Chronicles of a Forgotten Prophet

It is TIME!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:19:00 +0000

We never have enough. No matter how hard we try and get things done, it seems we always run out of time to do the things that we need to. When we are having a good time, it seems to go even faster.

The moment that we find the time, it is gone as quick as you found it. You would think in the age of technology that we would have an excess of time. I mean, after all we have plenty of gadgets, tools, and appliances to help speed up everything we do, and yet, we still keep running out of time.

TIME

Time, for us, begins at our first breath. Yes, we do experience time when we are in the womb, but truthfully it is our mothers who really experience that part of time more than anyone else. They deal with all the issues that can interrupt the process, make growth happen, and just in general, learning patience.

Time, for mankind, began when Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden. We talk about time in relationship to the creation, but really we cannot comprehend time in those terms. Even when scientists talk about light years, or they try and determine algorithms that would help decide how long something would take, they still do not completely understand what time really means.

What is TIME?

Time only exists in the perspective of what we know.

Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

Seems like time to God, and time to us are completely different concepts. A thousand years is a long time in our eyes, but simply a day in His.

When we want something to happen, TIME seems to take forever. When we are trying to do something that matters to us, TIME passes really fast.

The dictionary describes TIME like this:

time/tīm/

Noun: The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole. Verb: Plan, schedule, or arrange when (something) should happen or be done: "the first race is timed for 11:15". Synonyms: period - age - season - epoch - hour - term - date – era

TIME is relative based on what we know.

For the basis of this article, TIME is a verb. It is a moment for action.

What Time Is It?

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die... a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;... a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

At this moment, there are hundreds and thousands of people ‘occupying’ a philosophy as well as places around this world. They are demonstrating because they believe they were treated unfairly in life. They may have some grounds for it, but for the most part, it is about being covetous of what others have, since they do not.

This week, Friday, October 21, 2011 to be exact, a so called prophet has said God is coming back. He is wrong. He also said God was coming back on May 15, but to him it is time for the return. And given the situation of the world, it would be great if God came back now, but ‘no man knoweth the day nor hour that the son of man cometh.’ It isn’t so much about time, as it is about hope.

What Are You Doing With Time?

Many of us procrastinate about things we need to do. We are human, and well, to some extent we always put off doing things we should, in favor of things we want.

Much easier to ignore things we don’t want to do, in hopes that things will change and we won’t have to get involved. Perhaps you were supposed to have a meeting with someone a long time ago, and it still hasn’t happened. Was it your fault or theirs? It seems as if things that matter we never really have time for. We know we should make time for those things, but it isn’t as important to us as it may be to someone else.

Maybe you have a dream of what you want to accomplish in your personal life, or even spiritual life, but it seems to hard to take that first step, and so we wait. Hopefully we don’t wait too long. We neglect to do our duties in favor of what we feel more comfortable with. We don’t take into account how it may affect someone else when we make decisions about matters of time. We only think about ourselves. Don’t deny it, we all have those moments.

And It Came To Pass

Countless scripture settings begin with this phrase. And countless books begin with something similar, ‘Once upon a time.’ It is a matter of perspective in writing what happened, or what we write about when we set the time table to have already taken place. Everything in life is affected by the passage of time. Maybe we made a promise, or should have said sorry, but time got away from us, and now it is gone.

What is keeping us from accomplishing what we should do? Sure, our go to response is we didn’t have time, but truly that is a lie. Maybe we have prayed about something a long time, but haven’t seen it come to pass simply because all we did was pray. Yes, I do believe in the power of prayer. However, there are some things that can only transpire if action takes place. We have to actually do something to make it happen. Something more than just mumble a few words in secret. Yet, for most of us, we wait. We keep expecting change without realizing change can only come sometimes if we get up and do it.

Try it. Sit at your table with that piece of cake, and ask for the fork to come out of the drawer so that you can eat a bite. It isn’t going to happen. You, or someone, has to actually go to the drawer, open it, take it out, sit back down, put the fork in the cake, and take the bite. No matter how many times you wish, or pray, it isn’t going to happen without you taking the matter into your own ability. Action, by you, is required to bring it to pass. Ok, yes I know some of you would just use your fingers rather than get up, but you get my point.

It Isn’t My Time

It seems to me that if the need is not our own, we often just ignore it, or at the very least neglect it, until it is no longer on our mind. It is easier that way than taking the responsibility. After all, it isn’t about us, so…

Countless battles have been lost simply because we expected someone else to step up and do it, even when we knew it was up to us. We use every sort of excuse to rationalize actions that we did not take, even when we knew better.

Losing weight? Saving money? Helping someone else? We just simply cannot find the time. It really isn’t about time though, it is about neglect and apathy.

I really wonder how many times we have passed by someone in the supermarket, on the street, in the sanctuary, when they had a need we could have fulfilled? We had other things to do. We were busy. We were in a hurry. We didn’t have time.

Later on we read a story in the paper and wonder what happened. We were the one who could have made the difference and we didn’t. It isn’t so much about time, as about passing on our responsibility. Oh, I know, we aren’t our brothers keeper, but we are quick to quote the scriptures that talk about loving our brother, not judging, and talk about what good Christians we are, when someone questions us. We are responsible for those we come in contact with, and those we have known. If we don’t step up, who will?

What Are You Going To Do?

I know, most have stopped reading already. We don’t like to be told we are abdicating our responsibility. But we need to realize that the things we neglect to do will catch up with us. Karma? No, not really. Life. The way we treat others will come back around and we will stand there wondering.

There used to be a very popular secular song, Cats In The Cradle, which talks about a father not having time for his son, and the lyrics end up with the son not having time for his father. Life does have a way of turning the tables on us.

I ask you when is the last time you said:

I wonder what happened to…
I haven’t been to see…
I should have…
If I had known, I would have…
How is [insert name here] doing? (Asked of someone else instead of finding out ourselves.)
I planned to…

What Time Is It?

So, my question to you is are you doing everything you can to make sure you use the time you have wisely? Are you actually living the life you should be? Doing what you should to change the world around you? Or are you just drifting through life, just excusing your behavior as this is the best you can do?

When we begin to see the signs, or something starts to happen to us personally, then we will wonder why no one comes around, why things have turned out the way they have, and yet we are clueless to the fact that life happens. It can be good or bad depending not only on what we do, but on what we don’t.

Too Late

Too late? There will come a time when it is too late for all of us. The only thing that matters is what we do now.

Quit Digging In The Ashes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:59:00 +0000

This past week or so I have found myself waking up very early in the morning. And for those who are wondering, I do not mean ten or eleven o'clock. On average, I have awakened around two or three in the morning, and struggled to get back to sleep often to no avail.

It has been a struggle during the day to stay awake but I have forced myself to remain busy in hopes that when I do lay my head back down on the pillow, I fall asleep and stay that way at least until the sunlight is streaming through the window.

Most of the time I got up to pray, and a couple of those times I woke up so burdened I had to pray. There was an almost overwhelming urgency and the tears were streaming down my face. I wasn’t sure what I was to pray about, usually I just talk to God when I pray. Nothing specific came to mind so I simply poured out my soul before the creator.

The bible says to ‘stir up the gift that is within you.’ I do believe that sometimes we get so caught up in life that we neglect the very life force that keeps us going. Pray is more than just an act we do over our food, or perhaps before we go to bed at night.

Pray is extremely vital to our walk with God. It is more than just communicating our needs to the delivery man. more than just weeping because of a loss, it is the energy that flows through the veins of the soul. It is as important to our soul as our blood is to our human body.

Digging In The Ashes

Paul reminded Timothy to stir up the ashes. Sometimes we get so busy with life that the fire has gone out, or at the very least there is just a few small embers left. Perhaps we get overwhelmed with things that do not seem to be coming together as we hope, or we miss a part of ‘what used to be.’

It happens to all of us. We look back on events that happened in our lives and recall the fun times, the better times, and maybe even some of the bad times. Maybe we remember what it was like when we first found God. We might also recall friends or family that used to be our support when we were going through a trial, and we wonder now where are they. We just need something to get us back on top. Some spark of life can make a change, if only we can find it.

So, we think back on what was, and contemplate what we might have done different, or we just wish we could go back to those moments when we knew things were going well. Surely somewhere in the ashes is a small ember somewhere. If only someone would help us.

As we keep digging, our focus becomes more on what was our life, than what is has become. We get sidetracked. ‘It was so much better when we were…’

Was it really? Or is it just that the memories of the past are where we are starting to live our life? Sure, little things come up to try and get us back on track but our heart longs for those special moments. We just need a spark. Somewhere deep in the ashes there must be something.

They Are Just Ashes

While it is good to look back from time to time on what was, we have to be careful not to glorify it; not to remember it in an altered state. Sure, there were plenty of good things to smile about, but there were times when only God kept us going as well. Maybe we never said it out loud, but we knew and God knew of the times when it was enough to break us.

Maybe in our current situation we are struggling to survive. No one knows really, but we are going through things that we only cry about in the night. It is hidden within us, we don’t want anyone to know although occasionally a word or two escapes. We brush it off as if its no big deal and go on with life letting everyone thing its all okay. But it isn’t.

That one thing in our heart, in our mind, that keeps drawing at us. It isn’t a wrong thing. It isn’t a sin. But somehow, it is starting to take more of our time and energy. If only we weren’t so tired and worn down, we would have the strength to overcome this desire.

In the midst of the night, we cry out to God in silence because we do not want anyone to know. We are hungry, needy, lonely, discouraged, and perhaps overwhelmed with life and wonder how it is all going to work out.

No one understands why we keep bringing up those moments in time that have passed. If they only knew what I was going through. Weary of the battle, we stir the ashes looking for something to grasp onto.

We forget though what ashes are. Ashes are the burned up remnants of what used to be. It was a tree standing strong in the forest providing shelter from the elements. But now, it is just ashes. It has lost its usefulness.

Ashes

Have you ever tried to light ashes on fire again? Occasionally it looks close to happening, but then it flickers and goes out. What most of us don’t think about is that pouring ashes on a fire will put the fire out. We need new wood to keep the fire burning.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

Sacrifices cannot be made on ashes. It needs a new alter, new wood, and new fire. We can’t find fire from the past. We cannot live in the memories of what used to be. So, God wakes us up early in the morning to refocus our lives, get us back on track, and to draw us closer to Him.

