"The Gift of God"

 "Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 5:19 KJV)

  "For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving - the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-12 NLT)

 This is something we must never forget; whether we are rich or poor: God loves a cheerful giver! As much as it takes to supply the needs of the church, it seldom is ever enough, whether it is a small church or large church, almost always there are issues with providing for everything that continually gets done. 

 I have heard it said, "If everyone was on Welfare and gave 10%, the church would have enough to take care of all of their needs." I know firsthand that is so, because once upon a time I was the one who entered all of the giving into the log, to provide for the end of year gift giving letters. 

 As it goes, most people that give, will usually give 10% of whatever is left over, after paying for all of their bills, if they even do that. If there was time to share all of the ways that people cheated God, it is too much time to waste, because time is more precious than money. As a matter of fact, there is only one thing everyone has in common, in the temporary life: We all have the same amount of time in every minute we are live on this earth. Rich or poor, it doesn't matter, time is worth more than riches! 

 Some people will not agree with that, as they believe that it is a waste of time for the poor to be alive as if they just absorb the wealth of others. Everyone that is given life has a right to live their life, even if they cannot do anything for themself; because there are people who are blessed by you taking care of them, which in turn, gives glory to God...

"As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!" (2 Corinthians 9:13-15 NLT) 

"Our Portion" - More or Less!

 "Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion." (Ecclesiastes 5:18 KJV)

  "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)

 More than anything else, this is about rejoicing in that which God has given, whether it is great riches, large families, or even difficulties that cause you to be set apart; we that belong to the Lord are made for something that needs to be showing the gratefulness of all that we have been given. (I realized I was way out of hand yesterday with exclamation marks, so I am trying hard not to use any of them today.) 

 Whether it makes sense or not, this is the day before my 21st year of our mishap, if you don't mind me saying so. It was or it wasn't, depending on what you might believe. Some people look at it as if there is something totally wrong, while others might see it as something that shows love and compassion. I see God's hand at work, over and over, even when I feel as though I want to give up, He continues to give me strength and real companionship; something that is really hard to explain. 

 To be very blunt: It isn't just my wife which has been broken, because we are one. Both of us live with this together, for better or worse, we continue the journey till death do us part. That was the vow that was made over 42 years ago; why try and change it now? Everything works towards the good...

"I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation - the righteous produced in your life by Jesus Christ - for this will bring much glory and praise to God." (Philippians 1:9-11 NLT) 

"Our Portion" - To

 "Behold that which I have seen: It is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion." (Ecclesiastes 5:18 KJV)

  "Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones." (PSALM 127:1-2 NLT)

 Something to say about listening to God; but if you do hear His voice, you had better hear what He says and commit yourself to obeying! I am pretty sure that we all have done this, hearing God tell us a word that should convict us, and then thinking that word was meant for someone else. We hear God say: 'Don't gossip about anyone,' thinking right off the bat, 'God is talking about so and so!' 

 Well, that is a pretty deep subject; more importantly, it is something most everyone does, without even giving it thought. How is this even remotely relevant to anything? Because it is the one thing that is done, in many people's lives, without even knowing they are not pleasing the Lord: as a matter of fact, He does not like it at all! 

 This Psalm is one that belongs to Solomon, as he shares about the house the LORD builds. It is really not about building a house, but about building a life! This involves families and business, or whatever else you might make the passion of this life here on this earth. If God isn't in the building of it, it is all wasted! 

 That said, I do believe that God can correct our mistakes! If it involves anything that we have done, we must do everything in our power to make things right; and if it isn't in our power to do anything, then we give it to God to make it right! This is good, no matter what you might have done, you must do what is good! 

 I can't help but think of Jonah, who did all that he could to not go to Nineveh, as the LORD told him to do; even to the point of giving up his own life, telling those in the ship he was hiding on, that they needed to throw him overboard, if they wanted to be saved from the terrible storm. God intervenes! 

 Even when we don't want to do what is right, if we are God's servant, He will make a way for us to do what is right, one way or another. This is something that we see throughout the Bible; over and over in the lives of so many of God's servants. 

 Here is what I am trying to say: If you are His servant, then the house you build, even if you think it was you that built it, it is actually built by God...

"What if the LORD had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat: What if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger. The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us. Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives. Praise the LORD, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter's trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the LORD, who made heaven and earth." (PSALM 124 NLT)    

"Our Portion"

 "Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion." (Ecclesiastes 5:18 KJV)

  "Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT)

 Something else we should know, that is sometimes not clearly understood: God did not curse Adam and Eve with the judgment He gave them, at least not personally; but He did curse their labor and their comfort in this life. We tend to forget that God loves us, even when we fail to do what is right! They might have played the blame-game and made excuses, but they did admit to eating the fruit! 

 Yesterday I heard a little bit of a question someone had, asking, "Will God condemn any children that might be forced to get the mark; or people that might be autistic or not know any better?" The only instance we might have to help explain the answer, is given in Jonah 4:11, when God shows Jonah those who live to spiritual darkness, saying, "And should I not spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand." 

 Besides that, God is good! He does not enjoy killing, He does not want for us to fail; He has made the way for us to have eternal life with Him, by simply loving what He has done, by giving His Son! I know so many people that do not get that, nor do they even want to try. But for those who have, it is the most important thing there is to understand in this life, that really makes any sense! 

 God blesses those that bless others, in one way or another; this is something He loves to do, because He love us and wants to bless us. As I mentioned once before, when God speaks about us robbing Him, in Malachi 3:8, He wasn't talking about the money or the riches we take from Him, because that is all His to begin with; but we are robbing Him of the chance to bless us! By not doing what is right, we are taking away the blessings He has to give to us...

""They do not belong to this world any more that I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."" (John 17:16-21 NLT) 

"Examine Yourself"

 "All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness." (Ecclesiastes 5:17 KJV)

  "So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourselves before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread and drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world." (1 Corinthians 11:27-32 NLT)

 Yesterday evening we had communion at church, and the message that was given to go along with partaking of the elements, had to do with remembering what Jesus did, not only on the cross, but in several of the things He did here on earth. As I listened to these illustrations of His doing things, I couldn't help but think of some of what I had done, as in, the things which might have been done honoring the Lord.

 It is rather interesting how we tend to remember those things which were wrong in our lives, more than the things we did that were right; but I believe that helps to keep us humble and dependent upon the Lord's strength, not our own. The more we think we can do this or that, the more we find it just doesn't work the way we planned it. We sometimes think God's asking us to do something, means He is asking us do it without His help or His guidance. Big mistake! 

 I know that I have shared this before, but I feel it needs to be shared again. I felt God telling me to get my family doing the Family Walk, each and every day. When we started it, I felt as though it wasn't going to be easy, and I depended upon the Lord's help to get it done. As I made my way home from work, I would pray about the lesson, about the urgency of making this happen, and asking the Holy Spirit to guide us as a family.

