Custom Fit

Do you ever get the feeling the trials in your life were made custom fit just for you? As if God thoroughly examined our weaknesses and designed a blueprint for our life fully fitted to expound on every fault.

 I imagine myself looking over those blueprints as I stand in the throne room before God. I look up at Him and say: Really?? In all your benevolent wisdom you couldn’t have come up with aaaaaaaaany other way of teaching me this? I imagine that He then looks down at me with a stifled smile and look that seems to say ‘trust me, I got this’. As I with shoulders slouching and feet dragging head for the door, I hear Him say “You’ll thank me later”. And my reply under my breath is something along the lines of ‘Don’t count on it’ and ‘Not in this lifetime’.  Of course though as He predicted, I am always grateful for every trial and every grief and every pain when it finally comes to an end. The end of a learning trial is in some ways like the warmth of the sun after a cold and dreary rain. And I find myself being thankful for the figurative moisture.

I am engaged in a few learning trails at the moment, some I know won’t come to an end until hope gives in to glory and my soul is no longer a resident of this world. Therefore on easier days I say ‘Thank you for the moisture’ on the rest of them I say ‘I’ll thank you later’. If you are privileged enough to be enduring a custom fit learning trail, compliments of your creator, and today is not one of those days that you’re thankful for the moisture, it may help to envision yourself in His throne room and listen to Him say ‘It’s my design, I got this’.     

The Tribulation in Trumpets

And  I  saw  the  seven  messengers  who stand  before  Elohim,  and  to  them  were given seven trumpets.

Revelation
8:7 - And the first messenger sounded, and there came to be hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, an all green grass was burned up.
8:8 - And the second messenger sounded like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
8:10 - And the third messenger sounded, and a great star fell from the heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the fountains of water, and the name of the star is called Wormwood. And a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
8:12 - And the fourth messenger sounded, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. And a third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
9:1 - And the fifth messenger sounded, and I saw a star from the heaven which had fallen to the earth. And the key to the pit of the deep was given to it. And he opened the pit of the deep, and smoke went up out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun was darkeneed, also the air, because of the smoke of the pit. And out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth, and authority was given to them as the scorpions of the earth possess authority. And it was said to them that they shall not harm the grass of the earth, or any green matter, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of Elohim upon their foreheads. And it was given to them that they should not kill them, but to torture them for five months. And their torture was like the torture of a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men shall seek death and shall not find it. And they shall long to die, but death shall flee from them.
9:13 - And the sixth messenger sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before Elohim, saying to the sixth messenger who had the trumpet, “Release the four messengers, those having been bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four messengers, those having been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million, and I heard the number of them. 
11:15 - And the seventh messenger sounded, and there came to be loud voices in the heaven, saying, “The reign of this world has become the reign of our Master, and of His Messiah, and He shall reign forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders sitting before Elohim on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped Elohim, saying, “We give You thanks, O El Shaddai, the One who is and who was and who is coming, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. “And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead to be judged, and to give the reward to Your servants the prophets and to the set-apart ones, and to those who fear Your Name, small and great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” And the Dwelling Place of Elohim was opened in the heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His Dwelling Place. And there came to be lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.


12:17 - And  the  dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the commands of Elohim and possessing the witness of  Messiah.

14:14 - And I looked and saw a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was One like the Son of Adam, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another messenger came out of the Dwelling Place, crying with a loud voice to the One sitting on the cloud, “Send Your sickle and reap, because the hour has come for You to reap, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” And the One sitting on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.  

See the rainbow?

Stopping suddenly, she clutches the arm of her fellow sojourner, "Oh, wow!" she gasped. "Do you see that?" 

          "See what?" was the reply. 

"That beautiful rainbow," said the women, still in awe.

          "I see the blackness of the storm..." spoken slightly as a question.

"Oh, it's beautiful - all of the radiant colors!"

          "I see several shades of gray, is that what you're referring to?"

"No! The colors! See the sun beaming through the darkness; its light is reflecting through any particle able to absorb it. See the spectrum it's producing?"

