"Not Satisfied?" - Yet

"Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity." (Ecclesiastes 11:10 KJV)

  "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. "LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things." (PSALM 107:1-9 NLT)

 Maybe I might have diverted a little bit off the page; but from all that I see from this vantage point, God absolutely knows what He is doing, and more importantly, He knows what we need! Something else we must understand and really try to put into practice: If you have been redeemed, then speak out! Tell of all the wonderful things, that really count: all the mighty things that God has done! 

 As I have said, several times already, Solomon is focused on reaching out to those that are worldly; those that do not count on God for their satisfaction, but upon their own way, walking down their own paths, and not looking for God's direction. And, as spoken of recently, some of those who might wreck their own lives with foolishness and earthly passions, and even so, God will use them to show others that there is redemption for the lost and wayward, especially His children! 

 Nevertheless, there are still those who put Solomon in the category of the unforgiven; just as they do with the Rich Young Ruler. More than anything else, God's love is the most important thing that should make us feel satisfied. Knowing how much God loves us, especially by the grace He has given us, without cost and without us earning any of it; He loves us because He loves us!

 As crazy as it might sound, but there was a cost for the grace He applied, but it wasn't our payment that supplied what was needed to pay for our sins, it was His...

""For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent not his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son."" (John 3:16-18 NLT) 

  

"Not Satisfied?"

 "Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity." (Ecclesiastes 11:10 KJV)

  "But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight." (2 Peter 3:10-14 NLT)

 Yes, this is why there are so many frustrated and angry people, in all walks of life: they do not feel as though they are satisfied, in whatever, their work, their marriage, their statis in this life; especially in the relationship with others, or even with God. I heard Pastor Mike say it again yesterday, as he does almost every week, "Just can't get no satisfaction; even though I try, and I try."  

 The word "sorrow," which Solomon is speaking about, is not the kind of sorrow that is based upon what we do, as in being sorry for doing this or that; but is that kind of sorrow that can turn into frustration or anger; as if you have been wronged or haven't been treated right; a sense of vexation or grief, which, like Cain, can cause bitterness and anger, even wrath.

 Without getting too carried away, this is exactly what caused Adam to sin against God; Adam was not satisfied because he desired something he was told he could not have. The dirty little secret in all of this, was God having Adam name all of the animals; because in doing so, he became dissatisfied for the very first time. 

 Yes, this was God showing Adam that he needed a mate! He studied all the animals, seeing how they all had mates, male and female, they mated and procreated. Adam wondered, 'Where is the mate for me?' If you know what it is like to want, whatever it is you don't have but want to have, it is a little like sin, and which is the one sin the Appostle Paul said he knew he was guilty of: covetousness! 

 These are not things we can blame God for, because the only thing God was wanting is for us to love Him and be able to have fellowship with Him. But whether you can accept it or not, God mysterious plan was well thought out; so well, it only took the first man that was created to make it all happen...

"Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law said, "You must not covet." But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died. So I discovered that the law's commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still, the law is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good." (Romans 7:7-12 NLT) 

 

"The Road Well Traveled" - Too

 "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." (Ecclesiastes 11:9 KJV)

  ""Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For it was I, the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. "But no, my people wouldn't listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!"" (PSALM 81:8-13 NLT)

 Taking this to the next level, there is something we must never forget about Israel: This is God's chosen people! And, whether or not you want to receive this, we are a mirror image of Israel. Yes, the Church is just like them, in everything sense of the word, we have the same desires, make the same mistakes, have the same ways of walking our own paths, and, thankfully, we have also been chosen by God! 

 I know there are a lot of people who might think that the Church has taken the place of Israel; but that is totally and completely incorrect! God has said that He would never abandon His chosen people; and God does not change His mind and will always keep His promise! We, of all people should want that to be true, because that includes us too! 

 If you really want to see the 'Pilgram's Progress,' then imagine yourself living as Israel; having been saved from the wickedness of this world yet still holding onto the wickedness you have been saved from, in some form or fashion. It is really not that hard to understand, if you are being honest with yourself. 

