Feelings – Page 2 – The Arrow Preacher

THE SILENCE GROWS

March 18, 2021 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

The silence grows

I write to you, even pour out feelings, but met with silence. I took the time, I write and write. Day after day, I take my time to beak the silence as I reach out to you. So many out, and nothing in return. Years of building relationships. Years of extensive, extending a hand in friendship. Picking up the phone from every call and message. I extended my wallet, my ear, my trust, my heart, and now it’s silence. A fool I’ve been, I couldn’t see, because I didn’t want too perhaps, my kindness used and abused. In my own time of need you were no where to be found. How could I have been so blind. The years of darkness I felt, suddenly creeps back in. The seeds fall and grow choking the life and happiness from my life. Abandoned yet again, the flash in my mind, as history repeats itself. Broken on the floor the tears just won’t flow. I do not know why, or how I got here. The color fades to black and white, the hurt a crushing feeling that buries in shame. The darkness settles in like an old friend. Must I say goodbye? Must I feel such loss yet again? Is this natures pruning? Did I mean so little to so many? Was I a convenience at the time, and without warning or word, expendable? History it seems repeated again. What have I learned? How to break, how to hurt. I’ve learned so much and yet again, here I am. The lessons seem to fade to mist. What can I do, when I reach for you, I reach and reach, into the darkness. I reach and lunge but like casting the fishing line, it comes up empty, every time. I see you there, you’re always around, but my hand you don’t take, a reach into the folly.

You’re not my enemy, I pray for you, I drop

to my knees and wish happiness upon you. I ask nothing of you except friendship. I have heard your tears. I’ve listened to your screams. You even once, heard mine. So close, but now ships passing on a fog filled night. Should I let go? Should I call out louder? Will my cries be heard? If you wanted to talk wouldn’t you reach out? What should I do? A broken heart makes poor choices. But, it isn’t just broken, but angry. Years and years of open roads. The pouring out of memories, feelings, thoughts, and now the road ends, the road I’d taken for years, can no longer be traveled. An absence, and yet a carrot dangled in front of me, teasing me, a sign, or is it?

I place so much in all the wrong places. I crave acceptance. I crave being wanted, and needed by others. I crave feeling important. I place that up high, an endless race I could never win. How many must I loose before I see the truth? How many must walk away before I find my value elsewhere? I walk miles upon miles seeking what I could never have. A hollow hole, unable to be filled. Jesus set me free from this cycle I find myself in. Jesus set me free from this pain. These shackles bind me and break me. Jesus be my chain breaker and show me a better way. Heal these wounds of the ages, and heal my broken heart. Jesus heal me and light my way home. Jesus my heart hurts, broken from saying goodbye. Jesus you pieced me together atom by atom, cell by cell. You’ve watched me grow, suffer, laugh and cry. Jesus you know my heart is breaking to pieces. Jesus lift me up and dry my tears. Take me out of this place and show me my value in you. Jesus show me that there’s more then this. Jesus my light on the hill, my shepard come find me, a lost sheep in the wilderness. I cannot do this on my own. I am fragile but strong. My heart breaks but I am not broken. I hurt, but I do not crumble to the ground. Jesus my rock, the rock, my foundation, my anchor in the storm, you save me when my sails are torn, and the keel creaks in the rough waters of this storm. Jesus my Lord, Jesus my light, dry my tears and guide me back, guide me to safety, my Lord. I cannot do this without you. I cannot stay in the darkness. I cannot stay in the silence. I long for Harold of the angels. I crave the sound of the choir of Heaven. I seek your face my Lord, I seek you in the darkness, lift me up, save me, save me from myself, this world, this hurt. Show me the blessings, so many abound around me. Teach me to number my days, so I may grow a heart of wisdom. Teach me to manage when I’m at the still waters, the green meadows, or the shadow of death. In you I trust my Lord. You hear my cries, deliver me from this toil.Free me. To you I pray.

Four Years Now

October 4, 2020 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Four Years Now

It’s been four years now, and when I look in the mirror the person isn’t the same looking back. For a long time the silence was terrifying because for me, the internal dialog was startling. For years the darkness was when the voices were the loudest. For a long time I couldn’t drive in the car in silence without that void being filled with the lies of the voices. Anytime when I knew I would be surrounded by the absence of sound, I knew the lies would start, and I knew I would hear their voices telling me I was worthless. I knew the voices would tell me to relive my horrors. I knew I’d see the events play through again and again in my minds eye.

The fear would stay with me, and then not long ago I was driving and realized the radio had been off for a while. How long I asked myself? How long had the radio been off, and as I considered it, I realized it had been off for days? Weeks? When did the silence stop being a warzone? When did I no longer fear, but instead embrace the silence? As I pondered back I recall nights in the tent where the silence was filled by nature and I found myself at peace. The darkness it seems had finally been pushed away.

The darkness overtook me in grief, suffering, guilt, shame, loss, and an overall feeling of worthlessness. Even feeling the touch of the Almighty God, and the electricity run through my body, the voice that echoed in my head, quickly became attacked by the lies of the enemy. This was perpetuated by the further loss of those around me. The exodus I experienced, all alone with my demons in the night, I found myself quieting the voices with medication and alcohol. The days turned to weeks and the medicated numbing kept the voices at bay, but at a cost. I was losing myself, and my witness. I was adding to the chains that held me down, that were crushing me and I couldn’t see beyond my own pain.

Nights of delirium, blackouts that left social media, text messages, and phone calls of a person with no idea what was said, or done, but that of a man who consistently made a complete fool of himself. While this lasted but a few weeks and the wakeup call came from a concerned, and trusted advisor, thankfully no permanent damage was done. But who am I now? Isn’t that the question? Four years later, who am I? Where have I gone in all those years? I have been thinking about the challenges that shape us, that mold us to who we are. What happens when pressure is applied to a sword? Of course if enough is applied it breaks, but of normal usage it’s strong able to withstand blows and beatings of battle after battle. This of course is after the sword is forged and heat treated. When a sword is forged it goes through a rigorous process of beating the steal, shaping it, molding the hot metal into the desired shape, one prepared for war.

