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