Bald and Beard

Prayer

2010-05-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

I've realized over the past week or so that my prayer life has been a lot of "thanksgiving" and "supplication"...but not a lot of "adoration" and "confession." I think a lot of my heart adoring God came through music when I played. I think I've come to the realization that I've been void of that for the past few years...which is a very bad thing. Adoration (praise/worship) is what I should always start my day with...whether in prayer or singing or just silence before my Creator. Adoration is what corrects my heart before the Righteous Judge. Adoration is what opens my heart, mind and soul to my King. Adoration is what leads to Confession. Confession is what gets me back on the path my God has purposed and planned for me. Confession is what washes my feet from the filth I've walked in and the sin I've sat in. Confession is what purifies. Confession is then what leads to Thanksgiving. Knowing I'm forgiven demands a thankful heart! A thankful heart rejoices in the good and the bad times. A thankful heart recognizes God is forever faithful to His children. A thankful (faithful) heart then leads to Supplication or Intercession. Prayer for those I'm in relationship with. Prayer for those I may meet for the first time today. Prayer for those I have not seen or heard from in years. Prayer for the lost. Prayer for the wandering. Prayer for the hurting. Prayer for the kingdom of heaven...God's children/followers. Then and only then can I go out into the world and live as He wants me to live...and die as He wants me to die.

Celebrate the Temporary by Clyde Reid

2010-04-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

Celebrate the temporary

Don't wait until tomorrow

Live today

Celebrate the simple things

Enjoy the butterfly

Embrace the snow

Run with the ocean

Delight in the trees

Or a single lonely flower

Go barefoot in the wet grass

Don't wait

Until all the problems are solved

Or all the bills are paid

You will wait forever

Eternity will come and go

And you

Will still be waiting

Live in the now

With all its problems and its agonies

With its joy

And its pain

Celebrate your pain

Your despair

Your anger

It means you're alive

Look closer

Breathe deeper

Stand taller

Stop grieving the past

There is joy and beauty

Today

It is temporary

Here now and gone

So celebrate it

While you can

Celebrate the temporary

Day after Easter

2010-04-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

Easter services at The Heights seemed to go extremely well (here I must admit that my job keeps me looking at the logistics of the morning sometimes stronger than I'd like). My prayer is always that we "do" nothing in vain...that all we do glorifies God. I can't help but think that there were many people here yesterday that will be like the thief on the cross whose life may not show a lot of "effort" (fruit) toward glorifying God, but who by His grace believes and is saved. All Praise to God!

I know the reality of life is that there were two thieves that day on either side of Jesus...and the other mocked Jesus. Some here yesterday did nothing but mock the grace of God shown to us through the death of Christ on the cross. I pray for their souls and hope that God tarries long enough for them to see the nail scarred hands as Thomas did and hope one day they too will be resurrected from death into a relationship that brings glory to God!

Worn out souls

2010-03-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

The book of Psalms is a well of strength for the soul. In reading Psalm 69, 70, & 71, you see and hear how David, for a season, was pursued and persecuted by attackers from literally all sides. Time after time he's crying out to God in the midst of being pursued and attacked. He even prays for the attackers to be cursed by God. How relevant this feels to my soul, yet I am not physically being pursued and attacked by anyone. As a matter of fact, being born and raised in the U.S. has completely sheltered me from experiencing anything like this. So why do I feel like I relate? Is the answer found on the inside...in my soul?

Do temptations pursue and persecute me on all sides so that my soul longs for this deliverance and refuge that David so often cries out for? I don't think it's a stretch to say...Yes! I believe a worn out soul needs refreshing and reminding that the LORD of all is in control and mighty to save. When we're beaten down by temptation and our soul is worn thin, we experience more pain and suffering. Just like a worn out sole on a shoe allows bruising and discomfort throughout the whole body, so too a soul worn out by temptation to deny it's Creator. We become worn out from the inside out.

What do we do? What should we do? Follow David's lead and cry out to God! In so doing we strengthen the soul...our soles. You find that God is waiting to hear our cry and deliver according to the multitude of His tender mercies. His righteousness and His salvation is our hope and saving grace to which we will never know their limits.

"Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
'Let God be magnified!'" - Psalm 70:4

"In You, O LORD, I put my trust...Deliver me in Your righteousness...Incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I may resort continually. You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress." - Psalm 71:1-3

3 Amazing Stories

2010-03-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

2 Kings 6-7 tells three amazing stories from the life of Elisha. The first is about a floating ax head, which I just don't get, but it's pretty incredible. The second and third stories are just waiting for Ridley Scott to take hold of them and create another epic film.

