Back to the basics

We know that through life’s circumstances, tests, and troubles we fall short. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” but we have also learned that God loves us (John 3:16) and cares for us. If we will humble ourselves and through faith believe that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to bridge the gap between where we have fallen and our now Heavenly Father then we will be saved.

By this we are reminded it is by grace not by works (Ephesians 2:9), otherwise the strong would boast and the weak would by shunned but God’s plan is that all should be saved and that He receives the glory in all things.

When Adam and Eve sinned mankind was forever separated from God because He is holy; still our Heavenly Father created us to have relationship with each one. Like Adam and Eve we each have been given the gift of Free Will and God refuses to take it from us, even if it means eternal separation from Him. The reason for that is so all may know, above all else whom we will serve; without this important step we are simply obedient because we have no choice, which is not obedience at all and therefore Free Will is required! For without Free Will the type of relationship the Father designed can never be offered. 

Why do we choose God?

• We first need to know that we are unable to succeed on our own and to those who’s ears are not open the what the Holy Spirit says (Proverbs 9:10-11) God allows life to show us where we fall short not because He doesn’t love us but because He does love us indeed!
• Some blame bad luck when they fall and some blame others – this is denial. We keep trying and keep failing all the while pulling further away from God’s love as we refuse to give in.
• Next we are brought face to face with a choice. We will either humble ourselves and let God love us or will we keep trying on our own hoping one day luck will be in our favor, as if we are playing the lottery with our lives and eternity.
• Read Matthew 5:1-16 (the beatitudes) and see who God says is blessed… it is those who have come to terms with their own need for God. Turning to God and letting go of our own way opens a doorway in front of us to live life the way God has intended.
• The other choice is to become more determined, pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and showing God and everyone else we don’t need anyone i.e. pride (Proverbs 16:18).
• The story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) the father allows the son to walk (Free Will). God is more concerned with our spiritual condition than He is with our physical comfort, in this way pride is revealed. Even spiritual leaders who otherwise love God can allow pride to, like the prodigal son, effectively cause them to walk away from the Father but God is faithful and even at the bottom we can return to His great love.
• Remaining humble by remembering our need (James chapter 1)
• Until we understand just how much we need the Lord we will continue to try doing things in our own strength and just as many times we will continue to see the limits of those efforts (Hebrews 12:6-7).
• But those who are spiritually mature know just what it means to walk with God in all things, knowing it’s not their strength but God’s, it’s not their will but God’s, and it’s not their battle but God’s and they give it to Him not because they have to but because they choose to (1 Corinthians 13:11-13).

The answer to all life’s mysteries is relationship with God, the way He had originally planned with Adam and Eve. The answer to relationship with the Unseen is humility and faith in His righteousness allowing His love to move us to action, telling others about what He has done for us… ultimately for Jesus to increase and for us to decrease in all that we do and say – John 3:30-36… this is the key to life and how well you apply it to every aspect of yours determines success or failure, for by this alone you and I will be judged (Matthew 7:21-23).

Call no man your father

Matthew 23:8-12 MKJV But you must not be called Rabbi, for One is your teacher, Christ, and you are all brothers. (9) And call no one your father on the earth, for One is your Father in Heaven. (10) Nor be called teachers, for One is your Teacher, even Christ. (11) But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. (12) And whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he who shall humble himself shall be exalted.

For who is my father or my son, who is my family? If they are followers of Jesus Christ are we not brothers and sisters serving the same Master? Do we not each have a direct line to the Father through His Son Jesus Christ? I’m all for Christian books, twelve step programs, motivational speaking, and tools that help us understand better the people God has designed us to be, in as much as they follow the Bible but if the vary, wavier, or turn from God’s Word or cover up His will then I have no use for them!

There have been very few books that really have touched the core of who I am and the same were simply tools that magnified the Word of God through someone else’s revelation of the Holy Spirit helping me to see better what God meant for me as a believer in Christ in a particular area of my life. The same can be said of pastors, evangelists, and teachers, the ones that touch me most deeply are the ones that confirm what the Holy Spirit of God has already been busy doing in my life. We simply cannot get caught up in placing things or people on pedestals in our lives; in every case we will be let down because in so doing we are trying to fill a God-shaped hole in our hearts. You see God created a void inside of you and me that only He can fill, now He uses people’s testimonies and revelations (which is evidence of God’s Holy Spirit) to move others and point them back to Christ but we must understand those thoughts and ideas are but a glimpse of what God has in store for us and we will only realize the whole matter through relationship with Jesus Christ! No program, book, or motivational speaking can take the place of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Matthew 12:46-50 MKJV But while He yet talked with the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him. (47) Then one said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brothers stand outside, desiring to speak with You. (48) And He answered and said to him who told Him, Who is My mother? And who are My brothers? (49) And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold, My mother and My brothers! (50) For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother.

In the end people are people, meaning though we are all at different places in our walks with God and learning what that looks like, even those who seem to have all the answers, at our core we are all desperately in need of a Savior ~ Jesus Christ. Do not follow the revelation of this brother or that sister for if that revelation is from God then it was spoken specifically to them. That does not mean it does not apply to my life but those who don’t understand a real relationship is possible with the unseen God tend to hold onto whatever is tangible, even if that is someone else’s dream or vision. In the end that other person cannot know your story like God does, because we ourselves don’t know it like He does. You see we limit ourselves by avoiding the faith that is required to have relationship with the one true God. Following people, even those who have college degrees and have been professionally trained can only take you so far and if they get puffed up pride will enter and what God meant for leading and directing becomes twisted and ugly because of sin. Is that not where the scribes and Pharisees were, did they not use their human understanding of God’s law to condemn others, did not pride blind them and place them on some weird power trip and did not Jesus bring to light the condemnation they brought upon themselves?

Luke 6:41-42 MKJV And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye? (42) Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the splinter in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First cast out the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to pull out the splinter that is in your brother's eye.

Who is man that he should be the go between for me and God whom sent His Son to die for my sins – I ask you what could be more personal than that? That being said we are not to forsake gathering with our Christian brothers and sisters, for that is good and right and as God intended

Proverbs 27:17 MKJV Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the face of his friend.

Hebrews 10:23-25 MKJV Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful who promised), (24) and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works, (25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

but if it all should fall apart tomorrow, no more twelve step programs, no more motivational speaking, and the church had to hide because it became illegal to meet would our faith fall apart or would we become stronger in Christ Jesus? In the end the only thing that matters is relationship with Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:21-23 MKJV Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works? (23) And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

My shield and my strength

Psalms 3:3 KJV But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

How many times have I looked down because I knew I was unworthy of love? Yet just as many times has God reached down to gently lift my eyes so that I may look into His and know that He loves me in spite of all my failures and shortcomings. We often have to remind ourselves that God’s love cannot be earned or purchased but only received humbly through the accepting, by faith, the work His Son Jesus Christ did for us. Furthermore, He knows the cry of our heart and waits patiently for us to ask for His help.