I look at the four years, but realize that while it’s been a long time, I’ve got faith. I realize that it’s that faith and strength that is not of my own, but given to me, bestowed upon me by my Almighty Abba Father. The four years it seemed, or rather felt, as if it were a long night, and finally the sky lights with the rising sun. Out of the ashes of a life, rises a new existence, as scripture says “a new creation.” I’ve been through the fire and God took those hardships and used every bit of it, to strengthen my very soul.

After losing my marriage and watching that fall to ashes, and then the ‘incident’, a short stay at a bed and breakfast, then losing my job, rupturing the disc and then the house, and watching my future plans go up in smoke, I was left lost at sea. I spent years trying to find my way, but floundered in the darkness. I started school, but merely felt as if I were going through the motions. I started writing and there I found focus. There I found purpose. Was God showing me how to focus my thoughts, and feelings? Was God showing me that there was reason for what I was going through? School would come to a close and be completed. All of that would lead me to where I am today. Of course there were ups and downs in there. There was someone who came into my life two years into the journey who would become a reminder to stay on track. Covid of course through everyone’s life a curveball, but of course, what is the point of all this?

The point is, we never know how long the storms will last, or even the darkness. The hardships come and go, but what remains is the kind of person we want to be, shown in how we handle those hardships. Are we going to make mistakes? Sure, we all do, but our actions are truly what defines us. When we make a mistake, we need to swallow our pride, and own up to it. David, a man after God’s own heart, ran from his obligations, and in doing so, created turmoil for him the rest of his life. From avoiding war, to Bathsheba, to conspiracy to commit murder, to coverup, to failure in maintaining the law. David would be punished for his mistakes, but in the end, he would acknowledge them, and repent of his sins. Make no mistake though, the bill comes due. When we error, there are repercussions for those mistakes, even when we are forgiven. Let me explain this. Scripture tells us that when we ask for forgiveness, a deep heart felt plea for forgiveness, God wipes our slate clean, white as snow. While we are forgiven, we must still be held accountable for our sins. For every action there is a reaction. Our actions while here on this Earth have repercussions, and we must know that, our sins create a ripple effect to all those around us. Everything we do, from Sins such as adultery, to stealing, to lying, to murder, even idolatry, all have massive ripple effects to the world around us. No sin just effects ‘you’, but it truly does affect everyone around you.

At my lowest point I found myself alone, and desperate to feel something else. Mistakes will happen, but we must learn from them. We must ask for wisdom to see the error in our ways, but the chance to learn and grow, and be better today than we were yesterday. Failure is often viewed as a negative thing, but I argue that without failure we do not truly grow. We must study our failures to learn why we failed, how we failed, and then take those lessons. Much like the Sword of Gryffindor, we must be forged by what makes us stronger, what makes us better. Far too often we hold onto shame, guilt, regrets, and we become stuck. Instead we must take what makes us better, what lessons we need for tomorrow, and leave behind the rest. The scars remain but a reminder of the struggle, the survival, not to be victim, but to thrive in life, knowing how fragile it truly is. Scripture tells us we are but a vapor in the wind. James 4:14 “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” We cannot stay in the past, nor can we stay worrying about the future, but we need to have a broad view. We must be able to analyze the past, live in the moment, and lay the foundation for tomorrow. We must trust that the Lord will establish our steps, but we must keep our compass fixed on Jesus. We must walk with Jesus allowing him to be within us. We must not allow the world to pull us astray, because it’s easy to do. Satan wants to tempt us away, ever so slowly at a time till we are so far away, when we look up, we have no idea how we got so lost. We must continuously stop and check our azimuth, and do a spiritual check-up.

We can’t live in the past, chained in bondage, but we should focus on our tomorrow in Christ, Jesus. Every day we make the choice how we behave, how we think, what we watch, what we say, what we do. Traumas, and heartbreak are difficult to overcome, but there are ways to do so. We can heal and move forward and beyond the hurt. In my life, I have seen horrific things, dealt with traumas, and have even failed miserably in handling them. In those failures lessons have been learned, and God usually gives us a chance to make things right, when we ask for them. Never lose sight of the big picture, and that’s Christ. Don’t be conformed to the world. Be the change you want to see, and live your life in love, knowing we know how to love, because Christ loved us first.

I cannot say where my next four years will have led me, but right now, my future is bright. I am cautiously optimistic. It’s easy to get caught in the excitement of the new, the joy in the planning, but I am fully aware, there is a storm brewing on the horizon. When you are doing the Lords work, Satan doesn’t sleep. He wishes to destroy everything built in the name of Christ. He wishes to demoralize every positive thing we do. We must always be aware, and ready for the storms coming. So while I see a future in front of me, it’s not yet in focus. Whatever my future holds, I know that the last four years have prepared me for tomorrow, and I cannot, I will not allow these four years to have been in vein. To new adventures.

God Won’t Leave

October 30, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

God Won’t Leave

I wrote to you and you said stuff too. I fell for your lies and you left me feeling like a fool. How could I have not seen it earlier, instead I had to feel. You said you cared but then you were gone. How can someone care then disappear? I believed you and gave you my attention my ear as you lifted me up and told me a beautiful lie. I listened to you and fell for the line that wasn’t true at all. How often have I fallen for the same lie over and over in my life? The truth is sometimes hard to swallow, as I have now been smacked in the face with, you didn’t care about me at all, just about yourself and as soon as I didn’t give you a certain feeling, you left. How long I have looked for something real, someone truthful, and faithful, but have come up empty handed. Thankful I am that God doesn’t leave me the first time I don’t live up to his expectations. Thankful God’s grace and love are bigger then anything I could ever imagine. I am thankful that the God who created the universe loves me enough to lend me His ear, hold me when I’m sad, and never leaves me.

Isaiah 41:10 (NASB) ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” God’s grace is something amazing and we often overlook it because we are too busy to count the blessings we have. I have had an all out yelling match with God, but I know He’s still there. He can take my faults and love me just as I am. As I watch one by one the majority of new people I have met have left and have done so without a word with their exit. God is my hero and knowing God won’t leave or forsake me gives me strength to carry on past the hurt.

