Suicide

Bloodied bodies dead and wounded lay on the ground- scattered all the way up the slopes of Mount Gilboa. Saul and his three sons and the remainder of his troops fought shoulder to shoulder. It had become clear that this battle would not end with their triumph but their demise. So with every ounce of loyalty and strength they fought with spear, sword, fist, rock and tree branch. They had taken down many Philistines in this last stand.

A row of Philistine archers took aim up to where Saul and his men stood. Their commanding officers ordered them to fire. Instantly their arrows shot into the blue and came down without warning like rains from the skies. Men fell on all sides of King Saul, some silently and some in the screams of horror and agony. Saul somewhat shocked stood with an arrow in him. He had seen this kind of wound before and it was always fetal. He slowly got up as he leaned on one of his dead.

Philistines went after the men who managed to escape the fiery of arrows leaving Saul alone. His armor bearer who had only suffered sacrificial cuts from the onslaught pushed a dead warrior who had fallen on him off him. It was then he heard the exhaled groan of his king.

The king’s legs shook as they tried to hold up his weight. A stony deathly expression filled Saul’s face.

Quickly his armor bearer went to his side. “Your majesty,” he said in disbelief as he saw the arrow sticking through the king’s armor.

Slowly and carefully the armor bear lifted the armor on the king and saw a large amount of blood netted in the king’s tunic where the arrow had entered.

Seeing his armor bear’s expression, Saul shook his head in confirmation to his belief of his wounded condition.

Armor bear slowly recovered the king’s wound with his armor seeing there was nothing he could do.

“Take your sword and kill me before those pagan Philistines run me through and humiliate me,” the king growled in disgust as he took the feathered end of the arrow and broke it with his hand.

The armor bearer was shocked. His pledge was to protect the king not kill him. He stood up and walked a few steps away as he considered the king’s request. He looked down at all the lifeless pile of bodies around him. A sense of hopelessness filled him. “Was this all there was to life? The heroic dreams he once carried faded like steam in the wind.

Saul knew the heart of his armor bearer. He knew he wouldn’t kill him and all this waiting only meant his enemy would have a greater chance of fulfilling his worst fears.

Saul took his sword and laid the handle on the ground. He then pointed the other end up under his armor and against his stomach. He then let go of the spear where his body weight fell sharp against the blade and into his unprotected gut. His body armor sounded as it hit the ground.

The armor bearer quickly turned and saw what Saul had done to himself. A man who had given in some type of value and hope was gone. He was an armor bearer to a dead king. He was nobody now. Hearing the galloping of horse, he looked to see dust rising into the air from the enemies’ approaching chariots below. The enemy would certainly not have mercy on him. He then took his own sword and fell on it for what was a good death for his king was a good death for him as well.

It wasn’t long after this when an Amaliekite hiding in the forest crossed the area where Saul, his sons, and men had fallen. He imaged everyone dead but surprisingly he heard someone still alive clutching on to a pole of spear. The man recognized that this was no ordinary man but one of royalty. “How may I help you lord?”

Saul had not finished the job he had hoped by falling on his sword. He tried to find a way to hide himself but he could not. He looked up to the man who appeared only as a dark silhouette in the sun’s light. “Who are you?” he asked in a short breath hoping he was not a Philistine.

“I am an Amaliekite,” the man answered.

“Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die,” Saul requested.

The Amaliekite knowing the man’s wounds would kill him shortly anyway helped the badly wounded man onto the ground. He put one hand over Saul’s eyes. One knee on Saul’s chest and with quick deadly precision removed Saul’s sword from his gut and thrust it back in again.

There Saul’s body shook and then went motionless.

The Amaliekite quickly scoured the dead man’s body for riches and to his astonishment he found a royal crown and gold and silver bracelets.

Hearing some men approaching, he quickly grabbed Saul’s crown and one of his large gold bracelets and disappeared into the dense forest.

There in the safety of the trees he heard that the man he had put out of his misery was no other then King Saul.

Biblical story information came from 1 Samuel 31 & 2 Samuel 1 in your bible.

Suicide.

Suicide is not some heroic act. Suicide is an act of selfishness. The road to suicide is only seeing one’s value in material possessions and the way people see you. Suicide is driven by hopelessness and a lack of ignorance and understanding of God and His love and grace.

Saul’s tried to commit suicide why? What led him there?

Ahithophel, advisor, committed suicide because his advice was no longer sought out as worthy by Absalom. (2 Samuel 17:23)

Judas, the disciple who the devil entered and betrayed Jesus committed suicide because of guilt. (Matthew 27) Once Judas fell for the devil's temptations, he used him until he was no longer useful to him and then he dropped him in the pit that Judas himself had dug.

Jesus said, “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10)

The only way out of a situation a person has found themselves in (because of their own sin) is through God.

People are “played” by the devil. People who think they are serving God by killing themselves and others are being “played” by the devil. Your actions either serve the devil or serve God.

“For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting--and any other commandment--are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:9

If you love yourself, as God wants you to love yourself, you would not kill your neighbor.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”

You would never easily let a lion devour you…

Remember the true lion, the lion of your salvation- Jesus Christ. The lion of Judah, the lion that is portrayed as the great Aslan of Narnia. Your faithful friend and protector.

People who are being played by the devil open themselves up to every suggestion and temptation he has in his arsenal. They open the door of their soul and let the enemy of their soul steal what they instinctively know what is right from wrong.

“Yes they know God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.” Romans 1: 21

“When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises and are heartless and unforgiving. They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worst yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” Romans 1:28-32

What is a person encouraging by committing suicide… more suicide.

