"Comforting Thoughts" -2

"Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." (Psalms 77:20) If you are wondering where the first "Comforting Thoughts" might be, it was at the beginning. It is suspected by some that this Psalm was written while Israel was in captivity in Babylon; yet there are several references to the experience in the wilderness and their deliverance from Egypt, as with this final verse. Typically, Moses and Aaron being listed together represent leadership and structure; Moses would represent governing and Aaron would represent the priest or ordinance. But in the light of what God has been showing me, I am applying some other representation, one which makes more sense to the situation of being held in captivity; mainly, that Moses and Aaron were merely men. Granted, they were men that God used mightily, but they were still just men who were flawed like you and I; men who questioned and tested and sinned against God, just like any other person that is called of God. In the context of what God has been laying on my heart, I think that this is so very relevant in the life of those who are God's servants. We question God's use of our lives based upon our abilities or our usefulness, which is determined by us, based upon our flesh; which is utter stupidity on our part, because in our flesh we are useless and can do nothing. It is the power of God working in and through our lives that makes us His servants; especially when it comes to using our 'God Given Talents.' I expect to be used in that 'Talent' which God has prepared me for; just as Moses and Aaron were used in that which God prepared them for; but expecting does not happen by doing nothing! Seriously! We can not expect God to use us in any capacity whatsoever, if we are not willing to put forth the effort to let Him use us. What that might involve is between you and the Lord, but it surely isn't going to happen if we do not step out in faith and let it happen. It's really more about being available and willing to surrender all to the Lord; at whatever the cost might be, but including everything! That's where it matters the most, the everything thing! Because truth be told, Moses had more at stake than just speaking rightly, he was also considered to be a murderer in Egypt, so that had to weigh deeply upon his heart in his resistance to going back there. So, if you were expecting something to be hanging around waiting for you, or keeping your comfortable life, then you have not yet fully counted the cost; but what is anything here compared to eternity in heaven? Nothing does even come close to comparing with heaven, absolutely nothing! And don't forget to keep looking up...
"Now concerning how and when all of this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don't really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, "Everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) NLT  

"Comfort One Another" -Too

"Thy way is in the sea, thy path in the great waters, for thy footsteps are not known." (Psalms 77:19) Can you see the relationship that is developed in waiting? We find it hard to wait for anyone; always guessing and judging peoples motives and actions: 'What's taking them so long?' we say under our breath, as if they are doing it on purpose, or as if they could care less about how we feel. But God, He does not have a watch to tell what time it is; His clock is progress and readiness, not minutes, hours, days, and years. So yes, we are to be patient and anxious both together, waiting with anticipation around every corner, that this could be the day of His coming; all the while, thankful that He is letting us get prepared for that day; letting us add one more friend or family member to His church. Isn't that what we are to be doing? When you see the parable of the "talents" and the message it contains, it's not about the good and the bad, because the one who buried his talent was not cast out because he did bad, he did not do that which he was expected to do; and he lost that which he had been given and it was given to him who had gained much. In other words, there was a prize for doing what was expected! On the other side of that, there was lose for not doing what was expected; maybe not losing our salvation, but more about losing honor and praise, the kind of honor and praise we might anticipate from being the bride. Go dig up that talent and put it to work! Don't let it stay buried, wrapped up in a napkin; as if that will preserve it, as if that will keep it safe and secure. It is meant to be multiplied by being put to good use; so that each and every day that He might linger, is another day to double your talent, is another day to get in the good and faithful servant standing, not be the wicked and lazy servant. Whether or not it is a salvation issue, I won't make that call, I'll leave that up to the Lord. But it is a matter of doing what a servant is expected to do; after all, isn't servant meant to represent serving? I'm thinking yes...
"After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them together to give and account of how they used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, 'Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.' The master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'" (Matthew 25:19-21) NLT

"Comfort One Another"

"Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known." (Psalms 77:19) Do you feel comfort in knowing He could come back any time? Are you comfortable in your standing with God, or are you unsure where you stand? You look at this verse, thinking that you know the answer based upon your interpretation, but do you really? Oddly enough, there is comfort in not knowing the time of His coming, if you know He is coming for you; if there is some reason you don't, or if you have doubt, then you can get that corrected; but it's totally dependent upon you! In the custom of the traditional marriage, the bride never actually knew when the bride groom would actually appear; but that did not make her uneasy or uncomfortable, it made her the more anxious and ready. Every day that he delayed was one more day closer to the wedding day! All that the bride could think and say, is, "He is coming for me, any day!" And oddly enough, she looked at every new day as another day to get ready; to better prepare herself for her husband. I see this verse very plainly saying that we do not know how God operates, nor can we know; just as we cannot predict or know what is going to happen in the ocean based upon what we see happening on the surface of the water. We might see a swelling, but we don't know how big or how high the wave might be until the wave is formed; nor do we know what God is doing until He does it; and even then, we don't know the conclusion of what He has done... "You trampled the sea with your horses, and the mighty waters piled high. I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)" (Habakkuk 3:15-19) NLT

"The Glass is Full" -Too

"The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook." (Psalms 77:18) I guess I got carried away yesterday; but don't you agree that it's time for the Lord to come back? If anything would make us believe His time was near, it should be the fact that this world is on edge; the edge of their seat is more like it! Do you know what that means? It doesn't mean leaning to the side in order to pass gas, if that's what you're thinking; it means leaning forward ready to jump up out of the chair that they have been slumbering in for who knows how long. We all know what we are truly waiting for, because it's not for the world to get any worse; it's for the Bride of Christ to be ready, and that is determined by the Father! The Son prepares the home to bring His Bride into, but the Father ensures that the Bride is ready for the Son to bring home. That is why Jesus said, "No one knows the day or the hour but my Father," because the Father chooses if the Bride is ready or not, not the Son. It is the Father's will that all might be saved, but it's pretty obvious from the ratio of those who are and those that aren't, that His will includes all that would be saved, not all that should or could. Because truth be told, there isn't a single person alive today that couldn't or shouldn't be saved; even the most hardened criminal that there is on this earth should and could be saved; it's just a matter of saying yes, and surrendering their life to Jesus, and their in! Maybe they are the last one, maybe not; but the Father makes that choice, the Father picks the Bride for His Son. Are you ready? Is there oil in your lamp? Will there be a warning, as in, "Behold, the Bride Groom cometh?" No matter what, half of the world will be sleeping when He comes, so maybe that has something to do with being ready, as in make sure that you're ready when you lay down to sleep at night. The earth is trembling right now, so I believe the time is getting close; how close, we really don't know. But isn't that why we need to be ready? Because we do not know the day or the hour of His return... "Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. Two men will be working in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:32-42) NLT  

"The Glass is Full"