 After several months, everything seemed like it worked like a well-oiled machine, and the urgency was gone. But something else changed also, because I seemed to depend less upon the Lord's help, keeping it together, and more upon my own. When it stopped, it stopped because I let it happen! I would come home from work, finding my wife and son waiting for me to show up, eager to begin the lesson; even sharing together about what might be taught. 

 But, because of my own foolishness, I let it stop! The urgency had vanished because I had fallen into dealing with work, more than what should have been my first priorities! Your family needs to come before work! If you are not spending time with your family because of your work, then you need to change your work habits, or find a new job that doesn't take you away from your family! 

 Whatever you do, don't ever start doing God's work on your own! We might be the hands and feet, but we will never be the Head! We might think we are, for a season, finding out rather quickly it isn't so. If I could do it all over again, I would pray to do it differently; but that is not possible, we don't get to go back and try again. 

 On a good note: God's discipline on our lives is a very good sign, because it means that we won't be condemned for our stupid mistakes...

"Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the ends of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory. And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!" (PSALM 90:14-17 NLT) 

    

"Seeking Eternal Life" - Too

 "And this also is a sore evil, that is all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?" (Ecclesiastes 5:16 KJV)

  "For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened - those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come - and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6 NLT)

 If you have studied this passage of Scripture, then you should be aware that this passage is meant to show us something that we are not, because those who have truly tasted and believed, even though they might fall or wander off the path, they do not turn from God! Oh, I have been there, on the wrong side of the road; where you know you don't belong, but you hang out there anyways, expecting to come back after you get your fill of whatever it is you expect to get full of. But it doesn't happen! You will never satisfy the hunger for sin, because it consumes the appetite that it brings, making you crave more. 

 This is something that we must figure out on our own, because it is between you and the Lord! As it were, yesterday I heard a message with this same topic, speaking about those who turn away from God. We have a glimpse of something that cannot be taken away; if that is, we have the right reason to come to the Lord. If we came for a better life, we end up disappointed. If we came to be free from sin, we get overwhelmed by the struggle. If we came to be set free from bondage, we will be bound by the things we cannot ignore. 

 We came to Jesus because He has offered us eternal life! This does not perish, because it is eternal, and will not fade away! You cannot replace that with anything, no matter how hard you might try, you will find yourself getting totally and completely disappointed! Therefore, you surely won't turn away from God! 

 I don't care how far off the path you might go, if it takes you the brink, you will still realize where you truly belong! Then, as crazy as this might sound: You will realize you are there, right in His arms...    

"Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance." (Hebrews 6:9-12 NLT) 

"Seeking Eternal Life"

 "And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?" (Ecclesiastes 5:16 KJV)

  "They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval."" (John 6:25-27 NLT)

 Matthew Henry gives an interesting illustration of what this verse is all about, saying, "But if we labour only for the world, to fill our hands with that, we cannot take that away with us; we are born with our hands griping, but we die with them extended, letting go what we held fast." 

 Truth be told, this life is a journey; one in which we progress, making strives, (sometimes falling back,) to become whatever it is that God has called us to be, by His will and purposes. As I said before, and need to remind myself, over and over again: We don't get to change what we have done, because it has already been done; but God can use our mistakes for His opportunities!

 Yes, we have been given eternal life in Christ, but we still need to live out that life we have been given! As I was reading 2 John to my wife last night, I thought about something that John had written, as if it was something that had been misconstrued by the translators. He says: "Watch out that you don't lose what we worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son." (2 John 8-9 NLT)

 In other words, we must remain in Christ! That parable about the Sower, is not just about a moment, as if there is certainty to what kind of a seed you will become; because there is more to this journey than we might think we are or will be, because we do not really know. I can say with all certainty of my heart, "I will never stop following Jesus!" But if I don't keep following Jesus, then where does that put me? 

 I could not help but think of that Rich Young Ruler who came running to Christ, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He came to find an answer, with such desperation and want; but left unanswered, because he was grasping that which he could not keep! 

 Isn't that amazingly foolish? Yet, it can still happen to any one of us, if we are not paying attention...

""No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them."" (Luke 8:16-18 NLT)  

"Surely"

 "As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand." (Ecclesiastes 5:15 KJV)

  "Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind. The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves, but their fame will not last. They will die, just like animals. This is the fate of fools, though they are remembered as being wise. Interlude 

  Like sheep, they are led to the grave, where death will be their shepherd. In the morning the godly will rule over them. Their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand estates. But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave. Interlude " (PSALM 49:10-15 NLT)

 If there is one thing that matters in this life, it is the promise of eternal life with Jesus! Nothing we can have in this life compares with that which He has promised; absolutely nothing! No matter how, we must hold unto that promise, guarding our hearts, purifying our minds, and holding firmly to the promises of God; because there are many things in this world that will try and convince us otherwise! 

 Currently we are in the Book of Daniel and getting ready to begin chapter three. With so many things that are around us, which may or may not harden our hearts, the lesson of the 'Firey Furnace' is something that should help us to have faith, no matter what. The point is clear: Whether or not God will provide a way, we will not turn away, or not believe in His promises!  

 Having learned so much all of these years, I can never learn enough! There is no end of knowing the things that pertain to God, because there is no end to His existence and His word. I know, it is old news to a lot of us, but it needs to be understood, again and again. 

 Currently, whether you are for or against what might be going on around us, God is still on the throne! Anything and everything that is going to happen has already been foretold, so it should come as a big surprise. Pastor Daniel started his message yesterday by sharing about all the Christians who got mad and overheated by the 'Last Supper' ordeal that was put on at the Olympics. 

 We should be surprised, because it is surely meant to be, and it will most likely get a lot worse...

""Watch out! Don't let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man."" (Luke 21:34-36 NLT) 

"Bittersweet" - 2

 "But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand." (Ecclesiastes 5:14 KJV)

  ""I have seen that fools may be successful for the moment, but then comes sudden disaster. Their children are abandoned far from help; they are crushed in court with no one to defend them. The hungry devour their harvest, even when it is guarded by brambles. The thirsty pant after their wealth. But evil does not spring from the soil, and trouble does not sprout from the earth. People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire."" (Job 5:3-7 NLT)

 If you don't mind, I would like to share something that I have noticed under the sun; something that I will be more than able to explain, because I believe it is real, it is present, and it hurts to even think about the damage that it does, all around us. The point to being focused upon the things of heaven, and not the things of this earth, doesn't just involve money, but money does make the wrong desire more easily seen.