Satan will manipulate a person into thinking suicide is the only option. He convince you that you are surrounded and there is no way out. He will make an individual so overwhelmed in his or her own thinking and emotions that they can see no way out. There is no clarity of God in those who commit suicide.

I am not talking about someone who takes a bullet for someone they love for that is murder by the hand of another human being -not suicide. Jesus Christ didn’t commit suicide. He willing and supernaturally laid down his life for our sins because he knew our sins would lead to our eternity in hell without his sinless sacrifice as the Lamb of God.

People have killed themselves because they lost every cent in the stock market… People have killed themselves because they have seen no cure to their disease. People have killed themselves because of pride and feeling humiliated. People have killed themselves because of failure. People have killed themselves because- who they thought was the love of their life had left them. People have killed themselves because they believed no one loved and appreciated them. People have killed themselves because they saw no reason or point in their life.

Strongholds of the devil in the human mind are to kill, steal and destroy a human being and those that surrounded that person. The devil wants to sift you. He wants to find your incompetence and use it against you.

That is why it is so important we don’t take God’s grace, love and wisdom for granted.

A person who commits suicide has either forgotten about God’s grace or knows very little about God’s grace. That is the same for God’s love and wisdom as well.

God’s grace is to empower us even in our weakest moment. God’s grace can be a powerful weapon. It can help us overtake and rise above where others and ourselves have failed. Be mindful of God's presence in your life.

A person who commits suicide has taken their destiny out of God’s hands. They have placed their destiny in themselves.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 “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."

Where is your hope and future if you have not placed it with God?

A person who commits suicide either has no hope or has a false hope and no future.

Do not take God for granted. Do not take what God has given you for granted.

Lamentations 3:22-26 “The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him! The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.”

Overcoming Thorns

Yesterday my youngest child and I were putting up cedar branches on our porch with lights and there are some thorns on those branches. Ouch! We got bit by a few but thank God they weren't permanent painful reminders of the 60 minutes we dressed the porch up for Christmas.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 the Apostle Paul is writing to the Corinth Church near Athens about a thorn in his flesh that just will not go away.

“I don’t want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a throne in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting me proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NLV)

I have heard several scholars speak on this passage and some say this infirmity was Paul losing his eyesight but as I read it I find it has more to do with issue of pride not some physical infirmity.

Paul’s weakness was his temptation to become prideful or boastful which stems from pride. He speaks of being boastful several times before in the previous verses. (Look at 11:16, 11:21, & 12:1.)

He says in 11: 23 “They say they serve Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more!” He then goes on to list all the things that have happened to him and then stops as he realizes where his thoughts have taken him and says “I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it. I don’t want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message.”

It’s like Paul is realigning his thoughts here… when he says, “But I won’t do it.” He has however has "done it" in a matter of speaking because he wrote it down and sent it to the church of Corinth. Maybe he sent to show the church of Corinth his true colors and he was just as human as they are… I don’t know his reasoning.

Paul then speaks of this “thorn” in his flesh (Verse 12:7) and says it is a messenger from Satan to torment him and keep him from getting proud. (Often in scripture- "thorn" refers to "people" actually being a thorn in our side.

 

How many times has our own flesh and people's actions tempt us to sin?

A thorn in the Greek is translated as sharp stake. This “stake” isn’t going anywhere. It’s this presence that continually reminds Paul of his human weaknesses (Tendency of wanting to being prideful). So instead letting this dark presence overcome him, God has shown Paul a tool to overcome this "Thorn".

This tool is to bring light to his weaknesses,  to be submitted to God rather then his flesh in this thorny trying tempting situations.

Genesis 50:20 says, “As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.” (NLT)

God can turn what was for evil for good in our lives if we focus on him.  We can be that light for Christ regardless of whom or what we face.

Sometimes it is a challenge to align ourselves with God but as soon as we get on the track that God is on we can move through what we perceived as a challenge or losing battle.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians verse 12:8-9 “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” (NLT)

How often do we plead with God to take some of the thorns from our side away but in the end we see how that thorn has helped change us and become stronger as an individual in Christ? Ever notice how, a Christian, faced with a terminal condition becomes stronger spiritually? Their love becomes more refined. They no longer seem concerned for themselves but others. What changes in a person’s mindset with all the different kinds of thorns in our life?

I would have not become the person I am today and gained the knowledge I have today without some kind diversity, hardship, and challenge in my life.

Final verse: God says to Paul. (I like the New King James translation from the Greek to English better.) 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (NKJV)

Grace (Gods Riches At Christ’s Expense). When God's grace moves in us through a situation wonders happen in us and often in others as well. 

We submit ourselves to God -our worries, anxieties, troubles, circumstances and/ or oppressions and God’s quiet strength works through us. Paul adds “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

“Rest” in the Greek is to take possession of, to live in, descend upon, to work within and to give help to.  Similar the "rest" mentioned in Matthew 11:28 which is translated from the Hebrew word anapauō. Which means to keep quiet, be calm and have patient expectation. A “patient expectation” that God is watching over you and is working on your behalf. When you are patient you are often filled with the sense of peace. You are quiet inside. Your mind isn’t racing into dark corners and rabbit holes. It isn't depending on the justifying yourself an/or looking for a sift come back. You are calm.

When something rests upon you, it “overshadows” your life. You don’t "just" see God overseeing what is going on in your life but taking an active role in your life and that he is in charge. And as you let God’s Holy Spirit work within -you see and understand and are more appreciative for God working in your life as you enjoy his peace, comfort/hope, and joy.

CHRISTMAS not just another Holiday.