Psalms 3:4-6 KJV I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. (5) I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. (6) I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

Through pain and the longing of our hearts we get to experience intimacy with God. Strangely, those are the very things the world says we should avoid. After all who wants to go through pain or know the desperation of one’s own heart but it’s these things that become the doorway to knowing God better and deeper than the average pew warmer. The longer we cover it up, ignore it, dismiss it, or drown it out with busyness the longer we miss out on knowing God intimately. Can we be saved without ever going there? Not sure but when have we ever settled for a small piece of pie on anything? And if that is so why settle for just enough of Jesus to make it to Heaven? For Heaven is not the destination but it is relationship with God, that’s where we are going! What was the number one thing Jesus corrected the religious and those with ambitions about? What did Jesus try to get the rich young ruler to see (Mark 10:17-22)? Was he not blinded to Jesus’ love for him by the things he owned, is it not relationship with Jesus that surpasses all of our accomplishments?

God said king David was a man after His own heart; do you think David was born special and without choice was made to be an instrument of God or could it be he knew what it meant to long for relationship as the least of eight brothers herding sheep all day long. David was passed over by his father when Samuel looked at Jesse’s sons for the next king of Israel. Still David knew who he was and who he served as we watch him face Goliath. Again David faced much pain as he ran for his life from Saul’s anger and again David also knew his own depravity when he sinned. It was only after all these things David came through that his relationship with God became intimate, for it could not have been any other way.

Yes David was selected by God before he was born but was it because of some special ability or was it because God knew these things would bring him closer to God and it could only be through this type of intimate relationship that God could lead the king who led His people?

May your heart always remain tender towards the things of God, in all situations. If you can keep the soil of your heart fertile there is no telling what God has in store for those who love Him and surely He will keep those whom He uses to serve His purpose.

Why we turn away

Matthew 11:4-6 NLT Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— (5) the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. (6) And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of Me. '"

What is it that we are looking for when we see Jesus but turn away? What about when we see Him in others? Is it that too much is required or that we have our eyes set on the wrong things? Are we looking at human frailties and weaknesses or do we see opportunities for God to grow our faith? Are we that easily offended that we would miss out on what God has in store because we don’t like the vessel He chose to deliver His message through? Does looking at the blemishes of others allow us to excuse our own shortcomings?

Jesus did not fit into the box of who the Jews thought the Messiah ought to be, their understanding of their deliverer would have to change if they were to accept who He said that He was. They saw the signs and wonders yet could not explain who He was, still they refused to take Him at His word; what a shame but don’t we do the same today? If Jesus visits us by speaking through others do we miss out because we have judged the book by its cover? When someone speaks truth from the Word of God is our first reaction to decide whether we should listen or not based on the appearance of the vessel from which the truth is poured out of? If so haven’t we just made the same mistake the Jewish people made when Jesus walked among them? Our understanding is not aligned with who Jesus tells us He is through His Word and in order for us to come into alignment with Him we must change but many finds it easier to remain as they are and wonder where God is and why He doesn’t show up when they need Him.

Hebrews 13:1-2 NLT Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. (2) Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Who are the angels Hebrews 13:2 speaks of? In Revelation the seven angels of the seven churches were men, pastors chosen by God to lead His people. If God choses to lead you by speaking through someone else have you not come face to face with an angel?

So the next time someone shares with you be challenged to not look at human limitations but instead to the possibilities of God but you will only be able to do this by discovering who God says that He is. It is true reading the Bible doesn’t save you but if you truly love God and we believe the Bible is His Holy Word given to us so that we may know Him better why wouldn’t we read it… unless our eyes are fixed on the wrong things and our hearts are too frail to hear the call that has been placed on our lives. Turning our eyes doesn’t excuse us from accountability but instead only blinds us to the truth. In the end not listening or saying, “I didn’t know” won’t allow you to squeak by. No one gets to Heaven by the skin of their teeth but instead by knowing and having relationship with Jesus Christ, listening to His call, and following with simple obedience.

Freedom, Warrior, and Builder

"Waiting On Your Love" by Justin McRoberts

There's nothing so heavy, Weighing down the soul
As the weight of nothing, Worth my strength to hold

There's no pain so cutting, No battle as in vain
As the constant battle, To avoid the pain

You were poor when you were born
You could see Your Father clearly
Through the nothing that You owned

Free me from these binds, Lord
I am choking on the gifts this world gives, Jesus
I am waiting on Your love

So as Your Word has promised, I must clearly choose
To lose my life and gain Your love, Or love my life and lose

You were poor when you were born
You could see Your Father clearly
Through the nothing that You owned

Free me from these binds, Lord
I am choking on the gifts this world gives, Jesus
I am waiting on Your love

Free me Lord to live this life
Believing all I really have is You
I am waiting on Your love

(bridge)
Man verses himself, Man verses machine
Man verses the world, Mankind verses me
The struggles go on, The wisdom I lack
The burdens keep piling upon my back
So hard to breath, to take the next step
The mountain is high, I wade in the depths
Yearning for grace and hoping for peace
Dear God increase

My dearest daughter and sons do you remember when I told each of you about God having a new name for you? I had just returned from learning about the “Wild at Heart” message from John Eldredge in 2004. Do you remember what those names were? Burgandy yours was “Freedom”, Isaac yours was “Warrior”, and Malachi yours was “Builder”. Lately God has reminded me of this time of discovery, for they were not names that I gave you but I believe they came from your Father in Heaven. As we have relationship with God He gives us new names that are descriptive of the purpose He has placed in each of us. One of the names He gave me about the same time was, “Messenger”. Though as we continue to grow in Him we receive new names that have new meaning they never contradict the names He previously gave us, if they were indeed from Him.

Burgandy look around you, you have no binds other than the ones you have chosen. Not all binds are bad, you have a loving husband and that is good but you are independent and make up your own mind about things unhindered by what others think. Isaac, the fact that you are excelling in the ROTC, even though you were told multiple times you had no future in the military because of your injury, is really no surprise to me for God knew His plans for you way before any of that happened and I am blessed He let me in on it. Malachi, I used to think you were destined to be an architect or something but I look at you and realize you faithfully build relationships and mend what is broken, what comes natural for you I’ve seen many who were trained do less. I want you three to know that it is no wonder you are my children because your names are my names too but what you do with them will be far greater than I could have ever done.

This song has been playing over and over in my mind as of late. It has touched me deeply as I come to this point in my journey for the Lord has brought me to this choice – will I love my life and lose it or lose my life to gain His love? You see sometimes age is required for certain types of wisdom as I have come face to face with my own depravity and I understand better now exactly what relationship with Jesus is worth, no wonder He said this,

Luke 14:26-28 NLT "If you want to be My disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple. (27) And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple. (28) "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?