Oftentimes in those early hours it can be very quiet and very lonely. At times it may bring us to tears as we wonder how we are going to make it. It isn’t up to us. It is up to Him.

We are quick to quote the scriptures that God can supply all our needs, but in moments of desperation we forget. If only things were different. I have dreams and plans, and if I could just turn back time just a little. Ever feel that way? But we are using a stick, stirring the ashes from the fire of the past.

Our destiny is not predicated on what used to be but rather what shall be.

God has a plan and a future for us. He knows what we need. It is His job to take care of us when we belong to Him. And we can accept that and reach toward the promises God has given us in the night, or we can keep digging in the ashes.

Quit digging in the ashes!

Leave The Stump

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 06:05:00 +0000

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth. Daniel 4:15-15

We have all seen tree stumps at one time or another. A tree might get cut down for many reasons. Sometimes the tree is diseased. It might also be that a storm has battered the tree and we worry about it coming down and causing damage. Still other times the tree is removed to make way for something new.

Tree stumps are not pretty. The life that had previously been there is gone. The shade and protection that a tree may have provided; the refuge from the storm for the birds; the fruit that may have been delicious upon that tree it is all gone.

Trees have a purpose

Many times we will plant a tree in order to beautify our surroundings. A young tree needs to be taken care of, protected, and given a lot of attention. It needs to grow strong roots otherwise a wind might come along and blow it down. We might need to prop it up some while it begins its life. Perhaps give it extra nourishment and water until it is strong enough to stand on its own.

But there comes a point when the tree does stand alone. It gets the majority of its nourishment from the ground and from the rain. And if it is a fruit tree, we will begin to notice blossoms and fruit. It will be pretty. It will give back either of its fruit, or shade and protection from the elements. It will be useful and have a purpose.

However, someone else may come along and decide they don’t like the tree. It may block their view, or perhaps they wanted to do something else in that spot and so they will start to make plans that doesn’t involve the tree. Oh, they know the tree has a purpose but it just doesn’t fit with their plan. And they will decide to cut the tree down.

Perhaps the tree is missing a few branches. Maybe one side of it has been battered by winds or bugs and it has been damaged and not quite as pretty. It doesn’t provide the same protection as it once did, or maybe not as much fruit because it has been scarred by storms and it is decided maybe it is only good to burn for heat.

And before long someone comes along and cuts the tree down and all that is left is a stump.

I have seen forests where they practiced clear cutting, and all that is left on a hillside is a bunch of stumps. It is ugly. It looks hopeless. There is no life, no beauty there.

Many times our lives can be just like the tree. In beginning we protect life, we nourish it, and we make sure it is well taken care of. If it needs help, we are there to make sure nothing bad happens to it. We know if we take care of that life in time it will produce fruit, it will bring protection, it will serve a useful purpose.

Maybe the tree isn’t a life. Maybe it is your marriage; your health; your dreams; or even your ministry.

Have you ever seen a tree that on one side of a fence the tree is beautiful and on the other side the branches are just whacked off. It isn’t pretty on that side, and there is no protection or fruit available on that side of the tree.

Usually it is because the person on the other side of the fence didn’t want the tree to grow on their side. They didn’t want the branches to offer them protection. They didn’t notice the beauty or the blessings that were sure to come to them if they only let the tree alone to grow.

Consider the Stump

We may have to look at that stump every day. It may be in a place where we cannot avoid it. Stumps aren't pretty. They can be an eyesore. They are leftovers of what used to be there.

In the scripture setting at the start of this post, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven and ordered the tree cut down but commanded to leave the stump. It seems like an odd request. Tear off the branches, scatter the fruit, take away the protection from the birds, but leave the stump? Leave the ugly part of the tree?

Many of us face trials and tests that have torn down parts of our lives, killed ministries, and destroyed marriages. All we can see that is left is a dirty, scarred stump of what used to be there. We had dreams. We had plans. Now, it is all left in ruins.

No longer do we look at our ‘tree’ and smile. We don’t enjoy the shade, we are not able to enjoy the fruit, and if a storm comes we cannot hide under the protection of our tree. We had great plans for our tree. It wasn’t supposed to end up like this. And at best, all we can do is sit mournfully on the stump of the possibilities.

It seems hopeless. What are we going to do with a stump?

The Purpose of The Stump

Have you ever seen a stump that was left alone? It wasn’t diseased. It wasn’t removed. It was just left where it was. We might wonder why they would leave the stump? If we continue further with the scripture setting, we find out why.

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Daniel 4:26

The stump is left for us to know that we are not in control. Whether we are the owner of the tree, the destroyer of the tree, the stump is still there to show us that we are not in control. The heavens still rule.

We might look at our ‘tree’ and question this. “How is it possible? Why did this happen? How could this happen to me?” We may even question God.

Dreams, hopes, and plans all destroyed? For what?

Too many times we get so caught up in looking at the stump that we forget the roots are still there. What is it going to take for us to stop living in our trial? Yes, it may be a big one. It may have taken everything we had. We may be looked down upon by others. We may struggle each day just to get out of bed, let alone smile. It seems no matter what we do and no matter how close we get to where it looks as if victory is back, that something happens and we lose it all again. We seem to lose more than we gain. How can we live like this?

In times like these we forget that we are not the first one to go through a battle like this.

Gideon had a huge army. It was easy for him to see that of course they were going to win the battle. Everything seemed to be going their way. And then God stepped in. He took the army down to 300 men. Gideon was confused and wondered why God would do that, and then God took away the weapons.

“God, what are you doing?” How could he possibly win. He not only didn’t have an army, he was supposed to fight with trumpets, candles, and pitchers? What kind of battle could be won with that?

We forget that with God, trials are meant not for our termination but for our transformation. It will give us a greater awareness of God. Sure, that is easy to say, you haven’t faced the battles I have faced!

Job had everything a man could want. The God came into the picture and allowed him to lose his health, his family, his possessions. Yet, in all this Job never turned from God. Sure he was disappointed. He probably wondered what he did to deserve all the loss. He repented the day he was ever born. In modern terms, he wanted to die. Have you been there?

It is easy to get frustrated by what we have lost or what has not happened. We may have had visions or dreams that have not come to pass and now it seems impossible. All we can see is the stump.

What We Cannot See

It is easy in the middle of the disaster that we are in, or sometimes for even a long time after to lose hope. We don’t see our promise. We no longer see our dream. We may be praying for an answer if we even can remember to pray. There are times when prayer doesn’t seem to make it from our lips. We get mired down in self-doubt. Many give up.

However, there are some who seem to face the trials and come out on top again. Like Job, they keep going even when it looks impossible. James 1:22 says to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Believe in the power of the promise. If God has showed us something; if we lean on him, if we trust him; he will take care of it. Why?

Roots!

Unless the stump is removed there are still roots. After a tree has been cut down and left alone for a while you may come back and find branches coming up from the bottom of the stump. The deeper the roots, the stronger the branches will become. It doesn’t matter what storms come along. It doesn’t matter who cuts down the tree. If the stump has roots and is not diseased, it will grow again.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity and getting frustrated by what has not come to pass that we know God has promised we need to keep walking and believing in the path and direction that was laid out before us.

Yes, it hurts! Loss is not fun. That job, marriage, health, family member ministry meant everything to us, and now they are not a part of our lives anymore. Yes, it may look like all is lost. We may lose our focus. The plan we had for our life may look impossible. But the principle God wants us to remember is He is still in charge.

We serve the God who raises the dead. We serve the God of miracles. Does that mean those things we lost will come back? Maybe. But even if they don’t are we will going to love him, trust him, and believe? How deep do our roots go?

The thing Job and Gideon learned, and what God wants us to know is that if God allows you to lose it, then you did not need it to fulfill his purpose. We can begin again. The stump can grow again.

God doesn’t need much to bring the dreams he has for us back to life. He just needs a stump.

The Things We Do Not Have

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 05:33:00 +0000

A couple of nights recently I woke up very heavily burdened after a dream about a friend of mine that was not good at all. I prayed for a while but didn’t quite get the peace I had hoped. I know they are going through a lot of trials right now, but sometimes we get so focused on the things we have lost, or think we need that we sometimes lose our perspective.

Lost job and cannot pay the bills
Hate being lonely but doesn’t seem like it will ever change
Medical problems and the doctors don’t seem to know what to do
That thing we just knew was about to happen, didn’t

I realize it can be hard, sometimes nearly heart wrenching to deal with situations that are out of our control, but we need to keep our focus or the stress we feel will turn into frustration and before we know it we will make mistakes that somewhere down the road we will regret.

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. Genesis 28:15

The children of Israel (Jacob) had been given a promise by God. The land had been promised to Abraham and Jacob (Israel). Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers and Jacob could see the promise slipping away. But God took the problem and made it into a solution.

It was their land before they ever left Egypt. Yes, Egypt was not a fun place for them, but God had used it as a place of provision for them, but there came a day when it was time to leave. He used Moses to deliver them out of the land and when they got to the Red Sea, they were afraid. He delivered, and they walked through on dry ground, but the Egyptian soldiers died in the sea.

While in the wilderness, they saw him deliver the enemy into their hands many, many times. Yet, when it came time to go check out the promise of God the majority of the spies came back whining about the giants. They let their fear of the obstacles they saw take away their focus from the one who had set before them the victory many times.

You would think with all the battles they had won, they would have realized that even though it looked impossible, the situation was in his control. But instead of just waiting and being patient for the direction and the power of God to deliver, they looked at their own ability and realized that within themselves they could not defeat the giants.

God has a way of allowing giants to come into our lives too. Maybe it is a financial problem. Maybe it is the loss of something dear to us in our lives, or perhaps it is a change in our relationship and we walk away feeling rejected, hurt, and taken advantage of.

Had there not been a giant for David to face, he may not have become a king.

Now, we know that God has given us a little bit of insight in what his plan for us is. We also know that we can rely on his word for guidance no matter what the situation, but many times it seems as if the only thing we can see is the giants that we are facing. Yes, I know it is hard. He never said the road was going to be easy, but he said he would never leave us alone.

