A Higher Court

“This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”—Patrick Henry

 

     The last couple days have been a real test for me. I have been forced to listen to our Main Stream Media extolling the virtuous lifestyle and loving home that can be offered by those who wish to be married into sin. It seems that our sinful neighbors; lesbians and homosexuals, are now determined to change the very foundation upon which the family is created. This is totally against what I have read in the bible and what God planned from the beginning. If it were not so then I would not be writing this. However, it is truth that I write and I can back this up with scripture. In Genesis 2: 17 and following, God has made man. He has put man in the garden and is looking for a suitable companion for him, " 18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." 19 So the LORD God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, birds, and wild animals. But still there was no companion suitable for him." Now, we all assume that it was only Adam at that time and perhaps so. Yet, no animal was suitable as a companion, life mate, for the man. This specifically tells you that God does not approve of bestiality! But let's continue....Having gone through all of the current creation and not found a suitable companion for Man, God develops another plan for him, " 21 So the LORD God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam's ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam. 23 "At last!" Adam exclaimed. "She is part of my own flesh and bone! She will be called 'woman,' because she was taken out of a man." 24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. God; that is Father, Son and Holy Ghost, working together created both Man and Woman in God's image. You see we as human beings were created especially unique to be living images of our God...but only when we are united with our life mate. Let me explain. When God first created Man, He created him in God's image. The Bible states this plainly. But, then God took part of that image away. What He intended was to create another creation that bore His likeness yet was not completely like Him either. Only by Man and Woman combining into one being could they truly exhibit God's image to the world. Man was not complete without his rib, his perfect companion. Woman was not complete until she was connected back to the man. However, no where in this plan does God make allowances for, nor plan the completion of 2 males or 2 females into His image. Sorry but that was not included by design. As a matter of fact one has only to open the Bible to Gen 19: to read of the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to understand God's feelings on this. He sent 2 male angels to Sodom to see what the men of the city would do and they did exactly what He expected. " 4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them." What is especially noticeable is that every man was involved in this. They all wanted to have homosexual relations with the 2 angels. They were even going to force their way into Lot's house to take the angels by force. This was after Lot offered to give them his 2 virgin daughters. God of course destroys both cities. Not even the women and children were spared His judgement.

     Why would God do this? Why would He destroy the women and children? The answer can be found by looking at the history of the Israelites themselves. You see, when God sent the Israelites into the promised land to take it over for their own, He gave them one command concerning the people of the land. Kill them all. Do not allow any to live nor allow your sons to marry their daughters nor your daughters to marry their sons. Why? Because they were already taught to worship other gods. God knew they would taint the Israelite nation with false god worship. In the same way, these peoples were already tainted. Their morale values had been so twisted away from what God wanted that even the children were not savable. God loves children and we are told to become like them in order to see heaven. Therefore, for Him to have destroyed even the children of these 2 cities speaks of their total and irredeemable fall into abomination. These people had allowed the very fabric of their moral society to become so corrupted that God had to take action to wipe it off the face of creation.

     Today we have our highest court in this land considering whether or not to sanction homosexual and lesbian marriage within the US. So what are we telling our own children by bringing these actions to court? And confirming by our silence? This is a contradiction to the very foundation of the Scriptures. Oh, not just the Bible, but the Torah and Koran as well. Yet, where is the religious outcry from our leaders? Where are you now Priests and Clerics of the religious orders? Or Preachers and ministers? Who is crying out for our Father in heaven that His will would be heard? I have not heard any and even the social media such as facebook and other sites are surprisingly quiet on this. Have we already surrendered to this? Have we given up the battle before the fight began? The Religious leaders, politicians, and elitists all seem to be afraid to speak out for fear of being labeled 'a bigot' or committing political suicide. This is exactly what satan wants from us weak and quiet masses. We are to continue hiding in the shadows as he strips another biblical foundation from our nation. The Bible says, "These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them."—Jude 19   Yet, we are just as guilty as they are by our silence. We The People are on the broad path to destruction, walking along happily as we sing our hymns and say our prayers to our Father. But we were warned,

"Not every person that says that I am his Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people that will enter the kingdom of heaven are those people that do the things that my Father in heaven wants. On the last day many people will say to me, 'You are our Lord! We spoke for you. And for you we forced out demons and did many miracles.' Then I will tell those people clearly, 'Go away from me, you people that do wrong. I never knew you.'"Matthew 7:21-23

     I pray that the Faithful of our Father would stand together and cry out, finally, letting our voices be heard...ENOUGH! We are "America, Land of the Free....only So long as we remain a Beacon of Light for God!" For no other reason has this country stood strongly for so long. Where are you Sons of God? Daughters of the King? Are you hiding in fear of being alone? Do you have the courage to take a stand for Christ? Then dwell on this and see if this will give you the strength to stand and be heard. "For this reason I kneel before the Father... I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."—Ephesians 3:16-17