 To try and make this easy to understand, we only need to take a good look at our children; seeing how they react to what really matters to them, and we will discover what they see in us. I'm not saying that we might be bad parents, we are just not totally committed to truly following Jesus! We try to make our life seem we are truly His, but at the same time, we grab as much of this life as we can, trying to blend the two together.

 Take my word for this, because I know that it happens; it happened in my life, and I have seen it in many lives among the church. There is nothing really wrong in having fun, enjoying the life that you have been given; but if it becomes that which you are living for, then you have gone too far! We must be focused upon the things which matter most, letting the pleasantries of this life be secondary and least important.

 I know it might not sound all that important, to some; but we only have one chance to make this life count towards the Kingdom! That said, I might have a little good news to anyone that might have regrets: God is very forgiving and will not keep you out of Heaven for having messed things up! But your life here, under the sun, might not be as pleasant as should or could have been.

 It's a big price to pay, but at least you get to keep your soul...

"Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me!" (PSALM 119:1-8 NLT)   

"Bittersweet"

 "But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand." (Ecclesiastes 5:14 KJV)

  "We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me. I am silent before you; I won't say a word, for my punishment is from you. But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows of your hand. When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath. Interlude" (PSALM 39:6-11 NLT)

 There is such a huge difference between what happens under the sun, and what is protected, under the Son of God. We have no idea sometimes how much we miss out on, putting any hope in the things of this world; even for a short while, we can make a pretty big mess of things, by just thinking that the riches of this world make us better off. 

 As far as the unhappiness I was speaking of yesterday, most of my unhappiness is based upon the cares of this world; and when I say cares, I mean what I care about in this world, such as the care for my wife! It really hurts some days to see her kept here in this condition; but I refuse to take her life, because that is not up to me, it is up to God! 

 That said, I know this life is short; the older I get, the closer I feel to the ground; which is just my flesh that is feeling that, because spirit is waiting to fly away, like the song, "I'll Fly Away," from 1929. That is where joy is found, in this life, in knowing that this will soon all be over, and we will with the Lord! But, in this life, happiness is brought about by doing what is good; by helping others, by making your life a testimony of Christ Jesus, and showing others that He lives, because they see Him living in you!

 As I was heading down to Sacramento yesterday morning, I happened to be listening to Paster Greg share on happiness. I thought to myself, this should be interesting, as he started to share about Jesus' teaching on the Beatitudes. All of those, "God Blesses," which Jesus spoke about, actually meant that there was happiness being brought into their lives, through all the right attitudes! 

 This attitude adjustment is totally and completely based upon where your heart dwells: Under the sun, or under the Son of God...

""God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way."" (Matthew 5:11-12 NLT) 

"Unhappiness"

 "There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt." (Ecclesiastes 5:13 KJV)

  "Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life." (Proverbs 1:9 NLT)

 There are some who think happiness is something we experience from having things and being well off as if there were certain pleasures in owning stuff and making lots of money. My mom would say, "Money cannot by happiness!" Truth be told, there are certain days when I really don't feel all that happy. 

 Again, Solomon is expressing what it is like under the sun: which, as mentioned before, is about those who have their hope based upon this life, this temporary and fragile life, which is going to be gone, sooner or later! The more we dwell upon the things we get from this life, things which will soon pass away, the less secure we feel, the more unhappy we become with this existence. 

 What is it that make me unhappy, you might ask? Pastor Chuck once said, "There is a big difference between joy and happiness." He based that upon the fact that our joy cannot be taken, because it is from the Lord; but happiness is a feeling, which comes and goes based upon things which happen in our lives. 

 Certain things will trigger me to be unhappy; mostly things which involve pleasant memories of the time my wife and I did something, or the simple things that remember doing, which cannot be done. Like the simple way we held each other, holding hands and walking along the beach, and talking about things, anything; it would be nice to hear her voice! 

 Believe it or not, but just this minute, as I am about less than twenty feet away, and in another room, she just let out a big moan! That makes me happy...

"O LORD, you alone are my hope. I've trusted you, O LORD, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!" (PSALM 71:5-6 NLT) 

"Sweetness" - Too

 "The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep." (Ecclesiastes 5:12 KJV)

  "Many people say, "Who will show us better times?" Let your face smile on us, LORD. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe." (PSALM 4:6-8 NLT) 

  Hopefully there is no misunderstanding my stand with God's protection upon His saints. No matter what, if you are His, I do believe that you will make it to the other side; you might be smoldering a little bit, but you will be safely in His arms when all is done! That isn't just an idea or a notion, that is what He has promised, all throughout the Bible: If you are one of His children, you will always be His child; if He has chosen you, there is nothing you can do that will make Him change His mind, because there is nothing you can do, that He didn't already know, before He made you His! As a matter of fact, He had you as His, before you were even born! 

 That's what I believe, and that's what I will keep believing for myself! Anyone else, I can't say anything to prove that they are 100% good to go, because that is only between them and the Lord. I have seen several people that have served hard and long, who just walk away: but even then, that doesn't have to be the end of their story! 

 About this sleep thing. I feel as though I sleep very soundly, because I don't usually worry about most things that happen in this life. That doesn't mean I sleep much, because usually it is only between 3 and 6 hours a night; sometimes, only 3 hours, and I am woke up by something, that I am still trying to figure out. By the actual time I get to sleep, it is between 10:00 and 11:00, sometimes later than that; but almost most of the time I am awaken between 1:30 and 2:15.

 I am beginning to think it is maybe something about that time, as if there is something significant that will take place during that time of the morning. It might just be that I like to watch Fox and Friends First, which comes on at 2am till 3am; yet I usually fall back to sleep until 4:00. My wife's bed is next to mine, so I cuddle up against her, watching the news, and end up slipping back into sleep.

 Regardless of the amount of sleep, restful sleep comes from being at peace with God! Make sure that you go to sleep praying, and you will wake up praising the Lord, almost every morning, no matter what time it might be! My bail bondsman from back in the day, whose name was Moses, had his company called, "Deep Water Bail Bonds", and he had a slogan that said: "Don't go to bed with a price on your head!"

 We should not go to bed angry with our spouse; and we surely shouldn't go to sleep without having peace with God...

"O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, "God will never rescue him!" Interlude "But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude "I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me." (PSALM 3:1-5 NLT) 

"Sweetness"

"The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep." (Ecclesiastes 5:12 KJV)

  "My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap." (Proverbs 3:21-26 NLT)

 For the most part, I am feeling today is a great blessing, as today is our anniversary; Marianne and I have been married for forty-two years today. Time sure does pass quickly; I feel as though we have done so many things together, but not hardly enough! It has also been almost twenty-one years since she had her surgery; the day that my life turned upside-down! 

