The Journey...As Hard As We Make It

The belief that life has to be hard and difficult is the belief that fosters and feeds a victim mentality. We can change our negative beliefs about life, and we do have the power to stop our pain and take care of ourselves.

We are not helpless. We can solve our problems with God's help. We have access to a great power source of change. True change, lasting change results from repentance.When we began to turn and receive God's love and forgiveness for ourselves and others things began to change. Humbling ourselves is the first step. God is attracted to the humble but He resist the proud.

When we use each problem that comes our way to prove that life is hard and we are helpless, we develop codependency. This is the victim's trap.

Life does not have to be difficult. In fact, it can be smooth. Life is good. We don't have to "awfulize" it, or ourselves. And the difficult times don't prove life is bad; they are just part of the ups and downs of life; and when we approach them with the attitude that "all things work together for the good, because we love Him and are called to His purpose" the journey becomes more of an adventure and not dead end road.

Sounds so simple doesn't it ?  Well I personally get turned off by religious formulas and 1.2.3. approaches to life's problems. Life is fragile, we do hit times of turbulence that seem that they will never end but God is still there. He said He would never leave us nor forsake us.

Becoming Yourself

Screwtape clarifies the Enemy's intent:

 Of course I know that the Enemy also wants to detach men from themselves, but in a different way. Remember always, that He really like the little vermin, and sets an absurd value on the distinctness of every one of them. When He talks of their losing their selves, He only means abandoning the clamour of self-will; once they have done that , He really gives them back all their personality, and boasts (I am afraid, sincerely) that when they are wholly His they will be more themselves that ever. Hence, while He is delighted to see them sacrificing even their innocent wills to His, He hates to see them drifting away from their own nature for any other reason. And we should always encourage them to do so.

~ from The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis

Our First Ministry

One of the main reasons for the "power failure" in the Christian Church today is our failure to "minister to the Lord". Biblically speaking, our ministry to the Lord must come BEFORE our ministry to people if we are to be effective.

Likewise if we come to receive ministry from men/clergy before we ourselves have ministered to the Lord and offered up our sacrifice of praise and worship then the ministry of man to us inappropriately attaches us to fleshy or earthly ministry which results in glory of man not Christ. The end result being, we will become what we behold.

When reading the account of early Church forming at Antioch in Acts 13:1-3 we discover that,
"as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them".  The Greek word for ministered is described as: the discharging of a function, officiating as a priest, performing religious or charitable acts, fulfilling an office.

I Peter 2:9 says: "But you are a chosen generation , a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people , that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you our of darkness into His marvelous light". 

The Lord has separated us to bring worship unto Him just as He did with the tribe of Levi in Deuteronomy 10:8 ; I Chronicles 5:11-14 and as He did with Samuel who was dedicated as a boy to minister unto the Lord in I Sam. 2:11,18 .

We need to be caught up in the wonder of the person of Jesus Christ and to worship Him deeply. When we become focused on our first ministry (vertical) as priesthood of believers we will discover a new freshness and power. This will translate into greater compassion for man (horizontal) because we have put Christ first and He now flows through us in love and power to the world.

The Importance of Being True

This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. ~ William Shakespeare

To thine own self be true. This is a grounding statement for many of us who have the propensity to get caught up in the needs and feelings of others.

Sometimes the needs and the demands of other people and our confused expectations of ourselves can create a complicated mess. We can try to convince ourselves that people-pleasing, going against our nature and not being honest, is the kind, honest thing to do.  NOT TRUE !!

When we discern this unrealistic drive to please and take on responsibility that is not ours we need to simply back off and return to basics. Let go of the confusion by honoring and respecting ourselves. Then we are able to break free of the hold of others and release the guilt and enjoy life.

Today seek to be true to yourself. God is speaking. Be still and listen to His voice and experience what it means to "labor to enter into His rest". 

Men and Bonding

"Our problem today as men (husbands) is not that we have failed to bond with a woman, but rather, with our own, manly selves. If indeed we have failed to bond with a woman, it is because we have not first bonded with our own manhood--recognized, accepted, celebrated, employed it."

~ Gordon Dalbey

Are You in Denial ?

Recently it was brought to my attention that I was possibly in denial about a particular thing. How do you know if you are in denial ? One way is to take personal note of your behaviors. Some of those behaviors can be, controlling, focusing on others and neglecting yourself, frequent illness, and compulsive or addictive behaviors patterns. These among others have a tendency to emerge during denial.

Denial can be confusing. Many times we're not really aware we're doing it until we're done doing it. Forcing yourself or anyone else to see their denial doesn't help. We won't face the facts until we are ready. Neither will anyone else.

We need love, support, encouragement from people who really care about us in order to deal with denial.

The first step to move through denial is accepting that that we may be in denial. Sometimes if we have functioned in these negative behaviors for long periods of time they can develop into belief systems that literally control our lives. They become so familiar that it can be frightening to let go and or believe that there can be another way. We may admit to the truth for a moment , but we won't let ourselves know what we know until we feel safe, secure, and prepared enough to deal and cope with it.

"Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest". This is the loving secure invitation that Jesus extends to us. He cares and is waiting on our response to His invitation. The truth is that our soul is weary from carrying these burdens and only Christ can bring long lasting results and rest. Through the truth of His unconditional love we are set free and awaken from our denial and enter into His rest.

Afraid of the Devil ?

"Christ in you, the hope of Glory". I'm not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me--he's got judo I never heard of. But he can't handle the One to whom I'm joined; he can't handle the One to whom I'm united; he can't handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature.

AW Tozer

Our Daily Task

Our daily task as believers is allow ourselves to come into harmony with God our creator. Our task is  to believe in, and look to our true source. Our task is to release fear, negative thinking, limitations, and short-supply mindset.

Everything we need shall be provided to us as we seek Him.  "He is the rewarder of those that seek Him" Let this become a natural response to all situations of need whether they are spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, or financial.  We must reject the fear. Fear is what drove Eve into temptation to sin and eat of the forbidden tree. She feared God holding out on her, not providing as the serpent suggested.

Reject the notion that God doesn't care. Then be open to His abundant provision. As simple as that may sound it is strangely difficult for us to maintain this focused attitude. The main reason is fear, and we generally try to control what we fear for self-protection.

However when we learn to cherish and welcome the need, it then becomes a part of our relationship to God that draws us closer to Him. He has planned to meet our every need, and He has created the need within us, so He can supply. No need is to great or too small. If we care and value our need, God will too.

Our task is taking responsibility for owning the need. Our task is giving the need back to God and letting go in faith. Our task is giving God permission to meet our needs by believing we deserve to have our needs and wants met.

Our task is simply to be who we are, and love being the child of a benevolent and caring Heavenly Father.

Authentic Manhood

There is a dream-image of man and manhood today that does not exist. Many men have searched tirelessly in this fantasy world only to find themselves exhausted, empty and suckered into buying a fake ID, stating you are what you do, who you know, and what you own.

Our world is in desperate need for authentic men. The genuine article, the real deal, able to be recognized by anyone, anywhere, at home, on the job, in the gym and at church. In our God-given hearts, deep down men know that whatever they do in their own strength and willpower will be short lived and bear little fruit. If only men could awake from their slumbering spirit to realize, that  God has deposited authentic manhood deep within them, wrapped in a mystery which no logic or computer program can comprise.

