Job 23:3-6
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
In all that Job had lost, his children, his servants, livestock, wealth and even his health the one thing Job desired to regain was the presence of His God! Not for one minute do I believe that Job didn't love all that he had lost but Job understood that without the presence of the Lord his own life would be meaningless!
To have the gains of this whole world but to lose your soul, to find yourself with material things and longing for something more.
To be without the presence of the Lord in comparison would be like a fish out of water, a tree plucked up by its roots or a severed finger or limb! All of these things removed from there natural habitat or its atmosphere quickly begin to die unless reintroduced to its natural environment.
When an astronaut leaves the atmosphere of the earth he must create, by imitation, this type of atmosphere in order to survive. He would have to wear a suit that would supply oxygen in order to breath. This suit would also provide enough weight to overcome the lack of gravity, keeping him grounded and avoiding floating off into space! God has created an atmosphere for His children to live in and that is His own presence. When we get out of that atmosphere, or having never entered in to that atmosphere life cannot be sustained at the level that Almighty God has designed it to be!
The bible tells us that it rains on the just and the unjust alike but with the rain on the just an umbrella of Gods protection is also provided! Troubles still arise, difficulty is still a part of life, temptation is still present but God provides a way of escape!
In thy presence is fullness of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures forever more! Psalms 16:11
The world provides imitations to try to fulfill the emptiness in our lives that only Gods presence will do! But like the astronaut we need to find our way back into our natural atmosphere because the longer that we are out of it the greater the toll on our bodies, our lives!
Job had lost everything and his response was, Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat! I can live with the loss of all that I loved but I cannot live with out thy Presence! I know the words which He would answer me!
What would God say to me when I am at a loss, when hurting, when feeling abandoned, hopeless and at the end of my rope? Job said would He plead against me? NO, but He would strengthen me!! God is our help, our refuge, our strength,healer, deliverer and our salvation! Not to mention a caring, loving, concerned and compassionate Father like no other!
No matter where I am, what is happening in my life I long for His presence!
Read Psalms 63
Monday, April 28, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
My enemy is me!
Read this in the first person.
Today I wake up and I decide. I decide what to wear, what to do, what to think about, who to be around and as the day goes on how to react to life. Its easy for me to blame others for how my life goes but it is I who allows how much other people influence my life. It is my decision who I allow to influence my life.
My problem is that I care what people do and say about me that don't really care about me and I really need to focus on the ones that do! I let there actions dictate my response! I shouldn't but I do. That's my problem, I am in contact and communication with the people that are not good for me! I'm constantly surrounding myself with negativity whether in person or by social media and then I get caught up in it and become negative myself. Its me, I am my enemy! I do this to myself! I need to get off this merry-go-round because its no longer any fun and I keep ending up where I started.
What does the bible say in 2 Cor 6:14-16
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Its no wonder I am not getting along with these people because we are not on the same journey. Our destination is in two different places. For those who are on the same journey we must be at different points along the way.
This is hard for me to say but in every situation that I find myself in I am the constant factor! Every time Im at odds with someone I am involved. Every time Im in disagreement with someone I am involved. Every time the drama curtain opens I am the star of the show! My enemy is me! I am fighting with myself!
Today I change course. I am turning away from those who choose not to influence my life in a positive way and I turn to those who do. I am not going to socialize with or respond to anyone who is not going to benefit my life and who's life will not benefit from mine!
Today I am choosing to let my light so shine that others will see the goodness in me and desire what I have!
I am sick of drama and gossip and all the negative things that go with it so I am going to quit spreading it! I am my enemy! Rom 7:18-19
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
With that said I realize that if I take me out of every problem then there is no problem at all!
Authors note: If you find yourself offended or angered in any way remember your enemy is not me.
Today I wake up and I decide. I decide what to wear, what to do, what to think about, who to be around and as the day goes on how to react to life. Its easy for me to blame others for how my life goes but it is I who allows how much other people influence my life. It is my decision who I allow to influence my life.
My problem is that I care what people do and say about me that don't really care about me and I really need to focus on the ones that do! I let there actions dictate my response! I shouldn't but I do. That's my problem, I am in contact and communication with the people that are not good for me! I'm constantly surrounding myself with negativity whether in person or by social media and then I get caught up in it and become negative myself. Its me, I am my enemy! I do this to myself! I need to get off this merry-go-round because its no longer any fun and I keep ending up where I started.
What does the bible say in 2 Cor 6:14-16
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Its no wonder I am not getting along with these people because we are not on the same journey. Our destination is in two different places. For those who are on the same journey we must be at different points along the way.
