Justice, Mercy, Faith

Hi Everyone,

Lately I have been reading and God has been really speaking to me about justice, mercy and faith. Justice, mercy and faith became the topics when I sought God for direction on what to teach in adult Sunday school class and it has continued to build for the last few weeks. And in a season where we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, these things gain even a greater importance. Why did Jesus come down to earth for us?

Justice, mercy and faith, what do they mean to you?

I have found that justice, mercy and faith guide a person in discretion, good sense, humility, discernment, integrity, self-control, moral excellence, love and trust in the Lord.

For godliness is just, merciful and faithful and Godly love is also just, merciful and faithful.

What is Godly love? Is Godly love just, merciful and faithful?

According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable and keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.”

We all must examine and seek God for what is just, merciful and faithful. We all must see that we cannot be just, merciful and faithful without God’s help. For without God’s help we are helpless to stand against the sinful desires- the sinful desires that keep us away from the faith in Jesus Christ. We are helpless to see the things that come to trip us up, make us fall, and lead to eternal torture in what most of us know as hell.

For when we seek God’s help- it is surrendering our explanations and understandings in life so God can transform and build it up in the truth of Jesus Christ.

Friends, we cannot just sit around and seek what we want in the truth – we must seek the “truth” out in God. God doesn’t mind if we investigate but don’t just investigate the things you want to hear in God and stop. Like it or not God is not a buffet salad. A buffet salad god may look good because we choose what we want in God but wouldn’t you rather know GOD and what He expects from us fully- for He is true wisdom and whom we all will have to answer to.

I don't know about you but I rather know my “appetite” in God to be right then wrong.

There are lots of great things I like to put on my romaine salad such as shrimp, crab, grilled chicken, or pork and even taco meat but I choose these things because I like them not because of nutrient value or because they are good for me- Some of us (me included) rather pass by all the veggies that are high in nutritional value because they don't taste all that appetizing - same is true with a god we pick and choose -hence the name “salad bar god”.

God is God and we can't pick and choose what "He" is or else "he" would be a false god. If we pick and choose what we just want from God then "he" might as well be an idol that we have made with our own hands that really does us no good. If we believe in a god that isn’t just, merciful and faithful then how can we know and truly believe in justice or receive justice? How can we receive or give mercy? How can we know and be faithful if we have no living definition or rock solid foundational platform to live by and build upon?

For when we try to be just, merciful and faithful in own power and in own ways, it simply doesn't work and we “can” end up miserable, depressed, stressed, unhappy, feeling as a failure and feeling like we are always missing something.

This "missing something" is more then just heading out to the car without our keys… it’s about journeying through life without the REAL keys to life.

The REAL keys to life make us “whole”. Whole -we aren't continually checking our spiritual pockets and asking ourselves "what the heck am I missing? I know there has got to be more to this life"

The real keys to life make it possible to live and see life in a new way and perspective that we have never experienced before. God’s justice, mercy and faithfulness are continual and never ending and they ripen and grow in us as we mature in God’s truth. But in order for them to ripen and mature, we need God’s help and that help comes from the truth in Christ Jesus.

For without Christ Jesus in our lives we could not possibly be just, merciful and faithful.

Not to loose anyone here…. but in Christ Jesus we are born of the Holy Spirit who guides us to all truth in what is just, mercy and faithful.

Jesus came so we wouldn’t just be saved but so we would find and mature in these wonderful things. …”For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law- justice, mercy and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.” (Matthew 23:23)

For in the important things we see who God really is and wants to help us become.

Please read carefully, here you will see there is no fluff:
“But to all who believed him and accepted him (Jesus Christ), he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan- this rebirth comes from God” (John 1:12-13)

Jesus said, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don’t be surprised at my statement that you must be born again. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
“What do you mean?” Nicodemus asked.
Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, I am telling you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe us. But if you don’t even believe me when I tell you about the things that happen here on earth, how can you possibly believe if I tell you what is going on in heaven? For only I, the Son of Man, have come to earth and will return to heaven again. An as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved darkness more then the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.” (John 3:5-21)

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” (John 14:15-17)

“But I will send you the Counselor- the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you all about me. And you must also tell others about me because you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26-27)

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and none of you has asked me where I am going. Instead, you are very sad. But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Counselor won’t come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is unbelief in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged. Oh there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.” (John 16:5-15)

Yep… you have heard it before… Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Merry Christmas
Humbly
Jeff

Words to Continue to Discover

These are a few of the words that have been "sticking out" while I have been reading my bible.

"The Just" and "Justice" or "do what is right".
"Mercy"
"Faith" and "walking humbling with God"
"Compassion"

Here are some verses God has directed me to lately.
Matthew 23:23
Micah 6:8
Matthew 5

As I examined these verses I read "but you ignore the important things of the law- justice, mercy and faith" Matthew 23:23

Micah 6:8 says "No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

Matthew 5:6-9 "God bless those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace for they will be called children of God."

As "the just" we are to not only hunger and thirst for justice (Matthew 5:6) but we are to love mercy (Matthew 5:7) and have a pure, "humble", heart of "faith" (Matthew 5:8) which achieves and works for peace (Matthew 5:9).

Luke 6:36 After Jesus says to love our enemies, he says "You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." Jesus then goes on to speak of not judging others or we will be judged. He also speaks of forgiving others and giving to others which all "just" and "merciful" people of the Christian faith should do.

(NLT) Proverbs 16:6 "Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin; evil is avoided by fear of the LORD."
or
(KJV) Proverbs 16:6 "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged : and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil."

I feel led to dive deeper into these words.
What is "Justice" and "being Just"?
What is being "merciful"?
What is "walking humbly with God" and "Faith"?

Our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ is just, merciful and faithful are they not?... And are we not to reflect them and all their ways?

If you feel led check out these words on your spare time and you will see examples of them all throughout the bible.

Peace on Earth and Good News for Everyone

Christmas. I am amazed to find out, even in my own generation of how many people do not know the true meaning of Christmas. It is even more frightening because their children do not know about Christmas - and if there is no one to past this knowledge about Christ in Christmas to further generations I can't imagine what kind of world this place will become yet alone what will happen to everyone one of those precious souls.

When I hear children say Christmas is only about presents and Santa Claus and don't even know who Jesus Christ is - my soul aches - there is a problem.

Many may think I am crazy for saying such things but why celebrate Christmas at all if it has nothing to do with "Christ" in Christmas but Santa instead. Why celebrate Easter when it has nothing to do with the Resurrection of Christ but the Easter bunny and candy instead.

Yes the Easter bunny and Santa Claus are fun but people need to be educated about what both of these Christian Holidays "REALLY" mean.

Hopefully many (young and old) in the faith of Christianity will feel the urging of the the Holy Spirit and step forward and speak and share the true meaning of Christ with others. You could open your bible and read the Christmas story to your friends and family this Christmas Season... If your friends and family have a problem with it and ask you why you read them the Christmas story tell them, "Why not? It's Christmas."

Christmas is to be celebrated but if we don't celebrate the true meaning of Christmas then the true meaning of Christmas is just another man made "holiday". It has nothing to do with Christ but everything to do with the desires of humanity and when the desires of humanity come before God and Christ there is a problem. When people get crushed and stampeded and unborn babies get killed because the rush for material possessions - there is a problem. Where is the true message of Christmas in that? Human life is always suppose to mean more then material possessions and lustful desires.