 For those of you who might not know, this blog was started on January 1st, 2010; mostly because I felt as though I wanted to share something about my commitment to caring for my wife; regardless of what others might think, I felt compelled and blessed by doing just that; even though it hurts some days to see her having to live in this condition. 

 The whole point to this, whatever or wherever it goes, is God's will; whether it is His perfect will or not, He will make everything His will and purpose: Everything! We sometimes forget that, thinking that He won't or that we have gone too far, fallen too far from grace, or not followed Him as close as we should have; so, we think that He no longer listens. 

 Well, that is hogwash! No pun intended! If there is one thing I have learned over these last, almost 43 years on following the Lord, He never stops loving us, He never gives up on us, and He will never leave us alone...

"Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing." (PSALM 34:8-10 NLT)  

"The Real Blessings" - To

 "When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?" (Ecclesiastes 5:11 KJV)

  "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT)

 Okay then, if we have seen part of what it means to have abundance, we must accept this as something that actually belongs to God; if it belongs to God, then it isn't right for us to let it go to waste. Adam was told by God to tend the garden, which meant that he was to watch over it and guard it; keeping the garden, as it were, in harmony and as a blessing, given by God, but belonging to God! 

 Another way we can look at this, is our families. The children that we have are given to us by God, and it is our responsibility to raise them up as treasure of God! However, this current culture of abundance, takes away from the proper raising of children, and they are lift being raised by schools and entertainment and things which take the place of the knowledge of God. 

 Not to change the subject, but it is a lot like my back yard! That which is lacking in my responsibilities to maintain what God has given, is taken up by working harder to just maintain that which I have; making that which I have something to behold, yet, only to notice it needs my attention! 

 Don't worry about anything, this too will pass! Seriously, we must focus on what matters the most, even though things might need a little repair, the most important repair is the relationship we have with the Lord! When we get that right, everything else will work out for the good...

"Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: 'May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.' Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them."" (Numbers 6:22-27 NLT)   

"The Real Blessings"

 "When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?" (Ecclesiastes 5:11 KJV)

  ""I have never coveted anyone's silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"" (Acts 20:33-25 NLT)

 The above statement is given by Paul, just before he set out in a ship towards Jerusalem, where he had expected to encounter some trouble from the Jews; but nevertheless, he was bound by the Spirit to go. It doesn't take a whole lot of courage to be bound to do something you know you must do, because your life is in God's hands, not your own! 

 There is more freedom in having little, than in having much. At this point in Paul's life, he had very little and spent all of his time preaching the Gospel, from one place to another. If he had anything at all, it was the tools he needed to mend tents; doing whatever he could to not rely on others to support his ministry.  

 Something that Solomon knew quite well, was the more you had, the more you need others to help take care of it! This is something that is currently bothering me; not that I can't take care of it, but that I really don't know where to start! My front yard is okay but has lost some of the luster; but the back yard is a wreck. I need to either spend several weeks getting it cleaned and fixed up myself or spend several thousand dollars having it done by others.  

 As I was typing this verse this morning, I had to laugh at Solomon's question; because just the sight of what I see looking out the window, is really not good at all! There is something to be said for not having much to take care of: You don't have to take care of too much! 

 Anywho; this might be a good time to make a plan and set out to get some things done. After all, we are also told to be good stewards of all that God gives to us. If you are in this same situation, make a plan; nothing gets done unless you make the plan, by writing it down; otherwise, you have no way to check it off of your list, as you get things done...

 "We who are strong must be considerate to those who are sensitive about this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn't live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, "The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me." Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled." (Romans 15:1-4 NLT) 

"The Folly of Riches" - Too

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity." (Ecclesiastes 5:10 KJV)

  "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT)

 Without thinking too hard on this, it is easy just to understand what makes people become dependent upon their own abilities, while at the same time, depending less on God for their daily bread. To be clear, daily bread is not just food, because bread also represents God's word. When we practice providing for ourselves, making that the way we think things happen, then we also depend less on God's word, and more upon the world's way of gaining wealth.

 God's economy is not the same as the world's; as a matter of fact, it has a totally different reason to be wealthy, if a godly person was to become wealthy; everything we have really is not ours, it all belongs to God, and if the Lord says to give some or all of it away, then true wealth is gained by doing what He says, not by holding onto what we think is ours! Truth be told, if you don't give what is in your heart to give, then the enemy will take what you have not given, and more! 

 There is another side of this which some people don't realize is part of depending upon wealth and riches; these things become idols, which mean that you worship and serve them, instead of God! I became aware of this one fact, pretty much from the beginning of my new life in Christ: 'an idol is anything that we place between us and God.'

 The best way to determine if something is an idol or not, is to imagine how you would feel if it was gone. There are more and more homeless people I see walking around these city streets, thinking to myself, "But for the grace of God, there go I." Some of them are people that look as if they were once well off, and some look as if they shouldn't be homeless, at all. 

 I know someone else who was homeless; but He always knew He had a home...

"But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:9-10 NLT)

"The Folly of Riches"

 "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity." (Ecclesiastes 5:10 KJV)

  ""Don't store up treasure here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."" (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT)

 There is a little more to this than we might think, because there are those that store up, as if to find security in the abondance of stuff or money; and then there are those who trust the Lord for security and get blessed by what they have been given. I would like to think I was in that camp with those who are counting on God for security; most of the time I see that is true; but there are times when my heart feels insecure, as if things are falling apart.

 What do we do when things look to be falling apart, to get our hearts in the right place? Well, for me, I make it the time to praise the Lord, singing praise and thanking Him for all that He has done for me. If I am worried about finances, I will usually sing a particular song: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God!" Knowing that nothing in this life is more important than the life we have waiting for us, when all of this life is over. 

 Those doing what they can to use what they are given for the Kingdom of God, find satisfaction in what is given away, much more than those that try finding satisfaction in holding on to things that they really don't need! Whatever we have in this life has been given to us. I know that there are more people that don't believe that, then there are people that do, because I was once in the camp that felt I earned what I have by working hard to get it. 

 If you do not have life, as in the breath in your lungs, you cannot earn anything on your own, period! So, just that one little point, is enough to say, God gives me life, without life, I can gain nothing...

""That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food and drink, or enough cloths to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"" (Matthew 6:25-27 NLT) 

"The Profit of the Earth"

 "Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field." (Ecclesiastes 5:9 KJV)

  "But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." (Romans 1:18-20 NLT)

 Many people have wondered why God would have made this earth, placing the multitude of stars in the sky, and yet not having life on other planets? Man is still searching for life to appear in something, whether it be water or plants or any form of life at all; anything to prove that something else is out there, somewhere. 

 Well, the day that I got saved, this was the answer that I received: 'God did this all for, us to be amazed by Him!' If God was going to make something to capture our curiosity, He had to do it exceptionally and with so much detail and mystery, we could never get bored trying to figure it out. 