Godly mysteries are not intended to be hidden from us but for us. God's mysteries are like time release capsules awaiting the depletion of our supply of self-sufficiency and pride before they release the power and revelation of His spirit. The bible says, "God resists the proud but He draws near to the humble..." and He loves the brokenhearted. Strangely enough most men fearfully avoid facing this spiritual power because it shatters their goal-image and reminds them of their inadequacies. So men typically ignore if not suppress it altogether.

What if, authentic manhood can be approached only in relationship with the Father God, who seeks in every man to fulfill the purpose for which He has created him ? If this is true, manhood is not something to be sought, but to be revealed as man submits to the God who called him into being and in whom his ultimate destiny lies.

Because of sin, and the fragile ego of man we men hide from God.  The first man Adam, modeled this for us in the garden when he hid from God. King David tried to hide from God too but came to this conclusion:
 "Lord , you examined me and you know me. You know everything I do ...Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence ? If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there. For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mothers womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from from You, When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth..." Psalms 139: 1,7, 8, 12-15




I pray now Father for men. Men that are hurting and tired of hiding. Men who have given up and surrendered their sword to the enemy of their soul. Have mercy Oh Lord and grant us the grace to surrender to you. The  only one who knew us in your Mother's womb, to you Father, who has numbered every hair on our head and longs to hear us cry Abba Father ! I pray Father that your spirit would draw men out of hiding to be healed and revealed as your authentic ambassadors of manhood.  Amen

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

"Well, how exactly do I love myself ?
    Now that I come to think of it, I have not exactly got a feeling of fondness or affection for myself, and I do not even enjoy my own society. So apparently "love your neighbor" does not mean 'feel fond of him' or 'find him attractive'. I ought to have seen that before, because, of course, you cannot feel fond of a person by trying. Do I think well of myself, think myself a nice chap? Well, I am afraid I sometimes do (and those are, no doubt, my worst moments) but that is not why I love myself. In fact it is the other way round; my self-love makes me think myself nice, but thinking myself nice is not why I love myself. So loving my enemies does not apparently mean thinking them nice either. That is an enormous relief. For a good many people imagine that forgiving your enemies means making out that they are really not such bad fellows after all, when it is quite plain that they are. Go a step further . In my most clear-sighted moments not only do I think myself a nice man, but I know that I am a very nasty one. I can look at some of the things I have done with horror and loathing. So apparently I am allowed to loathe and hate some of the things my enemies do.

CS Lewis ~ from Mere Christianity

Men, Spiritual Maturity and a New Way

Recently during my prayer and study times I have been drawn to the subject of men and masculinity... of course you can't go too far with this subject without running into women, which I may dare to blog  about at a later time. My focus has taken me back to the beginning in book of Genesis, where it all began with man, woman and God in the garden.

It is fascinating, terrifying and mystical all at the same time. It is also grievous to see how much man (myself included) has struggled in his role and mission in life and including his responsibilities & relationships with Father God and family. I believe this matter is close to the heart of God and beckons our urgent attention.

Below are few excerpts from a short article I discovered entitled "Healing the Tear in the Masculine Soul" by Ted Dobson, a Catholic priest. Declaring that men today have excluded themselves from the most important issues of life.

Since these are excerpts and the blog requires a title to post I chose the above mentioned title.This is a huge subject that with many dimensions and facets and I am looking forward to what lies ahead on this journey and receiving further insight from the Lord.

Dobson writes:

"Spiritually, faith is considered by many men at the most to be a personal matter of which they would rarely talk, but more often to be a woman's area of concern, for it implies a lack of independence and self-assurance that does not coincide with their macho self-image...


There is a "tear" in the masculine soul--a gaping hole or wound that leads to a profound insecurity. The German psychologist , Alexander Mitscherlich, has written that society has torn the soul of the male, and into this tear demons have fled--demons of insecurity, selfishness, and despair. Consequently, men do not know who they are as men. Rather, they define themselves by what they do, who they know, or what they own.


As we bring our insecurity, unforgiveness, and immature thought/behavior patterns to the Lord honestly and vulnerably, He can free us from our pain and weakness and both lead and empower us to live a new way."

Controlling or Trusting

" There was a time in my life when I felt so afraid of and overwhelmed by the very act of living that I actually wanted to make out a schedule for each day of my life for the next five years. I wanted to include all chores I had to do, when I would do them, even when I would schedule relaxation. I wanted to get some order into what felt overwhelming. I wanted to feel like I was in control." ~ Anonymous




Controlling is a direct response to our fear, panic and sense of helplessness. It is a direct response to feeling overwhelmed, and to distrust. There are times we don't trust ourselves, we don't trust God or the process of life. Instead of trusting, we revert to control.

We typically try to control the things we fear and we fear the things we can't control.

Fear is a huge subject...but the answer is amazingly simple. We deal with fear by trusting.Trusting--ourselves, God and the process of growth and maturity in life. We can trust that we will get where we need to go, say what we need to say, do what we need to do, know what we need to know, be who we need to be, and become all we can become. When we are intentional to do this we can trust that God will give us all the direction and provision we need as the need to control is surrendered to Him.

We were never intended to carry supplies for the entire journey. The burden would be too heavy. I frequently catch myself praying out of fear and asking for enough bread for the entire journey. I'm learning a easier way, and that is to simply trust and pray the way the way Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread".

Change

"The key to change...is to let go of fear"


~ Rosanne Cash

Love is Vulnerable

"To Love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal." ~ CS Lewis

No Performance Needed

Performance orientation is one of the most common maladies throughout the world. It consists of a pervasive need to please others and perform up to the expectations of others. This malady is crippling the Church from experiencing God's presence and becoming fruitful and effective in the pure work of the Gospel. Performance orientation means striving to perform with wrong motives--to win love and a sense of belonging when those have already been given to us "in Christ".

The result is compulsive work ethic, preoccupation with doing everything right, an inordinate desire to be liked or approved of, and dissatisfaction with our self for what you have achieved as opposed to who you are as a person. In Christians, it is rooted in an inability to believe God can love us unless we work for it. Those who were not nurtured as children can be especially tempted toward performing for love. 

Read Romans Chapter 8 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your spirit the Father's unconditional love and adoption without works. We don't have to perform for His love, because He first loved us and calls us His sons and daughters.


 "Behold what manner of love is this...."

Doors of Opportunity

Have you ever stopped and asked yourself what does the fragrance of Christ smell like? The Apostle Paul states that we are sweet fragrance unto God, the aroma of death to the perishing and aroma of life leading to life.

Be intentional today about diffusing the fragrance of Christ through the doors of opportunity (possibilities due to a favorable combination of circumstances; and a good chance for advancement or progress) that are opened to you.

  

2 Corinthians 2:12-17 (Amplified Bible)

¹²Now when I arrived at Troas [to preach] the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, a door of opportunity was opened for me in the Lord,
    ¹³Yet my spirit could not rest (relax, get relief) because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave from them and departed for Macedonia.
    ¹⁴But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,
    ¹⁵For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:
    ¹⁶To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? [Who is able for such a ministry? We?]
    ¹⁷For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence of God.

