through our human eyes, and wonder when they will finish killing themselves? They are addicted to alcohol or drugs and slowly killing themselves, it is such a shame. But God looks at them and sees the man/woman they can become if only given the chance. He sees the future, the lives they help lead to Him. We see the present, the past, and the many times they have let us, their families, or God down. We condemn, God rebuilds.
Put away the stapler put away those "Condemning" notices, look at that person, notice their smile, there zeal for life when they aren't High or drunk. See them as God does, His vessels, His handy works, His children.
We, in this world, are to easy to condemn when something or someone seems "Worthless", We condemn, God rebuilds.
Everyone deserves, not earns, not because of our skin color or our place of birth or our financial condition, but deserves because we are the children of the living God, only for that reason, a second chance, a third chance, a forth chance..............however many it takes for us to see that God loves us so much He died a horrible death just for me, just for YOU>
Don't condemn, help rebuild, because, you see, We CONDEMN, GOD REBUILDS, so we can also.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through him.
NIV
You ever think about "Condemnation" when you read this verse? What if it said "For God sent His Son into the world to condemn the world, so that He could start over with His creation and see if this time, the sinners would be perfect"? Did God have the "right" to send His Son, Jesus, into the world to condemn us? Of course, look at the shape of the world when Jesus became human, look at the much worse shape of it now. God, Jehovah, had many thousands of years before, tried to destroy the earth with a flood. Have you ever thought about how He felt after the floods destroyed all mankind except those on the Ark? Yes, those destroyed where living in sin, BUT they were God's children, He made them, He loved them. I think this is why He made the statement that He would never again destroy all mankind, it hurt Him to much. You see, God loves us, He loves you, regardless of your feelings toward Him, He loves YOU>
What is "Condemnation"? Webster says: : censure, blame. So if you condemn someone you not only blame them for a act, but you "censure" or never talk, visit, share the same space with them. Basically you turn your back on them and try and act like they never existed. Has God done this? Of course not, He could have, though. Does this mean we "Got Away with it?" No, it means God is our father, and although He still loves us, we disappoint Him at times. How much that hurts, that word, my Mom used it when I was caught doing something I was not supposed to be doing, and it hurt to hear. But if it was really bad and my Dad used that word, then it cut me to the bone. The last thing I wanted to do was to disappoint my DAD. Dad would not "condemn" me, turning his back on me, and erasing me from his life, although there were, more then likely, times he wanted to if only for a minute:)
I remember several years ago, I got home from work and there were these notices posted all over my apartment complex. "This property has been Condemned by the blah, blah blah association." These signs were posted on almost every building in our complex. Yes I know my complex is old, and isn't the nicest looking from the outside, but is comfortable inside, and I love the low rent. But bad enough to be Condemned? I don't think so. What was going to happen? What was I going to do? Of course me and a few hundred other families went straight to the Manager's office demanding answers. It turned out to be a over zealous Inspector who was new and had not taken certain foundation readings correctly. But for a few minutes, I pictured my apartment being "Condemned". You know, a big demolition crane with the huge steel ball swinging into my apartment and destroying it, forever. Because you see, "Condemned" means you have given up on something, you don't believe there is any hope to save it. No amount of repair will help, it is a lost cause.
Is that what God thanks me and you? A lost cause? NEVER. Remember: "...God DID NOT send His Son into the world to CONDEMN the world, BUT to save the world through Him." God, in His wisdom, KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt, that mankind, if given a chance, would turn around and acknowledge Him. We just needed a little help. So, God provided one, Himself, becoming a human, with all our problems,limitations, emotions, hurts, habits, SIN and die so that we would have another chance, and another, and another................if needed. This is how He "Saved the world through Himself".
I have often wondered what I would do if I were God. You ever thought about that? I would be alone in the universe, I know, because I would have destroyed all these sinful humans long ago. My patience would have ran out long before the flood. I would have given Adam and Eve and their family the boot about 5 minutes after they ate of that apple. "Disobey Me, huh? Your Gone" I am SO Glad I am not God. Aren't you?
God does NOT Condemn. He rebuilds. He is that carpenter that sees the building we can become, yes it will cost a lot, it will take a lot of time, but the outcome will be worth it. Don't destroy it, I'll rebuild it. We look at others through our human eyes, and wonder when they will finish killing themselves? They are addicted to alcohol or drugs and slowly killing themselves, it is such a shame. But God looks at them and sees the man/woman they can become if only given the chance. He sees the future, the lives they help lead to Him. We see the present, the past, and the many times they have let us, their families, or God down. We condemn, God rebuilds.
Put away the stapler put away those "Condemning" notices, look at that person, notice their smile, there zeal for life when they aren't High or drunk. See them as God does, His vessels, His handy works, His children.
We, in this world, are to easy to condemn when something or someone seems "Worthless", We condemn, God rebuilds.
Everyone deserves, not earns, not because of our skin color or our place of birth or our financial condition, but deserves because we are the children of the living God, only for that reason, a second chance, a third chance, a forth chance..............however many it takes for us to see that God loves us so much He died a horrible death just for me, just for YOU>
Don't condemn, help rebuild, because, you see, We CONDEMN, GOD REBUILDS, so we can also.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
"Give thanks for THAT?"
Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
~ Ephesians 5:20, NLT
I don't think that Ephesians 5:20 says to ..."Give thinks for some things..........or "Give thanks for only the real good things.........." or "Give thanks only for really really big things where you get a bunch of stuff or money..."........It says: "Give thanks for EVERYTHING to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." What about the "bad things"? Can we gain anything good from those? Remember that God works ALL things together to him who loves the Lord. So, if like me, you have made some pretty stupid choices in the past, God will take the outcomes of those choices and make something wonderful happen. I have known guys that were lost in addictions all kinds of addictions, and are now substance abuse counselors, leaders in 12 step type recovery groups, or just friends to the addicted of all types. When you go through something like that then it is easy to understand what is going on in their mind, lives, body......God uses your experiences, bad or good to help others. I have a nephew in prison, Shawn., I have mentioned him before, he has let his life shine, holding nothing back about his past, befriending other inmates, talking to them about his experiences while in jail. God is using Shawn in a mighty way while in prison. He has grown so much in there. He feels that God may be leading him to be a counselor when he gets out. To help those, like himself, that have been addicted to things of this world. I am in awe of my nephew, he is letting his past, through God, form his future. So what am I saying here? Thank you, Father, for the addictions that I gave into in my life, so that I may use those experiences to serve you? No, not really, but "Thank you Father, for taking me out of those addictions, forgiving me, allowing me to come back into your family, and letting me work for You, sharing my experiences so that others with the same problems can see, there is a way of redemption."
Thank You Father for................? Just all the good things? The nice car, the nice home, the love of my life in my spouse, my children, the money in the bank, my wonderful job...........? Is that all there is? Of course not, and if your like me, you don't have all those things, BUT you do have Jesus in your life, and you have the lessons you have learned thus far in your walk here on earth. Think about Paul for a minute. Look at what he was doing when God became so real to him, that he literately became blinded. Paul had to become physically blind, to be able to see what he was doing. Jesus Christ and anyone who "followed" Him, ie: Christians, Paul was hunting down and killing. It took a physical handicap for Paul to see who Jesus was. But now look at what Paul became. A writer, a starter of churches, a pastor, a minister, a lover of all things God and His Son Jesus. What a leader, what a Christian. What a example. Remember Paul's "thorn in the flesh"? You know the one we can put anything into, things that we suffer with? I think this is why we never really know what this "thorn" is, so that we can "fill in the blank" if you will. But thinking about his background, I believe his "Thorn" could have been regret, pain, remorse, sorrow, for the things he had done to Christians. Yes, God forgave him, but as a human being, it is very hard to forget, we dwell on our past mistakes. He had killed Christians, how could he not forget this? But look at what Paul did for the Christians of that day, and his writings still to this day. Paul had God given abilities that He used to talk and write and share like no one else. I love reading his writings, they are so easy to understand, they cut past all the stuff, the get right to the heart of the matter. Paul, though quite educated, comes across as someone normal, a "Man's Man", a average Joe, someone who understands the common man, he "gets us" type of guy. The type who would sit down and watch the game with you, and share the love of God with you at the same time. The guy who would do anything he could do to help you, help you move from a 5th floor apartment to a 6th floor apartment both with no elevators, just because you were his friend. I can see Paul with a big smile on his face, celebrating a touchdown with all the guys, and then after the game sharing prayer requests and victories with you. He carded,so much for people, he was a real people person. Is it any wonder that God went to so much trouble to get Paul to believe in His son? But how much trouble did He go to to get you? As much as it takes. There is no limit to the pain staking ends that God will go to to ensure you go to Paradise to spend eternity with Him. It wasn't just Paul, though he does seem like "quite a catch". Paul is no more important then any of us, and I believe, he would be the first one to tell us that.
OK, here is the deal. Yes, we should thank the Lord our Father, for all the good things in our life, I mean He gave them to us. But we also need to thank God for the way our lives have lead us to see things like no one else on this earth can. I have been told that my writings are different then anything else people have ever read. I have decided to take that as a compliment.:) I have a perspective that is uniquely mine>. I am looking at life from right here . see that is my spot. No one else is right there at that spot, just me. My view is from there, the angle that I see a certain events is from right there. Your spot may be close to mine because you are right next to me .. see? But there is a small space between us, we see things just a little different. God wants to use your perspective also. Why, they seem so close? That is just it, "They SEEM so close". Our different backgrounds, our experiences, our sins, our victories, the places that we lived, our jobs, our churches, our thoughts............all make up our perspective. All this makes up our outlook on life. Everything we have gone through in life up until now influences how we see life, right now.
So, get to the point!!OK here it is, "Give thanks for EVERYTHING to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ>" Does that mean: "Thank you, Lord, for all the sin I have committed in my life, for without it I could not be the man I am today"? No, God never wants us to fail, BUT He will use our failings to help others. God NEVER wants us to sin, BUT when WE DO, He will use those mistakes, if we ask for forgiveness and turn from them, to help others facing the same temptations. THAT is what we should thank the Lord our Father for. That He will not only forgive us our sins, but will use them to help others facing the same thing.
What is the best way to learn how to get somewhere? Someone drawing you a map, telling you how to get there, giving you landmarks, "Turn left at the ole crooked tree", or by getting in the car and giving you turn by turn directions. I used to drive a trash truck and had to learn new routes all the time. How did I learn them? Repetition. Driving them over and over, until it became second nature. But the first time I drove a completely new route they would send someone who had been on the route and knew it very well, they would show me where to go. If you are going through a divorce and are really having a hard time, who best to talk to then someone who was recently divorced also? Talking to a newlywed would be of little use. The same goes with ANY temptation we have, who better then someone who has had the same problems and has overcome them with the help of Jesus?
Give thanks for your past mistakes, for they can and will be used for God. But try and stay away from any more. Don't get the idea that you can sin a little here and there, because your going to ask for forgiveness and then help those that are tempted by the same things. I have tried that excuse, don't work, it's just that, an excuse to make yourself feel better.
Thank you Lord, for ALL my experiences, both good and bad. Help me to use them to help others who are being tempted. Let me realize that you did not want me to fail, but even though I have, you have forgiven me and will use me. You , Lord, were tempted while here on earth, and know EVERY temptation satan can and does throw our way. This makes you our ally, our friend, our counselor, our leader, our savior. You know what we go through, you know exactly what it feels like to be a human and be tempted with things that seem so fulfilling, and yet cost our very souls. Thank you Lord, for your Love, your understanding and your patience. You send help, even when we think we are OK. You know us better then we know ourselves.
Let's give thanks for ALL the Lord has done for us, even the lessons that we did not like learning, and God more then likely didn't like giving. You know, those "hard" lessons, the ones we learn from our mistakes?
~ Ephesians 5:20, NLT
I don't think that Ephesians 5:20 says to ..."Give thinks for some things..........or "Give thanks for only the real good things.........." or "Give thanks only for really really big things where you get a bunch of stuff or money..."........It says: "Give thanks for EVERYTHING to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." What about the "bad things"? Can we gain anything good from those? Remember that God works ALL things together to him who loves the Lord. So, if like me, you have made some pretty stupid choices in the past, God will take the outcomes of those choices and make something wonderful happen. I have known guys that were lost in addictions all kinds of addictions, and are now substance abuse counselors, leaders in 12 step type recovery groups, or just friends to the addicted of all types. When you go through something like that then it is easy to understand what is going on in their mind, lives, body......God uses your experiences, bad or good to help others. I have a nephew in prison, Shawn., I have mentioned him before, he has let his life shine, holding nothing back about his past, befriending other inmates, talking to them about his experiences while in jail. God is using Shawn in a mighty way while in prison. He has grown so much in there. He feels that God may be leading him to be a counselor when he gets out. To help those, like himself, that have been addicted to things of this world. I am in awe of my nephew, he is letting his past, through God, form his future. So what am I saying here? Thank you, Father, for the addictions that I gave into in my life, so that I may use those experiences to serve you? No, not really, but "Thank you Father, for taking me out of those addictions, forgiving me, allowing me to come back into your family, and letting me work for You, sharing my experiences so that others with the same problems can see, there is a way of redemption."
Thank You Father for................? Just all the good things? The nice car, the nice home, the love of my life in my spouse, my children, the money in the bank, my wonderful job...........? Is that all there is? Of course not, and if your like me, you don't have all those things, BUT you do have Jesus in your life, and you have the lessons you have learned thus far in your walk here on earth. Think about Paul for a minute. Look at what he was doing when God became so real to him, that he literately became blinded. Paul had to become physically blind, to be able to see what he was doing. Jesus Christ and anyone who "followed" Him, ie: Christians, Paul was hunting down and killing. It took a physical handicap for Paul to see who Jesus was. But now look at what Paul became. A writer, a starter of churches, a pastor, a minister, a lover of all things God and His Son Jesus. What a leader, what a Christian. What a example. Remember Paul's "thorn in the flesh"? You know the one we can put anything into, things that we suffer with? I think this is why we never really know what this "thorn" is, so that we can "fill in the blank" if you will. But thinking about his background, I believe his "Thorn" could have been regret, pain, remorse, sorrow, for the things he had done to Christians. Yes, God forgave him, but as a human being, it is very hard to forget, we dwell on our past mistakes. He had killed Christians, how could he not forget this? But look at what Paul did for the Christians of that day, and his writings still to this day. Paul had God given abilities that He used to talk and write and share like no one else. I love reading his writings, they are so easy to understand, they cut past all the stuff, the get right to the heart of the matter. Paul, though quite educated, comes across as someone normal, a "Man's Man", a average Joe, someone who understands the common man, he "gets us" type of guy. The type who would sit down and watch the game with you, and share the love of God with you at the same time. The guy who would do anything he could do to help you, help you move from a 5th floor apartment to a 6th floor apartment both with no elevators, just because you were his friend. I can see Paul with a big smile on his face, celebrating a touchdown with all the guys, and then after the game sharing prayer requests and victories with you. He carded,so much for people, he was a real people person. Is it any wonder that God went to so much trouble to get Paul to believe in His son? But how much trouble did He go to to get you? As much as it takes. There is no limit to the pain staking ends that God will go to to ensure you go to Paradise to spend eternity with Him. It wasn't just Paul, though he does seem like "quite a catch". Paul is no more important then any of us, and I believe, he would be the first one to tell us that.
OK, here is the deal. Yes, we should thank the Lord our Father, for all the good things in our life, I mean He gave them to us. But we also need to thank God for the way our lives have lead us to see things like no one else on this earth can. I have been told that my writings are different then anything else people have ever read. I have decided to take that as a compliment.:) I have a perspective that is uniquely mine>. I am looking at life from right here . see that is my spot. No one else is right there at that spot, just me. My view is from there, the angle that I see a certain events is from right there. Your spot may be close to mine because you are right next to me .. see? But there is a small space between us, we see things just a little different. God wants to use your perspective also. Why, they seem so close? That is just it, "They SEEM so close". Our different backgrounds, our experiences, our sins, our victories, the places that we lived, our jobs, our churches, our thoughts............all make up our perspective. All this makes up our outlook on life. Everything we have gone through in life up until now influences how we see life, right now.