Yet, we decide that we know how it should work out, and we set about to accomplish the ‘plan of God’ for our lives and we leave him out of the picture. Then we wonder why we end up failing.

Maybe it is a financial situation and the job we thought we were going to get fell through. Maybe it is a relationship gone bad, and we cry out in agony because how could this happen to us? After all we did everything we could and yet the problems still happened. We get upset with God, and everyone around us. We were so sure of God’s promise and yet here we go again. We are a failure. We have lost everything once again. We will never succeed. God how could you let this happen?

We reason within ourselves about what we may have done wrong. We blame those around us because we did not see this coming and someone should have told us. We really needed that job and now how are we going to pay the bills? Sound familiar?

We prayed so many times about the situation. We knew we had the mind of God. We felt his direction in our situation so many times, and now it was just nothing. It was over. Impossible. And we let fear get ahold of our mind and our attitude turns sour and before we know it we become depressed and bitter. It always seems to happen at the wrong time. But is there a right time? Is there a time when we could really face the battle and be happy?

I seriously doubt it. Many times we feel like we are being punished for something. We feel like if we do not see the answer immediately that God is mad at us for some reason. We forget that he promised to be with us in the fire.

It would be so amazing if everything just once worked out the way we planned. However, I wonder if that would make any difference in our attitude about the situation, or would we still be grumbling?

It seems that we never really take full responsibility and realize that we are so busy focusing on what we have lost, or think we need, or wanted that did not come to pass that we can’t even see what God has waiting right in front of us.

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

We get so frustrated by what has not happened, or what is taking so long, that we take our eyes off of the promise. We need to remember we can count on his word no matter how bad the situation looks.

Many times we are praying so hard, so diligently for the answer, when most of the time we already know the answer. Many times we are the answer to most of our trials. It is not that anything horrible has happened in our lives, it is just our perspective that has changed.

We get so frustrated by what has not happened that we were positive was going to when we should just keep pressing forward and keeping our eye on the path he has put before us. It will come to pass; we just have to keep hanging on.

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

I wonder how different our lives would be and how many times the situations we are so frustrated over would just change if we changed our focus from what we don’t have and opened our eyes to what we do?

The job was taking away time from our family - My God shall supply all your needs
Yes, we do get lonely- He will never forsake us
That medical problem – He is the great physician and our healer
It didn’t happen like we wanted - My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are my ways your ways saith the Lord.

It really is all about perspective, and when we get our eyes off the problem we can see the solution.

Stop focusing on what you have lost, what you think you need and start focusing on what is right in front of us. The answer we have been seeking is already in our grasp, we just have to take it.

Holding On To Your Promise

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:42:00 +0000

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

We all have dreams. Sometimes those dreams do not come as fast as we would like and we either give up on our dreams and accept less than everything God has for us. It is easy to do. Even though God created us in his image, we struggle when it comes to patience. I am no different from anyone else. There are things that God has promised me and shown me vividly and at times situations arise that push my dreams away.

Many times I know in my heart that God is not in the situations that push those dreams from my life, but that does not mean that God is not still faithful.

Abraham was given the promise that wherever he placed his foot would belong to him, and his people would be as the sand on the beach and the stars in the sky. Pretty hard to do though when your wife is barren. Nevertheless less he kept believing in the promise of God. They were old in years, like grandparent old, and the angel came and told them they were going to have a child. Sarah laughed. How can she have a child now? She is old; her time has passed for child bearing.

Even Abraham, thinking well yes, God did promise but his wife is barren, how is that going to happen? So, instead of just trusting God to work out the details, he took it upon himself with his wife’s blessing to take another woman for child. Surely, this is what God meant.

But it wasn’t the plan of God.

Thirteen years later, God gave Sarah a child. The promised seed of God. Had they just waited. But instead, they went to put the woman and the child away. And the seed of that thirteen year old son of Abraham and the promised child, Isaac have been fighting for 5000 years since. They got ahead of God’s plan and did it their own way, and tainted the promise.

Sometimes we have to wait a long time to see the fulfillment of God’s plan. Most of us, instead decisions in rash judgment or anger and then we mess things up. We are lying if we say we haven't done that at some time in our life. Then we spend the rest of our lives whining about how life is not fair.

Trusting God is not always easy, especially in the midst of the storms.

Adversity can scare us to the point we make a decision at times that cost us the very promise of God.

The children of Israel were out in the desert wandering around whining and complaining because they were thirsty. God had told Moses to speak to the rock and water would flow out, and it did. But on this particular situation, Moses was angry with the complaining and instead of taking God at his word, he struck the rock. Water gushed out, but because of his action, God did not let him enter the promise land. In fact, everyone that was an adult at that time died in the wilderness with the exception of Joshua and Caleb.

We need to learn from that example. We strike out at those that have hurt us, or perhaps we lose sight of the promise because of our impatience and our attitudes and it costs us a great deal. We really should be speaking the word to our situations and trusting that God is going to take care of it. If I could, there are many situations I would go back and change what I did. I made mistakes, and those mistakes changed my destiny. Do I have regrets? Sure, but there is nothing I can do about it.

We need to come to terms with the fact that when God gives us a promise, it will come to pass. We don’t always know when or how, but he is faithful that has promised. It will come to pass.

The disciples were out on the sea and Jesus was asleep in the bottom of the boat. He had told them he needed to go to the other side, and went down and fell asleep. The storms arose around them, the winds whipped, the water got rough and instead of trusting the word of the one who fed the five thousand, the one who opened blinded eyes, they got scared and began to fear for their very lives.

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. Isaiah 43:1-3

It is easy though to forget when we are in the midst of our storms. The disciples woke Jesus up and he spoke to the wind and the waves and the storm went away. Peace be still, and there was a calm.

Now the calm means that there was no wind; no waves moving about, still water. We do get tired of the storms, I get that, so do I, but he said to them they were going to the other side. He never said how they were going to get there. He simply said we are going to the other side. But instead of listening to the voice of God, we try to take control and do it our own way based on our fear and we blow it. The disciples had to row to the other side because they shut off the wind.

How many times have we been given a promise of God and tried to do it our way instead of waiting for God to do it? How many times has it worked? We want to try God because we simply do not trust his word. We doubt God. We get so impatient about what God has promised that we end up hurting those we love and we get wrapped up in our fear and our loss and we change our minds about what we believe to be his promise. Then we walk away from what he has given us; the hopes, the dreams, and the plans. Is it worth losing what God has promised because of our fear?

We get upset with God. We try to figure it all out. Maybe we simply think the cost is too great. We may have to walk away from our friends, our church, our family. But what we are really saying is we are afraid of losing control and trusting God. Either we love him and believe in the promise he has given us, or we don’t. If we don’t God will raise up another who will follow after his plan and will, and we will be the one who loses.

A lot of times we base our decisions based on how others have treated us in the past. Joshua was promised to lead the children of Israel into Canaan but he too became afraid and Caleb had to remind him of the promise. (Joshua 14:6-9) You have to realize that your future is not defined by your past, but by your willingness to follow God and the dream He has given to you.

Situations in life can cause us to let go of our dreams and disbelieve God’s promise. When this happens, we need to recalibrate our hearts. Caleb said; “I followed the Lord my God fully.” Caleb had to wait 45 years to see God’s promise. He was 85 years old, and he wanted a certain piece of land.

Now this land was not a well watered plain. It was not going to be an easy task, in fact there were giants in the land and the place he wanted was on a mountainside. Remember he was an old man. And he wanted to battle giants on the side of a mountain. It wasn’t that he had lost his mind. It wasn’t that he forgot, but it was that he knew what God had said and he believed God to be as good as his word. He knew the promise and he held on to it. And it did come to pass.

We can recount many more stories in the bible where similar things have happened. David was anointed king while the Saul was still in power. He had to wait a while and while he was waiting he lost his family, he battled enemies, he killed Goliath, he had spears thrown at him by Saul. Saul wanted him dead. Yet, it still happened. We have to learn from all of this.

Maybe God has promised us a child, a wife or husband, a healing or perhaps something only we know about. At times, we will lose hope because we do not see it happening like we expected. I'm not going to say its easy. It isn't. I have been there. I am there. I know of things God has shown me and I have yet to see it come to pass. Doubt comes, fear comes, and I begin to fall on my own understanding and mess everything up.

But the truth is, if we can keep our mind focused on God and his plan, it shall come to pass.

Think of Jacob. His heart was right before God. He wanted to do what God had asked, and yet he made a lot of wrong choices. He took control of the situation on his own with his mothers help, and stole the birthright of his brother. He ran for his life. Bad decisions made by his flesh. But he still sought after God’s will. He made a lot of problems for himself but in the end even as deceitful as he became. He trusted God. Twenty years he prayed unto God and believed that God was going to take care of it. He didn’t give up his dream. He didn’t give up on the promise. He was determined he was going to rise out of the battle.

See at times, we get afraid, we lie, we cheat, we steal, and yet, when our heart is set before God we know where to turn and we believe God, the things God has set in motion shall come to pass. We have to keep trusting that somehow God is going to turn the bad into good. We cannot give up. We cannot stop believing no matter how bad the situation looks. We have to stop complaining and start professing our faith in God. Our hope is in him alone. We cannot trust anyone else perhaps but we can trust our father.

On the side of the brook Jacob wrestled with the Lord. I am not going to let you go until you bless me. I still believe in spite of the storm, the wilderness, the mountainside, fighting the giants, and those who have lost the dream.

As Jacob, we are not worthy of the mercies God has given unto us. We never can be, but he is faithful that has promised. He knows the plan he has for our lives and if he has shown us the promise. It shall come to pass.

We have to hold on to our promise. We have to keep the word God has given us. It may take a while for us to see it happen. We don’t deserve what he has planned for us. But we can be thankful, we can be grateful, we can believe.

Cleanse us oh Lord, change us, make us what you want us to be, let us praise you with our lips and our hearts, let us worship you with thanksgiving.

Don’t try to do it without God’s help. But hold on to your promise. It will be here sooner than you think. Let God work it out!