I am a person, and I feel but it seems my feelings don’t matter much to the majority of people I have in my life. Thankfully God hears my heart and knows my feelings. I may not always get what I want, but God doesn’t set out to hurt me like other people do. People have forgotten the feelings of others, and it’s a sad day when close friends no longer show they care. Watching as people lie, and say whatever they want to try and get something is heart breaking. God though, doesn’t have to lie to get anything from us. Joshua 1:9“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Dealing with the emotional fall out from so much disappointment, it’s hard to understand how this happens, but God will strengthen me, and I will watch as the purging wildfire continue to rages on in my life.

Tears On My Pillow

October 2, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Tears On My Pillow

I’ve spent many nights since my life was flipped upside down more than two years ago crying, tears staining my pillow. I hide my face in shame, shame for where I am, shame for what I’ve done. Shame for being a failure, and for not being any further along in my life. It’s a rough time but faith in God has gotten me through many nights. Even great men of faith cry. No matter what you’re told it’s okay to cry. Ecclesiastes 3:4“A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;” We have been given tears for a reason, tears allow the strong emotions we have to be shed in a physical way. Much like laughter it’s important we allow our bodies to feel. If David himself went to the Lord with tears in his eyes, who are we to say men don’t cry?

Psalm 6:6“I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.” It’s perfectly normal to cry when you’re sad, or feeling hopeless. It’s important to know that there is always hope. Crying is a way to relieve the pressure that builds up inside. It is part of the array of emotions we feel, and it’s important to know that while the stigma can be that grown men don’t cry, that’s a bunch of societal crap.

John 11:35“Jesus wept.” Our Lord and savior cried and in front of others. Don’t be afraid to cry, and please don’t tech your children, especially your boys that it’s not okay to cry. This world is full of young people who don’t know how to express their emotions and the damage it’s causing is severe. We must learn to have a healthy range of emotions. Crying does not mean you’re weak, and it does not mean you have no hope. Jesus is the hope, the one way, the truth, and the everlasting life. Trust in Him, pray to Him, and know that when you cry, Christ cries with you.

It’s All Laid Out On The Table

September 22, 2018August 25, 2019 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

It’s All Laid Out On The Table

I’ve wasted a lot of time on people who would not consider giving me that same amount of time. I’ve spent a lot of time pursuing people in hopes they would one day return that interest. I’ve loved others but rarely received that affection in return. I’ve given nearly everything I was for a marriage, two marriages, in which I was discarded as little more then used trash. It’s not easy going through life getting so little from others, whom you’ve given so much. The fatal flaw however lies with me and my inability to evacuate from relationships that became toxic for me.

I think we have a negative idea of toxic, and sometimes I feel it’s such a twisted idea of what toxic really is. I would argue toxic is anything that causes a divide between you and God. Recently I discussed how things in our lives could be benign to one person but detrimental to others. Someone who bowls on a league may not have any problems with a healthy balance but someone else the league may consume their every thought. Food for some is the enemy even though it’s needed to survive. The same goes for alcohol. Some can consume responsibly, others it would or could destroy their lives. For me, I feel my need for human interaction, and my desire to not be alone, has led me to often loose focus on what’s really important. I have pursued so many and the constant rejection of love and even friendships has left me broken in my bed for many nights on end. My desire to want to feel needed, wanted, loved, has pushed me into darkness. That desire and ignoring obvious signs is what’s become toxic for me.

I don’t understand the desire to play hard to get, or the idea of being aloof. I don’t understand the flippant perspective of relationships in today’s society. I don’t understand how so much is taken for granted, or how little care or thought is placed on another human’s feelings. The pain we cause one another is truly beyond my emotional wheelhouse. I struggle to understand how easy it is to care about ones self so much that without a moment’s hesitation someone is at the bottom of your shoe and you walk on like nothing ever happened.

When people have walked away I try my best not to think the worst about someone leaving. I try to think the best of someone that there has to be a good explanation to why they have been quiet or unreachable for days or weeks on end. Sadly, the most common outcome is just a lack of desire to talk or have any kind or relationship. We are a lost people and our priorities have become completely revolved around sin. When we only care about self and others no longer mater, I assert this is the nature of sin. Sin is about the ‘I’, about self. See for me I have longed for a family, a love that was something special, something strong. I have searched the globe for such a love only to be broken down. All along while I was looking for love in people, I should have been looking for love in Christ. I am a child of God and that kind of love far surpasses anything found in this life. I am slowly realizing I cannot continue to pursue others. I know I shouldn’t, but it’s hard not too. I start my day by sending out a few text messages wishing those in my life a good morning and wishing them a good day. I have done experiments in which I haven’t sent out messages and there was silence for several hours, even days. I will send messages to people I know nearly all day checking on them, seeing how they are doing, offering prayers, but the return is few and far between. I have grown dependent on the communication with others, and now I don’t know how to be just me. I spend time with my thoughts, but often times they scare me. When I start to take time to ponder my life, to evaluate where I am, the silence becomes overwhelming. Somewhere a balance remains, yet it’s elusive. How do we manage the silence when the silence scares us? How do we walk a path when we don’t know if we can do it alone? The simple answer is we aren’t alone. I know many people who are estranged from their families. I know many who were abandoned and left behind from mothers, fathers, friends, spouses, but no matter who may have left you, I assure you the Lord will not. Psalm 27:10 (NKJV)10 “When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.” What are your dreams, and what is your hearts desire? Have you taken them to the Lord in prayer? Have you given your all to service? Have you received your answer but turned your back on it? We often pray and expect to get what it is we pray for. I have found more often we do get an answer but it’s not what we wanted to hear. I know I have prayed over and over for someone to come my way to meet the desires of my heart. It’s pained me knowing that God has said not yet, or no. I have watched as friends have been alone far shorter then I, that have found someone wonderful for their lives, and I am left feeling like I’m standing still in my life. I have watched as many of my friends are pregnant about to have their child, or are celebrating their pregnancy. I have struggled with sinful envy wishing I had the happiness at least what’s seen on the surface. I know that my feelings and my faith are opposed. My faith tells me to be patient, to wait, to be content in whatever situation God has placed me. My feelings cry out in pain wishing I had someone to cuddle with watching a movie, eating popcorn. I feel like the enemy is at my door and I don’t know how to defend against this kind of attack. I feel the defenses weakening, and I struggle in my prayers not to cry every night. I have felt rejected so often lately that it feels like time itself is my enemy. I feel like my window is ticking by and my hope for a family may not find me. I wonder if I’d missed something in my past I was supposed to do, and catch myself falling down an unhealthy rabbit hole. When you feel all alone and you feel like the worlds turned it’s back on you, let me tell you, the relief is Jesus Christ. When darkness is upon your door and you feel you can’t take anymore, let Jesus be the one to catch you before you fall. (Crash and Burn, Savage Garden) The monsters in your head are the lies of Satan, and when you feel you can’t face the day, cry out to Jesus to save you. I listen to the song Crash and Burn and picture it’s Jesus singing to me.