The Christ in Christmas came to save lives not so people could be killed while shopping for their loved ones. There is a life saving message in the Christmas story - the story of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and why he came. He is the TRUE gift and meaning Christmas to EVERYONE. Selfish ambition drove those people to stamped those two people. Christ wasn't about selfish ambition or what "I" did or "I" could afford or "I" got. Christ was about giving his life for us. He was and still is about loving, teaching, healing and saving unselfishly and relentlessly.

Christ does not deem any unworthy but accepts anyone who wants to accept him. Remember the criminal who feared God and was on a cross beside Jesus? The one who said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:40-43

We have all broken God's laws that lead to death but Jesus came so the law could be fulfilled and we could be saved and have a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Real peace on earth and Good News to everyone is knowing and having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is being filled with the Holy Spirit that Jesus sends to guide and counsel or comfort us.

Hopefully this Thanksgiving was a great start of being thankful for all that God does for you in your life and the "Christ" in Christmas will continue to remind you how much God loves us and he (Jesus) loves us.

The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:5-15 "He took with him Mary, his fiancee, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn."

"That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior- yes, the Messiah, the Lord- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see, this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

How much Jesus loves us.
John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd. The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again. No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command."

John 10:27 My sheep recognize my voice, I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me. The Father and I are one."

Jesus is the peace and Good News for everyone.

The accounts of Jesus birth are recorded in Matthew 1:18 and Luke 2. May they come fresh to you as you read them this Christmas.

Some People Make Cutting Remarks, But The Words of the Wise Bring Healing.

As I was reading this morning I came upon a sentence that read, “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.” Proverbs 12:18

• First, I thought of those who made cutting remarks towards me in the past.
• Second, I thought how thankful I am for those who listened to God and brought words of healing when I needed it.
• Third, I thought of times when I have said cutting remarks to others
• Fourth, I thought of the times when I brought words of healing to others.

We are not always wise and use wisdom. We know what is right and wrong but sometimes we don’t use wisdom to guide us to the right choice. Sometimes we don’t always listen and obey what the Spirit of God tells us.

Our own flesh seems to battle within us at times with our soul and what the Spirit of God is telling us.

As long as we are living in these bodies we are going to have battles taking place within us. We are human and as humans we have to make choices- choices of right and wrong, love and hate, faithfulness and unfaithfulness and so on but in order to make the right choices and recover from the bad choices we need Christ. Even the choices that seem pretty easy, we need God’s guidance and grace on helping us to come to the right decision. Have you ever made a choice, which you thought was a pretty easy decision to find that you got yourself in a whole lot of trouble afterward?

God is the only one who knows what is in store for tomorrow and even in next few minutes.
We need to lean heavily on Christ – sometimes more heavily then other times.

I have learned that no matter what- there won’t be a single person in this world that fully understands you but God does. There will be times even when your spouse or best "human" friend doesn’t understand you but God will.

Proverbs 14:10 “Each hearts knows its own bitterness, and no one can fully share its joy.”

Does God get disappointed when you make a wrong choice? Is a parent disappointed when their child makes a bad choice? I am sure God is disappointed but unlike a human parent, God knew of your bad choice before you even made it. And like a great parent who loves his/her children, God always has some consequence for the wrong or poor choice made by the child.

And not all consequences need to be negative because just as there are negative consequences for poor and bad choices there are positive consequences for good and loving choices as well.

“Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”

Many times we have Godly knowledge but we miss use it and we use God’s words improperly on people and it can cut them like a knife if not done in love and directed by the Holy Spirit. It can do more damage then good. It’s like you having God’s surgical tools but doing the surgery without God’s help. The Holy Spirit directs you to true wisdom.

God is the surgeon, not us. God knows exactly what the person is going through. God has walked beside that person through their life and in trial after trial. He has spoken to them in some form or fashion everyday of their life. He has heard their prayers and knows what is inside that person’s heart not you or I.

Sometimes God is doing some great work in a person’s life and it only takes one person to come along with a log in their eye and tip-over, knockdown, smash what God is doing in their life -at that moment. Instead of encouraging them, they knock them down again.

That person maybe just getting back off the ground when someone, decides it would be a fine time to find their foot in mouth. And a result will push that poor soul back to the floor again with their words. That pour soul has already been wresting with their own pride and/or understanding – they don’t need you or I to add the weight of our words to their load or struggle. I don’t know about you but when I am struggling and someone knows and sees me struggling and says something right off the top of their head without guidance from God.” It can be like a knife or a fist to the gut.

And what always seems to make situation worse is when people seem to think, sense the words they speak come from the word of God, then they are being helpful in their “so-called righteous way” but they forget God’s word is knife.

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.”

Are we God? Did God appoint or tell you or I to use those words or was it us in our little minds trying to be tricky, skillful and clever? Were they said “in love” or to make “our point” or to get “our point across”? God is the heart surgeon not us and when we try to act like the heart surgeon on someone -we are only making a bigger mess.

You would never take the surgical tools out of the surgeon’s hand as he is doing open-heart surgery… So why do that with God’s words? The surgeon knows what is wrong with the heart and knows what needs mending but we are no surgeon and certainly not God.

God’s words in the wrong hands and in the wrong state of mind can be very destructive. Just plain words in themselves can be heavy enough and hurtful enough but add God’s words and they can be destructive if not guided and directed by God. Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. I don’t know one person where words haven’t hurt them in their lifetime.

Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come.”

God gives us appointed times to share and speak a word. The Holy Spirit needs to direct our words or else our words will have the same or worse affect on those who already oppress them.

Not saying we should sugar coat the truth. The truth doesn’t need to be sugar coated because it is already sweet for those who need to hear it but we need to make sure we are in the right Spirit before we speak it. Are we speaking it in fruits of Spirit or from some human understanding? Are you speaking in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control or the ways of the world? Galatians 5:22

Sometimes we perceive things that aren’t actually fact but because we perceive things as “fact” we assume they are true. Assumption is not true knowledge or wisdom. It is based on partial visual perceptions, partial heard words, partial heard gossip, previous experiences, previous hurts, pride and fear and is very often passed around as fact. Assumption can be based on hostility, jealousy, selfish ambition, divisions, envy and so on.

“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2

Remember God is the only one who truly knows what is going on inside the heart and head of individual. And if God gave you some insight on someone, don’t open your mouth unless God has told you to talk to him or her. Sometimes God allows us a piece of insight so we may pray for that person or situation -not talk to that person about that situation.

God always prepares the person you are to talk to before you talk to them. I personally cannot think of a time when God hasn’t prepared a way for someone to speak to me in the past and I would say that “most” of the time I have received him or her well. Their words or comments haven’t just come out of left field … I had either asked God to intervene, help or for encouragement. On the same note, there have been times God had “already” been talking to me about some circumstances in my life that I had been failing to address and/or correct.

The truth is not always easy to hear but the usually truth has already been forwarded to you in several different ways by God before he had to resort to human lips.