The End Of The Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:38:00 +0000

The Delilah Detour

It had been just like any other day. Samson got up, ate his breakfast, but he felt a little weak that day, maybe it was a bug, but after all he was Samson, the strongest man alive.

He returned to his bedroom only to find himself surrounded by the enemy. He went to drive them out as he always had but they beat him and mocked him and he fell to the ground, and they bound him up. And it was over. The end of the judges.

He had been called of God as a young boy. He knew the power he had with God and that God had appointed him as a special judge over Israel. Because he was a to be the judge, he lived a different lifestyle than those of his friends, some considered him an outcast, but when it came to getting the job done he always did. He was strong in the might of the Lord.

Many battles faced him over the years, but somehow in spite of the odds, in spite of the enemy, he always managed to make it through the battle. Over the years his enemies tried to take him down in many ways, but no matter how hard they tried Samson always pulled it out in the end. It looked like he was in our modern terms, ‘a superman.’ The truth was he was blessed and the hand of God was mighty with him. It wasn’t that his battles were any easier than anyone else’s, he just knew who his God was. He believed God would give him the strength.

It seemed from the story that his mom understood, at least to some level, but really no one really got the message of his desire to do the will of God. Some were jealous of him, of his ability to be the man of integrity and character he was. He didn’t give up. Sure, he hurt at times from the behavior of those around him, but somehow he kept being the man of God he was called to be. Whatever it took, he kept doing it.

Now Samson, though always able to rise back up and win the battle, was not a perfect man. He knew that. He knew the nights that he would lay there in the dark thinking about his life and what it meant. He knew that there were ways he could achieve more, but his passion and purpose was always to do the work of God.

His wife had been stolen from him by her own family and she had been given to another. He had chosen her from a far country and while his parents didn’t agree with a foreigner being his wife, they accepted her as their own. But when he least expected it, while he was doing the will of God, she was stolen from him.

In order to deal with the situation, Samson in his anger, took it upon himself and set their fields on fire using the tails of a few foxes. He wanted to cause trouble; wanted them to feel the pain he felt. Then he came back and because he had been deceived he killed some of them and took their garments and gave them to those who had found out the answer to his riddle because of his wife. The plans that he had made were destroyed, and yet he picked himself up, moved on again, and desired as always to do the will of God.

And then came Delilah.

Samson fell for her hard. He loved the way she made him feel, the plans they made, she was good for him. She called him on his faults, and strengthened him on his dreams. It was as if she was born to be beside him. She knew his battles, she knew what he was doing, she even tested him a few times, but she always kept him believing. What Samson didn’t know though was that Delilah had plans of her own that didn’t include him.

Oh, she made out that she did. She let his dreams be elevated to the point where he really trusted, depended even on her. She was his best friend. He confided in her, shared his life with her, made plans with her. It seemed as if God himself had brought them together, and he bought into her dreams as well. But it wasn’t to be. It was all a lie. She played him and it meant nothing to her. How did he not see it when he would give her gifts and she would just give him a smile or perhaps a little of her time and that was supposed to be enough? It was never about what he gave her; he loved her and would have done anything for her, and in the end he did and it cost him everything.

Because of his love for Delilah, Samson lost his vision. His perspective had been changed from what it should have been to focusing on making her life better. Surely there were people who pointed out to him the mistake he was making along the way. People who thought they knew him, thought they could see something in her that wasn’t quite right, yet in their desire to see him happy mostly they kept silent.

They hadn’t seen Samson so willing to give his all for this one. He had already been hurt when his wife was stolen from him and now he had someone who seemed to care for him. It was best to keep silent rather than bring the questions to light. After all, they didn’t want the blame, and as God was behind him, surely God was in this. Or was it just Samson’s own stubborn will that took him down this path?

We don’t see Delilah anymore after she had given Samson over to his enemy. We don’t know what happened in the end of her life. Was she there when he came to his senses and brought down the house? Was she there when he was blind and treated like he was just an ox? Just going through the motions, no longer the leader, no longer the judge, just doing like everyone else and just accepting his fate.

It has been said that in the final moments of Samson’s life that he destroyed more of the enemy in that one final push, than he did in all of his previous life. The one who knew his God; knew the power he had with God, was little more than just a shell of his former self because he had been deceived. Did Delilah ever love him? Was she there standing off a bit when he was grinding at the mill? Did she see the agony on his face, the loneliness, the pain of what he had lost? If she did, did she care?

What about those that Samson hung out with? Or when Delilah came around, did she take everyone else from him? Was he so wrapped up in her that he shut everyone else out? He lost everything because he trusted that God was with him, and that his life was going to be better. He had the strength when he fought so many battles, but the battle of his mind, of his dignity, of his desire to spend time with Delilah cost him his soul.

Battered and bruised, he just kept pushing through life, unaware of what was happening around him. He couldn’t see when others needed him anymore. He couldn’t do what he had been called to do. We would think that his friends would come around and try and help him, but they looked upon him with scorn and disbelief. They mocked him behind his back and sometimes even to his face. He had become like them just going through the motions.

Did he have regrets? Maybe. Did he miss Delilah? It was never mentioned, but it is impossible to believe that he forgot about her.She had been his confidante, his friend, his love. Maybe for some it is that easy to just walk away like nothing happened. To watch Samson struggle with life and let him be alone in his misery. After all, we wouldn’t want it to happen to us.

He had given so much of himself to her, he didn’t know how to find his way anymore. Samson died, broken and alone at his own hand, after knowing God, being the judge, the leader of his people. The enemy had played with his emotions until he had nothing left and he gave up.

There never was another judge of Israel. Samson was the last. We don’t hear much about where he grew up, his family, or even what became of them. When Samson died the dream died with him.

Another soul lost forever

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 22:52:00 +0000

Can I call you back later? I’m busy right now. I just need to take a nap and then I will be right over.

I’m on my way to church but I will try and stop by tomorrow. I was going to stop by but I didn’t know how things were, but I will try and come by this week sometime.

That night under the cover of darkness, crying their eyes out, feeling so alone, they walk to the edge of the bridge and disappear for eternity.

At one time, they were a part of us. They sat on our pews, went to school with us, they were the one who was always smiling and handing out donuts at work. But something changed.

Maybe it was health. Maybe it was a divorce. Maybe someone said something that hurt them really bad. Instead of trying to find out as they moved further away from us, why they didn’t bring donuts anymore and would show a weak smile when we joked about it. Why instead of coming to church, instead they seemed to be online but we never asked how they were doing.

One morning, we pick up the newspaper and a small box on the bottom of the page says Jane or John Doe’s washed up on a small island down the way a bit. We didn’t think much about it until we got to school or work, and that one who used to be smiling wasn’t there.

We had been meaning to talk to them. We saw them at Wal-mart last week, and we said hi, but we were in a hurry so we figured we would catch them later. Like most things in life, we just forgot.

Maybe they called and left a message on our answering machine, or perhaps sent us an email. But they were no longer in our inner circle so we filed it under the folder we plan to get to, you know, the trash.

We used to call them on the phone or play games with them, but something changed and we kept meaning to get back to them, but we didn’t really know what to say. You see they had a tragedy in their life, and well, we just didn’t have the answers. We figured they would get thru it somehow on their own. They used to go to church; they know where to go if they need answers.

The next time they visited church, people were crying, and with the exception of one or two who didn’t really like them anyhow, shocked faces abounded.

It must have been an accident. I had planned to go talk to them, but I was tired. I was busy at work and time just slipped away.

There is going to be a lot of excuses for our behavior at the judgment seat.

That preacher’s kid that backslid, that saint’s husband that we kept planning to go visit, our friend on the job who knew we went to church but we were too busy to invite them to church. We had put up a flyer once for a revival, they should have seen that. Nobody showed up to do the job we were called to do.

We make jokes, or at least hear jokes about door to door missionaries. We aren’t really involved in the community anymore with any sort of outreach. It got too hard to stand out there and sell cookies.

We drive to get our groceries, and we pass by two or three people begging for money. The signs usually read that they are homeless or out of work, but we really don’t slow down, because look at them. They don’t look very clean, it might be dangerous. Occasionally, they look familiar. Maybe at one time we worked with them or they came to our church, but my wife is waiting at home for the groceries so we can make dinner so I don’t have time.

Maybe it was somebody we were close to at one time. Maybe even someone who used to sing or preach in our church. Well, they have their own lives and they haven’t come to church, so maybe they just don’t love God anymore. I don’t want to really be associated with them anymore. I’ve changed my mind after all this time, maybe I should be friends with someone else.

Oh, how the excuses are going to fly. Countless people have come through our doors and after a short time they don’t come back. Well, they know where we are, they will be back when they are ready. They didn’t play by the rules. They had hard feelings against the pastor,we can’t have that. No, don’t tell me, I don’t want to hear it anymore. You repeat the same thing over and over. We bend over backwards for you, we are always taking you somewhere, or helping you with groceries.

We will wish we made an effort. We will cry out for forgiveness but it will be too late. That one that doesn’t dress the way we do. Well, they don’t fit in. We have dress code if you are going to come to my church. And we wonder why our altars are empty? We can plan exactly what time we will make it to McDonalds on the way home, because we are always out at 8:30. We sold our birthright for a french fry.

See living for God is not about how we live, but rather about who we reach. It isn’t just about singing the songs, listening to someone preach.

Our pews are so familiar that there are dimples in the cushions where we sit. We know at 6:30 there is going to be a special song, or perhaps tonight it is a missions offering. Then we will sing a few more songs, maybe talk about something that happened recently, maybe even take a prayer request or two, and then it is time for the preacher.

We start checking our watch, or our cell phone about 8:00 because he should be just about done and we have to check to see who messaged us, or if a status updated on Facebook. I mean after all we are a Sunday School teacher and we had a busy day, and we want to go home and catch the last half of the football game, or maybe we recorded “The Event” and we can’t go to bed until we check it. Maybe we need to check our crops on Facebook to see if they need water, or maybe we just want to catch up on the latest gossip. Oh, we forgot to go to the altar. Well, I will get there next time Lord. I didn’t see any visitors tonight. Bro. John must be slacking off.

We drift off to sleep halfway thru the show with the sound turned down a bit so that we don’t wake up our kids and begin to dream.