 

 

 

Humbling ourselves before the Lord

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

—Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)

     Last evening in bible class we were discussing Acts 26. Most individuals who have been in the church or raised within the Church know this passage and understand what is happening. Paul has been incarcerated for at least 2 years. He was imprisoned for speaking out about Christ's death and resurrection. Not something new and to be surprised about...however, during class we attempted to look at this 'trial' through the eyes of the other individuals involved. Now that was a new twist! I had never truly looked at this text through the eyes of those individuals other than Paul and his testimony to Festus, Agrippa, and the other leaders assembled. So indulge me a moment as I attempt to bring into view a different look at this account.

     This trial starts as Festus, the new Roman Leader over that area of the Roman Empire is attempting to clean up what his predessor had not wanted to deal with. And as any good politician would do, even today, He was attempting to pass the worst issues off to anyone else who might have a way of dealing with a problem without causing a riot or uprising that would cost him his position and potentially his life. Therefore, he invites the Jewish King Agrippa to assist with this trail. Interestingly enough most of the individuals who will be sitting in on this will be Romans. Not the Jewish Priests and Clergy who originally were the ones causing all the outrage and unrest, no this was so long after the original protest that only the highest ranking Romans and the King and his wife seem to be involved. So with the table set lets actually look at what happened during this trial.

      First off, we see Paul brought before his Roman superiors and the Jewish King. He is in chains and has been waiting 2 years to be able to actually speak out. Father has opened the door for His child to speak to the Romans and Jewish leaders but not in Paul's own timing; in God's timing. Paul has languished off every one's radar for 2 years. I would have been impatient and upset. Crying out about being forgotten, not so with Paul. He has waited patiently for God's time which was after the original Rulers were gone. That can only been seen as a providential plan since we now have individuals who are vaguely familiar with the whole issue revolving around Paul.

     Next we have Paul's own defense put forth without anger or resentment. He gives respect and honor to all who are there listening. ( Acts 26: 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You may speak in your defense."So Paul, with a gesture of his hand, started his defense: 2 "I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently! ) But even more he recounts to all his own background and his salvation experience that changed his whole life. Here is where I feel drawn to focus. You see as Paul is talking, he appears to be mainly talking and speaking directly to Agrippa. He focuses upon the one who is also a Jew but Paul is also speaking directly to the gentiles present. They do not know this but they are 'the field' that Paul is preparing for God to bring in a harvest.

     Paul talks to Agrippa about his being a Pharisee of Pharisee's. He speaks of the death and destruction that he was bringing upon the church as he felt was his Jewish duty. (4 "As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.) He tells all present about his Damascus Road experience and being chosen by Jesus to bring this Great News to the Gentiles. (12 "One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to fight against my will. ' 15 "'Who are you, sir?' I asked."And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now stand up! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you. 17 And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles.) Now all this seems simple enough, but remember the audience. Festus and most of the others in that room were Romans. They were gentiles. But not only were they Gentiles, they believed in multiple deities. They were strongly polytheistic, worshiping Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and all the other Roman gods. The gods that they were used to worshiping were not involved in human lives unless they were causing strife and wars, coming down to molest maidens or young men, etc. These Gods of the Romans were not about helping humanity...they were more an extension of humanity's carnal natures on a grandiose scale. They were the epitome of lust, anger, covetousness, lasciviousness, vanity, and any other human type feeling that we would label as Hedonistic. Yet rarely did they exhibit compassion, familial love, humility, mercy, grace, or other feelings that we associate with the Christian virtues.