There have been times in my life where God had told me in some form or fashion to address a situation in my life but I chose to ignore it. You can’t ignore God and claim to be his child. You will either address the situation with God privately or he will have to resort to go publicly. (Think of Jonah and David) God loves his children. If he didn’t love his children he wouldn’t have to discipline them.

I would like to say that all the people God sends speak in love not judgment but God sends his prophets to speak his judgments upon the people too.

If God sends someone to you in love – feel privileged. Often God uses people who have fallen into the same or similar traps or situations you have found yourself in. Their message is meaningful and powerful and often helps you come to repentance, healing and encouragement in the Lord.

When people come and speak scripture and spiritual truths, it needs to be backed up with power of the Holy Spirit (fruits of the Spirit)–which gives full assurance of what said is true. A great example of this is mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 1:5 when the disciples talked about sharing the Good News with the church of Thessalonica. Their testimony and words were powerful because the Holy Spirit directed and guided the words and actions of Paul, Silas and Timothy.

Cutting remarks that leave you wounded “again” -after you have already been made of aware of you failures by the Holy Spirit and understanding are not of God. They are usually spout out without warning and little care.

“The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives,” Proverbs 12:6

Sometimes our own brothers and sisters in Christ can have the same affect on us. You know how that is? You are just beginning to heal, you are still tender and someone unexpectedly points out your failure again instead of letting it go. What they say is like a murderous ambush and all you can do is quietly bleed from their words and then go home. Assumption can do the same thing.

I believe we all should be humble and need to be humbled from time to time in our lives but God needs to be one to do that, not a sibling in Christ. God is the best one to humble a person because his humbling is perfect and exactly the measure needed to bring one to repentance and growing in maturity in Christ.

Sure it hurts when a brother or sisters says something but we must forgive them (even when they are off base) and in the end will be in a better state of mind for doing so. Thank God he understands. Thank God he brings wisdom. Thank God he brings others who bring words of healing.

Wisdom and Knowledge

For some reason I had always assumed that knowledge and wisdom were the same but as I grow and the Lord continues to show me things I see that they are different and can be as opposite as right and wrong and hot and cold.

Knowledge is the sum of what is known. Known is to be intimately familiar with; to discern, recognize, regard, acknowledge, to pay heed to, to approve and learn. Knowledge is what we know.

Wisdom however is to discern what is right from wrong. Discernment can not be made correctly and fully without God's help and guidance.

The book of Job is a good illustration of this principle. Job’s buddies accused Job of sinning against God because of their knowledge of what happens to wicked people and what was happening to Job. What was happening to Job looked the same as signs and consequences that follow after someone who has sinned against God but Job had not sinned against the God. The signs and consequences were the same as if he had sinned against God but their presumptions were wrong even though they used knowledge. Had they sought God for wisdom in this matter things probably would had been different at the end of the written account.

Proverb 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do no depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.”

In the end Job was honored by God, God gave Job more children, restored his health and gave him twice the fortune as he had before and his friends ended up looking like the fools and arrogant ones.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 "Dead flies will cause even a bottle of perfume to stink! Yes, an ounce of foolishness can out weigh a pound of wisdom and honor. The hearts of the wise lead them to do right, and the hearts of the foolish lead them to do evil."

Do not assume something of someone based on your understanding and how something may look to you. Your understanding may not be the truth.

Proverbs 3:13-20 “Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding. For the profit of wisdom is better then silver and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. By wisdom the LORD founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. By his knowledge the deep fountains of earth burst forth, and clouds poured down rain.”

We need to base our decisions on wisdom and not just on knowledge alone.

In this time and age people have lots of knowledge and that knowledge is taken as wisdom but it is not. Some people believe just because they see and hear it on television then it is true. Just because the man who plays Superman on TV fly's, doesn't mean he fly's in real life.

Recently a news report said that a child at my wife's school had been abducted from the school but the fact was she was abducted at her home not the school where she attends. Thank God she was found by use of an Amber Alert and no harm had came upon her.

True discernment and wisdom come from God. God word says in James chapter 1:5 "If you need wisdom- if you want to know what God wants you to do- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do."

If we don't trust God and we are doubtful at him working in our life - how can we expect to gain and receive anything from God?

The sad thing is there are many people who trust in people more then God. They trust in politicians and doctors and even the weatherman more then God. They believe these individuals are the final word and if those poor souls believe such things then are in dire straits.

Jeremiah 17:5 "This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those whose who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives. But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit."

The Need for Rest in the Refuge of the Lord

This is a busy world. I used to think bees and ants were always busy but sometimes I think we’re so busy that we fail to take time away from this fast paced world. There is this activity and that activity to do and this schedule and that schedule to follow.

It seems like everyone is running from this activity to another. Quality seems to be pushed aside for sake of time and convenience until frankly there is no energy left. Everything from our relationships - to the food we consume- to the things we buy seem to be monopolized by activities and schedules.

Sure convenience is great and keeping busy is great but if that is all there is- where is the “quality” in all the “busy” time – if we are just a society and people that run, run, run – we are not only going to see the meaning of meaningless but our relationships with the people we love dearly are going to suffer.

You might be in the same car often but you might as well be strangers with phone calls, inside thoughts running circles inside your head, the music or talk radio on, and maybe even the DVD player or game system playing in the backseat.

You can say a kind word but if your actions don’t relate to that kind word then it is pointless. You can take your child to their favorite fast food restaurant but if there is no quality time to go along with that food – then it just feels the stomach “temporarily” but doesn’t fill or encourage the soul of your child of your love for them.

The Lord wants us to rest in him. He wants us to take quality time with him so he can fill and encourage our soul as well and remind us how much he loves us.

Psalm 91:1-2
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting in Him.”

The Lord is greater then the greatest shade tree on a hot day. He is greater then a warm house and a place next to a burning fireplace on a cold day. The Lord is greater then your best friend here on earth. He is the greatest parent ever known.

The Lord made us and understands us better then anyone else but in order for us to understand and understand how much he loves us, we have to take time to be with him.

Time to read and think on his word. Time to see what he has done and is continuing to do for us. Time to tell him how much you appreciate his presence in your life. Time to listen to what he has to say to you.

We cannot understand how deep God’s grace, mercy, peace and love is if we don’t take time to take refuge in him. I believe taking refuge in the Lord will also make us a better person not to just those around us but ourselves as well.

Lessons from Mixing Mortar

This weekend I was helping some friends rebuild a rock wall. When we went to get the pre-mixed mortar, the hardware store only had mortar and sand left. So we ended up buying both and mixed them on site.

It turned out that I actually liked working with the unmixed mortar and sand more then the premix mortar. Later, I started to read and think about scriptures in the bible and how we mixed the ingredients for mortar.

When mixing mortar you use one part mortar and three parts sand but even though there is more sand then mortar – the mortar had no problem covering and mixing throughout the entire batch of mortar mixture.

This is the scripture that came to mind:
In Mathew 13:33 Jesus used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough."

That is precisely what happened in the mortar mixture.

Then when we added water to the sand and mortar mixture, the batch got smaller so we were able to add more sand and mortar into the mixing tub.

Luke 6:38 “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving-large or small- it will be used to measure what is given back to you.”

Again the same principle happened as the scripture.

When mixing mortar you need, of course, three elements. You need mortar and sand and water. When I think about mortar and sand I think about love and knowledge. When I think of water – I think of the Holy Spirit.