A song is playing in the background, we can’t quite make it out. It doesn’t seem familiar. As we walk along everything seems misty and kind of cold. We don’t have a sweater so we cross our arms trying to get warm. There is that song again. It is a little louder now. A bit haunting I think. Oh well, we keep walking. Partially torn down buildings are around us. Hey there is the old church building, we had some good times there. What is going on in there? Dancing? A drunk stumbles out. I remember those times.. chuckle, wait a minute he can’t be under the spirit and he smells.

We keep walking and come to a park. Something is going on in the band shell. That is where the singing is coming from. We get a little closer and look and it is a tattered clothed person. Probably some homeless person. We better not get too close. We start to back away, and we can make out the words a bit better now.. never, is he saying never? The song continues, he must be a drunk. “You never mentioned Jesus to me.”

How dare you. I don’t know you. We get angry and step a little closer. Tears are streaming down his face. Wait a minute he looks familiar. He used to be the assistant pastor I think. No, it is one of his kids. Wow, look what happened to them. They should have come back to church.

The mist is getting thicker now, almost like clouds or maybe smoke. We sniff the air, it smells like smoke a little. Maybe someone is barbequing nearby. Oh wow, look, wait a minute that can’t be them, their whole family used to come to church. They were preachers. Didn’t I read something about them in the paper, oh yeah one of them was found on an island drowned. I went to the funeral. It was pretty. What is that moaning sound?

That doesn’t sound good someone must be sick. It seems hot, I need to loosen my shirt a bit. Hey wait a minute the park is on fire. Someone call 911.

We hear screams echoing, and crying so loud it hurts our ears. Someone needs to help that person. And then we notice the person is us. Why are we screaming, why is it so hot? Hey wait a minute. I went to church. I sang. I ran the bus route, and my wife she did Sunday School. I paid my tithes. I shouldn’t be here. We scream. The realization has set in, and it isn’t a dream.

Why am I here? I didn’t sin. I paid tithes, even gave extra to missions. I stood up there sometimes an led songs. I even preached a few times. I hear someone else crying. It sounds like my mom. I can see her floating above me. Why am I on my back, and can someone turn down the heat? What? Why is my daughter here? Why is she screaming? No, NO NO!!!

And the king shall answer them, and say, Inasmuch as ye have done unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Depart from me, yet that work iniquity, I never knew thee. Matt 25:40

Returning Evil for Good

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:20:00 +0000

It has been a very long time since I have posted in this blog, but there are circumstances which have made me both angry and confused and so I must speak my mind.

In 1st Samuel Chapter 25 we read of the story of Nabal. Nabal was a man who had many sheep and herdsman, and for the day he did okay. He wasn't what we could consider wealthy, but he did manage to save some of his wealth as it were and he wasn't hurting for anything.

His herdsmen had led the sheep into the territory that belonged to David, and David and his men had made sure they had food, shelter, and basically made sure they were okay while they were in that area.

The day came where David's herdsmen were in Nabal's area and David sent a long a message for Nabal to please make sure his men were taken care of. Rudely, Nabal refused and called David names.

David was incensed and gathered together his forces. There was going to be a bloodbath. David was a man after God's own heart and yet this other man whom he had treated well treated him like he was worthless. David wanted to repay Nabal with grief rather than just accept it; after all it was he who had helped when Nabal was the one in need.

Sometimes in times of hardship we share what we have, give direction and guidance, or simply befriend others who may not make it if it wasn't for us. That is part of compassion and a driving force in what makes us true christians. We are to do good to our neighbor. Everything we have is given to us by God. It does not belong to us. We are his children and we are to lift our brother in need whether it be spiritual, physical, or emotionally.

Matthew chapter 25 talks about the good things and the bad things that happen to those who treat others unfairly. To those who responded with kindness Jesus said, "I was in need of clothing and you clothed me, I was hungry and you fed me, you reached out to me when I needed help and good shall come to you because of it."

To those who treated him badly Jesus said, "I was in need of clothing and you didn't clothe me, I was hungry and you wouldn't give me a morsel of bread, I needed your help and you rejected me, and evil shall come to you because of it." He also added at the end of this passage when they asked who did this to you, that "insomuch as you have done this to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me." It is really not left open to opinion or conjecture, it is black and white that if we do not help when we can, then we are not a part of his.

Trouble comes when we reject the message God is trying to tell us. Nabal was so caught up in what he perceived himself to be in stature, that he felt he was better than David.

Nabal's wife stepped in and gave gifts and repented toward David (the man of God) because she knew judgement would come on all her house if she didn't. She pleaded with David to spare his wrath from her family. David listened and stepped back because of her asking forgiveness. She returned home to find Nabal having a good time thinking he was someone special. She told him that because of the way he treated David and his herdsmen David had planned to destroy them. When Nabal found out the cost of his actions, he had a heart attack and died. God took vengeance because Nabal had mistreated his neighbor and most importantly, the man who was a friend of God.

We have this idea sometimes that we can do anything and get away with it. There is a spirit that has come amongst us that thinks nothing is sacred, and it doesn't matter the plight of our brother, or what the preacher has to say we can do what we want. We tend to forget that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of angry God.

Lying, cheating, stealing, making accusations toward those who have less in order to make ourself look good is a sure-fired way to get ourselves in trouble with God, and yet some have grown so self important in their own eyes that they think nothing can happen to them. It is partially an effect of growing up in the "ME" generation but as children of God we are held in high accountability when we mock or otherwise disregard the voices that are telling us of the danger that awaits.

Selfishness is still a sin. Lying is still a sin. Pride is still a sin. It doesn't matter how pretty we wrap it up, or if we rationalize it out for our own benefit, it will destroy us, and no sin is hidden from God's eyes. Taking advantage of those in need for our own betterment is going to cost us greatly.

In Jesus day they had planned to stone him because He didn't agree with their philosophies, or could not be manipulated by their guile. They thought that they could just get rid of him because they really didn't want Him around. He saw through their actions and they didn't like it. They were ready to stone Him, and He asked, "for what good deed do you stone me?" Basically He was saying, "what did I do to you to deserve this? was it the fact that I healed your brother, that I fed you on the hillside when you had nothing to eat? was it because I took care of your need, and now you don't want me here because I show you what is missing in your life?"

I have had situations in my own life where I have given both of what I had and what I didn't have and when I was the one in need I was turned aside, so I know what this all feels like. It isn't pleasant and there are times when I do feel like David must have felt. The desire to be angry and take revenge on those who have treated us unfairly is human, but if we will take a moment and listen to voices of reason we will realize that God will take care of His anointed. Be wary if you are on the giving end of mistreating others in need, you will surely pay.

Lets also look at what happens when the person we mistreat is one of God's anointed.

Elisha was bald; kids made fun of him; a bear ate them. Yet, somehow we think we can mistreat those who are of God's elect. There are people who God brings into our lives to help us through situations; to give us guidance; or take us to a new level. However, when we continually reject what they have to say or roll our eyes, then they have done their job and God will be the one who holds us accountable. The bible says, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God."

Now I realize that sometimes the person passing judgement is also 'anointed' of God, or at least they think they are. They think because of the position God has allowed them to serve in that the law doesn't apply to them. They seem to forget that with that position comes responsibility. First and foremost, to 'love thy neighbor' and treat them the way you would want to be treated. You cannot be in a position where God will allow your ministry to be elevated when you are not humble, when you lack compassion, and when you do not heed his voice, and fall on your face before Him, but instead 'do it your way.'

Do you really think God doesn't notice your pious attitude on the platform? Do you think He can't tell when you are busy about 'the Lords' business' but cannot be bothered to treat your neighbor with respect?

Nabal was a lord over his goods, his servants, his family, and he let it go to his head and what did it get him? Dead!

There are no scriptures that says God is going to hear a prideful heart. There is no scripture that says it is okay to be selfish. There is no scripture that says save what you have and take from those who are without. Yet it seems to be the popular thing. We no longer live in the "me" generation but rather the 'look at me" generation. Look what I have accomplished, look who I am, I am the one. That my friend is idolatry, and when your whole mission in life, or in ministry, is about the title you are given, how much money you have in the bank, or even how many souls you have won, then you are finished.

God is the giver of all things. Money, possessions, the roof over your head, the beat of your heart is in His control. It does not belong to you. Yet, when you place yourself in a superior spirit and try to push others aside you are stepping into His position and that is not your job. What part of pushing others aside for our own wants and gain is scriptural? It isn't.

He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. What do you think is going to be the price they pay? Give and it shall be given works both ways. Oh, and by the way, the name Nabal means fool. Think about that.

Time for a Reckoning!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:52:00 +0000

Maybe I am having a pity party today, or perhaps I am just being pathetic, but I can tell you assuredly I am frustrated with the way things are going in my own life, as well as the percieved direction our world, our country, and our churches are headed.

My health has taken a nose dive in recent weeks, and I really am not happy about it, but I started thinking and praying, and remembering passages of scripture. Part of me has come to the realization that forgiveness is the greatest tool the bible ever gave us. When we forgive, those we have been hurt by and the bitterness or doubt we fill has to go, because we have forgiven and therefore that situation or individuals no longer have power over us. That is a good thing to remember.

However, there is this assumption when we go thru trials, that it is our trial to carry alone. Those who are around us are willing to 'pray' but they seem lackluster toward doing anything else at all. Sometimes that leaves us in the situation for a long time, perhaps even years.

We know that Jesus heals and delivers, but sometimes we need a little bit of help to reach him. Yes, we like to talk about the woman with the issue of blood, and how she pushed her way thru the crowd to get to Jesus, and how her perseverance paid off in the end. But did you ever stop to think of how she must have heard Jesus would have been coming down that particular road?

Someone had to have said something to her, or she had to have overheard.

Let's be real here. It is hard, if not impossible, to not notice those with sickness, deformity, spiritual problems if we are paying attention at all to those around us. Most times, we look the other way because we do not want to seem nosy, or maybe its just we are appalled? It is really anyone's guess, but more than likely, we simply do not want to be involved, or have someone else think we might just be acquainted with this person.