Getting To Why

According to author and business consultant Simon Sinek great organizations do what they do well. They are also very clear about how they do what they do. But perhaps more important than that, they know precisely why they do what they do. Indeed, that’s precisely what it is that makes them great, he says. “Only a handful of customers will be inspired by what you do or how you do it. But why you do it is a whole other story. People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

Money, Jobs, Life & Peace

We cannot afford to allow our focus in life to be money. That will not lead us into the abundance we're seeking. Usually, it will not even lead to financial stability.

Money is important. We deserve to be paid what we're worth. We will be paid what we're worth when we believe we deserve to be. But often our plans fail when our primary consideration is money.

What do you really want to do ? What do you feel led to do? What are your instincts telling you? What do you feel guided to do? Dig deep, ask yourself the hard questions and write down what are you truly are excited about doing? Seek to find a way to do that, without worrying about the money.

Consider the financial aspects. Set boundaries about what you need to be paid. Be reasonable. Expect to start at the bottom, and work up. But if you feel led toward a job, go for it.

Is there something you truly don't want to do, something that goes against your grain, but you are still trying to force yourself into it "for the money"? Usually, that's a behavior that backfires. It doesn't work. We make ourselves miserable, those close to us miserable and the money usually goes wrong too.

We need to learn that when we are true to ourselves about our work, our calling and we place value and responsibility on what God has given us, then usually the money will follow. Sometimes it's not as much as we want; sometimes we're pleasantly surprised, and it's more.  But when we learn to be content, we will have enough.

Money is a consideration, but it cannot be our primary consideration if we are seeking spiritual security and peace of mind.

                                                                                                         

Backsliding & Repentance

According to Jeremiah the Prophet, backsliding can be recognized by a turning back, turning away; defecting, faithlessness, apostasy, disloyalty and reverting.

If Backsliding is a "turning away," Repentance is a "turning around." May God grant us His Mercy to find repentance and be healed of our backslidings and idolatries.

My People Love to Have It So

"An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?....Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed my people slightly/superficially, Saying , Peace, peace! When there is no peace"

~ Jeremiah the Prophet

Favorite Prayers

Help.Please.Don't.

Show Me.Guide Me.Change Me.

Are you there?

Why'd you do that?

Oh.

Thank You.

A Servant's Hope

"The Lord has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning. He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened My ear and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide my face from shame and spitting. For the the Lord God will help me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies me; who will contend with me?  Let us stand together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near me. Surely the Lord God will help me; Who is he who will condemn me..." 


Isaiah 50:4-9

Discovering Direction

I used to spend so much time reacting and responding to everyone else that my life had no direction. Other people's lives, problems, and wants set the course for my life. Once I realized it was okay for me to think about and identify what I wanted, remarkable things began to take place in my life.


 ~ Anonymous 

Asking + Strategy = Advantage

God didn't sugarcoat the situation when He laid out His plan for Moses at the burning bush. "Ask Pharaoh for freedom," He instructed, "yet I know the king of Egypt will let you go only  because of a greater might." If Pharaoh was going to rebuff Moses, what was the purpose, of asking him for freedom in the first place?

Moses knew Pharaoh wouldn't grant his request to free the slaves, but he came asking for a smaller
concession--three days in the wilderness for the Hebrews to worship. If Pharaoh had shown some flexibility there, Moses might have chosen a different strategy for the rest of the struggle. But there was no flexibility; in fact, Pharaoh responded by heaping more burdens upon the slaves. Moses now knew where he stood and announced the first plague.

Taking the direct approach--going to the person who has something you want and asking for it--is an invaluable strategy not just in business but also in every realm of life. Yet people shy away form it, usually because they're intimidated. Oftentimes they don't want to overstep their bounds, or mix business with pleasure, or be perceived as too aggressive. Most of all, they don't to be rejected. Because so many people are reluctant to ask for what they want , if you do so, you'll gain a huge advantage.

Lessons

"The hardest lessons to learn are the those that are the most obvious" 
~Theodore Roosevelt

Encampment

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them."
~Psalms 34:7

We cannot see angels, but it is enough that they can see us. If devils do us mischief and harm, shining angels of God do us service. We have a fixed protection,a permanent watch. If we remain in God's precincts, we shall be in His protection. And notice that the Lord of angels does not come and go, paying us transient visits; He encamps around us. The headquarters of the army of salvation is where those live whose trust is in God.

"And it came to pass...."

We can't always be sure that things will always work out, but we will always have the strength to make it through. We can trust that eventually both the bad and good will come to pass.

I've had the good ripped away from me numerous times and felt the sorrow and loss so much so that I thought I would drown. But it passed.

All I'm saying is that sometimes the bad guys win and the good guys lose. Sometimes it's the other way around. Sometimes nothing that we do seems to swing the decision one way or the other, but we can always come back tomorrow. There's always another chance another opportunity to play the game, dance, sweat, cry. And maybe it's the experience, not the outcome that is the true prize.

If you're feeling a loss of strength or confidence, let go of the desperate need for positive outcome in your life. Realize that this, too, will pass. Gain your joy and strength from knowing that whether an event is good or bad, we're enriched by our experiences especially when we accept and embrace them for what they are. God never wastes a pain. Pray to discern the purpose in your pain. Only we can choose to learn from them or allow resentment and foolish expectations destroy their value.

Dust yourself off. Pick yourself up. Step up to the plate and get back in the game. God will give you the hope, faith, and courage to carry it on through if you ask.

Practicing Gratitude

None of our success comes without the help of others. Time after time, it seems that there is someone standing at the crossroads waiting for us, pointing the way down the path with heart.

They may be friends, family members, ministers or mentors, or even police officers or judges. I think they might be angels sent to help us through those tough spots and point us back to the path with heart.

They're in the right place at the right time with the exact words and help we need.

Have you thanked them yet?

Practice an act of gratitude. Find one of these "angels" and tell that person what he or she meant to you in your life. Many times those that help and encourage us during difficult times are not even aware of the impact they had on our life.Who knows maybe your gratitude is just what they need today to move forward and  keep keeping on.

I call it an Attitude of Gratitude !!

What a Look !

The Lord turned to him and said,"Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"   Judges 6:14


What a look was that which the Lord gave to Gideon! He looked him out of his discouragements into a holy bravery. If our look to the Lord saves us, what will not His look at us do? Lord, look on me this day, and give me nerve for the duties and conflicts I shall experience in the path of life.And what a word was that which the Lord spoke to Gideon! Go! It may be that the Lord has more to do by me than I ever dreamed of. When I hear the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?" I will answer, "Here am I, send me."


From the writings of ~C.H. Spurgeon

Stop the Pain

Life is hard, but we don't have to make it more difficult by neglecting to care for ourselves in the midst of the pressure. Suffering happens, whether it comes from inside or the outside.Suffering that results from the belief that depriving ourselves will ultimately get us what we want is a martyr's mentality. Stop waiting on someone else to work through your issues and solve your problems.Our pain will not stop when a rescuer comes, but when we take responsibility and stop our own pain. This is life. This is growth. This is okay.

