To WHOM Do I Belong?

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There is a children’s book about a little bird that cracked open his egg and fell out of the nest and goes looking for his mother who he has never seen.   The little bird asks a cat, a dog, a cow, and even a car and a dirt scoop…. if they are his mother. 

We think this is silly and illogical but isn’t that precisely what people do with… God?

We can plainly see through history and artifacts of people worshipping the creation and not the living true God- the Creator.  The Egyptians worshipped the gods of Ra, Isis, Horus, and many more.  The Israelites made a golden calf to worship instead of worshiping the true living God who miraculously gave them freedom from slavery in Egypt.  We see and hear about ancient Greek and Roman gods like Apollo, Cupid, Hercules, Zeus, Hades, Diana, and Aphrodite.  We see in certain Catholic churches Mary and the saints are worshipped as gods.  We see in the Native American culture that creation is worshipped not the Creator.  In Mexico and sad to say, here in America there are shrines and statues to Satan, the one who seeks to destroy all those created in the image of God. 

People ask… sciences are you my God?

Money are you my God?

Circumstances are you my God?

Job is it my God?

Doctors, professors, clergy, therapist are they my God?

Husband, wife, girl friend, boy friend are you my God?

Me, my feelings, my thoughts are they my God?

How many people do you know who have been cursed/controlled by their lifestyle of tobacco, alcohol and/or drugs which is causing them not only to make bad decisions, but destroying their body and life? These substances have become a god to them. 

How many people do you know who have been cursed by divorce and adulterous relationships?  It’s not just the spouse that pays but the children as well.

How many people do you know who have been cursed by sexual sin? 

How many people do you know who have been cursed by trusting in money?

How many people do you know who have been cursed by hatred?

How many people do you know who trust in only what they see and they are cursed by it?  How many people do you see deeply hurt by the actions of others and they can’t get past those hurtful actions?

How many people do you see cursed and blinded because they don’t trust God?

These are examples of false gods/idols in people’s lives.  They are saying, “These are my gods.  I trust, use, follow, listen to these things more then God.  These things are what I allow to rule over my life… if they fail me I am without hope because I choose to trust in mere idols and circumstances then the true living God.”

Let’s read Romans 1.

“Yes they knew 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.  And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols make to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.  So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.  As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.  Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies.  So they worshipped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.  That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires.  Even women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.  And men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other.  Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.  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 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 worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.”  Romans 1:21-32

Look at the ROOT issue… The root issue is making other things gods instead of the living true God
be God of their life.

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Proverbs 25:28

Ever been hurt by someone or a group of people?  Ever been greatly discouraged because of a situation?  What is your tendency to do when hurt or discouraged?  Is it finding a way to get even, quitting, withdrawing, indulging in ways of temporary escape and/or believing in the lies and so on and so forth?  God knows our tendencies so he says in His word….  

“Cursed are those 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.”

Is this not true or what?  We allow hurt or loss or the betrayal of a situation to become our poison.  We become stunted, feel hopeless and feel justified to throw a little pity part.  We start living in this bleak mindset where it seems no one can help us.  But look at the contrast of these following these verses…

“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along a 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.”  Jeremiah 17:5-8

So we must ask ourselves what do we allow to be above God in our life?  What is going to be our deep and growing and strengthening resolve in life? Are we going to allow circumstances and situations cause us to turn our hearts away from the LORD? And if we do turn our hearts away from the LORD, what are we saying is our god?  What God/or god is over this situation?” we must ask ourselves. 

Who am I going to turn to, turn the situation over to, and trust? 

Genesis 1:27 says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God; He created him, male and female he created them.”

Three times in the same sentence it says is “God created”.  If you are created by God, then you belong to that HIM.   Knowing we belong to the LORD will make a big difference in our life.  We can turn our life over to Him our Creator and Savior Jesus Christ.  Instead of destructive ways of living, God will guide us to constructive ways of overcoming.  We will grow to know WHO is our strength and shield and He will bless us because we know we are in need of Him.

“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” Colossians 3:10

Certainty - God isn’t about Religion

Last Monday I woke and I had no work to go to. Thoughts started to whisper and cast shadows of worth until the Holy Spirit reminded me that my worth was not in a job. I would be encouraged in this thought as God provided me another job.

The things of life have never given a person certainty to not fear, worry, dread, or have concern. Humanity has tried to lessen one’s anxiety through human means such as ignorance, lies, deceit, medication, word usage, by who one surrounds themselves, position, talent, possessions, who they marry, school or college they attend, investments, retirement plans, insurance, credit, their home, their car and all the way down to the house key in their pocket but those are weak certainties because they are all based on things that could be easily taken away or not honored. There is no certainty in any of them. The only certainty a person can have is God.