Col 3:14 And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.

We can have the love and knowledge that God is continually mixing within us but we need the Holy Spirit to bind it all together so we can build off that love and knowledge that God has given us- “properly”.

1Th 1:5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message.

The Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. It bonded the actions of love and knowledge together where they could be built on to and they stuck in people’s mind and heart.

Gal 5:22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

Phl 1:9 I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.

God had given us all an awesome opportunity to make us His vessels. He is the one who poured HIS love and knowledge into us -when we gave our lives to Christ and when we received Christ we also received the Holy Spirit which is continuing to add living water – living and working concepts and ideas and power to the love and knowledge we continually gain from God as we have fellowship with Him and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Isa 64:8 And yet, LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.

Eph 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Our work, we do or intend to do for God is only useful when the love, knowledge and guidance of the Holy Spirit are bonded together in it.

In time the rock wall work we did is going to be put through the test of time and weather conditions. And like that wall, our efforts here on earth will be tested. If we have listened to the wrong spirit and used only human understanding and human understanding and methods of love that wall is going to have enormous problems.

1Cr 3:13 But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone's work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value.

Luke 6:48 It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who listens and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will crumble into a heap of ruins.

If the rock wall we have rebuilt this last weekend isn’t firmly standing on a foundation, it will fall over and break in time and be destroyed just like our lives if we are not standing on the foundation of Jesus Christ because through and on Christ Jesus every life can be rebuild and build upon.

John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. “

Through the Father who gives us the Holy Spirit- Who gives us new life in our time here on earth and eternal life in Heaven.

All would not be possible without the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins on the cross and his resurrection.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all work as one and are one and they do not want to see anyone perish. John 3:16-20

Remember live in the love and knowledge you have been given by God and listen to the Holy Spirit’s guiding in every life you touch.

Scriptures came from the New Living Translation Bible

Let Us Not Become Spiritual Tourist

It is great to hear testimonies and see miracles happen in other people’s lives and I have heard of people being satisfied with just that.

The thing is we are greatly encouraged and confirmed in the things of our faith when the spiritual blessings from God manifest themselves in our lives as well.

I was telling a friend about the revival this weekend at our church and how the Holy Spirit made Himself apparent that He had REALLY joined us during worship.

People spoke and sang in tongues (other languages) and there was interpretation. I for the first time got blessed by being intoxicated by the Holy Spirit. That was something I had never experienced before but heard could happen.

The words Holy, Holy, Holy again and again came singing from my lips for this. I then felt compelled to slip off my flip-flops and get on my knees and as I did I could feel this undulating current – beating so gently against my body. I really don’t know how long I was kneeling there in the current.

I have felt the wind of the Holy Spirit before but this was something I had not experienced before and when it was time to stand up and sit back down in my seat to hear what the visiting evangelist had to share- I felt so immersed and out of it that I just sat there dazed for sometime in my seat.

Even Michael Livengood, the visiting speaker and brother in Christ, who was sitting in front of me and ended up on the floor, said he could had stayed on the floor longer. I don't know how many felt the same thing I did but it was WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL …and the best part there was no hang over afterward (bad joke).

It confirmed to me that being intoxicated or drunk in the Spirit can actually happen and there was a unseen Godly river flowing through the church.

Now 10 or 11 years ago I would consider all this to be crazy and nuts and people just plan OUT of their minds but now that I have experienced these experiences and have seen these spiritual things for myself, I know they are very REAL.... not unreal. They have greatly encouraged me and confirmed things that I have read in the bible and seen happening.

God cannot be put in a box (I have tried) and if we try to put Him in a box (in our minds), we will not only miss out but fool ourselves by not being open to the fact that God loves to manifest himself in our lives in AWESOME and POWERFUL ways.

Some would say this is ludicrous and I might have agreed with them a time ago but God showed me wrong. The best way to prove something about God is ask Him to prove it – but make sure you want Him to prove before you ask.

Faith facts:

We have been living in the last days ever since Jesus ascended into heaven- after his resurrection. Jesus said he would give us the Holy Spirit - when we gave our lives to him and he said that in order for us to enter Heaven we would have to be born of both water and Spirit. John 3. Hence we are born of Spirit when Jesus and the Father sends the Holy Spirit into our lives.

If God doesn’t change then why do we seem to think He does?

Reference Scriptures

"And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability....They stood there amazed and perplexed "What can this mean?" they asked each other. But others in the crowd were mocking. "They are drunk that's all!" they said.... Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven apostles and shouted to the crowd, "Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about his. Some of you are saying these people are drunk. It isn't true! It's much too early for that. People don't get drunk by nine o'clock in the morning. No, what you see this morning was predicted centuries ago by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God said, I will pour out my spirit upon all people." Acts 2

"If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him, But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." John 14:15-17

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me." John 16:13-15

Don't Starve Yourself Of the Lasting Good Things in Life

Don't Starve Yourself Of the Lasting Good Things in Life

Early-er this week I had a quote that said, "What you feed grows and what you don't feed -starves."

If all we feed is negativity then we are going to become a pro at being negative but if we continue to seek and strive for the positive things in life then we are going be optimistic about life - even when things look bad.

If all we see is how bad everything is in the world we are going to miss all the goodness and inspiration and new awareness that comes out of life and even in the bad situations.

As I shared with you before about the people who live in the cardboard villages Mexico- if they only focused on the negative situations they live in, day in and day out, the situation would be devastating to their health and well-being. Instead they have gained a greater faith in God through their circumstances in life and God has blessed them. In the last four years those same families have started to build concrete block houses and they are still able to provide food for their family. They put their trust not in money. They put their trust in God.

Jesus says, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

If all our focus is on money and our problems then how are we going to put our focus and trust in God - who can solve and provide.

Jesus continues with "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life- whether you have enough food, drink and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautiful as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:24:-34

"Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be!" Matthew 6:22.

Same as "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be" Matthew 6:21. If we treasure to look at the down side of life instead of the positive side of life we are setting ourselves up for failure, doom, frustration, depression and whatever negative habits we have picked up along the way and accepted and welcomed them with open arms instead of saying "NO Thanks!- I am not going there.".

We "treasure" what? We set our sights on what? What are we going to feed and what are we going to starve? What is most important to you in this life?

For me it is having a relationship with God....family... and friends.... and the rest is just stuff. Stuff that can be replaced.

Don’t take what you have been given for granted.

My youngest came into bedroom with a piece of French bread and I told her she had to eat it in the kitchen but she kept coming into the bedroom to eat it after I warned her three times to take it into the kitchen to eat.

I then said, “Do I need to take this bread away from so you can’t have anymore?”
Of course being almost 3 years old, she continued to resist and disobey and I had to take the bread away from her.

I was again reminded of us and God and what Jesus says in Matthew 13:11

"Then he explained to them, “You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them."

We must be constantly listening and reading God’s word. We must be diligent yet quiet enough to listen what He has to say about matters in life –and we also must ask God to help us love in all HIS ways of love.

Through the Holy Spirit we are connected to God and not detached from God and through the Holy Spirit can be fruitful in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22 & 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 & Colossians 3:12-17). A part from God we can do nothing worthy and sustainable and are even in danger of being thrown into the fires of hell when we continue to be the lone ranger of our lives.