"The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook." (Psalms 77:18) First and foremost, living in this world is for us an opportunity for God to shine His light in us; our primary purpose for being here is to share God's love with a world that needs to be saved, if we are not doing that, then our "talents" are not being put to use, and they are buried in the earth. God has given us everything that we need to serve Him well: He has taken away our sins, thereby giving us clean hearts that can boldly proclaim the Gospel with confidence and perfection; He has given us His Spirit, so that we can walk and live in the power of New Life; He has performed everything He needed to do, in order that we might know that all things do work for the good, whether things appear so or not! Do you know why Jesus refused the pain killer? Besides not wanting to miss any portion of redeeming the world, He looked into history, before and ahead, seeing all those killed for their testimony, all of which suffered and died without being offered a pain killer. Don't tell me that Jesus had some sort of supernatural way to ignore the pain, because He took it like a man! "Is this all you got," He proclaimed, as they tried to break His spirit. Darn right "the earth trembled and shook," it did so because the one who held it all together was being ripped apart! And if that were not enough, He was made fun of and ridiculed like some sort of a joke, as He hung there on the cross; by the crowds, by the religious leaders, by the soldiers; all of which He created and held together; all of which He hung there and died for; all of which He asked the Father to forgive, out of their foolish and ignorant hearts. So yes, we have something within us that needs to get out! There is power being generated, but it must flow out; just as water rushing through a power plant to generate power, we must let the Living Water flow out of us. The more it flows, the more it flows! The more that goes out, the more that comes in! That is how the glass gets full...
 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that the captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD'S favor has come." (Luke 4:18-19) NLT  

"Glass Half Empty"

"The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad." (Psalms 77:17) As much as we might think we can, we can't; if the Holy Spirit is not powering you, then you are without the power to achieve righteousness. I have been listening to Pastor Damian, pretty much non stop for the last several days, teaching from Matthew and Mark. I think we are in Mark chapter seven right now, but the end of Matthew yesterday was some pretty good stuff; especially the part about Peter's determination to be strong and his complete failure to pull it off. There was something I picked up on about Peter cutting off that guy's right ear in the garden, that because it was his right ear, Peter most likely had done it from behind the man's back; I thought that was rather interesting. Whether you believe it or not, after Jesus had overcome His weakness in the flesh, the Spirit of God in Him was pretty much unstoppable. He left off being the least bit concerned about the temporal body, and was full-on all about the Spirit and the eternal task at hand. The way Damian illustrated the picture, it all made perfect sense. Jesus had asked His disciples three times to pray with Him, yet after He overcame, He told them to go ahead and sleep. The way Damian explained it, Jesus actually took a moment to sit down by them and pray for them; especially for Peter, and the trial that would wait ahead for him over the denial of his Lord. It was most likely two or three in the morning, so if the disciples were tired, they had good reason to keep falling asleep; but Jesus would not sleep again, except for the brief moment that His body expired on the cross. Interesting thing about what happened, is that Jesus went from not wanting to go through with what was going to happen, to not wanting to miss a single part of what the experience would entail. Even though they offered Him something to numb the pain, He refused it, not wanting to miss a single moment or any ounce of suffering in which He would endure. I can't imagine what that could feel like; nor would I ever want to! We do not have it in us, but we can...
 "The sun and the moon stood still in the sky as your brilliant arrows flew and your glittering spear flashed. You marched across the land in anger and trampling the nations in fury. You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe. With his own weapons, you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey." (Habakkuk 3:11-14) NLT  

"Glass Half Full" -Too

"The water saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled." (Psalms 77:16) I know it's odd, but please, this Psalm is about "Comforting Thoughts," and so it must bring us some comfort, even though it might appear a little troubling. Actually, it makes perfect sense, if you stop and think about God being on your side; because He is on our side! I think what God is saying has much to do with the thought from the other day, the thought about trusting in riches. We can never get to the place where we are perfect, not in this life; we are always going to need a filling of the Holy Spirit, because we leak! If you are actually honest with yourself, and with God, then you know this is totally true: we need to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit. Actually, the only time that we are not all that interested in being filled with the Spirit are the times we feel like walking in our flesh; that's the point I see coming out of this verse, that we need to yield to the Spirit's depth gauge, and let Him fill us up! Just like everything else that is anything to do with gifts from God, there is really nothing that we need to do to make it happen, but yield our life to Him; that's it! No 50 Hail Mary's, or betting ourselves into submission; it's all about letting go and letting God take control of our lives. And, as soon as you are feeling like you have got it all under control, or that you have arrived to the state of perfection, watch out, because you are in for a fall! The comforting thought in that is not that we are going to fall, it's that we do not need to fall, as long as we always remember that the glass is always half full, and that we are never without needing to be filled... "Was it in anger, LORD, that you struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation! You brandished your bow and your quiver of arrows. You split open the earth with flowing rivers. The mountains watched and trembled. Onward swept the ragging waters. The mighty deep cried out, lifting its hands to the LORD. The sun and the moon stood still in the sky as your brilliant arrows flew and your glittering spear flashed." (Habakkuk 3:8-11) NLT

"Glass Half Full"

"The water saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled." (Psalms 77:16) I would like to think that there is more to this than meets the eye; after all, it reminds me a lot like the Tower of Babel. If you are not familiar with what happen then, let me remind you that man actually thought that they could build a tower up to heaven. Imagine that, that somehow man thought they could reach the heights of God; what were they thinking? But God, in His superior wisdom and strength, saw their hearts; He saw that they were over-achieving, so He confused their languages and made it impossible to work together to get anything done. I see something similar in what we are trying to do today; it's almost as if man is trying to play God, trying to create something from almost nothing; it's actually almost like conjuring spells, or mixing up a little magic potions in order to recreate something, or create something new. Anywho; I guess I spend too much time on Drudge, and I am starting to get carried away by headlines. When it comes to our walk, that walk which is to be on the 'narrow path,' we need to be mindful of the 'Full Counsel of God.' In other words, we need to make sure that what we believe we are reading does not contradict something else that God has said in His word. I know this might be hard for some to believe, but there are lots of people out there who will try to make a movement based upon wrong interpretations of God's word. I like to think of it like this: If Christ Jesus is not the foundation, then it's not based upon the truth! Period. The entire Old Testament was telling of Jesus and God's redemption; even the law was showing our need to be redeemed. I know I might have mentioned this before, but it makes perfect sense, so I will repeat it again. It was something I heard Pastor Jon share about the Temple furnishings; that everything God instructed them to build, He gave measurement for, except for the "water basin" which was used for cleansing... "I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2) NLT  