God is the one who gives us certainty.

Like the things of this world, religion never gave the certainty of hope in one’s salvation nor has it ever empowered a people to live the righteous godly lifestyle but a relationship with God has. For the relationship with God involves not just the mind but the heart and soul as well.

Earning Love and Justification.

Did your parents give you certainty of their love based on your accomplishments? Did you have to prove you were worth loving? If so I am sorry and I am here to tell you the Father of heaven in not like that. For He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us because he saw worth in us not that we could earn his love or justification.

People try to justify themselves to God by their accomplishments and good deeds. You can’t justify yourself to God for God justifies those who live in the faith of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. We can’t earn our justification from God but rather live in the justification He gives us. We clothe ourselves with Christ and His sacrifice in mind.

If you had loving parents but felt like you had to earn your parent’s love, you would alienate your parent’s love. Plus in your efforts to earn your parent’s love you would be burdened and driven by some non-existent standard that only made you a slave to that lie.

Same with God, we alienate God when we feel like we have to earn His love and our own salvation. We do not just alienate God but we lose our certainty and the power of God working in our life when we think such things. God made it possible for us to “enter” into His Love through His Son Jesus Christ. God shows His love everyday to us no matter if we realize it or not but only through Jesus Christ we can “enter” into the FREEDOM of His love and have certainty to live empowered by God’s love regardless of the human outlook of our circumstances and situations.

Starting in Galatians 5:2 it says, “Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: if you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ cannot help you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey all the regulations in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.”

Romans 4:5 says “But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.”

Our deeds and work could never earn God’s love. To say that our deeds and work could earn God’s love is a lie and we are living in spiritual darkness. God’s love is a gift we must accept and receive daily to be set free and be empowered by God’s love and light.

1 John 1:5-7 “…. God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth. But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from every sin.”

Love for God that is the amazing key to experiencing God’s love. Adore God, admire God, and hold Him high above all other thoughts. Remember all the good things He had done. Give Him praise for who He is and His unfailing and faithful love. Love your God with all your heart, mind and soul and He will do amazing things in your life because your mind, heart and soul are set upon Him – nothing else.

Surrendering ourselves to God’s love brings FREEDOM in Christ. He gives certainty in a very uncertain world.

Galatians 4:8 “Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. And now that you have found God (or should I say, now that God has found you), why do you want to go back again to become slaves once more to weak and useless spiritual powers of this world? You are trying to find favor with God by what you do or don’t do on certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you. I am afraid that all my hard work for you was worth nothing. Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles were- free from the law."

Free yourselves from falsehood securities and what you think that makes you right with God. It is not what you do or your job or what you do and don’t do but your faith in Christ that makes you right with God.

For in Christ there is grace. Not through anything we may do but through Him and Him only. The only way to give grace is to receive grace. And the full measure or understanding of grace and its power only comes with living securely in God’s love. We must live in this real yet mysterious love that brings perfect peace to our soul.

You know the only way to give unconditional love and express unconditional love is to receive it from the LORD. In order to give love you must receive the healing, the new mindset that empowers us in the love from the only God above.

There in a consistent relationship with God, the fullness of God’s love empowers His certainty in our lives -a certainty the world cannot provide.

Jesus says, "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

There is a difference between knowing of God and knowing God.

You can’t receive this peace and certainty unless you are “in” Christ. A believer will struggle when they waver back and forth in their certainty in God.

The people who put their certainty in the things of this world will lose their certainty because the things of this world will fail them. Even though the world may be showered by the love of God they cannot appreciate it for they are blind to it since they have put their certainty in the things of this world and not God Himself. They cannot be empowered by God and walk in His Grace and Love for God’s Holy Spirit is needed and the heart and mind need to be receptive to Him. Knowing God means you are surrendered and have invested both in your heart and mind to Jesus Christ who the Prince of Peace.

God wants to confirm His reality to us and empower us in His Son, JESUS CHRIST.

Religion only makes people slaves. Religion makes them lazy and out of touch with God. Comfortable in religion people forget about who God is. Religion only corrupts the soul.

God is not a God of mindless religious repetition or full of notions of God but He is the God who gives us the reality of Himself to those who love Him.

Through our humble and heartfelt surrender to His wondrous love we enter into His secret doorways and courtyards.

