"Endeavour!"

 "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4:11 KJV)

  "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT)

 Here is what I feel is a challenging example of where some people might get off the path, having felt as though they were safe and secure. We sometimes feel as though we have everything under control, as if we have reached a certain point of maturity, and we don't need to worry about falling into sin, as if that old nature is gone and there is no need to struggle or watch our steps. How I wish that those days never had happened, because they are brutal and cause serious damage! 

 That said, the Lord is faithful and always willing to forgive our stupidity and unfaithfulness; whatever the reason, it is always because we have let ourselves step outside of His protection and security! Plain and simple; thinking we have achieved or can handle things on our own, we make ourselves vulnerable to the enemy's attack. Not that he doesn't attack us when we are walking closely, because he is always looking for a way to trip us up or cause us to stumble. 

 I find that the harder I try to serve the Lord, the more attacks I get from the enemy. If we are not doing much to serve the Lord, then the enemy pretty much leaves us alone; but as soon as we start doing what God tells us to do, we find that things are difficult and out of control. 

 The good news about all of that, being difficult and out of control, is that none of that craziness really matters! I mean, sure, we might feel as though we need to worry and make ourselves feel vulnerable to the enemy's attack; but when we give everything over to God, making ourselves humble, He will always make a way for everything to work for the good, in one way or another...

""Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."" (Matthew 7:24-27 NLT)  

"Obvious Connection"

 "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own work, as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:10 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." (1 Peter 4:1-2 NLT)

 I do believe that there is something to be thankful for when we have a chance to suffer, whether it is physical or otherwise, we are given a chance to be a testimony for the Lord. This reference to Peter's words about suffering for Christ, has a certain connection to the way we must enter into God's rest; as we are to do His will, which requires us to do as He does! 

 Having tried so hard to be faithful, it is something that seems harder to do, the closer I get to the Lord. It is really not because I am doing more things wrong, because I know that I am doing more to draw closer to God; but the closer I get to Him, the filthier I feel. 

 Again, there is this certain thing about surrender; much like what it means to cease from our own work, we must also allow ourselves to let go of our own will and desires, especially when it comes to working out the difficulties in our lives. Whatever it is, we should surrender and give it to God! 

 Yesterday I heard a small portion of a message, I believe it was Pastor Phillip. He was sharing about a certain survey that was taken on the validity of the Bible; however, the people that were putting this project together were using liberal Bible Scholars to put together their findings. In other words, they based their findings upon human knowledge and situations, instead of the Spiritual and miraculous findings that are throughout the Word of God!

 There is really no comparison between the two, whatsoever! When we really surrender our lives over to God, we will totally know what it means to cease from our own work...

"For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law - I stopped trying to meet all its requirements - so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die." (Galatians 2:19-21 NLT)      

"A Keeping Sabbath"

 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." (Hebrews 4:9 KJV)

  "Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die." (Isaiah 57:1-2 NLT)

 The first thing I experienced, after Christ entered into my heart, was peace and joy; no matter what was going on around me, I felt as though my life was secure and nothing seemed to bother me. Even though I was in a jail facility, I didn't feel as though I was locked up, but I felt free because I had been given a purpose: To share the reason for why I had such peace and joy! 

 I am pretty sure that there have been days when I struggled to have that same feeling; but to be perfectly honest, it is more than a feeling! Our peace and joy come from the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, it is not something that we conjure up on our own. He has placed the Holy Spirit within us; so, when there is any sort of discomfort within us, it is most likely because we have not followed the Spirit's guidance in our life. 

 Thinking back to my early days as a new believer, I depended upon the Spirit's prompting me, showing me what to do, and the chance to be used share the Good News. Has that always been the case? Sadly, to say, no! But it has been some wonderful kind of journey! 

 I heard something the other day that made me feel better about the things I have done wrong. It was about God's speaking to Abraham, saying, "Take your son, your only son - yes, Isaac, whom you love so much - and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you." (Genesis 22:2 NLT)

 The thing that I never thought of before, was that God called Isaac Abraham's only son! The first son that was born from Abraham was born of the flesh; meaning that he was not following and trusting God would give him a son by Sarah. But God did not count that sin against him, by calling Isaac his only son! 