           The answer only consisting as a look of puzzled suspicion.

"And look, it's even a full bow - complete from one end to the other!"

          "All I see is broken storm clouds..."

"Exactly! The storm - there'd be no rainbow without the storm. But look what the sun does with all those 'would be' destructive molecules - it's beautiful!"

          "I'm still - it's just not there for me. It seems to be clearing though, that's good."

"No, No! Look at the sun! See its rays? Now look at the storm -
                            see the rainbow?"

Sufficient

 <sup>Luke 18
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none [is] good, save one, [that is], God.
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they that heard [it] said, Who then can be saved?
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

The man had learned the instructions and kept them, but that wasn't going to save him. Would selling all of his riches have saved him? Nope. Living a life that was very self-sufficient was a life that could easily be lived without God, if his focus and relationship with his God was based on checking off a list and labeling himself good. Jesus asked him not to do something that was difficult for him to do, but impossible. Why did Jesus ask such a task? So that this man would realize his need for God, realize that he hadn't had God, but a checklist. Why does God want us to know his instructions? So that we know they're impossible to achieve, and so that we continually know how big He is, how gracious He is, and how much He loves us.

Any trial in your life, count it as joy!! For it is in the difficult things that you reach out to God. He doesn't make you self-sufficient, but becomes your sufficiency.</sup>

Risk the Outlook

In light of the recent death of Osama Bin Laden one comes to realize that although a mastermind of evil has fallen, many, many others continue to be at large...Not only do their hearts feast on acts of evil, but they look to perpetrate that evil on all of the free world. What strategic plan could possibly be in place that would seek out the minds and hearts of the wicked and detain them before catastrophe strikes... There is no offensive play without a defensive initiative - evil must initiate first strike before repercussion for one's actions can be determined - - but what if that deep-seated hate could be uprooted in many hearts before that terror is enacted upon our individual liberties -  
I know it's ignorant to think that there could possibly be a diplomatic 'solution', but I can't help but hope that a diplomatic 'outreach' would do some good. (Maybe one already exists, and I just haven't heard about it) I'm not talking about giving them crayons and telling them to express themselves, but what if the case was pleaded to the most vulnerable(the youth) in the region, stating that by following extremists they are being set up... they're taking on insane men's battle.
They're being brainwashed and we can't judge them for that, but we could present some truth and let truth do what truth only can do, and that is set them free. It's doubtful to think bellowing out that they are 'sinners in the hands of an angry God' would do much good, but maybe with a little divine inspiration we could infiltrate some of the hate with a lot of love(a 1965 song just entered your head, didn't it :/ ). As silly or ignorant as it may sound, to me it is equally ignorant to think we can catch EVERY bad guy before something happens...
What if through a mass release of the Bible in Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc. we could allow for a comprehensive deliberation of all the available facts. If the Bible is not already at their disposal they cannot be expected to make a legitimate unbiased decision based on a one-sided argument. Give them the necessary resources and let them decide if we are all infidels saved by grace or if we are infidels predestined for death... If it doesn't change one individual's mindset, if it doesn't change the outlook of one deceived person than we've waisted some paper. But if by divine liberation one plot to annihilate the lives of others is suppressed - lives will be saved. Wouldn't it be worth the try?

Looking Forward to Opportunities

I learned something about myself recently, and I thought in the cataclysmic event that somebody else may have a similar personality trait I'd pass along what I've learned.;)
I've learned that whenever I'm dreading a connection with other people whether it be through a get-together or a phone call or whatever the instance, I'm dreading it because I'm looking to be blessed by that person or persons and the possibility of not receiving affirmation or blessing...the probability that I just might not get anything out of it is there - therefore I dread that connection. BUT if I can look at every conjunction with another humanbeing as being an opportunity to bless them, to esteem them through maybe a kind word or a smile or a compliment...then I find that I actually look forward to that opportunity.  