Through God’s love we are FREE and FREE from the laws of our mind -of trying to satisfy some impossible qualifications that only bring us down and burden us and throw us into some grudging rut. For only in God’s love do we live, break free, and fulfill the only law – the law of love. Love your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39)

“Have you never heard or understood? Don’t you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, young men will give up. But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagle. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

We all need to take time to wait and rest upon the LORD’s love. Let Him remind you of all He is and His unfailing and faithful love for you because there we find our CERTAINITY in HIM.

In Him and Him alone is our “Certainity”.

Hurtful Words and God’s Love

I have written about this topic before but I want to add a bit more.

We need to be so focused on God’s love that we can give unconditional love back to those who hurt us.

Words hurt especially when they come from those close to us and our reaction is a want to pull away and stay away from them but instead of pulling back from them- let that situation speak into your life as a sign that you need to get closer to God.

For in his love our heart remains tender and receptive unlike when we pull away and build up a wall or callus around our heart towards that person.

I am not going to preach and tell you that the devil uses those close to you to hurt you and we don’t fight flesh and blood because if you are Christian you already know this.

I will say this:

We are to live in God’s love.

We are to breath in God’s love.

We are to be protected in God’s love.

We are to speak in God’s love.

We are to walk in God’s love.

But we cannot do that if we don’t take the time to study God’s word, meditate and “be” in God’s love each day and throughout each day.

The intellectual wisdom of God’s love is not just going to do it for you- God’s love needs to translate into our daily actions and way of living and communicating with others. Where we live in God’s peace, love and hope regardless to the actions fired upon us.

People say things. People speak without thinking. They say things that tear down instead of build up. They get into thinking performance instead of love. People make judgments based on what they see and understand not what is actual fact.

You know God loves you - not what you have done or can and can not do. He is looking at the heart. Is it after Him or is it not?

People are so focused on outside appearances- they either don’t know or forget what really and truly matters. They either don’t know or forget what really matters is the heart for God.

People's hearts that are not set upon the foundation of God will always hold the past against us. They will see the bad and/or insufficiency in our ways and efforts- especially those who are not being guarded and mindful of the Lord and his ways. They are quick to pass judgment.

But I want you to declare something with me to God.

Declare: “I will surrender those things that people hold against me in some shape or form to the Lord. There upon the Lord my burden is light. For who really knows my heart but the Lord? Should I not suffer- if I had no suffering how would I have or come to my dependence upon the Lord’s love?”

Romans 12:21 "Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good."

We must continue to raise our dependence upon the Lord’s love. We must surrender all that we are in the flesh in order to become more like the Lord, who love’s us. We shall cast off and cut the strings of the naggings of the flesh that hinder our way in walking continually in the presence of the Lord.

I shall remember and live knowing my true life is in Christ Jesus. There is freedom. There is real life. There is life, as we all should know it.

Can I speak for those who hurt us? Not for certain. I don't walk in their shoes- I don't know what their life is like. I don't see through their eyes and heart. I don't know what is broken inside of them. I don't know type of callus that has formed over their heart. No I can speak for those who hurt us. For there are some things I think I understand but probably don’t fully understand. There are some things that the Lord only knows.

People need watch out which pair of socks they put on in the morning- are they a dirty pair or a clean pair?

Knowing God's love allows me to walk and speak in love and respect. It allows me to give mercy and be empowered by God's grace.

I, a sensitive soul must not need to be concerned what kind of laundry they put on in the morning but where I shall put my focus. For the suiting up of the armor of God has all to do with focus of the heart and mind and knowing the God who truly loves me. For my home and treasure is not here on this world but with God and in heaven. I shall not fear for the LORD is with me. Nothing can separate me from His love.

Psalm 91
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 him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect your from the fatal plague. He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the fear the dangers of the day, nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. But you will see it with your eyes; you will see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation."

The War Ain’t Over Yet.

Like most Christians I sometimes I do and sometimes don't know why things "happen" like they do.

It is was pretty clear that these attacks which were constant and heavy were from the devil himself. And from speaking to just the circle of friends I am not the only one who has gotten a fair share of "beatings" in recent weeks.

They too have been tired, worn out and heavy laden lately by these bombardments of evil tactics. I seriously began to wonder if I needed to go away for a while.

Thanks God I am back on the saddle again after this very trying time. The whole meaning of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" has been given a stronger and deeper meaning.

Here is a poem I wrote to reflect back on this time. I called, "The War Ain't Over Yet."

The War Ain’t Over Yet.

Battered and bruised and punched in the gut.

The war ain’t over yet.