The world is a cold place, and people can be cruel. I have always hoped to see the best in people and while most often in my life I’ve seen the worst in people, I always try to hold onto love. I know Jesus loves me, and when I reach out to Christ, I am never on hold, I never get a voicemail, and I never get the cold shoulder. I know that Christ always has time for me to listen to my problems, to help me when the days been tough. I know I never have to worry about being ghosted by Christ even though so many people have. I know that I am called to serve, and I have finally come to realize I cannot run forever. I have always wanted to make a difference, and though I didn’t expect it to be this way, I know that when people are in their most vulnerable states, I can be the difference for them. So many years ago in a night of sheer trauma I recall being left alone not sure what to do, where to go, or what to think. As I was a scared little boy left with so many questions, and fear that would go on for miles, I cannot imagine someone being left alone as I once was. I cannot imagine so many lives facing their absolute worst day, and not having anyone to be there with them. While today I reach out to fill a void in my life, I know that one day I might be the only person someone can reach out too. I will live my life differently being reachable and dependable. I will answer the call and I will allow Christ to place me where I am wanted, where I am needed, and I will trust in the plan. While I have a long way to go before I am ready, as Paul trained for 3 years after his encounter with Christ, I too shall go through my own sort of training. Paul trained his whole life for his calling, and when his conversion happened on Damascas Road that was just the graduation from undergrad to graduate. His training with the Apostles would be his masters, and I too walk a similar path. My life of trauma has trained me in a specific way, preparing me for a life of a trauma counselor, and my path to seminary, and God willing, the path to ordination will be the masters degree preparing me to do God’s work.

We can pick up the phone and call people who may or may not answer, but why don’t we pick up the phone and call Jesus for a chat? Why don’t we turn to the one who can truly make a difference in our life? It’s nice to have people around, but when the real problem rests within the heart, we must turn to Christ for the only true healing we will ever receive. I am finding that flooding my life with people, and talking, and distracting myself from the pain inside has only been placing a Band-Aid over my heart. My heart is still hemorrhaging and it’s time for me to wake up and face my pain like a man. I have spent my life either using compartmentalization, or distractions to hide from my responsibility. After my Ex-Wife’s affair the first thing I did was blame myself. The very thought of her being with another man forced my own thoughts to ask what I had done wrong. I completely believed I had done something to drive her there, and I beat myself up. I believed deep down I was a worthless piece of trash, and even two years later there are still remnants of that belief that linger in my heart. I often sit in a room wondering if I’m being judged by those around me. I often wish I would have been able to talk to a woman I saw in the store or a restaurant and fear forces me to leave without saying a word. Once upon a time I would have been able to talk to a stranger, but in my damaged state I find the fear of rejection overwhelming. As I have realized I’ve developed into Agoraphobic with a side order of Social Anxiety Disorder, I now find the result from years of PTSD never treated. Thankfully these combined fears are not debilitating for me. While raised blood pressure, elevated heart rate, a rise in anxiety, and on a very rare occasion a panic attack has occurred, knowing what I fight, I can now start to pray, and face the problems head on. (DSM-V) “Agoraphobia: Marked fear or anxiety about two (or more) of the following five situations:

Using public transportation (e.g., automobiles, buses, trains, ships, planes.)
Being in open spaces (e.g., parking lots, marketplaces, bridges.)
Being in an enclosed placed (e.g., shops, theaters, cinemas)
Standing in line or being in a crowd.
Being outside of the home alone.”

While there is no doubt I fall into that category, I fully understand where those fears come from. The second fear is “Social Anxiety Disorder: Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others. Examples include social interactions (e.g., having a conversation, meeting unfamiliar people), being observed (e.g., eating or drinking), and performing in front of others (e.g., giving a speech)” (DSM-V) Oddly my primary here is conversations and meting unfamiliar people. I can act in a play in front of others, or even give a speech in front of others. My fear is the one on one rejection from people. I think because of my fear being able to meet new people, and fear of being judged I struggle with meeting new people. Strangely this does not apply when I’m working. When I worked in security knowing I had partners, others who had my back in the event anything went bad, I was at ease. I could run towards fire, floods, fights, medical emergencies, with absolutely no negative emotion. I was sure of my ability, and my place in the world. I knew I was good at my job, and I knew I could handle any situation that came. I knew as security I was in control of the situation. When I meet people online I have some version of control over the situation. In person I am more exposed, like I’m holding onto a live wire. In my fear, I turn to scripture. Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)10 “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Christ is the great healer. We cannot expect to heal our hearts alone. We can place things over the wound and try to hope for the best, but under it all the wound festers, and becomes infected. The wound spread throughout the body causing more damage to other areas. In the event I could go back and comfort that little boy left alone, he would have been able to see love, and grace in the light of Christ. He could have heard an explanation and not been forced to make one up on his own. The feelings he faced that night and in the weeks to come would lay the foundation of how he would feel about his life for decades to come. It’s so important to understand our place in this world. Knowing and understanding that the throne of Satan is the earth itself while sin still exists, (Revelation 2:12:13) we are soldiers on the front line. We are faced with facing our fears and being courageous and not allowing our fears or feelings to control us.

“We were made to be courageous, we were made to lead the way!”… “We were warriors on the front lines, standing unafraid, now we’re watchers on the sideline.” (Courageous by. Casting Crowns)

I know I cannot stand here afraid of the silence. I know I must face my fears, and not allow the lies of Satan to overwhelm me. I know the only way I will ever stand is on my knees with lifted hands. I know the Lord did not make me to be afraid. I know the Lord did not make a mistake with me. I know I am worthwhile and if people don’t see that, I cannot base my self worth on their opinions. I must be honest about how I feel, but no longer can I sit and pretend I’m okay. It’s all right not to be okay, and in admitting there’s a problem we can face that problem. I trust that God will heal me and I know when I turn to Christ and place my future before my past I will one day truly put my past to bed. When I trust in Christ to heal my heart, I know that the raging sea within my heart, the storm that’s going on deep down in my soul, I know that Christ has the power to calm the storm. In my weakness, I know that God is my power, and I now realize my prayers have been wrong for so many years. So in the spirit of hopefully learning from my past, I propose a new prayer.