It appears that the majority of Jesus' miracles were toward the end of his ministry on earth. Yet, from the first one at the wedding of Cana, the noise of what he could do was noised abroad. People knew who he was and what he was capable of, even if they didn't believe in him. Yet, somehow in all of that, no one took the time earlier to tell this woman that Jesus could take care of her illness? Twelve years she had that issue, and yet there is a distinct possibility that she could have been well sooner, had she only had a way to find Jesus.

We might also remember the man at the pool of Bethesda. The bible states that he laid by that pool more than thirty-eight years, when Jesus happened by. Why did this man have no one to help get him into that pool? Were they selfish? People had to have seen him laying there. He was there everytime they showed up. Furthermore, we are talking he was there, thirty-eight years! How did he get there? Was it too much for his friends or family, or the priest to stay with him long enough to help him get his miracle? Apparently.

We can all comfort ourselves in saying, well we will pray for you when someone has a dire need. But do we really care enough to see them through to their miracle? We certainly would want someone to care enough about us, to help us get our need met!

I have noticed in the past several years, that there is a close-minded attitude when it comes to healings and miracles. Most seem to think that if there isn't a physcial, noticable change, then that person either did not accept the healing, or they are ignoring what God is trying to do in their life. I really do not think that is the case. There are times when the person by themselves does not have the ability, or sustainability to see themselves through to their miracle.

Instead of lifting them, encouraging them, or some other way of helping, it is much easier for us to cast blame, or to simply walk away, like it really isn't our problem. This is far too common in our generation. We are so caught up in ourselves, our appearance, and our ideas, that we completely blow off what other people are going through.

I wonder what would happen if we stood side by side with that person, instead of leaving them by themselves? Would we witness something that would be unimaginable? Is it possible that the revival we have been so desperately seeking would come? We may never know.

The men who took their friend, the lame man, to Jesus apparently had more empathy and compassion than most of us. They didn't let circumstance or the thoughts of others get in the way. They were willing to move past the normal "I'll say a prayer for you" into being willing at any cost to get that man to Jesus. I am sure that most of the crowd that were surrounding Jesus were astonished when the roof started coming off. They may have even been afraid. But that man walked out of that building with his miracle because of what others did. He did not have the capacity to help himself, and so someone who really cared, stepped in.

We call ourselves "people of the name." We pattern our doctrine after the early followers of Jesus, but most of us would not think for a moment about doing something crazy to see our brothers or sisters get their miracle. It wouldn't enter our mind. Most of the time, we won't even take the time to walk over and pray for them, because somehow the situation their life is in, just may rub off on us.

Why don't we have time for each other anymore? Why are our pews starting to look sparse? Why are people backsliding? We can use all sorts of words and rhetoric, but the truth is, we don't care about anyone but ourselves. We are comsumed with our image and our piety that we think we are above it all. And yet, somehow, despite all of this, we think that we are the ones with the truth.

James 1:26,27 says "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

Yet, it seems okay to us to talk about the trouble everyone around us gets into. And God forbid if we visit those with afflictions, or those that are widows or fatherless(alone). The bible says if we are like that our religion is in vain.

That doesn't leave much room for piety, self-righteousness, or pharisitical attitudes, does it?

We think that somehow, no matter what we do, we are still going to be flying out of here when Jesus returns. How self-centered we are to think like that. I have news for you. You ain't leaving the ground if you do not realize the needs of your brother are just as important as your own.

Why is it so hard for us to realize that while salvation is a individual responsibility, that lifting those that have fallen is all of our problem; helping those in need is all of our duty, and comforting those that are hurting and alone is exactly the reason God robed himself in flesh and came to save us.

A day of reckoning is coming. The bible says everything that can be shaken will be shaken. It also states we will see lying signs and wonders, and be decieved. It isn't a future happening. We aren't going to be snatched out of here before it happens. If you believe that you are lying to yourself.

That spirit is already present among us. It isn't the world that is going to persecute the christians. It is those who claim to believe the truth. A dividing line will come, and he will begin to sift us. I wonder what side we will be on when he divides the tares from the wheat.

And When Shall The End Come?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:23:00 +0000

This morning I am troubled in my spirit. I feel heart-broken and I am beginning to doubt God. It has been a very long time since I have posted to this blog, and I apologize to the readers for that.

There have been many times in the past year that I have been both angry and depressed about things that I see happening, but I have refrained from speaking out.

Today, however, I feel like I have nothing left to gain by shutting my mouth, and as tears stream down my face I feel as though my world is coming to an end and therefore I speak.

My life in the past several months has been pitiful at best. I have hidden my anger and my pain, but the other night it was just me and my little girl home and it was dinner time. Our cupboards for the most part have run empty of food, and she was trying to find something to eat. I watched her go thru all cupboards that used to be full and overflowing, but she couldn't find anything to eat.

I thought that surely there was something, we had a few boxes of macaroni that we got from a food bank, but I watched her shudder as she opened one and bugs floated to the top of the water. Yes, all of the rations we had saved to the very end, were filled with small bugs. In my heart I felt a twinge as I knew this just isn't right.

I told her I would figure something out, but as I looked for change, I realized I didn't even have enough for a loaf of bread. It seems since my life has changed dramatically when my wife could no longer deal with the trials, and since my health took a turn for the worse, that God has forsaken me.

I no longer comprehend how he can say in his word that he doesn't put on us more than we can bear. I now don't have faith to believe that he supplies all our needs. I know that he can, but it seems like anything that doesn't require fire to fall from the sky, or manna to be on the ground, he seems unable to move the heart of man to care about thosse around them.

Is it just me? Are others in this same situation? As a man of God, what am I supposed to say, when I see my children crying because they are hungry? How am I supposed to keep going on like it is going to get better, when I know in my heart, a few weeks more and I too will be on the streets looking for a warm place to lay my head.

The church has forsaken its own. I struggle to hold on to the little bit of faith I have left in God, but it looks bleak. I have preached and believed for years that God answers prayers, but here I am wondering if I did something to drive God away.

I have tried my best to reach others. I have seen the bad overtake the good, and I have wondered, "when shall the end come?"

We need to just look around at the world and even our nation to realize there are people everywhere hurting and lost, and yet the church seems to have turned its back on even its own. How then shall those who don't yet know there is a saviour survive?

As I sifted the remainder of the flour and cornmeal we had left, I am sure many of my tears dropped into the batter I ended up making a small corn cake for my daughter. I couldn't let her go hungry, but even today I wonder where God is.

There are changes taking place in our nation that are pushing us toward a place we really do not want to be. There are changes in the economy where left unchecked, will bring our nation to be the servant to others, rather than the leaders of freedom.

Churches are afraid to speak up for fear of alienating those who may not believe like we do. Or perhaps, as was pointed out this week on the news, that America is thought to be racist or worse, if we speak out about the changes we don't like that are rapidly destroying our value system. We have placed our own selfish desires in charge and we are doomed by our carnality.

I am deeply worried today that before long those who want to preach the truth will no longer be able to. Instead we will be treated as terrorists and anti-American, even as our country joins the world in becoming "one."

It is no longer about taking care of the needs of our people, but rather what can I get for me. We have forgotten as a church it is our duty to feed the hungry, heal the sick, shelter the lost. Instead, our churches are filled with people who think they got it all together and that God is coming back for them.

Is he really coming back for the selfish? Are we so blinded by our own desires that we cannot even see when there are hungry in our midst? I know it sounds very selfish of me, but I keep thinking does anyone care that my daughter is going hungry? We don't make an effort to complain. This week I went out looking for an affordable place to live, and a job that I can do even in my dire health situation, and was told they will put me on a waiting list.

I struggle with jealousy as I see others who go to church but are not involved, and yet they seem to have an abundance while others appear to be just barely surviving. Does anyone see them? Does anyone hear their cries? Am I alone in noticing the needs of others while I do my best to provide for my own? And where is God in all of this?

I have heard many say they are praying. I have done my best to look around to see what I can do, and yet I am coming up empty.

Please understand I am not begging. I am not asking for pity. I am crying out to God and asking where he is in all of this? He has said he would never leave us or forsake us. His word says he supplies all our needs and yet as I looked into my little girl's eyes as she finished the last morsel of bread, I wondered and wept, "and when shall the end come?"

Do we hold a sense of shame or reproach when we look around and see all we have, or do we just believe that anyone can have a better life if they would only try? Have we closed our eyes to the needs of those around us?

I keep hearing the words to a song going thru my head. I am not sure who sings it, but essentially it says,

"Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see? Or does anybody even knows she's going down today? Under the shadow of our steeple, with all the lost and lonely people searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me. Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?"

I find myself wondering as well. Am I paying attention to others around me? Or am I so consumed with my own needs that I miss the lost and dying without concern? God where are you? Maybe it isn't me you have forsaken. Maybe it is bigger than I can even imagine. Maybe...

It is so much more than the hunger in the belly. It is the forgotten people who need God and we have forgotten there is more than just us. So they dig through the garbage bins of life, sifting out the 'bugs' and accept it as their lot in life. They are headed for the depths of sin and hell, but no one sees them. We are so busy judging others by what we think they have done or who we think they are that we don't even see how lost we are ourselves.

On the surface, they look ok. We don't notice how they are when they are alone, or not around us. We see only what we want to see while they go hungry, lonely, and lost.

When shall the end come, and will we rise to the cause or continue to look the other way?

The Power of NO!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 05:25:00 +0000

There is a disturbing trend amongst those who call themselves apostolic to let go, or even push aside the things we have been taught in favor of a 'new' program or ideology. I have been hearing reports of such for a while now, but now it has infiltrated even the select few.

We have our prayer meetings, our choir practice, our sermonettes, and of course our offerings, but we seem to have lost hold of the one thing that matters. HIM! Worship is being replaced with a 'form of godliness,' daycare centers, and 'christian' schools. Not that I believe schools and daycares aren't important and even integral parts of the christian community, but come on!

What happened to yearning for a move of God? Fasting and prayer is supposed to cure all that ails us, but instead, we leave the sanctuary of God, still hurting, crying, and lost. Have we lost our desire, our vision, our love?

The preacher of the moment exudes boldness and hunger, and exhorts the audience to shout and believe, but all the while the saints squirm in their seats, seemingly afraid to move towards the savior. Have they lost their love? Or is something else the matter with the church?