So, get to the point!!OK here it is, "Give thanks for EVERYTHING to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ>" Does that mean: "Thank you, Lord, for all the sin I have committed in my life, for without it I could not be the man I am today"? No, God never wants us to fail, BUT He will use our failings to help others. God NEVER wants us to sin, BUT when WE DO, He will use those mistakes, if we ask for forgiveness and turn from them, to help others facing the same temptations. THAT is what we should thank the Lord our Father for. That He will not only forgive us our sins, but will use them to help others facing the same thing.
What is the best way to learn how to get somewhere? Someone drawing you a map, telling you how to get there, giving you landmarks, "Turn left at the ole crooked tree", or by getting in the car and giving you turn by turn directions. I used to drive a trash truck and had to learn new routes all the time. How did I learn them? Repetition. Driving them over and over, until it became second nature. But the first time I drove a completely new route they would send someone who had been on the route and knew it very well, they would show me where to go. If you are going through a divorce and are really having a hard time, who best to talk to then someone who was recently divorced also? Talking to a newlywed would be of little use. The same goes with ANY temptation we have, who better then someone who has had the same problems and has overcome them with the help of Jesus?
Give thanks for your past mistakes, for they can and will be used for God. But try and stay away from any more. Don't get the idea that you can sin a little here and there, because your going to ask for forgiveness and then help those that are tempted by the same things. I have tried that excuse, don't work, it's just that, an excuse to make yourself feel better.
Thank you Lord, for ALL my experiences, both good and bad. Help me to use them to help others who are being tempted. Let me realize that you did not want me to fail, but even though I have, you have forgiven me and will use me. You , Lord, were tempted while here on earth, and know EVERY temptation satan can and does throw our way. This makes you our ally, our friend, our counselor, our leader, our savior. You know what we go through, you know exactly what it feels like to be a human and be tempted with things that seem so fulfilling, and yet cost our very souls. Thank you Lord, for your Love, your understanding and your patience. You send help, even when we think we are OK. You know us better then we know ourselves.
Let's give thanks for ALL the Lord has done for us, even the lessons that we did not like learning, and God more then likely didn't like giving. You know, those "hard" lessons, the ones we learn from our mistakes?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thank you, ouch that burns my head!!
Romans 12:20
Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty,
give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire
on his head."
NKJ
I read this verse this morning, and saw it in a whole new light. I have read this before, concentrating on the doing good to your enemies part. But what about those "coals of fire?" Is Paul saying that we need to treat our enemies nice, just so we can get them trusting us, and then "WHAM" pour hot coals on their head, thereby killing them, or severely burning them? No, I don't think so.
I heard about a civil war in a small country years ago, African country,I believe. This "war" was very "civil", as they would not have "it" before sunrise, or after sunset. There was no "warring" on Sundays, Saturdays were OK< but not after lunch. At noon each day, the two warring sides would sometimes come together and share their meals. before returning back to trying to kill each other.
Sounds like killing each other wasn't in there hearts. It makes me wonder how many people were actually killed in this so called "war"? As I read about this, I also noticed this "War" lasted over 10 years, and finally came to a "draw", with neither side winning. I don't think the solders were mad at their enemy, and were just going through the motions of war. A 9-5, 1 hour for lunch,(Here, enemy, try my wife's soup), kind of war.
In today's world,(well in the USA, anyway), we don't run across our enemies with guns trying to shoot us as much as long gone days. So who is our enemy? Is it easy to pinpoint our enemies? Are they the ones that we differ with about politics? "I am a Liberal, you are a Conservative, therefore I hate you." "You live a "Gay" lifestyle, I can have nothing to do with you, you "Heathen" "You have a criminal record, don't you dare come into my church, and if you do, don't sit anywhere near me or my family". Enemies? We may not agree with their lifestyle, their sin, there past, But they are not our enemy. Ever had someone, at work, or another place, that just gave you such a hard time? You know, the guy who you really didn't like? The one who is always telling jokes about the Christian? You tend to ignore him, because he is a jerk. Have you thought about asking him if he wants you to pick up something to eat, because your going out for lunch and you heard him say he was working through lunch? How about not making "good comebacks" when he says something about your belief? Being nice to the guy. You don't have to invite him home for supper with your family, unless God wants you to, but show him what a true christian is, Love.
So...."If your enemy is hungry, feed him: If he is thirsty, give him drink, FOR in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head"? What does that mean? In my humble opinion, I think it means that your fighting back at them with love. You become the "bigger man" here. You show them love, when all the show you is disrespect. You could get angry, but how does that make you any better then them? That is what they are trying to do, make you angry. I know I know, this is really been used in the past, But the saying here "WWJD" comes to mind. What would Jesus do in this situation? He never got mad at sinners, just "religious" people, trying to make a buck off of the poor. Jesus never argued with anyone, by raising His voice, trying to make His point, pointing His finger at someones face, saying things like: "You pervert, your never going to go to my Father's house, your such a sinner" "WWJD"? He acted in love to sinners, more so then He did to the religious of that day. He despised the religious leaders, who were living a lie. I know a lot about living a lie, and there is hope, but you have to change your whole life, admit your wrong. Those guys did not do that, they continued to shout THEIR "GLORY" so the whole world could hear.
I knew a guy a long time ago, we seemed to follow each other around from job to job. I drove a trash truck for 3 different companies, and eventually he got hired on also at each one. His experience was driving a pick up and large trailer and delivering trash carts to new customers, and picking up carts from newly dropped customers. I really did not like this guy. He talked all the time about how he knew everything, it seemed. I would be telling a story about what I did on vacation and he would interrupt and try and "one up" me, with his vacation to Europe, or Australia, or some place, always better then mine.
We did not get along very well. I wish I could say, that I treated him nice, made him feel uncomfortable by not letting him get to me, but I did not. I just ignored him to the point when he walked into a room I walked out. What kind of "witness" for the Lord did I have with him? Not any. If I had treated him nicer, not made fun of him, which I did a lot! Invited him to my church, just talked to him and shown some interest in the things he was talking about, I could have shared the Lord with him. But I didn't. The last time I saw him, he was working at Walmart. I chatted with him a little, and then excused myself fast. Is this what Jesus would have done? No, I am sure it is not.
How can you "heap hot coals of fire" on someone, this way? Like I said, become the bigger man, show them you care, regardless of their attitude toward you. People notice how we treat other people, they make opinions of us in a few minutes. How do we treat others, especially the ones that "rub us the wrong way"? What about the guy who is a Washington Redskin fan, or worse the one who actuality wears Oklahoma Sooner' s stuff? (Hey, I live in Austin Texas the home of the Texas Longhorns, so this is how it is). I do love you Oakies, but not when UT-OU plays, No really I would watch a game on TV sitting right next to an OU fan, argue with them about our teams, and in love console them when the sooners lose. OH this is hard, I am sorry, Lord let me love even OU fans, thank you:)) Please note this is all in fun, I have many relatives in Oklahoma and love them dearly. I would share my lunch or drink with them any-day. I hope you don't think I am serious, but there are sports fans out there who do take their rivalry way to far, and actually hate each other. Fights, deaths even result. OVER SPORTS? I love sports, but it will not change my calling to tell others, in love, about my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
Just remember our actions are noticed by those that watch us. Confess to be a christian and you will be watched. They are looking for any flaw so they will feel right when they talk about those "fake Christians" Show them we really do care, we really do serve a God who loves them and we do to. Don't come across as " Holier then thou", everyone can see right through that, because no one is "holier then anyone", only by Jesus' death on the cross are any of us anything. Only through Jesus are any of us free.
Take some time today and be nice to someone you normally would ignore. Surprise them, give them a reason for believing, not accusing.
"
Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty,
give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire
on his head."
NKJ
I read this verse this morning, and saw it in a whole new light. I have read this before, concentrating on the doing good to your enemies part. But what about those "coals of fire?" Is Paul saying that we need to treat our enemies nice, just so we can get them trusting us, and then "WHAM" pour hot coals on their head, thereby killing them, or severely burning them? No, I don't think so.
I heard about a civil war in a small country years ago, African country,I believe. This "war" was very "civil", as they would not have "it" before sunrise, or after sunset. There was no "warring" on Sundays, Saturdays were OK< but not after lunch. At noon each day, the two warring sides would sometimes come together and share their meals. before returning back to trying to kill each other.
Sounds like killing each other wasn't in there hearts. It makes me wonder how many people were actually killed in this so called "war"? As I read about this, I also noticed this "War" lasted over 10 years, and finally came to a "draw", with neither side winning. I don't think the solders were mad at their enemy, and were just going through the motions of war. A 9-5, 1 hour for lunch,(Here, enemy, try my wife's soup), kind of war.
In today's world,(well in the USA, anyway), we don't run across our enemies with guns trying to shoot us as much as long gone days. So who is our enemy? Is it easy to pinpoint our enemies? Are they the ones that we differ with about politics? "I am a Liberal, you are a Conservative, therefore I hate you." "You live a "Gay" lifestyle, I can have nothing to do with you, you "Heathen" "You have a criminal record, don't you dare come into my church, and if you do, don't sit anywhere near me or my family". Enemies? We may not agree with their lifestyle, their sin, there past, But they are not our enemy. Ever had someone, at work, or another place, that just gave you such a hard time? You know, the guy who you really didn't like? The one who is always telling jokes about the Christian? You tend to ignore him, because he is a jerk. Have you thought about asking him if he wants you to pick up something to eat, because your going out for lunch and you heard him say he was working through lunch? How about not making "good comebacks" when he says something about your belief? Being nice to the guy. You don't have to invite him home for supper with your family, unless God wants you to, but show him what a true christian is, Love.
So...."If your enemy is hungry, feed him: If he is thirsty, give him drink, FOR in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head"? What does that mean? In my humble opinion, I think it means that your fighting back at them with love. You become the "bigger man" here. You show them love, when all the show you is disrespect. You could get angry, but how does that make you any better then them? That is what they are trying to do, make you angry. I know I know, this is really been used in the past, But the saying here "WWJD" comes to mind. What would Jesus do in this situation? He never got mad at sinners, just "religious" people, trying to make a buck off of the poor. Jesus never argued with anyone, by raising His voice, trying to make His point, pointing His finger at someones face, saying things like: "You pervert, your never going to go to my Father's house, your such a sinner" "WWJD"? He acted in love to sinners, more so then He did to the religious of that day. He despised the religious leaders, who were living a lie. I know a lot about living a lie, and there is hope, but you have to change your whole life, admit your wrong. Those guys did not do that, they continued to shout THEIR "GLORY" so the whole world could hear.
I knew a guy a long time ago, we seemed to follow each other around from job to job. I drove a trash truck for 3 different companies, and eventually he got hired on also at each one. His experience was driving a pick up and large trailer and delivering trash carts to new customers, and picking up carts from newly dropped customers. I really did not like this guy. He talked all the time about how he knew everything, it seemed. I would be telling a story about what I did on vacation and he would interrupt and try and "one up" me, with his vacation to Europe, or Australia, or some place, always better then mine.
We did not get along very well. I wish I could say, that I treated him nice, made him feel uncomfortable by not letting him get to me, but I did not. I just ignored him to the point when he walked into a room I walked out. What kind of "witness" for the Lord did I have with him? Not any. If I had treated him nicer, not made fun of him, which I did a lot! Invited him to my church, just talked to him and shown some interest in the things he was talking about, I could have shared the Lord with him. But I didn't. The last time I saw him, he was working at Walmart. I chatted with him a little, and then excused myself fast. Is this what Jesus would have done? No, I am sure it is not.
How can you "heap hot coals of fire" on someone, this way? Like I said, become the bigger man, show them you care, regardless of their attitude toward you. People notice how we treat other people, they make opinions of us in a few minutes. How do we treat others, especially the ones that "rub us the wrong way"? What about the guy who is a Washington Redskin fan, or worse the one who actuality wears Oklahoma Sooner' s stuff? (Hey, I live in Austin Texas the home of the Texas Longhorns, so this is how it is). I do love you Oakies, but not when UT-OU plays, No really I would watch a game on TV sitting right next to an OU fan, argue with them about our teams, and in love console them when the sooners lose. OH this is hard, I am sorry, Lord let me love even OU fans, thank you:)) Please note this is all in fun, I have many relatives in Oklahoma and love them dearly. I would share my lunch or drink with them any-day. I hope you don't think I am serious, but there are sports fans out there who do take their rivalry way to far, and actually hate each other. Fights, deaths even result. OVER SPORTS? I love sports, but it will not change my calling to tell others, in love, about my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
Just remember our actions are noticed by those that watch us. Confess to be a christian and you will be watched. They are looking for any flaw so they will feel right when they talk about those "fake Christians" Show them we really do care, we really do serve a God who loves them and we do to. Don't come across as " Holier then thou", everyone can see right through that, because no one is "holier then anyone", only by Jesus' death on the cross are any of us anything. Only through Jesus are any of us free.
Take some time today and be nice to someone you normally would ignore. Surprise them, give them a reason for believing, not accusing.
"
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Now you Know.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud.
~ 1 Corinthians 13:4, NLT
OK, I am one day late with this kinda Valentines Day sorta thing. Sorry.
This is going to be a hard one for me. The Lord has laid this on my heart, and I must be very transparent here. I don't want to be, in my flesh, but I must be obedient.
I hate Valentines Day. Why? Because I have been divorced for about 5 years, and still have feelings for my ex-wife. Without a doubt, I realize we would still be together IF I had not done some of the things I did. So actually I don't hate this day, I just hate the fact that because of me, I don't have anyone to celebrate it with.
OK here comes some of the hard parts for me. Mary and I married in September of 1980 in Oklahoma City. I was in the Navy stationed aboard an Aircraft Carrier home based out of San Diego. I loved my new wife, very much. It was hard leaving her for our times at sea. The upcoming 6 month or so "Western Pacific" (WestPac) cruise was approaching, it seemed very fast. I, in my stupid selfish nature, decided that I did not want to go and leave my wife without Me, for the next 6 or so months. So I made up a story. I decided that Mary and I would move back to Oklahoma/Texas, that I would be discharged. So, I told my new wife, a great story about how I was being discharged from the Navy, and we could move back "home". She had no reason NOT to believe me, she was my new bride,and loved me why would I lie to her? (Step one: Did I really Love her? Was I lying to everyone, just because I did not want HER to be without me? The Selfishness,looking back, SUCH selfishness!!) We moved back and stayed with my folks in Silsbee Texas where my Dad was Pastor at the time. It took awhile, but the Navy sent a letter to my folks, telling them I was missing and wanted to know if I had been in contact with them.
I flew back to my ship, now in Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines. I was disciplined, busted in rank and spent the next 5 months or so on the ship. (Step 2, I now had put a nail in my marriage, a nail of mistrust.) I did this same type thing, basically a year or so later, and was sent to "Captains Mast" busted again and punished again. (Step 3: One more nail, less trust, more selfishness>} During the "Mast" I lied to the Captain and told him the reason I went AWOL was because my wife had just had her second miscarriage in a year, and I just "freaked". I thought this would give me a little pity. Over the next few years, Mary, my wife had 2 miscarriages. God was punishing me and my wife from MY own words. words of lies. (I have NEVER told anyone this, until right now).