At least he gave me a sense of humor to fill my cup.

I climbed back onto the saddle somehow.

A strong dose of humility fills my veins now.

Gave Christ the reins because they are certainly better then chains and one more ounce of disappointment.

Still finding the third time ain’t the charm - as things get done but under my expectation.

The angels seem to be winning now as I seem to be no longer feeling like a branded cow.

Is this the season or is there another reason?

A chuckle or two relieves the glue.

Thank God for friends like you.

Is it I or is life a mess?

I saw the strings in the tactics he flung and worn out- could do nothin.

Like a kicked dog , it more then stung.

I did more weeping and kneeling as I was in that pancake press.

I was reminded of all your beautiful things but all poured out - nothing more came from the personal spout.

I was told to not lose hope but honestly I was at the end of my rope.

Hanging on as I bled something snapped as I read, holding God accountable to what he said.

To the weary and the weak- will be given new strength.

I closed my eyes for the night and by morning had been given flight. Though the thorns and thistles were still visible I was not standing against a life so invincible.

Pardon me if I don’t seem to be myself yet - my heart seems more protected upon my creator’s shelf. Sometimes it best to have a healthy disconnect.

Battered and bruised and punched in the gut.

The war ain’t over yet.

For when Christ says the word, that worm will pay his debt.

Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly on the wings of eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

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.

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.

Fate and Destiny

Most people believe in fate or destiny in some form or fashion.

We all have to discover however if we are believing and/ following a false fate and destiny.

God wants to invest in our lives but we must be willing to resist the temptation of following something that isn't based on God's fate and destiny for us.

He doesn't want us to get confused by a false fate and destiny.

Here are some examples that confuse an individual in a false fate and destiny situation:

1. Popularity (Popular/ Unpopular) (What others think of you.)
2. Fortune (The amount of money you have.)
3. Circumstances (Good/Bad)
4. Superstitions (such star alignments/horoscopes/ reports from false prophets, mediums, 1-800 call a (you know what), fortune tellers, etc)
5. Yourself (Your thoughts, feelings, outlook or perception of yourself, comparisons to others.)

Your fate and destiny have very little/ if nothing to do with these things.

In fact some of these are faith killers and are despised by God.

That is why the word says we walk by faith not by sight.

Remember Job, Moses, Joseph, teenage Mary, tax collector Matthew, Lazarus, the apostle Paul once known as Saul, the seemly nobody apostle James the son of Alphaeus?

We can not base our fate and destiny on our circumstances or our feelings on our life.

We can't say I must be going to heaven because I haven't killed anybody or murdered anyone. Have you lied? Have you cheated? Have you wanted something someone else had? Then you have sinned just like everyone else and have broken God's commandments.

Our Fate and Destiny is trusting in God, coming to God, and becoming one of God's children through Jesus Christ. For Christ paid the price for our sins.

It is only by faith we can walk through all the variety and even difficult experiences in this life. Fires, deserts, calm shores, cloudy days, and sun filled days of pure bliss. It is only by faith can we endure and see pass all the things that want to claim they are our destiny and fate. Vessels of Christ are poured into and out of, they are tested as gold is purified to become pure to reflect Christ.

For a false fate and destiny is easy to believe but if it's not your destiny or fate then you are just following and believing in something that is false. You follow something that is false -leaves an individual having an eternity in hell stead of heaven.

"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."- Hebrew 11:6

God holds our fate and destiny in his hand.

Job: 23:14 "So he will do for me all he has planned. He controls my destiny."

Ecclesiastes 6:10 "Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny."

Psalm 73:24 "You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny."

God wants to invest in our lives but he wants us to be aware of what is a false fate and destiny and keep our hearts and minds on Him regardless at what screams and says is obvious because the obvious can sometimes not be so obvious and changes without notice.

"Those" Times

There will be times you'll stop running and it will just be a struggle to just put one step in front of the other.

There will be times where you'll wonder why all the strange "happenings" come all at once.

There will be times that everything will fail like a sand castle in a rising tide. No matter how hard you work it all falls apart.

You trust God and asked God to prepare the way, things just don't happen.

And like always, people won't understand where you are coming from even though they might have a lot of observational wisdom. And oh how their words seem like a knife even though they mean well.

People will tell you to pray over your house and family and I will say "strive" to pray for your family and your home but if can't know God knows your "temporary" weakness.

There will be times where you want to know where God is and if he is so powerful why did he let these things happen.

There will be times where you will want to blame God and be angry with God.

I will say this, no matter how hard it gets always turn to God even if your words are bitter.