Heavenly Father:

I come to you with bended knee, and bowed head. You are the most high, holy, and gracious God. Your authority is absolute and I trust in your purpose. I have seen the light in the storm, and I trust the path. I am thankful for the past and the pain. I pray I may grow and take what I need from those situations, and let go of what I don’t. I hear you call me out my Lord, and I hear your voice clearly in my mind. I hear you say it’s okay, I hear you say my past is forgiven, and I know I don’t want to live in the pain of the past anymore. I pray you strengthen my faith, and give me the way to finally put this behind me. I pray for the fire to burn away the old me, the old me that doubted, that lived a life of fear. I pray the old me is wrapped in your cocoon of love, mercy, forgiveness and the man that walks away is a proud soldier of Christ who can stand tall knowing his worth, knowing who he is humbled before the Lord of the universe. I pray nothing of importance is wasted in that man’s life, and that the haunting that has afflicted me for so long cannot stand against the healing fires of the Holy Spirit. I have spent so much time worrying about how others saw me. I have spent so much afraid to feel because I was afraid how others would view me. I was afraid to come forward because I was afraid of being lashed out against. But my God, my God, you are with me today. My God as my season changes, I know and trust in you. My Lord of all creation, you have shown me truth, and you know my heart. You know my heart and the separation between my heart and my hard head. God I ask for your will be done in my life. I ask the guidance I need to bring you glory in all I do. I am a sinner and I know I’m not worthy and it’s in grace I am blessed. I asked myself so often why they didn’t want me anymore. I grew up my whole life begging for the answer of why people didn’t stick around in my life. I cried so often in my youth, and into my adult life, why people didn’t love me anymore. I cried to you so many nights begging to you to take me in my sleep. I begged you Lord for the answers I would never get. I prayed to you but your answer was always no. You refused to take me home, and even when I was on deaths door you still said not yet. All those years I begged for a father, all those years I begged for someone to love me, it was you all along. Your love is what kept me alive. Your love is why I kept moving forward. Your love was all I ever needed. I was afraid I wouldn’t ever truly know love, but your grace has shown me differently. I haven’t found that love on earth I have sought so long for, but I see now, it’s your love that matters most. Your love has saved, and it’s your love that heals. Your love is enough to push that scared little boys fears away. Your love is the comfort at night. Your love showers over me and you collect my tears. You’re my hope when I feel hopeless. You’re my courage when I’m afraid. I am nothing without you Lord, and I am everything because you have created me.

I close my eyes and I remember your voice. I feel the jolt in my skin touching every nerve in my body. I feel your power surge through me, and I know I can never be worthy of such a beautiful gift, but as that’s just a small taste of the true power of the most High. Abba, you touched me that day, and now I can only imagine what it will be like when I am by your side. I prayed for a dad, and in my despair you were always there. I prayed for a family and you’ve given me my brother Glen, my brother David, and you’ve rebuilt the relationship with my mother. I am not worthy of these gifts, but I accept them humbly. My King, you watch over me and you bring me comfort, and I cannot express how grateful I am. I have asked for so long who I am. I have searched so long for the place I belonged, and now after so many years crying, feeling hopeless, you have shown me purpose. I see now how you’ve used tragedy to shape a future. Your plan is wonderful, with beautiful grace and strategic balance. Tomorrow the sun will shine, and I know you are Lord over all things. Your will, will be done, and I am thankful for all I have.

Rainbows

August 14, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Rainbows

Genesis 9:13-14 “13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;”

I’ve always thought rainbows were beautiful, but not till I started reading Genesis did I realized they were mentioned very early in scripture. Now we know that science can explain what a rainbow is, light refracting through raindrops, but at this point in Scripture Noah and his family are just leaving the Ark after the flood. As this represents the covenant between God and mankind, I also look at it another way. It doesn’t always happen of course, but usually a rainbow signifies the end of the storm. Even in the movie the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy wishes she could go to a magical place, over the rainbow. We sometimes think of rainbows as somehow magical, of beautiful happenings in nature that are quite the spectacle to see.

No matter how we look at a rainbow, they bring joy, or happiness, even if it’s just the spectacle of them being in the sky. Rainbows are a reminder of Gods love and grace for us. No matter how bad the storm was, if we look to the sky and see a bright rainbow we know the storm is over. While the rainbow is a symbol of the covenant with man to never again flood the whole of the earth, we are lucky enough to have a new covenant with God. After the fall from Eden, mankind could not be in the presence of God. We were no longer pure, but worst then a dirty diaper before our Lord. God set forth a plan that would take hundreds of years. When we think God moves too slowly for us, we truly don’t realize how God works. God doesn’t play the short game, and while on occasion he may answer our prayers in the here and now, more often then not God is working things out for the future.

God spent 400 years in silence between the Old and New Testament. In that time there were moving pieces on the board, and God is patient while we are not. We are a people of wanting change right now. We want fast food prayers, you order, God delivers. But that doesn’t work and God just laughs at our foolishness. When I think back at Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, she was dreaming of being anywhere other then on the farm. While things on the farm weren’t perfect, she was trying to escape her woes instead of putting forth the effort to fix them. We do the same thing in many different ways. In the last year, I have been a part of a social app and during my time there I have found a new escape I hadn’t really considered, on line roll playing. These roll playing conversations often consume someone’s life. There is no desire to talk to the person you’re roll playing with about real life, it’s always just the fantasy world. This is a person’s ‘over the rainbow’. So many people today find escape in drugs, or alcohol, on line roll playing, or video games. Addictions of all kinds have popped up on this planet all because fiction for many is better then reality. It’s a sad state of affairs we find our selves in when we no longer want to face any problems but instead turn to means to deaden the internal pain, dull our minds, and kick the can down the road for yet another day.