 Even though Abraham messed up, sometimes not trusting God, whether it was Sarah's ability to give birth, or that some king might want to kill him and take his wife, God still called him righteous! That is what we have in Christ Jesus: Righteousness, even though we still mess up, He does not count our sins against us! 

 The "rest" we see in this verse before us today, is a different rest; one that is continuous and everlasting! "The blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians." "A keeping Rest"...

"For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:6-10 NLT) 

"Finding Jesus"

 "For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day." (Hebrews 4:8 KJV)

  ""I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me."" (Proverbs 8:17 NLT)

 Having witnessed the way things happened, it is very clear to me that I was searching, without even actually knowing who I was actually searching for. I kept that little New Testament with me, everywhere I went; I even slept with it under my pillow at night, just to have it close enough to read, first thing in the morning. 

 It was actually that Pocket Bible that was the thing which caused me to be transferred to another facility. As it was, I had a store, (we were allowed to have money in the early eighties,) and I sold cigarettes, candy bars, and instant coffee. I actually did pretty well, especially with the instant coffee. A tablespoon of the Folders Crystals went for $5.00; you would be surprised how many inmates wanted coffee before they went to bed. The only place where it was available at night was in the Officer's quarters. 

 Anywho, my wife came to visit this one Sunday, and I gave her a fist full of money. Most inmates were given money from their wives, but I was able to give her money that I earned from my store. Someone saw me hand her the money, and two guys jumped me later, trying to get money from me. All I had left was a $10.00 bill, but they didn't believe me. I had my New Testament Bible in my hand and was not willing to let it go; so, one of them grabbed hold of my windpipe, trying to force me to let go of it. They must have thought I had my money in my Bible. 

 Later that day, I had a call from the Office to roll up. As it was, someone who saw what happened had told one of the officers, and they were reprimanded for what they did. However, the officer that called me up said I needed to be transferred somewhere else, because the ones who jumped me think I told on them, and it wasn't safe for me to be there. 

 So that is how I ended up in the facility, where I meet Jesus! By the way, the 'Jesus' shown in this verse today is actually Joshua, as it was the rest that was spoken of in another time; however, Strong's has Jesus listed first, identifying His Name as meaning, "Jehovah is salvation," which was something I said before, that I share with J.W.'s whenever I ask if they really are witnesses of Jehovah!  

 When I went down into the cafeteria, I went in a sinner and came out a Saint! When you receive Jesus Christ into your heart, you are changed; your new life is secured in Heaven, waiting for your soul to arrive! Do you believe this is true? I surely hope that you do...

"If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:13-17 NLT) 

"That Which Has Been Determined"

 "Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Hebrews 4:7 KJV)

  "The LORD says, "Don't harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness. For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did. For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, 'They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.' So in my anger I took an oath: 'They will never enter my place of rest.'"" (PSALM 95:8-11 NLT)

 Having said these things before, it seems as though they don't need to be repeated; but then again, they are things which should never be forgotten! There is nothing that we do on our own, in order to come into a relationship with Christ; it is the Father, our Heavenly Father, who is the One who draws us to His Son! 

 Jesus was speaking to the people about the manna that came down from Heaven, and who it was that gave it, turning it around saying, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." (John 6:41 NLT) After they complained, Jesus said: "Stop complaining about what I said. For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me."" (John 6:43-45 NLT)

 This is really pretty easy to understand, but it did take some time for me to put all the pieces I have found together; and I am pretty sure there is much more to find out, once I am with the Lord! It was the Father, my Heavenly Father, that made me jump off of that bunk and head down to that Church Service. He was the One that spoke to me, telling me that I needed to go; almost as if it was something my life depended on, and I couldn't say no! 

 For several years people had asked me to go to church or sit in on a Bible Study, but I never wanted to be influenced or changed from my wicked ways. After I was arrested, that last time, I took my wife and kid to a church down the street from our apartment. No sooner than we sat down and one of the Elders came over and wanted me to fill out a card, giving our names and how much money we would be giving on a weekly basis. We pretty much just walked out! 

 During the trial period, (which lasted a year,) my wife was invited to Calvary Chapel of Downey, by the neighbor across from our home. She tried to get me to go with her, but I would always go to work instead. I could have went, but I had no desire to go to any church. 