"The Equalizer" -2

"Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah." (Psalms 77:15) I had actually quite more to say yesterday, but somehow everything I had typed was erased or not saved; and I wanted to make it to first service, so I needed to summarize all that I had written. Whether your a shepherd or second in command of a mighty nation, there is no difference in the heavenly order, nor in your mortality here on this earth. I can't help but think of Nebuchadnezzar, and how he went from being the mightiest man on the planet, to hanging out with the cows eating grass. He also went from a heathen of a man, to one that respected and worshiped the One True God; after which he saw first hand that God actually is the one who is in control. I have to admit, there are days when I forget from whence I get anything or anymore of this life. You know that statement of Jesus saying, "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them," it actually does not mean we should test God by drinking poison or handling poisonous snakes; it means that God will not let you die if you are not meant to die. John was the only apostle that was not killed, but that does not mean they did not try to kill him, because they did. Everything we have comes from God, especially our very lives! I can't begin to tell you the countless times that I have taken so much for granted; whether it be health or wealth, God is the giver of all good things, and we can never ever think that we have anything of our own doing or based upon who we are or what we have done. Everything we have can be taken in a flash; everything we own is not our own, it all belongs to God. The message yesterday was pretty good. It was from John 15, and Jesus' teaching how He is the Vine, and that we must abide in Him. I was reminded of something very important in that message, which is about Jesus' statement, "whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you." This simple phase has been misused by many, as they teach some sort of prosperity doctrine, as if Jesus was talking about physical and tangible things. In the context of what Jesus was speaking of, He was speaking of "fruit," as in, that we might "bring forth fruit" in our lives. That is the most important thing for us to ask for, that our lives would be fruitful and give glory to God. And how do we bring forth fruit? Abide in Christ, and ask the Father...
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because the master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other." (John 15:9-17) NLT  

"The Equalizer"

"Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah." (Psalms 77:15) Now I know something about how God uses people, it's really not about who we are or what we are capable of; it's about what God does through those that make themselves available for Him to work through. We are really not about all that! It's God who does the work; it's God who actually gets the job done; we are just the tools in His mighty hands. Looking at the two characters mentioned, Jacob and Joseph, you can see how this works in the way they were both used of God. One had no clue who he was, or how important he would be; while the other knew all along he was important, he just didn't know how it would all come about. We are all equally important in God's eye, because we each play a part in His work. That's the key to understanding our role, that it's His work and not ours. One plants, one waters, one will harvest; but it is God that makes it all happen, He's in control, don't you know... "I will tell of the LORD'S unfailing love. I will praise the LORD for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love. He said, "They are my very own people. Surely they will not betray me again." And he became their Savior. In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them through all the years." (Isaiah 63:7-9) NLT

"The Enabler" -2

"Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people." (Psalms 77:14) It might just be me, but isn't time that Jesus came for His bride? Oh my, can we just get ready already! That is what I believe is preventing His coming, His bride is not yet ready to depart. We must understand how much we need the Holy Spirit to direct our lives; and I'm not talking about guiding us this way or that, I'm talking about directing our hearts and making us actually love one another. The way I see it, the wonders of God are displayed in His church, much more than they are displayed in creation or in signs and wonders. If you give "the people" a sign or a wonder they will just wait for another, and another; signs and wonders are short lived when it comes to changing the way people think; but love, love is the "strength" of God that crushes the human spirit and brings people to their knees. Oneness, that's what we need to be! All of our differences aside, we need to be one in Christ Jesus; that is when we will be loving each other as ourselves. And who do you think is going to make that happen, you or me? Nope! You are wrong if you said yes, because we can not do it, no way, no how. If you think you can, or even do, then how's that working out for you so far? Will you give your life for a brother or a sister, unconditionally? The "Way" is not a slogan, it's a model of how to give your life for others; that's what Jesus showed us! He did not come just to die for our sins, He came to demonstrate humility and love, the kind that causes people to say, "What just happen!" as they pick themselves up off the floor. It's the Holy Spirit living in us that will make us love as we must love, and it's up to us to yield our lives to Him so that He can work in us. Do you know what kind of "wonder" will be displayed when that happens? You've got it -Jesus shows up! And when Jesus shows up, God's strength is declared to "the people"... "You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling." No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and the people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel." (Hebrews 12:18-24) NLT

"The Enabler"

"Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people." (Psalms 77:14) As I look forward to this upcoming trip, I also know it won't be easy. I usually will have someone else go with us, just so I can safely monitor and care for Marianne during the long twelve hours of driving we will be doing each day. Okay, you got me; maybe not twelve actual driving hours, more like eight or nine; but the many fifteen minute stops along the way will make it a twelve hour day. This time I want to try and do it right, by trying to spend the night in RV Parks instead of Rest Stops and Walmart parking lots. I am setting out for Newport News by next Friday, hopefully by noon, and prayerfully in one piece. We are going to Reno tonight, so that I can gain some strength for the main part of the journey; staying at the Grand Sierra and leaving Reno on Sunday after visiting the Calvary Chapel fellowship there for Sunday morning service. It would be nice to find another Calvary on the way for Wednesday night service, but I don't quite know where I will be at that time, seeing how there is about 40 hours of driving involved. Now then, about this title, "The Enabler," a term that is always looked and talked about in such negative ways. It is really not meant to be used in such negative light, but then again, we were never meant to be what we born into, separated from God. I was engaged in a conversation the other night regarding the age of this planet; I think it started on the cause of earthquakes, or the oil that is in the ground, or something like that. Anywho; I brought up the fact that Jesus made wine from water, and that it was not just some grape flavored water, it was really good wine; something that requires wine to age, for a period of time far exceeding five minutes. Who's to say that God did not create a mature earth? Didn't God create Adam as a mature man? Did Adam receive a mature wife? As far as that goes, I believe we are born again equip with everything we need to walk out the life of being a Christian. From the very first moment that we are redeemed, we are reborn into a spiritual life, one which brings with it the eternal life that is in our Eternal God. Our eternal life begins at the time of our rebirth! Okay, so maybe that does not give you goosebumps thinking about. But it's like this: 'You're either born once and die twice; or you're born twice and die once.' Which one will you choose? I think I would take the second choice if I were you... "And I saw a great white throne and one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15) NLT  

"Separateness" -2

"Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?" (Psalms 77:13) If you are wondering where this word "separateness" comes from, it's one of the meanings for "sanctuary" that is used in this verse. The word is 'qodesh' and is used 468 times though out the Old Testament, primarily as the word "holy," which is over half of it's usages, with "sanctuary" taking up second place with 68 uses. If you stop and think about it, the second part of the verse actually gives that definition, as it specifies that there is none that compares to God; He is in a league all by Himself, and there is no one that can match Him. Now about those 'sins of omission' that I left off with yesterday; we are faced with so many choices each and every day of our lives, and the choices not to do this or that are only less than half of our problems. I say less than half, because if you are walking in the Spirit of God, most of your choices are going to be towards doing this or that based upon the fruit of the Spirit; if you are walking in the flesh, then you're dealing with not doing this or that based upon the desires of your flesh. When we actually are walking in the Spirit, the desires of the flesh are not that hard to swat out of the way, because we are more focused upon the things that are pleasing to God and less focused upon pleasing our sinful natures. In other words, we should not be focused upon the not's, because the not's are not what make us strong; we need to focus on the do's, because the do's will make us "separateness" in nature, which basically means that we will be set-apart, or distinct. Basically the point I am trying to make, is that "Thy way, O God," is based upon the fact that the way of living in God and God living in us will be "separateness" and distinct; in other words, there is no denying that you are His child, because you are a child of God... "To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens. Who created 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 your 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