Sadly it isn’t just reality people are hiding from, it’s all negative feelings or emotions. We’ve become a society that at the first sign of trouble, or the first time someone’s brings up negative emotions, or ‘vibes’ as it’s called today, people run away. I have watched several people personally leave our ‘acquaintanceship’ because I had a bad day and wanted to talk about it. People only want to hear positive things; they don’t want to be bothered with reality. So long as life is rainbows and puppies they are happy, and anyone who threatens that is expendable. Because of this people no longer build relationships, they build acquaintances, and barely that. In the last 7 years I have been to several weddings, and I’m sad to say that all but two have already ended in divorce. During the wedding the rainbow seemed so bright and vibrant, and sometime over the course of their incredibly short marriages, that rainbow became gray and disappeared. It’s sad to think about how many people end their marriages these days. While I don’t know all the details of their divorces, those details are irrelevant. People have stopped living their lives in the way God says we should live, and we have stopped putting God first in our marriages. Sadly those kinds of relationships are about self, and not about the other person. When we ask what’s in it for me, or how does this make me feel, and we no longer ask ourselves what we can do for our spouse, we will grow in resentment, and heartache. We cannot continue wishing for what’s over the rainbow. We must face reality and live according to God’s will for us.

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It’s a wonderful thing to be able to share the blessings and teachings of Christ with all of you. For those who read my works in Christ, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Recently I came across an amazing home business based in Travel and Entertainment that’s the real deal. The savings found through this business are amazing. If you shop online, like to go to movies, or travel, this gift card for you can save you up to 50%. Please enjoy your gift as a symbol of my appreciation and gratitude. God Bless.

I’m not saying you can’t dream, but especially when it comes to relationships, focus on what those relationships are really supposed to be. Find some happiness in your life the way it is and make that flourish. No the grass is not always greener on the other side. Stop taking for granted the gifts you have right now. Embrace them, and enjoy them. You don’t want your life to become stagnant though, so balance tomorrow and today. Enjoy your sunshine, enjoy the rainbow, and remember God’s always with us each and every day. Give thanks for another sunrise, and the many, many blessings we have. Hope in Jesus Christ came slower then the Jews wanted, but it wasn’t their timetable, it’s God’s. Trust in God, and focus on what you can change, and pray for the things you can’t.

The Eye

June 29, 2018 thearrowpreacher5 Comments

The Eye:

I have spent the last few weeks ministering to those whom I meet and it’s no surprise to everyone else, but a total shock to me, that the moment I would devote my life to ministry the door cracked open, the flood of people I would be ministering/counseling would skyrocket. In these few weeks I have found myself finding lost sheep everywhere I turn. I have felt as it Sauron’s great eye were watching me. No I’m not comparing Sauron to God, but I have felt as if I were being watched. The fact is, I have been. Our God is an almighty sovereign of the universe and He can watch every single one of us at the same time. Proverbs 5:21-23“21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. 22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. 23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.” We think we know the right way, we think we know the path, but if we but see through the eyes of the Lord, we would not be so easily led astray, let to ruin, led by the flesh.

I have often found when we start to stray away from God we fall to the flesh, the desires of our sin nature and thus, we fall to the ever watchful eye. We are children and when we need it we are punished and corrected so we may get back onto the path away from Sin. Of course we all sin, we will all always fall short of perfection, but in this life we are always working to be as Christ like as possible. Hebrews 4:13 “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” God is so great, and so merciful and gracious, and yet we spit on our blessings, we turn our backs, we scoff at the Lord, it’s no wonder our society and our Nation have fallen so far.

We have allowed the great darkness to rise and spread through the land and like Mordor’s black army being raised, we are Gondor vastly outnumbered, and yet we stand at the ready to face the swarm of darkness. The evil eye of Satan watch and waits for our guard to be down before He strikes and tries to break our spirits, our resolve. If we are being watched by the enemy, why then are we not watching for Him? We are told in scripture to be mindful, to be watchful, and it’s no surprise. 1 Peter 5:8“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” If our enemy doesn’t sleep, what makes us think we can rest in this war? While there is a time for every season that doesn’t mean we become complacent.

When I was in the military and deployed to Iraq there was something I remember above all other signs. “Complacently Kills.” It was a Marine Motto. When you become relaxed on the battlefield that’s when the enemy is able to get the drop on you and kill you. We cannot expect the great deceiver to take a break so why should we? Don’t take your eye off the ball because when you do, we never know when, where, or how the attack will come, but rest assured it will. Remember to pray to the one who can actually do anything for us, the one which whom our strength comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father God, I want to give thanks for the many blessings you have bestowed upon me, and the path you’ve placed me on. I know it’s not always been easy for me, and I know I have not always been the best of servants, and for that and my sins I ask your gracious forgiveness. I thank you for my readers, and that they be blessed as you’ve blessed me. I pray for the vast number of prayer requests that have been made to me this week. There so to many to count, and some potentially life threatening. You are Holy and I know that at any moment you could wave your hand and right the ship, change the course, and make smooth sailing, but to my own feeble understanding I am nothing compared to the picture of the universe within your hands. You have given us so much, and we give so little in comparison, I ask your mercy that I may better serve you, but more importantly I ask for your blessings of those whom I encounter. There are so many crying souls Lord, you hear them all, and I pray for them. Lord I have met so many lost sheep in the last few weeks, I feel overwhelmed with responsibility to spread the word, but to make a change. I realize I am just a link in the chain, so I ask patience and wisdom as to how to manage these emotions I feel.