 When the trial was finally over, I was sentenced to one year in jail and was sent to a compound that actually had a real Church, with a belltower and pews; it looked like something from the middle of any small town, that you would see somewhere in the middle of the town. 

 I can remember one night when they had a service going on inside, I sat out in the field nearby and started praying for the men inside, as if they were being taken down the wrong road or something. I had a little pocket New Testament and spend most of the day with it my pocket, reading it every chance I would get, so I felt as though I had something going with God. But I started crying, as I say the shadows of the men inside, raising their hands and singing to the Lord.

 I thought I was crying for them; but I found out later, it was me that I was crying for, because I needed what they had: Salvation! 

 Long-story-short; I ended up being sent to another facility and it did not have a church; so, I am pretty sure that my defenses were disabled! And it wasn't long, till that Sunday morning came, when that voice came over the speaker: "Good morning, young men. We have a great group of people that want to share something with you this morning, so come on down and listen to what they have to say!" 

 This Chaplin had to be in his late 90's, and he spoke as if he was speaking with his dying breath. There was no hesitation, I jump off of my bunk and started down to the cafeteria, where I meet Jesus... 

""I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh."" (John 6:47-51 NLT) 

"For This Cause"

 "Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:" (Hebrews 4:6 KJV)

  "But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away." (1 Corinthians 7:29-31 NLT) 

 Making a case for what matters most, we need to think more about what God wants, and less about what we want God to do for us. Thinking about the situation with the children of Israel that died in the desert, they focused more upon their own needs, more than their need to draw closer to God. Even after seeing all the signs and wonders, they were not satisfied or comforted by God's presence! He guided them by day with a cloud, and by night with a fire; and yet they still did not believe! 

 What was it that they lacked, having seen such signs and wonders? Love! Not just their love for God, as if they had any love for Him, even though He wanted to love and comfort them. It is God's love that we need to believe in and cherish! We must believe that He loves us and wants to have fellowship with us; which is the whole reason He sent His Son to die for our sins! 

 If you can accept it, (which many probably won't), this idea of first statement, "it remaineth that some must enter therein," I would like to associate it the Lazarus's being raised from the dead. This is the "must enter therein," condition! What power did Lazarus have to rise up from the dead by himself? Absolutely none! Jesus had to call out to Lazarus, specifically, or all the dead would have been risen. 

 I was saved because God called me out from the dead! This much I truly believe, and I know that He personally loves me...

"Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion - how I violently persecuted God's church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being." (Galatians 1:11-16 NLT)

"Our Choice"

 "And in this place again, If they shall enter my rest." (Hebrews 4:5 KJV) 

  ""I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in the God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life."" (John 5:24 NLT)

 As I was listening to Pastor J. Vernon the other day, he was sharing about something that I had never really heard before, which was that the LORD took Ananias and Sapphira, not into hell, but into the Kingdom. I had never really thought about that, because I always thought that they were killed because they lied to the Holy Spirit, causing them to be condemned.  

 Let's think about this, for just a moment. If we have believed and have been given eternal life, that does not mean that we still don't mess up and do things that are wrong or that could cause the LORD to take us home; if the LORD wants to save us from ourselves, He will do whatever it takes; especially if there is a witness to come from it. As there was with Ananias and Sapphira, having caused great fear to grip the entire church! 

 I thought about several people that have passed, some of which were well known and really loved the Lord; yet they were taken from this earth, almost in an instant. We have no idea why God takes some people, but He knows everything about us, even the things we do not know ourselves! 

 There are two different "rests" that are being presented within these passages; one is the rest that is gained, while the other is the rest that is granted; both of which are our choice, based upon how we will live for the Lord! But there is one thing for sure, there is none of us that are perfect, but we that have believed in Christ and the work of the cross, we are all justified! 

 There was something else I recall Pastor J. Vernon once said: The son that took his inheritance and squandered it, ending up in a pigpen, his real address never changed! He was always going to be his Father's son...