To truly follow Jesus it costs us everything but in the end what we give up is nothing in comparison to His great love. Be encouraged children, God has great plans for you but you will never know the depths of His love without the kind of relationship that cost so much! I believe we (people) medicate our pain and/or hunger for lesser things to the point we can no longer experience the richness of His love that we once knew before we filled our warehouses with stuff (read Luke 12:13-21).

You were poor when you were born
You could see Your Father clearly
Through the nothing that You owned

Free me from these binds, Lord
I am choking on the gifts this world gives, Jesus
I am waiting on Your love

Free me Lord to live this life
Believing all I really have is You
I am waiting on Your love

To listen is to love

If you want me to listen to what you have to say then you have to show me that you care. You can’t say you care and then show me something else but instead I need to know you have listened to me and first know my story. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Otherwise, you are pushing an agenda and selling propaganda that I don’t need in my life.

Why do you think Jesus met the poor and the sick and the down trodden where they were? The religious leaders criticized Him for it but that did not matter, for the people He came to reach had His attention. Jesus did not come to buy or sell ideals but instead His purpose was to free those who were entangled in the legalism of those who thought they knew the way.

Head knowledge is great but if it does not reach the heart then it is born of man and not what God intended. What’s worse are those who take this head knowledge and try to push it on others. You know this is what you are doing when people refuse to listen because honestly they don’t want what you are selling! Jesus did not do this, first He met the wounded where they were; He came to them and offered a better way but never once did He force them to believe.

Luke 17:11-13 KJV
(11) And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
(12) And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
(13) And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Luke 19:5 KJV
(5) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Matthew 19:21-22 KJV
(21) Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
(22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

The one who is pushing an agenda will continue to push until the one they are conversing with yields, surrenders, or walks away. Tell me something if you win the argument but the other one walks away in tears what have you won? The rights to say you were right? Have you convinced that other person or do they feel like they were not heard? What does God think about this type of behavior? You may be arguing for God but find yourself alone and hollow even though you have claimed the flag. Is this the example Jesus gave?

Why was Jesus able to challenge people without discouraging them? Because people could sense that He knew them and understood where they were coming from. Read John 4:1-26 and Matthew 15:21-28. Why was Jesus able to challenge these women yet they did not run away or get angry? He met them where they were and led them on a journey. He did not push or prod but He did make sure truth was revealed and when their journey was over they had come to the conclusion that Jesus knew what He was talking about but not because He told them so rather because He allowed them to discover it for themselves. Jesus did not have an agenda but instead came to show us what real love is all about and that is why people listened then and still do today.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV
(1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
(2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
(3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
(4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
(5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
(6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
(7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
(8) Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
(10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
(11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
(12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
(13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The next time you are knee deep into a discussion about doctrine compare your thoughts and purpose with 1 Corinthians 13. If it does not follow these guidelines then you need to stop, rethink it, and try again. If you conversation is outside of this standard then you are most likely causing pain and division and unless anyone gets the wrong idea, this is first and foremost a message to myself but what matters to the individual is that they test their own purpose and heart.

I am made all things

1 Corinthians 9:22 KJV
(22) To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Don’t you know that the trials you face in this life have happened, in part, so that you may witness to others about God’s goodness in the midst of hardship? God is able to use every circumstance as growth and every pain is as a building block for those who love Him. For King David could not have known what God had in store for him when he was but a shepherd boy but it was because of David’s heart for God that he became king. Furthermore his heart-felt cries out to God as he ran for his life from Saul has touched untold multitudes and has caused warriors in the faith to rise up. In this his weakness was made known so that others would be made strong, all the while pointing to God as his salvation and refuge.

Psalms 61:2-4 KJV
(2) From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
(3) For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
(4) I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

Many days I am tempted to ask why me Lord but before the words come off my tongue I am reminded of God’s purpose and that He delights in me and if I endure this trial with my heart for God intact then that purpose will be revealed in His timing. It is at that point I have the opportunity to show simple faith and consistent obedience thereby allowing God to complete the good work which He began in me. For we do not know or understand God’s ways, except He leads us by His Holy Spirit and we are faithful to His call.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV
(6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

But to those who’s eyes have been opened by the Holy Spirit and believe by faith God is doing a good work in them and through them for it is he who has seen the Kingdom of God! Knowing that in this way God reaches out to the broken and down trodden, the sick and the lame, so that all might be made whole as a new creature in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:23-24 KJV
(23) And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
(24) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Free Will

The most important gift that was given to mankind from the Creator was and is Free Will and therefore freedom to live as God meant for us to – free to know Him and discover who He made us to be. We had it once in the Garden of Eden up until Adam and Eve gave it away to the snake after making the choice to trade it for the wisdom of good and evil, buying into the lie that they would be like God, they were tricked and did not understand the value of what they had been given.

From that point on them and all of mankind lived under the curse of sin, no longer free but a slave to our own lusts and selfishness. We were and are consumed with thoughts of envy and strife and bitterness and are no longer able to see the path God put us on to discover all He has for us. Those who did what was right always had a taste of how it could be through obedience and sacrifice but it always fell short until the day Jesus, God’s Son, came to show us the way. He lived His life, here on earth free from the curse of sin and performed many miracles and signs of wonder and being different He attracted much attention. While God’s people were waiting for a hero God sent them a baby boy who was raised by a simple carpenter and his wife, hidden from the world until such a time He would restore the free will and freedom to choose God’s will once again by breaking the power of sin and death.

With Jesus’ death and resurrection those who believed upon Him to be the son of God, it is to those whom this wonderful gift has been restored and this time we must understand the value of this gift. It is so valuable that God Himself would not take it from us even if it meant we would fall again. This is who He is and if we don’t understand that then we haven’t understood His purpose for us yet. God wants a people who will follow Him because that is what they choose to do, not because they have been made to but of their own free will.

Think about the prodigal son, what pain and misery the father could have saved the son if he would have made him do what was right but that’s not what happened. The son had to experience, on his own, the consequences of his choices. While he was living wild and free (under the curse of sin) thoughts of the father and home were in the back of his mind and though he paid no attention they would serve him well once he hit bottom. You see it is the act of coming face to face with our own depravity that allows us to once again hear the truth.

If the son reasoned that his father would not take him back, even as a servant and did not start the long journey home he would have died in his sin. He was still physically his father’s son but his free will took him to the wilderness where later the father told him during that time he was dead to him but because he came home and was forgiven by the father he was once again alive to have relationship with the father and understand the father’s purpose for his life. (Luke 15:11-32)

When John the Revelator was directed to write to the seven churches we should find it very interesting. Obviously he is writing to those who have known God i.e. saved through the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ but what we find are stern warnings because they not unlike the prodigal son had left their first love. Look at the Father’s words…

Revelation 3:15-16 KJV
(15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
(16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

You see the gift that cost Jesus his life was not being held in a place of honor because they had given it to lesser things. The only thing worthy of that gift is service to the One who gave it, anything else and we like the prodigal son will also die in our sin, even after coming to know the Father because He will never take it away from us, that is the one thing He said that we must have and do with as we desire, not once but every day of our lives!