Father God I ask your continued blessings upon me, this blog, and my family which supports me so very much. I thank you for the animals you’ve placed in my life, Riley, Cooper, Roo. I want to thank you especially for Riley and her continued service to me. You know how much she aids me in my day to day life, and how much of a blessing she is, and I can never say it enough but thank you for everything she is for me. Father please watch over my church as we continue to preach your word, your truth, and please allow us to continue to repel the Devils attacks as he’s always trying to breach the defenses of the walls we’ve built. Please help us remain vigilant with your wisdom, your eyes, your patience. Please help us keep watch in the cold of the night, and in the longest of storms. We praise your name, and forever the glory to your son Jesus Christ. It’s all this I ask in yours Sons Holy and Precious name Jesus Christ,

Amen

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Find Your Ministry

June 28, 2018June 28, 2018 thearrowpreacher1 Comment

Find Your Ministry:

Have you felt like something’s missing in your life? Something you can’t quite describe but you feel it in the morning when you get out of bed and when you’re out with your friends. You feel it deep down into your heart and soul, and you crave answers, but you don’t even know the question. I felt this for many years of my life, and only when I struck the bottom of life’s horrors did I finally realize my heart has been calling to one thing, and that was Jesus Christ. The day I heard the voice of God I realized how long I had been living in the darkness. People think once you find your salvation or you have that one big event that changes everything in your life that you are all of a sudden going to be a perfect human being. This couldn’t be further from the truth. You can continue down a sinful path, but when you feel the love of Christ cover you like a warm blanket your body has revulsion to sinful behaviors. Things of your past will no longer be appealing, they will no longer give you the fake joy you once reveled in. You can continue to ignore those convictions, but you are only denying the truth. When you find Christ you are reborn, by fire your old self is burned away, and you are a new person. When that day comes, what’s your next step? Well, let me show you what your path will look like.

When you find that salvation in Christ you need to seek Godly counsel. You should go to your pastor, or a close friend in Christ. You need to meet with your pastor and talk about yourself, and start looking at ministries to get connected to. At first you should volunteer with as many as you can till you find the one you are most comfortable with. You will be searching for your spiritual gifts that you’ve been blessed with. I hear people tell me all the time there’s nothing they are good at. There’s nothing that makes them special. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Each and every person on this planet has been given gifts from the Holy Spirit and can use them in a ministry field. I think there are a lot of misconceptions as to what ministry is. Most people believe ministry is teaching, or preaching. This is not true, and when you look to the Hebrew of the word ministry it is, Shareth, “Ministry, religious ministry, service in the tabernacle.” Ministry is service to the Body of Christ. Every job, every works in the service to the Lord as according to your gifts is ministry. This is everyone from those who cook, clean, sing, organize, administration, teach, or preach. Ministries cover every works in the church. Any way for you to service God is a ministry. It’s our job to evangelize but evangelizing is a job for everyone. While people may evangelize and specifically good at missions work, that would be one of their spiritual gifts. You will find a natural interest or desire to particular activities. In this you are being directed by the Holy Spirit to explore different things and you will find it. Not all gifts are found right away, and some require practice. We do not see basketball, football, or hockey players using only their God given talents without also practicing their gifts. We do not improve without putting forth the effort.

God knows us beyond our imagining. We see the true nature of the Blessed Lord especially in Psalm 139:1-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

5 You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;

if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.

9 If I ride the wings of the morning,

if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

and your strength will support me.

11 I could ask the darkness to hide me

and the light around me to become night—

12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

If God knew us from before our birth and knows us in our death, knows our path, and what we will do, he designs each and every one of us with care and consideration to how we can serve in accordance with His desires for our service within the Body of Christ. In order to work on our selves, we must work with God by servicing God. Matthew 7:7-11“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” We must pray for our path to be made clear. Pray to Abba and ask how we may serve. We must allow God to mold us, to guide us, and in doing so, we submit to the spirit and let go of our own wants and desires. In doing so we will develop new joys, new dreams, and we will be blessed by God accordingly. Matthew 7:7-117 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

Be sure to plug in when you find yourself a church. You will find yourself in need of prayer and thus you will pray, but you will also need to study. Joshua 1:8“8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”We must learn to take scripture into our hearts. The Devil will attack you day and night and he is testing your defenses to find a weakness to break through to poison your heart. Do not part from Christ, instead pray day and night, and study, and take scripture into your heart.

1 Corinthians 12

12 Now, dear brothers and sisters,[a] regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice[b]; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.[c] 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,[d] while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

One Body with Many Parts

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles,[e] some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.[f] 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

first are apostles,

second are prophets,

third are teachers,

then those who do miracles,

those who have the gift of healing,

those who can help others,

those who have the gift of leadership,

those who speak in unknown languages.

29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

Everyone has his or her gifts as seen in scripture. God ensures that every single person has his or her gifts. Never stop praying to God how we can serve. 1 Thessalonians 5:17“17 Never stop praying.”

Affirmations: “emotional support or encouragement.” When you start getting plugged in people will naturally tell you, or thank you for doing a good job. Between passion, desire, interest and talents, you will find your place in the church body. Finding your ministry is like “going to a buffet, some stuff ‘s okay, some stuff is pretty good, some stuff you absolutely hate, stuff you’ll absolutely love and you’ll want more.” (Rev. Glen Newsome, Jr M.A.C.S) Never stop growing, and learning about God. Your journey will never end, but as you grow your love and appreciation for the shear size and power of the Lord will begin to be revealed to you. It took me 34 years, nearly a dozen traumas, two divorces, loosing my job, and having major back surgery to find my gift in ministry. Never underestimate the lessons that will be used in each and every one of your hardships for the Glory Of God!

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Medic

June 27, 2018June 27, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Medic:

The medic is a soul of compassion and much like a physician also has an oath.

THE MEDIC CREED

My task is to provide to the utmost limits of my capability the best possible care to those in need of my aid and assistance. To this end I will aid all those who are needful, paying no heed to my own desires and wants; treating friend, foe and stranger alike, placing their needs above my own. To no man will I cause or permit harm to befall, nor will I refuse aid to any who seek it. I will willingly share my knowledge and skills with all those who seek it. I seek neither reward nor honor for my efforts for the satisfaction of accomplishment is sufficient. These obligations I willingly and freely take upon myself in the tradition of those that have come before me.…These things we do so that others may live.

When tragedy strikes 911 is called. EMS comes with their gurneys, their first aid bag and begins to provide aid. As a Christian we are to lift up and to never tear down. We are told in 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 “4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” I’m not saying loving like this is always easy, but easy or hard, it’s a command by Jesus Christ to love everyone. No, you do not see the command in this scripture, however, you do see it in Mark 12:30-31 “30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” I put this in red because in most bibles this passage is in red. It’s red because it’s from Christ himself. If we are to love God, and to love our neighbor’s, then we must do what love is, and if love is what’s found in Corinthians, then we need to be doing that for everyone we meet. That’s not a suggestion it’s a command. Part of loving is being there when the need arises. Everyone will stumble and fall in their daily walk, but when they do, it’s important to be there to help them back up. Carrying one another’s burdens is important as a Christian. While Jesus was walking to the Skull, he fell three times. He had help carrying his cross and thus showing us we all need help to bare the cross we carry. No one person can go through life and never accept help. As a body of Christ when someone suffers alone the body suffers. We are God’s hand and feet, and we must treat a suffering Christians as if they were apart of us.