     With all that in mind, picture visually if you can, Paul standing in the center of an ancient building. He is facing the main characters in this story and presenting his case. Think about Paul talking about his origins and persecution of the church. (9 "I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many of the believers in Jerusalem to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11 Many times I had them whipped in the synagogues to try to get them to curse Christ. I was so violently opposed to them that I even hounded them in distant cities of foreign lands.) What do you see the Romans doing. To me they all seem vaguely involved, mostly murmuring assents and not really paying attention at this moment. However, when Paul speaks to his Damascus Road experiences, I see them all suddenly getting quite and attentive. As he speaks to God's plans and Jesus dying on the Cross, which they would know about, they start leaning forward and/or actively listening.  (8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?) ( 23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead as a light to Jews and Gentiles alike.")  You see, no other god in human history has ever willingly sacrificed himself for those who worship him. Not One. Romans know about sacrifices to gods and the gods even sometimes demanded human sacrifice but never before has one placed himself on the sacrificial table and submitted to death willingly for his worshipers. I believe that immediately after this statement all became intensely interested in this conversation. Most likely there were some present, that were intimately aware of the actual crucifixion and had heard the story of the empty tomb. This would lend some credibility, in the minds of some of those Romans present, with regards to the story being presented. But it would be Agrippa's silence throughout this whole discourse that would lend the most credibility to Paul's testimony. Even Festus was stunned into making an accusation of insanity toward Paul to stop the growing sea of intrigue and interest in a God who would do this for His chosen. Yet, not just for His clergy but for all of humanity willing to accept Him. Festus cried out (in my mind) to stop Paul from actually converting at that moment some of the leading Romans in that room. What makes me feel that Paul was winning many souls in that room was Agrippa's own confession, "Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?" in verse 28. I know some think that Agrippa was making this statement in a light hearted or sarcastic way...yet, I propose that Agrippa was deeply moved and could FEEL the truth of Paul's statements. Paul's training would ensure that he knew all the prophecies and his ability to present them in a compelling way before a fellow Jew. Can you see Agrippa squirm as he was brought through the prophecy to the death of Jesus on the Cross and then an empty tomb proclaiming the resurrection just as foretold? Can you watch as Festus looks on in amazement, first to Paul for his story telling, and then in shock as he witnessed the truth of these stories, written on Agrippa's face? Is it any wonder that Festus let out a cry of 'Insanity' when looking around the room he could see his fellow Romans beginning to believe! Festus had been so immersed in the story, that he had to ring out that cry from himself or he himself may have fallen victim to Father's call for repentance and faith as presented by Paul. For me this is now a truly WOW moment! That Paul, a prisoner and most likely not in the best clothing or appearance, could have spoken out so boldly as to nearly convert a room  full of polytheistic Romans who were used to worshiping many gods. To be able to touch them so deeply with his story of the Messiah as to nearly make Christian even the Jewish King. AMAZING!

     So what? Why does this matter to me? What does it have to do with today? Truthfully, nothing...and everything. That story can be just another bible story that you remember and never accept into your heart so that you allow the Holy Spirit to utilize you in your current position. Or if like me, you see a new example of the true power God's Spirit taking a human being in its lowliest state and utilizing it to prepare the field for God to bring a harvest of new converts,  then it can mean Everything! You realize that if Paul in his current state could stand before the most powerful men in that province, and humble himself through obedience before the Lord, and speak out boldly for Christ; then I should be able to humble myself to the power of the Holy Spirit living within me and Father will be able to utilize even a wretched sinner as myself for His kingdoms glory and expansion. Who among us today has persecuted the church and murdered it's members? Which of us has put so much hatred and anger into destroying God's work? Not one wearing the name of Christ and if Jesus can change Paul...then, how much more so would I be changed if only I would kneel and allow Him to rule me. Paul in a single dialog with this roomful of sinners was able to plant seeds that I have to believe Father was able to bring into a harvest of new souls for Christ. Yet, am I going to fight against Jesus and stop answering when the Spirit calls? or will I step out in faith as Paul did and humble myself in obedience to Father's will? Each of us must look inside and answer honestly how we will respond. I pray that you will answer with a call for Father to send His Spirit to you and allow Spirit to guide you as you walk the rest of your path.

Living through the Pain

God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge -- a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.—2 Corinthians 1:21-22 msg

      

     I was driving home yesterday after typing the message about Father's Love,  and although my head was hurting and my stomach was in knots, I felt that I had not really gone deep enough. The Spirit seemed to be nudging me to go deeper into the thoughts I was writing. I felt like I had only scratched at the surface but had not peeled back the layers yet. The Spirit did not seem to be challenging my thoughts on Father's love but actually speaking to pain in our lives.

     Now this may not speak to some of you out there and I am not sure if many will understand what I am going to say this time but I am really going to rely on the Spirit to take me to  the depth of this topic so that we can get into the reality of Feeling pain. The pain that I am talking to is not the pain of a physical injury. That can be a symptom of the internal hurt that you feel. A physical injury may lead to the intense feeling of misery. However, it is not nearly as caustic to the individual as some injuries that they will deal with. Job knew pain. He was rich but had all his riches taken away. He had many children but they were all taken as well. He was given boils all over his body immediately following those other loses ensuring that he understood what total loss means. Satan struck him with everything a man can be hit with.