Stretching

Getting together to rejoice in the knowledge of Yeshua and to further your understanding of His past, present, and future is breathtakingly energizing, isn't it?! This evening I was fortunate enough to witness Him in such an amazing and beautiful way -


A particular women who gathers with us - she's had a very rough life...her entire life through, and it has left her with a certain mannerism, temperament, and hygiene that is not always accepted by those around her. My parents have taken this women under their wing, doing her laundry, taking her out for coffee, giving her an overall sense of purpose. Proudly I contend that not everyone is as stretchable as my parents. So, my family and I had been discussing whether the people getting together this evening would continue to pallet this women's idiosyncrasies or whether they'd eventually shy away from her... The general consensus was that everyone getting together would more than likely sustain a certain level of tolerance and prayerfully that tolerance would last and last. And in that hopefullness we went to our gathering - 
 And God showed up.


The people didn't gasp at her snide joking, but played right along, teasingly calling out - good evening ornery! Not only did they ignore her odoriferous aroma, but they embraced her with warm hugs of affection. They didn't slip into a corner to gossip about her matted hair, but pulled out a comb and lovingly maneuvered the comb's prongs through the knotted strands, all the while complimenting and encouraging her femininity.Of course, she lavished in the attention, flourishing with every drop.
Yes, God was there. And it was beautiful.

Love Me?

Believing in a Creator always poses the question: Why? Why create a being ingrained with self-reliance and freewill? Why create a being knowing they'd sin and be hidden from Him? Why have so much power and show such restraint? 

But what if the being without a beginning and without an end, whose dwelling is in a sustenance without borders or laws, decides -
                      He wants to be loved?

He knows He can create a life form that loves Him, but only out of fear, He knows with His omnipotent power He can form a conscienceless creation who provides for His every need...
                                but what if He wants to be loved?

He decides to create a being with decision making abilities, and then gives them a choice. The choice was simple 'love me and know me or decide you want more'. The completed beings decided they wanted to not only know Him, but to be Him...
This was not a surprise to the Creator... in fact, this was His plan from the beginning. Now their minds overflowed with choices, choices of good and evil, greed and compassion. The Creator knows if He wants to truly be loved He can only be known in part. If the creation knows its full creator, fear would take the place of love, want would take the place of need, and the Creator would again be without a companion.
So in desperate need to simply be loved the flood gates of His presence remains restrained upon the earth. His swooning for His creation though, is as a geyser, uncontainable, submerging life in His affection. So there He waits in His longing... wanting so desperately to win her love. 
You...
      are the creation...

created for one purpose...
                                    to be His love...
                                                    if it is your choosing...   

Set Apart

The description I wrote down for my blog when I first started it was 'Christian, faith, Christ, Christian living' so I thought it important to jot down a few things to help define what it is I am referring to....

The God I believe in and am reverent to is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

I believe God's chosen people are Israel; the strangers who exited the land of Egypt with Israel were under the same covenant as Israel, just as those who exit the darkness into light and serve Elohim are they themselves in covenant, the bride of Christ, God's chosen people. (Lev 19:34 and so many other verses...)

Elohim gave His people for their success a set of directions we know as the Ten Commandments.

He also gave days of Holy convocation(set apart gatherings) to set His people apart so they may make known their love and engagement to Him. (Lev 23)    

I believe Elohim entered the dimension we know as earth as a human being, born of a virgin into the Jewish lineage. Yehoshua walked the earth as a man, enduring as a man, remaining sinless. He was crucified as the Passover lamb making the sacrifice for all sins.  

He arose from the dead on the third day. His spirit now is dwelling with us.

And it is in His spirit that I hope we can commune with one another and proclaim His greatness... and that in essence is the structure for this blog.  

Providence

Worrying about the provisions in one's life is to assume that any provision ever acquired was without divine providence. And that assumption would be false.

Pursuit of Happiness

If I could just marry the right person...
If I could just land the right job...
If I could just make enough money...
If I could just live in the right location...
If I could just wear nicer clothes, have better things...
If I could just be smarter, taller, thinner...
If I could just _____...my life would be what I want it to be...