This is hard for me to say but in every situation that I find myself in I am the constant factor! Every time Im at odds with someone I am involved. Every time Im in disagreement with someone I am involved. Every time the drama curtain opens I am the star of the show! My enemy is me! I am fighting with myself!
Today I change course. I am turning away from those who choose not to influence my life in a positive way and I turn to those who do. I am not going to socialize with or respond to anyone who is not going to benefit my life and who's life will not benefit from mine!
Today I am choosing to let my light so shine that others will see the goodness in me and desire what I have!
I am sick of drama and gossip and all the negative things that go with it so I am going to quit spreading it! I am my enemy! Rom 7:18-19
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
With that said I realize that if I take me out of every problem then there is no problem at all!
Authors note: If you find yourself offended or angered in any way remember your enemy is not me.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Measuring up!
Eph. 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of he faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
If at the entrance of every church there was a scale or a measuring device, we would all come up short! We have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.
In the church there are standards but these standards are set by the word of God and can only be fulfilled by heeding the word of God! It is Christ and not a single individual that I am striving to measure up to. Jesus is my example, my model and my mirror!
This world has its own standards, fashions and what they would consider the model in which to become! As the church we are not striving to fit the mold of the world, nor are we striving to fit the mold that the church has even shaped for itself! If there is a mold or a model it is that of Jesus Christ, created in the image of God!
"Christians" that model the world or even strive just to become like someone else need to re-evaluate its true meaning. By definition to be a Christian is to be Christ-like, or to be little-Christs.
When we gather together as the church we are not to become spitting images of one another, or judge and compare ourselves with each other! We come together as many members of the one body and bride of Jesus! As the body and bride of Jesus we want to prepare and present ourselves to Him in a way that is pleasing to Him! The difficulty that many people face while trying to serve the Lord is that they are also at the same time trying to please everyone else! What happens then is that we may change many of our outward appearances and make lifestyle changes while our hearts haven't made the journey.
The bathroom scale is probably the most feared measuring device in the bathroom and yet it is one of the easiest ways to measure your progress! No matter the outcome the scale reads true! We may not always like the results but the scale lets us know where we are at! The bible needs to become the most feared( reverenced, respected) measuring tool in our libraries of books! The bible whether we like the direction it offers or the council it gives, it is the truth! It is the bible that will let us know where we stand in our journey to be like Christ!
We can all follow others on this journey but our destination is to be like HIM!
I may fail to reach perfection, but I will not fail in reaching for perfection!
I know that I will never measure up in the eyes of man or of this world but that's acceptable to me because they are not the RULER!
Till we all come in the unity of he faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
If at the entrance of every church there was a scale or a measuring device, we would all come up short! We have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.
In the church there are standards but these standards are set by the word of God and can only be fulfilled by heeding the word of God! It is Christ and not a single individual that I am striving to measure up to. Jesus is my example, my model and my mirror!
This world has its own standards, fashions and what they would consider the model in which to become! As the church we are not striving to fit the mold of the world, nor are we striving to fit the mold that the church has even shaped for itself! If there is a mold or a model it is that of Jesus Christ, created in the image of God!
"Christians" that model the world or even strive just to become like someone else need to re-evaluate its true meaning. By definition to be a Christian is to be Christ-like, or to be little-Christs.
When we gather together as the church we are not to become spitting images of one another, or judge and compare ourselves with each other! We come together as many members of the one body and bride of Jesus! As the body and bride of Jesus we want to prepare and present ourselves to Him in a way that is pleasing to Him! The difficulty that many people face while trying to serve the Lord is that they are also at the same time trying to please everyone else! What happens then is that we may change many of our outward appearances and make lifestyle changes while our hearts haven't made the journey.
The bathroom scale is probably the most feared measuring device in the bathroom and yet it is one of the easiest ways to measure your progress! No matter the outcome the scale reads true! We may not always like the results but the scale lets us know where we are at! The bible needs to become the most feared( reverenced, respected) measuring tool in our libraries of books! The bible whether we like the direction it offers or the council it gives, it is the truth! It is the bible that will let us know where we stand in our journey to be like Christ!
We can all follow others on this journey but our destination is to be like HIM!
I may fail to reach perfection, but I will not fail in reaching for perfection!
I know that I will never measure up in the eyes of man or of this world but that's acceptable to me because they are not the RULER!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Going it alone!
John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
It is amazing to me that when we are surrounded by people that we can still feel like we are alone. When we have people who genuinely care about us and for us how we can still feel that we are all alone!