     So let's talk about real pain. That kind that seeps into every core portion of your soul. You want to hide in a corner with the lights out and wish that you were not even there. The cries of your soul are for release from this mortal body and yet you cannot escape from what seems the intolerable torment of your seemingly failed existence. You hate with a simmering rage everything that is you. You cannot seem to come to terms with hope or your meaningless being. Deep within you, is that little tiny worm that gnaws at the very fabric of what little sanity seems to be left to you, while your thoughts keep insisting that you are a worthless pile of dung. Your depression; it seems to drag you deeper into a bottomless pit of the purest blackness that not even a sunburst will penetrate. You have done all you can to get out of this quagmire but your apathetic mind has left your body numb to any and all sensations. Truly, you exist. Yet, you do not live. How can you with all that pain blinding your thoughts and holding you prisoner to another wasted and futile day of your pathetic time on endless merry go round we call life. You even think about ways to exit, to end all this suffering and although you have plans...you know within yourself that you are afraid to actually end it. Truth is, you are to much of a coward to take that path out of this life. This causes you to spiral deeper into that pit of self hatred that only a few will ever really know. You want to cry but even the sweet release of tears are withheld from such a retch as you. And all the time you are feeling these feelings of torment, that little voice in your head keeps telling you that you are worthless. A busted human who is not even worth saving. It tells you that you should just end everything because you are not loved nor lovable. You will never know any value or worth. How could you...you know how despicable you are and you KNOW all of your past failures. That voice lists them to you, describing the failed loves, the cowardice's, the lack of trust, the rape (you know you wanted to be raped or molested it will tell you), the lies you told to yourself and everyone you know (trying to build a self worth when there is nothing to build upon, the voice will say). That voice laughs at your pathetic attempts to deny your failing will and your attempt to believe you actually have some worth to someone. There is NOTHING for you nor NO ONE who will ever believe in you. You cannot even love or believe in yourself. You deserve every rotten and detestable event in your life. You try to scream but no sound comes from within you. All sound seems to be removed as you are finally drained of all seeming sanity within your soul....it is all pure black. There is no light, no feeling, no sound, nothing....just total emptiness of being. You are alive but YOU are DEAD. You feel SOULLESS. The very heart seems to be jumping out of your chest and you are either curled in a fetal position or lost consiousness; not even asleep, no that would be a relief. I feel that I have no more words to describe the fullness of despair and pain, yet I do not feel that I have touched all of it. Yet for this time I have no words to write to enhance or express the rest of the feelings.

     So I will tell you that even when these points do come...there will also come a point that you will have a choice to make. To live or to give up. You can give up and quit if you want...that will either lead you to insanity or it  will lead you to taking your life and perhaps others as well. Or you can choose to live again. Sounds easy, well it isn't. Job was stripped bare to the bone. He lost everything but what he did not lose was faith in a loving Father. God was watching. And at the right moment He interceded for His child. Now Job could have quit. He could have cursed God and died as his own wife was telling him to do. However, Job stood firm on the promise that God would be faithful. And Father was faithful. He returned everything to Job and more so that in the end, Job was wealthier in all things in his life. We each can listen to that lying little voice who will say that you have no worth. That attacks when you are in your worst moments in life. It will come with words of despair and failure. Words that will strip you of all your self worth. Words to encourage you to quit. Yet, that is not of God. Father does not come to you with words of despair and failure. He will not attack your person. He loves His children. So, to each person comes the moments in time that are pivotal in how we are to continue with life. Will we look up from our weakness and cry out to Father? This is  what we see so strongly in the Psalms. David crying out to Father with pleas for mercy and deliverance. Or will we accept the curses that satan is trying to lay upon our hearts? I have been through the fires of hell on earth that satan visits upon each of us. If you do not believe that hell exists, then you are truly blessed and should live in a continuous song of praise and thanksgiving to our Father. However, if you are like the 99.999% of us who have lived upon this earth for any amount of time, then you will understand that we do live in a never ending cycle of trials designed to test and strengthen our faith in our God.  He is faithful to save. We must not listen to satan's little voice whispering of our humanity and carnal failures. We must allow God to rescue us and in doing so strengthen our faith. But here is the other side, when we do this, not only do we receive a blessing but others can see our victory and will want the same. For it is not our victory but our Father's and He will surely bless others, who by watching your victory, call on His name for their own victory as well. This will speak for us about God's love and mercy. What a wonderful feeling, when you completely surrender to Father's will and allow Him to save you. When you have been curled up in pain and TRUE despair of all your lifelong failures, and then you cry out and suddenly FEELING Father draw near to you! Father's love washing over you and finally knowing that you are alive and will be okay because no matter what may happen, you DO HAVE a loving God who is faithful to save and earnestly listening for your cries of duress and mercy. Oh to be able to live each day in that one moment in time when that knowledge of His presence hits you. WOW. I pray each day that Father renew His Spirit within me in order that I may KNOW that the Spirit is there and I may have peace. May you do the same.