I will say lament to God and lay it all out.

It's easy to keep the anger and let all the hurts burden us BUT something happens when we lay our deeply troubling matters out before God even with tears in your eyes and an ache in your stomach and anger in our cries.

I don't understand why we go through hard times and I won't pretend there are any easy answers.

I won't tell you why the reasons we go through these hard times because there is sometimes no really good answer I can really give.

I will say even if it seems God is against you and you feel you are all by yourself, know he's listening.

Know that tomorrow is a new day.

Know this is all temporary even though it may all seem stuck and even going backward.

Life is hard at times.

Hugs to you who are going through rough times.

God Bless

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.

Taken to Heart

Condemnation, fear, accusation, negative sentiment that isn’t from God but is taken to heart can really hurt you. It can strip you of your peace and make you feel physically burdened. Lord Jesus guard our hearts and minds, and restore those who have been hurt by things that aren’t true and aren’t from you. And we thank you in Jesus name. Amen.

Colossians 3:15-17
“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful heart. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

Max Lucado's Fear LESS Part 1 (Video)
http://maxlucado.com/fearless/message01.html

Max Lucado's Fear LESS Part 2 (Video)
http://maxlucado.com/fearless/message02.html

Where Is The Hope? Christians that are Wounded.

There has got to be more then just pulling yourself out of bed each morning… and in some cases "each after noon". There has got to be more then just the "have to(s)" in life.

Where has this negative slant on life come from? Where is the life filled with expectation and love for others gone? Where is the daily assurance in Jesus Christ gone? When did the opinions of men and women become more important then God’s opinion of us?

Why is there more importance on the material things, which will soon find their way to a landfill? Why embrace worldly ideals, which will soon change like the wind? Why chase such things that will make you lost and empty? Why run a race that is on a treadmill? Why turn from Godly wisdom and understanding?

I am concerned for such individuals who seem to turn to from and/or choose something other then what God’s word states. I am not talking about being discouraged for just a few days or weeks but months and years.

When someone is discouraged and depressed for that long period of time I wonder what has happened to those people. What has happened to their faith that they think God has forgotten them or isn’t interested in them?

I don’t want to sound like an Eliphaz, where I am "as unreliable as a season brook that overflows its banks in the spring when it swollen with ice and melting snow but when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat. The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing there to drink, and so they perish in the desert. With high hopes, the caravans from Tema and from Sheba stop for water, but finding nothing, their hopes are dashed." (Job 6:15-21) I want to be of some help, hope and encouragement.

Have they denied the words of God?. I don’t know... but seems as if doubt has taken up permanent residence in their hearts. Some have fear and some don’t. Some just don’t care anymore. Some have grown impatient and hardened- setting themselves up for thoughts that God will never intervene on their behalf. I don’t ever what to experience what they are experiencing.

"As a face is reflected in the water, so the heart reflects the person." Proverbs 27:19
So is a man who thinks in his heart so he becomes…. Is this not true?

I can only imagine that the devil himself has carefully placed these debilitating false ideas into a welcoming wounded specimen where the victim hashes over them in some way or form until they become as if fact in their minds. Some people are even aware that these debilitating thoughts have come from the devil himself but they couldn’t care less. They have stripped off their armor accepting whatever comes.

Paul writes, "Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. 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. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm." (Ephesians 6)

The devil has no power over you unless you give it to him! The devil is the father of lies. He tells you something, you know the opposite is true. If he wants to get in your face, "Tell him to go see your older brother, Jesus Christ, and your Father, God Almighty."

You say but my enemy is flesh and blood. I say, pray for your enemy and if you don’t have the power and love to pray for them then ask God for the power and love to do so. Why do we base our worth on how others treat us? I did this and made myself miserable. People are like grass; they are here today and gone tomorrow. God is forever and I know He thinks more of you then those who think negatively about you.

Helpful Scriptures:

Galatians 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."

1John 5:4 "For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory"

Psalm 37:5 "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. 37:6 He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. 37:7 Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."

Philippians 4:6-9 4 "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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 1:6 "And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." 2:13 "For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him."

Philippians 1:29 "For you have been given no only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him."

Hebrews 10:35-36 "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 10:36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised."

Romans 8:26-27 "26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will."

1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,"

1 Corinthians 8:3 "But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for."

1 Corinthians 10:13 "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it."

Matthew 16:25-27 "25 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. 26 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds."

Colossians 1:23 "But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the good news."

A person conquers evil thoughts and desires when they think on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in place of honor and power. (Colossians 3:1-2)