Verses 8-23 is titled "The Blinded Syrians Captured." It tells of God using Elisha in some miraculous ways. He heard the plans of the opposing king without being present in the room with them, and then he saw an army (of angels?) that were ready to fight and protect the people from their attackers. God allowed Elisha to listen through His ears and see with His eyes so that he would know that God would protect them. You've got to read the rest of the story to believe what happens next...amazing!

Chapter 6:24 through 7:20 is titled "Syria Besieges Samaria in Famine." It tells of how God protected and provided again for the people even during a time of consequence for their sin. I'll tease you with this crazy verse, 25 "And there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver." What? Dove droppings and a donkey's head? Read the story...it's amazing!

If my eyes could see beyond the physical
like Elisha who saw into the spiritual
If my ears could hear beyond the walls
the attacker devising evil to make me fall

Then I could see the windows open in heaven
and the LORD's blessing flowing down over the people
And I could say, "Do not fear, for those who are with us
are more than those who are with them."

LORD, give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that obeys.

How could they even do that!

2010-03-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

Psalm 81:11-12, "But my people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels."

This is the age old "some people just have to learn the hard way." If we would just listen to God's voice (through Scripture and through the Holy Spirit speaking through those who have gone before us), we would not suffer the consequences that come with doing things "the hard way." Sometimes we do learn from our mistakes (sins), but sometimes our actions can be so destructive that we don't survive.

In light of the various situations of sexual sin that have occurred lately in our "little world," I had read Romans 1 that speaks further on this subject. It says in verse 21, "...although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Verse 24 goes on to say, "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchange the truth of God for the lie..." verse 26, "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions..." verse 28, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting..."

How could they even do that? Well, the formula is laid out in those verses above: refusal to glorify God, un-thankful, and futile in thought. We get so selfish and full of lust that we neglect our Creator and the window of blessing He so desires to pour out on us when we obey. The craziest part to me is the lack of consideration for consequence to our action. Ephesians 5:15 is one of my favorite challenging passages that says, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise." Circumspectly means to consider the circumstances and consequences. How is this thought/action going to affect me, my family, and ultimately my relationship with God?

So is there hope for someone who's on this path? Yes, Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" No, this verse doesn't sound very positive on the surface, but if you look at the Truths it claims, forgiveness is just waiting to be bestowed on the one in sin. There is not a guarantee to be saved from the path we may be on, but verse 4 describes not only God's patience with us, but more importantly that His goodness "leads us" to repentance. Repentance restores our relationship.

God desires sinful man to be reconciled to Him. He is the author of forgiveness. How many awesome stories are there of the "lost" finding grace and love that so overwhelms them that they can't help but cry out for healing and forgiveness!

Please take heed, all who know God, from those who have fallen to their own selfish, evil desires. Learn from their stories. Pray for purity and protection from temptation. Long for holiness in a land of corruption. Be the light that you were called to be. Let your life reflect God's greatness! Bless His holy name!

Trust

2008-08-01T11:22:00.001-07:00

Trust is the thing that disappears when fear comes and reappears when courage steps forward. It is the one and only thing that will produce a faith that is stronger than all the lies the world can offer. Trust not in the things that are fading away, but trust in what’s without end. “Trust in the Lord, and do good!” (Ps. 37:4)

Trust is not built by the weak, rather it is proven strong by the weak. Trust will make a lame man see beyond his “I cant’s” and into his “I will.” Trust is what draws him off his mat and into the presence of the healer. Trust does not question. It knows not the answer, but the way. It sees through the muck and the mire into the promised land of God’s eternal salvation. Trust draws us to Him. Trust builds hope. Trust proves faith. Trust lasts forever because who we trust is the One who created time and sustains the now and forever.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5); for our understanding is a bridge without support over a chasm we alone can’t cross. He can. He did. He will take us in His loving arms, for He is faithful. Trust the Lord. Trust only in the Lord. Trust.

Approval vs Obedience (scattershooting muse)

2008-02-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, so here's a new one (meaning I'm not copying out of my past)...

I struggle daily with this concept that comes from Galatians 1:10 - "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Now hear me out, I'm about to take this verse out of the context in which Paul was writing it. I'm going to expand it to my everyday struggle with trying to obey God and at the same time trying to live with approval from man.

Today, I was asked to spend 2-3 minutes and open our staff up in a prayer time. So my inner conversation goes wild with thoughts of making that time cool and great (video clip, favorite song, etc)...so that folks pat me on the back and say, "good job today." My competitive side overtakes my obedience side of walking humbly before my God. So I continually ask myself, how do you do both?

I don't know...so I pray. And as simple as that sounds, I think that's what God calls us to do. If we are in prayer, which is communing with our Creator, our hearts affection is re-directed from me to Him. I pray James 1...for wisdom that only God can give. I pray Ephesians 1...that He "may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better." I pray Psalm 100..."Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth...For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." I pray 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18...continually and without ceasing.