A Loving Father

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.”—Seneca

     We of the Church, Christ's Bride, are trying to live righteously as our example lived out His life. We do this for many reasons but today it seems a lot of those reasons are becoming mixed with and stained with worldly reasons as much as what is biblical. We want to be righteous as long as it allows us to remain within the world and not demand that we look too differently from our neighbors. This is completely understandable in that we were created as a social being. We need and covet, yes I did use that term, other peoples approval and acceptance. Our creator made us this way intentionally so that we would seek Him out to be our source of approval and acceptance. Father knew that for us to desire a relationship with Him, He would have to take risk in creating a NEED to be social within each person. That empty place, within each person created, that can only be filled with a social attachment to another. This was intentional and exhibited by all the characters of the bible. Even our Savior had a NEED to fill that void with another and He can be seen loving others and accepting their love in return. Mary, John (his most loved disciple), Peter each are examples for this in Jesus' life. But even more, we see His constant need of approval from His Father. And Father always ensured that He filled that emptiness (like in ,"At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.” —Mark 1:9-11."

     However, satan looks at the void as an opportunity to spread his own deceits and designs. Not willing to allow anyone to develop that relationship with Father, satan attempts to change the designs of God's plan and delude Father's children into filling that void with other things. He wants us to fill that emptiness with greed and lasciviousness, malicious thoughts, hungers for more money, power, status, things, etc. He attempts to fill it with hatred and anger or anything that will not allow us to draw near to our Father. He does this with an uncanny ability to twist Father's Word to fit his intent. For example...I was taught Jabez's prayer at a youthful age. It was always held out as a prayer for 'money, and things' by a righteous man and so Father said, "Done. I will give you what you asked." ("Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.—1 Chronicles 4:10.") You see, when I had been taught the prayer, it was for the first half of the prayer...give me. Yet, Jabez did not stop at money and things...he also asked for God to remain near to him and that Father would protect him. Now why would I be taught to look at the worldly things of this prayer and truly only recently be brought to understand the truth of the whole prayer? Satan does not want us to be asking God to fill that void. If I am taught that God answered Jabez' prayer for money and things...then I will ask for the same and when I do not  ask for the relationship, perhaps I will never pursue the intimate and deep love that I could have with my Father. This will open the door for satan to put into that void a spirit of unforgiveness or anger, or hatred or any number of other worldly things that would drive a wedge between me and my God. 

     We all have this same NEED for Father, and His Spirit tries to help us live out our lives as loving children. Father knew satan would try to twist what was intended for good and make it evil. Therefore, He blessed us with a pure and holy gift, His Spirit. This gift was sent freely by our very own Father in an effort to ensure that we do not succomb to satan's evil desires. In the old testament, Father spoke directly to each of His faithful or by His emmisaries, the prophets. No better example of this could be seen than Father's relationship with David. Yet even David was not impervious to satan's temptations and fell often. The difference, David never stopped praying to Father in fear, or in triumph, in pleading for mercy, or prayers of praise for deliverence. David continually sought to fill that empty void with His Father's love and acceptance. Father acknowledged that by calling David a man after God's own heart...'A Man After God's Own Heart'...Wow! To be known by ones peers as a man after God's own heart would be a lifelong achievement but to be KNOWN as a Man After God's Own Heart by our heavenly Father! Now that is an epitaph that I would gladly accept and sing about! Truly, each of us are within reach of this same acknowledgement from our Father as He LONGS (yearns) for the same relationship with each of us as He had with His son David. It is right there for the taking if we would just reach out to Father and take it. Realistically, it is our own guardedness that limits our closeness with our Father. He is the Father in the Prodigal Story. He is waiting and watching eagerly for each of us to return to Him. Honestly, we do not even have to make the whole journey back...Father, RUNS eagerly to each of us who turns to Him crying out for restoration and love. He loves us freely and without reservation from the moment of our birth until our last breath. He wants, hopes, desires, and longs for our love and in return for our giving it, will shower us with blessings and His nearness and His protection throughout our days and even into those of our children. For that was His promise to the Israelites and to all who follow the path of His only Son, "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.—Proverbs 20:7"

     So our question, will you and I put aside our fears of rejection? Our timidness? Our doubts and lack of trust? Will we ALLOW a loving Father to gather us up and love on each of us as we soo deeply want and NEED. Will we open ourselves to the chance of a REAL and lasting love that no other human can give nor immitate but that we are each promised by a Father who watches hopefully that one day we will accept...this same promise that is without prejudice or stipulations. There will be no rejection or harsh words, no cruel biting and recriminations. God does not love that way and His is a perfect love that will never leave you wanting or looking for something more...humans do not know how to love like that and cannot hope to understand the totallity of a PURE love. But man does it sound majestic and unbelievable to ones who have been yearning for something honest and wholesome but never seeming to find it. I so desperately desire that love and hope. And still I find myself lacking in the faith to reach out to God and grasp what is within reach. Lifes pain and anguish restricts my beliefs and trust; testing my own resolve to seek out Father sometimes even when I know He is the cure. God has everything that I need to live a life of fullness and wholeness yet I am too wounded sometimes to allow healing within. Do not walk that path and suffer unnecessarily. It is a lonely road that leads to depression and pain. It will lead you to a sorrowful end and an unfulfilled life. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to Father's embrace and allow healing and love to fulfill your life that it may be a life of wonder and praise to Father. His love is trustworthy...ALWAYs.