Now where people get confused is when they struggle, trust me I struggle almost every day and what’s more, often I fall down and it is here Jesus said nothing can separate us from His love.

Romans 8:35-39 KJV
(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
(36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
(37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
(38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
(39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And I believe it! My human frailty cannot separate me from God’s love or His salvation, as long as I am always willing to accept His correction and through it all love Him even when it means my flesh will suffer.

Matthew 13:3-9 KJV
(3) And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
(4) And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
(5) Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
(6) And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
(7) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
(8) But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
(9) Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Did you get the different conditions of the soil (the heart of man)? Some never heard because they were distracted by their busy lives, some had a hard heart towards God because He seemed unfair to them, with some the seed took root but old habits choked out the seed and did not allow it to grow, but a few allowed the seed to grow and it produced a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and others thirtyfold.

Obviously people would say well of course the ones where the seed produced are God’s children and know God and they would be correct but what gets overlooked is that the seed also took root among the thorns, meaning for a brief moment that person allowed God in their heart. I believe this person too was saved and on their way to knowing who God is and who they were meant to be but for whatever reason, whether it be from addictions or old friends and habits the seed gets choked out and the life of freedom is short lived.

My friends if we believe that once we are saved the ability to have free will is taken from us then we just devalued what Jesus did on the cross! Why did He go through pain and suffering, why did He show us how to live, why did He walk among us? Why not just pardon us and once we made the decision to be His go to heaven to be with the one we love? No I tell you this life is a race and even though we start that race by accepting the work Jesus has done for us it is not finished until we cross the finish line. It’s not how well we start but how we finish that matters. In this life there will be pain and suffering and loss, through that we can either draw closer to God and love Him knowing He is good at all times, even though we cannot understand or we will turn from Him, saying that He is a hard Master that requires too much.

Matthew 25:14-30 KJV
(14) For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
(15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
(16) Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
(17) And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
(18) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
(19) After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
(20) And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
(21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
(22) He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
(23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
(24) Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
(25) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
(26) His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
(27) Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
(28) Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
(29) For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
(30) And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

All three servants knew the lord but only two were faithful, only two experienced the lord’s intended purpose and so it is with us. Furthermore, it wasn’t the act of burying the talent but instead that was the indicator of the heart and it is by the heart that we will be judged. This is a good thing because those who have pure hearts before God will be accepted regardless of their struggles. God’s qualifications are different than man’s and to receive His salvation you must be led by the unseen Creator of all life. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6).

To follow the Unseen

What does it mean to follow that which you cannot touch or see? What is our point of contact? Is it not God’s Word, the Bible? By this we are able to know who He is and by His Holy Spirit He leads us and gives us understanding. As we hunger to know Him more we will be led on adventures more wild than any famous explorer, for on their adventures the dangers and risks could be seen with their own eyes but this adventure the only thing that is known is that God is good and by faith He must be trusted to bring the pilgrim to His intended purpose. As the pilgrim follows the heart the connection to the One who leads, at times, will feel as though it is by a single thread and therefore he is careful to read God’s Word more, pray often, and listen to His small still voice. As this is done the relationship with the Unseen grows and somehow the pilgrim becomes more “in tune” with God’s leading but the moment he thinks to himself, “I’ve got it” and steps out on his own, that’s when he looks around only to realize those steps took him in the wrong direction and his feet are no longer on the path by which God leads him.

The more I follow this call upon my life the more I realize my thoughts and ideas are juxtaposed to the route and destination by which I am led and that is where the battle is. The question becomes will I trust God or will I rely on my own thoughts and feelings. To choose God’s ways I must be alert and deliberate or else my will takes over and I end up lamenting over this box by which I have seemingly sealed myself in. By this measure God tests us to see if our resolve is set on Him or if we will continue in our slumber.

1 Corinthians 13:9-12 MKJV
(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
(10) But when the perfect thing comes, then that which is in part will be caused to cease.
(11) When I was an infant, I spoke as an infant, I thought as an infant, I reasoned as an infant. But when I became a man, I did away with the things of an infant.
(12) For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known.

What if bits and pieces of the perfect is being made known to us even now and we are being watched to see what path we will follow? Only by trusting God will we know God and only by practicing obedience will be become what we are meant to be. There is not fear because perfect love casts out all fear, for in my humanness yet still does He love me!

Listen to King David as he expresses the joy of following the Unseen, for in him he is aware that God has covered him and protects him and leads him, even though it is not what he would choose for himself his faith is in God’s ability to bring him to the place he is supposed to be.

Psalms 139:1-18 MKJV
(1) To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O Jehovah, You have searched me and have known me.
(2) You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
(3) You search my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
(4) For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Jehovah, You know it altogether.
(5) You have closed me in behind and in front, and laid Your hand on me.
(6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot go up to it.
(7) Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?
(8) If I go up into Heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
(9) If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the furthest parts of the sea;
(10) even there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
(11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light around me.
(12) Yea, the darkness does not hide from You; but the night shines as the day; as is the darkness, so is the light to You.
(13) For You have possessed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb.
(14) I will praise You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are marvelous and my soul knows it very well.
(15) My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret and skillfully formed in the lowest parts of the earth.
(16) Your eyes saw my embryo; and in Your book all my members were written, the days they were formed, and not one was among them.
(17) How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
(18) If I should count them, they are more than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.

Is this type of relationship with the unseen Creator of all life only meant for a select few? No, surely not! But just the same only a select few ever come to this place. Is that because God has favorites or could it be because we are so preoccupied with the things of this world we are kept from ever knowing Him the way He intended?

Matthew 18:12-14 MKJV
(12) What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, does he not leave the ninety and nine and go into the mountains and seek the straying one?
(13) And if it happens that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety and nine which did not stray.
(14) Even so it is not the will of your Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Do you see the connection He loves each one as if that one is the only one! But being of free will and mind we make the decision to either trust and obey or walk away or slumber through this life. You see this life has one purpose and that is to reveal to us, to the world, and to God whom we choose to trust. For when this race is run we will be called to give an account for what we put our trust in. Jesus told us what that day would look like and He also told who would find rest and who would be cast out. The very same who find rest are the ones who heard the call of God upon their lives, for long before this day the rest Jesus spoke of was known to them.

Luke 13:29-30 KJV
(29) And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
(30) And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

God's discipline

Job 5:17 MKJV
(17) Behold, blessed is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

Hebrews 12:5-7 MKJV
(5) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him;
(6) for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives."
(7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father does not chasten?