Then the day finally came and I really did get out of the Navy. I had the real paperwork and everything. We eventually moved back to Texas and stayed with my folks for a bit. Austin, this time. We got jobs, settled in and had kids. Over the next 15 years or so, I went from job to job. I would always have a great excuse for why I was "let go", but the truth was I got tired of these jobs, and just quit. I could always lay around at home and watch TV, it would be OK,Mary had a decent job. (Steps 4,5,6,7,8,9,19.....Less and less trust, How could Mary believe a word I said?)
Over the next few years, I started stealing computer equipment from my employers, including my church, where I was employed as a maintenance worker at the time. This is the same church I still attend, that is how loving they are. I feel no judgment, or anger from anyone who knows about this. Not everyone knows, but the leaders,(Pastors, Deacons.....and a few people that were close to Mary and I). I brought back everything when this was found out and paid payment to the church for the pieces I had discarded or the ones that were out of date. My Pastor, Vic Schober, asked me to name a price I thought I should pay, what was the worth of the stuff? I always loved him for this, he showed me such love, he let me decide what was fair. I estimated $ 1,000, and paid this over the next few months.
OK I have gotten ahead of myself. About a year before all this came to light, I had stolen the stuff from the church, but had not been caught yet. I found another job, through a friend of mine from years earlier. I got hired as a large Plumbing/Air Conditioner company in Round Rock, a suburb of Austin. (Yes, Dell IS located there). I was in charge of the "Tool Room" and had a company credit card with a budget of 1% of the total income of the company, which was quite a lot. Now, knowing my background you can more then likely tell where I am going. Yes I stole from this company, stole computer equipment, stole via the credit card, stole basically anything I wanted. I got caught, because they put up a camera and saw me. I was sent to jail for about a week, my folks bailed me out, paid for a very good lawyer, and I ended up with 6 months in jail. After I was caught at the plumbing company, the church's missing computers case was pretty easy to solve.
Jail was no fun, But there was one thing I learned while there. Jesus forgives, and loves me. They had a great Chaplain, great services, great christian classes, and I devoured the word of God, I mean what else did I have to do, nothing but time. My wife, who was almost ready to divorce me saw a change in my letters to her, and in me. She took me back, picking me up when I got out of Prison. Once again life was good. I had committed myself to live for the Lord and never get in trouble again. I wish I did not have to put a BUT here, BUT it didn't last long, maybe a year. I'll save you the details, but I began wanting those things again. I began using the excuse that I was missing out by not having everything I wanted. I played Mary like an instrument and told her we needed to pay our tithes regularly, which we had not done in years. She, thinking I had changed agreed, but I must have thought she was stupid, why would she believe me? I would make a big deal out of making sure she saw me put the money in a tithe envelope, but then I would put a empty envelope in the offering plate. I then told her that I had found a part time job working for the local cable company making good money, and I would use the tithe money to buy what I wanted.(Trust? What trust?) Mary, by now could not trust me one little bit, why then would she believe such a story? She followed me to my so called job on a few Saturdays and found out what the Holy Spirit had been telling her in her spirit ,that something was not as it seemed. The story about the job was pretty unbelievable also.
Not long later my wife confronted me with my lies we were divorced. I told my wife for all our 24 years and since that I loved her. Look at the above scripture and put it into the story of my life. Where is the Patience? Only from Mary to me, Where is the kindness? Only from my wife to me. Where is the Boastfulness or the pride? Only from me to her. What was I showing to my wife and children? Selfishness, dishonesty, to do whatever you have to to get what you want. Divorce, how could my wife do anything else? What kind of a marriage did we have where she could not believe a word I told her, but only wonder what really was up? She showed me nothing but Love for 24 years, what had I showed her, besides dishonesty, lies, manipulation, greed, and selfishness?
Do you see why I waited until after Valentines day to tell this one? This is NOT a story of a love of a man for his wife. This is a story of a woman who, instead of quitting on a marriage even though her husband was a horrible person using her all the time she showed nothing but love and patience,(a kind of Love, according to the above scripture.) There is more to my story, these are only the low lights. I have struggled with Porn addiction for most of my life, and the internet has done nothing more then make this problem so much worse. Not long after Mary and I divorced I used her name and information to acquire some credit cards on line and went on a spending spree. She found out, and fought the charges and they never have found me out, I guess. I have never heard a word from anyone regarding this. More, selfishness, more deceit, more lies. I am an awful person in my self, but God loves even me. He loved Judas even after what he did, NO ONE is beyond His love. No act is over the line and can never be forgiven.
I do not want to leave at this stage, I want you to know what God has been doing for me lately. Mary and I have been divorced for about 5 years or so, and in those 5 years I have done MUCH soul searching. You know what I have found? That REGARDLESS of my past mistakes, regardless of how I treated my family, friends, co workers, .......Regardless of the fact that I stole from God's house, I stole From God himself, regardless of the fact that I used my wife, manipulated her everyday, God forgives me. Why? Because I asked Him to. How? I have NO idea. When? almost everyday, although all it takes is once, regret raises it's ugly head almost every day, and I feel the shame, the guilt, the turmoil all over again, and I ask the Lord to forgive me again. And He does.
This Valentines Day, yesterday:) You can have a love like this. One that doesn't care what you did yesterday, one that is based just on what you do right now. Jesus is waiting to forgive you, regardless of what you have done. I can say that with all truth, because look what I did, and yet He forgave and forgives me. Just talk to Him like you would talk to anyone, go ahead ask Him to forgive you of whatever, and to come into your heart and make you who He wants you to be. That's it, Just Ask, AND HE WILL>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I am in awe of my church, that I feel comfortable enough to attend there, even after what I did. BUT I am more in awe of God, that He will still sit with me, talk with me, put His hands around me and accept me as His own, even after what I did to Him. Thank you Lord.
This was very hard for me, but I know beyond any doubt, someone reading this needed to hear it. I felt God telling me to share my complete and honest story, everything everything hold nothing back. Transparent. Now you see right through me, but you can only hopefully see Jesus.
I hope you still love me, after all I have done. This is the first time I have been this completely honest, EVER. I have shared some of these things with certain people, but never all of them to everyone. I want to be an open book. Now you know.
I want to dedicate this my lives story, to my nephew Shawn, who just recently shared his honest transparent story on line for all the wold to see. Shawn you gave me the courage to do the same. Thank you for listening to Him, regardless.
If you would like to read a young man's struggle with sexual addiction, go to " www.breakingthehush.webs.com" and read my nephew's Shawn's story. If you can read it and not praise the Lord, you need help:) It takes courage and trust to be as open, honest and transparent as he has been. What Satan meant to destroy us, Jesus uses to help us reach others. Out of the ashes of our lives, comes something beautiful. Thank you for reading this, it is truth. It is what He asked of me to be, honest, so I have been. I struggle with honesty, it is harder for me to tell the truth then to make up a lie. I have lied so long, it is second nature for me. Please pray for me to be free of this bondage.
~ 1 Corinthians 13:4, NLT
OK, I am one day late with this kinda Valentines Day sorta thing. Sorry.
This is going to be a hard one for me. The Lord has laid this on my heart, and I must be very transparent here. I don't want to be, in my flesh, but I must be obedient.
I hate Valentines Day. Why? Because I have been divorced for about 5 years, and still have feelings for my ex-wife. Without a doubt, I realize we would still be together IF I had not done some of the things I did. So actually I don't hate this day, I just hate the fact that because of me, I don't have anyone to celebrate it with.
OK here comes some of the hard parts for me. Mary and I married in September of 1980 in Oklahoma City. I was in the Navy stationed aboard an Aircraft Carrier home based out of San Diego. I loved my new wife, very much. It was hard leaving her for our times at sea. The upcoming 6 month or so "Western Pacific" (WestPac) cruise was approaching, it seemed very fast. I, in my stupid selfish nature, decided that I did not want to go and leave my wife without Me, for the next 6 or so months. So I made up a story. I decided that Mary and I would move back to Oklahoma/Texas, that I would be discharged. So, I told my new wife, a great story about how I was being discharged from the Navy, and we could move back "home". She had no reason NOT to believe me, she was my new bride,and loved me why would I lie to her? (Step one: Did I really Love her? Was I lying to everyone, just because I did not want HER to be without me? The Selfishness,looking back, SUCH selfishness!!) We moved back and stayed with my folks in Silsbee Texas where my Dad was Pastor at the time. It took awhile, but the Navy sent a letter to my folks, telling them I was missing and wanted to know if I had been in contact with them.
I flew back to my ship, now in Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines. I was disciplined, busted in rank and spent the next 5 months or so on the ship. (Step 2, I now had put a nail in my marriage, a nail of mistrust.) I did this same type thing, basically a year or so later, and was sent to "Captains Mast" busted again and punished again. (Step 3: One more nail, less trust, more selfishness>} During the "Mast" I lied to the Captain and told him the reason I went AWOL was because my wife had just had her second miscarriage in a year, and I just "freaked". I thought this would give me a little pity. Over the next few years, Mary, my wife had 2 miscarriages. God was punishing me and my wife from MY own words. words of lies. (I have NEVER told anyone this, until right now).
Then the day finally came and I really did get out of the Navy. I had the real paperwork and everything. We eventually moved back to Texas and stayed with my folks for a bit. Austin, this time. We got jobs, settled in and had kids. Over the next 15 years or so, I went from job to job. I would always have a great excuse for why I was "let go", but the truth was I got tired of these jobs, and just quit. I could always lay around at home and watch TV, it would be OK,Mary had a decent job. (Steps 4,5,6,7,8,9,19.....Less and less trust, How could Mary believe a word I said?)
Over the next few years, I started stealing computer equipment from my employers, including my church, where I was employed as a maintenance worker at the time. This is the same church I still attend, that is how loving they are. I feel no judgment, or anger from anyone who knows about this. Not everyone knows, but the leaders,(Pastors, Deacons.....and a few people that were close to Mary and I). I brought back everything when this was found out and paid payment to the church for the pieces I had discarded or the ones that were out of date. My Pastor, Vic Schober, asked me to name a price I thought I should pay, what was the worth of the stuff? I always loved him for this, he showed me such love, he let me decide what was fair. I estimated $ 1,000, and paid this over the next few months.
OK I have gotten ahead of myself. About a year before all this came to light, I had stolen the stuff from the church, but had not been caught yet. I found another job, through a friend of mine from years earlier. I got hired as a large Plumbing/Air Conditioner company in Round Rock, a suburb of Austin. (Yes, Dell IS located there). I was in charge of the "Tool Room" and had a company credit card with a budget of 1% of the total income of the company, which was quite a lot. Now, knowing my background you can more then likely tell where I am going. Yes I stole from this company, stole computer equipment, stole via the credit card, stole basically anything I wanted. I got caught, because they put up a camera and saw me. I was sent to jail for about a week, my folks bailed me out, paid for a very good lawyer, and I ended up with 6 months in jail. After I was caught at the plumbing company, the church's missing computers case was pretty easy to solve.
Jail was no fun, But there was one thing I learned while there. Jesus forgives, and loves me. They had a great Chaplain, great services, great christian classes, and I devoured the word of God, I mean what else did I have to do, nothing but time. My wife, who was almost ready to divorce me saw a change in my letters to her, and in me. She took me back, picking me up when I got out of Prison. Once again life was good. I had committed myself to live for the Lord and never get in trouble again. I wish I did not have to put a BUT here, BUT it didn't last long, maybe a year. I'll save you the details, but I began wanting those things again. I began using the excuse that I was missing out by not having everything I wanted. I played Mary like an instrument and told her we needed to pay our tithes regularly, which we had not done in years. She, thinking I had changed agreed, but I must have thought she was stupid, why would she believe me? I would make a big deal out of making sure she saw me put the money in a tithe envelope, but then I would put a empty envelope in the offering plate. I then told her that I had found a part time job working for the local cable company making good money, and I would use the tithe money to buy what I wanted.(Trust? What trust?) Mary, by now could not trust me one little bit, why then would she believe such a story? She followed me to my so called job on a few Saturdays and found out what the Holy Spirit had been telling her in her spirit ,that something was not as it seemed. The story about the job was pretty unbelievable also.
Not long later my wife confronted me with my lies we were divorced. I told my wife for all our 24 years and since that I loved her. Look at the above scripture and put it into the story of my life. Where is the Patience? Only from Mary to me, Where is the kindness? Only from my wife to me. Where is the Boastfulness or the pride? Only from me to her. What was I showing to my wife and children? Selfishness, dishonesty, to do whatever you have to to get what you want. Divorce, how could my wife do anything else? What kind of a marriage did we have where she could not believe a word I told her, but only wonder what really was up? She showed me nothing but Love for 24 years, what had I showed her, besides dishonesty, lies, manipulation, greed, and selfishness?
Do you see why I waited until after Valentines day to tell this one? This is NOT a story of a love of a man for his wife. This is a story of a woman who, instead of quitting on a marriage even though her husband was a horrible person using her all the time she showed nothing but love and patience,(a kind of Love, according to the above scripture.) There is more to my story, these are only the low lights. I have struggled with Porn addiction for most of my life, and the internet has done nothing more then make this problem so much worse. Not long after Mary and I divorced I used her name and information to acquire some credit cards on line and went on a spending spree. She found out, and fought the charges and they never have found me out, I guess. I have never heard a word from anyone regarding this. More, selfishness, more deceit, more lies. I am an awful person in my self, but God loves even me. He loved Judas even after what he did, NO ONE is beyond His love. No act is over the line and can never be forgiven.
I do not want to leave at this stage, I want you to know what God has been doing for me lately. Mary and I have been divorced for about 5 years or so, and in those 5 years I have done MUCH soul searching. You know what I have found? That REGARDLESS of my past mistakes, regardless of how I treated my family, friends, co workers, .......Regardless of the fact that I stole from God's house, I stole From God himself, regardless of the fact that I used my wife, manipulated her everyday, God forgives me. Why? Because I asked Him to. How? I have NO idea. When? almost everyday, although all it takes is once, regret raises it's ugly head almost every day, and I feel the shame, the guilt, the turmoil all over again, and I ask the Lord to forgive me again. And He does.
This Valentines Day, yesterday:) You can have a love like this. One that doesn't care what you did yesterday, one that is based just on what you do right now. Jesus is waiting to forgive you, regardless of what you have done. I can say that with all truth, because look what I did, and yet He forgave and forgives me. Just talk to Him like you would talk to anyone, go ahead ask Him to forgive you of whatever, and to come into your heart and make you who He wants you to be. That's it, Just Ask, AND HE WILL>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I am in awe of my church, that I feel comfortable enough to attend there, even after what I did. BUT I am more in awe of God, that He will still sit with me, talk with me, put His hands around me and accept me as His own, even after what I did to Him. Thank you Lord.
This was very hard for me, but I know beyond any doubt, someone reading this needed to hear it. I felt God telling me to share my complete and honest story, everything everything hold nothing back. Transparent. Now you see right through me, but you can only hopefully see Jesus.
I hope you still love me, after all I have done. This is the first time I have been this completely honest, EVER. I have shared some of these things with certain people, but never all of them to everyone. I want to be an open book. Now you know.
I want to dedicate this my lives story, to my nephew Shawn, who just recently shared his honest transparent story on line for all the wold to see. Shawn you gave me the courage to do the same. Thank you for listening to Him, regardless.
If you would like to read a young man's struggle with sexual addiction, go to " www.breakingthehush.webs.com" and read my nephew's Shawn's story. If you can read it and not praise the Lord, you need help:) It takes courage and trust to be as open, honest and transparent as he has been. What Satan meant to destroy us, Jesus uses to help us reach others. Out of the ashes of our lives, comes something beautiful. Thank you for reading this, it is truth. It is what He asked of me to be, honest, so I have been. I struggle with honesty, it is harder for me to tell the truth then to make up a lie. I have lied so long, it is second nature for me. Please pray for me to be free of this bondage.