"As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous - not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one." "Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies." "Snake venom drips from their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. They don't know where to find peace." "They have no fear of God at all." Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." (Romans 3:10-20 NLT) 

"To Grant Rest"

 "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works." (Hebrews 4:4 KJV) 

  "Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. If people are causing division among you, give a first and second warning, After that, have nothing to do with them. For people like that have turned from the truth, and their own sins condemn them." (Titus 3:9-11 NLT)

 Get this: I heard something yesterday that blew my mind, this Pastor was sharing about the solar system and how the earth is slowing down, spinning slower. I never heard that before, and it was something that is hard to understand, seeing that the days don't seem longer, they seem to be going faster! 

 Anywho, this is about the Sabbath Day, and it is rather important for us to follow! God made the Sabbath for us to rest; simply put! It is for our good, that we should take a day, pretty much any day, and make it a day of rest. Most Pastor's take Monday as the day of rest, as it is pretty much the end of their week; so, on Tuesday they start their week of ministry all over again. 

 There are some religions that try to make Saturday the Sabbath, as if that is the day God established for everyone to shut their doors and stay inside their houses, not doing anything but fast and pray. And then there are some that make the Saturday the day of worship; making it as if anyone that worships on any other day, as if they are sinning against God. 

 To be perfectly correct: Every day is a Day to worship God! There should never be a day when we fail to pray and read our Bibles, making time to praise and hear from the LORD our God. Even if we are on a vacation, something that is meant to be a time away from work. There should never be a day that God is ignored, or fellowship is forgotten or ignored. 

 I have tried my best to find a church, usually a Calvary Chapel, wherever I am in my travels; especially when I am with my wife. Although, it sometimes gets a little awkward when everyone wants to gather around my wife and pray for her healing. But I never refuse prayer! 

 This rest that God took was something He made Himself do; not because He was tired from the work, but to rest and enjoy the beauty of His creation; a creation that was to put us in awe of Him...

"Come let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed to dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!" (PSALM 95:1-7

"Partakers" - 2

 "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4:3 KJV)

  "Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction." (PSALM 1 NLT) 

 Opps! I forgot to hit post yesterday morning; I guess I was too caught up in my complaining about life, that I didn't realize what I was doing. The "rest" we must be looking for, although it is actually not here on this place, called earth; we enter into it by believing that it is ours, that God has established it for us, and it is our privilege and honor to look forward to it, even though this current life might hurt.

 Looking at the meaning in this term, "resting place," as Strong's puts it: "the heavenly blessedness in which God dwells, and of which he has promised to make persevering believers in Christ partakers after the toils and trials of life on earth are ended." 

 There is nothing wrong with having to suffer in this world; but there is something wrong with not being able to rejoice while suffering! We must be able to shine the light of Christ, no matter how things appear, because we don't have our hope in what we see happening to us or in us; our hope is in Christ...

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1:2-4 NLT)

"Partakers"

"For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4:3 KJV)

  "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:1-5 NLT) 

 Just to be clear, I groan almost every day, over one thing or another; but that doesn't mean that I do not also rejoice! This is something that I believe is the result of wanting to go home, to be with the Lord. It's not something that I see myself wanting to happen, because I want to care for my wife; but it is still the thing that I look forward to!   

 The way I see it, (please don't judge me), is that we will enter into heaven with everyone that we know, all of us will be together at the same time, as heaven does not keep time, life is eternal. You can believe what you want, but I don't want to wait for anyone, especially my wife. We are soon approaching 22 years of her being in the state she is in; and I think she is starting to get tired from being confined to bed or her wheelchair. 

 It really breaks my heart, but I told the Lord that I was not going to take her life or do anything to cause her to suffer pain, as I saw happen to Terri back in the beginning of this ordeal. Call it wishful thinking, but if I go first, I want to see her there with me, as I don't want to wait for her, worrying about her. 

 Maybe that's what makes me groan all the time, just asking the Lord to please heal her or take her home! There is something I believe God still wants to do, otherwise, why would He not take her home? Sorry for being weird, but this verse has me thinking about time and works that were finished from the foundations of the world...

"All paise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled. beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while." (1 Peter 1:3-6 NLT) 

"Organic Structure" -2

 "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2 KJV)

  "Dear brothers and sisters, we can't help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus." (2 Thessalonians 1:3-8 NLT)

 You must see the reason that this, strange title, "Organic Structure," has more to do about flexibility and the ability to be stationary, both at the same time. We are grounded upon the Rock, made to be stable and unmovable; yet, at the same time, tossed, pulled, and torn in many different directions. 