Call to Work

“Have thy tools ready, God will provide thee work.”—Charles Kingsley

     Why do we Christians falter when told to work...is it that we do not want to work or is it that we don't want to seem different? Do we desire to be part of the society that we live within? The Apostles and disciples of the early church were excited about working to spread the Great News of Christ's resurrection yet we barely even mumble it in a crowd and that only after we are sure that the others in the crowd won't look down upon us as we 'Take our Stand' for Christ. Go back and read again Acts 5:32, "We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." (NIV) When read in context the Apostles are standing before the Chief Priests and are in trouble for speaking boldly to all the Jews about the Great News.
     God called us to work. He told us to spread the Great News of His New Covenant to all the peoples of the earth. Yet, I cannot seem to talk even to my own relatives and next door neighbors about Jesus because I do not want to be 'That Guy'...you know the one called 'A religious nutcase' or 'Zealot'. Once again we are silent about something that we should be shouting from the rooftops and speaking boldly about in our daily lives yet we have allowed our fear of rejection to dictate our level of commitment to the Word. When we do this we also start shutting out the voice of the Spirit of God. The Spirit was given to us for inspiration and to help us walk in the path of righteousness. It is through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that is a living guidance within each of us, that Father helps us walk in His path to do His good works. Go back and read again 2 Corinthians 3: 1-8 and following. In verses 7-8, "The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses' face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn't we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?", the writer talks about how Moses' face was shining with God's Glory. When was the last time that you looked in the mirror and saw a countenance that radiated from knowing, TRULY knowing, that Father loved you and you could not wait to share that knowledge with anyone and everyone? When was the last time that you looked in the mirror and saw even a glimpse of a smile from understanding that the Holy Spirit was there with you? That the Spirit was guiding you? How many of us can say that we actually know that the Holy Spirit is alive and well within us, actually KNOW that it is true? We give lip service to it, but like redemption do we REALLY believe it? Who does not fear that they will never be able to DO enough to get into heaven? I struggled with this one for years and although I had been taught from my youth that you cannot work your way into heaven, I still did not believe that I could do enough to blot out all my sins...that I would be able to live up to Father's standards so that I could be saved and not spend eternity in hell. See, that is the lie that satan spins to us...if we buy into having to work for our salvation, then he can always say,"why bother, you cannot do enough to get there. Stop the madness of trying to live right." He is the father of lies and deceit. We can never do enough to EARN salvation, otherwise we would not be saved by Grace. It is because of this that we should be like Moses and allowing the Holy Spirit to radiate out of us; shining forth for all the world to see so that we can speak of the wonderful news that Christ died to save us.
     I have to remind myself daily that I am not able to earn my salvation and not listen to satan's lies. Then I can understand that only by Grace are we saved and healed of our transgressions. This is when it starts to truly sink in just what Father did when He planned out the Crucifixion of His Son. That He loved all of us so much that He allowed Christ to carry that sin into death. Yet, Christ did not stay in the grave but rose again as our one hope for salvation. This is the truth of our Father's love for each of us. It is this knowledge that the Spirit uses to make us into shining beacons of hope and salvation to a world filled with pain and suffering.
     Yet we are also warned never to become prideful of our position in the kingdom. We are to work joyously, but not where others will bring us praise. In Matthew 6:1, "Be careful! When you do good things, don't do those things in front of people. Don't do those things for people to see you. If you do that, then you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." (ERV) We are a carnal people, and crave attention and confirmation from others. However, it is dangerous for us to desire this because to often we become proud of 'our accomplishments' and forget that the deeds we do are not for us but to bring glory to the Lord. It is for that reason we are to take care of the widows and the poor...He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.—Proverbs 19:17 (NIV) But if I receive praise for doing this, then soon I will do this only to receive the confirmation and praise. This becomes a source of pride and personal accomplishment. I will soon forget the truth of the reason behind these charities, that I am to be doing them as a living proof to the world that Father does love and care for all. It is by His grace that I am blessed to be able to help others and is NOT 'about me'. We often forget the reason for why we do these things...to show God's love to a lost world. Father wants us to be so happy and joyful in our daily walks that His Spirit shines forth for all to see and we receive confirmation for our actions by the awesome feelings that we get from the Holy Spirit when we are obedient to the call to help others.
     So here is the question, is there a beacon shining forth from you this day? If not, why not? Stop all the maddening noise and ask Father to renew the Holy Spirit in you so that you can hear Him as He confirms to you that you are saved and loved by the Father. Then don't just drown out the Spirit but follow where He leads. It will always be the Father's path and will include helping those who need it.