Time, Travel & Friends

Greetings ! I just returned last night from a wonderful weekend trip in the Boston Ma. area. (however the flight delays in Hartford and JFK along with lost luggage were not so wonderful :) I had the privilege to minister in Sturbridge Worship Center, a special place filled with precious hungry saints uniquely gifted by God's good grace and power. Two weeks ago I was ministering in San Diego, Ca. at the House of Blessing. I discovered a piece of paradise there that made a deep impression on my heart and I look forward to returning soon. Stay tuned for more Locus Life updates, quotes,  and encouragement.

Following is a quote posted by a close family friend and I thought I would share it with you too.


If it be the characteristic of a worldly man that desecrates what is holy,it should be of the Christian to consecrate what is secular, and to recognize a present and presiding divinity in all things.   
Thomas Chalmers

Utopias

"Utopias are unable to fulfill the deepest longing of the human soul and they offer nothing eternal or lasting"

Leadership

"Bitterness erodes strong leadership: it anchors a leader to the past, distracting him from the promise of the future" ~Winston Churchill

Grief, Denial and Moving Forward

I would like to start off by saying Thank You for your support of Locus Life in spite of my lengthy absence at times. I have pushed myself with deadlines and goals most of my life.Maybe I am tired of running "that race". Maybe it has to do with the quest for success, the brass ring or the pot at the end of the rainbow that leaves me asking hard questions like why am I doing this?

Honestly in this season of life I would rather strive to be a servant who leaves a significant deposit in the lives of others and not be so driven for success but rather lead from a position of rest. A good friend of mine often says "rest is not inactivity but directed activity". Deadlines and goals can be good when the priority is right and you control them and not the opposite.

My last post dealt with Grief. I attempt to blog with passion and purpose for your edification & nourishment and not just to meet the"daily goal"....Sometimes when I blog I end up receiving a "backwash" of  truth that takes time to work out. Such has been the case recently. I believe many of us carry more grief than we ever realize or care to admit. This is what leads to my next subject DENIAL !!

Denial is a powerful tool. Never underestimate its ability to cloud your vision. Be aware that, for many reasons, we have become experts at using this to make reality more tolerable. We have learned well how to stop the pain caused by reality--not by changing our circumstances, but by pretending our circumstances are something other than what they are.

Do not be too hard on yourself.(Like I often do) While one part of you was busy creating a fantasy-reality, the other part went to work on accepting the truth.

Now, it is time to find courage. Face the truth. Let it sink gently in. When we can do that, we will be moved forward.

Grief

"No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing ...Not that am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him. The conclusion I dread is not "So there's no God after all", but "So this is what God's really like. Deceive yourself no longer"   C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

There's no way to prepare for deep grief, for the pain that shatters a heart and a life when a beloved leaves. No one can coach us on it. Those who could, who knew exactly how it felt, who could describe it in detail, wouldn't do it, would not presume to encroach on the most intimate part of our relationship with a loved one. Those who casually say, "Aren't you over that yet?" don't understand.

This much I will tell you about grief: If there was ever a second, or a moment, when you suspected or knew you had been betrayed at the deepest level by someone you adored, and a splintering pain began to shred your heart, turn your world grimly unbearable to the point where you would consciously choose denial and ignorance about the betrayal rather than feel this way, that is one one-millionth of what it feels like to grieve.

Grief is not abnormal condition, nor is it something to be treated with words. It is a universe, a world, unto itself. If you are called to enter this world, there in so turning back. We are not allowed to refuse that call Grief is like nothing else, with the possible exception of the pounding of waves of the ocean. To two are the same. And each one washes away the old, and washes in the new.

Gradually, almost imperceptibly, whether we believe it or not, we are being transformed.

Melody Beattie

Divine Order for the Divine Calling

When faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live. Faith does the impossible because  it brings God to undertake for us, and nothing is impossible with God. Prayer projects faith on God, and God on the world. Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer move God.

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them"

Think about this statement by our Lord--"Believe that you receive them, and you shall have them."  This statement describes faith which realizes, that appropriates, which takes.

Is your faith growing or declining as the years go by ? Does your faith stand strong when iniquity abounds and the love of many wax cold. Faith is the foundation of Christian character and the security of the soul. When Jesus was looking ahead knowing Peter's denial was forth coming, he cautioned him against it and said:

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, to sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not"

Jesus was declaring a central truth; it was Peter's faith he was seeking to guard; for he knew that when faith is broken down, the foundations of spiritual life give way, and the entire structure of our walk with Him falls. It was Peter's faith which needed guarding. Jesus was seeking to fortify Peter's faith by his own personal prayer and intercession.

Later on after his failure and maturing the  Apostle Peter writes about the importance if faith and prayer:

"And besides this giving diligence, and to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness"

Peter does not encourage his readers to add works or gifts or virtues but faith. There is a divine order, of which Peter had come to know. He had come to know that every step of his divine calling required earnest prayer.

The faith which creates powerful praying is the faith which centers itself on a powerful person. Faith in Christ's ability to do and to do greatly, is the faith which prays greatly.

Discouraged ?

"...David encouraged himself in the Lord his God" 
 I Samuel 30:6

The  word of the Lord found in I Samuel is a example for those of us who are discouraged. The first action is to lay discouragement aside as a tattered garment which is to be cast off and discarded.

The discouragement that has kept you down, that has submerged you, that has kept you down trodden and robbed you of the confidence must be addressed at once in order to be free and allow you to face the future.

Discouragement does not come from the Lord and He has not permitted me.

Discouragement typically comes because in our reasoning's we have rationalized the answers to our problems--and leaned on our own understanding. We have maneuvered and manipulated with self-effort, and by taking things into our own hands and developing your own plans we actually prolong our discouragement.

These are not the Lord's plans, they are ours. These are not the Lord's idea's, they are ours.

When we rely on our own strength and understanding our plans fail to materialize, and they result in weariness , striving , struggling in our own human energy which fails to produce achievement and fulfillment  that we desired.

Rather than admit that our plans have failed  to produce the wisdom and guidance that we had hoped we keep striving only to experience a wave of bewilderment and discouragement that sets us back even further.

It's time to return to the Lord. It's time to look to the Lord for His Presence. By His word and by His Spirit we will recieve comfort from His presence when we call out in humility and faith. The Lord will hear and  release a gift of faith in our hearts to believe for the impossible.

The Lord longs to bring us forth in triumph, rejoicing in His ability to take our humility and faith, and bring us into victory. With His help we will be lifted out of discouragement and hopelessness into victory and fulfillment. "Not by power nor by might, but by My Spirit..."

"Why are thou cast down, O my Soul?...hope thou in God" Psalms 42:5

Messages

Try harder. Do better. Be perfect.

These messages are tricks that people have played on us. No matter how hard we try, we think we have to do better. Perfection always  eludes us an keeps us unhappy  with the good we've done.

Messages of perfectionism are tricks because we can never achieve their goal.  We cannot feel good about ourselves or what we have while these messages are driving us. We will never be good enough until we change the messages and tell ourselves we are good enough because of Christ.

We can start approving of and accepting ourselves and embrace with honor what God has gifted within us. When we do this we began to understand that who we are is good enough. Our best yesterday was enough; our  best today is plenty good too. We are loved and accepted by Him not by works or perfection but by grace.