 There is something to this suffering that makes us more structured, especially when we accept it and know that it is something the Lord had to go through also! Whether we live through it or don't, the main thing we must focus upon, is the fact that we will be with the Lord in Heaven! No matter what, He has a place for you and me, and this we must never forget, no matter what we might be dealing with here on this earth. 

 Therefore, God's Word is never to be forgotten or challenged by anything going on in our lives; we must always remember that and never doubt that what He said isn't true! The Bible is undeniably true, no matter who might say otherwise; this we must believe with all of our hearts. It is not just a book of fables and stories, as some might say: It is the Living Word of God!

 We might have to go through all sorts of different situations, watching each other suffer through dealing with cancer, the loss of a child, or something that devastates our living conditions; but God is always in control, He never abandons us, and no matter what, we will make to the other side...

"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 get 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 4:8-10 NLT) 

"Organic Structure"

 "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2 KJV)

  "We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece - throughout both Macedonia and Achaia." (1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 NLT)

 It is really no surprise, but yesterday I heard at least three messages about people losing faith and the reasons they walk away from the Lord. It is really not as if the message was given then, but it was still aired in a way that I could hear it. That, my friends, is the work of the Holy Spirit, for that I am sure.

 I know that the title, "Organic Structure," might seem strange to some, but it something that comes from the word, "mixed," in the verse we are looking at today. Something happens when there is the Word of God preached, and our faith is strengthened by what we have heard; especially when it happens to more than one person. 

 Even though the people of Thessalonica suffered severe persecution, their faith was not weakened, but it was strengthened, as trusted more and more to the Word they had received, the Good News of the glory of the Gospel message! You really can't take that away, no matter how difficult things might become; if you have received the message and have the faith to believe it, nothing, not even the threat of death, can take it away!

 Do you know what happens by that example? Other are changed and strengthened by seeing that your faith is real! There is a body of believers that gain boldness and encouragement; so, it doesn't only benefit you, but it benefits many in the body of Christ...

"And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven - Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment." (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 NLT)  

 

"Struck with Amazement" - Too

 "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." (Hebrews 4:1 KJV)

  ""Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five of them were wise. The five who were foolish didn't take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take alone extra oil."" (Matthew 25:1-4 NLT)

 Seemingly, there is more to this that just trying to have faith; faith is not good enough if there isn't some sort of work to show that your faith is real! Some might challenge that statement, as there are people who do. But there is something called, love, which makes doing something with your faith, something to give others hope and encouragement; that this thing called, being a Christian, is real! 

 In the parable about the 'five wise and five foolish virgins,' Jesus is expressing the importance of being prepared for His return. Basically, what that could mean, is that those who are wise are prepared, meaning that they have filled their lamps, and have actually taken extra oil, just in case they needed more.

 If there was some way to simplify what this might look like in the real world, dealing with life and death issues; there are some people who have enough faith to deal with any sort of tragedy or situation, and then there are those who's faith is shattered when something seems to go terribly wrong. 

 In other words, when your faith is tested or you don't have the will to keep believing, you must be prepared to fill your lamps again! The foolish virgins didn't take enough oil for their lamps, meaning that they didn't have enough faith for being prepared for whatever might happen. 

 I'm sorry if that doesn't seem right, as if there is some other reason for the oil; but there are several different things that the oil represents. Many believe it is the Holy Spirit, which is easy to associate with what it takes. But even if that is the case, you must still have the faith to do what the Spirit tells you to do and allow the Spirit comfort you through whatever you are going through. 

 There are many that think they have enough faith, until some sort of travesty or disaster happens, then they lose it all together! We must be willing to trust God in every circumstance, believing that He has purpose in everything that we might have to go through or face.

 One way to be sure that there is a way, is to keep believing He is coming soon! If you are prepared for His return, then the things this world might throw at you, really won't matter as much! By the way, the title, "Struck with Amazement," is a definition of the word "fear" that is shown in verse one...