How can one be blessed if they think they are too important to help someone in need? How can one grow if all is received and none is given? How can anyone see if all they see is what inside their "natural" selves? How can anyone endure with just their "natural" outlook on life? How can one develop strength of character if they only depend on themselves? How can anyone have hope and be confident on the expectations of God if they have no real relationship with God?

Don’t be fooled –hang on to ALL that spiritual food God gives you. It will sustain you but if (you and I) let it sit and become dusty – it will be taken away.

Instead let us build upon it through God’s guiding and directing because after all God is the contractor of LIFE.

Puzzle Pieces of Life

Does the question of “Who am I - in God’s plan?" ever come to mind? I think that is one of the greatest questions we can ever ask ourselves.

My youngest and I were putting together a puzzle and when we came to the last piece of puzzle we realized we were missing a piece. The puzzle was incomplete even though we had the majority of pieces put together. The full picture of the puzzle was incomplete and we quickly saw that our efforts had been useless and a waste of time because we didn’t have that last piece of the puzzle.

That can be our life to... without Jesus. If we do not have Christ we can never complete or make sense of this life… which with the natural eye is just a jumble of pieces. We need Christ to complete our life and to make sense of all those pieces.

We may have created a lot of those pieces through our actions or someone else may have created some of those pieces (positive or negative) but it Christ that makes all those pieces come together. It is Jesus who heals the life. It is Jesus who builds up a life. It is Jesus who guides and directs the paths of those who are graciously given his righteousness. It is Jesus who transforms forms the jumble pieces into a complete picture. It is Jesus who transforms those pieces into something fulfilling and useful.

"So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins." Colossians 1:9-14

But without Christ our lives are just a bunch of puzzle pieces… a puzzle never completed.

We searched all over that bedroom for that missing puzzle piece because we wanted to finish the puzzle but we could not find it.

You know what happened to those puzzles pieces that we couldn’t complete?

Yep... the same thing that happened to our Spider-man, Superman, HE-MAN puzzles (or for the gals - Wonder Woman, Barbie, Cabbage Patch, Holly Hobbie, and Strawberry Shortcake puzzles) that I lost their pieces. We had to throw them into the trash. The pieces were deemed no longer useful.

You and I, however can find that puzzle piece that makes everything come together and make sense -if we choose to.

Jer 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.

1Ch 28:9 "And Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your ancestors. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and with a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and understands and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

Pro 3:6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Hsa 10:12 I said, `Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of my love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.'

Hbr 11:6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Rev 3:19-22 Jesus says “I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches."

A Message to Savor

A brother in Christ, sent me a music video this morning and I could not help but savor the message within it.

The message was about Christ taking our cross, our nails, our crown of thorns, our shame, our guilt, our tears, our fears and the list could go on and on but it was the Good News in a nut shell.

And if we really understood the message that Christ took our punishment for our sins we would understand not only God's love but the power of God's saving grace. Not only would we understand the power of God's saving grace but who intercedes for us and who gave us new life and eternal life through the Holy Spirit.

To understand what Christ has done for us in not a guilt ridden thing but should be a weight lifted off our shoulders. To understand what Christ has done is exactly what Christ says it should be, "For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give is light." Matthew 11:30

To understand what Christ has done is power to be set free and to do the will of the Father and Son.

The amazing part and even the sad thing is even though many of us know the message of the "Good News" we take it so much for granted like it's just a story in the bible but the bible nor should the "Good News" only be set on black, white and red print in our minds but be keys to freedom and further understanding.

Look at what Jesus says, " You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. That is why I tell these stories, because people see what I do, but they don't really see. They hear what I say, but they don't really hear, and they don't understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: 'You will hear my words but you will not understand; you will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes- so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I assure you, many prophets and godly people have longed to see and hear what you have seen and heard, but they could not." Matthew 13:11-17

Sometimes I just want to yell to all my lost friends and family, and people who think they know they got all together -like Mel Gibson's character in Braveheart. I want to wave a banner from a powerful horse and say as I ride in this brief life, "The Keys to FREEDOM are in CHRIST!!! The EVERLASTING message of life and eternal life are in the message of the cross and the Resurrection of Christ.

But it hard seeing them all lined up not sure what they are doing here, seeing them not sure where to stand or face or what to know to save their souls and live a fulfilling and purposeful life.
Some so hard hearted that they don't even want to hear about God because they have made up their mind about Him already.

They are like Kings and Queens of Rohan who can only see death and no victory. I urge them to ride on hoping they will see and will be convinced by all the mercy, grace and blessings God has given them before it is too late.



I have hope for them because I once was like them. I have hope for them because God is greater and more persistent then they or those who try to keep them there.

A Well Is Very Important.

Everyone has his or her own well in life. A well during Old Testament times was important. It gave your livestock and you water and if you were in times of war, it provided water for your soldiers to drink. And a common practice of the enemy was to fill their oppositions well or wells with dirt so they couldn’t get water for their livestock or soldiers.
We still have those “type” of wells today in 3rd world countries and armies there still do this kind of thing to their opposition or people they want to destroy or defeat. Water is very important. It preserves all life.

We all however have a spiritual well. Our enemy, Satan, hates when God blesses us and when God shows himself in mighty ways and one way he likes to defeat us is dumping dirt in our spiritual well. If he can through enough crap at you and I at one time after we have been blessed or see a move of God – it is a pretty good chance we will take our eyes off of God and the things He has done for us. Satan has had a lot of time to perfect his skills but God is more powerful.

Remember what I have told you in the past. I used to think Satan was pretend or some kind of folklore until I saw him for real when God let down the spiritual veil down and let me see first hand how real and evil Satan is. Remember how I told you about the blood curdling screams and cries that surrounded him and woke me as if the cries were right by my bedside. Just as angels are real so are the devil and his demons. I am grateful however am not the only one who has seen Satan and an angel, Jesus and other spiritual things.

Remember Satan wants to make sure you either do not hear about Christ and his saving power for life and eternal life or do not walk out your faith. If he can get you to not walk out your faith you aren’t representing anyone but yourself and it might as be like walking away from Christ and God. Satan will temp you to use your own pride and understanding to keep you a slave to this world - that is following him without a clue. Satan will also use circumstances and situations in our life to temp us to give up or turn back to what the world thinks is privilege and right. And where do you think the world’s thinking comes from? It is certainly not from God.

God is not just a provider but our encourager, healer, builder and protector. Our human eyes tend to just look at the so-called “practical” side of life instead of the “spiritual” side of life, which can causes us to lean on our own human understanding then the spiritual understanding we learn and get from God. When the human understanding is at work it is difficult for God to work in our lives because human understanding is like a chokehold or grasp on the flow of God in our lives. When we use human understanding it’s like shutting off the facet and allowing no water to come through. And often-human understanding negatively affects our lives and those in our lives because we resort to human ways of handling and dealing with situations – instead of the ways of Christ. If our eyesight is not on God, we are going to make mistakes and have negative results but if we use the spiritual eye -sight that God is teaching us and has given us, we are going to have peace and positive results because we are not going to depend on worldly or human understanding. Out of the human understanding the mouth and body produces sinful results but out of Godly wisdom the mouth and body produces righteousness and blessings.