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God;
I have never liked this verse. Yes, I am always anxious about something. And here is Paul, a instrument of God, telling me that I am totally doing it ALL wrong. Isn't Anxiety the way of the world? Aren't we supposed to "Want", the latest thing? Doesn't society tell us it is OK to "lust" after the things of this world? If I don't have the same truck that a celebrity drives, with 4 wheel drive, more torque then the other guys, more payload then the other trucks out there, more handling, better gas mileage..... Then I need to find a way of acquiring that truck. I need to stress over it, be anxious about it, make it happen, then stress over how I am going to make the payments. Isn't THAT the American way? Why would I need 4 wheel drive anyway, I live in the city and the roughest terrain I drive over is the speed bumps at the shopping center?
I remember when I was about 13, my folks were in the market to buy a new car. This was about 1970 or so. We test drove several cars, one, in particular I remember because it was a Cadillac. My sister and I loved that car, it had so much room in the back seat, four doors, automatic locks, even cup holders in the back seat. We ended up getting a more practical car, because that was the smartest move. At least that is what our folks told us. Years later, my Mom mentioned to my sister, that she had asked God to help her decide what to do. He told her that whatever she could trust Him for, was the right move. So, she realized, the less stressful decision for her and my Dad, was to get a car that got better gas millage and was not as expensive. About a year or so later, gas prices rose like never before, in my lifetime. Looking back, I know God would have provided even if we had bought the Cadillac, but it was easier to not have to be anxious about it.
It's really easy to be anxious for things these days. We see the condition the world is in and headed, and are anxious to get outta here. "Please Lord, come quickly". There is a reason Jesus Christ has not come back for us yet, and only God knows the reason. He has everything planned out, every detail, every life. You see, when Jesus does return for His children, it will be glorious for us, but terrible for those left behind. (Why do I always think of Kurt Cameron when I hear that phrase?) Many people will have just set there destination, and it is forever. God, although, happy to have us in Heaven with Him, will mourn the loss, and eternal separation of those that have made their choice. Yeah, I know, there will be those that will die for Jesus during this time and come to Heaven. But this percentage, I believe will be very small. I mean, if you cannot live for Him before, what are the chances your going to do so after the Resurrection?
OK, Anxiety, one of the main contributors to heart attacks, strokes, and many many illness' in our world. And thousands of years, before we had any idea about high blood pressure, high cholesterol, good or bad, calories, ................Paul tells us through the Holy Spirit, to stop being anxious. God knew this would make us sick, kill us if not stopped. So what was Doctor Paul's prescription? ..."in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." In the "Chris Version" of Philippians (available in the lobby for only 29.95 :)) "Don" worry about anything, just bring all your needs and wants, make a list if you want, to ME, and thank me for answering in advance as a act of trust on your part, and then sleep peaceably knowing that I will answer." I used the term here: "Needs AND WANTS", this does not mean be selfish and tell God your Christmas list from a seven year old. You see, when we start to grow in the Lord, our wants and our needs, start to line up.
Another thing, I believe, Paul with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, is trying to tell us is this: "How can you completely trust the Lord your God, if you worry over things that He will take care of by just asking? If your so worried about things, then how can you trust? I don't believe trust and worry can occupy the same brain at the same time. You either trust, or you worry, not both. By worrying, are you doubting? Yes, your showing God that you do not trust that He can do what He has said He will do. You have NO idea how much that last statement has "stepped on my toes".
I come from a long line of "worriers" not "warriors", but "Worriers". My Dad worry's about everything, literately everything. He knows this goes against everything God stands for, but it seems he can't help himself. Our family has "Put up" with him for our whole lives, but we have not prayed for him to have peace from worrying, nearly as much as complained. My Mom, did, she prayed for her husband to feel God's touch, and KNOW HIM so deeply that he could not worry. And through the years, this has helped, until another bill came due, and Dad fell into anxiety again. I believe Worry,for my Dad is an addiction, it is someplace familiar, safe. My Sister and I say all the time that if Dad has nothing to worry about he will make something up. I feel this is a bondage he has gotten into over years and years. I pray for my Dad to be released from the bondage of worry right now, Lord Jesus. And I pray that anyone who is reading this right, and also the writer, me, will not worry, but in "thanksgiving, with prayer and supplication let OUR request be known to, THE ONLY LIVING God"
I believe the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" (In God) would apply here. You can do one of two things, Worry or Be Happy. Worry, or anxiety robs your joy, your happiness everything that God wants to give you. How can we have a Hope in God, if we are worried about the fact that there is a thunderstorm forecast for tonight, and power might go off? Where is our hope when there is enough money to pay God's tithes, or the car payment but not both? What do you do? You ask God, and I have done this, He told me to pay Him what is His, and He would take care of the rest. He did, I paid my tithes, and got an unexpected bonus at work for making "Employee of the Month, (The only time I ever made "Employee of the Month.) From our blessings He expects US to bless others.
It's hard most of the time, to not worry about stuff, But it is honoring God when we don't. To completely trust the Lord, is to Praise Him. To trust Him, though, is to listen to Him. How can He answer our needs if we don't follow His lead? AND, this is important: Listen for Him to tell US when someone else has a need, and He wants US to help them. God uses US to help each other. So He will bless us, help us, show us that we are loved by Him. Then He expects us to pass it own by helping others in need, or "Just Because">
One Last note here: To my fried Kurt, Please notice there is not ONE reference to a TV show, or movie in this entire blog:) I am making progress:) Love ya brother. I appreciate anyone who reads these blogs, I know without a doubt, they help me, and hopefully you too. Thanks guys.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God;
I have never liked this verse. Yes, I am always anxious about something. And here is Paul, a instrument of God, telling me that I am totally doing it ALL wrong. Isn't Anxiety the way of the world? Aren't we supposed to "Want", the latest thing? Doesn't society tell us it is OK to "lust" after the things of this world? If I don't have the same truck that a celebrity drives, with 4 wheel drive, more torque then the other guys, more payload then the other trucks out there, more handling, better gas mileage..... Then I need to find a way of acquiring that truck. I need to stress over it, be anxious about it, make it happen, then stress over how I am going to make the payments. Isn't THAT the American way? Why would I need 4 wheel drive anyway, I live in the city and the roughest terrain I drive over is the speed bumps at the shopping center?
I remember when I was about 13, my folks were in the market to buy a new car. This was about 1970 or so. We test drove several cars, one, in particular I remember because it was a Cadillac. My sister and I loved that car, it had so much room in the back seat, four doors, automatic locks, even cup holders in the back seat. We ended up getting a more practical car, because that was the smartest move. At least that is what our folks told us. Years later, my Mom mentioned to my sister, that she had asked God to help her decide what to do. He told her that whatever she could trust Him for, was the right move. So, she realized, the less stressful decision for her and my Dad, was to get a car that got better gas millage and was not as expensive. About a year or so later, gas prices rose like never before, in my lifetime. Looking back, I know God would have provided even if we had bought the Cadillac, but it was easier to not have to be anxious about it.
It's really easy to be anxious for things these days. We see the condition the world is in and headed, and are anxious to get outta here. "Please Lord, come quickly". There is a reason Jesus Christ has not come back for us yet, and only God knows the reason. He has everything planned out, every detail, every life. You see, when Jesus does return for His children, it will be glorious for us, but terrible for those left behind. (Why do I always think of Kurt Cameron when I hear that phrase?) Many people will have just set there destination, and it is forever. God, although, happy to have us in Heaven with Him, will mourn the loss, and eternal separation of those that have made their choice. Yeah, I know, there will be those that will die for Jesus during this time and come to Heaven. But this percentage, I believe will be very small. I mean, if you cannot live for Him before, what are the chances your going to do so after the Resurrection?
OK, Anxiety, one of the main contributors to heart attacks, strokes, and many many illness' in our world. And thousands of years, before we had any idea about high blood pressure, high cholesterol, good or bad, calories, ................Paul tells us through the Holy Spirit, to stop being anxious. God knew this would make us sick, kill us if not stopped. So what was Doctor Paul's prescription? ..."in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." In the "Chris Version" of Philippians (available in the lobby for only 29.95 :)) "Don" worry about anything, just bring all your needs and wants, make a list if you want, to ME, and thank me for answering in advance as a act of trust on your part, and then sleep peaceably knowing that I will answer." I used the term here: "Needs AND WANTS", this does not mean be selfish and tell God your Christmas list from a seven year old. You see, when we start to grow in the Lord, our wants and our needs, start to line up.
Another thing, I believe, Paul with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, is trying to tell us is this: "How can you completely trust the Lord your God, if you worry over things that He will take care of by just asking? If your so worried about things, then how can you trust? I don't believe trust and worry can occupy the same brain at the same time. You either trust, or you worry, not both. By worrying, are you doubting? Yes, your showing God that you do not trust that He can do what He has said He will do. You have NO idea how much that last statement has "stepped on my toes".
I come from a long line of "worriers" not "warriors", but "Worriers". My Dad worry's about everything, literately everything. He knows this goes against everything God stands for, but it seems he can't help himself. Our family has "Put up" with him for our whole lives, but we have not prayed for him to have peace from worrying, nearly as much as complained. My Mom, did, she prayed for her husband to feel God's touch, and KNOW HIM so deeply that he could not worry. And through the years, this has helped, until another bill came due, and Dad fell into anxiety again. I believe Worry,for my Dad is an addiction, it is someplace familiar, safe. My Sister and I say all the time that if Dad has nothing to worry about he will make something up. I feel this is a bondage he has gotten into over years and years. I pray for my Dad to be released from the bondage of worry right now, Lord Jesus. And I pray that anyone who is reading this right, and also the writer, me, will not worry, but in "thanksgiving, with prayer and supplication let OUR request be known to, THE ONLY LIVING God"
I believe the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" (In God) would apply here. You can do one of two things, Worry or Be Happy. Worry, or anxiety robs your joy, your happiness everything that God wants to give you. How can we have a Hope in God, if we are worried about the fact that there is a thunderstorm forecast for tonight, and power might go off? Where is our hope when there is enough money to pay God's tithes, or the car payment but not both? What do you do? You ask God, and I have done this, He told me to pay Him what is His, and He would take care of the rest. He did, I paid my tithes, and got an unexpected bonus at work for making "Employee of the Month, (The only time I ever made "Employee of the Month.) From our blessings He expects US to bless others.
It's hard most of the time, to not worry about stuff, But it is honoring God when we don't. To completely trust the Lord, is to Praise Him. To trust Him, though, is to listen to Him. How can He answer our needs if we don't follow His lead? AND, this is important: Listen for Him to tell US when someone else has a need, and He wants US to help them. God uses US to help each other. So He will bless us, help us, show us that we are loved by Him. Then He expects us to pass it own by helping others in need, or "Just Because">
One Last note here: To my fried Kurt, Please notice there is not ONE reference to a TV show, or movie in this entire blog:) I am making progress:) Love ya brother. I appreciate anyone who reads these blogs, I know without a doubt, they help me, and hopefully you too. Thanks guys.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Remember when Cars were easy to work on?
When I was a young teen, cars were so much easier to work on. I had a friend who had an older (1966, I think) Ford F-150 pickup. It had a "Straight 6" cylinder engine. It had a carburetor, remember those? A carb? (No not carbohydrates, a carburetor.) They also had a thing called a distributor, which had a top on it called a distributor cap. If you remember working on cars and actually knowing what these things were, you and I are old>
A car engine (Internal Combustion engine) needs three things to work, 1) Gas 2) Spark ( or fire, as we called it) and 3) Air. The fire came from the generator which turned along with the engine and generated current, the current was sent to the distributor which distributed it among the spark plugs at just the right time to cause a spark to ignite the gas that the carburetor had mixed with air and pumped into the cylinders. Then there was an explosion inside the cylinder and the piston was pushed down, the piston was attached to the crank shaft which turned this motion into a circular motion, and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" you had the wheels turning. There you go, Internal Combustion Engine 101.
Our worship leader, during Praise and Worship time yesterday morning, used the term: "Lord, continue to distribute your power onto each and everyone of us". The word Distribute, got my mind going, and you know what that means if you have read much of my "stuff" I continued thinking about the process of the older engines. I remember having a 1972 Chevy Pick up that you could actually stand up inside the engine compartment, if needed to get to things. There was that much room between the sides of the engine and the sides of the engine compartment.
OK, now for the point: What three things do we need to make an internal combustion engine work? Gasoline, Spark (fire) and Air. What three things do we, as Christians, need as we live in this sinful world? Fuel (God's Word), Spark (Fire) power from the Holy Spirit and Air (The breath of God) Without all three of these a car will not go, and a Christian will not run to our full potential. When a neighbor of mine was working on his car in the parking lot the other day, I had just pulled up and walked over and found him trying and trying to start the engine without success. Three questions I asked: "Is it getting fuel?" "Yes", I answered myself, you could smell gasoline, "How about Fire?" I asked. "Yes," he answered," I found that out the hard way". He had touched a screw driver tip to one of the spark plugs while his son turned the engine over, and YES, it had fire. It was an older car, so I asked about the carburetor . "Getting air?" I asked. "Seems to be", he answered. All three of us, and several more interested parties looked at the engine trying to figure out what was causing the car not to start. After a few minutes, I said: "Just because we can smell gas, doesn't mean it is getting gas to the carburetor , where is the fuel filter on this thing?" Sure enough that was the problem, the fuel filter was clogged. We cleaned it out best as we could, and he went to a parts house and got a new one. He later offered to take me to lunch. Made me feel pretty good, as I really don't know that much about cars. I do know however, that those three things are needed for a engine to run.
Those three things are needed for a christian to "run" also. Let me explain my thought process: We are the engine, but we are just pushing ourselves along, can't get the thing going. God supplies the Air, from Himself, (The Breath of God) This air is sucked into the carburetor, and mixed with the fuel (The Word of God, (The Bible) It has Power, it can never come back void, The president cannot "Veto" it, NO ONE can deny it, they can make fun of it, ignore it, pretend it is not there, but cannot in all truth, deny it!) then this explosive mixture is given a spark (The generator supplies this spark (The Holy Spirit supplies this Fire), through the distributor (Jesus)) who times just when the spark is applied to the spark plugs. When all this happens at just the right time, BOOM, there is a explosion in the cylinder and we move forward. As this process continues to happen we move faster and faster. But here is the drawback, if Just one of these things is removed from the engine, we stop our progress. We must keep the tank full, the generator working, and the carburetor in good shape. If we are not IN TUNE with all three of the God Head (you know One God, in three parts) in our lives, then our engine will not work very well, if at all.
I don't know if you got anything from this or not, but I do know I did. I find it amazing how my thought process works sometimes. While we were praising and worshiping God during this time yesterday morning, I was not solely concentrating on these thoughts. I was praising God, that there are so many things in this world that He created, that show us Him.
Acts 2:3
"Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them"--The Holy Spirit came with power, and "Fire".
Judges 14:6
"At that moment the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat. But he didn’t tell his father or mother about it."--God supplies all the power we could ever need, just at the time we need it.
Job 33:4
" For the Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. "--He, the Lord, breathes into us life, by just His breath.
I find it fascinating that someone came up with the "Internal Combustin Engine" years and years ago. It is really a marvel. But what I find AMAZING is that God is all we need. He created the minds that made this engine, just like He created the minds that made everything we have today. God is ALL powerful, All Loving, All Knowing, All Anything and everything we need Him to be and more. Get your lives "IN TUNE" with Him, you'll run like a top from here on out. But don't forget to "Fill UP" often, with His fuel, the best there is.