Dear Striving,
I am happy to inform you that contentment is fully obtainable. The need to pursue your happiness has been woven into your being from the beginning. Here is one synopsis of a perfect life, you have your own variation - graduate from high school, go to a good college, get a job you love, marry the right person, have a nice family, make lots of money, retire at 65, travel the world, and die well-loved and accomplished. Right? What if you get to the end and realize you didn't actually ever really acquire contentment? As I stated at the beginning contentment is fully obtainable... and I don't mean 50 years from now and not only if your life hasn't gone awry at some point and then another...  The void you're longing to fill is as a keyhole with only one key. You may try to force other things in, but only the right thing will fit. The happiness you strive for, the contentment you need is only available through
the one who created you.
If your thought just now was - been there, done that or I've tried Him, but He didn't do anything for me... you weren't introduced to the real thing... Think on these things for just a moment: the one who created you took so much care and thought into your existence that He made your eyelids to blink involuntarily so that your eyes wouldn't dry out, and would be protected... He created salivary glands to produce saliva in your mouth to cleanse your teeth, moisten your throat, help you to taste... He created the organs in your body to work together without your prompting... He placed the sun in the sky to warm you... He causes food to grow to feed you... He placed beauty all around you to awe-inspire the thoughts of His love towards you... He is who I'd like you to meet. He is who your soul is longing for. Forget everything you've been told about Him, look at what He has made for you and discover Him for yourself. 
I believe in and am in love with the creator of the universe, the one who set the stars in the sky, the one who formed the earth, and breathed into existence life. The void without Him is too grave for any thing or any amount of things to fill. Only just think on HIM and be fully contented.

Concerning the Garden of Eden

 I was always taught that God told Adam and Eve that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they would surely die, but the serpent told them they wouldn't and when they ate of it 1) they didn't die physically, but they did die spiritually or 2) they from that time began dying and their seed from then on degenerated and that's why people gradually lived shorter and shorter lives... But what if the death that is referred to is the elimination of the ability to see the spirit world? What if before they ate of this tree they could physically see angels... and God...
 After they ate of the tree their innocence was gone and they were aware that they were naked... But I got to thinking - - if my husband and I were the only two people on earth, I don't think I'd be bothered too much about being naked... But if I had physically seen angels moseying around in the garden with me... I probably would cover up with fig leaves just as they did. I don't think from the very beginning God had ever intended for Adam and Eve to live forever; if He had why would He say in Gen 3:22 "...And now lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever..." So if they were always intended to partake in the cycle of life which includes death, wouldn't it make sense that what did actually die was the interaction with the dimension of what we refer to as 'spirit'? 
 In a practical sense, with that sight or ability to see gone we are only able to receive the revelation of God through His determining. He is still as ever-present as always, but we are unable to see Him -- for now.

Think BIG

"None of us are born thinking we are ordinary. Feeling special is an essential part of the human birthright. If you don't think you are special, you won't seek to contribute your gift to the world." Shmuley Boteach, Rabbi

The social networking sites of our day allow us to be intimately informed of other's lives that we normally wouldn't have kept company with or for some even associate with based on moral or political or spiritual differances. I love being able to read the blaring honesty that is blurted out as a result of the real life circumstances of one's day... but sometimes I can't help but think Are you really satisfied with the life you've molded for yourself? Does this really complete you? When I heard the quote afore mentioned it made me wonder - do people not grasp for the extrodinary because they don't think they deserve it?  When we watch a good movie or read a good book where the heroin does exceptional good in the face of adversity, we heartily cheer him on... but why don't we ourselves look at our lives and think what exceptional thing could I do this very instant that would benefit the whole of humanity or even just one other person? Are you not worth reaching outside of yourself, your life, and doing something great? Why not do good? Has the face of rebellion really gotten you anywhere you want to be? Maybe it has. Maybe you are what you've always dreamed of being, and if so I'm ecstatic for you... 
If not, however, I'd like to proclaim from the rooftop, so to speak, GET A LIFE, A GOOD LIFE - YOU DESERVE IT! YOU WERE BORN FOR GREATNESS, AND YOU'RE NOT DEAD YET!   