 This was His doing, that the profit of the earth might appear to be for us, but it was all about the King of Heaven and Earth! Yes, that might not jive with some, because there are many who believe God man this for us to believe in Him; that it was for our enjoyment, or for us to experience the beauty of life. But, it was all made by the Son and for the Son! 

 First off, this word "profit" is another Hebrew word which is only in Ecclesiastes, showing up ten times in nine verses. It shows up as "profit" five times, "excelleth" twice, "excellency" once, "profitable" once, and "better" once. It is a word that is taken from the word "yith-rone", which means preeminence or gain. 

 Secondly, "the king himself is served by the field," is more than one meaning, as it refers to kings that are given some from all; but it also referring to the King Jehovah! Wild and out of this world! But the word for "served" has a two-part meaning which speaks about serving and also of being the servant! 

 Again, I must answer a question I was asked once, several years ago: Why would God have to come down here and die on a cross for our sins? BECAUSE HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD...

""No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For God so loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."" (John 3:13-17 NLT) 

"Keeping Watch Over All"

 "If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they." (Ecclesiastes 5:8 KJV)

  "Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. For a person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws." (James 3:8-10 NLT)

 Okay, so I changed up the title; but I think I had a pretty good reason. This is regarding the small part of the verse that says: "for he that is higher than the highest reardeth." Which basically means, He is watching over everyone! There will be no excuse for anything that we have done, because He knows everything about what you do; even why you have done it, even though you may not have no clue; He knows our hearts better than we do! 

 If you don't catch what I am talking about, there is a very good example in Nathan's quick story to David, as he told David about the man that took his neighbor's little lamb, who was like one of his children, and fed it to a person visiting his home. When David heard this, he was furious and asked Nathan, "Who is that man?" Upon which, Nathan answered, "You are the man!"

 Technically, God sees the heart more than He sees the actual act, which is a whole lot more critical! The heart of man is full of more than just the simple action, because there are so many things that will take place, or not take place, that cause someone to make certain choices. He examines the heart, not just looking at it, but knowing the passions within and the hardness that needs to be broken.

 This is why we must ask Him to change our hearts! We have no clue what to do, but He does, and if we ask Him, He will change it! However! This is a lot like the vow issue: If we ask Him to change our heart, we need to be prepared for whatever He tells us to do: that we do it...

"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." (James 1:22 NLT)  

"God is Highest!"

 "If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they." (Ecclesiastes 5:8 KJV)

  "This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." (1 John 3:11-13 NLT)

 From as far back as the beginning, there has been injustice and the perverting of justice. In the case with Cain and Able, God protected Cain by placing a mark upon him, that anyone who might try to kill him would be punished; even though Cain had brutally killed his brother, Able.

 I don't mean to say that God was wrong, because God is always right! It was Cain that did wrong, he did what he did based upon anger, because his brother had done what was right, and it offended him because God accepted Abel's offering, which was the right offering! We sometimes don't see the matter in the wrong we might do, because it is what we might feel like doing. Like that old saying, "If it feels good, do it." 

 There is some very interesting logic in this story, because there are those who willingly put works before grace, as if there is more to what they do through their own actions, than what God has done in His act of forgiveness. That is really a thing which takes place in many cults; but it also takes place in the lives of many who say they follow Jesus! We can never work to gain our salvation; neither can we receive any salvation from our works. Salvation is a gift from God, given to those who believe in His act of forgiveness! 

 Oddly enough, God had forgiven Cain, even though He sent him out to be a vagabond, He did not take his life for the life that he had taken. Yet, Cain still complained about his punishment, because he had no real understanding of God's forgiveness! 

 Look at the way this works, because there is more to this than just injustice. Those that cause and make oppression, especially to those that are weak and poor, will have their punishment, no matter what! In other words, we should not be astounded or stunned by such injustice, because they will pay a price for what they do, one way or another.

 If they repent and ask God for forgiveness, God will abundantly forgive, yet they will still have some consequences to the actions they did that were wrong. There is more to being saved than punishment we might receive in this life...

"Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. For God's gift and his call can never be withdrawn. Once you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God's mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone. Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and ways!" (Romans 11:28-33 NLT)    

"The Futility of Wealth"

  "Don't be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. Even the king milks the land for his own profit! 

 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth - except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! 

 People who work hard sleep well, weather they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night's sleep. 

 There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one's children. We all come to the end of our lives as naked and emptyhanded as on the day we were born. We can't take our riches with us.

 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing - like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud - frustrated, discouraged, and angry. 

 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life - this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past." (Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 NLT)

  "In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for a house of defense to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me and guide me." (Psalms 31:1-3 KJV)

 Sometimes it might take a couple of serious falls, just to get our attention; but no matter what this life has on this earth, whatever it is that we are taken down by, it will not destroy our hope or the promise we have for eternal life with the Lord! Call me whatever you want, but I am totally convinced that God does not abandon His children. He might take away some things that are causing us to lose sight of Him; He might bring us into situations which cause us to call out to Him; He might even completely turn our lives upside-down; but He will never abandon us or cast us away! 

 To make sense of some of what Solomon is teaching, we might be better off if we remember that he is talking about life under the sun; which basically means, life here on this world; a world that is fallen and without God, has no hope...

 "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21 KJV) 

"Heartfelt" - More!

"For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God." (Ecclesiastes 5:7 KJV)

  "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will have from me: You will soon fall down in great torment." (Isaiah 50:10-11 NLT)

 There was a song we once sang in church, maybe over 20 years ago, which said: "Change my heart, O God; Make it ever new." We really must be careful how we enter into any sort of life-changing move in the direction of our lives; without waiting on the Lord, we might find ourselves doing something which we will seriously regret. Trust in God alone; do not lean on your own understanding! 

 This is the introduction to the rest of this chapter; whether or not you can understand what Solomon is getting at, I believe it has a lot to do with making plans and changing things in our lives, based upon what we think, and feel is best, without first checking in with God! If you are willing to direct your life based upon what you are given, such as making choices based upon your income: the more you make, the more you can change your direction; then you find yourself doing things which move you away from the Lord.

 If I had any way to change the directions, I took without waiting on the Lord, I would gladly do so; but what is done has already been done; now we deal with it, moving on and trusting God more and more! Whatever happens to you in your journey, God will not abandon you and throw you aside! If you are His child, He will do all that He must in order to get you on the right path; even if it causes you to fall down in great torment!  

 We are to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, but no matter how much and how hard we love Him, He loves us more...

