Imperfect House

I've found the house I've been looking for. It's not perfect, but with a little work, it could become an amazing home. Armed with a deposit, I enter the bank with confidence, because I know with good credit and a substantial down payment, I can pretty much guarantee I am good for all the payments to come.

Jesus looks at you and me and says, "I've found the house I've been looking for. It's not perfect, but with a little work, it could become an amazing home." He also comes with a substantial deposit as a guarantee of more to come. 

The deposit He wants to make isn't money. This deposit is of far greater value than that of monetary means, and not only that, there is an endless supply. It's there every time we need it and the more we give from the supply, the more we receive. 

Jesus says, "I am making a deposit of the Holy Spirit within you as a guarantee." A guarantee of what? It is a guarantee of spiritual growth beyond what you now think possible, a guarantee of "what I've begun in you, I am able to finish." (see Philippians 1:6)  "You will believe me," Jesus says, "when I reveal things to you that in this world would not make sense."

The Holy Spirit is a very special gift. A gift of exactly everything we need for success. I know I need someone to guide me, I need someone to correct my course when taking the wrong path, I need someone who comforts me when struggling. And most of all, I need someone who will never leave me or forsake me regardless of what I do or don't do.

You see, when Jesus found me I was a tattered, broken down, sin infested shell of a house. Surely not fit for a King! But through the challenging mess He somehow saw in me potential, and wanted to make me a temple for His Spirit to dwell in. 

Guess what today is?.....DEMO DAY!

It's Just Not Fair!

What does it mean to be fair? It means to be just, honest, upright, honorable, and trustworthy.

How many times have we used those words? When someone mistreats us and blames us for what seems to be an injustice, we quickly react in frustration: "It's just not fair!”

Unfortunately, life is not fair. No matter how much we wish it were, it is not and never will be here on earth. Sometimes we spend a great deal of energy and expense trying to present our case of being treated unfairly. But I want to talk about how often we blame God about being unfair. 

If you and I believe in God, then aren't all the circumstances of our lives in God’s hands? And if all circumstances are in His control, does He not adjust those circumstances to work in our favor even though they appear to be working against us?

Really, even if our neighbor is suing us because we built a fence 2 inches over the property line, it is still a matter that God will take care of if we let Him. Remember "all circumstances" are in His control.

Then it begs these questions:  Why do we get angry? Why do we sometimes blame God for what's happening in our lives? Are we ready to say that God is not just? That God is not equitable, honest, upright, or honorable?  Do we believe He is not trustworthy? 

It boils down to what I've talked about before but bears repeating. How I respond to any and all the circumstances in life, fair or unfair, shows me what I think of God. Take the time to think about it.

Was Joseph treated fairly when his brothers sold him to the Egyptians? Was Daniel treated fairly when he was thrown into the den of lions? How about the 12 disciples? All but one died a martyr’s death.

 The time has come for us to realize that the most unfair things will be perpetrated against us. What we believe about God will make all the difference.

10/15/2016  

Tears

Tears...a reservoir where the wounded and broken draw. A storehouse that releases pent-up emotions of hurt, anger, sorrow, pain, and even gratitude and joy.

It seems a very strange thing that God thought important, this capacity to cry. Even Jesus cried. You've probably noticed that most of us are fairly private when it comes to crying and I wonder why that is. Considered by some as a show of weakness they, and me included, fight back tears not wanting them to be seen or known. Which leads me to ask, “What are tears for?"

Are tears the body’s way of healing?  Are tears a way of showing how deeply we love or care?  Are they to express how significantly something affects us, whether overwhelmed with frustration or overcome with joy?

This tear thing holds some kind of importance, otherwise God would not have made a point about it’s future absence when He said He would “wipe every tear from [our] eyes.” (Rev 7:17)  It seems as though He wants to be the one to personally wipe away our tears.

In the case of this verse, I think He is referring to all the tears of hurt.  Because I cannot imagine not shedding tears of joy at the first sights and sounds that await us as we walk through those gates to a heavenly abode.

There must be an important reason we have been given the ability to cry. David talks openly about his tears, multiple times. Was that an endearing trait that God loved about him, a man after Gods own heart? Was it his vulnerability and openness that God adored?

I think He just wants the kind of relationship with us where we find it comfortable to express all our emotions in front of Him. And He wants to be there to comfort us when those emotions are hurting His child. 

It's a wonderful thing when we have a spouse or loved one with whom we trust enough to share our tears. But when there seems to be no one present, and you feel very much alone, just remember there is Someone who sees the tears of the heart and who is ever ready to listen and comfort those tears away.



10/11/2016



   

A Blessing Prayer

May the Father’s GRACE 

visit your dreams throughout the night.

May Jesus' LOVE

greet you at the dawn’s perfect light.

May the Spirit's VOICE

guide your journey through the day.

May the sum of your LIFE

be in His mighty hands, I pray.

Amen 

10/1/2016