Sound familiar...it's also referred to as worship. Woe is me when I place idols (which often includes my self and thoughts of what others will think of me) before my God. The thing that I must then do in obedience is pray these same passages over others. God, through the Holy Spirit, will not cease in giving me names of people to pray for. If I were to give Him my entire day, He would gladly fill my thoughts with names of those in my circle of life to lift up to Him.

How is this Approval vs Obedience? Looking back at Paul's statement...I now can look at those people that I live life with and know that I'm not speaking to them in order to impress them, but I'm speaking to them knowing that the Spirit within me has lifted them up to our Father. In obedience I'm now doing what the Lord has required of me, not for their approval, but as a steward of what the Lord has given/done for me!

If you've read this whole thing, you might be saying, "I sure liked the old, thought out stuff better." To which I reply, "bless you!"

Marriage (2001)

2008-02-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

Two major events happened in my life between 2000 - 2001. I married Simri in November 2000, and then my parents divorced in 2001 after 30+ years of marriage. Needless to say, that was a rollercoaster year of emotions. I wrote this journal immediately after hearing of my parents situation. That event created a burning desire to study God's Word on Love, Marriage, and Divorce. Here's what I wrote on marriage...

Marriage - the joining of two to become one. So how does two distinct creations of God become one? What is created by God (the man and woman...and the joining in marriage) must therefore be given by God. Does that mean God will distinctly show you who to marry? In some cases in the Bible, the answer is "yes," but He spends more time discussing the committment between a man and a woman than the seeking of a mate. The committment came down to a direct comparison of Jesus and the Church (the Word made Flesh and God's chosen people). We are commanded to love as Christ loved the Church...in which He gave His life for them.

Here enters the term "love," along with a great definition of the word: "willing to die for." How does a man and woman discover they are "willing to die for" the other? Looking once again to Scripture, we see that God knows man is not very willing to lay his own life down for another man (Rom 5:7). But if we look to our heroes throughout history, we find that most of them became heroes by laying down their lives for man or country. So did our Lord (Rom 5:8). He gave His life so we might live...and also do likewise. His example is our goal. Just as His life, death, and resurrection is the key to our salvation.

This page of journaling was one that I read and prayed over many times over the past 7 years. I pleaded with God to teach me how to love Simri in marriage. I also pleaded with God to give my parents a love that they may never have known...His love in marriage. What would give Him more glory than for my parents to reconcile and depend on Him to provide love? Well, He provided a miracle and 7 years later, my parents re-united in marriage. All Praise to God!

unStupid (Sept 2004)

2008-02-14T08:34:00.000-08:00

Freedom by ignorance is not the way God intended us to live. Nor does He desire us to take His word and twist it so that we can live how we want to live. He gave us His word so that we could have wisdom far beyond worldly understanding. He gave us His word so that our desires begin to reflect His ways.

Set Apart (Sept 2004)

2008-02-14T08:28:00.000-08:00

Set apart. What exactly does that look like? Obviously Jesus is the perfect example of being set apart. He came and walked among us where He was daily tempted yet He sinned not. So if we believe that, why do we point the finger at Him anytime our actions are questioned. "Well, Jesus turned water to wine, so He must drink" or "He got so angry that He destroyed all of the merchants tables and stuff in the temple." Have we become so indignent that we can't admit when we make unwise choices? I know the task of purity and holiness seems way to far away from my grasp, but could God be teaching me thru baby steps how to live a life that is set apart? If I read His word more often and listened to the guidance of the Holy Spirit would I be able to live justly and not justify the way I live? When the faithful men of God said "Woe is me" or "chief am I of sinners" they didn't follow it with "but look at him" or "well that's just forcing his religious convictions on me." They were admiting their sin and seeking to be more like Christ...more like their creator and Father desired them to be. Holy Spirit, please continue to convict me and teach me. Father, don't allow my heat to be so hardened that I don't seek Your way in all I think, do, and say. Jesus, thank you for living Truth. Thank you for taking the burden I've created and nailing it to the cross where it no longer lives. Please forgive me when I neglect Your joy in suffering for us. Show me how to experience that kind of joy.

The Start

2008-02-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, I started a blog a couple years ago with one posting...now I can't even remember the name of my blog...or how to even find it. So, I'm starting anew...sorta. By the way, I sometimes use a lot of "..." when I'm rambling...so please forgive me! I say sorta to the starting anew because I'm actually going to start with some old journals that I've written. I hope that gives me something to roll with. If you're reading this, you probably should blog less because that means you really spent a lot of time finding this blog. Haha. My prayer is that God blesses you as only He can!