"When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what I should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others, I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:22-27 NLT) 

"Struck with Amazement"

 "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering unto his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." (Hebrews 4:1 KJV)

  "And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy - just as the entire branch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham's tree - some of the people of Israel - have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not a root. "Well," you may say, "those branches were broken off to make room for me." Yes, but remember - those branches were broken off because they didn't believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won't spare you either." (Romans 11:16-21 NLT)

 I can remember what it was like to sing the song, "Father Abraham," as we gathered in a circle of men, marching in step, swinging our arms, and bobbing our heads. A circle of inmates, celebrating being sons of Abraham, grafted into the promise, the same promise given to Abraham! Just because of faith; as it was spoken of Abraham, we too were made righteous because of our faith! 

 This might seem hard for some to believe, but it is hard to do something that God cannot forgive you for, even if it was murder! Not that it is something that you won't be punished for, because you will still be required to deal with the consequences here on this earth. But God's grace is sufficient to remove all sins, no matter what; making your statis perfect as you enter into His Kingdom! 

 Hopefully that is what you believe; because God has made it something that He is proud of, as He says in Isaiah 55...

""Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised David. See how I used him to display my power among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious." (Isaiah 55:3-5 NLT)

"Promised Rest for God's People"

   "God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news - that God has prepared this rest - has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, "In my anger I took an oath: 'They will never enter my place of rest,'" even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: "On the seventh day God rested from all his work." But in the other passage God said, "They will never enter my place of rest." 

  So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard the good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: "Today, when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts." Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." (Hebrews 4:1-13 NLT) 

"I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and me fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." (Psalms 18:1-2 KJV)

 As much as I think that I understand the big picture, the more I look, the more complex and difficult it is to understand everything there is to know. Just when you think that you have it all figured out, God will show us how little we actually know! 

 This is really not that hard to understand, because God has clearly already told us that we don't know the totality of His word, let alone His plans. So what do we do? We simply trust in Him no matter what, and we give Him all the glory and praise that He deserves...

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:11-14 KJV)  

"Simply Put!"

 "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:19 KJV)

  "Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns. She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. "Come in with me," she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, "Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment."" (Proverbs 9:1-6 NLT) 

 There are certain things that cause us to feel as though God isn't listening; mostly they are the things that we do which are not what God wants us to do. If you don't know what I am talking about, it involves the lack of good judgment, which involves everyday things we do, without first taking them to God! 

 Putting in another way: If we are drawing closer to God, wanting to listen for His voice, then God will listen more to what we have to say; and we will know that it is sure! I really don't know how else to put it; and it is not that God doesn't actually listen or does not hear us; because it is our relationship with Him that makes the difference.

 In Solomon's description of wisdom, it is all about having the right frame of mind! If we truly know and believe that God is all knowing, He loves us, is for us, and will always do what is best for us, then we will not be doubtful and have unbelief. Much like the little things in life that are laws of nature: if you test the law of gravity, hoping to not get hurt, you will not be happy...

"So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you." (1 Peter 4:19 NLT)  

"Unbelieving"

 "And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?" (Hebrews 3:18 KJV)

  "The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn't believe his promise to care for them. Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the LORD." (PSALM 106:24-25 NLT)

 There is more to this than just believing that God is real! James makes that perfectly clear, saying, "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless?" (James 2:19-20 NLT) 

 This world will not provide the peace and joy that we need; even though things might be going well for us, there is still certain things that will cause us to need to trust in God, death being one that always seem to work! Those who might get some kind of notice from a doctor that they have something wrong in their body, and they may not last very long at all; they will suddenly not care so much about the things they own or the job they have, because none of that matters to them anymore. 

 Something else is more important than even your health! As I listened to a message yesterday at church, the point that stuck out the most was about, "God Wins!" There were other major points, but that one was the one that makes the most important message; besides the fact that we win also, in the end! 

 Paul was writing to the church in Philippi, knowing that he would most likely be executed, sooner or later; but his main theme of this letter was about rejoicing, no matter what, good or bad, we should rejoice in every circumstance. That might not be easy, depending on your situation; but God is ultimately in control, and He has absolute control of everything that happens to our soul! 

 We live in a body that will not last, no matter what! Even when the Rapture comes, if you are taken up, this body will not be the body you have in Heaven. It is your soul that matters most of all; and it is your soul that has full protection from God! When it says, "He protects you forever," it is talking about your soul...