Just a thought...

The mass indoctrination saying that 'the word of God' is the Bible and that you go to church on Sunday to 'hear what the preacher has from the Lord' saddens me.
Christ is the word, meaning He speaks and it is created,
meaning what He tells you is yours to hear...
The pastor has no more of a divine connection than you... what Christ wants you to hear He
is fully capable of telling you Himself as well as using others...
In short I'd like to liken today's view of a relationship with Christ to a hip new cellphone fully equipped
with amazing in-depth apps, one being the Bible, another a social connection to other believers(Church), the only catch to this new beautifully designed phone is that it only has a one way calling system - prayer... now how useful do you think this phone would be if you were only able to call out and the listener wasn't able to communicate back?
If you are a believer in Christ please do me this one favor - ask yourself, 'do I believe Christ can really speak to me? Not only through 'signs and wonders' but through actual verbal communication?' If you have to respond 'no' do yourself a favor and ask God to communicate to you, to show Himself in BIG ways - you won't be disappointed. You will be able to see how much your creator is in love with you, and this lover is not silent. Look to His love notes - can you see His love in the magnificent design of the world around you, not the man made destructable architecture, etc. but the beauty of a shade tree, the unmistakable sound of a babbling brook, the wonder of a living cell, the regeneration season after season - what  grandeur played out in these love notes. Now, enjoy the two way bond to this lover, your Creator. Hear His sweetness, enjoy His love.
The Psalms are riddled with His love and greatness seen through the eyes of various authors, Psalms 8 was neat to me today.

Christ Vs. Christ

 Why do we as Christians compete so passionately against one another? It seems like the indoctrination of competition starts when we’re just little. Sunday school we have the attendance charts… VBS we have the Bible verse memorization and those who do the most get the prize… Why do we sabotage our children’s spirituality so? Does Christ compete with Himself? Is our identity not to be in Christ? Why not devote our time solely on Him, His love, and not on what we’ve done about or for or with Him. Just simply Him. Why do we compete? Furthermore, why do we put so much effort into building our physical self-esteem? We no longer need our esteem, ours is nothing in comparison to His. Why not boast of Him and lay aside the ‘filthy rags’ we have to offer?

And all of us have become as one unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as soiled rags. And all of us fade like a leaf, and our crookednesses, like the wind, have taken us away.

And there is no one who calls on Your Name, who stirs himself up to be strengthened in You; for You have hidden Your face from us, and have consumed us because of our crookednesses.

And now, O God, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You our potter. And we are all the work of Your hand.

Isaiah 64:6-8    

REST

A few months ago my little girl involuntarily awakened from her nap. I could tell she wasn’t quite ready to get up yet by the frustration in her sobbing. I went into her bedroom and laid her back down, then patted her back until she fell back asleep. A half hour or so later she woke up again only this time she had awakened fully rested and even though she had woken in the same place she was not bothered by the confinement of her crib, she even found enjoyment in bouncing around on the mattress and singing to herself loudly as if knowing I was listening. She was completely content to be in her predicament, she had come to terms with the fact that I had put her in that place and when she was ready I would take her out.

That soft voice inside said, “Does that seem familiar?”

Christ allows us to be in difficult situations for our own benefit. We may fight and cry about it, but it is in those times that He is laying us down to rest fully in Him. And if we are able to simply rest on His greatness we can be in complete contentment with any situation. There are no surprises to God… nothing happens without His allowing… focus on Him and rest. 

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.

Psalm 23

He is...

Love is forgiving without ever receiving an apology.

Love is moving from being merely tolerant into being a blessing.

Love is relishing in the successes and joys of others without any comparisons to one’s own.

Love is the taking on of another’s transgressions and foolishness’ as if he were the     perpetrator.

Love is possessing the gavel and choosing never to use it.