With all this talk about people having to replace Christmas with Happy Holidays it makes me wonder about the value of the word “Christmas”. I mean we value the words faithfulness, justice, freedom, love, hope, kindness, goodness, and unselfishness but where did those words originate? I maybe talking to the wrong crowd but what is the ultimate expression of these things that we value? How are they empowered in our lives and whom empowers them in our life?

You know, sometimes we are willing to give up something because it doesn’t mean much to us anymore.

Have we as a nation forgotten the true reason for the Christmas season so we let the few voices of opposition to the word “Christmas” make us tear down the things that say Christmas because it makes a few uncomfortable?

Are we suddenly a nation that changes just for a few? Are you willing to change what you wear, what you listen to, what you drive, what you watch just because someone doesn’t approve of what you like?

Someone doesn’t approve of Christ, the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and Savior of all humanity so you get rid of the word “Christmas”?

What does the word Christmas mean? What happened to the Good News…? The Good News isn’t about being comfortable but about why Jesus Christ came.

“Christ”…. Are you ashamed of Christ? If you are ashamed of Christ what did Christ say about you being ashamed of him?

Christmas is suppose to bring glory to God’s son, Jesus Christ not about the other things the advertising industry makes it to be.

You say but what about the other holidays… What about them? You celebrate them then celebrate them but Christmas is Christmas. I don’t tell people they can put up the name Kwanzaa or Chanukah. In fact Chanukah is when the light triumphed over darkness… Christ is the true light that triumphs over darkness.

You who allow Christmas to be replaced by Happy Holidays, you have made the word Christmas worthless and false.

I was reading Isaiah and this is what it says. “Why do you keep parading through my courts with your worthless sacrifices? The incense you bring me is stench in my nostrils! Your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath day, and your special days for fasting- even your most pious meetings- are all sinful and false. I want nothing more to do with them. I hate all your festivals and sacrifices. I cannot stand the sight of them! For now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims. Wash yourselves and be clean! Let me no longer see your evil deeds. Give up your wicked ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows.”

Then it says in verse 1:21 “See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers. Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine. Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them take bribes and refuse to defend the orphans and the widows. Therefore, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, says “I will pour out my fury on you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove your impurities. Afterward I will give you good judges and wise counselors like the ones you use to have. Then Jerusalem will again be called the Home of Justice and the Faithful City. Because the LORD is just and righteous, the repentant people of Jerusalem will be redeemed. But all sinners will be completely destroyed, for they refused to come to the LORD.”

What does that say about America? It has become a prostitute. It accommodates who ever comes along. It calls murder of infants a choice. Justice and righteousness only come from the Lord and you want to allow a few to take down the name Christmas that points to Jesus Christ who is the only one who can save them from eternity in hell? People have watered down the meaning of Christmas to Santa Claus and his reindeer and the young who’s parents don’t attend church have no idea what Christmas means. I don’t even need to start with leaders…..

How much are you willing to let people take from you? Are you willing to prove to God and yourself that Christmas isn’t just some “Holiday”? Does the Lord’s birthday mean something to you?

Think about it.

Godly Strategies

Universal's Robin Hood

“I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done.” Revelation 20:12

Knowing God, who knows everything- has books about our good and evil deeds what do you think about Satan, our accuser having records on us?

Knowing Satan isn’t all knowing –isn’t always-present -isn’t all-powerful… he (our accuser) and his demons must have some sort of record system to remember every sinful thing in our life when we stand before God’s throne.

I don’t know if Satan can use God’s books as a reference library or not but knowing God is a fair and just God and Satan is allowed to accompany the angels on certain occasions. (Job 1:6) I would believe he would have access to “deed” information just as two opposing lawyers on a court case would have access to the same information.

Satan and his kin don’t just keep records on us but they use the records against us. They know our strengths and weaknesses. They know what irritates, temps, oppresses us, hurts us and makes us prideful. They have records on all our strengths and weaknesses and as long as we're willing to continue down these rabbit holes of human understanding and thought they will always win.

We are challenged everyday if we are living for God. Satan and his devious underhanded fork tongue bunch want to kill, steal and destroy us!!! They don’t want to go to hell alone, they want to take us with them.

All it takes is an unguarded moment, some stress, lack of focus, and/or not remembering God’s love -for Satan and his demons to strike us or someone we hold in high standing to affect our life.

What did Jesus say to Peter about Satan wanting to sift him like wheat? (Luke 22:31)

We know our sinful deeds only serve evil and our good deeds only serve God and only good deeds can be produced by God’s love working through us.

We need to look at trials and tests not as something to overcome us but enable us to become stronger in our faith. God allows certain things to come just as he did with Job. Satan even tempted Jesus and since Jesus is our teacher do you not think he will tempt the teacher’s students as well?

Through the taste of failure and/or success we learn. Tests put the information we learn to work. Beside how would we learn the strategies of the devil if we weren’t tempted and oppressed by the forces of evil? How would we learn to trust in God if we didn’t have challenges in our life?

We may possess a lot of knowledge of the bible just as we possess a lot of tools in our toolbox but they are useless if we don’t put them to use when God’s spiritual temple is being.... "enlightened".

I have the seen the weak and I have seen the strong and often they are the opposite of what most people think of weak and strong. Does it take more strength to hold back or retaliate verbally and physically according to the flesh desires? We are strong in our weakness only if we turn to God. Then and only then can God share strategies to help us overcome the tactics, temptations, and traps of the devil.

Until Lambs become lions. I like that saying. We don't give up because God does not give up on us. God is teaching us how to reflect and imitate the greatest strongest lion ever known…. Jesus Christ.

By God’s wisdom, love, grace, and Spirit we move supernaturally to defeat the evil influences around us.