"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for everything we see, and pride in your achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from the world. This world is fading away, along with all that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (1 John 2:15-17 NLT) 

"Heartfelt"

 "For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God." (Ecclesiastes 5:7 KJV)

  ""A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."" (Matthew 12:33-37 NLT)

 As I was praying about this post today, I was reminded about the point made about keeping a vow, how it is that we must also respect and accept a vow given by God, which is actually more important than any kind of a vow that we might dream up or think about. We should all know, it is easier for God to forgive us of our sins, than it is for us to forgive ourselves; yet we must do so, in order to live in the righteousness that the blood of Christ Jesus has given us! 

 This was the point that Peter made, with regards to our knowledge of Jesus Christ, saying, "But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins." (2 Peter 1:9) We must fully accept God's forgiveness, believing that when He says that our sins have been forgiven, that He means what He says; otherwise, we find ourselves carrying the corpse or that old man strapped on our backs; smelling the odor of that rotting corpse wherever we go; reminding us of the sins we committed. 

 The thing I shared yesterday regarding my issue of being impatient and judgmental, it is really important, because I feel it is something that the Lord wants me to stop doing; I know this, because every time it happens, I feel as though I have quenched the Spirit! If you don't know what that means, it means that you have denied the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, putting your own feelings first, before letting Him control your heart. We must yield to the power of the Holy Spirit! 

 It hurts me to say, but I really believe that I am not alone! As crazy as this might sound, but I really do miss the arguments that my wife and I use to have; not because they were fun, because they were sometimes quit disturbing. But we always ended up yielding to the Holy Spirit, letting Him take over and changing our hearts towards each other, instead of each other wanting our own way. 

 During some of those fights, I knew full well what needed to happen, yet I did not yield myself to the power of the Holy Spirit; not because I did not want to, but because I did not feel like doing it! Sorry for having to share that, but in that moment, that is what I believe that I felt. Oh, how much I wish I could take so many of those moments back! 

 We really need to get a grip and start putting those things behind, letting God have full control of our lives, instead of holding on to those old sins! What does it mean to be justified? Didn't Jesus die for all of our sins? All means all, both then, now, and tomorrow; He has washed us as white as snow...

"Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be encouraging to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:29-32 NLT)   

"Practice Discipline" - 2

 "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" (Ecclesiastes 5:6 KJV)

  "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires." (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT)

 Maybe we don't really understand all that we should, but knowing how much God loves us, should be enough to make us believe all that He has promised, regardless of the difficulties we might have had being holy. Besides, holy is a word that can mean we are set apart, which basically means that we are called to be separate from those that are of this world. 

 Do you feel as though you are separate? When you are in place where you do not belong, are you aware that you do not belong there? When you are doing something, you shouldn't be doing, does it make you aware you shouldn't do it? We must truly understand that we are special! Yes, it might sound as though it might be wrong, thinking we have something others might not; but we must believe that we are chosen and anointed to be vessels for God! 

 If we lose sight of what we are meant for, then we can sometimes get caught up in the burdens of this world; things like wanting more, feeling the need to be somewhere else, looking for ways to be pleased; none of which brings any real satisfaction, nor hope for the future. But if we could just rest in what we have been given, knowing that He has made us His special treasure; maybe, just maybe, we could actually live a holy life! 

 Anywho, that's my feelings about where I am currently at in this crazy journey! I try so hard to do the right things, but seem to not have control, at the stupidest situations. If anyone out there knows what that's like, say a prayer for me, that I would allow God to heal me of that condition, please...

"In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins." (2 Peter 1:5-9 NLT) 

"Practice Discipline"

"Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" (Ecclesiastes 5:6 KJV)

  "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every way." (James 3:1-2 NLT)

 This might be one of my biggest problems, as much as I hate to admit it. If I could just stop being in such a hurry, driving from one appointment to the next, and honking at the people who seemingly slow me down as I struggle to be on time to the next inspection. 

 For the most part, this is about making vows that are not able to be kept, such as it is in the case of my anger towards people who get in my way, whereas I try continually to start out being respectful and courteous, but then I find myself running behind, forgetting what it was I told myself not to do. I'm sorry if I might have revealed something that seems, shall we say, not so loving; but if there is anything I need to practice, each and every day, it is having patience and not being so judgmental. 

 This is totally and completely a condition of the heart! If you have been following the Lord for any length of time, then you know by now, we cannot change our heart, that is something that is totally God's doing! If there is any sort of issue that we have in our hearts, we must completely and honestly give everything to Him, without any conditions or hesitations! 

 Sometimes we can't even see the problem for ourselves; yet we continue doing things we feel are wrong, because we feel we have the right. There is a reason for the question mark after that statement: "wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" Ask yourself, 'What does God need to do in order to change my heart?' 

 Do you really know what God does when we ask Him for patience? Some say that He will give us a situation where we must be patient, as is the anticipation of many; but to be realistic about how God works, He puts the desire and compassion within us, to be overcomers; and James clearly says...

"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death." (James 1:12-15 NLT)  

  

"Best Intentions" - To

 "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay." (Ecclesiastes 5:5 KJV) 

  "The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" (Proverbs 20:24 NLT)

 Yes, I know, it really doesn't make much sense; but yesterday I was tempted to add both 24 and 25 together, as if to show that God can use our bad choices, to accomplish things we know nothing about! Case in point: God told Abraham that Sarah would be the one by who his son would come through, yet Abraham listened to Sarah, allowing himself to lay with her handmaid, as if that was going to be the only way she could provide a son to him. 

 Directly, Abraham did not technically make a vow with God; but God made a vow to Abraham, to which, he should have accepted it, believed it would happen, and corrected his wife, making her aware that God can do whatever He wants! So, in a strange sort of way, when we are given a vow by the Lord, like the one where He says, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you," then we become directly connected to that vow, becoming the benefactor of the vow that has been given. 

 In this regard, our vow to God is not all that it should be, because we don't always have what it takes to keep our commitment to be totally faithful, but God, on the other hand, if He makes a vow, we don't really need to worry, because He is always faithful; He never lies, nor does He say things He doesn't mean! If we truly believe that is the case, then we should make His vow count, making it something that is going to happen, even though we don't know how; we leave that up to God! 

 Anywho, I don't really know half of what I am talking about, so if it doesn't make sense, then it is really not my fault, I'm just trying to listen...

""So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against the house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins."" (Luke 6:46-49 NLT) 

"Best Intentions"

 "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay." (Ecclesiastes 5:5 KJV)

  "Don't trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost." (Proverbs 20:25 NLT)

 Something to think about, on so many different levels! Simply put, a vow is a promise, which basically means that you have committed yourself to do something, whether it is to pay for something, or to care for someone; either way, it is the moment you make the vow, which is when you have counted the cost, not later, discovering that it is more than you can handle! 

 If it doesn't seem as though you can handle it, then it shouldn't have been promised! However, if you want to do your best and handle whatever might become overwhelming, even if you fail, you must keep your promise, to the best of your ability, whatever the cost! 