"Separateness"

""Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?" (Psalms 77:13) Comfort can be found in knowing God. As simple as that might sound, it's not as simple as all that. There truly are different levels of knowing, much as learning takes on different levels based upon experience. Some people might think that Paul and James were in opposition to each other on the issue of faith verses works, but nothing could be further from the truth; if anything, James just simplified Paul's expression of a transformed life in Christ. No where in Paul's writings did he say that there should not be evidence of our salvation in our lives; just the contrary is true of Paul, because where else do you find the "fruit of the Spirit" listed, but in Paul's to the Galatians; which by the way, happened to be a letter written in opposition to a works doctrine. You might be familiar with the verse that says, "His banner over me is love," from The Song of Solomon 2:4; well, it just so happens, that "banner" actually means a sign, like in a flag or a banner which is flying over our head. In other words, you are marked and put on display as one of God's anointed. So it's really not a matter of works being put forth, as in you need to work at something; it's more about just being available for God to use you, so that He might work through you. As complicated as that might sound, it's really not all that complicated at all; it's about who we are and who God is in us! We are "earthen vessels" that get to be used by a Mighty God who does mighty works through us! That is, if we make ourselves available for Him is use; or not, which is sometimes totally up to us. I say sometimes, because Jonah mostly did not have a choice; God used him anyway, even though he did not wish to be used. The way I see it, if we don't let God use our lives, it's a sin; not like we are committing a sin, but it's a sin of omission...
"Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith." (2 Corinthians 13:5) NLT
"Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:17) NLT  

"Liquefaction" - 2

"I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings." (Psalms 77:12) So, after the fallout of all that, did we actually learn anything? It's really all about learning, don't you know? Oh, and about this title, liquefaction, "the process of making or becoming liquid;" that's pretty much the way I see 'Living Water' working in us. We must be changed from those that hate to those that love! All these times that I have read the book of Jonah, and I never realized that ending before; I never realized that it ended with God asking the question, "Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" Maybe because the KJV makes the question a little more drawn out, so you really don't get the main point of His question. We should want others to get the same mercy that we get! It should be our business to see that it happens; not the other way around; not like Jonah was feeling, making it his business to watch Nineveh get smitten. I like God's earlier question to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about this?" Oh, this hearts my heart!!! Sometimes I feel like such a really bad person, not because of what I do, but because of all the things that I don't do. There are people all around us that live in spiritual darkness, not knowing what is good and what is right, because they cannot discern between the two. They are lost and cannot find their way; much the same as we were all lost at one time, not knowing the Way, the Truth, or the Life! James has such a way of putty things in their proper perspective, as he turns things into tangible items that we can really relate to. Not that Paul could not do that too, because he did on a few occasions; the "Armor of God" is one that sticks out, as he used it in more than one of his letters. Actually, when it comes to learning anything, it really not learned unless it makes a difference in our lives. It's like a small child that is told not to touch the fire, they really don't learn what that means, "Don't touch that," until they experience why they should not touch that. That's learning! So what is it that makes us not care? Personally, I think it might have something to do with envy or jealousy. I might be wrong, but does it not seem like we sometimes want to see the lost get destroyed, just to justify our own boring lives? That is exactly my point! We must, we have to, we absolutely need to be filled with the Holy Spirit! Our lives must be about our Father's business... "We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient." (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) NLT

"Liquefaction"

"I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings." (Psalms 77:12) Sometimes you just need to shake things up a little, even if it requires becoming the fool. These are pretty interesting times we are living in. If you would have told me twenty years ago that we would be forcing children to challenge their gender, I would have thought you were mad; but it's happening all over the world. You might think 'forcing' is a pretty strong word to use, but it's not. Oddly enough, we have this thing in us called sin, and sin loves to be stimulated; in fact, it requires very little stimulation to begin to develop into something that cannot any longer be controlled; at least not without some serious intervention. This was something that God warned Cain about, back in Genesis 4:7, saying, "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be it's master." (NLT) I know there are many out there that don't understand half the things I write; but you need to realize, half of what I write, I barely understand them myself. But, if you are looking for answers to your problems, there is really only one real source to truly find them, the Bible! Unfortunately, just reading the Bible won't help you get the answers you are looking for, not without having someone interpret what you are reading. And even having someone read and explain things to you won't do it either, not unless you have the Interpreter of the Word! Who might that be, you might be wondering? I truly hope that you're not, because that's really not a secret or anything new. Yesterday I mentioned choices having to be made continually, and I should have explained that concept a little further. James gives us some hint to how that works, saying, "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." (James 1:23-24) If you don't see the connection, don't worry, you're really not alone; most of us have selective retention when it comes to remembering things; we can remember what we shouldn't look at, but can't recall why it's not okay to look...    "This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the LORD about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, LORD! I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen." The LORD replied, "Is it right for you to be angry about this?" Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. And the LORD 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 all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"" (Jonah 4) NLT

"Taken Aback"

"I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old." (Psalms 77:11) If you don't quite understand where you're at, don't panic; just remember where God is, because He is right there in front of you, always! Spot on, that's my reaction to yesterday's Conference, because it was just what I needed to hear. Sometimes we spend so much time working to get things right, we left off knowing where right comes from, because it's not in this filthy vessel. If there was one golden nugget that I needed to take away from that experience, it's the fact that God, and only God is holy; we are just undeserving children that get to experience a Holy God that loves us, cares for us, and will never let us go! Don't you ever forget that! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; so if you're feeling a little distant or disoriented and don't known which way is up, it's not because God has moved or relocated, it's all you. Oh, and just in case you might be feeling a little rejected, it's only because you have rejected Him! You have rejected His grace upon your life, He has not withheld anything, you just have not taken it up; you have not taken Him at His word. That's all there is to it, because He has laid everything out there and done everything He could possibly do to allow you to make all the right choices. So guess what? Choose wisely, young warrior, choose wisely! Every minute of every day is all about choices. We have always before us a choice, to do this, or to do that; and guess what the amazing part is, even though having to make so many choices is so complicated and overwhelming? He has given us a Helper to make those choices for us! Do you know why there are people who actually like to be incarcerated? It's because they don't need to make any choices of their own, they just need to do what their told to do and mind their own business. I find that rather interesting, because we do not live in a vacuum; even in this new life in Christ, we go from serving sin, to serving God; but the thing we fail to realize mostly, is that serving God is not an option, it's meant to replace serving sin. Idleness is the devil's playground...
"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me -everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9) NLT

"Caught!"