 Basically, Solomon is pointing out the three areas of our sinful natures, which none of us can deny that they are not part of our lives; all three of them are a part of our wicked hearts; the three temptations of the world: "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life".

 This was the way it was in the Garden, way back with the original sin. Just one simple command was given, yet it could not be kept! Personally, I think I know why God placed that tree in the Garden, in the middle of the Garden, no less. Man was never going to be able to remain holy and pure, because He gave us the ability to make our own choices. 

 The most motivating thing God made Adam do, in order to think things through and make his own choices, was to name all the animals. Imagine what that might have been like, as he studied an animal to see what it looked like, how it moved and ate certain foods, and what kind of life it had with its mate. 

 God knows exactly what we need, way before we know it ourselves! We might think sometimes that we have been down certain roads before, not really knowing or understanding that God roads are set in stone and always carried out...

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:3-8 NLT) 

"The Road Well Traveled"

 "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." (Ecclesiastes 11:9 KJV)

  "So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy - their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols." (1 Peter 4:1-3 NLT)

 We have a mission field, whether you realize it or not, the journey you have taken in this life has led you through things which have made you who you are; what you were is still what defines you, but in a whole different way. Look at the life of Paul, who was Saul of Tarsas. He was extremely passionate about hunting down Christians; but after his encounter with Christ, he became extremely passionate about making Christians!  

 Peter was a fisherman, who made his living catching fish; but Jesus changed his life, making him a fisher of men! There are so many examples of this in the lives of people we see, here in the life we live now; so many that have been caught up in something that ruins lives, but they get converted, and those same things become the opportunities to change lives, making them whole...

"Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead - so although they are destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit." (1 Peter 4:4-6 NLT)  

"Trusting In God, Always!"

 "But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 11:8 KJV) 

  "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21 NLT)

 As we think about how much God loves us, we should also realize that we can trust Him, based upon that love He has for us; knowing that even the things that might seem hurtful, seem like punishment, or trials that apparently have no happiness, whatsoever, nothing happening should stop us from trusting that He loves us, and always wants what is best for us! 

 I know it seems hard to realize that, while we are going through something unbearable and seemingly brutal; but He loves us more than we could ever imagine! What we must understand, hopefully without a doubt, everything works towards the good; whether it is our good or someone else, His purposes are for the good, all the time! 

 It might seem as though I am a little excited to be sharing about this, but I have been wrestling with this since about 11:00 last night, having the swirling- eddies in my mind all night long. I thought about the trust I had in God when I first was saved, compared to the trust I feel I have now; it seemingly feels as though I have more doubt now; most likely because of the many times I have stubbled and wondered away, over these many years. 

 I remember a book Pastor Bryan had us read, not that long after he took Pastor Burt's place. The book was about prayer, speaking about having complete trust in God, and prayers that actually work. In the book the author shares about an incident when they went to minister on an island, where pagans were getting ready to perform their annual parade for the god they worshipped. 

 They had a new Christian brother that was with them, and as they meet with the tribe, the new brother decided to speak out and say, "God is going to rain on your parade!" That was something that would have meant death to them all, if it really didn't rain. But as the author explained: there was no rain, not until the very last moment, and then it was a down-pour! The monks were trying to carry their god in the parade, but they just kept slipping and sliding; their god feel into the mud, and they were falling over themselves to pick it back up again. 

 The reason I share this is because of the boldness of the new believer. This is really not that hard to understand, because we all have the same beginning, being washed in the blood of Jesus, as newborn babies, spotlessly clean. Then we begin our journey! Some of us make little mistakes, and some, very big mistakes; but, without a doubt, everyone does make mistakes! 

 This is what I feel as Solomon is sharing about, in case you might be wondering. We cannot undo anything that we might have considered to be darkness; but we can focus on the Light! Putting any value, (meaning that it effects your salvation,) on the bad things you have done, then you are focusing on yourself, and not on Christ...