 I know it sounds a little complicated, but love is the most important motivation in any vow; not what is in it for you, or even that the vow is made to make someone happy. Your best intentions need to be about what you do, as if that were done for you! 

 As far as God is concerned, He already knows what is in your heart; anything you do that doesn't honor your vow to God, it doesn't hurt Him, it is all going to hurt you! You will be ashamed for what you have done; but God knew along that you didn't have it in you, because He sees everything, especially the full condition of our hearts. 

 God does not give you something to do that is more than you can handle; however, He will give you something to do, that will require His help...

"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13 NLT) 

"Covenant of Peace" - Too

 "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed." (Ecclesiastes 5:4 KJV)

  "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 1:8-10 NLT)

 Keep on keeping on; that is something we are told, as if it is the answer to all of our struggles and difficult life expectancies. Not that I am an expert in doing anything right; but I do know the One who is, and He never has to say, "Sorry!" Me, on the other hand, there is hardly a day that goes by when I don't have to say, "Sorry, Lord, I blew it again!" 

 Isn't a relief that He knows everything about us; yet He still loves us, called us, and has chosen us, even knowing all of the wickedness we would do before Him! How many times I have said, "Lord, I promise to be good, and I will keep my heart set upon You," only to find myself off the path and with my heart in more of the world, than it is upon Him? Too many to keep track of; and I'm so glad that He is not counting! 

 Whether or not this justifies the point of making a vow, we all know the struggles we have to be holy! The only way we can be, even close to holy, is by abiding in Christ! He is our righteousness! Without Christ standing between us and the Father, we have nothing holy about us; all of our works are just filthy rags, used to wipe the sin off ourselves, and hold up to God, as if they represent righteousness. 

 As it goes, the harder we work at not messing up, the more we seem to mess up. This is because we are committed to the wrong thing; instead of focusing on that which messes us up, we need to focus upon the One who cleansed us, making us a new creation, and filled with the Spirit! As Paul says, "Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God grace." (Romans 6:14 NLT) 

 But that doesn't mean we can keep on sinning; yet we all still struggle with sin! If we say that we don't, then we are just fooling ourselves! If anyone could have control over their own bodies, then Christ would not have had to come and give His own body to pay for our sins...

"We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." (Hebrews 12:2-4 NLT)  

"Covenant of Peace"

 "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed." (Ecclesiastes 5:4 KJV)

  "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I've promised it once, and I'll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. I have suffered much, O LORD; restore my life again as you promised. LORD, accept my offering of praise, and teach me your regulations. My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions." (PSALM 119:105-109 NLT)

 Over the last two days, I have heard several different messages which have spoken about the dangers of making a vow to God that cannot be kept or not properly carried out. Tithes and offerings were the most talked about, as we have the opportunity to give according to what we promised, but when we put it off, the opportunity passes, and we end up not fulfilling the vow, that we ourselves, established. 

 I know it sounds rather difficult to follow, but you have got it understand what God sees in this, because He has the ability to give and take away; but we, on the other hand, are totally and completely reliant upon His great mercy and grace! So, you can see what it means to look like a fool! 

 Tithing and giving of offerings is the one thing God challenges us to test Him with, which we have the ability to responsibly do. Letting ourselves get bitten by venomous snakes, or jumping off a cliff, those are not very responsible things to test Him with; but to give up a portion of what we have been given, that is the way we not only trust Him, but it is the way we praise Him for what He has given us! 

 The other, more interesting vow is the promise of following His commands. Like those New Year resolutions, which were quickly forgotten and slipped under the rug; we promise to do something or not do something, even sharing it with others, as to the vow you have committed to; and then one slip-up, and you vow is undone. 

 It is best to not even vow, if you are going to mess up! I know I shared this before, but Jay Carty's book Counterattack, is one that speaks quite well into this, as to looking at pink elephants; Don't look at pink elephants! What do you see? Pink elephants! 

 The best prescription for combatting doing what you don't want to do, is to do what God wants you to do, to the best of your ability; and even then, you will still need God's help...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." (Hebrews 12:1 NLT)  

"Foolishness" - To

 "For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words." (Ecclesiastes 5:3 KJV)

  "Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatsoever you do or say, do it as a representative on the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (Colossians 3:16-17 NLT)

 As for that rant, (my life's ups and downs,) it is foolish for me to even think such things, let alone to be a spectacle towards stinkin-thinhin! I know better than that, because we are meant to be counting our many blessings, not to be counting the difficulties of this life. Jesus said to His disciples: "Do you finally believe? But the time is coming - indeed it's here now - when you will be scattered, each of you going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all of this so that you may have peace in me. Here on this earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:31-33 NLT)

 Flipping this on its head, there are reasons for us to be going through difficulties and trials; besides the fact that they are meant to keep up trusting in God, through every high and every low, but to let us be a vessel, broken and yet unbroken, as a testimony of our faith in the Lord! There is peace in the valley's of despair because Jesus is there with us; no matter how hard it might seem, He will get us through to the other side! 

 As for the foolishness side of this situation, we are only fooling ourselves if we think we don't look like a fool! Don't get me wrong, because to those who surely know us, we are standing for what we believe, and we are a fool for Christ; but to those who don't believe or receive the message, we are just foolish people that speak of foolish things that they do not want to hear. 

 Yes, this life is a rollercoaster of a ride, but there are two totally different ways to look at it: one has the expectation and faith of all the blessings; the other is filled with disappointment and despair over all of the hardships. As crazy as it might sound, but hardships make you stronger than the easy-going rides; the easier the ride, the more comfortable you are in this world...

""I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy."" (John 16:20-22 NLT)  

"Foolishness"

 "For a dream cometh through a multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words." (Ecclesiastes 5:3 KJV)

 "The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness." (Proverbs 15:2 NLT)

 Well, I slept in today: my alarm went off, and I turn off and went back to sleep! Talk about a weird morning; it might just be because of my post yesterday, as I sounded a little bit like boasting, as if my prayer life was so in order. What foolishness! 

 This is exactly what we are talking about today! As it is, this word, "business," is only found in this Book; and it is used in several different passages, in several different ways, mostly as the word, "travail," which is used six times. Basically, it is like spinning your wheels and going nowhere. Something I can attest to, as I feel that nothing I do gets better, it only gets worse! 

 Having to many rollercoaster rides, can really make someone feel as though that is what life is meant to be; one day your up, and the next day your down; always looking for the ride to get over! The dream is just a dream, there really is nothing special about it, because there is always too much travail going on, your life is like a bad dream; when you have one, you always try to get back in it, in order to figure it out... 