Love isn’t blind, but all-knowing and forever enduring.

God – He is love…

Tribulation - what a blessing!!

A common misconception with being of Christ is that He stands in front of the tribulation Satan has for us and protects us from it, but personally I believe often times God says ‘do your best Satan. They will allow my spirit to be their spirit’s fortress – not only will they emerge from this unscathed, but with further understanding of their weaknesses and My strength.’
The trials of this life are not to make us stronger - in reality quite the opposite - but they’re to better our understanding of His strength. If we could grasp that the picture of perfection for those in Christ is for the things of the physical to be in absolute upheaval, but the Spirit preserved with supernatural strength, we could then hand Satan that porcelain vase of pride and say - have at it; you cannot damage His spirit in me.

Talking the talk...

When I talk about our Creator, please know that it’s not to appease my conscience in thinking that I’ve ‘shared God’s salvation to those dying and going to hell’ – I have absolutely no idea what happens when we die, not a clue. All I can tell you is what I’ve experienced here in the now. I have forgiveness where there should be hate, peace where there should be malice, love where there should be emptiness… And it’s all because that’s what He is and it’s Him possessing those things while in me that allows that forgiveness to be there, allows me to be at peace, allows me to feel loved… And when I say something about God it’s because I see anguish in someone else’s life and I know God wants to give them peace, and just like you couldn’t deny food from a starving child I can’t deny love to those that are longing… Just please know I’m not some sort of evangelical Jehovah’s Witness, I just know what I know, and if you want His love it’s there for the taking no matter what. You couldn’t do anything good enough to deserve it and you certainly couldn’t do anything bad enough to be denied it. Everything He has to offer is all there for you to accept.

Freedom - always an option.

The story of Paul and Silas was brought to my mind the other day and I realized I had been picturing it all wrong…
I had always imagined Paul and Silas in a damp, dark, rat-infested prison cell with their feet bound in stocks. And there they were, praying fervently and singing praise songs to calm their nerves and pass the time. – And then I realized - no that wasn’t right…


Sure they were in a damp, dark, rat-infested prison cell with their legs shackled, praying – but probably not for themselves.
They were so far from being under duress that they were singing jubilant praises from the peace and joy warming them inside out. God had allowed those shackles on, so be it, He must have wanted them there for a reason…
The earthquake hits, freeing their physical bodies. Why don’t they frantically run away?
Because the cell of hopelessness is the pristine location to free men’s souls.
So now, the prison guard wakes, discovers the opened cells and with all human understanding knows his prisoners have escaped, and that he is a dead man… he decides to defer the suspense and kill himself, then Paul calls out ‘relax we’re all here’.
The freest man in the entire prison, the guard, now realizes he wants what these guys have – FREEDOM, he wants it for himself and his entire family, which he receives.
The next day the authorities send word to the guard to let the prisoners go… (Sounds unnecessary, doesn’t it?) Paul says, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, being Romans. They have thrown us into prison, and now, do they throw us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and bring us out.” Why?
Because Paul and Silas' freedom wasn’t something anyone was entitled to. 


Read it. It's a great story - Acts 16

Christianity Today...