In Spiritual Warfare the Devil is trying to destroy us. Are we willing to allow someone to succumb to the Devil? If we are to busy to talk to, or lift someone up, we need to remove something from our lives because we are NOT living in God’s will. God says bare the burdens, be the hands and feet of Christ. Galatians 5:14“14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In loving your neighbor as yourself, and knowing we all carry a cross to follow Christ, we see a second part to scripture. Galatians 6:2“2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We are all medics for the Lord. We all have the tools, and the ability to make a difference in someone’s spiritual life. We don’t have to have money to help, or food, or connections, sometimes all the help needed is to be a warm hug, a loving word, and prayers. Scripture teaches us how, we only have to read it to learn.

Be looking for ways to lift up others. Be looking for ways to help. Be willing to take the time to talk, to listen, to laugh, and to cry. Being with whosoever needs and fulfilling the law of Scripture. We know trials and trouble will come, but we also have been taught how to navigate the storms.Matthew 4:4 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” If you take care of yourself by studying scripture, keeping a healthy prayer life, and allow the words to fill your heart and mind, you are less likely to require a medic. You may only need a friend.

DO NOT SELF MEDICATE

If you do not have Jesus in your heart, or if you start to walk away, you may find yourself on a path of destructive pain. Often times when people turn to substances to make themselves feel better they are attempting to fill a void in their heart or life and that hole can usually be found as a Jesus shaped hole. The second possibility is if you are running from painful feelings that you don’t want to deal with. Either path to addiction is one that will only end in pain. People hide their pains in addictions of substances, alcohol, drugs, work, sex, gaming, and even now roll playing to escape reality. If you find yourself suffering from addictions I urge you to you seek help in dealing with this problem. Addictions don’t just affect you, addictions affect everyone around you. Self medication is never okay, but turning to Christ, and those who follow Christ, that will save your life.

There will always be help within the Church. To each person a divine gift is bestowed and together we can handle anything the Devil may send our way, because we have Christ with us always. Keep love in your heart as Christ so loved us, he Died for us. Love others, and be there for others in their time of need. Do not be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help for we all fall, we all sin, and we all have struggles. Do not be dismayed for there is hope as the Son rose, we shall always live with the light. Remember, we are God’s hands and feet, but we do nothing of ourselves. The one with the power the true one and only Medic is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the one who will save you, He is the one who can heal your heart, He is the one who will fill the void of emptiness you feel. You must ask Jesus into your heart, and call upon him to save you. He is the Medic, the cure for sin, the savior of all.

Captain My Captain

June 26, 2018 thearrowpreacherLeave a comment

Captain My Captain:

Follow my leader, my Lord Jesus Christ. A path straight and true, my ship sails and even though troubled waters are ahead, the storm I shall not fear. My Lord leads me through the highest swells, the strongest winds, and no storm shall sink my ship. My captain I trust, my captain I have faith and fear will not control me.

Matthew 14:25:33“25 And in the fourth watch of the night[c] he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[d] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When we give up the reigns and we trust in the Lord we will not be led astray. I believe one of the hardest things we will ever do is trust Jesus to get out of the boat of our safety net, and trust that we will not sink into the darkness. Sinking into the darkness, or trusting Jesus enough to let go of the power you believe you have. Power is the world’s greatest lie. We believe we have control over our lives, and that we are in charge of our own fate. While we do have free will, I challenge you to show me a life when bad and unexpected things don’t happen. We want to feel like we are in control but the truth is we don’t know what will happen an hour from now, let alone days, weeks, or years. Proverbs 3:5-6“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” The word in the Hebrew is Batach, to trust, to have confidence. Faith is an important part of trusting in the Lord. As we place our faith in many false teachings, many false beliefs, and people draw our faith, but I say this my brethren this is folly. Only one place your faith must go and that’s the Almighty God and His son Jesus Christ. Psalm 28:7“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” We only have one place to put our trust our faith, and in turn, we are graced with strength, and the fortitude to see the fight through to the end.

We see a theme from cover to cover in scripture and that’s trusting in the Lord. In the book of Daniel we see him thrown into the lions den and yet in Daniel 6:23“23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Daniel trusted in the Lord and thus was delivered at the hands of certain death. Trust came in many flavors but the Lord’s promise is powerful. Do we curse the winds, which cause the waves? Do we curse the clouds, which empty the rains? We choose to venture onto the waters, and yet we take our risks against nature. We have to have faith in our Lord and Savior. Deuteronomy 31:6 “6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Courage in the face of danger pushing the fear away, and trusting that no matter what happens in this life our love of Christ, the submitting to Jesus assures us salvation in Heaven. Isaiah 41:10 “10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We cannot curse God for everything that happens to us. We must understand the route of all evil is Sin. Sin is everywhere and if we underestimate the power of the dark side we shall be overcome by it. People fall to sin and make selfish, lustful, poor decisions every day. We cannot blame God for the actions of people. We cannot blame God for every thorn, every thistle, every hiccup, and every trial. Know that God is always working Romans 8:28“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” We must not forsake our love for Christ with hate in our hearts. It is love that spared us death, and it will be love that will lift us up again. Love is the only way, and it’s in that love that we must have faith in the absence of things we cannot see. We live in this world but we must never succumb to it. We fight the fight so we can walk the path of rugged righteousness before our God. We trust in Christ to guide us in our way, the only way. Faith is Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We put our faith in Christ to let go of our own prideful ways and instead give up control to Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Our faith to Jesus is where hope begins and ends. God’s grace will always be sufficient for us because we know the maker of heaven and earth, and trusting the way, the truth, the blood of Christ spilt to save us from our sins. My dearly beloved do not grow angry in the face of the trials, instead turn to the word of God to find your hope once more. Do not grow weary in the storm, for we see in 1 Peter 4:12-13“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”