"And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." (Psalms 77:10) Oh, I guess it is me after all! There is nothing wrong with God; He has not stopped loving, or caring, or doing, it's been my downfall all along! It's time for "A Polar Bear Alert" and for me to get busy not doubting and listening to lies, but to have faith and trust God! Is it really that simple? Sure it is; after all, it just takes seconds to change your heart and redirect your mind; it's called faith! The problem tends to be where your faith is directed and how sure you are of that direction. I can't begin to tell you all the examples there are in the Bible of people putting their faith in the wrong direction; and even those that did put their faith in God, many, if not all, were not 100% sure of the direction. I heard a teaching yesterday on the radio; I'm not even sure if it was CSN, because traveling does not often let me stay toned in; but it was about those that started strong and finished strong, and how Daniel was about the only one besides Jesus that did not waiver. Although, after hearing that statement, I quickly questioned the accuracy of it, since there was one time during the "Fiery Furnace" incident where Daniel was no where to be found; at least not among those that refused to bow down to the idol. My point is quite simple: If it's messed up, it's not God's fault, it's our own! If we are not seeing things the way that we should, then we need to either change the direction we are looking, or get a better set of glasses! Because it's not God that is doing anything wrong, it is our own doing. Matthew Henry uses a quote from a Psalm, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" as he shows our usual suspect to unbelief. In other words, What is wrong with me, I should not be shaken, I serve a Mighty God? We must put down these thoughts of unbelief and distrust in God; we must destroy any doubt by replacing it with truth and proof of God's commitment to us, never basing proof on our commitment to God. God does not change; we on the other hand can change in an instant... "Was it in anger, LORD, that you struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation! You brandished your bow and your quiver of arrows. You split open the earth with flowing rivers. The mountains watched and trembled. Onward swept the raging waters. The mighty deep cried out, lifting its hands to the LORD. The sun and the moon stood still in the sky as your brilliant arrows flew and your glittering spear flashed. You marched across the land in anger and trampled the nations in your fury. You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe. With his own weapons, you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey. You trampled the sea with your horses, and the mighty waters piled high. I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights." (Habakkuk 3:8-19) NLT 

"Catch This!"

"Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah." (Psalms 77:9) Nope! I could just leave it there, but I won't. Can you imagine this happening? After all that He has done for you and I, could it even be feasible that God would consider it? I'm sorry, but it's crying time! God loves you more than you know! He will never turn His back on you, especially when you humble yourself and ask for His forgiveness! That's all He really wants you to do, be humble and know that He loves you. Tomorrow is the Men's Conference in Modesto, and I am so looking forward to it. Based upon the theme "God Is Love," I am sure that it will be just what I need to hear. Having to deal with the recent passing of my son, I don't think I have allowed myself to grieve like I should have grieved; maybe because I just felt it did not matter if I did, or that somehow God was going to show up and do something out of the ordinary. You just never know, maybe He already did. It's like the "Footprints In The Sand" illustration; you know, the one where there are two sets of footprints during the good times and one set during the hard times. You really never know when He is caring you through whatever it is you are going through. This is just not who God is, He cannot not be gracious, because His very name is all about grace and mercy! Can anyone really say, I don't want mercy? But sadly people actually do. I think it might just be because they don't really see the need, as if this is where it all ends, and who needs mercy, when we're all just going to die anyways. You have got to realize that you are loved! Therein lies the key to paying attention! If you realize how much God loves you, then you can actually begin to understand your own need for mercy and grace; especially when you see how much you lack the kind of love He deserves... "Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline: Let them sit alone in silence beneath the LORD'S demands. Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies. For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love." (Lamentations 3:21-32) NLT

"Catch Yourself"

"Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?" (Psalms 77:8) Don't think for a moment that this title means anything more than watching what you think and say; because, it's not about God's performance, in any way, shape, or form! Besides, it is easier to point the figure at someone else than it is to blame ourselves, after all, isn't what Adam did by blaming God for giving him that woman? God does nothing but good for us, and yet, as soon as something goes wrong or seems messed up, we somehow think God is behind what's happening. Just because it says, "All things work towards the good," does not mean that God is doing all things. What it does mean, is that God can take any situation or circumstance that we find or get ourselves into, and He can use it towards making something good come out of it; whether that is in us, or if it is someone else, if we love God and we are called to His purposes, then it will always work towards the good, always! God's mercies are new every morning, they are never "clean gone," to assume such a thing as that is totally without substance. The only reason for that to be on the table, is because our own hearts are too hard to ask Him for mercy; if can you understand that predicament. If you do not understand it, then you're probably okay; but if you do, then it's about time you catch yourself from falling any further, and reach out for God's mercy! Don't look at yourself as too far from God's mercy, because if you want His mercy, it is always right there for the taking; but you must reach out to Him! After reading verses like Hebrews 10:26, it's really not that hard to think you've blown it, and you've crossed the line for good. But God knows everything there is to know about you, way before He chose you! What make you think He is going to change His mind if you intentionally sin against Him? Sin is also trespassing, which is crossing the line; which is doing something that you know you're not to do, but you do it anyways. As far as that goes, saying something like, "doth his promise fail for evermore," is also a trespass, because you have crossed the line assuming God does not keep His promises. The one thing that never changed with the "Prodigal Son" is that he never stopped being the son...
"It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown in jail, and when all you owned was taken away from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. "For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I take no pleasure in anyone who turns away." But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved." (Hebrews 10:31-39) NLT    

"Catch and Release" -2

"Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favourable no more?" (Psalms 77:7) It's almost comical, but don't you get the point of the questions? Okay then, do you like the numbers game? How about these numbers? Believe it or not, but these are the numbers for my wife's burial site: 77:7, which is square 77, plot 7. Just breaking the ice! Seriously, the questions are derogatory, if not hypothetical; because God will not and can not go back on His word! In other words, these numbers represent every bit of God being who He is, Faithful and True! Now regarding those points on yesterday's post; if you did not get the point of that closing Scripture, then it was simply that John not only remembered the day that he met Jesus, but he also remembered the hour; which was some forty or maybe even sixty years later! You cannot forget that day! Even if I try, which I don't believe is possible, I cannot forget that day we first communed together; that day we shared our first meal together, and He shared with me real truth. As to the point of "acceptance," it really does not count if you are not fully aware of what you are getting into; and you don't actually realize what you are getting into until He gets into you! There is where the "acceptance" takes place! He changes your life! It just so happens, some lives don't want to be changed; some people will throw away the greatest chance they could ever have, only because they don't want to change. The cares of this world, the oppositions, the discomfort they feel around their friends and family; all things that make change unbearable and cause them to turn away. But, this is really meant to be about "Comforting Thoughts," so here is some comfort for those of you who might relate: God does not change His mind! Do you want back in the game? Then get back in it! If you actually accepted the invitation, then you were changed for dead to life, from not being and child of God to being a child of the KING! And guess what, He does not throw back His children! No way;! You are a Keeper! Once a child always a child, that's the way I see the story unfold; so if there is any sort of "catch and release" going on, it's not God's doing, it's man's! There is some disagreement as to who is giving all for who, and what the 'pearl' and the 'hidden treasure' truly represent. Because, it could represent the "Bride of Christ" or the "Church," and if so, the Jesus is the "Merchantman," don't you know...
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to but the field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovers a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!" (Matthew 13:44-46) NLT