The 2 Sides of Man

“What fools are they who, for a drop of pleasure, drink a sea of wrath.”

—Thomas Watson

 

     Within each man that God created He placed a wild spirit that desires to run loose and conquer the world. We each dream dreams of greatness and conquest. Even as little boys, we would run around mimicking our 'Heros'. Whether they were good or bad depended upon each child's desire for greatness...for example, as a child, I remember "wanting to be Billy the Kid or Jesse James!" Wow, those were outlaws. Yet, we were taught they were the Greatest at robbing banks and nobody was faster than Billy the Kid with a gun! We even fought over who got to play which of the bad boys. We were taught to idolize greatness no matter where it came from. Give me a stick and I was John Wayne on a beach in Normandy or any number of other Soldiers to include SGT York. Yet, mostly we were always playing the bad guys, why? We wanted that wild freedom that they exemplified to a child's imagination. To the child, we did not understand the truth of who these individuals were.

     As adults we understand the reality of Billy the Kid and Jesse James. Both lawless men who murdered innocent people or took things that did not belong to them. Billy was a stone cold killer. And living by the sword, he also died by the sword. He chose to get pleasure from causing others to fear him and if they did not; they died. Jesse chose to rob people of their hard earned monies in order to live better than others who were actually working and struggling for a living. This is a life of evil and a reckless pursuit of the wild spirit within each man. So where am I going with this?

     Well an old Indian proverb is that within each man there lives 2 wolves trying to get out, one evil and one good. The one who gets out, or is seen by others, is the one that we feed the most. Our society is filled with individuals feeding the dark wolf. As a representation of our society the political elite exemplify this to the extreme. They no longer listen to their constituents and the public. Instead they only look at how to line their pockets with stolen loot like Jesse James. They lie and steal and take what does not belong to them in the name of 'making things fair for all'. They feel no regret and remorse for their actions, because their conscious has already been seered to where they no longer hear the Good Wolf speaking. We complain about their attitudes and lack of control, but We The People do nothing to correct these outlaws who are taking that which does not belong to them in order to feed those hungry Dark Wolfs of greed, lust, desire, gluttony, and all manner of other evil. But why would we? They are a small sample of our own society which has been going down the same path for years.

     So what? Why change when no one really wants to change things anyway? Why should I change if no one else is going to join me? The truth is this, we are past the point of changing and avoiding retribution. We The People stood silently by and allowed these new values to become the norm and so have sown the seeds of retribution just as those who are actually guilty of these sins. We are guilty of supporting them as they lied and cheated and stole our nation, turning it into a nation of thieves and murders. Therefore we exemplify the message in Proverbs 11:16, "A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth." We are not respected by our neighbors within our own country and the other nations no longer respect nor fear us. We The People are considered weak and unable to stand up to the harshness of others, even a small group like terrorists can conquer us because we are a lazy and uncommitted people. We do not even have the stomach to see a conflict through to the end. If you doubt me, turn back and read about Vietnam again and now in Iraq and soon to be Afghanistan. We claim victory in word, but we are only fooling ourselves as the peoples of  the world watch us turn tail when the cost of victory is 'too high' to pay. Really? What price was originally paid for Victory? What price did our forefathers place upon Liberty and Freedom? Which among them would be proud today of the way we allow our great nation to tuck tail due to a lack of true understanding? God did not give us a Spirit of Fear. He gave to us a Spirit of Freedom. Yet, we hide behind the first part of that verse and say that we are 'kindhearted'...again I ask, Really? Living in fear is not what that verse refers to. It is talking about giving to the needy or standing up for others when they are not able to. We The People have turned that proverb into a statement that kills our Spirit of Freedom. We hide behind it because we are afraid to pay the price of that Freedom and so do not deserve it.

     I have witnessed my brothers laying down their swords and refusing to stand because of the Word. God says He is a God of love so we must love like He did. I have even seen brothers who use Matthew 5-46-48 as an excuse to not fight, "If you love only the people that love you, then you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, then you are no better than other people. Even the people without God are nice to their friends. So you must be perfect, the same as your Father in heaven is perfect." (ERV) I cannot determine for them what is right and what is wrong but before you tell me that God is only a God of love then explain to me the God of the Israelites in the Old Testament who demanded that ALL the peoples be slaughtered. Not just the men, God told them to kill the women and children as well. So before you tell me that I am totally out of line with this, please justify to me the genocide that occurred when the Israelites were to take their land of inheritance. This verse tells us to love others no matter their race or nationality, but it does not tell us to lay down our arms and not fight them for the Freedoms we were given by our Father in heaven. Where does it tell me that I cannot fight to protect my family? It doesn't, and in fact further on even Christ talks of laying down your life for another. Is that just in a peaceful society type situation or was he talking to all our struggles? I say that it was an example of why we went into Vietnam and Iraq. We may not have gone into those nations to only protect and free those peoples from tyranny and oppression but that was at least one of the reasons. Yet, we allowed others within our society to dictate our own level of commitment and determination to fulfill the freeing of those peoples. We The People of this land no longer want to work or fight so we are sheep that have been turned out into the wilds where the wolves are already coming for the feast.