Proverb 18:21 “Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life.”

Proverb 18:4 “A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”

Dependence on God is something awesome which allows a person’s well to not get clogged up but to bubble over and over-flow into not just our life but also the lives we share our life with. You become that well… that well of blessing when you depend on God for and in everything. Imagine a well that has green all around it and flowering with flowers and trees which supports other life and brings those who are thirsty -to God. That is what God wants us to be but in order for that to happen we must be obedient and surrender our lives and understanding to God to gain Godly understanding that never ceases.

John 7:37-39 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within." (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

So when Satan tries to throw things down your well and at your life, know that God is building you up and wants to show himself in your life. Trust and depend on God and do not lean on your own understanding.

Pro 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
Pro 3:2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Pro 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Pro 3:4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Pro 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Pro 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
Pro 3:8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Pro 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Pro 3:10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Pro 3:11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
Pro 3:12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Pro 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
Pro 3:14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
Pro 3:15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Pro 3:16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Pro 3:17 Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
Pro 3:19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
Pro 3:20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
Pro 3:21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;
Pro 3:22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
Pro 3:23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;
Pro 3:24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Pro 3:25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
Pro 3:26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Pro 3:27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
Pro 3:28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow”—when you now have it with you.
Pro 3:29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
Pro 3:30 Do not accuse a man for no reason—when he has done you no harm.
Pro 3:31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,
Pro 3:32 for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
Pro 3:33 The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
Pro 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
Pro 3:35 The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.

Love for Christ’s Sake

About a decade ago an individual was mentoring me in a public school setting. Well… at least I say they were supposed to “mentor” me but about half way through this experience I simply could not take the actions of this individual anymore and quit the experience. I knew if I quit the experience it would be a very difficult to get another experience because the university officials in charge of the program warned us of that fact during orientation. In fact I believe the individual who set me up with this individual knew from the very beginning that this individual was not the best candidate for a mentoring experience but simply didn’t care and before the end of the experience I simply wanted out. In fact I returned all the items I had used and graded one morning and left a note saying I would not be returning. I had come home everyday from the experience discouraged, emotionally beat up, and felt incompetent almost in everyway in my field. What I did was never good enough to this person. When I tried to ask for input or advice on a topic I was looked down upon harshly. There was no sense of cooperation from this person. I was treated as an offensive outsider trespassing on their territory. I was treated as if I was pushed on them when they had the opportunity to say “No thank you” from the very beginning. This person might have had all the talents necessary for their field but this individual was no mentor. A mentor is someone who builds you up, helps you make corrections and adjustments, supports you when you are challenged and then steps back and let’s go so you can be all that you were meant to be but this person was cruel, unsupportive, disrespectful, unsympathetic and challenged me not just every step along the way but challenged every part of my being to try to stay positive until I was physically sick and emotionally exhausted and had hardly any joy in the field I wanted to work in.

I was not a Christian at the time. I had considered myself a “Christian” up to this point but I was not born again and did not do what I knew God wanted me to do. This person who was suppose to be mentoring me, however, was suppose to be a “Christian”. They were a member of a church and happened to be a “friend” of a friend of the family and this friend of the family happened to my Sunday school teacher in my elementary years and pastor’s wife. This family friend was also one of the very people who saw my gift at an early age and encouraged me but the person mentoring me showed me that they saw “nothing” in me by their actions.

Thank God I was confused of what a Christian was suppose to be and wasn’t looking for what a “Christian” is suppose to be or else I might had gotten very angry and said to myself, "If this is what a “Christian” is suppose to be, I want no part of it!" Thank God I had other models of what a “Christian” was suppose to be even though I didn’t see it with my worldly eyes at the time. Thank God even though I couldn’t see with me worldly eyes, my memories latched on and held onto those “Christian” actions. And God, I hope the person who was mentoring me realized what kind of witness they were not to just me but those in their field and classroom. I hope that they have had a change of heart towards others like myself. I thank God that He gave me another mentor named Mr. Ball and an assistant named Mrs. Riez, who saw me as teacher and treated me as an equal and partner and showed me I could be successful. God does bless those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God does bless those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. (Matthew 5:4-5)

For the love of Christ… love for Christ’s sake.

You are the only bible some people will ever read. You are a witness for Christ.

We are to live “clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people.” We are to “let our lives shine brightly before people.” We are to not be selfish. We are not to try to make others smaller or unimportant or make ourselves more important. We are to be humble. We aren’t only to think about our own affairs but be interested in others too and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing, he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2)

And even though we are to be humble, Philippians 1:28-29 says we are not to be intimidated by our enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege to trusting Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.”

We have been given the privilege of trusting Christ… It is privilege to trust in Christ. Do you remember what it felt like to not trust in God? Were you at peace before Christ came into your life? There was hardly any peace and the peace that you did get didn’t last very long.

We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves but that is impossible to do if we don’t have trust in Christ. “For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. “ 1 John 5:4

Jesus says in Matthew 5:43 “You have heard the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who prosecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and unjust, too. If you love only those who love you what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Perfect love is what? God is perfect love. “God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the Day of Judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us. We love each other as a result of his loving us first. “ 1 John 4:16-19

We have all read 1 Corinthians 13,
“If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

Things are only useful and successful when the love of Christ is in action not us trying to do the work ourselves. One may plant and the other may water but God makes the seed grow. God let’s people see. God gives the nourishment to grow in his love.

Our faith is dependent on God. Our love that shows our faith is dependent on God. God is the one in charge not us.

All things are possible through Christ but it is for God’s glory for all things to be done. We need to be in obedience to God for Christ’s sake. We are witnessing for Christ -for the world to acknowledge Christ not us.

The moon reflects the sun, it doesn’t produce it’s own light but it shines in the night sky anyway. The moon cannot help but reflect the rays of the sun because it is in the sun’s path. That is how we are. If we are in the Son’s path, the path of Jesus Christ, we can't help but glorify Him. BUT walk off that path ever so slightly and we will only find and sit in the shadows of ourselves, like the rest of the world and how their opinions are “as” or “more” legitimate then everyone else’s.

The only opinions that really count are God’s and his opinions stand and outlast anyone else’s.

Love of Christ’s sake.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand it’s own way. Love is not irritable, and keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Defragmenting Life 4

The motivation behind acquiring possessions.

What is the motivation of the possession? Why do you want to acquire something? Do you want to impress someone? Someone who is here today and gone tomorrow? Someone who can’t accept you for who you are?

Why do you want something and what for?

You and I are to be salt to those who don’t know Christ. If we become just like the world then what is the difference between us and someone who doesn’t know Christ? Where is the savor and flavor in us?

Do we want to gain the whole world and lose our soul?

Offerings, donations and even our good deeds cannot buy God off but many have been bought off by possessions even kings, prophets, and disciples, so be careful the possessions you get, and receive don’t end up owning you and make you feel obligated to those who would exploit and use you for their gain.

We all must look to God in our dependence and confidence. We must not put trust in things or ourselves but in Him. God is constant, never changing, and full of assurance. He has endless and amazing gifts that never rot, decay, loose their value or become a chore.

Defragmenting Life 3

Things acquired for a false assurance.