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NLT) 

"A More Excellent Way" - Again

 "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:" (Ecclesiastes 11:7 KJV)

  "And then he added, "It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you."" (Mark 7:20-23 NLT)

 My mind is made up: The harder I try to be holy, the more I see holes in my heart! Not just any holes, but dark ones, that need to be filled with love. Please forgive me, but there are just too many things I feel that need to be worked on; where do we start? 

 There is something about this verse that has me somewhat in a place that I can't escape from; it's as if there is something more, something I feel as though is missing, that should be discovered or covered up. Whatever it is, it has something to do with the reason for living, the purpose of being here, besides that of longing to be with the Lord.

 When I was around 13 years old, I ran away from home for about 6 months. I tried to call my mother several times, letting her know that I was fine and not to worry; but as soon as she would ask me when I was coming home, I would hang up. 

 There was a very special time I had one night, as I gazed up into the sky, seeing the stars and feeling as though God was looking down upon me. For the moment I felt as though I needed to know Him more, but our family was trapped into a religion that had rules, rules that said you can never do this or that, only the things they say that we can do. 

 Call me whatever you want, but that special night I really felt as though I was talking and having some kind of fellowship with God. No, I wasn't saved; at least I didn't remember ever accepting Jesus into my heart; but there was such a peace and joy I experienced that night, between me and the Lord. 

 Anywho, here is the thing we need to be aware of, no matter what you think about this life, however hard things get, or whatever problems you might be dealing with: this is your opportunity to show off the love of God! Yes, it is God's love you must long for, the kind of love that makes a difference; the love that says, You Are Loved, just as you are, He loves you and has something to show you, so try to pay close attention...

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)

"A More Excellent Way" - TO

"Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:" (Ecclesiastes 11:7 KJV)

  "I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death: you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light." (PSALM 56:10-13 NLT)

 As I was saying, our God is a Holy God, who loves His creation, especially us; so much so, the portion of the angels that were jealous of us, followed Lucifer and revolted against God's plan for us, mere humans. But His plan was amazingly planned out, from before all of creation: "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." (Ephesians 1:4 NLT)

 It was by His love that we were given fellowship with Him, even though we had no ability on our own to do so, He provide a way to make it happen! Imagine what that might have look like to the angels, to have a creation of children take and have authority, enough to judge them, we, that had been less than them. It is pretty mind-blowing to think about, but this was what God had planned for all along. 

 So, we can understand why that second day of creation was not called good, because within that day God made the separation between His Holiness and that which was His creation; because on the third day, He began forming life on this earth. Can you imagine what that might have looked like? Full grow trees that started sprouting up from the ground, bearing fruit and seeds, to cause vegetation to cover the land. 

 In this pattern of His creation, I have made the case for a 24-hour day, not a thousand-year day as many try to make it; because on the fourth day, God created everything else that the plants needed in order to grow and multiply: the sun and moon, the seasons, days and years. How could you have days and years with seasons, if things were being formed in thousands of years? 

 Sorry if it seems that I am drifting off the page, but there are just too many things that people don't feel God is capable of, like planning the way to make an unholy people, holy enough to dwell with Him...

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I had to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT) 

"A More Excellent Way"

 "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:" (Ecclesiastes 11:7 KJV)

  ""You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. 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. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."" (Matthew 5:43-48 NLT)

 As I was listening to a message the other day, I remembered something I had shared, not so long ago. Obviously, I was either wrong, or I failed to see what I had been missing. In the message that I heard, the Pastor was sharing that there was only one thing God had said wasn't good, in everything He created, "That it wasn't good for man to be alone." 

 I find it rather interesting that on the "Second Day," God did not say it was good, what He created on that day; but He didn't say it wasn't good, either! The first day of creation, was good, because God created heaven and earth, and then God said, "Let there be light, and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness"; then, "God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." 

 Then the second day, God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day." (Genesis 1:6-8 KJV)

 There are many that believe this division of the waters was the dry land between the water; but that takes place on the third day, not the second. As I shared before, the thing which wasn't good about this second day, was that God created Heaven, which was capitalized because it is His domain, outside of that of man's. In other words, God is Holy, He dwells outside that which was created, because although it was all good, it was not perfect, as He is! 