Scripture after scripture tells us that we are a body, many members but one body! The bible talks of a fellowship of Gods people and that we should be of the same mind! It speaks to being fellow laborers WITH God! The bible tells us that God has made us sit together in heavenly places!
Eph 2:21-22
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Together, together, together, together, together, if in fact we are together than why do I feel so ALONE?
You are the answer to that question! You are the key! You determine your own relational status of togetherness or loneliness! You are the missing ingredient, you are the deciding factor whether you are in fellowship or you are GOING IT ALONE!
When a single seed is planted and dies, breaking its shell only then will it bud and break forth from the ground producing a crop! But any seed that remains a seed abides alone as a single seed!
When I decide that this life is no longer all about me and change my focus to include others I am no longer going it alone! Others become a part of my life and I become a part of theirs!
What I have learned in this life is that others have been through and have experienced the things that I am facing at the present! They have been down this road before and with that they are an advantage to me because I can walk in their path! Or I can choose to plow my own way which many have done as well!
If I will plant myself into the family of God and I becomes WE and Us, I will no longer have to go it alone! Every situation I face I choose to face it by myself or with someone else! Whether I suffer or rejoice I choose to do it with or without someone else! A single seed abides alone until its planted, dies and brings forth much fruit!
When I plant my life in to the church I don't just gain a friend but a family! I only go through life alone if I choose to abide alone!
Loneliness by definition is being apart from others! So to change my status I need to plant myself into the gardens of others! If its so easy then why is it so hard? Because we tell ourselves that we don't fit in, we wont be accepted, we have been rejected in the past, maybe we don't want to be a part, maybe we don't want to be attached and that is the reason we are alone!
We have to look at the church as a garden and not as a farmers field. In a farmers field there are specific crops that the farmer wishes to produce, corn field, potato field, wheat field and in these fields we may not fit but in a garden there is variety and they all grow together!
Except the seed fall to the ground and die it abideth alone, but if it dies it will produce much fruit no longer being by itself!
Jesus felt alone on the cross but by His death He had reaped a harvest of souls in which to have fellowship!
We are the only reason that we are alone! There are opportunities for us to come together and we must choose to be a part!
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
It is amazing to me that when we are surrounded by people that we can still feel like we are alone. When we have people who genuinely care about us and for us how we can still feel that we are all alone!
Scripture after scripture tells us that we are a body, many members but one body! The bible talks of a fellowship of Gods people and that we should be of the same mind! It speaks to being fellow laborers WITH God! The bible tells us that God has made us sit together in heavenly places!
Eph 2:21-22
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Together, together, together, together, together, if in fact we are together than why do I feel so ALONE?
You are the answer to that question! You are the key! You determine your own relational status of togetherness or loneliness! You are the missing ingredient, you are the deciding factor whether you are in fellowship or you are GOING IT ALONE!
When a single seed is planted and dies, breaking its shell only then will it bud and break forth from the ground producing a crop! But any seed that remains a seed abides alone as a single seed!
When I decide that this life is no longer all about me and change my focus to include others I am no longer going it alone! Others become a part of my life and I become a part of theirs!
What I have learned in this life is that others have been through and have experienced the things that I am facing at the present! They have been down this road before and with that they are an advantage to me because I can walk in their path! Or I can choose to plow my own way which many have done as well!
If I will plant myself into the family of God and I becomes WE and Us, I will no longer have to go it alone! Every situation I face I choose to face it by myself or with someone else! Whether I suffer or rejoice I choose to do it with or without someone else! A single seed abides alone until its planted, dies and brings forth much fruit!
When I plant my life in to the church I don't just gain a friend but a family! I only go through life alone if I choose to abide alone!
Loneliness by definition is being apart from others! So to change my status I need to plant myself into the gardens of others! If its so easy then why is it so hard? Because we tell ourselves that we don't fit in, we wont be accepted, we have been rejected in the past, maybe we don't want to be a part, maybe we don't want to be attached and that is the reason we are alone!
We have to look at the church as a garden and not as a farmers field. In a farmers field there are specific crops that the farmer wishes to produce, corn field, potato field, wheat field and in these fields we may not fit but in a garden there is variety and they all grow together!
Except the seed fall to the ground and die it abideth alone, but if it dies it will produce much fruit no longer being by itself!
Jesus felt alone on the cross but by His death He had reaped a harvest of souls in which to have fellowship!
We are the only reason that we are alone! There are opportunities for us to come together and we must choose to be a part!
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