"Catch and Release"

"Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favourable no more?" (Psalms 77:7) Do not ever forget what happened then, because it only happens once! There was a question asked yesterday on CSN, but I don't think the caller liked the answer, because he hung up during the answer being given. The question was about accepting Jesus, and where does it say that in the Bible? You know, we tend to believe the most popular teachings more than we believe what the Bible teaches; not that we are moved in any direction based upon what we are taught, because when it comes to our salvation, you're either saved or you're not. Jesus gave some parables and examples regarding this question, which we find in Matthew 13:24-52. Obviously, there is some variations to the degree of commitment people have given of their lives to the Lord, so there real test is yet to come; but those that have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior know who they are; you might not be able to tell who they are from the pack, but the Lord knows them and they know Him. The word used to describe this process is called "repent" and it is commonly referred to as the process of turning our lives away from sin and towards the Lord. My question would have been more to the meaning of accept, than if accept was even found in the Bible; because the way I see it, accept can either mean we accept Jesus or we believe that He has accepted us. The "Thief on the Cross" is a good example of this, because he had only a very short time to demonstrate how this works. He made a request to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43) Now, let me ask you something very important: At what point of this conversation does acceptance come? Was it the beginning of the conversation when the thief spoke up and asked to be accepted? Or was it the acceptance of the request being acknowledged? I am here today to tell you something very very important. It was the man's acceptance of the promise, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise!" You see, when I asked Jesus to come into my heart, there was an acknowledgement to my request, He entered into my heart! At that point in my life, I accepted Jesus! It was not when I made the request, it was after He acknowledged my request and I believed what He did; just as that man on the cross believed what Jesus said. Now imagine, for just a moment, if that man had survived his execution; I know this sounds weird, but hear me out. Would that acceptance of what Jesus said made any difference the day after? How about a year after? Forty years after? Not if that man believed that he would someday be with the Lord, it would make no difference at all... "The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them. They replied, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" "Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day." (John 1:35-39) NLT  

"Life and Death" -Yo!

"I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart: and my spirit made diligent search." (Psalms 77:6) Once upon a time I did search out death; so I can relate to the "song in the night" meaning of what the writer is speaking of. It's like when you lay down to sleep hoping you never get up, there is a certain melody that you sing yourself to sleep with, a death march of sorts. The "commune with my own heart" is a little spooky, because that really gets us nowhere; our hearts are sometimes very wicked places to hang out, but if you really want to do some soul searching, there's where you need to end up starting, matter's of the heart. What matters in your heart? Yes, I am talking about something we rarely want to think about, "Life and Death." Oh, we pretend it is not something that bothers us; you know, "To live is Christ, but to die is gain," and all that shoulder shrugging, take it or leave it kind of stuff. But what really really matters deep down in your heart? Hearing those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant?" Or are you just hoping to get by, depending on the chance none of the technical stuff really matters? God forbid your heart is stuck searching for ways to strike it rich, or make some sort of claim in this world, because that's really not what this new life is meant to be about. Maybe you're into health and fitness, and your dreams are of a more healthy and fit you; you fantasize about rockin' abs, or bulging muscles. Yes, we all have been there, but it's really not where you want to hang out. What really matters in our heart is a life and death issue! If there was one thing that Jesus said again and again, it was that our hearts are where our home is; so where is your home? If it's here, then it's focused upon death; a dead and dying world. But if it's heaven, then it focused upon life; life eternal with the Lord! It's really a directional point of view; which way are you headed? I think you'd be wanting to choose life, because nothing about here is going with you. Besides, this life has death written all over it; there is nothing eternal about this place, except one thing... "When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went a usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD'S favor has come." He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!" Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. "How can this be?" they asked. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Then he said, "You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: 'Physician, heal yourself' -meaning, 'Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.' But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. Certainly there was many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner -a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. And there were many leapers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian." When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way." (Luke 4:16-30) NLT  

"Life and Death"

"I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search." (Psalms 77:6) Pardon my forwardness, but I just had to make the point that nothing else really matters anymore except following Jesus, even if that means dying for Him. I thought this Psalm was about "Comforting Thoughts" and I would be feeling some comfort; but it seems I am having some issues with matters of my own heart, and comfort is not that easy to come by this morning. I miss my son! Today is a day that I would normally be picking him up to have a Mother's Day dinner with us, but he's not here any more. I know in my heart that I will see him again, but I hate that we could not have shared more time together while he was still with us. You see, that's what I'm talking about! We need to be about loving one another, right now! We always make plans in our hearts and minds about doing things for one another, but plans don't really count if they are not carried out. I can't begin to tell you how special it feels to do something for someone, not because you're asked, but because you feel like doing it. You know, it's really a little bit of heaven, because you are storing up treasure that can never be taken away. Personally, I could care less about anything but taking care of my wife and making sure that she is kept comfortable; but when it comes to helping others, I always put others before myself; especially when it comes to material things and money. If I have something, it's really not mine, it belongs to the Lord; so if it's the Lord's, then who am I to say if it stays or goes? Besides, I can always count on the Lord to supply all of my needs. I may not get all that I want, but my needs have always been met. Alright, I lied a little; because if I really want something, I usually just go out and get it; even if I never really use it; besides, I will usually end up giving it away anyway. This is a very special day, because we all have a mother, and she needs to be remembered. Even if she is no longer with us, she needs to have a special place in our heart. If you still have your mother with you, make sure to express your love to her today. And by all means, if she needs something, make sure that you do your very best to give it to her, even if it will cost you something, it will be worth every little bit...
"My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will have many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. 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. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine." (Proverbs 3:1-10) NLT

"The Circle of Life"

"I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times." (Psalms 77:5) I hope you understood that message yesterday, because it was all about choice; just like Jesus said to Thomas, "Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" Do thou think that sounded like a suggestion? No, it's a requirement! There are only two choices that we have been given, to believe or not believe. There really is nothing in between those two directions; your either believing and trusting, or your doubting and alone. What is doubt but not believing? Because some people might think that it's like believing with caution or with reservation, saying something like, "I am really not not believing, I just have some doubts I'm working on." The former Democratic Speaker of the House, speaking of the Affordable Heath Care Act, said, "We need to pass the Bill to know what's in the Bill," or some stupid nonsense like that; but even though that does not count for passing costly legislation, it does count for believing in Jesus Christ! You must believe in Him to remove all doubt! It is really all about making the choice to believe in Him with all your heart. And if your mind wants to throw up some doubt, then you must take a stand, and you must destroy those thoughts immediately! Don't even consider entertaining thoughts that go against what you believe in your heart, because they can take root. No, the devil can't read your mind, but he can observe your character and your timidness when it comes to your belief; and if he sees that your faith is weak, then he will play his cards accordingly. Just as easy as it is to go from feeling grief to being filled with joy, so is it to go from doubt to faithfully believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, because it's always a choice. But, you might be saying, "I once had joy, but now I have nothing but grief." What is the difference between that and saying, "I once believed, but now I have doubt?" Don't say that there is, because each one is connected. If you believe with all of your heart in the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, then you are going to have the joy which comes with that belief; which is a lot like love, because if you love God, then you will naturally love your brothers and sisters...
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from the beginning of time -to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News. That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return." (2 Timothy 1:7-12) NLT