For in God’s Spirit we see:
1. God is love and God loves us. (1 John 4:8)

His Spirit lives in us and is greater then the spirit who lives in the world. (1 JOHN 4:4
His love is brought to full expression through us as we align ourselves with God in thought and Spirit. 1 JOHN 4:12). Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. (1 JOHN 4:18)
Fear causes us to act wrongly just as pride causes us to act wrongly. Say it. “God is love and God loves me.”

For in God’s Spirit we see:
2. Perspective. We see who our enemy really is. We see the problem producer manipulating those of the flesh around us. “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in Heaven.” (MATTHEW 5:44-45)

“For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” (EPHESIANS 6:12)

For in God’s Spirit we see:
3.A relationship with Jesus is powerful.

(ACTS 19:13-20) A team of Jews who were traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus. The incantation they used was this: "I command you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!" Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.
But when they tried it on a man possessed by an evil spirit, the spirit replied, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul. But who are you?" And he leaped on them and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and badly injured. The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing magic brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.
So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

Doing good wins out over evil.

(ROMANS 12:20) Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."

(Isaiah 58:6-11) "No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. `Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. "Stop oppressing the helpless and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. The LORD will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring."

For in God’s Spirit we see:
4. All God is, all He is going to do, and all He had done.

"And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, how deep, his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more then we would ever dare to ask or hope.” (EPHESIANS 3:17-20

(PHILIPPIANS 4:6-8) 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. And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

For in God’s Spirit we see:
5. Authority in God’s love.

(MATTHEW 10:1) Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

(LUKE 10:19) And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.

May God help you use these strategies.

Simple Yet Effective

Christians may have a great understanding of the bible and what it says. God may even be able to help us build on that understanding giving us greater understanding but sometimes greater understanding- however GREAT is not always effective in those quick, spare of the moment decisions.

We must live in the Spirit of God.

Where does the mind go in conflict, struggle, persecution, oppression, sadness, frustration, anxiety and so on....?

The mind seems to have no speed limit at times and if not watchful and alert will give us disastrous results.

We know what sin does to our lives. We know where our hope and confidence should be. We know how we should love and where our focus should be.

We know God is love and what can be built and not built from His love -which is foundational.

But sometimes all this understanding, however very helpful, needs to be simplified for that split second where the mind needs to go from human understanding to spiritual understanding.

When we are in a stressful or high tension moment- our mind sometimes moves way too fast and before we know we have either said or did the first something that came to mind or we feel like "we" have to gather all these pieces of Godly wisdom together before we speak or move and before we know it the moment is here and gone and we have not spoken anything of God's love or truth "into" the situation.

No I am not saying we do not need to be prepared by reading the bible and going to church and spending time with the Lord. Rather I am saying be prepared by also putting your mind on the starting line where you can receive what God wants you to say and/or do in that split moment.

John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to give you are spirit and life."

Romans: 12:2 "Don't copy the behavior and customs of the this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is."

Exercise your mind for a moment. Think of a situation that is a challenge to you. Now without saying it as something hokey but in truth- say to yourself: "God is love and God loves me."

What just happened to your mind when you did this? If you believed that God is love and he loves you then your mind restructured its thinking to Holy Spirit thinking.

From this point peace "can" rule and this peace helps align your thoughts to where it should be and how it should act.

Jeremiah 17:7 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence."

Psalm 147:11 "Rather, the LORD's delight is in those who honor him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love."

Simple yet effective... God is love and God loves me.

Depression

Depression can be very enabling emotion for anyone. It seems to quickly work from the mind to the rest of the body. It can cause blood flow to slow down, headaches, back pain, muscle aches, joint pain, chest pain, digestive problems, exhaustion, fatigue, sleeping problems, change in appetite and weight and no doubt dizziness or lightheadedness.

Emotionally it can cause difficulty in concentrating, remembering details, making decisions, feeling hopeless and/or pessimistic. An individual can feel guilt, worthless, helpless, irritable, restless, sad, anxious, suicidal and having that “empty” feeling.

Depression has also been well documented in the bible and by Christian writers and figures.

Depression is a spiritual battle. It starts in the mind -in our thought process. And just like fighting the thoughts of condemnation, pride, lust, hate, revenge, jealousy, etc, we have to make a strong effort to redirect our thinking when it comes to depression. We have to realize our joy, peace and love does not come from others or ourselves but from God. God is our source of our strength to battle depression.

Psalm 42:5 “Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again- my Savior and my God!”

Isaiah 50:10 “ Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon lie down in great torment.”

In depression we warm ourselves in destructive ways and thoughts. And if you don’t think so -think about where our heart goes when we are depressed? What are we choosing to treasure when we are depressed? Where are our eyes?

When my step dad passed away this last summer I suffered from a bout of depression when I returned home. The Lord helped me take care of my dying step-dad in his home and take care of things that needed to be done after his passing but after I returned home, images and certain smells bothered me... and as I began to process everything that had happened during those previous weeks I began to consider everything as meaningless and no point. Waves of sadness would come and go and then I would feel “empty” void of all emotion. The Lord had shown me some great things during those previous weeks but I had been so overwhelmed by depression that I had momentary forgotten those things.

I had allowed depression to take a seat and blur my focus and I had to make a choice to allow depression to be welcomed or not. I had a choice to remember all the good things about my step-dad’s life or the holocaustic condition his body was ravaged in… and how stiff his tent became after the angel grabbed him by the armpits and took his soul to heaven.

Focus is where it “all” starts. The scientific word is “cognitive restructuring which leads to a behavioral change. God knew this and shared this with Paul who wrote:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he had 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 Jesus Christ. And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9

This positive peaceful focus will not just motive us in Godly ways but change our physical habits as well.