We can be who we are, and do it the way we do it-today. That is the essence of avoiding perfection trap.

There are times ...

There are times, when it seems God will not  lift the darkness from you, but trust Him. God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural Father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not.

Keep the resolve of the mind of God behind all things strong and growing. Nothing happens in any aspect of life without God's knowledge, therefore you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. The Apostle Paul demonstrated this resolve in:


 II Corinthians 12:8-9
" Three times I called upon the Lord and besought Him about this and begged that it  might depart from me; But He said to me, my grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you (sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully); for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in your weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! "   Amplified Bible

Prayer is not only asking, but an attitude of mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. "Ask, and it shall'' be given you".

Releasing Fear and Moving Forward

Sometimes, we say we want to go the next level in our lives--in work, in play, or in a relationship. But it feels like the door is shut. Fear can disguise itself behind many different faces; we want to do it our way; we're not interested ; or it's just not time.What we're coming up against  isn't a closed door, it's the fear we're repressing and holding inside.

If you're confused about why you're not moving forward naturally in some area of your life, take a closer look. See if you've got some hidden fears that might be holding you back. If you're blocked and trying to move forward, remember to feel and release your fear first. Then see if that wasn't just the key you needed to unlock and open that door.

Trouble Part 2

Nearly all of Paul's troubles arose from wicked and unreasonable men. Read the story as he gives it in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33.

Some troubles are Satanic in origin. Most all of Job's troubles were the result of the devil's scheme to break down Job's integrity, to make him charge God foolishly and to curse God. Job did not do so. Hear him in these familiar words. "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord".

If trouble fails in its mission, it is either because of prayerlessness or unbelief, or both. Being in harmony with God in the dispensations of his providence, always, makes trouble a blessing.

All things are under divine control. Trouble is neither above God nor beyond his control. The Bible says it this way, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose".

The psalmist tells us: "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Prayer recognizes God in the day of trouble and is confident in his power to deliver.

Trouble brings the strong man low, it reveals our weakness, and it brings an sense of helplessness. Blessed is he who knows how to turn to God in the time of trouble and pray. The good or evil of trouble is always determined by the spirit in which it is received. Trouble will either prove to be a blessing or a curse, it will either soften or harden us, it will draw us close to God or drive us away from him. May it drive you to him today.

"This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles"

~Inspired by "E.M. Bounds on Prayer"

Trouble Part 1

Trouble and prayer are closely related. Prayer is of great value to trouble. Trouble often drives men to God in prayer, while prayer is but the voice of men in trouble. Prayer often delivers out of trouble, ministers comfort in trouble, and more often gives strength to bear trouble. Failing to pray in trouble forfeits wisdom and strength available from God.

Trouble is a present state of man on earth. "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble". Trouble is common to man. "There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man".

A false view of life expects nothing but sunshine and looks for ease, pleasure and comfort. When we maintain this view we live a sad and disappointed life and frequently surprised when trouble breaks into our lives.

Trouble is God's servant, doing his will unless he is defeated in the execution of that will. Trouble is under the control of Almighty God, and one of his most efficient agents in fulfilling his purposes in the perfecting his saints.

God's hand is in every trouble which breaks into our lives. Not that he directly and arbitrarily orders trouble nor is he personally responsible for the painful and afflicting warfare of our lives. But no trouble is ever turned loose in the world and comes into the life of a saint or sinner, but comes with divine permission, and is allowed to exist and do its painful work with the opportunity to carry out God's gracious designs of redemption.

Some troubles are human in their origin. They arise from second causes. They originate with others and we are the sufferers. This is a world where often the innocent suffer the consequences of the acts of others. Who has not suffered at the hands of others?

To Be Continued ~

Understanding

Our understanding of God may have been shaped by early religious experiences or the beliefs of those around us. We may wonder if God is as shaming and frightening as people can be. We may feel as victimized or abandoned by God as we have by people from our past.

Trying to understand it all can boggle our mind because of what we learned our experienced so far in life. However, we can learn to trust God anyway.

As I have grown and changed, my understanding of God has not changed on an intellectual level but has come from what I have experienced when I have surrendered my life and my will to His care.

God is real. Loving. Good. Caring. God wants to give us all the good we can handle. The more we turn our mind and heart toward a positive understanding of God , the more God validates us.

The more we thank God for who He is, who we are, and who He is in us, and the exact nature of our present circumstances, the more God acts in our behalf.

God has always planned to act in our behalf !

God is our Creator, Benefactor, and Source. God has shown me, beyond all else, that how I come to understand Him is not nearly as important as knowing that He understands me.

An Everlasting Covenant

"Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sister ; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you. And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done, says the Lord God." Ezekiel 16:60-63

Ashamed: means to be shamed, disappointed, or embarrassed. This is alsoone of the derivatives (shame) which refers to an idol. The idol itself was considered a shame or an embarrassment. An idol also guaranteed that its worshippers would eventually be shamed and greatly disappointed in their choice of an an object of worship.

This word is used here to describe the sense of disappointment one experiences when one's hope fails in an embarrassing way; but those who trust in the Lord shall never be ashamed (Ps. 25:2,3 ; Joel 2:26,27).

This reference to being ashamed is the result of remembering the path we walked before coming into God's covenant and realizing that our deeds necessitated the atonement.

What If ?

I was talking to a friend one day about something I planned to do. Actually, I was worrying about how one particular person might react to what I intended to do.

"What if she doesn't handle it very well?" I asked.

"Then", my friend replied, "you're going to have to handle it well."

"What if''s" can make us crazy. They put control over our life in someone else's hands."What if's" are a sign that we have reverted to thinking that people have to react in a particular way for us to continue on our course.

"What if"s" are also a clue that we may wondering whether we can trust ourselves and God to do what's best for us. These are shreds of codependent ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and they signal fear.

The reactions , feelings , likes or dislikes of others don't have to control our behaviors, feelings, and direction. We don't need to control how others react to our choices. We can trust ourselves, with the help from God, to handle any outcome-even the most uncomfortable. And , my friend, we can trust ourselves to handle it well by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Pursuit of Perfection

Stop expecting perfection from yourself and those around you.

We do a terrible, annoying thing to ourselves and others when we expect perfection. We set up a situation where others, including ourselves, do not feel comfortable with us. Sometimes, expecting perfection makes people so uptight that they and we make more mistakes than normal because we are so nervous and focused on mistakes.

That does not mean we allow inappropriate behaviors with the excuse that "nobody's perfect". That doesn't mean we don't have boundaries and reasonable expectations of people and ourselves.

But our expectations need to be reasonable. Expecting perfection is not reasonable.

People make mistakes. The less anxious, intimidated, and repressed they are by expectations of being perfect, the better they will do.

Striving for excellence, purity in creativity, a harmonious performance, and the best we have to offer does not happen in the stymied, negative, fear-producing atmosphere of expecting perfection.

Have and set boundaries. Have reasonable expectations. Strive to do your best. Encourage others to do the same. But know that we and others will make mistakes. Know that we and others will have learning experiences, things we go through.