 If you believe, as I do, that God knew from the very beginning of His creation, all that was going to take place, then you should be able to understand why God had planned for Jesus to be crucified on a cross, to die for our sins, before He even began creation; it was all planned out from the beginning of the earth's existence. 

 The separation between mankind and God had already been established, on that Second Day; although mankind was made with God's Spirit dwelling within them; but we know what happened with that connection, Adam sinned, just as God knew he would! But God still loved him...   

"Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all." (1 Corinthians 12:29-31 NLT) 

"Advise for Young and Old"

  "Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless. 

 "Young people, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 NLT)

  "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leak also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." (PSALMS 1 KJV) 

 It is really strange to have had dreams last night about growing up; but I did sort of know what today's post was going to be about, so really, it isn't that strange after all. If you grew up in the 60's, you were most likely quite a bit freer to do things on your own, without your parents following you around and keeping watch over you. 

 In this current culture, when a small child is seen out on their own, people will report that the kid must be lost; or if the police see them, they will pick them up, find out where they live, and give the parents a citation to show up in court. It is very rare to see any kid walking around the city by themselves; especially a kid that might only be seven or eight years old. 

 I remember going to the store and turning in coke bottles for cash, in order to buy candy bars; I can see it clearly, as I stood there on my tiptoes to watch the coins be counted out on the counter. We played at night, sometimes out on the street; especially on Friday nights, because there was no school the next day. Things seemed so much better then, but maybe that is because 'child-abduction' wasn't such a real and present danger almost 60 years ago. 

 Some of the things I hear about, it is hard to believe some of what I have heard; but I am sure there is some truth in most of it, somewhere. If there were people back in the days of Solomon that were willing to sacrifice their children on the molten images and idols, just to have a good harvest; then why would we not believe people might be willing to sell their children to ungodly people...

 "Professing themselves to be wise, the became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." (Romans 1:22-23 KJV) 

"On the Solid Rock I Stand" -2

 "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." (Ecclesiastes 11:6 KJV)

  "The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God's workers. And you are God's field. You are God's building. Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have - Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:8-11 NLT)

 There are some things we do that don't really seem as though they make much of a difference; and then there are the things we do that cause great change. But none of these things really will count unless they are built upon the foundation of Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith! 

 You might hear this said over and over, as if it needs to be repeated over and over again; but that is because it does! There are so many ministries that start out with just the right Foundation; but as time goes on, and as the ministry prospers and gets bigger, the foundation becomes the ministry, based upon what it has become. That is why Paul gives this warning to be very careful. 

 No matter what we might do and how hard we work to make anything happen, Jesus never changes; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Much like the first day we believed in Him, that amazing power we felt that changed everything we ever knew or cared about, it happens again and again, if we just humble ourselves and put our trust in Him. 

 So, it really isn't a matter of what happens, whether a win or lose, sink or swim, live or die: what really matters is that you believe in Christ Jesus, for all that He has done, and for His promise to get us to the other side...

 "So don't boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you - whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God." (1 Corinthians 3:21-23 NLT) 

"On the Solid Rock I Stand"

 "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." (Ecclesiastes 11:6 KJV)

  "Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, "Rabbi, eat something." But Jesus replied, "I have a kind of food you know nothing about." "Did someone bring him food while we were gone?" the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, 'One plants and another harvests.' And it's true. I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and now you get to gather the harvest."" (John 4:31-38 NLT) 

 Looks like there might be something wrong with this title; as it is, there is really nothing to associate the Solid Rock with that of harvesting and sowing seed; especially not the harvest Jesus was showing His disciples, as these, white turbine wearing, Samaritans were ascending up the mountain, from the city below.  

 Something I discovered early on in my New Life as a believer in Christ: our faith in Christ is a river of life; it flows into us, and it must also flow out of us! Every river has to flow to be a river; if it doesn't flow, then it is dried up and worthless; stagnate and unhealthy, the life has dried up, and there are only dead fish left to be seen; any fish that are still alive, are trapped in little pools of water. 