We will want to participate in more pleasurable experiences such as working with others in a building project, volunteering, enjoying the wonderful outdoors on foot or bike, playing sports, creating something, traveling, and spending more quality time with loved ones.

Remember focus is where it “all” starts.

Making Voting Easier for US Voters

Voting. It can be a somewhat confusing and frustrating task. Here is a website that might help you find the government official that best represents your position.

It is a website called vote smart.
http://www.votesmart.org/voteeasy/

And below is a you-tube video on Project Vote Smart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkIxnsvSVOo&feature=player_embedded

The Door That Is Opened By A Tiny Measure Of Faith.

“For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.”(MATTHEW 7:8 NLT

10 years I saw it. I was in a dark space and in front of me was this door of light. This light is not white but had a yellowish warm tint to it. I have seen this light several times in different visions that that Lord has given to me.

When I gave my life to God, I instinctively knew this was the door that God had opened for me. It was a sign to show I was welcome. It was an invitation to join him.

I have reflected back on that door many times but it was today that I thought about why there is a door.

Obviously God controls the door of light but before we are saved we aren’t even aware that there is a door of light. We are missing this spiritual sight and hearing that the Holy Spirit gives us, to helps us to understand and mature in the things of God.

I believe we all know before we come to God that there is “something” that keeps us from seeing spiritual things of God. Someone may share the things of God but they don’t adhere to our understanding. We don't retain everything they say about God. In fact Jesus refers to this when he says, "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The old skins would burst from the pressure spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. That way both the wine and the wineskins are preserved." MATTHEW 9:17 NLT

Some of us are even unaware that sin separates us from God because we believe things like, “I haven’t murdered anyone” and “I know I am not as bad as that person” but God doesn’t care about human comparison because he looks at sin on the same perspective except for one particular sin.

“Those” sins- that God looks at on the same perspective, are all forgivable by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are forgiven of our sins only by our faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is not just, “I believe” in Jesus Christ because even the devil “believes” in Jesus Christ but by faith which is a change of heart that only comes when one gives their life to God and trusts in our beloved friend Jesus Christ. This change of heart is a transformation of our life (new wineskins) in which we no longer "practice sin" but grow and mature in the things God now is teaching us.

So if sin separates us from God and we are blind and deaf to the things of God what opens the door?

I believe the door is opened in this measure of knowledge that God puts in our hearts. (ROMANS 1:19). This measure of knowledge is as tiny a mustard seed. (MATTHEW 13:31) We instinctively know there is a God because this measure of knowledge he put in us when he created us. It maybe tiny but have God water it and see what happens. A person can’t make their faith any stronger or more sincere without God’s help. It is impossible. In fact if that is what a person does- all they have is a religion. A religion is ritual that is as ritualistic as washing the dishes every night. Faith is a relationship. You don't have a relationship with your dishes but with God.

You have to have a measure of knowledge of God to ask. You have to have a measure of knowledge of God to seek. You have to have a measure of knowledge of God to knock.

This instinctive measure of knowledge is what God uses to open the door to any heart but as always it a choice with God. God didn’t want us to just be some creature without a will but he wanted us to freely love and worship him and come to him to be freed from our spiritual blindness and deafness. He wanted us to come to him so we would be saved in his Son, Jesus Christ and grow mighty in the faith of Jesus Christ. He had a second birth in mind for us, to be born in the Spirit of God.

Are you asking? Are you seeking? Are you knocking?

God has left a trail of breadcrumbs in your life- some have been eaten by the birds of life and some stolen by the rodents that live in darkness but He made sure there would always be enough of a trail of breadcrumbs to find your way home to him.

A LIFE WITHOUT WALLS

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world." Jeremiah 1:5

It is startling to think that before we came into being, God had a plan for our life.

That should speak volumes about God’s love for us.

As an artist, I like for whatever I create to have a purpose and a future. I don’t want to create something that is going to be forgotten in a few years or stuck in a closet or an attic…

I believe God is the same way. He doesn’t create things that don’t have a purpose…. I may not understand that purpose of a mosquito but there is a reason for all the things he created.

Have you ever tried to put God in a box? How about your perceived notion of God in a box?

I find that when I try to put God in a box and tell God what He can and cannot do in my life I only put myself in a box.

A place with walls feels safe but it doesn't allow us to see or experience any further then those walls.

God never puts walls or limits upon us but we do. We are the ones that hinder God’s plans in our life when we decide what He is capable and not capable of doing in our life. We are the ones that hinder his love from touching our life.

God isn’t going to force himself on anyone. That is why he gave us a choice. He loves us too much to put walls up around us for he has a plan for our life that is without walls and limits.

That life, however, comes with trusting God not us or others.

Sometimes we put other people’s opinions over what God thinks we are capable of doing.

We believe in circumstances over what may come out of those circumstances.

We are the ones who dash our hopes.

Would a tree that is pruned ever grow back its fullness, if it were capable of holding its misery?

When we trust in God, nothing is impossible. When we trust God, it doesn’t just affect our lives but the lives of others as well.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

What kinds of negative things do we hang on to? What do we treasure that hinders God’s plans in our life?

Do we treasure the potholes of life over the healing rain that fills them? What would a child do in rain puddle? They would jump into it with pure joy and delight spreading it all over everyone that is near them. God isn’t about potholes but filling those potholes with his love.

I would have never dreamed up the things God has done in my life and is still doing if my life.

Remember God isn't about putting up walls in our lives but helping you tear those walls down.

"Born-again" Christian?

Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see 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.”

“Born again” Christian, I had always thought that was an “odd” term before I became one.