A car engine (Internal Combustion engine) needs three things to work, 1) Gas 2) Spark ( or fire, as we called it) and 3) Air. The fire came from the generator which turned along with the engine and generated current, the current was sent to the distributor which distributed it among the spark plugs at just the right time to cause a spark to ignite the gas that the carburetor had mixed with air and pumped into the cylinders. Then there was an explosion inside the cylinder and the piston was pushed down, the piston was attached to the crank shaft which turned this motion into a circular motion, and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" you had the wheels turning. There you go, Internal Combustion Engine 101.
Our worship leader, during Praise and Worship time yesterday morning, used the term: "Lord, continue to distribute your power onto each and everyone of us". The word Distribute, got my mind going, and you know what that means if you have read much of my "stuff" I continued thinking about the process of the older engines. I remember having a 1972 Chevy Pick up that you could actually stand up inside the engine compartment, if needed to get to things. There was that much room between the sides of the engine and the sides of the engine compartment.
OK, now for the point: What three things do we need to make an internal combustion engine work? Gasoline, Spark (fire) and Air. What three things do we, as Christians, need as we live in this sinful world? Fuel (God's Word), Spark (Fire) power from the Holy Spirit and Air (The breath of God) Without all three of these a car will not go, and a Christian will not run to our full potential. When a neighbor of mine was working on his car in the parking lot the other day, I had just pulled up and walked over and found him trying and trying to start the engine without success. Three questions I asked: "Is it getting fuel?" "Yes", I answered myself, you could smell gasoline, "How about Fire?" I asked. "Yes," he answered," I found that out the hard way". He had touched a screw driver tip to one of the spark plugs while his son turned the engine over, and YES, it had fire. It was an older car, so I asked about the carburetor . "Getting air?" I asked. "Seems to be", he answered. All three of us, and several more interested parties looked at the engine trying to figure out what was causing the car not to start. After a few minutes, I said: "Just because we can smell gas, doesn't mean it is getting gas to the carburetor , where is the fuel filter on this thing?" Sure enough that was the problem, the fuel filter was clogged. We cleaned it out best as we could, and he went to a parts house and got a new one. He later offered to take me to lunch. Made me feel pretty good, as I really don't know that much about cars. I do know however, that those three things are needed for a engine to run.
Those three things are needed for a christian to "run" also. Let me explain my thought process: We are the engine, but we are just pushing ourselves along, can't get the thing going. God supplies the Air, from Himself, (The Breath of God) This air is sucked into the carburetor, and mixed with the fuel (The Word of God, (The Bible) It has Power, it can never come back void, The president cannot "Veto" it, NO ONE can deny it, they can make fun of it, ignore it, pretend it is not there, but cannot in all truth, deny it!) then this explosive mixture is given a spark (The generator supplies this spark (The Holy Spirit supplies this Fire), through the distributor (Jesus)) who times just when the spark is applied to the spark plugs. When all this happens at just the right time, BOOM, there is a explosion in the cylinder and we move forward. As this process continues to happen we move faster and faster. But here is the drawback, if Just one of these things is removed from the engine, we stop our progress. We must keep the tank full, the generator working, and the carburetor in good shape. If we are not IN TUNE with all three of the God Head (you know One God, in three parts) in our lives, then our engine will not work very well, if at all.
I don't know if you got anything from this or not, but I do know I did. I find it amazing how my thought process works sometimes. While we were praising and worshiping God during this time yesterday morning, I was not solely concentrating on these thoughts. I was praising God, that there are so many things in this world that He created, that show us Him.
Acts 2:3
"Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them"--The Holy Spirit came with power, and "Fire".
Judges 14:6
"At that moment the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat. But he didn’t tell his father or mother about it."--God supplies all the power we could ever need, just at the time we need it.
Job 33:4
" For the Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. "--He, the Lord, breathes into us life, by just His breath.
I find it fascinating that someone came up with the "Internal Combustin Engine" years and years ago. It is really a marvel. But what I find AMAZING is that God is all we need. He created the minds that made this engine, just like He created the minds that made everything we have today. God is ALL powerful, All Loving, All Knowing, All Anything and everything we need Him to be and more. Get your lives "IN TUNE" with Him, you'll run like a top from here on out. But don't forget to "Fill UP" often, with His fuel, the best there is.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
How is your grip?
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold our grip on the hope we
confess, for He who promised is faithful.
Berkeley
I love this verse. I can see a strong muscle type guy gripping with all his might onto me, keeping me from falling to my death. I am not depending upon my puny strength, I am depending upon His. I am holding on as best as I can, but He is the one keeping me from falling.
There are several movies that come to mind, one in particular. Can't remember the name of it, but Kevin Costner, I believe, and Ashton Kutcher are in it. It is about "Rescue Swimmers" of the Coast Guard. In a couple of scenes the rescue swimmer is holding onto someone he has saved from sure death in violent waves and winds, they are flying to safety under a Helicopter and the man who needed rescuing is holding on with all he has to the "Swimmer" That scene, a very good one, is embedded into my brain. God is trying to rescue us, He is doing most of the work, all we have to do is Hang On. The violent waves are rolling, roaring below us, the wind is howling all around us, the boat we had been on is going down, rocking and rolling on the waves,got the picture? But God's hand is holding us, as he takes us to safety. There is NOT a stronger hand we could ever hold on to, there is not a safer place we could ever be, then in His hand.
Many times when this scene is played out in Hollywood, the bad guy is the one holding on, and the good guy as hard as he might, cannot keep his grip, and the villain falls to his death. God will never let us go, regardless of what we do or what we have done. We will, however let go of His hand. Yes, there are consequences to our sin, yes we will have to confess, but He will NEVER let us go. We may tire of holding on to His hand, we just don't have the strength, but He does. All we have to do is rely upon His strength, not ours. You know kinda like that song: "Don't Worry, Be Happy", realize He has everything in control, and we just need to acknowledge that.
Who's hands do we trust? Not ours. Who has all things under control? Certainly not us. Who gave up EVERYTHING to save us? Jesus Christ, that's who. Who's hands are we safe in? Only His. Have you ever arm wrestled? I used to be pretty good at that. I grew taller and stronger then guys my on age, but they caught up and passed me fairly quickly. But during that time when I was in the lead, I was a little stronger then most of my friends. I could beat them at arm wrestling. I could also run faster, do more pull ups and stuff like that. This lasted for about 1 month, it seems. :) But I learned in arm wrestling the key is the grip. The better the grip, the more you can control the other guy. Strength has it's part, of course, but a weaker person can beat a stronger person by having a better grip. Can you imagine the grip God has? He will hold onto us forever. Never losing strength, never tiring, never letting that grip slip. Forever and forever and forever if that is what it takes. He will hang on to us as long as we need Him to.
Notice the first line, though, in the above scripture (Hebrews 10:23): "Let us hold unwaveringly our grip on the hope we confess.............."
According to Websters the word "Waver" means:: to weave or sway unsteadily to and fro " Therefore to hold on UNWAVERINGLY would mean just the opposite, NOT TO weave or sway unsteadily to and fro" as the Lord Jesus Christ is holding on to us, hanging from that Helicopter and keeping us from falling. We have to choose to let Him grab us in the first place, to save us from sure death. He will hold us, He will never let us go, He will do whatever it takes to keep us from falling, BUT we need to NOT weave or sway because we are trying to figure out if we made the right choice, should I have let Jesus grab me by the hand and hold me here, or would I have been better off in my sin, a sure death? Yeah, that is swaying, that is doubting, that is weaving. God will not let go, but sometimes we act like we sure want to.
I want to clear up something here: God, will never let US go, BUT He will if we let Him go. This is not to say He abandons us, it is us who abandons Him. BUT the "Helo" is flying right
above us as we fall deeper and deeper into our sin, waiting for us to call out and ask Him to help us again. Many times as we are falling deeper into our sin, we look around and think how fun this is;. "Wow, look at all the pretty lights, all the money, all the women, the nice clothes..............not even realizing we are falling at the speed of light to a hell made for satan and his demons. We WILL hit bottom, all the pretty stuff WILL disappears and we will be left with nothing but trouble. EVEN THEN Jesus is with us waiting for us to grab onto His hand and take us up to safety
I believe when you pray for someone who is not in the family of God, that He sends extra angels to watch over us and cause us to see the things of God. Prayers work like a "Shield", you know, like from Star Trek, " Shields Up". Yes these "Shields" will protect, but they will not make the decision that needs to be made for a relationship with Jesus Christ. ONLY YOU can make that decision. You cannot get to heaven by Knowing your Mom prayed for you her whole life, or Knowing Billy Graham personally, or Giving whatever amount of money to whatever christian organization. There is only ONE way to get to heaven: Ask. Yep that is it, ask Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins and to become new and clean through the power He did on the cross. That's it, just ask. Why is that so hard? You don't have to stop doing anything, you don't have to donate all your money your belongings everything to the church and live wearing white clothes, and work on a farm............you just have to ask. If your sincere, if you listen to what He would have you do, if you trust Him, if you continue to want Him more then sinful things, then He will make your life wonderful, and you WILL go to Heaven.
Remember the GRIP of God? He will NEVER let you go, He will hold onto you through, well you name it. Grab onto Gods hand, He is holding it out right now. Ask. Tell His son Jesus, that your a sinner you have done wrong, that you have not believed in Him. Tell Him you want to live for Him, and do right, that you KNOW He died on the cross for YOU> He will grab on to your life, and He will change it. Just ASK. It's free, nothing down nothing per month, I mean totally, completely, actually, FREE. This is something, I believe, is very hard for us to understand. How could He love us so much that He is willing to do this for us for FREE? What's the catch, How many payments do I have to make, How many doors must I knock on and tell people about my church? No catch, no money, there are NO Works we can do to earn our way into heaven. The work was already done for us.
Take hold of God's hand, He is reaching down as you read this. He has so many good things in store for you, you have no idea. Grab on with all your might, don't worry there is NO WAY your going to hurt His hand, He has strength like 100 Stallone's and 100 Arnold's and 100 Chuck Norris' and 100......................But He is much gentler. Go ahead, take His hand, please.............
Thursday, February 9, 2012
We can't see, but we can SEE.
For we live by believing and not by seeing. 2 Corinthians 5:7
Most of our human belief comes from our physical sight. If we can see it, it must be true. How about believing what we CANNOT see? You cannot see the pay check that your getting on Friday, but you already have plans for it, you have it budgeted to pay bills you owe, buy some groceries, maybe go out to eat, see a movie. You know the paycheck is coming, because it always does. You cannot see the love your kids or your spouse have for you, but you know they do love you. How? Because they show it, they spend time with you., even when they don't have to:) Especially since your planning on going out to eat and see a movie this Payday Friday. We cannot see the TV, Radio, wireless "waves" floating around in the air, but we watch TV, listen to the radio, and receive the wireless signals that make our cell phone ring, or text message appear. So why is it so hard to "Believe" in God's love for us? No, we are not like Thomas, we cannot say: "I want to see the scars in your hands and side, and then I will believe". We don't SEE them with our physical eyes, but we KNOW He died on the cross for us. Why? Because He told us He did.
That old line: "You can't believe everything you see" comes to play here. I think. When your driving down a long hot roadway, how many "Ponds" do you see on the road in front of you? It looks like it has rained for months, there are little ponds, puddles everywhere. But we know they are not really there, they are just "mirage's" from the sunlight and the black hard surface of the road. So we have come to the conclusion we cannot always trust our eyes, and we filter these out. We know our physical eyes cannot always be trusted, and we accept that, it is just part of life.
In the same way, can we rely on our hearing? As I get older I have lost some of the hearing in my right ear. I have started turning on the "words" on the TV instead of turning it way loud and disturbing my neighbors. Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night, saying "What was that"? I sometimes do, and it is usually my cat getting into the garbage, again.
My point is, that we cannot even trust our senses, always, so why is it so hard to "believe" with our "beliver"? We all have senses we cannot understand, a Mothers sense that her children are in trouble, that sense that someone is watching you, that hair on your neck kind of feeling when you feel something creepy. No one can explain these feelings, but they are real. I believe these un tapped senses are what God uses to reach us. That feeling that you are a sinner and need to confess, (that is the Holy Spirit) the feeling that God, the maker of the well everything, loves you more then anyone. Yes, emotions, feelings, that is how God talks to us. Emotions, and feeling are made fun of a lot, by those that understand them, like Men. Men, in TV shows and movies will make fun of women and their "touchy-feely" feelings, I know I have, sorry ladies. But our emotions are what makes us Human. Can you see God's love for you? Of course not, just as we cannot see the love our family has for us. BUT, just as we know our Mom loves us, God shows us, and He is telling us constantly.
If we based our lives, our love for God only on what we see, there wouldn't be much believing, would there? When is the last time you saw Jesus Christ in person having a cup of coffee at Starbucks? No, not a weirdo dressed as Jesus, but the actual Son of God? It is easy to believe when we see something isn't it? BUT that does not always mean it is real. Our eyes, ears, and other senses can be fooled, very easily. I mean that is how magicians make money, they fool our senses.
Feelings, they are very important to us. There are good feelings, bad feelings, "So-So" feelings, and then there are God feelings. The emotions of Love, Peace, Trust, His Faithfulness, His presence, His Spirit, that we can feel when we start to worship and invite Him into our presence. God shows up when invited, He brings His Strength, His Love, His Peace, His Assurance, His Power, His KNOWING that ALL WILL WORK OUT ACCORDING TO HIS WILL>
Now, I have stated that emotions are an important part of our relationship with God, and this is true. BUT what comes next? Emotions will only take us so far. There are many religions based almost solely on emotions. But what about when your home and it's dark and your by yourself and the despair starts to come back, the "how will I pay this months rent?", the: "What about my Cancer that the doctors say is incurable?" What about the depression that is so deep it almost kills you by itself? You cannot get emotional no matter how hard you try. That is when quiet, reverent, praise, study of God's word, deep thinking through His wisdom is in order. Yes, emotions are important in our worshiping of God, BUT, there is a deeper, worshiping of Him, but there is so much more. When all we have is the emotions, there is no room for growth. There is only one way to grow in the Lord, ask. Ask God for more, for a deeper relationship with Him. And then buckle your seat belts, because He will answer. God will start to invade every part of our lives and start to become much more then ever before. Our desire of more of Him will deepen, He will start to be more and more important to us. Not just the loud praising, singing and shouting but the quiet praising, seeking and listening.
Don't always trust what you see, don't always trust what you feel, But live by BELIEVING He is our God.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Hey, it's not finished yet, where ya going?
Galatians 6:9
Let us not get tired of doing good. At the right time
we'll reap if we don't give up"
Have you ever thought about giving up? You know, everything has happened at once, I just can't take it anymore. Look at all these people who cheat, do whatever it takes to get ahead, treat people like dirt to get ahead, they have everything they want and here am I, struggling to make it to the next paycheck. Where is the justice.? It is easy to have these thoughts when we start focusing upon ourselves instead of others. Selfishness is the beginning of all sin. "Why don't I have what HE/SHE has?". "What makes them better then me?" You know that old "I am a victim mentality." "If I had been given the chance that they were when I was a kid, then I could have made something better of myself, and been rich today".
Yes, I have to admit here, that I have not only thought about giving up, but have given up on several occasions. The only problem was, God wouldn't let me. He continued to bless me, even though I had sinned, He continued to speak to me, asking me to come back to Him, telling me how much He loved me, even though I had clearly Given up.
My daughter is a high school algebra 2 teacher. She says sometimes she is just so overwhelmed she calls in sick, not very often, but on days that she just can't stand it. She says the teachers call it a "Mental Health" day. I can completely understand, I would not want to be trapped in a room all day long with a bunch of teenagers, either. I think I would end up taking a "Mental Health LIFE":) So should we take a "vacation day" from God? Should we stop believing for just today, Lord? NO, but sitting quietly and talking to Him, letting Him know exactly how your feeling, asking Him the hard questions, the ones that no one asked when you were growing up. If you need to take a day off from work to do this, I am not going to call your boss for you and explain, but I think sometimes this is needed.