Having God correct us is not a bad thing, the Bible tells us if He corrects us it is because we are His sons and daughters but somehow we have learned to avoid all types of discomfort. We have got to ask ourselves these questions:
1. Do I trust God?
2. Why is God correcting me?
3. What is it He wants me to learn?
4. Am I going to grow or avoid discomfort?
You see God has purpose in everything He does and if He wants you to go through something there is a specific reason for it. If you have a more mature Christian who has gained relational currency in your life then ask them why they think you are going through a particular trial. If they know God and they know you and are honest they most likely can tell you what may be going on. In a healthy marriage this should be happening between husband and wife. It is possible because each one loves God first and then loves each other as much or more than themselves. They can see the trial the other one is going through and they also know the character flaw God is working out so that he or she may be more mature than before and though they see the difficulty the other one is going through they, like God, want to see their spouse grow so they let God do this work.

James 1:2-4 MKJV
(2) My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations,
(3) knowing that the trying of your faith works patience.
(4) But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.

Simple living

We have become so preoccupied with technology under the pretense that it makes our lives easier that we’ve become numb to the things that are most important. If it doesn’t flash, buzz, or ring we don’t pay attention. All these devices have allowed us to do is become programmed to a society that no longer knows God. Honestly, besides Sunday, how many times during the week do we open the Bible to see what God’s perspective is? We allow schedules to bog us down until we are no longer able to hear the still small voice of God speak to our hearts and then we wonder why He seems so distant only to prove our suspicions that He is unobtainable; therefore we like Abraham come up with our own solutions.

Many “Christians” today have confused relationships with other church people and good deeds with knowing God but never stop long enough to allow God to speak to them; it simply isn’t convenient in this present world of instant gratification. With the idea that if I live according to what the preacher says, go to Bible study, volunteer, and give to those in need or put money in the offering surely then that is knowing God and if there is a God in heaven He must know how busy we are and understands the demands of our schedules. Thinking to ourselves, “To stop and wait for an invisible God to speak to my heart so that I may be led in the things I say and do, who has time for that?”

Matthew 7:22-24 KJV
(22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

We are all guilty of not only going over budget with our finances but also our time, for many different reasons. For some its for the sake of approval, for others its is to advance their careers, and the list goes on but all these things are temporary and there will come a time when we will have to answer for how we used the time that had been given to us. And on that day what will our response be? Will we point to all the wonderful things we’ve done for God? What if those things were not the things He was asking of us? You are right in those things there is nothing wrong with them individually but when you accumulate them like trophies and use them to guard your heart from the risk of having to step out in faith in order to follow the unseen you miss out on all that God had planned for your life and our electronic pocket calendars aided us in ignoring God’s call.

Not us but by God's Holy Spirit

Matthew 16:13-17 KJV
(13) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
(14) And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
(15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
(16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
(17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

1 Corinthians 2:10-16 KJV
(10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

If we know right from wrong it is not anything with in us but rather God’s Holy Spirit that has revealed it to us. For none is righteous, no not one for who can understand the things of God unless it be explained by the One who spoke it? We are as babes still in need of our mother’s milk who are we to explain things of the spirit, do we not walk by faith because we cannot see with our own eyes? Do not forget our dependence upon the One who walks before us. No matter how good our life looks, when we venture away from our guide and the lamp unto our path we will inevitably stumble and lose our way. If we were not in need of a Savior Jesus surely wouldn’t have gone through everything He did. He would have simply allowed the strong to triumph over the weak but He said that He did not come for the healthy but instead for the sick and those who know they need help. As for the healthy, they are sick too but haven’t realized it yet.

Romans 3:9-10 KJV
(9) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
(10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Because I know Him

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
(Psalms 91:14-16 KJV)

Because you have known God He will deliver and honor you. With long life He will satisfy you and prove His salvation over and over. Not because you knew about Him or you knew of Him but because you had a close personal relationship with Him! Look at verse 14… Because he has set his love or determined to love Me God says, “I will deliver him.” How many need life insurance? God has so much more and the price for it has already been paid! All we have to do is seek Him first, above all else put Him first, so much so that any other love appears as hate when compared to our love for Christ Jesus.

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
(Luke 14:26 KJV)

Be determined to love God in the good times so that when bad times come you have a life-line to hold onto; because life will bring about many opportunities to be angry at God but do not be fooled into pushing away from God when you need Him most, for that is exactly what the enemy wants. If you have set your love upon God by choosing to love Him in all situations, knowing Him and realizing He is good at all times, then you will be delivered and you will hear God’s answer when you call out to Him. When difficulties, pain, and loss come your way, because you have known God, He will be with you but to those who only call on Him when they have need of Him, they do not know Him and are unsure of their future. They stumble around in the darkness pretending to see, only when they stub their toe or smash their nose does the name of the Lord come across their lips. For their hearts and minds are full of doubt and even though they ask God to deliver them they should not expect to receive anything from the Lord because of the condition of their hearts.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
(James 1:6-7 KJV)

Their doubt leads to confirmation that nothing of God is known and that He is distant and hard of hearing, for surely God has hid Himself from this person! God is big enough to take it but are you willing to dive to the depths of the soul before you finally look up? The heart that is full of doubt leads the individual to a crossroad and at this point one can completely buy into the lie of the enemy and turn from God or come home as the prodigal son did in Luke 15:11-32. How much better it is to spend time getting to know God because you want to and not wait until you have exhausted every other possible avenue. By the time you see the light your life will have been spent living for yourself and searching for answers that do not exist outside of God’s love for you! You want to make the most of what you have, then live for Christ, loving God above all else and He will deliver you.

Ice breakers with God

With many Christians an ice breaker is needed to get to know God, much like the games played when meeting a new group of people. It seems every time we turn around there is a book that has a new way to experience God which can be good and bad. Good if you are new to reading God’s Word or you’ve tried before and can’t seem to get anything out of it but to those who experience God’s presence fresh and new every morning these steps and labels can be very restricting. Not that we should be unteachable but don’t be so easily bent into the box where we are told God is waiting for us. This concept is difficult to describe, so let’s look at it a different way.

If I don’t know anything about deep sea fishing and therefore read a book on how to do it I would find many helpful things in it that would get me started. However, you give that same book to a boat captain who does it for a living what response do you think you’ll get? I’m not saying he wouldn’t read it, I’m not saying he wouldn’t see a different perspective but what I would expect is that very little would change in his daily activity even though when I read it I depended upon it completely to be successful. Yet when we are going through a Christian book that is intended to help us experience God I sometimes feel like I’m in a room of contortionist!

I wonder what God thinks of us bending and stretching when all along He simply waits for us to invite Him in? You know simply spending time with someone is the best way to get to know them and while books and videos can help they can never take you to the deep places because that is one man/woman’s idea about what worked best for them. Because we are all different the secret garden or the quiet meadow of experiencing God ‘s heart for us can only be shown to us by following His lead, not the path of someone else – understand God alone takes us there!