Ever try to play games such as Chinese checkers, chess, Cribbage or Mancala without knowing the directions? Ever try to build one of those Lego models without instructions? How about painting a picture of a landscape without knowing the basic principles of perspective, dimension, scale, and color?

Those things would be difficult to do and even harder to appreciate without some kind of knowledge or direction.

That was what it was like before I was a "born again" Christian. I couldn’t appreciate, behave, act or live out a Christian life because had not received the Holy Spirit from heaven. Before I was “born again” I saw Christianity as a religion even though I considered myself Christian. And I only regarded myself Christian because I attended “Christian” churches as a child and believed in God not Buddha, Muhammad or some other god.

I knew some bible stories but the stories didn’t make this collective cohesion that made total sense. I would also try to read the bible but it either didn’t bring much meaning or didn’t stick. Church services… I might as well been wearing earplugs.
It was like I had this great treasure map but the “X” to mark the spot to change my life was invisible.

You could have told me that Jesus is the “X” on the treasure map but it would had made no difference. I would have been blind and deaf to the fact that Jesus was the “X”.

Christianity didn’t start make sense until I was “born again”.

Just as Ananias placed his hands on Saul and he received the Holy Spirit I too had received the Holy Spirit when a woman, a total stranger, prayed and placed her hand on me when I went to church as a courtesy to some family moving out of state . (ACTS 9:17) A new spirit had come within me. Figuratively the Holy Spirit had turned on the lights.

The Holy Spirit let me see the things of God and the importance of the role of Jesus Christ in our lives. He let the words and messages from the bible and our pastor make sense as I soaked them up like a sponge. A tender heart that was receptive to what God was showing and teaching me had replaced the stony heart. In short not only was my blindness and deafness healed but I had been given new life.

The love of the Father God and Jesus had birthed me a new spiritual life by the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 35:5 “And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf.”

Ezekiel 11:19 “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulation. They will truly be my people, and I will be their God.”

OUT OF THE HOLE

I have been speaking to others who have found themselves in a hole in which they have dug themselves. They have tried to claw their way out of this hole and no one has been able or willing to help them out of this hole they have found themselves in.

Their calls for help have been ignored.

They have been enabled by others and professionals such a doctors who write up subscriptions to mask the effects of the root of the problem.

They have been encouraged to stay in their hole in hopes it will all pass in time.

They have been spoon fed this idea that it is everyone elses fault that they are in this hole.

They have been beat back into the hole with remarks that they will never change and/or deserve to be stuck in that hole.

They have been threatened and lied to and fear a life outside the hole.

They have gotten so used to “misery” and “burden” that they have decided to make them their constant living companions.

I can’t get them out of this hole. You can't get them out of this hole. I could throw them a rope and if I some how convinced them to climb the rope, they would probably end up coming to the top of the hole- taking a quick look around and jump back into that hole again.

I have seen one of those holes first hand and you would be surprised what a person can get used to after a while.

Nope… the only way a person will want to come out of that hole is when the hole starts to collapse and it’s life or death threatening and they still won’t be able to get out of that hole themselves.

God’s is the only one who can retrieve a person from a hole they have dug themselves

No way out and no one to turn to… I gave my life to God and he seeing something of value in me, that I could not, pulled me out of that hole and gave me a new life, a new perspective which is maturing and growing everyday under his watchful and loving eye.

If you are in that hole….

Do yourself a favor and give your life to God. He created you. He knows what you need and he will give you a life that you did not even know was possible as long as you trust Him.

From there he will give you to Jesus who will give you the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will give you greater insight of why Jesus is so important in your life and through this growing understanding you will gain greater maturing insight about life, hope, love, joy, and peace.

You will overcome many of the things in your old life and have a "continual" testimony to share with others for many years to come.

You will still have trials and struggles but through the new insight that God gives you, you will overcome all of them with "his" help.

If you aren't in a hole but know some who is, don't give up on them but continue to pray for them and ask God to give you the words and actions for when you do speak to them.

Life and Death

I am being constantly reminded lately that this body I live in is only temporary. It is simply a vessel to carry what is precious to God. It is not constructed and created for eternity like our soul. It is just for the number of days we have here on earth and it is useless once we exit out of it.

Life…. It is so brief no matter the age- when we go to meet our maker. Life has no guarantees that we will make it to ripe old age and only God knows the number of our days we have here on earth.

“For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:4

Life is impossible to hold onto, that includes ours and anyone else's.

"If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life." Luke 9:24

Holding onto life is like holding onto fear. If a person who holds on to fear, they only find their fear worthless and that they have lost their life holding on it.

If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, why worry over something we have no control of - love and live like you have no tomorrow for we don’t know when it will be our loved ones last day with us or our last day with them and heaven’s angels come to get us.

I have seen those who slip away surrounded by loved ones- grateful to God that they are no longer suffering and now I have seen the young- the so very young taken without warning and their parents crushed and brokenhearted as they cry out in such great sorrow over their tiny ones body.

This mission trip I have felt the daggers of painful sorrow as if it were my own child lying there in that make do casket in our sister church in Mexico.

A beautiful one-year-old boy, a gift from God. One day there… attached to his mother’s side and the next -him breathless and still in a box surrounded by a white blanket and white plastic. A child should never be put in a box especially this early.

I was not angered for I know nothing is impossible with God.

I remembered Jesus words,"Then he said, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.'" and "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." John 11:11 & John 14:12

Perplexed, I held his hand; lay my head on his little chest, touching his baby cheeks, whispering, “Wake up precious boy,” over and over again. He didn’t seem dead to me but in deep sleep. His skin still filled with color, still filled with many years to go. His body no odor of death. His fingers and arms still loose and untouched by the stiffness of death. This was no shell of a body like I seen in the recent days and in past.