"Let us not get tired of doing good." Wow, that cuts right down to the nitty gritty, doesn't it. We, as human beings, have a sinful nature. To obey and trust God, goes against our very nature. It takes something out of us, BUT we get so much more in, if we do obey and trust and believe in HIM> When we get past the Human nature part of ourselves, then we realize this is what God made us for, communing with Him.
Sometimes we see no "fruit" from all our work, we witness, we go to church, we obey God, we pay our tithes, we praise the Lord during praise and worship.............but what do we have to show for it? Nothing. Ever felt that way? Your not alone. But do you know when the peace, the reward, the feeling in our spirit that it will all be wonderful....comes? When we throw up our hands and tell God that even though we can't see anything from our work, we know He can. We determine in our hearts, that it is all worth it, because WE don't know what the outcome of our witnessing may be.
When you talk to someone about the Lord, and what He means to you, and what He has done in your life, you may never know how that word is used. Those words may be spoken over and over and over by who you told it to, and others they told it to and.................Good stories spread like wild fire, especially jokes. AND God's word is more then a "good story" it is truth, it is life, it is something to get excited about. It is NOT a Joke..
We are used to only hearing the bad stuff through the media. Everything is bad, someone killed 23 people then killed themselves, there was a 5 car pileup on the interstate killing 13 people, Such and Such country now has the ability to make nuclear weapons and they are very upset with the USA.................And in lighter news, the Electric rate is going up...........
Always negative, we want to hear the bad stuff, BUT this only makes us depressed, just ask my Dad, he watches the news and then complains and complains about how this country is going down the drain. No wonder we want to give up. We are bombarded with the negative 24/7.Where is the news that a missionary in China told 1000's of Chinese people about the Lord God Jesus, and 25,000 accepted Him as their personal savior? You'll never see that on the worlds news media outlets. BUT what does the word of God say? For God SO loved the world, that He sent His SON..............We, humans, blew it, we messed up, we brought sin into the world, and yet (Please read my last blog, the God of the AND Yet's) He sent His Son to save us from ourselves, because we couldn't. Got it? WE sinned, but HE fixed it. He could have said: "Not my problem, I set everything up, told you what you could and couldn't do and yo blew it, so your gone bye!" But He did NOT< and yet, WE want to give up?
....."At the right time we'll reap if we don't give up". The Game is almost over, Jesus is coming back SOON. Can't you feel it? Can't you see the things that are happening around us? Prophecy is unfolding all around us, and Jesus' second coming is right around the corner. The time for giving up is long past, the finish line is within sight. Why would you run this much of the race, and then quit? Yes it is getting harder, Satan knows the end is near, so he is applying more pressure on us.
Paul used sports terms a lot: "Finish the race, hit the mark, the goal is Jesus Christ................"Have you ever heard of someone who runs 26 miles of a marathon and then quits in the last .2 miles? It doesn't matter if you have twisted your ankle, if you are only .2 miles away after running for 26 miles, you want to finish this thing. I am sure it is very hard, especially if you really do have a twisted ankle, but you can see the finish line, the end is in sight, why stop now, just feet, inches away from the goal?
Don't quit, don't give up, let Jesus give you rest, take on some carb's, grab a bottle of water, slow down a little if you have to, but for just a second, ask Jesus to give you strength, He will.
"At the right time we'll reap if we don't give up" Why do you think God doesn't let us know exactly when His son is coming back for us? Because then, we would look at our watch say:L "OK, 3 hours to get my life together and serve the Lord, before He comes back for me" That's not love for God, that is just timing. Fake, doing something because we don't want to burn in hell.
See it? Heaven, it is just over the next rise, around the next corner, don't give up now, you'll be so sorry. Ask for Strength, ask for determination, it will be given. Don't stop, the race isn't quite over.
Let us not get tired of doing good. At the right time
we'll reap if we don't give up"
Have you ever thought about giving up? You know, everything has happened at once, I just can't take it anymore. Look at all these people who cheat, do whatever it takes to get ahead, treat people like dirt to get ahead, they have everything they want and here am I, struggling to make it to the next paycheck. Where is the justice.? It is easy to have these thoughts when we start focusing upon ourselves instead of others. Selfishness is the beginning of all sin. "Why don't I have what HE/SHE has?". "What makes them better then me?" You know that old "I am a victim mentality." "If I had been given the chance that they were when I was a kid, then I could have made something better of myself, and been rich today".
Yes, I have to admit here, that I have not only thought about giving up, but have given up on several occasions. The only problem was, God wouldn't let me. He continued to bless me, even though I had sinned, He continued to speak to me, asking me to come back to Him, telling me how much He loved me, even though I had clearly Given up.
My daughter is a high school algebra 2 teacher. She says sometimes she is just so overwhelmed she calls in sick, not very often, but on days that she just can't stand it. She says the teachers call it a "Mental Health" day. I can completely understand, I would not want to be trapped in a room all day long with a bunch of teenagers, either. I think I would end up taking a "Mental Health LIFE":) So should we take a "vacation day" from God? Should we stop believing for just today, Lord? NO, but sitting quietly and talking to Him, letting Him know exactly how your feeling, asking Him the hard questions, the ones that no one asked when you were growing up. If you need to take a day off from work to do this, I am not going to call your boss for you and explain, but I think sometimes this is needed.
"Let us not get tired of doing good." Wow, that cuts right down to the nitty gritty, doesn't it. We, as human beings, have a sinful nature. To obey and trust God, goes against our very nature. It takes something out of us, BUT we get so much more in, if we do obey and trust and believe in HIM> When we get past the Human nature part of ourselves, then we realize this is what God made us for, communing with Him.
Sometimes we see no "fruit" from all our work, we witness, we go to church, we obey God, we pay our tithes, we praise the Lord during praise and worship.............but what do we have to show for it? Nothing. Ever felt that way? Your not alone. But do you know when the peace, the reward, the feeling in our spirit that it will all be wonderful....comes? When we throw up our hands and tell God that even though we can't see anything from our work, we know He can. We determine in our hearts, that it is all worth it, because WE don't know what the outcome of our witnessing may be.
When you talk to someone about the Lord, and what He means to you, and what He has done in your life, you may never know how that word is used. Those words may be spoken over and over and over by who you told it to, and others they told it to and.................Good stories spread like wild fire, especially jokes. AND God's word is more then a "good story" it is truth, it is life, it is something to get excited about. It is NOT a Joke..
We are used to only hearing the bad stuff through the media. Everything is bad, someone killed 23 people then killed themselves, there was a 5 car pileup on the interstate killing 13 people, Such and Such country now has the ability to make nuclear weapons and they are very upset with the USA.................And in lighter news, the Electric rate is going up...........
Always negative, we want to hear the bad stuff, BUT this only makes us depressed, just ask my Dad, he watches the news and then complains and complains about how this country is going down the drain. No wonder we want to give up. We are bombarded with the negative 24/7.Where is the news that a missionary in China told 1000's of Chinese people about the Lord God Jesus, and 25,000 accepted Him as their personal savior? You'll never see that on the worlds news media outlets. BUT what does the word of God say? For God SO loved the world, that He sent His SON..............We, humans, blew it, we messed up, we brought sin into the world, and yet (Please read my last blog, the God of the AND Yet's) He sent His Son to save us from ourselves, because we couldn't. Got it? WE sinned, but HE fixed it. He could have said: "Not my problem, I set everything up, told you what you could and couldn't do and yo blew it, so your gone bye!" But He did NOT< and yet, WE want to give up?
....."At the right time we'll reap if we don't give up". The Game is almost over, Jesus is coming back SOON. Can't you feel it? Can't you see the things that are happening around us? Prophecy is unfolding all around us, and Jesus' second coming is right around the corner. The time for giving up is long past, the finish line is within sight. Why would you run this much of the race, and then quit? Yes it is getting harder, Satan knows the end is near, so he is applying more pressure on us.
Paul used sports terms a lot: "Finish the race, hit the mark, the goal is Jesus Christ................"Have you ever heard of someone who runs 26 miles of a marathon and then quits in the last .2 miles? It doesn't matter if you have twisted your ankle, if you are only .2 miles away after running for 26 miles, you want to finish this thing. I am sure it is very hard, especially if you really do have a twisted ankle, but you can see the finish line, the end is in sight, why stop now, just feet, inches away from the goal?
Don't quit, don't give up, let Jesus give you rest, take on some carb's, grab a bottle of water, slow down a little if you have to, but for just a second, ask Jesus to give you strength, He will.
"At the right time we'll reap if we don't give up" Why do you think God doesn't let us know exactly when His son is coming back for us? Because then, we would look at our watch say:L "OK, 3 hours to get my life together and serve the Lord, before He comes back for me" That's not love for God, that is just timing. Fake, doing something because we don't want to burn in hell.
See it? Heaven, it is just over the next rise, around the next corner, don't give up now, you'll be so sorry. Ask for Strength, ask for determination, it will be given. Don't stop, the race isn't quite over.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The "AND YET"S"
For your sake we face death throughout the day;
We are thought of as slaughterhouse sheep.
And yet - and yet - we come out on top every time through him who set his heart on us. For I am absolutely convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers nor the present nor the future nor force nor mountain nor valley nor anything else in the universe shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:36-39 ("Cotton Patch" version)
....."And yet, AND YET............." I love the "and yet's" of the bible. Anytime you read an "and Yet" in the word of God, is means, the odds were against someone, the sky looked dark, the worst thing in the world was about to happen, "AND YET" God showed up. Look at the attitude AFTER the "And Yet" in the above passage. Things looked bad, God Himself, they thought had turned his eye off of them, AND YET they started thinking about all the AND YET"S God had performed before. What follows the AND YET is amazing. When you hear the AND YET, listen carefully, there is fixing to be a miracle told. IT was IMPOSSIBLE, AND YET, GOD did it. OH I love the God of the " AND YET"S".
You and I were set deep in our sin, going no where but to hell, AND YET, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to take our place and die on that cross, so that WE could live. God had had it with His creation, mankind had done their own thing for far to long, He was ready to destroy the whole word with a flood, AND YET He made a way of escape for Noah and his family and the animals of the world. We as human being disobey God and His principles daily if not secondly, (is that a word?) AND YET, God has patience, love, oh such love, and such care for us. "AND YET< AND YET> AND YET>" God loves us. If your not standing up right now, praising the God of "AND YETS' I will pray for you:) I have had so many And yet's in my life, I have turned my back on Him over and over and over, AND YET He still loves me, still wants me in His family, still takes care of me, still uses me, still wants me to love Him. Our God is a God of the "AND YET"S" .
Any yet, we still disobey Him, we still don't love Him, we still don't do His will, the "And Yet"s" are coming to a close. Yes, God loves us, He will not send us to hell, we will do that ourselves. We are the ones that make the choices to serve Him or Satan, and by not serving Him, you are, by default, serving Satan. God sends no one to hell, He get's a bad rap for that, people use the cop out all the time: "Why would a loving God send anyone to hell?" And yet, they believe that just by being "good" we will all go to a "Heaven" where a "GOD" as we see him or her, will rule forever and ever. Cop out, AND YET< God still loves you.
I cannot get away from the phrase: "AND YET" It shows me the true personality of God. When we, if treated like we as humans treat God, would end all life as we know it, including insects, God says: "And Yet, I will bless them, and give them more time to come to me. Man has over and over rejected God, " And Yet" God has not destroyed us, and He won't have to, we will destroy ourselves in our sinful nature. He is patient He cares so much for YOU. He is Love. He cares, He will give you every chance. And Yet, And Yet, And Yet. God loves us, and yet, we still sin. God sees our sin, and yet, He still loves us. God knows our weakness', and yet, He helps us, why? Because He loves us.
Numbers 11:21
New Living Translation (NLT)
21 But Moses responded to the LORD, “There are 600,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you say, ‘I will give them meat for a whole month!’ (And God DID supply)
Deuteronomy 5:24
They said, ‘Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live!
( God, the maker of the world, will commune with us, and we will not die)
.
Isaiah 64:7-9
New Living Translation (NLT)
7 Yet no one calls on your name
or pleads with you for mercy.
Therefore, you have turned away from us
and turned us over[a] to our sins.
8 And yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand.
9 Don’t be so angry with us, LORD.
Please don’t remember our sins forever.
Look at us, we pray,
and see that we are all your people.
There are many more "And Yet's" in the bible, God will never stop saying them, actually it is us who say them, in amazement, He knows what He is going to do before we fail. I was born into sin, I have sinned many more times then I can recall in my life, AND YET, God has made a home for me to live for ever with HIM< the ruler of it all. That is the biggest AND YET< YET>.
t
We are thought of as slaughterhouse sheep.
And yet - and yet - we come out on top every time through him who set his heart on us. For I am absolutely convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers nor the present nor the future nor force nor mountain nor valley nor anything else in the universe shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:36-39 ("Cotton Patch" version)
....."And yet, AND YET............." I love the "and yet's" of the bible. Anytime you read an "and Yet" in the word of God, is means, the odds were against someone, the sky looked dark, the worst thing in the world was about to happen, "AND YET" God showed up. Look at the attitude AFTER the "And Yet" in the above passage. Things looked bad, God Himself, they thought had turned his eye off of them, AND YET they started thinking about all the AND YET"S God had performed before. What follows the AND YET is amazing. When you hear the AND YET, listen carefully, there is fixing to be a miracle told. IT was IMPOSSIBLE, AND YET, GOD did it. OH I love the God of the " AND YET"S".
You and I were set deep in our sin, going no where but to hell, AND YET, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to take our place and die on that cross, so that WE could live. God had had it with His creation, mankind had done their own thing for far to long, He was ready to destroy the whole word with a flood, AND YET He made a way of escape for Noah and his family and the animals of the world. We as human being disobey God and His principles daily if not secondly, (is that a word?) AND YET, God has patience, love, oh such love, and such care for us. "AND YET< AND YET> AND YET>" God loves us. If your not standing up right now, praising the God of "AND YETS' I will pray for you:) I have had so many And yet's in my life, I have turned my back on Him over and over and over, AND YET He still loves me, still wants me in His family, still takes care of me, still uses me, still wants me to love Him. Our God is a God of the "AND YET"S" .
Any yet, we still disobey Him, we still don't love Him, we still don't do His will, the "And Yet"s" are coming to a close. Yes, God loves us, He will not send us to hell, we will do that ourselves. We are the ones that make the choices to serve Him or Satan, and by not serving Him, you are, by default, serving Satan. God sends no one to hell, He get's a bad rap for that, people use the cop out all the time: "Why would a loving God send anyone to hell?" And yet, they believe that just by being "good" we will all go to a "Heaven" where a "GOD" as we see him or her, will rule forever and ever. Cop out, AND YET< God still loves you.
I cannot get away from the phrase: "AND YET" It shows me the true personality of God. When we, if treated like we as humans treat God, would end all life as we know it, including insects, God says: "And Yet, I will bless them, and give them more time to come to me. Man has over and over rejected God, " And Yet" God has not destroyed us, and He won't have to, we will destroy ourselves in our sinful nature. He is patient He cares so much for YOU. He is Love. He cares, He will give you every chance. And Yet, And Yet, And Yet. God loves us, and yet, we still sin. God sees our sin, and yet, He still loves us. God knows our weakness', and yet, He helps us, why? Because He loves us.
Numbers 11:21
New Living Translation (NLT)
21 But Moses responded to the LORD, “There are 600,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you say, ‘I will give them meat for a whole month!’ (And God DID supply)
Deuteronomy 5:24
They said, ‘Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live!
( God, the maker of the world, will commune with us, and we will not die)
.
Isaiah 64:7-9
New Living Translation (NLT)
7 Yet no one calls on your name
or pleads with you for mercy.