They who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; these see the works of Jehovah and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and all their wisdom is swallowed up. And they cry to Jehovah in their trouble, and He brings them out of their troubles. He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still. And they are glad because they are quiet; so He brings them to their desired haven.
(Psalms 107:23-30 MKJV)

It is through life’s journey, good times and bad, walking hand in hand with God, not doubting His goodness or insight for our lives that we are able to experience God’s presence. For only by His presence do we come to recognize the character of God and once we recognize the character of God we see Him in everything we do. It is at this point that we pray without ceasing, that we enquire what God’s will is, and we are quick to follow His leading. The old saying WWJD “what would Jesus do” was so over used and misunderstood to the point that no one says it any more but much like that deep sea captain, those who follow Jesus on a regular basis neither were moved by it when it was over used or ignored it when everyone stopped using it but continued following Jesus as they always had because they knew only Jesus could lead them to their desired haven.

Knowing the Shepherd's voice

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice."
(John 10:3-5 NLT)

What keeps us from having a personal relationship with Jesus? Is it too difficult to have the faith that is required? Are we afraid of what others might say? Are our lives too busy with other things to stop and pray? Why is it when we are in need of God’s help whether it be because of a sick family member or a loss of a dream we seem to get real spiritual but as soon as we get out of the woods we’re back to a life without Him? Don’t you know God is not mocked!

Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
(Galatians 6:7 NLT)

God does not sit in Heaven with a big stick, waiting to beat us over the head whenever we step out of line but when we are stiff-necked and try to use God like a sugar daddy neither is He fooled. For you have been lovingly created so that you may have relationship with the Father of Lights so that in Him you might discover who you are and who’s you are. For the Good Shepherd has a purpose that was designed specifically for you but you will only know that purpose through knowing who you are and who you belong to, so that you may know better the One who created you. Do you want to do big things with your life, then seek God whole heartedly!

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 as in a cloudy 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.
(1 Corinthians 13:11-12 NLT)

Simple obedience

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.
(Matthew 1:24 NLT)

The pain of Joseph’s soon to be wife already with child and the betrayal of his trust caused Joseph to decide to quietly divorce Mary instead of publicly shaming her but God had other plans and out of this pain and loss something wonderful was about to happen.

What do you think would have happened if Joseph decided to allow his pain to rule his actions? It is so important that we trust God in all situations, even when we do not understand. Joseph continued to be faithful to God as they were led into and out of Bethlehem; never once did Joseph argue with God or question the messenger of God but instead simply obeyed.

Sometimes the problem is we want proof to back up our faith before we are moved to action… But God if you would just do this, then I will do that. We see this when people were asking who Jesus was even though He had already told them.

The people surrounded Him and asked, "How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe Me. The proof is the work I do in My Father's name. But you don't believe Me because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me, for My Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."
(John 10:24-30 NLT)

But instead of believing or submitting they wanted to stone Him! What does the constant questioning and lack of faith say about a people; what does it say about God’s will being done among them?

Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." And because of their unbelief, He couldn't do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And He was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.
(Mark 6:4-6 NLT)

We are to be minutemen, ready at a moment’s notice because we are practiced in obedience. As a matter of fact God said without faith it is impossible to please Him!

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
(Hebrews 11:6 NLT)

Who God is

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
(Numbers 23:19 NIV)

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
(Deuteronomy 4:24 NIV)

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.
(Deuteronomy 4:31 NIV)

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
(Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV)

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.
(Deuteronomy 10:17-18 NIV)

The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
(Deuteronomy 13:3b NIV)

For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
(Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV)

He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent men you save me. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
(2 Samuel 22:2-4 NIV)

Will evildoers never learn— those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the LORD? There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.
(Psalms 14:4-6 NIV)

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
(Psalms 54:4 NIV)

Those who go through pain and loss only to come to the conclusion that God is unjust simply and sadly do not know God! They listen to what others in the church say, they listen to teachers and leaders of the Christian faith but the fail to know God. The problem is they have too many minds, that’s right “Too many mind” as mentioned in the 2003 movie The Last Samurai. There we follow a broken American army captain who is eventually hired to train Japanese troops during the Meiji Restoration, which spanned 1868 to 1912. It was in the first battle against the opposition that he was taken prisoner and slowly converted to their cause. During his retraining, his brokenness kept him from focusing on the task before him. As he faced the seasoned samurai in practice his own pain and loss kept him from seeing the task before him, even though he wanted to win, that’s when his trainer told him, “too many mind… mind the sword, mind the people watching, mind the enemy, too many mind… no mind. ”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbecIBvR3mE

We have to be the same way in that no matter what anyone else says all these outside influences cannot be allowed to keep us from knowing God! To know God is to love God and if we do not love Him or have a grudge against Him then in every case a wall of separation can be found between that person and God.

Matthew chapter five Jesus tells us who God is close to…

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
(Matthew 5:3-11 NIV)

Never once does Jesus say blessed are those who hold a grudge against God or are even upset at God because they believe Him to be unfair! To be in that place means you are not the things Jesus mentions here! So why am I driving this so hard? Because it is more than simply being free to express our feelings with God, to live a life in anger towards God is a lie straight from the pit of Hell and many in the church have swallowed it hook, line, and sinker! Listen, we have a Heavenly Father who wants us to express our emotions, this is a true statement but it is also true He wants us to know Him and not doubt who His Word tells us who He is when trials or difficulties or pain or loss come our way. One of God’s purposes for us living this life on earth is so that we will know Him better so that we might be prepared for the things He is preparing for us in Heaven. Which way reveals who our true friends are good times or bad? When things are going well don’t we have many “friends” but when difficulties come and we go through the valley how many of those “friends” remain with us? The same is true with God has He not been with you through your mountain top experiences, your walk through the desert, being adrift at sea, and your time in the valley? If we did not experience pain and loss how could we possibly know the depths of God’s love?

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
(Psalms 139:7-17 NIV)

Does this sound like King David held a grudge against God because he had to run for his life? David expressed himself yes but he never let himself forget who God was! All of this should bring you back to Matthew chapter five. When we go through tests and trials remember what James said…

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
(James 1:2-8 NIV)

If we doubt God’s goodness or His faithfulness to His people do we not forfeit that which He has planned for us? Does not this forfeiture lead us to go around in circles as the Israelites did for forty years in the desert? Tell me what good has your anger at God brought you? Are you any better now than you were when it first happened? God loves you and me and fortunately for us He is patient but there will come a time when our choice to set ourselves against the love of God will cause us to find ourselves on the outside looking in. Even though my words sound harsh my heart in the matter is that not one person be separated from God because of this lie from the enemy! It is however God’s great gift of free will that allows us to either have relationship with Him or pull away from Him.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
(Romans 1:28-32 NIV)

Did you get that “God-haters” are among those who refused to attest to the evidence of the goodness of God (Romans 1:20). Look at the company they keep: the sexually perverted, fools who claim to be wise who worship creation instead of the Creator, those who willingly exchanged truth for a lie, wickedness, evil, greed, depravity, gossips, slanders, insolent, arrogant, boastful, senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Take your anger with God to the end of that road… where does it lead you? Are these the people you want to call your friends? No, of course not, then why go down that road at all? The Bible says God is good why doubt that? If someone can’t see the whole picture who do you think that is us or God?