"The Complication"

"Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak." (Psalms 77:4) Some call it grief, while others might call it suffering; whatever you might call it, when we are feeling at odds with the Lord, it's not a very happy place to be. I can handle being at odds with the world, as long as I am right with God; but being at odds with the world and God, now that's completely unbearable. I know it's hard to deal with our feelings when our feelings are getting the best of us, but our feelings are not to be trusted in matters that pertain to commitment in our relationships; especially our relationship with the Lord. First of all, who chose who is what we must get settled in our minds. Do you believe that God chose you? Then, if you do, you have got to learn to get over feeling at odds with Him that has chosen you, because God never makes a mistake! And if God has chosen you, then you are cherished and loved beyond anything this ugly world could ever imagine. I think what gives power to any sort of misguided feelings, is that they seem so real; they seem so much like they are part of who we are, and that they need to be somehow settled or comforted. This must be one of the devil's tools to cause us to doubt that God really loves us, because it is such a lie to feel unloved by the One who gave His all for you. But, I have some really good news about feelings, if anyone feels like listening. They are a choice! We do not need to feel grief or suffering, because we have joy at our disposal, whenever and however we which to use it, it's always right there to grab hold of a claim it as our own. Not quite sure how that works? Where do feelings come from? Can you cut them out or tie a rope around them? Absolutely not! So why should we let something which is not even physically there cause us physical pain or discomfort? I know I don't make any sense sometimes, so it's alright if you don't listen to what I am about to say; but we really need to get over ourselves sometimes, and we need to put our focus on Jesus! Do you think that there is a difference between joy and happiness? I get happy knowing that God loves me; but I get joy from knowing Jesus, because my joy comes from the Lord...
"One of the twelve disciples, Thomas as (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. "Peace be with you," he said. Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put you hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." (John 20:24-29) NLT

"The Disconnect" -2

"I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah." (Psalms 77:3) Don't doubt me, it's more about sin than you might think. You have no doubt heard the term, "Practice makes perfect," well that's the whole idea of getting it right; not that we could ever get perfect, because we are going to fall short every time that we try. It's about striving to do more of God's will and less of our own. John is no way speaking about us being perfect; as a matter of fact, that was his whole point, that we are not! But when we do fall short, and we will, we have "An Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous," who stands at His right hand, saying, 'Father, I paid for that one too.' Now, you can go ahead and take that either way that you want, either person or sin, it really doesn't matter; but when it comes to our personal relationship with Jesus, I prefer that it be my sins! I have no doubt that Jesus died for me, but there are times that I wonder if I have crossed the line; if the "70 x 7" has run out, and now, if He will just shrug His shoulders and give out a sigh. With that, I tend to disagree on the matter of those that might walk away from their salvation; not that people can't, because I believe that they do; but on whether or not they can permanently walk away, there we might have some disagreement. When Jesus spoke about the 'sower of the seed,' the seed that feel on good ground was those that actually received Him into their hearts; the others were those that either fell by the wayside, or really did not make it a matter of the heart, but more a matter of the head, as in what they thought about Jesus, or what Jesus could do for them. There is a really big difference between those that make Jesus Lord of their lives, and those that just want to try Jesus. But just because you have committed your life to the Lord, does not mean you can't get knocked down or walk in the wilderness for forty years, because you can. I am a very firm believer that you are His child for ever once you become His child forever! Forever is not anything else but eternity, which is far beyond this lifetime! So, if you really want to debate the process, I think you will fall short on any proof that God will let go of His people, because He won't!!! As a matter of fact, I would go as far to say, that any person that is currently not His child never really was His child to begin with, but was just pretending to be His child. Does that mean we can never get disconnected from God? Yes and no. Sin will always separate us from God, which means that we fall out of fellowship; but there is always our inheritance into the Kingdom. Okay, so I need to point something out, for those that may not realize what you are: You are no longer your own, you are property of Christ Jesus, and He does not let go of those that are His. So, if you might feel somewhat disconnected, it's just you and your feelings; because if you were once His child, guess what, you still are...
"I will strengthen Judah and save Israel; I will restore them because of my compassion. It will be as though I had never rejected them, for I am the LORD their God, who will hear their cries. The people of Israel will become like mighty warriors, and their hearts will be made happy as if by wine. Their children, too, will see it and be glad; their hearts will rejoice in the LORD. When I whistle to them, they will come running, for I have redeemed them. From the few who are left, they will grow as numerous as they were before. Though I have scattered them like seeds among the nations, they will still remember me in distant lands. They and their children will survive and return again to Israel. I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will resettle them in Gilead and Lebanon until there is no more room for them all. They will pass safely through the sea of distress, for the waves of the sea will be held back, and the waters of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be crushed, and the rule of Egypt will end. By my power I will make my people strong, and by my authority they will go wherever they wish. I, the LORD, have spoken!" (Zechariah 10:6-12) NLT

"The Disconnect"

"I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah." (Psalms 77:3) If you have been hanging in here with me for any amount of time, you would have figured out by now that this is not a teaching blog, if anything, it's more of a learning blog. I never really intended this to be me teaching anything to anyone; but it's more about me sharing what God shares with me, as I commit to these few hours each morning in fellowship with the Captain of my soul. That said, I believe that today is a teaching moment! As far as I am concerned, we can never arrogantly approach God, as if we are owed something; nor can we complain to God, as if we have been mistreated. Both of those ways of communicating with God will get us nowhere but somewhere we don't want to be, outside in the hallway with our face against the wall. If you have ever been there, then you know what I am talking about. God has nothing but good intentions for us and He never does anything to hurt us, nor does He mistreat us in any way; so as far as we should be concerned, approaching God should be more than an honor, it's amazingly awesome! Hello! This is the God of the Universe we are talking about, can't you get a little excited about getting a chance to fellowship with your Maker? Besides, we were made to worship; we have knees to bow down on and hands to lock together, and God gave us a voice to praise Him; so that is what we should do most of all, worship and love on our God, with all our hearts. As a matter of fact, I don't believe we can pray earnestly without first entering into a place of worship. In other words, if your not approaching God from a direction of worship, then there is some serious disconnect in your communication with the Almighty. Can you see the degree of separation? We have got to see this verse for what it represents. Previously there was grief, but not just any grief, we're talking about perpetual grief, as in grief that never stops; then there is no comfort in that grief, it's almost as if there a thick fog of despair between grief and relief. Now, there is something of a break in the fog, but it's not really a break at all, but more of a glimpse of something that could have been or could be. And finally, there's the complaint, as if it's all God's fault, or that God has let you down. Not such a good idea or thought, don't you know...
"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. And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but does not obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living the truth. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did." (1 John 2:1-6) NLT