The Holy Ghost shaking has been removed from many altars, in favor of a simple showing up for Sunday services, believing it is enough to 'just make it.' Sorry, my friends, it isn't!

We can remember the story of the 10 virgins, five wise, and five foolish. Five had an ample supply of the oil (anointing) but the other five, just kept their wicks trimmed, and vessels just enough full to get by for the moment.

Have you ever wanted a drink of cold water on a cool day? A nice tall glass of lemonade? What would you do, if you had labored all day, and your wife brought you a nice teaspoonful of water, and told you that was enough? I can hear the shouts, the red face glistens with sweat in the hot day, and you are supposed to be satisifed with a teaspoon of water?

That is the vision of the church today, or at least the ministry. A teaspoon full of shout, should be enough to take you thru the trial. Someone needs to raise up and tell these dead dry bones of a preacher to take a hike. The Lord promised abundance of rain, and we are to settle for a drop?

If you call yourself a preacher don't continue to read because I guarantee you will call me a false prophet, and in doing so, condemn yourself to a devil's hell.

The problem with today's apostolics is the ministry!

See, I warned you in advance, not my fault if you continue to read. Again I will say the problem with today's church is the ministry!

I remember in the fourth grade we had what seemed like millions of grasshoppers in the yards around our neighborhood. A friend and I decided to catch a few, don't ask why! We place our handfuls of big juicy grasshoppers in an old canning jar, and placed a lid on it with just a few holes in the top. Of course we added some grass, because in our naivety, we believed the few strands of grass was enough to keep the grasshoppers alive. The grasshoppers jumped and jumped trying to get out of the jar. Some even hit the lid, and we laughed with glee at the sight. It was pretty cool to a couple 4th graders.

We placed our prize treasure up on top of a shelf, and went back out to play. Night came, and we had to go into dinner, and the grasshoppers were all but forgotten. A few days later, my friend came over, and we noticed that there wasn't much movement in the jar. We shook it a little, but still not a lot of movement, and we began to realize that the simple blades of grass were not enough to sustain the grasshoppers. One by one we picked them out, noticing no movement at all. No tears came to our eyes, they were just grasshoppers after all, and then in the very bottom of the jar under some of the dried grass one small one began to move. He didn't move much but he moved a little.

My friend went rushing out to grab somemore grass, and I ran into the kitchen to see if maybe i could find something small to put some water in for the grasshopper. I figured that even grasshoppers need more than grass. In our haste, we ran out without replacing the lid.

I came back into the room, thinking for sure the grasshopper, the one lonely little one left, would surely have jumped out while we were gone. But there he was at the bottom of the jar. I shook the jar again and he jumped. But he didn't jump out of the jar! He jumped to just about where the lid would have been, and back down. I shook the jar again, and the same result.

You see, yes that grasshopper was alive, but he had given up. The lid didn't keep him in, his lack of will, lack of desire, and yes lack of hope kept him jumping just so far. In his mind, he believed it was as far as he could go. We didn't need the lid anymore, the grasshopper was a slave to his condition.

Now preachers, and yes, I know you are still reading. I am a prophet remember! We are you!
You have placed the lid on the saints for so long, and given them just a little bit to satisfy their hunger, that they have given up on getting more! And yes I know what I am talking about!

Preformatted services, equipped with the duties of a church service but none of the power! We have been told so long by hirelings that we can only go so far in our worship that the desire actually has waned and our drive for excellance and faith is diminished to the point we can barely raise our hands. I have been in services myself where the moving of the spirit is stopped so we can go on with the service. I have even seen tongues and interpretations halted because the 'minister' had a presentation to make.

I want to make this very clear. Worship and praise of Jesus Christ is all that is necessary for a service. We do not need special singing, we do not need preaching in every service, and most of all we do not need to take a special offering because we don't have the love for God or our community to get out of our pew and go do a bakesale!

I am saddened by the grasshopper saints for sure. Those who have been so defeated that they no longer believe they have the power to overcome. Those that are content with the spirit they feel, and do not want to push deeper, not realizing like Samson, 'he wist not that the spirit had departed.'

But grasshopper, you have the power to say NO! When that self absorbed, and self serving collector, yes preacher, YOU!, tries to put you in a box, or jar, jump away! You still have the power even in the jar, but its going to take a lot to convince you after a while! Jump, shout, run, yearn, intercede, and DO NOT let someone, or something diminish your power! You have the power to say NO! I won't stand for false christianity, I will not bend to the powers of the day, I will not apologize for what I believe!

See the POWER of NO! works because of WHO YOU KNOW!

'Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.' Luke 10:19

And believe me, if you are being told to tone down your worship, don't shout so long, or that it's time to move on with the rest of the service, there is something wrong!

Now I realize that some churches are not like this, but if you do not have a move of God regularly, or you cannot remember the last time someone was baptised, or received the Holy Ghost, your church is in a jar! Oh and one other thing. When the saints are worshipping, or someone else is preaching, or singing, the pastor should not be sitting there with his arms folded across his chest, sitting high in his chair. Do we have anyone bold enough to pray for their pastor to be saved? Ok, so I am meddling, but you are the one reading, and those hairs on your neck that are raised mean I am right! And quit apologizing to the newcomers because Sis. YouKnowWho keeps interceding so loud, that you cannot move on with your agenda. Pray Thru and the saints will follow!

It is time for someone with holy boldness to stand up and shout NO!

Is it you, or are you waiting for your pastor's permission!

Like Rain on a Tin Roof

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 10:05:00 +0000

It seemed like things were getting better. People were making more effort to pray, there seemed to be a semblance of fellowship and praise, and finally there was a measure of hope.
But it was all a lie; fake, fraud, a mockery of the people of God.

I realize the Bible says in the last days, perilous times will come and men will seek preachers with itching ears preaching what the people want to hear. There is a form of godliness, but they deny the power therof. Sounds like I am talking about any other demoninational church. No thats not a mispelling. Denominations are not created by God. We wouldn't preach the trinity, why do we worship to their songs? But I am not. I am talking of people who claim to have the truth.

I heard one time that the way the devil will defeat the oneness movement wont be with injurous and mighty acts but with the inner sanctum of holiness being taken over with backbiting, gossip, and pride. I am sad to say over the last few weeks, I am noticing that happening more and more. God isn't pleased with our worship, when it is fake. When we are more concerned with our programs than without praise, what makes us think that God even listens to our concerns when all he can see is the way we really are. Is God a fool? NO!

There was another time this took place. Moses had been up on the mountain getting direction from God, and his own family stepped in because of the murmuring and complaining of the people, and they created a golden calf, and worshipped the creature more than the creator. Idol worship is one of the quickest ways to end up in a devils hell.

Some would say, "but we do not have any idols." Yet they esteem themselves, and men without anointing, declaring "pastor said..." I am not careful to be clear about this. Words are just words of men, and just time fillers, if there is not an anointing. I have been disturbed about a website I ran across that appears to be in full support of a so called major apostolic movement. This website, produces "messages, sermonettes, and themes," for those who find taking time to pray for a message as too hard. One comment on the site, said "between trying to get a message for Sunday Morning, and Bible Studies, I just don't have the time to prepare for an eloquent and dynamic message to reach my people evangelistically."

You either have the mind of God, or you don't. If you don't get out of the pulpit. If we are prayed up, and have a compassion for souls, there should be no shortage of "thus saith the Lord." There is a difference between being Called to Preach, and someone who gets up with a notebook, and reads the "word of God." Where is there room for anointing when it is all written down, and when it is planned?? Please enlighten me. We make up great programs, sell ourselves as the truth, and then sit back, and wait for the praise to roll in, all the while people around us are going to hell, lost without God. And those are the people on our pews, not just the "worldly."

Do I sound harsh? Do you think I am without merit, Pastor?

Know ye not ye are the temple of the Holy Ghost?

In days of old, preachers spent hours in prayer, and their burdens were genuine. Further back, the priests would tie a rope to their legs, just in case they did something out of line with the plan of God. If they did, God would strike them down.

However, now it seems preachers get messages anywhere they can, and try to keep current with the "new thing" in reaching the lost. Christian Rock eminates from our speakers, we crank up the mics to the point it hurts peoples ears, and we sing as fast of songs as we can come up with to ensure an emotional response. We attempt to reach the lost with our trumped up, and preprinted scripts, and we have to make sure we get in everything we practiced the day before.

THIS NEXT PART IS FOR THOSE OF YOU TOO STUPID TO LISTEN, AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

If you have to practice the worship, it isn't of God. If something happens in a service and the leader doesn't follow the written list of songs, that is a move of God. Worship and praise doesn't need a choreographer. The anointing cannot be made to happen. Either God is on your side, or he is against you.

Now I know some are so stubborn they will think me crass, but whether or not you believe it, GOD doesn't need you. He did just fine before you came along, and he would probably do better without you. This is the endtime, and the bible says , they that worship me should worship in spirit, and in truth. God doesn' t even listen to those that beat the drum, scream at the sun, and spout off things that are products of the devils work.

Oh I know the song says Lord, and He is worthy, and Shout, but without an extra anointing it is just denominational time filler. The Bible says without Holiness, NO man shall see the Lord. If you decide who is adequate for the ministry, or who has a good enough voice for singing a song that is glorification of Jesus Christ, then you are in herisy. "Make a joyful noise all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with a preformated harmony. NO, with singing.

You can have eloquence of speech, and you can harmonize with the top of your voice, but if you have not love for those around you, and have no burden, and no anointing, it is just like rain on a tin roof. It may have a good beat, maybe even relaxing, but its still just rain, and a tin roof, it isn't glorifying God.

I think we are so unsure of our effectiveness, that we have forgotten, we are not responsible for filling people, we are only responsible for creating an atmosphere. Why have we stopped letting God be God?

Apostolic Power has become a theme lately. However, there doesn't seem to be much of it. The Bible says in Mark 16; "In my name shall ye cast out devils, lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover, speak with new tongues." Ok, I will admit there is a lot of tongues, but it has been a while since I seen an overwhelming move of God to the point no one wanted to leave his presence. I cannot remember the last time I even heard of a devil being cast out. And healing? Well I know that God can use doctors. Really, sometimes he has to. Oh, and is that lack of faith, or laziness?