 I know that description might sound rather dramatic, but there is life flowing into us, and it must flow out of us in order to stay alive! Whether we sow or harvest, either one is good! It could just be a blessing you say to someone, just a little, "God Bless You," as you pass by someone you don't even know; that could be enough to cause them to think about the Lord, or if they already know the Lord, to think about sharing Him also. 

 The harvest is the person that accepts the Lord into their heart, which could just happen by a little seed which gets sown. We really have no clue what God will do; but it is our responsibility to be ready to act when the Lord tells us what to do. 

 I have shared this before, but the first message I gave to the High School kids at church, was based upon this very special event: John 4:4 "He had to go through Samaria on the way." (NLT) Actually, the KJV says, "Must," which makes it more about something He needed to do. 

 When we moved the church from Palo Cedro to Shasta Lake, three of the High School kid's mothers made a beautiful picture embroidery of a dove; above it there was the words, Calvary Chapel Shasta Lake, and at the bottom it said, "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they are already white for the harvest!" 

 This was all about Jesus needing to go, because He was prompted to meet the woman at the well; at the very least, He was prompted to go through Samaria; which was not something many Jews would actually do. But He was doing the work He was needing to do! I don't know about you, but whenever I don't do something, I feel prompted to do, I feel this empty feeling deep down in my gut; sometimes it even feels like I got punched in the gut; either way, it definitely doesn't feel satisfying...

"He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave. But it was the LORD'S good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD'S good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins." (Isaiah 53:7-11 NLT) 

"All The Time, God Is Good!" - To Me!

 "As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all." (Ecclesiastes 11:5 KJV)

  "The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control." Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!" (PSALM 32:8-11 NLT)

 Keeping with the main point, hopefully it doesn't need to be repeated again; we really have no idea what the journey ahead might be, even if we plan it on our own, things happen, times change, and people forget what they were searching for or why they even started. But God, who does not change, when He directs us and watches over us; and we can know that the end of the journey will always be the same! 

 I might not understand why certain things happen, or why they happen still; but I know that God loves me, and He watches over me, and whatever might happen in this life doesn't compare to the glory and majesty that is waiting for us in Heaven. Nothing on this earth can come close to being with our Lord, for ever and ever! 

 As to the point about Jesus on the cross: Everyone that witnessed His death thought it was tragic, or disgusting, or even something that He deserved; depending upon what you might have thought of Him. But we know, beyond a doubt, it was the power of God working to save the entire earth! What might have appeared to be something tragic, became the greatest thing that could ever happen. What might have been disgusting, became the manifestation of God's love. What might have appeared to be His punishment, was actually ours! 

 These might be things that many people don't quite understand, but understanding that God really does love us, is really not that hard to do...

"Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful are? My servant grew up in the LORD'S presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weakness he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all." (Isaiah 53:1-6 NLT)  

"All The Time, God Is Good!"

 "As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all." (Ecclesiastes 11:5 KJV)

  ""To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:25-31 NLT)

 Just so you know, I went to bed last night thinking I was going to do another post on the last verse, again! But there is only so much I can say, even though there is more that needs to be said; but that is the beauty of God's word, there is always more it be explored and found; the deeper we look, the further His word will amaze us! 

 Yes, even if the things we see, and experience, are not all looking good, God is never able to make those bad things into good things, ever! We see things as they are, in this fallen world; most of which are the result of sin, brought about because of our sinful nature. But God sees the result of His mercy and grace; the things we might take part in but will hardly ever see the real results; at least not until we are safely up in Heaven!  

 By the way, just because we might suffer through something that is ugly, painful, and terribly tearing us into pieces, that doesn't mean that it doesn't work for the good. If you are God's child, everything He allows for you to go through is for your good, as well as the good for others, and for His purposes; most of which you do not even know. 