Therefore, you have turned away from us
and turned us over[a] to our sins.
8 And yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand.
9 Don’t be so angry with us, LORD.
Please don’t remember our sins forever.
Look at us, we pray,
and see that we are all your people.
There are many more "And Yet's" in the bible, God will never stop saying them, actually it is us who say them, in amazement, He knows what He is going to do before we fail. I was born into sin, I have sinned many more times then I can recall in my life, AND YET, God has made a home for me to live for ever with HIM< the ruler of it all. That is the biggest AND YET< YET>.
t
Monday, February 6, 2012
Ever prayed from inside your sin?
From inside the fish Jonah prayed... "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry." - Jonah 2:1-2
Have you or me for that matter, ever prayed from "inside your sin"? Why was Jonah in the belly of a whale? 'Cause he sinned. Easy enough. Have we ever sinned? Of course, if you said no there, please start over and be honest. Jonah disobeyed God. God had told him to go to Ninivah and tell the people that He was going to destroy their city if they didn't stop all their sins. What did Jonah do instead, head the opposite direction. Sounds kinda like when my kids were at "that age", you know you tell them to eat their cereal and they pour it all over the floor, or you tell them to get dressed and they take everything they have off and look at you with that "what 'cha going to do about it" look. Jonah, in essence, gave God that "what 'cha going to do about it" look.
So Jonah ended up in the inside of a whale. This was the outcome of his sin, the destination from the road he choose. If he had obeyed God, things would have been much different. If he had just stayed where he was and ignored God, I believe, it would have been a little better, still disobeying God, but not thumping his nose at God, as he now was. We have all heard the stories of how it was, more then likely inside that whale, and how God had to have prepared that fish to swallow Jonah, as whales aren't built normally to do that kind of thing. But that is not the main focus here, the main focus is that Jonah messed up, and found himself, because of his sin, in a bad situation.
Did you know that God hears a sinners prayer? When a sinner, one who is far from God, prayers God hears them. Why would God, who is perfect in every way, even be slightly interested in what a person who does not obey Him, does not love Him, has not shown an interest at all in Him, take the time to listen? God is disgusted by sin, He cannot come into contact in any way with it. When His son Jesus, was on the cross and had "the sins of the world" on Him, God the father, had to turn His head, because He could not even look at His son, because of the presence of sin. YET, God hears us when we, in sin, call on Him.
So, God will come into the presence of sin, just because we called out to Him. Jonah was in the whale, because of his sin, and called out to God, and God listened. What was so important that God would listen to this man who was in the middle of sin, and surrounded by sin because of his disobedience? Jonah, basically said, "I'm sorry".
Every "sinners prayer" that was ever prayed, was prayed from inside someone's sin. God hears them all, yet do you realize what it takes for Him to be even that close to sin? He does not do it alone, Jesus, who overpowered death, hell, and the grave, and took ALL sin on Him when He died, basically "filter's" out the sin, so that His Father can bare it.
Back in the old testament, there were all kinds of things, sacrifices, laws, rules, that had to be done in order to make ones self clean enough for God to contact someone personally. Looking at the rules, and regulations, it is a wonder anyone "knew God" at all. I think most Jews followed these rules, out of pride for their heritage more then there love for God. BUT Jesus Christ became the sacrifice, so that we have direct contact with God, the Father, on His throne, listening to US>
When we fail, when we goof up, make a mistake, when we turn our backs on God on purpose, when we doubt, when we SIN, all we have to do is call on His name, from inside our sin. Without Jesus' work on the cross, how would this have been possible? It wouldn't. Now, thanks to Jesus Christ, there is no priests needed, to take our side, there is no sacrifice to be made, there is no "Holy of Holys" that the high priest must enter and make our cases' before God, and ask for forgiveness. WE, while still covered, drowning in our sin, can come before God in His throne room, with Jesus Christ standing there representing us, and ask for forgiveness. AND GOD hears us, why, not because of who we are. but because of who God is, and what His Son did on the cross.
I look forward to the day when God the father, can look directly at me, without having to use His son as a filter, to filter out the sin, it seems I always have somewhere in my life. I have doubt, I have depression, I have emotions that come into my life everyday, that are not of God. One day, when I am in front of His throne, He will look directly into my sin free eyes and say: "Enter in, thou good and faithful servant" And I will look directly at Him, see His face and praise His name as I enter into the place He has made for me.
\
Jonah, was basically dead inside that whale. If he couldn't get out, that was it for him. That is why he uses the term, "from the depths of the grave, I called for help, and you listened to my cry"
Have you ever been so far from the Lord, if felt like you were in the belly of a whale? There was no way out, there was nothing you could do, but die. You had no idea how to get out of this mess that your choices had gotten yourself into. Sometimes God allows us to get there, so that we have no other alternative but to call upon Him, from inside our sin. When we get to that point, we HAVE no choice but to trust Him, and then it is "God Time". He shows us what He is capable of, and hopefully, we never lose faith in Him again.
God always hears us when we call upon Him, especially when we are deep inside of our sin. Try it out, give Him a shout, and see what happens. He will never let you down, never forsake you, never leave you stranded, He wants to hear from you, regardless of where your are.
Have you or me for that matter, ever prayed from "inside your sin"? Why was Jonah in the belly of a whale? 'Cause he sinned. Easy enough. Have we ever sinned? Of course, if you said no there, please start over and be honest. Jonah disobeyed God. God had told him to go to Ninivah and tell the people that He was going to destroy their city if they didn't stop all their sins. What did Jonah do instead, head the opposite direction. Sounds kinda like when my kids were at "that age", you know you tell them to eat their cereal and they pour it all over the floor, or you tell them to get dressed and they take everything they have off and look at you with that "what 'cha going to do about it" look. Jonah, in essence, gave God that "what 'cha going to do about it" look.
So Jonah ended up in the inside of a whale. This was the outcome of his sin, the destination from the road he choose. If he had obeyed God, things would have been much different. If he had just stayed where he was and ignored God, I believe, it would have been a little better, still disobeying God, but not thumping his nose at God, as he now was. We have all heard the stories of how it was, more then likely inside that whale, and how God had to have prepared that fish to swallow Jonah, as whales aren't built normally to do that kind of thing. But that is not the main focus here, the main focus is that Jonah messed up, and found himself, because of his sin, in a bad situation.
Did you know that God hears a sinners prayer? When a sinner, one who is far from God, prayers God hears them. Why would God, who is perfect in every way, even be slightly interested in what a person who does not obey Him, does not love Him, has not shown an interest at all in Him, take the time to listen? God is disgusted by sin, He cannot come into contact in any way with it. When His son Jesus, was on the cross and had "the sins of the world" on Him, God the father, had to turn His head, because He could not even look at His son, because of the presence of sin. YET, God hears us when we, in sin, call on Him.
So, God will come into the presence of sin, just because we called out to Him. Jonah was in the whale, because of his sin, and called out to God, and God listened. What was so important that God would listen to this man who was in the middle of sin, and surrounded by sin because of his disobedience? Jonah, basically said, "I'm sorry".
Every "sinners prayer" that was ever prayed, was prayed from inside someone's sin. God hears them all, yet do you realize what it takes for Him to be even that close to sin? He does not do it alone, Jesus, who overpowered death, hell, and the grave, and took ALL sin on Him when He died, basically "filter's" out the sin, so that His Father can bare it.
Back in the old testament, there were all kinds of things, sacrifices, laws, rules, that had to be done in order to make ones self clean enough for God to contact someone personally. Looking at the rules, and regulations, it is a wonder anyone "knew God" at all. I think most Jews followed these rules, out of pride for their heritage more then there love for God. BUT Jesus Christ became the sacrifice, so that we have direct contact with God, the Father, on His throne, listening to US>
When we fail, when we goof up, make a mistake, when we turn our backs on God on purpose, when we doubt, when we SIN, all we have to do is call on His name, from inside our sin. Without Jesus' work on the cross, how would this have been possible? It wouldn't. Now, thanks to Jesus Christ, there is no priests needed, to take our side, there is no sacrifice to be made, there is no "Holy of Holys" that the high priest must enter and make our cases' before God, and ask for forgiveness. WE, while still covered, drowning in our sin, can come before God in His throne room, with Jesus Christ standing there representing us, and ask for forgiveness. AND GOD hears us, why, not because of who we are. but because of who God is, and what His Son did on the cross.
I look forward to the day when God the father, can look directly at me, without having to use His son as a filter, to filter out the sin, it seems I always have somewhere in my life. I have doubt, I have depression, I have emotions that come into my life everyday, that are not of God. One day, when I am in front of His throne, He will look directly into my sin free eyes and say: "Enter in, thou good and faithful servant" And I will look directly at Him, see His face and praise His name as I enter into the place He has made for me.
\
Jonah, was basically dead inside that whale. If he couldn't get out, that was it for him. That is why he uses the term, "from the depths of the grave, I called for help, and you listened to my cry"
Have you ever been so far from the Lord, if felt like you were in the belly of a whale? There was no way out, there was nothing you could do, but die. You had no idea how to get out of this mess that your choices had gotten yourself into. Sometimes God allows us to get there, so that we have no other alternative but to call upon Him, from inside our sin. When we get to that point, we HAVE no choice but to trust Him, and then it is "God Time". He shows us what He is capable of, and hopefully, we never lose faith in Him again.
God always hears us when we call upon Him, especially when we are deep inside of our sin. Try it out, give Him a shout, and see what happens. He will never let you down, never forsake you, never leave you stranded, He wants to hear from you, regardless of where your are.
Friday, February 3, 2012
What a Character.
"Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness"- Yousup Karsh (Canadian Photographer)
Psalm 105:17-19
New Living Translation (NLT)
Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with fetters
and placed his neck in an iron collar.
Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
the LORD tested Joseph’s character.
Character, yes I have been called one, many times, I am not sure if that is good or not:) But what is Character? Websters has several definitions, but this one stuck me the most:" one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual "
Yes, we are all different characters in this world. We are made up of different opinions, we have gone through different things, raised by different characters......these have all helped form who we are, our character. You can have good Characteristics of bad. People can respect you or not, depending upon your character. But when the "Rubber hits the Road" and your character is revealed, where are you, usually in a dark, trying, serious place. God tested Joseph by letting him go through some pretty bad things. When does character show up? When there is trouble. A high school football player may be OK, not great during his high school days, a college may or may not give him a scholarship, but then something happens during a game, two players of the same position got hurt, and now there was no one except this kid to take the field. This so-so high school player shows the coaches he can really play, he has "Character" on the field. No one saw it during high school, because he did not get that many chances to play. But, wow, look at him now. The shyest quietest private of the unit, the one no one knows very well, because he keeps to himself, doesn't cuss, doesn't drink, you know "the Kid"? Well during an ambush, he risks his life for other men, he saves 3 guys that are shot and have no way out, he shows his Character when the pressure is on, the darkness is all around. Now, the whole unit shows respect for "The Kid" because he showed his true character.
Are you a man of Character? Good or Bad we all show the world and our families, our self, and God our true character. I used to be real good at having more then one character. There was the one I used around my folks, the one I used at church, the one I used at work, the one I used around my wife and kids.........You see, I was not really any of these characters, I was living many lies, trying to make everyone what I thought they wanted me to be. It took years, but I found out God only cares about the character I really am, bad parts and all, He loves ME> He is slowly, in His way, showing me that I do have Character, and he is unveiling what it is like. I am enjoying it, but at the same time it is scarey. For the first time in my life I am discovering Who I am in God. Who God made me to be. God has given me such a heart for the lost. I look at someone on the street and I see someone who may not know the Lord Jesus Christ and may not have a reason for joy because they don't know their destination after this world. I, over the last few years, care about people much more then I ever have before. I used to consider myself a friendly person, I could carry own a conversation with just about anyone on just about any topic. But it was just a conversation, now I want to learn more about them, I want to know their thoughts, their dreams,their fears, what they think about Jesus, the "After life", things like that. I don't want to get into a argument about religion, I just want to let them know, I care. You know the funny part? I REALLY do care. God has put this characteristic into me, it has always been a part of me,but lately it has become a larger part of me.
Yes I still have some of those not so great Characteristics also, like most of us, but God is showing me where they are, and patiently removing them as I allow Him to. What is Character made of? I think Wisdom, Faith, Common Sense, and not being Selfish and especially having good morals, are the most important attributes of Character. This is my list, you can make up your own if you want.
Have you ever heard of an actor who is trying to develop their Character? They are playing a Character on a TV show, in a Movie or some other form of the Arts. Maybe the character or the whole production is new. The Characters have not been established, so they have to establish them. Ever watch a early episode of a TV show you really like, one that has been own for years? The acting seems lousy, the characters are all so shallow, it just seems not nearly as good as the current season. Why? Because the actors have developed the characters, they have given them "Back Stories" the writers have written stories that make the characters deeper. The whole story line of the show is deeper, you have invested hours of your life studying these stories and characters.
That is how it works in real life, too. As we grow our Character comes out. Experiences form us, our family, friends, enemies, relationships, co workers, jobs, different parts of the country/world we live in, ALL form our character.
But, just like Joseph, God, and the World for that matter, will test our character.
It's fun to be A Character, I have been "goofy", fun, a joker, all my life. Telling jokes that most of the time are "so-so" but once in a while I find a pretty good one. Many years ago I had a date, (Yeah, really) I use humor especially when I am nervous, and I was nervous, my date was very pretty and I felt a little intimidated). Anyway I started singing this goofy song I had heard on a cartoon, (I was still in college, so watching cartoons was still allowed, right? Now that I am in my 50's, it is allowed again? right?) I don't remember the song something about a funny looking vulture who would sing about bringing back a worm to the nest, when all his brothers brought back small animals and such. Two or three years later I saw my date from that night again, (I had dropped out of school). We talked and reminisced, and she told me how much my "goofiness" had put her at ease that night. She said I showed her who I was, when most guys she went out with tried to put on a act of how "cool" they were. I must admit right here, I never was or will be "Cool". Goofy, yes, bad joke teller? Yes, but never cool.
See, Character, it comes in many forms, BUT it is what makes us who we are. It is what others see when they get to know us. It is what our kids see as they grow up, it is what the Lord see's in us, as we live for Him, or not.
What would your co workers say, your friends, your family members.....if asked about your character? But more importantly what does God say about it? If it is in His will to test your character, how will it end up?
How do we get good Character? Here's a good start:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Check on your character, ask God to help you see it, ask Him to make it more like Joseph's, or King David, or Jesus' or His. Be of Good Character.
Psalm 105:17-19
New Living Translation (NLT)
Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with fetters
and placed his neck in an iron collar.
Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
the LORD tested Joseph’s character.
Character, yes I have been called one, many times, I am not sure if that is good or not:) But what is Character? Websters has several definitions, but this one stuck me the most:" one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual "
Yes, we are all different characters in this world. We are made up of different opinions, we have gone through different things, raised by different characters......these have all helped form who we are, our character. You can have good Characteristics of bad. People can respect you or not, depending upon your character. But when the "Rubber hits the Road" and your character is revealed, where are you, usually in a dark, trying, serious place. God tested Joseph by letting him go through some pretty bad things. When does character show up? When there is trouble. A high school football player may be OK, not great during his high school days, a college may or may not give him a scholarship, but then something happens during a game, two players of the same position got hurt, and now there was no one except this kid to take the field. This so-so high school player shows the coaches he can really play, he has "Character" on the field. No one saw it during high school, because he did not get that many chances to play. But, wow, look at him now. The shyest quietest private of the unit, the one no one knows very well, because he keeps to himself, doesn't cuss, doesn't drink, you know "the Kid"? Well during an ambush, he risks his life for other men, he saves 3 guys that are shot and have no way out, he shows his Character when the pressure is on, the darkness is all around. Now, the whole unit shows respect for "The Kid" because he showed his true character.