Sometimes, the flaws and imperfections in ourselves determine our uniqueness, the way they do in a piece of art. Relish them. Laugh at them. Embrace them, and ourselves.

Encourage others and ourselves to do the best we can. Love and nurture ourselves and others for being who we are.

Personal Resurrection

"Then you, My people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them" Ezekiel 37:13

Then most remarkable of all changes a person can undergo is the change from death to life.
How well do I remember lying in the valley of dry bones. Blessed is that day when Sovereign Grace sent a messenger to prophesy over me. There was stirring within, and the creating God breathed life into my spirit. Truly it can be said of me: this my son was dead, and he is alive again.

Clarity

Greetings friends, I have managed to make my way back to my blog after a long absence. It has been quite a ride since we last communicated. I will not bore you with the details of my absence or tribulations other than to say "life happens...". Yes life happens and most commonly with and through those that are closest to you.

Apostle James tells us to ask for wisdom when we encounter life's tribulations. Yes wisdom is what we need. Wisdom in our relationships especially with the ones that are generally trusted and have more information about you and that are closest to you. Due to the lack of wisdom and unsanctified grace in our relationships we often discover the sad situation of false friends and true enemies. (see Psalms 55:12-14)

The bible says wisdom helps bring understanding that leads us to trust in Him. And through trust in Christ and the embracing of suffering and forgiveness in difficult times we can experience the great comfort of the Holy Spirit and clarity in our soul.


"I know better than to not trust God. But sometimes , I forget that"

When we are in the midst of an experience , it is easy to forget that there is a Plan. Sometimes, all we can see is today. If we were to watch only two minutes of the middle of a television program, it would make little sense. It would be a disconnected event.

If we were to watch a weaver sewing a tapestry for only a few moments, and focused on only a small piece of the work, it would not look beautiful. It would look like a few peculiar threads randomly placed.

How often we use that same, limited perspective to look at our life--especially when we are going through a difficult time.

We can learn to have perspective when we are going through those confusing, difficult learning times. When we are being pelleted by events that make us feel, think, and question, we are in the midst of learning something important.

We can trust that something valuable is being worked out in us--even when things are difficult, even when we cannot get our bearings. Insight and clarity do not come until we have mastered our lesson and wisdom and faith has come.

Faith is like a muscle. It must be exercised to grow strong. Repeated experiences of having to trust what we can't see and repeated experiences of learning to trust that things will work out, are what makes our faith muscles grow strong. With that strength clarity comes.

Divine Arrangement

"Prayer is a divine arrangement in the moral government of God, designed for the benefit of men and intended as a means for furthering the interests of his cause on earth, and carrying out his gracious proposes in redemption and providence"

Prayer and Promises

"I promise" !! Have you ever heard these words spoken to you ? The word "promise" can be defined as "the grounds for feeling hopeful about the future and grounds for expectations".

God's promises to us do just that. They are given to us to affirm to our hearts that we do have a Heavenly Father that loves us and has planned a hopeful future for our lives by which we have grounds for great expectations.

These promises of God are "exceeding great and precious", words which clearly indicate their great value and their broad reach , as grounds upon which to base our expectations in praying.

Without prayer, the promises of God can grow dim, voiceless, shadowy, and impersonal. It is prayer that makes the promises weighty, precious and practical.

Pray the promises without ceasing and watch your expectations abound !

Taste and See

" I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Hm, and delivers them. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" ~ Psalms 34:1-8

Taste: (Ta'am)Hebrew - To eat discern, perceive; to evaluate. This verb refers to the testing of good by means of the sense of taste. From the primary sense of physical tasting, Ta'am as a noun came to refer to "discernment", that is , the capacity to choose and delight in good things.

Authority

Any study of church history of revivals or reawakening's, tell us one central fact; The Christian Church spoke with Authority. The Word of God speaks with Authority. When the Church is governed by the authority of the Word, the Church speaks authoritatively as well...but not like the scribes. God in His Word always speaks a sure word in a slippery place.

Luke 6:40- "The disciple is not above his master; but every one that is perfect shall be as his master"

In the modern world , authority of any kind is a dirty word. True authority is written off as arrogance, but this simply shows how the arrogance of individualism dislikes any organized competition. Authority is built into the world. In any given situation, someone is going to wield authority; someone is going to make the call. Our concern should be to place that authority in the place where Scripture places it. When is comes to the oracles of God, that authority has been given to a faithful Church. But this authority must be explained....

Creating a Kingdom Culture

I believe the body of Christ is in a major transition in this hour. We are moving from a "churchanity" mentality and model to a "Kingdom culture". We are being transformed into a new form of relationships which is affecting how we relate to one another.

Cultures are not created overnight. A culture is the integrated pattern of human knowledge combined of belief's, behaviors, and values which are sustained within a group of people and are transmitted and imparted to succeeding generations.

In other words, a culture is knowledge, belief's, behaviors and values that are defined and imparted from one generation to another and if we are to have a Kingdom culture or as Christ taught us to pray "Kingdom on Earth" it is imperative that we change our thinking about our relationships...

Go Doubting Nothing

"Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house" ~ Acts 11:12

Doubting, In the Greek has two definitions:

1. To judge thoroughly; to decide between two or more choices; to make a distinction; to seperate two components, elements, or factors; to render a decision; to evaluate carefully.

2. The word also connotes a conflict with oneself, in the sense of hesitating, having misgivings, doubting, being divided in decision making , or wavering between hope and fear. This is its use here.

Are They Not All Ministering Spirits ?

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them" ~ Psalm 34:7

We cannot see the angels, but it is enough that they can see us.
If devils do us mischief, shining ones do us service. We have a fixed protection, a permanent watch.
If we remain in God's precincts, we shall be in His protection.
And notice that the Lord of angels does not come and go,
paying us transient visits; He encamps around us.
The headquarters of the army of salvation is where those live whose trust is in God.

He Will Bring You Out

"For You, O God, have tested us:
You have refined us as sliver is refined.

You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.

You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;

But You brought us out to rich fulfillment".

Psalm 66:10-12

Sinning for the Sake of Sin

“A man who cannot forgive,” Charles Spurgeon wrote, “is a poor fellow indeed, for he punishes himself for the sins of others. That being a sin, he therefore sins for the sake of sin.”

When We Don't Know The Way

Even if he knows the road, it is hard for a blind man to find his way. But
a road which he has not known at all is quite out of the question for his
unguided feet. We are by nature blind as to the way of salvation.How can
we know the way of life except that He anoint our eyes and enable us to
see it? Without His touch, we could never have known, never have
imagined that the way of the cross leads home.

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known" ~ Isaiah 42:16

Open Heart and Open Mind

It is a very difficult thing for men to read the Bible without prejudice. We approach it with our preconceived doctrines and dogmas and examine its passages in the light of what we have been taught to believe. The traditions of the elders are the spectacles through which we scan its pages. We have developed an uncanny habit of fitting the texts into the creeds we have accepted because of somebody's say-so, instead of coming with open heart and mind and asking the Holy Spirit to be our Teacher and our Guide.

God's Word, which is from above, can only be understood in the Light which streams from above and interpreted by the Interpreter which come from above.

Teach me again Oh Lord. Open my mind and heart that I may know you afresh and anew.