 "The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (PSALM 121:5-8 NLT) 

"The Mark" - 2

 "But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?" (Hebrews 3:17 KJV)

  "Teacher; which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?' Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."" (Matthew 22:36-40 NLT)

 Just so you know, 'The Mark,' is part of the meaning of 'sinned' that is used in the reason their carcasses fell in the wilderness, because they missed the mark! This is the challenge of hitting a bullseye with an arrow; if you don't hit that bullseye, then they say that you missed the mark; which basically means, you missed doing what you could have done. 

 Not everyone is equipped for hitting the bullseye, sad to say; but that doesn't mean that they are not able, if they wanted to try! I can't imagine why someone that had a snakebite, and was going to die, would not look at the bronze snake on a pole, to be made well! What would cause such a reaction to something that was so simple? 

 It is just the same for those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ and be washed in the blood of the Lamb! It is because they do not want to be changed! They will continue to miss the mark, because they have no desire to do what it takes to please God! Big mistake...

""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 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. And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."" (John 3:16-21 NLT)   

"The Mark"

 "But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?" (Hebrews 3:17 KJV)

  "Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites." (1 Corinthians 10:9 NLT)

 Having been in the wilderness, so to speak, I can relate to what it feels like when you just don't have the hope you should, especially when it seems things are never going to get better. Not that I don't have any hope for the life after this one, because that hope is pretty much all that I can really trust in; I am talking about having hope for this life, and what happens here, on planet earth.

 I took my wife to the movies the other day, to see the kid's movie, called, "Elio." It was okay, somewhat enjoyable, until the movie started to end and the credits started; then they announced how this movie is to give people the sense that they are not alone, and that there is life out there in space. 

 Actually, it was rather interesting how they showed the 'space' to be, as if it was taken from the Bible. I am talking about how heaven shows up, as if a window opens up, and there it is, right in this atmosphere. Something like we see in Ezekiel; or in Acts when Stephen sees the heavens open. 

 What it reminded me of was the Rapture, which I believe will be soon coming, and how the world will believe that the people taken were abducted by aliens. It's just one more sign to show us that things are falling into place! 

 Anywho; this verse from 1 Corinthians 10:9 is to show us the 'test' that was put to Christ! Simply put, the test was not multiple choice; there was only one way that people were saved that had been bitten, and that was by looking at the bronze serpent that Moses lifted up on a pole.  

 There is something about missing the Mark that has power to save...

"Jesus replied, "You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don't understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won't believe our testimony. But if you don't believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has even gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life."" (John 3:10-15 NLT)    

 

"Nevertheless"

 "For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt be Moses." (Hebrews 3:16 KJV)

  "For he divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls! In the daytime he led them by a cloud, and all night by a pillar of fire. He split open the rocks in the wilderness to give them water, as from a gushing spring. He made streams pour from the rock, making the waters flow down like a river! Yet they kept on sinning against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved. They even spoke against God himself, saying, "God can't give us food in the wilderness. Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can't give his people bread and meat."" (PSALM 78:13-20 NLT)

 There are several different points that need to be made about the way we should receive this great salvation we have been given, as one that we use the most, as we share God's mercy, is that He saved us from going to hell. Yes, that is wonderful and should be something that gives us great joy and peace; but it is not the main reason that we must appreciate what He has done for us! 

 The first point that is sometimes forgotten about, is the heart of the Father; as it was, He offered His one and only Son, to be a sacrifice for our sins! This was something that hurt, even though He knew that the outcome would be greater than the actual torment; seeing His Son tortured and hung on a cross, is not something that brought Him great pleasure, to say the least! 

 But He did it for us, that we could have our sins removed, and so we could be set free from death! Yes, I said death, because with Adam sinning, we were separated from God and the life we should have had was cut off, because of sin. We were all born in sin, being separated from God! Longing for something to make our hearts whole, without even knowing what we were missing. 

 Then we acknowledge the Son, Christ Jesus! As He suffered and died to allow us to have fellowship with the Father, once and for all; His sacrifice on that cross gave us life, the life that was taken away by Adam's sin in that garden. 

 With that, what is the big deal about being saved from hell? If God really wanted that to be the reason to love Him, He could have just destroyed hell or made another way. But He choose to do it the hard way, making it count! There needed to be a punishment for our sins, in order for justice to be made, because God is just and holy...