Are you a man of Character? Good or Bad we all show the world and our families, our self, and God our true character. I used to be real good at having more then one character. There was the one I used around my folks, the one I used at church, the one I used at work, the one I used around my wife and kids.........You see, I was not really any of these characters, I was living many lies, trying to make everyone what I thought they wanted me to be. It took years, but I found out God only cares about the character I really am, bad parts and all, He loves ME> He is slowly, in His way, showing me that I do have Character, and he is unveiling what it is like. I am enjoying it, but at the same time it is scarey. For the first time in my life I am discovering Who I am in God. Who God made me to be. God has given me such a heart for the lost. I look at someone on the street and I see someone who may not know the Lord Jesus Christ and may not have a reason for joy because they don't know their destination after this world. I, over the last few years, care about people much more then I ever have before. I used to consider myself a friendly person, I could carry own a conversation with just about anyone on just about any topic. But it was just a conversation, now I want to learn more about them, I want to know their thoughts, their dreams,their fears, what they think about Jesus, the "After life", things like that. I don't want to get into a argument about religion, I just want to let them know, I care. You know the funny part? I REALLY do care. God has put this characteristic into me, it has always been a part of me,but lately it has become a larger part of me.
Yes I still have some of those not so great Characteristics also, like most of us, but God is showing me where they are, and patiently removing them as I allow Him to. What is Character made of? I think Wisdom, Faith, Common Sense, and not being Selfish and especially having good morals, are the most important attributes of Character. This is my list, you can make up your own if you want.
Have you ever heard of an actor who is trying to develop their Character? They are playing a Character on a TV show, in a Movie or some other form of the Arts. Maybe the character or the whole production is new. The Characters have not been established, so they have to establish them. Ever watch a early episode of a TV show you really like, one that has been own for years? The acting seems lousy, the characters are all so shallow, it just seems not nearly as good as the current season. Why? Because the actors have developed the characters, they have given them "Back Stories" the writers have written stories that make the characters deeper. The whole story line of the show is deeper, you have invested hours of your life studying these stories and characters.
That is how it works in real life, too. As we grow our Character comes out. Experiences form us, our family, friends, enemies, relationships, co workers, jobs, different parts of the country/world we live in, ALL form our character.
But, just like Joseph, God, and the World for that matter, will test our character.
It's fun to be A Character, I have been "goofy", fun, a joker, all my life. Telling jokes that most of the time are "so-so" but once in a while I find a pretty good one. Many years ago I had a date, (Yeah, really) I use humor especially when I am nervous, and I was nervous, my date was very pretty and I felt a little intimidated). Anyway I started singing this goofy song I had heard on a cartoon, (I was still in college, so watching cartoons was still allowed, right? Now that I am in my 50's, it is allowed again? right?) I don't remember the song something about a funny looking vulture who would sing about bringing back a worm to the nest, when all his brothers brought back small animals and such. Two or three years later I saw my date from that night again, (I had dropped out of school). We talked and reminisced, and she told me how much my "goofiness" had put her at ease that night. She said I showed her who I was, when most guys she went out with tried to put on a act of how "cool" they were. I must admit right here, I never was or will be "Cool". Goofy, yes, bad joke teller? Yes, but never cool.
See, Character, it comes in many forms, BUT it is what makes us who we are. It is what others see when they get to know us. It is what our kids see as they grow up, it is what the Lord see's in us, as we live for Him, or not.
What would your co workers say, your friends, your family members.....if asked about your character? But more importantly what does God say about it? If it is in His will to test your character, how will it end up?
How do we get good Character? Here's a good start:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Check on your character, ask God to help you see it, ask Him to make it more like Joseph's, or King David, or Jesus' or His. Be of Good Character.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Caution: You may not like this one.....
Mark 16:15
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone."
I am more then likely going to make a few people, maybe a lot of people, mad at me with this one. I recently saw some comments on Facebook that did not sit well with me. Someone was commenting "what happened to the alters in our churches?" I have also heard people complain that today's churches do not have choirs anymore and that is a shame, we miss the choirs. Some complain that there is not enough toilets in the ladies room, or the pews are to hard, or the pastor makes way to much money............These things matter not. Remember the "Great Commission"? You know the above verse? Does it say: " Go to your local church and complain that there is not an alter or choir anymore? " No the word of God says: "Go Into all the world and preach the Good news to everyone". Why are we hung up on the fact that there is not an alter at the front of the church? What, you can't knell at the front of the Stage, (Platform?,it is a stage, sorry) or at the front pew? Most people do not accept Christ at a church alter anymore. They are attracted to Jesus Christ because WE as Christians reflect HIM> We are to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel", not have them come to our church and hear a great sermon,. If they do come, fantastic, I think that is wonderful, but it is not all about how many times WE go to the "alter" to rededicate our lives to Jesus. And I don't think a pastor can make enough money, if a church can pay them millions then fantastic, they are worth every penny.
Our "Jobs" as Christians, is to tell people about Jesus Christ, and how He can change our lives. NOT to go to the alter and praise the Lord every Sunday, although this is good, it helps us, we are refilled, but refilled for what purpose, to feel better about ourselves? We are filled and refilled for one purpose: To "Go into all the world and Preach the Good News to EVERYONE". God filled us with His Holy Spirit for a reason and it is not all about us. Our Mission is our workplace, the super market, the ball game, our neighbors, on the golf course, at the coffee house, .....it is not, just about the Church House. There are millions and millions of people who need to hear about Jesus, BUT they will never enter a church, they will however come into contact with us. A alter at the front of the church will not do them any good. An alter, just because that is the way we always done it, will not help your co-worker who is thinking about suicide because of their awful life. The Church is supposed to be a filling station for us to go out and spread what we have through Jesus Christ. Has it become a place where we say "Me and my house, and no more"?
My pastor this last week challenged us to talk to people who are different then us. People who are gay, believe in abortion, even, yes even Democrats Liberals!!! They are people in need of Jesus Christ. People who voted for Obama, people who differ in every way from us. Those that will never enter the door of a church need Jesus. They will never knell at the alter that is not in front of our church. They will never hear the choir that does not sing in our service. I have no problem with alters or choirs or soft seats, or large bathrooms. I do however have trouble with calling not having these things in our churches almost a sin. I believe this almost on the order of Idolatry. Where is your focus? On the fact that there is not a alter, or on the millions of souls that need Jesus? Did Jesus perform ANY miracles in the Synagogue? How much time did He spend there? Jesus was with the "People", He was everywhere. He was where they were living, not where they were not.
Who cares about alters in our churches? Who cares about choirs? Who cares about how many "Stalls" the bathrooms have? Who cares about how soft the pews are? But mainly who cares about the souls that are going to hell, unless we tell them about Jesus? The souls that work with us, live next door, are parents of our children's friends, the ones we play softball with, golf with? How will they ever know unless we tell them? We are to busy worrying about the fact that our church took out the alters, so that there is more room for praising Jesus, that we have forgotten our reason for being here in the first place.
If I made you mad, then good. Think about what I said, put your priorities in order, and focus on "The Great Commission."
GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS To EVERYONE.
Not go to church and talk to your buddies about the football games, and get blessed, and then ignore all your neighbors, co workers, unsaved friends, relatives, .....,..God wants us to share with others what He has done for us. Complaining about the lack of alters in our churches, I don't think, fits into that plan.
This is my heart, and I am not apologizing for it. God has placed it there, and He is always right. Once again: If I upset you,then good, I feel you need to be upset, God is calling us to action, and it is time the Church woke up and realized that. The world is waiting.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Man it's Dark, Hey it' really bright.
Genesis 1:2
New Living Translation (NLT)
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
I was reading a devotional the other day and this verse was used. The author, then went on to say that look: "God started with darkness". He then went on to show examples from history how God has always started with Darkness then he establishes the light. The first week, as God created everything, first there was darkness then light, the "first day" and so forth. See, before God comes into a situation there is darkness. God comes along and the first thing He does it establish the light. Darkness cannot contain the same space as God. You see, HE IS LIGHT>
What do we think of when we think of darkness? Sin, thieves, robbery, depression, idolatry of every kind, all things bad. So these things cannot be in the same space as God, He , just by His presence brings light, and the darkness must flee.
Got any "darkness" in your life? Ever watch the sunrise? I mean really watch it? When I was in the Navy years ago, I remember two things about being at sea.( Well, two good things:)) First the sunsets were fantastic. The horizon was as far as you could see, and when the sun set, it was gone, just like that, there one second gone the next. The same thing happened at sunrise, darkness, wham ,then light. Why, because there was nothing on the horizon except water, as far as you could see, water. No buildings, no mountains, no anything but water. This is how God is, all we see and feel is darkness then wham, light because He has showed up. God never goes where He is not asked, so if we are in darkness, and like it, or depend upon it, He will not come, thereby continuing the darkness in our lives. But by asking God to show up, the light comes, darkness flees, the devil who IS darkness, has to go. Then, and only then, can we fellowship with God, and listen to His will for our lives. If we are surrounded by darkness, how are we going to listen to God's voice. He hears us, but the darkness is like a blanket on top of us, and we have a hard time hearing anything but our own cries, moans, excuses and pleadings. You know that "We are a victim, mentality"
Many like living in the darkness, they feel comfortable. Maybe they used to live in the light, but had their expectations way to high, and got hurt. Maybe they expected to have everything they wanted and it doesn't work like that, so they left, feeling unfulfilled. These people have no one but themselves to blame for what they feel. God never promised us we would have a good life, but actually told us we would be persecuted for following Him. I was raised as a PK (Preachers Kid), I know that feeling. I tried to fake it for years, that is what I thought I saw in those in the church including my Dad. It took years before I saw the truth, that it is not fake, Jesus does care for me, and love me. I lived many years in the Darkness, not wanting to be in the light. I liked Christian friends, Christian music, Christian works, making fun of non believers even though I was just like them. I didn't understand God's love for me, and I didn't care. I could pretend to be "HOLY" and do just fine, thank you.
Then I joined the Navy, I was free of any Christians, I could do whatever I wanted. I did too. Now, 30 something years later, I have come full circle. I have found out God LOVES ME, He cares for ME, He scolds me when I am selfish, He praises me when I do right. He carries me when I am to tired to continue, He talks to me when I am lonely. What happened? I realized I was tired of the darkness, and asked Jesus to come into it with me. And as soon as He did, there went the darkness, and I have been in the light ever since.
Does darkness cover your world? Does it seem that there is something missing? Does it seem there is nothing that can fill that hole in your heart, soul, life? Remember, whenever Jesus enters a space, darkness has to flee. It is like any physical law we have here on earth, gravity, force, .....any reaction will have the opposite reaction...Jesus presence repels darkness. All we have to do is invite Jesus to show up in our lives, and "Wham" darkness is gone. Yes, the darkness will try to come back if we get a little lazy in our relationship with Him, but just say prayer, talk to Him, visit with Him, share ALL your feeling with Him, and He will show up, and darkness will flee.
Darkness was first in everything God did. Darkness was first before Jesus accomplished any miracle. We live in a dark world, one full of sin some of which we would not believe, BUT Jesus is enough for it all. He died, so that we might live, and I might add, live in the LIGHT, not the dark.
One thing I really like about the verse above is the last line. "And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters". You see darkness was everywhere, BUT God was still around, hovering, or waiting for something to happen. You may be in the dark, but God is just a cry away. He is waiting for us to call Him. God can in no way contact sin, but through what His son Jesus, did on the cross, He doesn't see the sin, He only sees Jesus' purest white. BUT we must ask Jesus to forgive us our sins. Then the darkness leaves, Jesus becomes our savior, and the Father communes with us, and abides with us.
Got Darkness? Why?
New Living Translation (NLT)
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
I was reading a devotional the other day and this verse was used. The author, then went on to say that look: "God started with darkness". He then went on to show examples from history how God has always started with Darkness then he establishes the light. The first week, as God created everything, first there was darkness then light, the "first day" and so forth. See, before God comes into a situation there is darkness. God comes along and the first thing He does it establish the light. Darkness cannot contain the same space as God. You see, HE IS LIGHT>
What do we think of when we think of darkness? Sin, thieves, robbery, depression, idolatry of every kind, all things bad. So these things cannot be in the same space as God, He , just by His presence brings light, and the darkness must flee.
Got any "darkness" in your life? Ever watch the sunrise? I mean really watch it? When I was in the Navy years ago, I remember two things about being at sea.( Well, two good things:)) First the sunsets were fantastic. The horizon was as far as you could see, and when the sun set, it was gone, just like that, there one second gone the next. The same thing happened at sunrise, darkness, wham ,then light. Why, because there was nothing on the horizon except water, as far as you could see, water. No buildings, no mountains, no anything but water. This is how God is, all we see and feel is darkness then wham, light because He has showed up. God never goes where He is not asked, so if we are in darkness, and like it, or depend upon it, He will not come, thereby continuing the darkness in our lives. But by asking God to show up, the light comes, darkness flees, the devil who IS darkness, has to go. Then, and only then, can we fellowship with God, and listen to His will for our lives. If we are surrounded by darkness, how are we going to listen to God's voice. He hears us, but the darkness is like a blanket on top of us, and we have a hard time hearing anything but our own cries, moans, excuses and pleadings. You know that "We are a victim, mentality"
Many like living in the darkness, they feel comfortable. Maybe they used to live in the light, but had their expectations way to high, and got hurt. Maybe they expected to have everything they wanted and it doesn't work like that, so they left, feeling unfulfilled. These people have no one but themselves to blame for what they feel. God never promised us we would have a good life, but actually told us we would be persecuted for following Him. I was raised as a PK (Preachers Kid), I know that feeling. I tried to fake it for years, that is what I thought I saw in those in the church including my Dad. It took years before I saw the truth, that it is not fake, Jesus does care for me, and love me. I lived many years in the Darkness, not wanting to be in the light. I liked Christian friends, Christian music, Christian works, making fun of non believers even though I was just like them. I didn't understand God's love for me, and I didn't care. I could pretend to be "HOLY" and do just fine, thank you.
Then I joined the Navy, I was free of any Christians, I could do whatever I wanted. I did too. Now, 30 something years later, I have come full circle. I have found out God LOVES ME, He cares for ME, He scolds me when I am selfish, He praises me when I do right. He carries me when I am to tired to continue, He talks to me when I am lonely. What happened? I realized I was tired of the darkness, and asked Jesus to come into it with me. And as soon as He did, there went the darkness, and I have been in the light ever since.
Does darkness cover your world? Does it seem that there is something missing? Does it seem there is nothing that can fill that hole in your heart, soul, life? Remember, whenever Jesus enters a space, darkness has to flee. It is like any physical law we have here on earth, gravity, force, .....any reaction will have the opposite reaction...Jesus presence repels darkness. All we have to do is invite Jesus to show up in our lives, and "Wham" darkness is gone. Yes, the darkness will try to come back if we get a little lazy in our relationship with Him, but just say prayer, talk to Him, visit with Him, share ALL your feeling with Him, and He will show up, and darkness will flee.
Darkness was first in everything God did. Darkness was first before Jesus accomplished any miracle. We live in a dark world, one full of sin some of which we would not believe, BUT Jesus is enough for it all. He died, so that we might live, and I might add, live in the LIGHT, not the dark.
One thing I really like about the verse above is the last line. "And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters". You see darkness was everywhere, BUT God was still around, hovering, or waiting for something to happen. You may be in the dark, but God is just a cry away. He is waiting for us to call Him. God can in no way contact sin, but through what His son Jesus, did on the cross, He doesn't see the sin, He only sees Jesus' purest white. BUT we must ask Jesus to forgive us our sins. Then the darkness leaves, Jesus becomes our savior, and the Father communes with us, and abides with us.
Got Darkness? Why?
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