"...so for the sake your tradition you made void the word of God" ~ Matthew 15:6

A Belief That Makes Us Brave

"Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you declares the Lord"
~ Jeremiah 1:8

What a reason for bravery ! God will never be away when the hour of struggle arrives. God is always with the true, the just, the holy, to deliver them; and He will deliver you. Remember how Daniel came out of the lion's den, and the three holy children out of the furnace. Yours is not so desperate a case as theirs; but if it were, the Lord would bear you through. Get to your knees and plead for help, and then rise up saying , I will trust and not be afraid.

The Peace of God and The God of Peace

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" ~ Philippians 4:9

If we , by God's grace , can imitate Paul, we may claim the promise which is now open before us. And what a promise it is! God, who makes and grants peace will Himself be with us. That the peace of God should be with us is a grand benediction; that the God of peace should be with us is far grander. We prefer Him to any of the gifts He may give.

Shut the Door

"When Elisha came into the house, the was the child, lying dead on his bed.
He went in therefore , shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord"

2 Kings 4:32-33

There are frequent times in our lives that we need to simply shut the door and pray to the Lord. When we shut out the noise and distraction of the world we are able to hear the voice of the Lord. Elijah who was Elisha spiritual father and mentor modeled this as well in I Kings when he looked for God in the wind, earthquake, and fire only to find Him in a "still small voice". He had to shut out in order to listen in to the delicate whispering of voice of the Lord. True listening requires stillness and smallness on our part.

In Matthew 6:6 Jesus instructed His disciples when they pray to "go into your room , and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly"

Seven Joys

"What God layeth on, let us suffer,
for some have one cross, some seven,
some ten, some half a cross-yet all
the saints have whole and full joy, and
seven crosses have seven joys"

The Loveliness of Christ ~ Samuel Rutherford

When You Pray

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."

So He said to them,"When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name..." Luke 11:2


Hallowed: to set apart, dedicate , consecrate, separate, sanctify, make holy.

Pursuit of Perfection

Expecting ourselves to be perfect slows the process of maturity and peace in our lives; it puts us in a guilty and anxious state. Expecting others to be perfect is equally destructive; it makes others feel ashamed and may interfere with their growth.

People are human and vulnerable, and that is wonderful. We can accept and cherish that idea. Expecting others to be perfect puts us in that codependent state of moral superiority. Expecting ourselves to be perfect makes us feel rigid and inferior.

We can let go of both ideas.

We do not need to go the other extreme, tolerating anything people throw our way. We can still expect appropriate, responsible behavior from ourselves. But most of us can afford to loosen up a bit. And when we stop expecting others to be perfect, we may discover that they're doing much better that we thought. When we stop experiencing ourselves to be perfect, we'll discover the beauty in ourselves.

"Let Love be without hypocrisy, Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good"~ Romans 13:9

Divine Delays and Faith

Delays work perseverance in us that is crucial to our character development. God is willing to delay even important answers to prayer to facilitate our transformation.

We should not interpret divine delays as signs of divine reluctance. Delays are tools to perfect our faith. Christ is looking to find a tenacity in our faith that prevails in spite of delays and setbacks.

He seeks to create a perseverance within us that outlasts the test of time , a resolve that actually grows stronger during delays. When the Father sees this quality of persistence in our faith, it so touches His heart that He longs to move our behalf.

Luke 18:8 " When the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?"

Watch and Pray

Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour"?

"Watch and pray , lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak"

Matthew 26:40-41


The Apostle Paul describes this same battle between the Spirit and the flesh in Galatians 5:16-18. The Spirit and the flesh are diametrically opposed to one another. The result is a fierce and unrelenting conflict within Christians in which they cannot be victorious by their own strength.

Watching and praying is essential for victorious living for the Christians. When we pray and crucify the deeds and lust of the flesh the Holy Spirit helps us to wake up, rise above temptation.

The word flesh (sarx-sarks) in the Greek has several applications. In Matthew 26:41 it has an ethical and spiritual reference to the lower nature of a person, the seat and vehicle of sinful desires.

The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, watch and pray , watch and pray.

Taking Care of Ourselves

Rest when you're tired.
Take a drink of cold water when you're thirsty.
Call a friend when you're lonely.
Ask God to help when you feel overwhelmed.
Many of us have learned how to deprive and neglect ourselves.
Many of us have learned to push ourselves hard, when the problem is that we're already pushed too hard.

Many of us are afraid the work won't get done if we rest when we're tired. The work will get done; it will be done better than work that emerges from tiredness of soul and spirit. Nurtured, nourished people, who love themselves enough to care for themselves, are a strength and delight to all. They are well-timed, efficient, and Divinely led.

Common Signals of Life

Personal and spiritual growth depends on our ability to see one chapter of our life closing and a new one opening. These signals of transition come in different forms--a career change, the loss of a relationship, a physical move, health issues. They are met with either a desperate attempt to preserve the way things have been, or the recognition that things neither can nor ever will be the same.

Ready to Bloom

"Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying , "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said "I see a branch of an almond tree" Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word"
Jeremiah 1:11-12

Ready: In the Hebrew the word ready means watching , waking , hastening anticipating; to be sleepless, alert, vigilant, on the lookout.

In Jeremiah 31:28 God promises to watch over His people with an intent to build and to plant them. There is a connection here between the "waking" and the "almond". The almond is considered the "waker" in Hebrew thought, because it, of all trees, blossoms early, watching diligently for the opportunity to bloom.

Simplicity

I do not talk about the cross so much as about Jesus who was crucified. I do not talk about the grave, but about Jesus who rose. I do not talk about the ascension, but about Jesus who ascended. He is with you and me always.

It is not holiness, but it is Jesus the holy one. It is not meekness, it is Jesus the meek one. It is not purity, it is Jesus the pure on, Jesus, Jesus ! not it, not an experience, not emotion, not faith, but JESUS!

Understanding

"My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path." Proverbs 2:1-9

Understand: to discern, perceive, grasp, consider, regard; be perceptive, have insight.
This word occurs more than 165 times and has numerous references to spiritual revival when the people clearly understood the text. (Pro. 3:5; 4:5; Is. 11.2; Dan. 10:1)

Peace

Go easy. You may have to push forward, but you don't have to push so hard. Go in gentleness, go in peace.

Do not be in so much of a hurry. At no day, no hour, no time are required to do more than you can do in peace.

Frantic behaviors and urgency are not the foundation for our us. Do not be in too much of a hurry to begin. Begin , but do not force the beginning if it is not time. Beginnings will arrive soon enough.

Enjoy and relish middles, the heart of the matter. Do not be in too much of a hurry to finish. You may be almost done, but enjoy the final moments.

Let peace flow naturally. Move forward. Keep moving forward. Do it in peace.


"And let the peace of God rule n your hearts ..."
Colossians 3:15

Prayer and The Whole Man

"Prayer has to do with entire man. Prayer takes in man in his whole being, mind, soul and body. It takes the whole man to pray, and prayer affects the entire man in its gracious results.

As the whole nature of man enters into prayer, so also all that belongs to man is the beneficiary of prayer. All of man receives benefits in prayer.