"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (1 John 4:9-10 NLT)   

"Obstinate"

 "While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." (Hebrews 3:15 KJV)

  ""I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries."" (Proverbs 8:17-21 NLT)

 This message from Proverbs is about wisdom, as most of you should know; and this verse we are looking at today, which continues the verses from the last few days, is also about making the right choices. To be perfectly honest, my choices are sometimes not the right ones! I hate to admit it, but there must be some sort of issue God still hasn't fixed in me; most likely because I refuse to let Him do it! 

 Much of what I have highlighted over this past week or so, is those who have been, shall we say, less than perfect. David being one, who God said he was, "a man after my own heart," which, from all the many messages that I have heard about that, it basically just means that David believed God had a heart of mercy and grace! No matter how bad he messed up, he knew that God still loved him! 

 It is hard sometimes to remember that, because we forget how much God loves us when we have made some terrible mistakes. And yes, I said mistakes! When Jesus was hanging on that cross, just before He died, He said, "Father, forgive them, for they no not what they have done!" This is because most of what we do that offends God, we don't really realize the condition of our hearts while we are doing them.

 When Nathan met up with David about his great sin with Bathsheba, he used an illustration of a poor man that has his neighbor take his precious little lamb, (which he treated like his child,) and feed it to a friend that was stopping be for a visit. David was furious, and wanted to know who that man was, and wanted to punish whoever had the nerve to do such a thing.

 Nathan said to David, "You are that man!" And he reminded David of what he had done...

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you." (PSALM 51:12 NLT)   

"Keep Holding On" - Too

 "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;" (Hebrews 3:14 KJV)

  "My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins - and not only our sins but the sins of all the world." (1 John 2:1-2 NLT)

 For the last couple of days, I have heard several messages about this particular passage from John, especially that portion that says, "We have an advocate that pleads our case; Jesus Christ!" Yesterday was more direct than Monday, so it made me think that the Holy Spirit was really trying to stir up some hearts. I know He did mine, because there are times when I do get discouraged; mostly because I sometimes don't feal as though I have what it takes! 

 We really need to understand that the enemy of our souls is not nice; you can see that being illustrated in the Book of Job, as he really does not care how hard we suffer, especially when we start blaming God for the situation we might be dealing with. If that might be something you have felt, then you need to repent and tell God how sorry you are for blaming Him!

 Unfortunately, there are certain people that will use Isaiah 45:7 to validate the idea that God is to blame for everything that happens: "I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things." (NLT) It is not God's fault that man cannot obey Him! 

 Why else did He need to send His precious Son down here to die on a cross for our sins? It was man's fault that Jesus had to come and die for our sins, not God's! Everything that God did was for man's life to live in perfect splendor; everything was put in place for man to enjoy a beautiful earth; but Adam had to do the one thing God told him not to do! 

 That said, I am 110% sure that we will see Adam and Eve in heaven, because they realized that they sinned and were forgiven by God! That is something I feel is the most important thing God loves to do, forgive us of our sins! It was so important to Him, that He sent His Son to make it happen.

 Yesterday, Pastor Mike, got a little hard on Jonah, saying that he was an evangelist without compassion for the lost. This was because God wanted him to tell Nineveh to repent; and he knew that if they did, God would forgive them...

"And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. "Death is certainly better than living like this!" he exclaimed. Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?" "Yes," Jonah retorted, "even angry enough to die!" Then the LORD said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"" (Jonah 4:6-11 NLT)   

"Keep Holding On"

"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;" (Hebrews 3:14 KJV)

  "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad - for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world." (1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT)

 Then again, sometimes we might not get the opportunity to comfort each other; as it goes, sometimes we are dealing with things that cause us to be too busy with our own issues, we don't have the time to deal with anyone else; or so it goes.   

 By the way, it might sound strange to some, but putting your own issues aside to help others, might be the thing that makes you least worried about yourself! God is more than able to take care of your issues, as He always has in the past. Think least about yourself and more about others! 

 I know quite a few people that will say that is a stupid thing to do. 'If you don't care for yourself, how can you care for others?' is what they say. There are certain things I know that I must do, and then there are certain things I know I need to not do: worrying about something that is happening in my life, is not one of the things I should do...

""Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"" (1 Kings 19:11-13 NLT)