     God no longer calls us Sons and Daughters...and why should He when we do not fight to keep Him in our country? The bible says, "Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.—Psalm 119:1 (NIV) Yet, we have stopped walking in those paths. How can we walk in those paths when every day more and more of those pathways are removed from us by our own neighbors? They tell us to shut up and we tuck our tail like good little cowards because we do not have the stomach to fight for our own Freedoms. When will We The People understand that all these things that are occurring are due to our own fears and unwillingness to Stand up for God? When will we say, "ENOUGH! I am done living in fear of offending you and am going to live in fear of God? When will we men 'Stand and Show Ourselves The Men' for our Father? When will we decide enough is enough and we are going to blaze the path ahead on the Straight and Narrow, no matter what satan and his followers want? Only then can we say that we are Men of God.

     If we would only feed the correct wolf, the good one, then we could make a real difference in our communities, our states and in OUR nation. Then perhaps our Father would say again to us as He did to Israel so long ago, "And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!"—Ezekiel 39:29 

     Then we could once again be the shining light to all the peoples of the world. A nation that others truly respected and evil men feared. A nation that our Father in heaven could live within and bless as a nation of His Children.

Stop Fighting Among Ourselves

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

—Proverbs 24:3-4 (NIV)

 

     I recently heard the sad and disturbing story about a devoutly christian man who knew the bible, as well as most biblical scholars that I had the honor to study with during college. No, I am not a theology major but it was required study at the University I attended. This man continually amazed me and still does by his intrinsic knowledge of the Word. Now this man stunned us all in bible class with a very heartfelt statement, "I love this church and I love my friends in this church and cannot leave it. BUT, I cannot bring another soul, new christian, to this church as I feel that it would be the worst thing to do for that new christian soul." WOW! What a strong sentiment and statement of condemnation the church has placed upon itself in the eyes of one of its own.  

     I sat in silence as I listened to this man's story of how he was mistreated by "Christians" who should have been there to support and lift this man up as a shining example of Christ. This person had mentored me and stepped out front for me when I was struggling a few years prior. I had moved to another state when this all occurred but it resonated within me about the internal politics of our own church's. These are in deed our church's because they are not Christ's. 

     Which one of the members who 'threw stones' at that individual could have claimed to have 'died for his sins'? Which of those members could have claimed at that time "They were without fault" and therefore worthy to cast the first stone? Who among them was more righteous than the brother that they were assaulting in the 'Name of Jesus Christ'? I tell you, NOT ONE. None of them were without fault and qualified to cast a single stone. Yet we continually tear at each other and attempt to bring each other under our own power and authority when it is NOT by our authority that we are to be acting. Jesus did not call anyone to the 'head of the table' but instead called each of us to humble ourselves for the sake of the other Christians. It is Christ's body that we are a part of not mine or the Pope or any man on this earth. We are to live our lives as a holy sacrifice to Christ and by living in this manner Christ then lives through us. How was Christ living through those attacking this man? 

     We have become as tradition and politically bound as the Pharisee's, Sadducee's and teachers of the law that Jesus called 'White Washed Tombs'. We fight and bicker among ourselves so much that we are truly the laughing stock of other religious groups out there. I am not that old, yet I cannot name one church that I have attended that had not split do to our own internal issues and power struggles. REALLY. What happened to the wisdom from Paul that tells us to not be divisive and to work together for the good of the whole body? 

     So let me ask you, if you were building a house, how many differing Architects would you hire to draw up the plans? How many Primary Builders would you then hire to build it? My grandmother used to tell me that, "Too many chefs spoil the soup." We know there is only one Architect for the Body of Christ, God the Father. We know that Holy Spirit is the main Contractor and builder for Christ's church today. We are to be the workers. We are supposed to lift up and push each other up in kingdom building not beat each other down. When we each play our part we shine God's Light to the world as He intended. 

     Brothers and Sisters, it is time to stop fighting among ourselves as the body of our Lord and work together to save this lost world. Satan is laughing at us and our continued attacks upon each other. When we act in this manner he does not have to even get involved and can focus on other places. How do you think that he has won so much ground within our own nation? Please, I am begging you, STOP the madness and with prayer and fasting  return to kingdom building. In that way, we have a beautiful home built by Father  and filled with wonderful treasures through His Spirit.