What else could possibly be said about this subject starting on October 22nd and running through November 2nd I have poured out my heart and it is heavy still because people don’t know God the way He wants them to know Him. If you hear nothing else consider the word of Jesus…

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
(Matthew 7:21-23 NIV)

Who do you think Jesus was referring to? Those who were surprised told their Judge “Did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Jesus was talking about church people who did what was expected of them but refused to take time to have relationship with Him. Look it wasn’t about what they did or did not do but rather it was about knowing Jesus and if you have something against Him then you don’t know Him! Wasn’t it Jesus that said if you have something against your brother to leave your sacrifice on the altar and go make things right with your brother first? (Matthew 5:24) Then why do we think we can do all these things for God but still have something against him in our hearts?

Angry at God - Part III

If we are to ever do anything big for God then we have to get past the point of blaming God. Maturity requires that we are ready at all times to serve but blaming God can only lead to being spiritually handicapped and emotionally drained making it impossible to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, we are to hunger and thirst for the things of God but when we blame Him it drives a wedge between us and the very light that illuminates our path in the darkness. God does not change and if that is the case then who surrenders in this battle of the wills? Will God ever respond to your accusations with, “Oh, I didn’t see it that way, I was wrong.” No! I tell you the truth if one side does not have a clear picture it is us, not God! So tell me when will being angry at God ever change the situation so that it turns out better for us? And if that is the case why go down that path at all?

Do you want to live the remainder of this life being angry and bitter or would you rather be able to look back at this journey here on earth and say, “I came through every trial holding God’s hand and He was faithful and because I trusted Him God did some mighty things through my life.” I am determined what we do in this life will echo throughout eternity. If we barely get by will we not wish to go back to do things differently but there will be no going back. And if we allow God to do His will through us will we not be rewarded for being faithful and will this not propel us on towards greater things? You see we do not know what God has in store for the things that are to come and wasting time being angry at God may cost us more than just the years here on earth! Is the ability to show God just how angry you are about a situation worth the regret you will have on the other side? Remember not to trade your birthright for the small things that make you feel good right now (Genesis 25:29-34).

So pray for understanding and the ability to trust God more. The Devil can take my life but he cannot have my soul for I was bought with a price that cost my Lord His life and nothing shall separate me from His love but if choose to walk away from Him God will not take the gift of free will away from me especially after giving everything so that I may have it but instead He will let me go so that I may discover all that I had in Him and so I may return to Him of my own free will.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
(Hebrews 12:1-4 NIV)

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."
(Hebrews 12:25-29 NIV)

Angry at God - Part II

I don’t say these things because I’m heartless or without feeling, just the opposite! Yes pain is a part of life and we all have experienced loss and we’re going to get angry at times but we’ve got to get to a point where we completely trust God, even when we don’t understand the reasons why. The sooner we see Him as holy God and a loving Father the sooner we realize that He is our tower of refuge, our healer, and our hero.

We come to God with the understanding that He is the holy, righteous Creator of all life and only through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ are we saved – that’s level one. As we grow in relationship we have more freedom to express ourselves, this is level two. He sees our struggles and our failures, He knows our thoughts and feelings, and we are to work on growing to be more like Jesus in the things we do and say and think but growing is sometimes painful. As we go through trials, if we’re not careful we get this attitude like God owes us something special because of the time we have faithfully served Him but when something doesn’t go our way or we experience the loss of something or someone close to us and we forget the holy, righteous God we knew in level one and instead we begin to scold Him for not protecting us the way we think He should have. The only way to true maturity is that each level builds on the previous one. Yes, we are to be intimate and closer to God than any brother or friend but we can never forget who He is! This idea is not new it is from the Five Levels of Leadership, which is found in John Maxwell’s book Developing The Leader Within You. The levels go in this order position, permission, production, people development, and personhood. You start out following the leader because you have to, then because you want to, next you follow because of what they have done for an organization, next because of what he/she has done for you, finally because of who they are. Learning who God is requires the same level building and though we continue to grow closer to Him we can never forget who He is! Looking at it this way really opens your eyes and makes you think twice about throwing a temper tantrum with God. Yes, hurt and morn the loss but also let God comfort you, don’t push Him away, why would you do that?

As I think about this subject I keep seeing this image of my dogs, who get so excited when I come home from work. After all the jumping (they are both under 30lbs) they immediately go to lying on their backs wanting me to scratch their bellies but it also show submission and trust, if someone they don’t know walks in they go into attack mode! There are some similarities in the relationship between God and me. I love His presence more than anything and I take a posture of submission, knowing He is in control. You see I was in control for a long time and nothing good came of it. If my way was the best then why did I experience so much heartache? No, I long for God’s leading and direction because I trust Him, utterly and completely, with my whole life not just bits and pieces and if that is true how could I possibly ever get mad at the One who gives so much? My very existence depends on His mercy and loving kindness!

Angry at God?

Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?”
(Job 38:1-5 NIV)

Job had a lot to be angry about if he were dealing with another human that caused him this pain but that was not the case! God clearly allowed Job to be tested, seemingly without cause and when Job finally broke and began questioning God’s ability to be just and fair he received his answer beginning in chapter 38 and ending with chapter 41 and it is not a response I want to get from God.

There is much pain in the world and that includes pain among Christians. People of the world don’t know what to think or who to blame, often they refer to their circumstances as “bad luck” but Christians knowing of God we trade our belief in luck to believing in God’s purpose. Though it is seldom that we know the answer to all of our questions why at the root we know that God has allowed this pain. Too often church leaders tell their congregation it is ok to be mad at God and will often point to Psalms and King David’s struggles. What isn’t said or isn’t heard is that David always reminded himself of the goodness of God and didn’t wallow in pain and anger for very long.

I have seen it over and over again the innocent gets hurt, blames God, gets angry at God, and then gets stuck there. The result is that they cannot heal and they spend the rest of their Christian lives angry at God, broken and powerless to move on. My wife and I once knew an adult Christian lady who was molested as a child, who could not forgive God for not protecting her. As a result she had debilitating headaches that were destroying her life as a mother, wife, and friend. Though she prayed for healing and asked others to pray for the same God remained silent. She and her family eventually moved, looking for professional help; as far as I know healing never came.