I think the most dangerous sign of materialism is when we start to use material possessions to replace and remove our trust or reliance on God. Some do this subconsciously, some do this because they don’t have a relationship with God and some do this because they want to find a way around God but they are only fooling themselves.

I’ll use this example: A husband and wife buy wedding rings as a symbol of their dedication, love and responsibility to one another and God. But if they buy a wedding ring not just for the symbol of commitment to one other BUT for resell value , that ring is NO longer a symbol of a loving commitment, BUT a sign that marriage is not a death to us part partnership but a temporary legal engagement.

A ring based solely on resale value and not on the symbolic meaning of commitment shows there is not just a lack of trust between this couple but also in God. The ring more or less has becomes a control issue and a false assurance. A person says in their heart that I am in charge of my life and I don’t have to be dependent on ANYONE - if things go sour. I am my own mountain. I am my own wall. I need no one. I can pawn this expensive ring for a few cold bucks in my pocket. I have never known a person who has gotten through a failed marriage with money… or anything other material possession.

What most people fail to understand is the concept that God give and God take away. Why did our parents take things away from us when we were younger? Sometimes they took things from us for a punishment but they also took things away from us because they could possibly be harmful to our lives. (I am talking about possessions only here! Not people.)

Things also happen! That ring can fall into the toilet, down the sink, or into the sea on that boat trip. Stock markets fall; cars break down and get stolen, houses rot and decay and even catch on fire. Every material possession looses its luster and money disappears. The love for possessions only adds worry for those possessions. (Matthew 6:19-34) (Luke 12:28-34)

When we try to control our lives by material possessions we are trying to replace the happiness God can give to us. If we try to have happiness only in our possessions, we will never find and live the happiness God intends for us.

Defragmenting Life 2

Things acquired for convenience.

Most of us buy things for enjoyment and because they make things convenient.

We buy a cell phone because it is easy to stay connected with family, friends and work. We buy zip lock bags so when we’re done with the contents in the bag we can simply throw away the bag. It saves us on having to wash out a plastic container and having to store that container when we are done. We buy computers that are easier and faster to work and play on and need less virus software. We buy stocks and bonds in hopes they will help us in the retirement years and will make it easier to help pay for our kids rising college tuition. We buy gas grills instead of charcoal grills because they are less messy and faster to cook on. We buy a universal remote for our television, DVD player, and recorder in hopes we won’t have to use three remotes or have to dig through our couch so frequently. We buy storage boxes to store all our stuff that we don’t use all the time in. We buy large flat screen televisions because they are sometimes easier to see with our aging eyes and/or because they a lot funnier to watch movies and play video games on. We buy new improved formulas, gadgets, and tools in hopes they will make our cleaning and building faster, cleaner and more energy efficient.

There is nothing wrong with convenience in our lives but it does become a problem when it starts affecting our life and those around us.

Our want for convenience affects many aspects of our lives and sometimes we partake in things of this world because of mere convenience but in seeking convenience, these things of the world “can” trip us up if we are not careful in how we use them.

Since I started with cell phones let's use cell phones as our example. Cell phones are wonderful especially if your entire network of friends and family are on the same network but cell phones have also made things of life easy to trip over.

No longer is your phone at your office desk or at home in the kitchen hanging on the wall but now is own your person or near your person most of the day. Now those who want or feel the need to call you can do so at a whim – regardless of what time it is and who you are trying to spend quality time with. There are people out there who GOT to have their “phone” fix.

I am sure the man who brought in those wild gourds, to put them in the stew he was sharing with family and guests, didn’t know they were poisonous. He brought them in out of convenience. They were close by and not too far away to fetch. (2 Kings)

Cell phones MAKE it so easy for someone to state how they are feeling without thinking their thoughts thoroughly through.

Gossip, presumption, cheating and lying, to name a few, are at anyone’s disposal if they are caught in the wrong moment and have lack of self-restraint/ control.

Some people are now apt to call out of gut reaction to something they hear or see instead of thinking the entire situation through.

Have you ever wondered how our grandparents survived without cell phones? Technology back then did not make things convenient to call whenever they had a whim. If you were upset with someone, you would either wait until you were near a phone or you would have to write a letter and in either case you had time to stop and think before it was too late and had to retrieve your foot from your mouth. Inconvenience gave the opportunity for saving grace.

Nowadays things are so immediate. You want to call someone- you can do it right then and there. You want to buy something you can do it right then and there. No longer do you have to go to the store. You can buy it right on-line or on your phone. Some grocery stores even deliver now. Some would say, “That should be a great thing! We no longer have to stand in long lines, fight traffic and spend gas money but that is also one less opportunity to shine our light for Christ and share that love of Christ with others. One less opportunity to see what God has planned to enrich our or someone else’s life.

When Paul wrote, “Your ambition should be a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands” (1 Thess 4:11) he did not mean we were to become hermits and secluded individuals. He was talking about staying away from situations that may lead into gossip, slander, lies, presumption and talk that is not well thought out before spoken. Talk that could not just be harmful and disrupted but sinful and not a good witness for Christ.

Things bought for convenience are great but just be careful how and when you use them.

Defragmenting Life (Thought life)

If you have children you know what it is like to go into their room and everything that was neatly on their shelves, in their toy boxes, hanging and stacked in their closet, and folded in their dresser has somehow become floor camouflage. Even their beds aren’t untouched by the carried away, spontaneous moments of imagination and play.

I guess there is a time for everything - a time to play and a time to clean up. (Clean up. Clean up. Everyone do you part. Clean up. Clean up. Everyone do your share.)

Even us adults have to un-clutter our lives once in a while.

It may not be the usage, consumption, or lack of effort in sorting material possessions but the way we think over, absorb, and hold on to information.

Our minds get so camouflaged with the matters and details of life we can no longer see the foundation of our lives and what truly matters in life. That goes for activities too!

Ever get over loaded with information and activity?

Has someone ever dumped or unloaded a lot of hefty information in your lap and then walked away? Has someone ever done something to yank your shirt collar?

How about when the aspects and events and tasks at hand get to be SO much to handle that you just end up becoming SO task oriented that you fail to see those around you being turned off by your super taskmaster mode. You’re giving orders here and there and forgetting you are being somewhat insensitive to other people’s feelings around you. (Then you realize… did I just grow horns, become red, and become a great pitchfork poker?)

Then there are some us who get so bombarded with so much information, jobs and tasks that we begin to get bogged down and then literally shut down. Sleep is good for the mind but when your mind is tired because it has a three-ring circus running around inside of it and you happen to be the strong man trying to hold up the elephant there is a problem.

I personally tend to think WAY too much on certain aspects of life which bogs me down emotional and physically. I start to put things on my shoulders to the point I am emotionally and physically drained and worn out.

So what do we do when we cannot discern the matters of the world verses the matters that truly matter in life that us give peace of mind and joy?

There is a wonderful illustration in Luke that might help us understand what truly matters in life.

Luke 10:38- 42 says “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it- and I won’t take it away from her.”

Martha had her eyes on the details of life. She had made a problem for herself. Ever get so blinded by all the things in life that you get carried away by them and make yourself upset and frustrated? Do you sometimes get even more upset because others aren’t helping you out to solve the problem or they don’t even perceive the tasks, that need to be done, as a problem?