"As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died." (Galatians 6:14 NLT) 

"Know Your Place" - 2.0

 "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2 KJV)

  ""When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father in heaven knows exactly what you need before you ask him."" (Matthew 6:7-8 NLT)

 Typically, I usually try to pray for an hour every morning when I first get up; generally, my prayer time is between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning. This has been my prayer routine since the mid 80's, as I got a little inspiration from Ray, one morning as we were riding our bikes to church. He told me that he always was up by 4:00 to meet with God; yet one morning he decided to sleep in, and his bed collapsed, so he knew that it was something God wanted him to keep as a passion. 

 Some mornings, God wakes me up earlier than 4:00, like 3:15, for whatever reason; it comes as a knock, just two knocks, as if they are only a tenth of a second apart: "Thump, thump!" and I spring up out of my sleep, to expect there is something to talk about or to bring to the table. Maybe I stopped breathing, and He was waking me up to breath. There are quite a few people I know that have those flight-mask marks on their face: most likely because their spouse has noticed they stop breathing in their sleep; but I don't have anyone to monitor my sleep, except God. 

 Anywho! "Therefore let thy words be few", is part of a song, which says, "Let my words be few," as if we are asking God to make sure what we say really matters. First of all: God does not need us to explain to Him what we have going on in our lives; nor does need to know what is going on in the life of someone we are praying for. We are coming to Him in prayer to share our hearts, both to know His heart and to be willing to allow ourselves to be changed, in the process. 

 I forget sometimes to be ready and willing to make that the purpose for my prayer time, mostly because I have a list of people that I pray for, pretty much every morning. By the time I get done asking Him to forgive me for my sins, I am praying for this list of people, and then it is time to start praying for His will to be done! Sometimes I think I might be stuck in some sort of repeating of words, morning after morning; maybe I am, and it is all just jabbering and vain repetition.

 Once I start praying for someone, I feel as though I have to keep praying for them. Something I hardly ever have time for, is to pray for myself, for what I think I need, and for those things I feel He is leading me to do. But when I do, I absolutely make my words few, "Few," meaning little, as in very small...  

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give is to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with a divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." (James 1:5-8 NLT) 

"Know Your Place" - To

 "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2 KJV)

  ""My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."" (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT) 

 Not that it seems contradictive, but I do believe that God wants us to speak to Him, whenever and wherever we might be; we are His children, and our loving Father is more than willing to listen; when we call upon Him, He does listen! I absolutely believe that He hears us, cares what we have to say, and more than willing to answer our prayers; the answer however might not come as quick as we might like, nor will it always be the answer we might be asking for: our Father knows best what we need! 

 Looking at this in several different lights; "rash" is a word that has very contradictive meanings: afraid and amazed; terrified and anxious; to flee in trepidation and to hasten after. Basically, it is talking about choosing your words, and not just shooting off with your mouth: speaking from your heart, yet not letting your feelings be what motivates your thoughts. 

 I know, by firsthand experience, what this is speaking about and why it really makes a tremendous difference in our manner that we approach God, especially when we are facing a catastrophic set of circumstances. If I may, the thing I find best to do, especially when we are faced with something that is, shall we say, devastating and seems too hard to handle, is to stop all that emotional breakdown you are going through, and start thinking about Jesus Christ on the cross! 

 There is nothing more devastating than what He went through, to give us eternal life in Himself! The more we realize what He did and how much He loves us, the more the disaster of what we might be going through seems less critical and devastating! We can actually find peace and comfort in the midst of any storm, just by putting the focus upon Jesus and His sacrifice for our all of our sins...

"But it was the LORD'S good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD'S good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied." (Isaiah 53:10-11 NLT)   

"Know Your Place"

 "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2 KJV)

  "About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!" But Jesus spoke to them at once, "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here!" Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water." "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"" (Matthew 14:25-31 NLT)

 Much of what we understand about this journey, we tend to base upon many of the messages we hear others share about what they have experienced. For the most part, only a few of us have really tried to walk on water, so to speak; as if to test and see what God might do, if we actually stepped out and took a giant leap, risking it all for God.

 Imagine if Peter had no doubt, but trusted completely in the Lord's word, "Come." That is all it was, the same word that summoned Lazareth out of the tomb, bringing forth the dead, raising him to life! In the same way, it is like that word, "Let," which was uttered in the beginning, when He spoke, "Let there be light." 

 To the point of what was shared these last few days, it was easy for me to express those sins against others, because I have experienced doing them in my own walk. When you least expect it, mostly because you don't think you are possible of doing it, you will be in the midst of sea, and will have no power to hold yourself up! 

 If you don't know what I mean, it involves us thinking that we can do it on our own; but it is impossible to do anything that pleases the Father, without Christ! When we think we can be holy by our own strength, we will find out rather quickly that we don't have it in us; much like Peter, we will be sinking and terrified by the world around us; justifiably so, because it is only through Christ that we can do all things...

"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:11-13 NLT)      

"Your Attitude Toward God" - Too

 "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil." (Ecclesiastes 5:1 KJV)

  "So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world." (1 Corinthians 11:27-32 NLT)

 This is really not easy to talk about, because I know for a fact that I have been just as guilty as anyone else; but talking about someone behind their back, is not only a sin, but whoever you are sharing with, even though they might seem interested, will hold that against you, suspecting you will share something about them, in the same way. It is best, if someone wants to share something with you about someone else, to stop them, immediately, and just say you are not interesting in hearing gossip. 

 I feel the conviction within me, knowing I am guilty of that sin, and continually ask the Lord for His forgiveness. Sometimes, that forgiveness isn't offered, if we have not yet made things right with anyone you might have sinned against, which is a pretty stupid thing to leave undone, especially when the Lord says that is what must be done...

""You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the alter in the Temple and suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the alter. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God."" (Matthew 5:21-24 NLT) 

"Your Attitude Toward God"

 "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil." (Ecclesiastes 5:1 KJV)

  "Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire." (Hebrews 12:25-29 NLT)

 Every once in a while, we get to hear a message that will shake us up, making us start to pay attention to how we respond to God's voice; if we are really hearing His voice at all, paying attention is a good start, but how we respond is what is most important! Always be prepared to be moved, because we are never going to not need improvement! 

 We started with this new life in Christ, feeling as if we were indestructible and part of a family that was always going to have our backs; only to discover we are meant to be torn apart, and part of that faithful family would literally take our backs from us! Maybe you have seen that illustration, where one sick figure has the spine of another's back, with the message, "I got your back!" 

 As I said, we all have flaws and are not perfect; but there is One who was, is, and always will be: Christ Jesus! He not only has our back, but He is our back, front, side, and everything else in-between; We must be transformed into the image of Christ, yet there are none of us that are there quite yet, but it is going to happen, someday, in a twinkling of an eye...

"The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam - that is, Christ - is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man." (1 Corinthians 15:45-49 NLT)