Found Wanting

We seem to think that in order to give our lives to God we must give up things we want to keep, so we can become the person we think we’re supposed to be, even though we’re not really sure we want to be that person.  

It is fear of what God might ask of us that sometimes prevents us from taking that step of submission towards Him.  We are most fearful of allowing Him to be the master of our ship.  And this fear interferes with us coming to God for what we really want: love, joy, peace, freedom from addictions, etc. 

So we spend the rest of our lives looking for those things in the world, when He offers all these things, and far more, to those who are willing to accept; who are willing to trust themselves with Him.

copyright 6/24/2015

The Way

When I feel the cool of a summer's breeze against my face

and hear the orchestrated voice of nature in perfect harmony,

life is understood and all it's unanswered questions realized.

Those who are wandering through a maze of broken pieces,

in confusion, see not the order of the universe or purpose.

Life, then, is a series of obstacles that blocks one’s believing.

So close, so easy, yet so unattainable is distance twixt man and God when we cannot see the Way that stands before us,

waiting for recognition, waiting for the desire to know.

The Battle Within

“Do not wield the spear or strike a blow,” 

Is what we've heard; from the wise been told.

Is it wise to stand unarmed before the foe?

Taking neither shield, nor spear to throw? 

It's not the enemy without that we should fear,

but the one within we need commandeer.

When that battle is fought and struggle done, 

all battles outside have since been won.

copyright 6/15/2015

The Gift

It is the goodness of God that captures the goodness of man.
 
It is the goodness of God that creates the longing for God.
 
His goodness turns emptiness and loneliness into acceptance.
 
He pours tranquility over the soul's desperate struggle.
 
He offers His goodness as a gift. Total freedom as a gift!
 
Why would God want to give man the essence of Himself?
 
Perhaps the greater question would be: Why do we resist?


copyright 6/14/2017 



  

From ordinary To Extraordinary

Why do you think Jesus often chooses the ordinary to do extraordinary things? 

Moses had humble origins as an infant son of a slave.  But then he ended up being raised by a princess in the palace of the pharaoh of Egypt.  In the middle of that, though, he was humbled again as he had to run for his life after murdering an Egyptian who was beating on a Hebrew slave.  

He spent the next 40 years herding sheep.  Then, and only then, with no pride left, was he ready for the task God assigned to him.  Did he think he was ready when Jesus came calling?  Hardly.  He almost refused to obey this holy voice vibrating the air waves.  He had no confidence in himself at all.  

Yes, now he was ready.

The Bible is replete with examples of the common becoming quite uncommon:

David; from shepherd to king.

Esther; from commoner to queen.

Gideon; from weakling to a warrior.

Elisha; from farmer to the greatest miracle-working prophet of all time.

Amos; from sheep herder and fig farmer to prophet of the living God.

All of these and many more had one thing in common.  Was it their high marks in school, their charismatic  personalities, good management skills?  Were they born leaders?  Not even close!  In fact, no one would have expected great things from them at all.

But they all consented to be taught through a series of trials.  They made themselves willing to God’s leading, regardless of the impact it had on their immediate appearance of success or not.  

The almighty God of the universe is NOT looking for those who possess great abilities.  He is looking for those who possess great availability.

Your success story for the Kingdom can be: from abilities, to availability.

Think for one moment about what that means.  When Jesus wants to share what He’s been thinking with you, are you available to listen?  When Jesus asks for someone to encourage a wounded heart, are you available?  When Jesus is desperate for a volunteer to warn your neighbor, your friend, your co-worker, or the vagabond, are you available?  Do the “important” things in your life occupy the space for the necessary thing in your life?  Notice I said “thing,” not things.  It’s singular.  There is only one thing that is necessary, yet we fill our life with things.  

If you are thinking that you’ll address your availability at a later time, maybe when your schedule clears out, consider this question:  When Jesus closes the book of life for the last time, and He steps off His throne to bring His children home, will you be available then?

copyright 6/8/2015

My Reality

Here you stand in your rightful place,
No longer a shadow in my mind, 
but a constant in reality.
 
What made the shadows disappear,
from an ever-changing view
to a clear unbroken truth?
 
One night and brilliant hour, 
I relinquished my stubborn will 
and imagined power, to Him.


copyright 6/11/2015

Impossible

I hate it when things like this happen! 

I don't know anything more difficult than when painful things happen to those you love.  And what’s worse is that there is not a thing you can do about it.

Sometimes I watch a show on TV called “Fixer Upper.”  It is exactly what you’d guess; a show about a couple who take old, run down, dilapidated houses, strip them down and then, bam … after a few weeks they come out looking like what you would see in a magazine.  Amazing!

I’ve always loved the idea of being a fixer-upper and I gave it my best try.  But I wasn’t fixing up old houses; I was trying to fix up situations with my friends or myself.  I made a very sorry mess out of a few of my attempts at trying to “fix” things for others or myself.  Not a good idea.  Very bad.

So what do you do?  Do you just sit there and commiserate?  Or offer a few helpful hints?  Do you take sides and join the blame game?  That never turns out so well either.

In our culture, in these here United States, we are all about fixing.  When something goes wrong around the house just call “Angie’s list" and get it fixed.  If you’re sick, call the doctor.  If you are having difficulties with all the stresses that come your way, call a counselor. 

Hold on... I'm not against any of these things.  They all have their time and place.  They are all important.  And it would be foolish not use the things that have been established to help us.  But there are many things that come our way that can’t be fixed by the world’s bandaids; things that can only be fixed by the hand of God. 

I don't know about you, but I want to live a life of GREAT EXPECTATIONS!  Sorry, those words look rather large don’t they?  But that’s because it is a BIG DEAL.  I'm tired of praying for people and hoping something will happen.  I want to live EXPECTING something to happen!

Jeremiah 33:3 says that when I call to God he WILL answer.  And James 1:6 reminds me that when I ask God for something, I must believe it and not doubt.

And my favorite: Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” 

I have come to believe that Jesus loves us to expect Him to do great things; the bigger the better. 

Luke 1:37 says, “For nothing is impossible with God."  Yes, we know that anything is possible for God.  But did you know that for God to do nothing is also impossible!  

Think about it.  When we pray for someone or something, it is impossible for God to sit back and do NOTHING!!  Because NOTHING… is impossible for God. 

The moment we pray, Jesus puts a plan into effect to bring about the best results for that person. No matter what His children pray for He will give us the very best. 

So I no longer hope for an answer, I know that God is working on behalf of my prayers. Should I get hung up on how He answers the prayers?  Maybe He should answer it the way I think it should be answered.  No, of course not.  Sometimes He will answer it in the way we expect but most of the time, He won’t, but ALL of the time it will be for the greatest good.  No matter what, Jesus is working on SOMETHING.  He even said, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”

Therefore, the answer to the dilemma I was wrestling with at the beginning of this blog is to pray for the hurting, knowing God has a plan in place, EXPECTING Him to do something; because for Him to do nothing is utterly impossible! 

copyright 6/1/2015

Appointments

I slide into my bed pulling the cover over my shoulder. 
I lay in somewhat of a fetal position in the womb of God.
There is a smile on my face as I wait the birth of a new day
Where God's appointments are waiting in great expectation.


copyright 6/4/2015