Perplexed, I was kept there by the Spirit. Believing God could breath life back into him again. Though people were mourning I had no inkling that this was truly the end. Though the hospital denied him my God never denies even when there is lack of sufficient funds.

My God provides. My God heals. My God is the resurrection and the life. I believed that God was going to put breath back into his little body again, heal the little one of his wounds and the painful sting of death would be erased with great celebration in Christ Jesus.

These weren’t good intentions -these were humble and believing and fruitful Spirit filled emotions.

The Holy Spirit then told me to have his mother come over and be with her baby boy. The Holy Spirit then released and I was only left to comfort the mourning.

(A week or two later, I was told by a sister in Christ that she got the impression that Hector was being held by Jesus. She, my pastor and I were the ones the Holy Spirit kept near baby Hector's body. She said that she got this image that baby Hector would laugh and giggle with joy as he was being held by Jesus and then he would look down as if looking at his mother for a moment or two and then would return his focus to Jesus and begin to laugh and giggle again. After I heard this, this made perfect sense to me. If you are in the presence of Jesus why would you want to come back. For when I was in the presence of Jesus, he brought me such joy that I did not want to stop looking at him. No matter how much praying and encouraging, you cannot stop the will, even a small child's will, to come back if he/she doesn't want to come back to this life. For Jesus brings so much joy you want to be in his presence.)

Soon after his mother spent some more time beside her baby son's body, news came that the death certificate had been finalized and they had permission to bury the baby boy’s body. The baby boy’s father and our pastor carried his little casket to the church with mother and family and friends following.

I am sure I was not the only one who wept. I did not weep for baby boy Hector but his family for Hector was with Jesus.

Death... it had followed me to Mexico it seemed and now I was experiencing a different type of passing then I did a few days before with my dad’s passing of cancer.

This type of death stung and felt like a ripping deep within one’s soul. Oh this life would not pass by soon enough for those left behind -when it came to the passing of this precious child.

For Hector would only have to wait moments for his family to join him because he now lives in God's time but those left behind it would seem like a very fair away reuniting.

Was this an unfair death? What would come of this sudden and too short of life?

The memorial service was followed by a long drive out to a dusty road to an unkempt cemetery with many wood white crosses. People stood under umbrellas and a single shady tree. The tree branches had thistles and I could not help but feel how painful poetic it was….

It was then I heard the father let out a painful cry over his son’s body as he kissed his flesh and embrace his body one last time. Oh the pain….. His mother Sandra, again deeply mourned and kissed his little face one last time. Again the pain…..

They then closed… the casket and carried it to a small rectangle hole where I could not bare to watch for it did not seem right.

Family then dropped dirt on the casket and the cemetery grounds men quickly covered the box and I wondered how everyone could watch as the dry dust stirred in the 100 degree heat.

Life is precious. Life is sweet. Life is painful.

Life...

Do we make the most of every opportunity to love in life? Do we trust God more then everything else in life? Do we pray more then we fear? Do we let go more then we hang onto? Do we think before we speak not knowing if those would be the last words our loved ones would hear from us or we would hear from them? Do we live knowing we have no guarantees of tomorrow?

Yes my God provides. Yes my God heals. Yes my God is the resurrection and the life.

What came of precious boy Hector's death? His father and grandmother came to the Lord and the day following Hector's memorial service many children cheerfully accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior at the churches vacation bible school. I was reminded so vividly of all the above. Life here on earth is short no matter what our age. Life is fragile and with God's help we have to make the most of every opportunity to do right and love as if it were our last day to do so. That God cares for our physical needs but it's our soul that is most important to him. That God is God, I will probably never "completely" understand His ways and I am just a passing shadow...

“For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:4

It is the God in Us.

I have been thinking about my encounter of seeing Jesus in the tree.

The other day I shared with my sister about my encounter with Jesus in the tree as I read what the Spirit of the Lord lead me to. Isaiah 41:11-20 said, "I will plant trees- cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir and pine- on the barren land. Everyone will see this miracle and understand that is the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, who did it."

The Holy One of Israel is Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 61:3 "To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory."

Then one of my favorite psalms came to mind. Psalm 1: "Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper."

King David spoke about this joy and how this joy gave him strength. Psalm 73:24 "You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."

We are trees planted by the Lord and because he has planted us we trust in Him. Though the storms come, the winds blow strong, the conditions of the weather of the situation may change drastically but we are kept upright by the Lord's Spirit which is in us. For the Lord's Spirit is in us and He gives us joy in the midst of diversity. For in diversity we turn to God and because he loves us he turns to us.

He cares for those he has planted and "those mountains" are soon torn apart into dust and tossed up and carried away in the wind for we know this can not happen unless we turn to the LORD, our GOD.

And when people happen to ask, why don't you settle, why you believe, you don't try to get even... you can say, "It is the God in me".

Vision of Jesus In a Tree- Joy

Last night I just spent some time in the presence of the Lord because I have been feeling this mixture of negative feelings lately. I was more or less feeling misunderstood, undesired and even resented and hated and this caused me to rebuke and wrestle sinful and dark thoughts and suggestions.

I thought, " This is how the Lord must feel when we don't desire him." He must feel hurt, hated, misunderstood and taken for granted."

I continued to stand my ground but it was HARD. So what did I do...? I turned to God for I know how great a friend He is to me. (He is also probably the only one who understands me.) I turned on some Hillsong music, put in my ear phones and let the Spirit of the Lord take hold and there I saw Jesus in a tree. He wasn't surrounded by some mystical light but it was just him.

He wasn't in the top of this tree but I kind of felt like he climbed down this tree so I could see him - not so he could see me. He smiled at me and when he did I felt this unexplainable joy as I smiled back and even chuckled.