Christianity today has become comfortable in its uncomfortableness, wouldn’t you agree? Where the early church was martyred for their beliefs, we’re able to speak them openly, at times with ridicule, but even then we can rely on our cliché’s to make it through, right? Well, I’m afraid not any more… Martyrdom is definitely on the horizon, but I think before that hits, we’ll be rocked to our cores with grievances – monetarily mostly, I presume. This is a very interesting episode of Glenn Beck(at the bottom) for both those with God and those without. I really, really hope you’ll watch it. They hit on church attendance and involvement, but honestly if you’re only inspired to attend a church service Sunday morning you’ve missed the point entirely…
I don’t think many will understand this, and I honestly couldn’t expect you to, but – I’ve been going through a time in my life that I’ll affectionately refer to as a “wilderness” period and I call it that because I’ve been alone a lot, and the only company I’ve held for the majority of my days the last few years has been that of my Creator. And He has taught me an enormous amount about myself and Himself and the people around me… but I think the best thing about going through this time has been that I didn’t have anyone else to rely on. There wasn’t a fellowship I felt peace about attending, there wasn’t a pastor I sought out for counsel, there wasn’t a prayer chain I reached out to (besides my family, of course). So when something troubled me spiritually or financially or physically, etc or when I needed a friend, I had to go to Him… And He blessed and He blessed and He blessed and He blessed – He was and is SO very exuberant in my life that I can’t help but take notice of Him. But despite all the blessings/miracles He has still been able to reveal to me that the pain and the grievances were not the lack of His existence, but they were the exact pinnacle of His design. Knowing the pain is allowed by Him makes it worth it, doesn’t it? Knowing that He wants to reveal something to you through whatever pain is there will make you actually THANKFUL for whatever it was you endure(d).  If you ever watch the news you’ll probably feel that the entire world is about to implode and there’s nothing you can do about it… which brings me back to this episode of GB – in it they’re searching for a solution to the lethargic nature of our beliefs, and they’re hoping to inspire the viewer to grasp a hold of the morals that in the past has made this country great… But I looked up the ten commandments in the scriptures after I watched this episode and with the version I use, they astounded me, not because of the verbs of each commandment, but because of their subject –
“I am your Elohim…
You have no other mighty ones against my face.
You do not make for yourself a carved image…
You do not bring the name of your Elohim to naught…
You do not commit adultery.
You do not steal.
You do not bear false witness…
You do not covet your neighbor’s (anything)…
Remember the sabboth day
Respect your mother and father…"
See the difference? He’s not giving us a list of do’s and don’ts, He’s stating facts.
If He is your Elohim you will not have any other Gods, you will not steal, you will not covet… If he’s not your Elohim you cannot be expected to do these things.


Christian, it’s not about doing the right things and saying the right things it’s about actually knowing HE IS YOUR ELOHIM. Whether there’s worldwide recession, whether there’s massive genocide of all who believe… whatever lies ahead it’s only because He allowed it, and He only allowed it because He wants to give to you the revelation of Himself. Don’t cower, don’t seek refuge -
know He is Elohim… and you will see Him.


Please watch the episode and share your insight.
(For some reason this link starts the episode 3/4 of the way through so you'll have to start it from the beginning)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1w1bt9MEeA

Alone in the Quiet

Alone in the quiet I ponder
  On the absence of life’s fonder.
Why is it so amiss to me
  Have I not given endlessly?


I see those with wayward glee
  Given to, so inherently.
Why is it amiss to me
  Have I not given endlessly?


See, God, I would bless thee
  If I were given to, so freely.
One bagger would not cross my course
  That I wouldn’t better his remorse.


See the shadows that overlay
  With grievances too much to pay?
I could do some good, you see
  Have I not given endlessly?


Alone in the quiet He directs
  My heart to His intellect
You are of a wayward glee
   If you think it would bless me.


When I am all that is abiding
  These three things are the residing:
Undying Faith, hope, and charity.
  Of these you’ve been given endlessly.


Alone in the quiet I ponder
  To which one my heart is fonder
Life’s pretties I could possess
  Or of His mercies I’ve been blessed.


I choose Him, He’s my desire
  He is everything that I require.
He’s given Himself endlessly
  So that I might take of Him freely.

Squirming...

A truck pulling an empty flatbed trailer went over the speed bump in our parking lot at a pretty substantial speed. As you can imagine it made a loud crash; my little girl and I both jumped at the sound and since it had scared her so badly she began to cry. I wrapped my arms around her and told her repeatedly that it was alright and that mommy had her. But she wouldn’t be consoled. She just kept squirming and squirming and crying and crying. And I thought 'does she think I didn’t hear what she heard? I am right here holding her, I know where the noise came from and understand that everything is fine. Why doesn’t she trust me?'
And that voice inside whispered, “Now you know how I feel.”