"The Fog"

"In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted." (Psalms 77:2) To be perfectly honest, yesterday's title was taken from Matthew Henry; and to be honest even further, I had planed to use his 'Melancholy' themes all the way up to verse six. But that's not me, so this is what you get instead, "The Fog." I don't know if it's just me, but there are days when the fog is so thick, you cannot cut it with a knife. Do you know why that is? Well, it might sound a little weird, but it's because it folds back into itself, and your knife never makes a slice; figure that out! I think it must be from sin that has not been confessed, or having baggage that needs to be dealt with; if you know what I mean. We just can't deal with it on our own, no matter how hard we try, or how much we slice into it, it's not going anywhere. It really does not need to be this way, and we should not let it! If we are in the Light, then we have the ability to cut through the fog, which is by having the Lord lift the fog altogether. Believe it or not, but that is one of the things that prove you are His children, your continued redemption and cleansing. That is something we get to experience first hand, because we live in the Light. As I have shared before, one of my favorite Scriptures is 1 John 1:9, which whether you know this or not, it was written for Believers only; in other words, if you're not a Believer, then it does not count for you; sorry! As a matter of fact, all three of John's Epistles are written for Believers; he is writing to the church, and his main theme is Love. I heard something, I believe it was yesterday, Pastor Mike said about those that are going to heaven, "They want to be in fellowship with God!" His question was, "What do you think heaven is going to be about? It's going to be about praising God! If you're not into praising God now, then you're not meant for heaven!" That's going to leave a mark! Seriously, if you don't enjoy fellowship with God and other believers now, then there is something wrong with you, and you're not fit for heaven. I look forward to visiting other Calvary Chapel fellowships whenever I am out of town, mostly because they almost all feel like home. It really does not matter where I am, as long as they are teaching the Scriptures, the fellowship is pretty much the same. It just so happens, most Calvary Chapels teach the Scriptures; and when I say teach the Scriptures, I mean that they teach one Book at a time; Book by Book, Line by Line, that's how I like to be taught. I am going on vacation in a couple weeks, and my first visit will be Calvary Chapel Reno -Sparks Nevada. I have been there before, but I haven't yet been there with my wife. We are heading out in the RV for a couple weeks, all by ourselves. The last time I took an extended trip was in 2010; which just so happens to be the year I started this Blog. I had my niece Laura with me then, and our trip was pretty much hurry up and get there. For three weeks we were trying to make up time, or trying to get somewhere, but never really enjoying anywhere. Not this time! This time I have only one thing planned, the first stop, Reno...
"This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." (1 John 1:5-10) NLT 

"Melancholy Prayers"

"I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me." (Psalms 77:1) If you have suffered through some of the ugliness that life can dish out, then you might understand how this feels to have sorrow that just does not feel as though it can be comforted. You really don't even know what to pray for, because there really are no answers in sight; at least not answers that are right in front of you. If there are answers, they are the kind that would take years to materialize, or maybe found somewhere else, as in some other life. Looking at this verse from a perspective of deep depression or sorrow, I see a man that is dealing with something that will not go away, but that is something that is perpetual or never ending. With this, I somewhat can relate; although, I know in my heart, "This too will soon pass!" But in the meantime, it is just one day at a time, repeating the same prayer over and over, 'Lord, help me make it through another day; and by the way, please heal my wife.' It's not that there is no hope, because there is always hope enough to cope; it's just that some days we feel sick and tired of coping, we what there to be a miracle! On the other hand, there is real comfort that can be found; but it is not found to our situation or in our circumstance. It is like the pattern of this verse, which starts with a cry out to God, then more specifically to God, the one who can actually do something, and then the comfort of Him hearing your cry. You are still in your situation or circumstance, but you are no longer focused upon it, you are focused upon God, the one who is listening to your cry. At this point, it really does not matter what or how you cry, because nothing compares to the fact that God is listening. In other words, your comfort is not found in an answer to you problem, it is found in the solution to your problem, your relationship with God! With your relationship right with God, all else really does not matter as much as it should, or could. It kind of detaches you from what otherwise would cause you to be depressed or have sorrow. Unfortunately, it's not gone away! Thus, the reason for it being a perpetual matter, which keeps coming up, over and over, day by day...
"My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken. Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard across the land. "Has the LORD abandoned Jerusalem?" the people ask. "Is her King no longer there?" "Oh, why have they provoked my anger with their carved idols and their worthless foreign gods?" says the LORD. "The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone," the people cry, "yet we are not saved!" I hurt with the hurt of my people. I mourn and am overcome with grief. Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?" (Jeremiah 8:18-22) NLT  

"Comforting Thoughts"

PSALMS 77 [To the chief Musician, to Jebuthun, A Psalm of Asaph.] "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me." (Verse one)
I had to start exploring this Psalm with verse one being mentioned, mostly because it holds the message that gives hope to all who cry out to God: He hears us! That same God who made the heavens, as vast as they are, is able to hear us when we cry out to Him. For me, that is not just a hope, as if I am hoping it is true, that is a fact that I know is more true than life itself. This is not some kind of religion we are talking about; because if it were, it would be pointless and boring. This is about a relationship with the God who made me! He made everything, from the smallest particle to the biggest star, and yet He knows me, inside and out; He even knows my thoughts, my dreams, and the intentions of my heart. Imagine what you would feel like if you did not have that relationship any more; what would it feel like? I really can't imagine it, because it's impossible for it to happen! The way I see it, I would have a better chance of walking across the ocean then I would losing my relationship with God. I have been sealed in His mighty hand, and He is not letting go! Don't you think that is great news? God does not unfriend us; once you are His child, you're His child forever! Actually, you always were His child, you just did not known it until you accepted your rights to be His child. Once you said yes and were Born Again, you sealed a deal that could never be broken. I don't know about you, but that's real "Comforting Thoughts;" and yes, that is the title above this Psalm in my Bible; which just so happens to be a Spiros Zodhiates' version of the King James Bible. Not that you all know who that is, but I think I have shared this before, how I purchased one of his books, "Was Christ God?" and then ordered a dozen or more for others to read. In the book, which is primarily on the first 18 verses of the Gospel of John, he makes the undeniable proof come to life that Jesus was not only God, but that He was the Creator from the very beginning; the "Logos," which means not just the "Word," but the "Intelligence." As Spiros explains this in his book, John had must likely written his message beginning at what we have come to know as verse 19, which began, "This is the record," and the first eighteen verses were "authoritative statements which John gives concerning the person of Jesus Christ." In other words, the rest of the Gospel of John, from verse 1:19 all the way to verse 21:24, "gives illustrations to confirm these statements found here," in verses 1:1 to 1:18. John finishes his Gospel message with, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." (John 21:25) Try as you may, you really cannot deny the Truth: JESUS IS GOD...
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believe him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn -not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'" From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us." (John 1:1-18) NLT