The whole man must be given to God in praying. The largest results in praying come to him who gives himself, all of himself, all that belongs to himself, to God. This is the secret of full consecration, and this is a condition of successful praying , and sort of praying which brings the largest fruits."

E.M. Bounds

Wisdom Prayer for Extremes

" Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:

Remove far from me falsehood and
lying;

give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is
needful for me,

lest I be full and deny you
and say, Who is the Lord?

or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God"

~ Proverbs 30:7-9

On God's Mind

"The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us"
Psalm 115:12

God has thought of us, provided for us, comforted us, delivered us, and guided us. His mind has been full of us--that is what "mindful" means. The last part of the text is a logical inference from the former one. He will bless us because He is ever mindful of us. Since God is unchangeable, He will continue to be mindful of us as He has been in the past; and His mindfulness of us is equivalent to blessing us.

Prayer: O Lord, You have blessed us. We gratefully acknowledge Your goodness and generosity. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Amen.

Let us Pray

Seven reasons why we ought to pray:

1. It is commanded plainly of God that Christians ought always to pray about everything and about everybody, with all prayer and supplication.

2.Prayer is God's appointed way for Christians to commune and have intimacy with Him

3. Prayer is the way for Christians to have fullness of joy

4. Prayer is God's cure for worry, the way out of trouble and anxiety

5.Answered prayer is brings Glory to God and is a witness to unbelievers

6.Prayer is the way to increase the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives for His work

7. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"

Friendship

"A friend loves at all times,
And is born as a brother, for
adversity" ~ proverbs 17:17 (Amplified)

Friend: companion, neighbor, fellowman; a familiar person.
Its root means "associate with or to be a friend of"

Stop Apologizing

We are here. There is a purpose , a reason, and an intention for our life. We do not have to apologize for being here or being who we are.

By God's good grace,we have a right to be here.We have a right to be ourselves.

It doesn't matter what we've done in our past. We all have a past, woven with mistakes, successes, and learning experiences. We have a right to our past. It is ours. God has used it to shape and form us. As we progress on this journey of faith, we shall see how each of our experiences will be turned around and used for good.

We gave already spent too much time being ashamed, being apologetic, and doubting the beauty that has come from the ashes. Be done with it! Let it go! It is an unnecessary burden.

Divine Timing and Order

Procrastination--not acting when the time is right--is a self-defeating behavior. It produces anxiety, guilt, disharmony,and a nagging consciousness of the task that life is telling us it's time to do.

However we are not always procrastination when we put off doing something. Sometimes, doing a thing before the time is right can be as self-defeating as waiting too long.

We can learn to discern the difference. Listen. Be still. What is past due and creating anxiety and prodding within you?

Is there something in your life you are avoiding because you don't want to face it? Is there a building anxiety from putting it off ?

Sometimes anger, fear, or feeling helpless can motivate procrastination. Sometimes, procrastination has simply become habitual.

Trust and listen today. The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. Watch and pray. If it is not yet time, wait until the time is right.

Testing For Gold

" But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold."

Job 23:10

Return And Restore

"If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up."
Job 22:23

The Lord excels in works of restoration. Perhaps some sin has brought you down; up have become like a ruin.

You may be struggling financially; you may be broken in spirit. Was it some folly, some overpowering temptation ?

The first thing is to return to the Lord. With repentance and faith find your way back from your backsliding.

See what a promise invites your return. You shall be "built up". Our part is only to return, His to rebuild.

From the writings of C.H. Spurgeon

Theology and Attitude

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering ,

bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;One Lord, one faith, one baptism;

One God and Father of all , who is above all, and through all , and in you all"

Ephesians 4:1-4

You can have a right theology and a wrong attitude. May God help us to always walk in Humility and Love.

Kool

Kool is the phonetic spelling of the Hebrew word chul. In English the word is sustain which means "to maintain, nourish, provide, protect, bear, hold up, support, defend; to supply the means necessary for living, to measure out a provision of food"

One example of this word use is found in Genesis 50:21 when Joesph pledges to provide for his brothers and their little children in time of famine. " Now therefore , do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones..."

Joseph's response to his brothers injustice and personal suffering, developed a Christ like attitude that sustained him and his brothers. His attitude reflected maturity and insight. To be able to perceive the hand of God in prolonged period of unfair suffering requires innumerable choices to deny bitterness and to pray.

"Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the
righteous to be moved".

Psalms 55:22

Endure

"bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

~I Corinthians 13:7

Endure- To hold one's ground in conflict, bear up against adversity, hold out under stress, stand firm, persevere under pressure, wait calmly and courageously. It is not passive resignation to fate and mere patience, but the active, energetic resistance to defeat that allows calm and brave endurance.

Putting Two and Two Togther

There is a story about the boy Jesus at 12 yrs old, sitting with the scholars and teachers of the day in the Temple, listening, and asking questions. Luke records it like this, "...and all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."

This word understanding is very interesting in that it means "a putting together, a quickness of apprehension, the critical faculty for clear apprehension, intelligently assessing a situation". This word, understanding, is derived from two Greek words, phronesis and sunesis. "phronesis", acts while, "sunesis", judges. Phronesis is the practical side of the mind, while sunesis is the analyzing and discerning side.

My prayer is that God grant me understanding and the ability to put two and two together as I walk with Him daily through life.

In Time

Sometimes, the way is not clear.
Our minds get clouded, confused. We aren't certain what our next step should be, what it will look like , what direction we are headed.

That is the time to stop, ask for guidance, and rest from the Lord. That is the time to let go of fear. Wait. Feel the confusion and the chaos, then let it go and give it to God.

When we surrender it to Him He then can show us the way. We don't have to know now. We will know in time. Let go and trust.

When our mind cries why the Lord knows the answer and He does all things well and in His time.

Gratitude

Today is my birthday. I have been up early sipping my espresso, listening to the "light classical" music channel , reading and praying. All is quiet and my thoughts are deep and wide. Birthdays can be interesting days for reflection and meditation. Thanks to the new social networking of FB many people have extended to me birthday greetings of which I am very grateful. One friend commented on the fact that she noticed I must have reached "that age" to stop listing my birth year on my FB profile ! Well it's not difficult to do the math if one cares to find out. I am 54 years old today and grateful to be healthy and some what sane. I am blessed to have a wonderful family, wife of 29 years and 3 sons that I could not imagine life without. I am grateful.

Sometimes in life, things happen too fast. We barely solve one problem when two new problems surface. We're feeling great in the morning, but we're submerged in misery by nightfall. Every day we face interruptions , delays, changes, and challenges. We face personality conflicts and disappointments. Often times it leaves us feeling overwhelmed, unable to see the lessons that these experiences are bringing.

One word that comes to me today over and over is Gratitude. It is a simple concept that I have applied many times before but amazed at how easily I can forget it. When we learn to say Thank you for these problems and feelings and Thank you for the way things are, something powerful happens. Please don't misunderstand me. I am not so much thankful for the experience but what the experience brings when I view it with the right perspective.

Today, I am going to focus on Gratitude until it becomes habitual. Gratitude helps us stop trying to control outcomes. It is the key that unlocks God's power in our life. It is the alchemy that turns problems into blessings, and the unexpected into gifts.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing this birthday blog with me today.