Now I know some of you have stopped reading, and some are angry, and think I am so negative? Isn't God about love? Isn't he about faith? Isn't he about goodness?

Yes! He is! And we are supposed to be like him.

Do you love your neighbor? Even know who they are? How about that family in church, that doesn't seem to be there as often anymore? Or how about the one you feel threatened by?

Do you love them?

How about faith? Yes, without faith it is impossible to please God. But, how about our faith in each other? Do you trust that kid with the messy hair, and the off key singing to be able to be a witness for God? Have you asked if he wants to sing? Why not?? Where is your faith??

And goodness! Have you done anything for someone else lately, either at church or in your daily life, that required time, or even God forbid money? Or do you turn the other way when you see them coming because you know, they are gonna ask for your help, or for something from you, and someone may see, and can't have that.

Are we godly? Are we apostolic? Are we even Christlike?

It has been a while since I have heard someone so excited because someone went out of their way to just give them a call.

How about you? Is you life one that God would be pleased with? Or is it just like rain on a tin roof. Gets things wet, but serves no real purpose.

I was naked, and ye clothed me not, sick, and you visited me not, hungry and you fed me not. Inasmuch as you have done to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

The End is Near! Really!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 06:46:00 +0000

We all have heard the mantra by the sidewalk preacher, the endtime, the black helicopters, the devastation, one world government; you know the drill. Sometimes we get caught up in the fear, and yet other times we lump these people in with those who believe in aliens, UFOs, and bigfoot.

We hear the enviromentalists screaming about global warming, the liberal politicians spouting their everyone and everything is cool mottos, even the former presidents wife, who has designs on the white house, wants to turn it into one of her former hippy communes, ie. "It takes a village" Same old rhetoric, different mouth saying it. Beware the bomb has been replaced by Beware the Conservative. Oh my! Someone with a brain, who believes that it is ok to spank your child, rather than let them end up high on drugs, pregnant, and drunk and ready to jump off a building or rob a bank so they can get their fix. Sounds like America! It is!

I even heard the other day, someone say that there is a book out that claims Abraham Lincoln was homosexual. First off, that is preposterous! Second, it is the same old thing our whole lives. We don't want to be blamed or looked at wrong, so we blame someone else. "I didn't do it, he did. Well, he did it too!" Idiots! Homosexuality is a sin. It doesn't matter how you paint it, and how many church leaders are bending to the paycheck, or their own lusts, and saying its ok. It is not ok.

I sound hateful, when really God loves everyone, so why judge? Because the word is judgemental. It calls sin, SIN! Yes, God is love! Yes, He is merciful! Otherwise the lot of you would be squished like a bug. I even had a former apostolic preacher's daughter tell me, "I think God understands." Yeah, he does, and he has let it slide, his heart breaking over your denying the truth, let alone what your parents would be doing, if they were alive to see it. I'm gonna be direct. If you add to or take one word away from the truth, YOU are going to HELL!

I am sick to death of preachers, who try to make everyone feel welcome, and delay the teaching of the truth, because they are afraid someone will be upset. We can't have that. Yet at the same time they allow sin of self righteousness to be rampant in their churches. Well, they are doing the best they know how.

Preacher, let me tell you straight. God hates sin. He will only tolerate so much before he says, "It is finished."

Don't believe me? There was a discussion at dinner at my house where some blinded self imposed teacher taught my son that in Revelations there are 7 trumpets, and that "according to Bro.X, we are only on the fifth trumpet." "God can't come back until the 7th trumpet happens."
Are you kidding me? We have to understand the book of Revelations, and I have heard it all and been in it all my life, and I think men who claim to have it figured out, plain and simple, are idiots. And they are lying to those they teach. When you try to figure God out, you are foolish.

There was a book in 1987 that came out saying, "88 reasons God will return in 88(1988)" Guess what I am still here, and obviously so are you. They preach the rapture, they preach the tribulation, void of understanding. They spout their learning from bible schools and "theologians" all the time assuming that God cares what they think. He is God. His decisions are His. He doesn't discuss it with us before he causes the sun to rise, what makes us think, he will discuss it with us about His plan to return. He already told us that he would return again to take us to be with him. He told us he's coming as a thief in the night. He said also that when you hear of wars, rumors of wars, pesticlence, famine, etc., to look up, "your redemption draweth nigh."

Now, I don't have a problem if you don't watch the television news. I don't have a problem, if you don't listen to the radio. I do have a problem if you are not aware of what is going on around us. Genocide in Africa, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, homosexuality, famine, earthquakes, tsunamis, pride, sedition; the list could go on forever. Do we really think God enjoys watching us fight and hate each other? There is so much pride and self righteousness in our churches. Standardized worship. Programs, skits, seminars, but no anointing.

Yes. He is coming back! Really! If it wasn't for the mercies of God we would all be lost, but we take his delay in answering our prayers, or in returning, as ambivilence, and we have grown cold in our spirits. We don't even recogonize when he is speaking to our hearts anymore. We have become so used to the program, that unless there is a huge crescendo in music and praise in our services, that we think God isn't there. We have become bored robots going thru the motions, thinking we are doing God a service. We can't even hear the still small voice anymore.

STOP IT!! Where are the intercessors, crying their eyes out over a lost soul? What happened to the preachers who preached "thus saith the Lord," rather than read the latest solliloquy? How come we hear of miracles in other places, but we don't see them in our church? Is there not a cause?

My heart is breaking knowing that people I know very well, have deluded themselves into believing what they know as truth, was too harsh to live. They don't want to pay the price. The end is near, really!

"If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and HEAL."

What kind of mess are we in, when Jesus isn't enough? When we get to that stage that even the God of heaven can't fix it, He can't. But he is coming, ready or not! The End is Near! Really!

The Apathy of Indifference

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 21:37:00 +0000

I attended a local church service recently in which it seemed apparent that the taking of the offering was more important that the moving of the presence of God. It seems we get caught up in the image we portray more than in the aspects of worship. And we wonder ... why the scripture says, "when the son of man come will he find faith...," makes me sad to know how lacking we are in our respect for each other, let alone the spirit of God.

Preachers, it doesn't matter who is in attendance, or if your tie is straight. Do not grieve the spirit! If there is someone seeking God in the altar, we have no business moving on with the service no matter how relevant we think they are.

Offering, even for missions, is not as important, as lingering in the presence of God, or allowing a song to continue til it finds its mark. We get in such a hurry trying to do God's work that we don't even allow him to move in our services.

Also, there needs to be a place where everyone can be used, not just the chosen few. You don't know what kind of ministry that older lady might have if you don't even allow her to speak. Or if we keep the music to a certain beat and only allow a few to sing. WHO MADE YOU GOD?

The bible says to make a "joyful noise unto the Lord." This doesn't mean to limit the opportunity to the ones who think they are the best. We have categorized people by what we think are their abilities or who we think is the best. That isn't even Godly. The bible says the master sent the unjust servant into the pit, because he didn't use the talent he was given. WE pray all the time for someone to get a burden for the lost, while we rot on the pew. If we don't use the ones God has placed in our church, because they don't fit some sort of criteria, we are limiting the move of God.

I am apalled at the behavior of ministers who have forgotten they are shepherds over the flock and not task masters. Whatever happened to the shepherd going out to search for the lost sheep, rather than stipulating the church office hours. I am telling you in the fear of God, that if you are more concerned about appearances, or waiting on the revival to come, or assuming you know the mind of God, when people are backsliding all around you, then YOU shouldn't be a Pastor or Preacher. You aren't called of God; you are simply there for a paycheck.

Remember Elijah on Mt Carmel. He prepared the sacrifice, then stepped back and let God move. He didn't wait on others to make the sacrifice so that he could see results. Pastors these days use canned sermons, preach with vigor, and even anger when people don't respond, thinking they know the mind of God. Instead of laboring before service in prayer, they come in to the serive notes in hand, waiting for their turn to talk. Yes that is all it is. Talk. Or maybe they will read something special they found in an email or a missions report of what God is doing: somewhere else.

What happened to fasting and prayer? I know we have church prayer meetings at specific times, and those who can't attend for whatever reason are made to feel like they are letting the church down. WE are led by example. If the pastor doesn't think its important to fast and pray, the people wont either. We had a revival service recently, and the song leader was doing a pretty good job leading the worship, the visiting minister was down in the altar his hands outstretched and on his knees, while the pastor was sitting in his predetermined chair, waiting for the song leader to turn the service back over to him. Are we kidding ourselves? The bible says in the last days, "the love of many shall wax sore,.. the truth of God shall be turned into a fable." WE wonder why God don't move?

Indifference! That's what its about. We have gotten so used to our formats, our lead sheets, our boxed, canned, pre-prepared messages, that we can't even find the anointing anymore. We have lost our love for God, and our compassion and love for each other. Remember home cooked meals? Our mothers used to work most of the day, preparing a roast, or perhaps a stew, chopping vegetables for a salad, preparing something to drink, and maybe even some fresh bread or a dessert for dinner.

Now we come home from our "busy" day, look in the freezer, and pull out the frozen pre cooked meal. We pop it in the microwave, while we open a bag of pre cut salad, and pour it in a bowl. We wait til the microwave beeps, and put it on the table, and shout, "dinner is ready!" We eat it. We think it is healthly. But somewhere in the recesses of our mind, we long for a piece of home-made apple pie, or perhaps old fashioned fried chicken that we didn't get from a deli. However, we are too indifferent, and too apathetic to take the time, to do it up right.

Our Christianity has become pre-made. We get our songs from the same website that every "church" denomination does. We get our sermon outlines from computer software, or that new book we got from the organization. We come to church to be seen, rather than to worship. And God in his infinite mercy, allows it to continue. But for how long?

"My people die for lack of knowlegdge."

A sad commentary on our lives, and our respect for God and what he has called us to do.

I think I will go make a pie, but I will take the time to do it right. Perhaps, I will take a piece to my neighbor, and just see how life is affecting them. It is time someone wasn't indifferent.

"If God saw us, as we see each other, would he be pleased?"