 If you really don't see that or understand how something so terrible can be good, then you really need to practice looking at the cross of Christ! See what horrible things the Son of God suffered through, what terrible humility He took upon Himself, as He hung there on that cross! The Creator of heaven and earth was crucified and humiliated on a cross: What might you be going though that could be any worse?  

 They say that the Book of Job is the oldest writings in the Bible; most likely that is for a very important reason: All The Time, God Is Good...

"Then Job spoke again: "My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. I would lay out my case and present my arguments. Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me."" (Job 23:1-5 NLT) 

"Let Go and Let God!" -Too

 "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." (Ecclesiastes 11:4 KJV)

  "For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great message. This makes is clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We are knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:6-10 NLT)

 As I was thinking and praying about this post this morning, I was reminded about the way many people react to opposition and difficulties in starting or walking out something God has asked them to do. There are two simple facts that we should keep in mind when God's assignment is challenged or attacked: either the enemy is trying to stop what you are doing, or God is sharpening you for the journey ahead. 

 Either or, maybe even both, if there isn't any sign of something that is opposing your path you are on, you might actually be on the wrong path! Just a little FYI for those that are interested in taking on any sort of ministry or even a change in the way you are living. Please believe me; once you start doing all that you can to please the Lord, you will instantly have a target on your back, because the enemy will try to stop or hinder you, any way that he can. 

 That said, there are a couple things I feel can be illustrated by this verse, as to what it is that makes us give up or not go forward. The "wind" that is being spoken of is more like the spirit, good or bad, this is the way we feel or have emotions, such as fear or anger or sorrow. In case you might not know, but those who are hero's and risk their lives to save others, it is not because they don't have any fear, but because of the risk involved overcomes the fear, because they die to themselves. 

 If you are going to start focusing on your fear or doubt, then you will most likely quit at the slightest opposition or obstacle that gets in your way; especially if it involves something that you don't want to lose or get rid of. Which opens up a whole different view, that of the Spirit! How often do we not allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our lives? Or is just me that hesitates obedience? 

 I'm not talking about the little things we go through each and every day, even though they do happen; I am talking about things that will affect great changes in our lives; like moving to a place, you know nothing about, or quitting a job to start some sort of ministry. Things that will actually turn your life upside-down; or right-side-up, if you actually will trust the Lord and go forward, no matter what! 

 The other thing we can get tripped on, is "the clouds." Darkness is that which is observed, but it may not be real or something that cannot be taken down; but it should never be something that we look for in the outcome of what we do by serving the Lord! We need to look for be Light in everything God's hand is upon; even things that might look dark and destructive.

 This word "reap" is both good and bad, depending upon what we sow; but more than that, it is also what we believe in our hearts! Is God really good, all the time? Even when it might not look like a good thing is happening...

""Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command - be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."" (Joshua 1:8-9 NLT)  

"Let Go and Let God!"

 "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." (Ecclesiastes 11:4 KJV) 

  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart: do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

 Without thinking too hard about it, there are two major points to this verse that will put this into the right perspective: Sowing and Reaping, which are two totally different things, but they work together, as one. There is this one point made in 1 Corinthians 3:5-11 about those who sow and those who water; but this is about something totally different. 

 Again, making this relevant to the uncertainties of life, there is certainty shown here, but it is learned by the individual, not something that they plan for or carry out. Case in point: the point about observing the wind, basically means that if it is windy out, then the person concerned about the wind will not cast out their seeds, because they fear they will not go where they want them to go; and regarding the clouds, if there is chance the rain might come during the harvest, the stored produce might get moldy or soggy. 

 These are not bad things, for the farmer; but if we are talking about someone that is letting God lead their life, then we are talking about a whole different subject. The are uncertainties and then there are things we must be certain of; when it comes to letting go and letting God take control of our life, we might be uncertain about what might happen along the way, but we can be certain God will carry us through whatever we might have to go through. 

 This life is totally and completely filled with uncertainties, there is no doubt about it! But God's plans are certain: they will be carried out, to the very end. He knows the beginning and the end...

"This is what the LORD says, "You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the LORD. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land."" (Jeremiah 29:10-14 NLT)