Was God “big enough” to take it? Yes but who’s progress is hindered coming through the wall? Did God still love her? Yes! Why didn’t God heal her of these terrible headaches? We don’t know but I believe these are the wrong questions. Why did the Israelites wonder in the desert for forty years? Look at it this way, a godly, human father sees his twin toddlers playing with their favorite toys. They are doing nothing wrong but still he takes they toys away from his two children. What the children don’t know is that their father has something better in store. The one gets mad and throws a tantrum fit to be tied, the other hangs her head and starts to cry. Though this was a small thing it deeply impacted both children. The questions needed to be asked are these: What was in the heart of each child that caused them to respond the way they did? What would you expect the parent’s response to each one is going to be? Would he not correct the one that is displaying “justified anger” and would he not comfort the one that was weeping? And if this is the case which one do you think would begin to understand that the father is indeed good and has good intentions first? The one throwing the tantrum, I don’t think so! Another question is this: how long do you want to sulk and feel separated from God? He’s big enough to take it, are you? On the other hand when I come to a wall I want to go through it as quickly as possible. That doesn’t mean I don’t hurt or somehow lack feelings, that doesn’t mean I don’t have questions but long before I got to the wall I decided that God is good no matter what circumstance may come my way.

Time and time again God has restored me and my faith in Him whether it was watching my son almost killed from someone who fell asleep at the wheel and then being told all his dreams had been taken away to now having a full scholarship in college and a promise to be who he originally wanted to be prior to the accident and that’s just one example! There are many more stories I can share like that one but never once was I angry at God or will I be, not because I’m more righteous than someone else but simply because I know God to be good at all times, no matter what circumstances I face and I know He is faithful to grow my faith in Him and His ability and desire to save me! So if you must be angry at God, for He still loves you but if you want healing you have to let go of the anger in order to step out of that dark place so that you may grow in faith knowing God is your only hope of salvation.

Where I struggle is being angry at people when they have hurt me but even that the lesson is the same, for I cannot hold onto anger and receive healing at the same time. Forgiveness combats anger and being secure in God's love combats being easily offended and living detached from the things of this world means that I get to know God's peace.

Life to the fullest

The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
(John 10:10 MKJV)

Do you want the most out of life? To hear Jesus’ words in our youth and believe no matter what we do life is not complete until we surrender all to Him would give us such a head start but it usually doesn’t happen until we are older because we have to experience for ourselves the highs and lows of living. This is why the young are to honor and respect the elder but being old doesn’t automatically grant you passage to wisdom. Regardless of our age it is the walking out our journey with the Lord, the falling down and learning He is there each time to pick us back up.

Our family recently took home a rescue dog from a shelter. His name is Bear and he has many trust issues, we know very little about his past but do know he was one of many dogs his first owner had and was neglected. When we first brought Bear home with us he only wanted our youngest son. We stretched and challenged what he believed to be true about people by consistently showing we were trust worthy and eventually he began to open up to the rest of the family. He not only depends on us but now he understands his own needs better and he trusts us. He is still learning but there are some things that have shaped him that cannot be undone and so it is with us. We have to learn God is trust worthy by surrendering our will for His and letting down our walls, as we do our old lives fall away and our new family is so much better but there are still things that we have experienced that have bent our beliefs but unlike Bear if we draw closer to God, seeing our desperate situation He has the power to move mountains. Now our only hurdle is our own ability to believe what He says is true without doubting. Only then are we ready for the next level of life-changing power Jesus says He eagerly awaits to show us.

And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you.
(Matthew 17:20 MKJV)

The fullest life possible is the life that recognizes God’s voice, who knows how to listen, who is obedient, and who will allow God to stretch them without any remnants of doubt. Yet we are still human and try as we may life has bent our belief system but the more we can awaken our spirits to God’s truth the fuller our life becomes.

To listen with our hearts

Saul and his men spared Agag's life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. Then the LORD said to Samuel, "I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to Me and has refused to obey My command." Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night. Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, "Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal." When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. "May the LORD bless you," he said. "I have carried out the LORD's command!" "Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?" Samuel demanded. "It's true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle," Saul admitted. "But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else." Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!" "What did He tell you?" Saul asked. And Samuel told him, "Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.' Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD's sight?" "But I did obey the LORD," Saul insisted. "I carried out the mission He gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, He has rejected you as king."
(1 Samuel 15:9-23 NLT)

I believe Saul did believe he was obedient to God’s command; the problem is he listened to God’s prophet without hearing. The scripture tells us Saul greeted Samuel cheerfully saying, “May the Lord bless you, I have carried out the LORD’s command!” God’s prophets were not to be deceived, for everyone knew the cost would be great and therefore the position demanded reverence. The problem is Saul had a preconceived idea of what victory looked like and though he listened to God’s prophet the words was not given the opportunity to soak into his heart because Saul’s will repelled them as oil repels water. When the battle was over his lie was so convincing even Saul himself believed it, how surprised he must have been at Samuel’s reply. This is important because there are many people who sit in churches today and “listen” as they sit under godly teaching but all along have their own ideas of what a successful life looks like and on Monday they enter the battlefield assured they are doing as God planned. They only succeed in deceiving themselves because what they do is not God’s will but their own and when things don’t turn out the way they expected guess what they do – they sacrifice to the Lord but like Samuel told Saul, “Obedience is better than sacrifice” yet they do it anyway having nothing else to offer and then they start the cycle all over again. This happens repeatedly until it is impossible for them to hear God’s Word, still they go through the motions and it is these people Jesus tells us about in Matthew chapter 7.

"Not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.'
(Matthew 7:21-23 NLT)

You see they only way for these people to relate to God is through deeds but God says it’s not as much what you do but whether or not you know Him and because they have caused themselves to go deaf through self-indulgence they are cut off from God. To the Christian nothing is more important than their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility to chase hard after Him and to hunger and thirst for righteousness, yes faith without works is dead but works without a relationship with Jesus Christ is not living! We know Him by spending time with Him in the same way I can hear my wife’s voice in a crowd we are to know God so intimately that we recognize Him in our daily lives even though there are many things going on around us. We know the character of God by reading His Word and He leads us by our hearts but our hearts must be conditioned to hear His small still voice, as a gentle breeze arouses the hair on my arm my heart is to be sensitive enough to know when Jesus is passing by, this is how we listen with our hearts.

Live in the light of His love

Live in the light, for the day is coming when all will be revealed and those who have become accustomed to the shadows will have the most to hide. For the Lord leads His people by the light of His Word and those who belong to Him seek Him diligently and they shall not fall.

For You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
(Psalms 36:9 NLT)

Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You live.
(Psalms 43:3 NLT)

Those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, forsaking all others and surrendering their will for His, they will be made to bow before Jesus and with their tongues confess Him as Lord on that dreadful day but those who love Him and are obedient now, of their own free will, on that day they will lay their crowns at His feet and will reign with Him in the place that He has prepared for them. So stop judging others, setting brother against brother but live according to God’s commandments so that His will is done in your life. 1 John 4:18 tells me that perfect love casts out all fear and if I love as Jesus leads me then I have nothing to fear in this life or the next. Death does not have a hold on me “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. (Philippians 1:21)

For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God. '" Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
(Romans 14:7-12 NLT)

Fear of being lost for eternity can’t keep us, though it might bring us to Christ only His love can keep us and only His love can move each of us towards Him and light our path so we do not stumble and fall.