I wanted to continue to stay in his presence of unexplainable joy but then the Spirit of the Lord had me lay down (though I was sitting the entire time in this reality) and as I did I began to weep. And as the Spirit of the Lord comforted me, I started to be drained of these negative feelings and burdens.

I got to see Jesus again as the Spirit raised my head and once again his smile made me smile and chuckle again and then the Spirit of the Lord lay me down again and I started to weep again until I was drained of all this negative feelings and burdens, Exhausted I then went to bed in peace.

How wonderful to feel the joyful presence of the Lord.... who takes our burdens and smiles upon us.

Numbers 6:22-27 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: `May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.' This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as my people, and I myself will bless them."

The End of The Road

I think at some point in our Christian walk we come to the end of this road of ourselves. We may try to jump back on that road from time to time but we get off because we remember nothing in this world satisfies as God does. All your earthly goals have been deemed useless in your new and growing perspective God has given you.

And when we get to that place where we seem to slide towards this ramp that seems to lead nowhere- it can be scary. You feel like and see no plan in front of you but that is when you have to slowly reach to the things in life that God has given you an interest in.

You may say I don’t have a talent or you may say I am talented at many things. Don’t let what you think you have talent in or not talent in define what God wants to do in your life but know the very things God has given you a love or interest in- maybe used in a way you didn’t expect.

God has many canvases he wants to paint in our lives and they stay blank because we limited ourselves and when we choose to do that - we limit God. We may even say, “God this is what I am good at but I don’t want to live my life doing those things. I don’t want them to get tired and boring. And will “they” even be useful in the end?”

You may say, “I don’t have the money! I don’t have the time! I am not as young as I was! I got responsibilities! Look at my background!

How about you take one step forward at a time and let God take care of what needs to come next. We can look too far into the future and before we know it we have more fictional happenings on our plate then non-fictional ones that will actually happen.

Don’t worry about tomorrow focus on today.

We need to slowly reach into those areas and have God guide our way. We need to listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say to us about those areas in our life and grab a hold to the different aspects of those things and ask God to help us put those pieces together so they can lead us to a satisfying and lasting goal and growing purpose.

Recipe in life.... Imagine… if you will… a cupboard that is filled with different “aspects” of the different “subjects” that interest you. These “aspects” are represented by spices, sugars, flours, eggs, butter, cheese, oils, herbs, sauces, vinegars, flavors, meats, veggies, and yeasts but in order to make the perfect satisfying recipe for you and your guests- you have to listen to the Holy Spirit and have him guide you in each step.

In some parts of the recipe you have simmer.

In some parts of the recipe you have sauté.

In some parts of the recipe you have to rub down and tenderize.

In some parts of the recipe you have to marinate.

In some parts you will have mix.

In some parts you will have to knead.

In some parts you will have to let rise.

In some parts you will have to pray, pour, break, cut, boil, cook, maybe even barbecue.

And as proceed you will will see, taste, smell, feel, hear and others around you will also see, taste, smell, and hear as you proceed in this meal/ (these purposes) God has for you and when all is complete, you and your guests won’t be unsatisfied because you have done everything in how the Holy Spirit has directed.

God uses our experiences before we come to Him and after we have come to Him.

I have always appreciated music since I was a child. I have always wanted to be a musician to play on a stage. (I would sing into the hairbrush and play the air guitar and the invisible drum set when I was a kid with the radio on.) I appreciated movies and film. (We as kids made many movies using an old 8mm camera and VHS camcorder.) I appreciate art and photography. (I majored in art and teaching art.) I appreciate writing. (I write these blogs and stories in my free time.) I feel it is reward to teach and it is a privilege. (I now teach young adults what God wants them to learn from the Bible)

Today the scope of my artwork is growing and being transformed into other things such as visual movies and illustrations that God uses for teaching others about God and now I play in a praise and worship band in the church I fellowship in.

Through the Spirit of God I have become sensitive about certain things within those areas that God has given me an interest in. I have experienced many different emotions and experiences, some of them Godly some of them not but God uses them all.

God is continually incorporating things in life that touch me to guide me to a growing and maturing route of possibilities within Him. I may not see the entire picture but I am learning to just take one day at a time knowing there is a plan I cannot see in front of me. Jeremiah 29:11:-13

“For we walk by faith not by sight,” 2 Corinthians 5:7

We may just see a sea of nothingness in front of us and storms that rage around us but holding Jesus' hand we may slowly see the plans God has prepared and wants to bless us with. Every person wants to be satisfied but no lasting satisfaction can occur without God’s help.

For he makes us a vessel that is capable of holding what he pours in and what he pours in is never useless or ends up being worthless in the end.

Remember what Paul said about deeming everything useless? I think that is true but God still used the knowledge he learned and his experiences to make him a great apostle for Christ. God used those things from his past to season, build and mature him. He knew he didn’t want to go back to his past and he knew why he didn’t want to go back and those reasons only made him want to persevere and persist more in the faith of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said what about the path? It is narrow. The same is true with living a satisfying life.

I remember summers being a kid. We would go to the beach on vacation. To get to the beach we would have to cross several acres of sand dunes and it was easy to lose track of the narrow path if we were in a hurry. And it seemed once we lost the path it took more time to get to beach then if we had taken the time to look for that narrow path that led directly to the beach.

In this life, we don’t race against others but ourselves. And the narrow path we cannot find or stay on without God’s help.

I conclude with this as a reminder to you and me: Read your bible. Know that God has a plan and purpose for your life. Know He have given you promises that you can count on and listen to the Holy Spirit direct you through those subtle/ settle turns in your life.