Martha made herself a bomb.

I can see Martha thinking this: “Dinner must be served by this time. This many places must be set. This many dishes must be clean. These food items must be prepared in this way and this manner or else it will not be perfect. It will soon be getting dark and I wonder if I have enough oil to keep the lanterns lit. The main course isn’t being cooked as well as I would like. Why is my sister who knows how do these things as well as I not helping me?”

Mary, on the other hand, is in a different state of mind. Her mind and eyes are on Jesus.

Ever have dinner with a large group of friends? There is a lot of talk and activity. Mary, in the middle of all this activity, has quieted herself down in front of the Lord and simply listened. She made herself available to listen to what the Lord had to say to her and everyone else who had inquiring ears. Her eyes are on Jesus not on the activity and matters going on around her. Notice she didn’t try to argue with Martha, she just stayed focused on Jesus.

Yes there are a lot of things to be done in life. There are a lot of things that are said. There are a lot of things happening in the world around us but where is our focus?

I will admit first hand that it is difficult to see past those missiles of tasks, ideas, and opinions coming towards us everyday. During times of struggle, it is sometimes difficult to pray. It is sometimes difficult to open our bible and read. It is difficult to just sit and be still and be quiet both inside and out. It is hard to find clarity.

Yes it takes a MAJOR effort and step on our part BUT if we just take that step… those few minutes of quiet and few words/ thoughts to ask God to help clear our minds, we’ll find that
Jesus is the greatest interceptor of clattered thinking.

Philippians 4:6 “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

The cluttered pieces of life will be placed in their rightful place and you will see what truly matters in this life.

Th0ught5 –Ripples and Waves

There is a show, called Numb3rs, on television. It’s basically about two brothers who solve crimes for the FBI. One brother is a FBI agent and the other is professor/genus in mathematical theory. In the show, the brother who is a genus uses mathematical theories to solve crimes but unfortunately his theories are not always understood by his brother and co-workers so to help them understand the ideas behind the theories the professor brother often uses illustrations to explain the theories.

Now recently I have seen and felt the effects of a bad understanding. Most of us would have an idea what is a “misunderstanding” because we have all had them and "been there" but many of us would wonder what would be considered a “bad” misunderstanding.

A bad misunderstanding to me is when it effects a large group of people but instead of going into intimate details of this ordeal, which might be construed as some form of gossip -down the short or long road ahead I will give you an illustration.

Most of everyone hates misunderstandings. I say “most” because there are individuals and beings out there that like to use misunderstandings to their advantage or social gain. One way to divide and conquer their opponent is to provide opportunities and breeding grounds for misunderstandings to occur. Then there are misunderstandings that just happen innocently but they somehow make a big mess.

As I mentioned before, am currently watching and experiencing this ripple affect which is spreading like a stone dropped in a pool of water and every ripple that is produced is changing in size and speed as it moves further from where the stone was dropped into the water. I say “stone” now but in actuality the incident was really just the size of a pebble.

The incident, the pebble, which has caused this affect, was quite innocent in circumstance and nature has transformed into waves - due to those “experiencing” the ripple - and in a sense, those experiencing this ripple have made ripples of their own which have carried this mishap into something that was really nothing from the start.

Like rocks aligned near a beach getting hit by a simple wave, these rocks all have been giving the opportunity to output a splash and ripple pattern of their own.

When these different individuals have been hit by the same wave their different sizes and shapes and perspectives and moods - have perceived the hit differently.

The responding output ripples of these rocks aren't just different but can even be more damaging then the simple initial ripple, which was not harmful at all.

Think of it as rowdy bar scene in a movie. A guy innocently loses his balance and bumps into another guy who knocks a waitress over who is carrying beers to a table. The beer is dumped into some guy’s lap who only sees the guy who bumped into the waitress and decides to give the guy that drenched him a black eye, which proceeds into even larger bar fight and people going to jail.

People have different perspectives, attitudes, notions, bias, responses, and even insecurities and unless the individuals who get hit by the ripple initially realize the ripple was just a ripple - the responding ripples from that tiny pebble will become something much larger and different then what actually happened in the first place.

Remember playing that game in school, where one kid whispers something in another kid’s ear and that kid passes it down to another kid and that child repeats what they thought they heard and by the time the last child in line gets what is supposedly said by the first kid – it is totally different.

Probably the least affected will be the ones who started the miscommunication in the first place.

And those mostly affected will be those who further down the line from initial ripple.
Incidents like this one can adversely a large group of people because of understandings or misunderstandings of the original intent of the pebble.

The incident, innocent or not, can become negative notions or feelings based on previous histories, experiences, attitudes and insecurities. Add vocal and facial expressions to the mix and you have puddle of assumption that has turned into quick sand.

Words and ideas can be powerful but they are only powerful if we give them residence within us.

And unfortunately it is often based on a negative perspectives or judgments on others or even ourselves that make up this mess.

It can be like an ant taking poison to the rest of the hive or a Trojan horse into gates.

Sometimes we can carry the ball of fire all by ourselves without any help from others who intend or don’t intend to hurt us. Even the devil doesn’t have to work too hard to get those bees in the hive all a buzz when they already have circumstances and unresolved issues that are still working among them.

Usually presumptions and unresolved issues can be cleared up if parties are standing on Christ- in humility, honesty and love but if one is just phony or wants to hold onto hard feelings then the parties who want resolution can only do one thing....

There is a painting I saw recently when we went to the Oregon Coast. I had seen it several times before but this time it was a sequence of pictures of the same picture. The pictures were of a lighthouse sitting on a piece of rock jutting out of ocean and a man standing just outside the door of the lighthouse as a surge of a wave comes crashing into the backside of it.

With every proceeding picture the humongous wave is surrounding the bottom of the lighthouse and coming ever closer to where the man of the lighthouse is standing and just before the bottom the lighthouse is totally surrounded by water and the man of the lighthouse swept out to sea, the man of the lighthouse goes inside and shuts the door where he is protected.

2 Samuel 22:2 These are the words he sang: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold, my high tower, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies. The waves of death surround me; the floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death itself stared me in the face. But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I called to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.

Psalm 92:15 They will declare, "The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is nothing but goodness in him!"

Psalm 94:22 But the LORD is my fortress; my God is a mighty rock where I can hide.

Psalm 144:1 Bless the LORD, who is my rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues the nations under me.

God is our rock and he has built a lighthouse in Christ for us to go to and to be sheltered and protected in. This lighthouse was the one who simply told the storm to stop and it did - but in order for any storm to stop inside us we must give it to the LORD.

God gave us free will but it is our choice or not to weather out the storm and crashing waves on our own or seek protection in the LORD who is our high tower in the storms and waves of life. If we try to weather out the storms and crashing waves of life, by ourselves, we are doomed to sorrow and hardening of the heart.

Thoughts, presumptions, insecurities, a person’s outward reactions to you and others you love must be given to the LORD. We must all stand on the ROCK of Christ that will stand forever. We must all enter his strong tower to be perfected and protected in his wisdom, grace and love as the ripples and waves of life come our way. Sure we will hear the ripples and waves and maybe even some vibration but in Christ we can walk out every word and action in love.

There we endure. There we live. There we remain the men and women of the lighthouse.

John 8:12 Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."