Tag: glory

Brethren

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Brethren:

As men of the Lord of all creation, we must learn to stand as figures to those who lay eyes upon us. We will fail and fall short of the Glory of God, but as one of the wisest Jedi to ever grace the screen says “The greatest teacher, failure is.” (Yoda, The Last Jedi)We can learn so much in our failures. When I was in the military we learned that after every mission, after every training operation we always preformed an AAR or After Action Review. We would always go over the good, the bad, and the ugly of the mission. We talk about what went right, but also what went wrong, and we always talked about what we can improve no matter how good of a job we did. In all things we do we must turn to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to keep us accountable in our walk. We must never shoot the wounded. We must not kick someone when they are down. Be a Godly father figure after our Abba Father. We must take heart to the story of the Good Samaritan and we must also be like the Samaritan who helped the traveler. Luke 10:25-37 The Samaritan’s were despised by most people in the known world at the time. The Samaritan helped a man who would have under other circumstances, would not have returned the gesture. Love, always concurs all. In all our ways we must return hate with love. We must not take up arms against our aggressors but return love to those aggressors. We embody Christ and as an ambassador we are the earthly representatives of Christ. As well as we can being sinful men and women, we must strive for greatness, and truth in our walk daily. We cannot just say we are different we must be different.

We are fathers to our children, meant to train them up in the ways of the Lord. We are not our child’s friend, not yet. Ephesians 6:1-4“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” We must embody the fatherly love of the father that gives us life. We must look to our Abba and we must take what we see from our Abba and move that onto our children. They will look to us and they will see what it is to be a man, or for the ladies, what a man should be. We often only get one chance to get it right in front of our children because the smallest slip, the one cuss word, the one big negative action can have long repercussions. Children’s minds are clay and we mold that clay but in both the good and the bad actions. We will make mistakes, and we must learn to also apologize to our children under those times because we must remain humble and show that we are all sinners, we all make mistakes, and no one is so proud they are above sin. So fathers, and mothers, train up your child. Proverbs 22:6“6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” No your children are not animals, and scripture isn’t saying that, but think of training children as a new employee and as an employee we are trained how to do a job, and serving Christ is our job. Always discipline your kids in love and meekness. Walk with a tender heart. We are a body of Christ so when someone is trapped in sin we must help them restore balance to the body of Christ. Matthew 18:12“12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?” In all training and loving, and serving we must remember no one is ever so lost they are beyond grace or mercy.

My brothers and sisters we are all sinners on this earth, and we will never be good enough to disserve the grace and love of God, but we receive it anyway. We would never be able to stand up and work enough, or be good enough to pay for our entrance to Heaven, but our bounty was paid, and we were forgiven in grace by Jesus Christ’s blood. Matthew 18:1515 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” As we look to those who sin against us, we must remember what occurred on the cross. Sin is far reaching and we must remember that as one of Christ’s dying words pled to God, Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”Always be fair and listen. James 1:19“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” Approach with kindness and empathy to every situation. Be fair and just. Don’t just be a dad, be a father. Don’t just be a mom, be a mother. Be more then just the biological aspect of creation. It’s okay to make mistakes so long as you learn from them, and use those mistakes as teaching opportunities. We are responsible for the future generation of Christians so let us show them what it means to be Christian in our actions. God shares His great love with us, so share that love with the world.

 

 

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The Rugged Path

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The rugged path

A path we walk so deep into the wilderness. The stones piled high to block the traveler. Trucks and sticks, thistles and thorns, are but some of the dangers set upon the traveler. The nighttime brings the howls and the moon. What little chance does the traveler have against the predators of the dark to navigate the path with so many hazards? The traveler’s alone no partner or friend, no one to navigate, no one to bare the truths. The path at night is scary and brings a fright. The traveler walks and fear both good and evil takes hold. Fear can paralyze us, stop us from moving, fear when unchecked unmatched can bury us in our tracks. The path’s dangers are many, and we stub our toe, we scrape our knees, we take thorns to the face, but we keep driving on. Fear of death can push us to continue, and fear can keep us fighting if we only see right now. Of all the things we fear on the path, the internal battle is often more scary and more dangerous. What if we fail and we can’t figure out how to get back up? What if we are doomed to walk this earth alone because someone left us? What if loss is our fate and we will never be happy again? Fear can be manifest on our path, fear of all these things can present themselves as stumbling blocks, thorns, wolves, and darkness. The fear we have are lies from the deceiver himself. Some way, some how, we must learn to light up our path, and allow the light to reveal the secrets of the dark.

2 Corinthians 4:6 “It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.” We must have faith in the Lord. We know that God lit up the darkness, and we know that we lived in darkness till we were saved by it. John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus Christ gave us the hope we didn’t have since the fall from Eden. We know that Abba (father) is kind and just. We know that Christ made the winds stop and the storm to pass. Isaiah 26:7-11 “Lord, you make the path smooth for good people; the road they travel is level. 8 We follow your will and put our hope in you; you are all that we desire. 9At night I long for you with all my heart; when you judge the earth and its people, they will all learn what justice is. 10 Even though you are kind to the wicked, they never learn to do what is right. Even here in a land of righteous people they still do wrong; they refuse to recognize your greatness. 11 Your enemies do not know that you will punish them. Lord, put them to shame and let them suffer; let them suffer the punishment you have prepared. Show them how much you love your people. “ We know that our fate was sealed but the innocent blood of Christ saved us. We know that now our fate is within our own power of free will. We know the power of God to shape our path is stronger then we could ever possibly hope to imagine. Isaiah 40:4 “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” Light up the path, remove the stones, the thistles, the thorns, the trunks that would reach up and grab you and hold you down will withers and flatten out.

Having faith and letting go of the pain, the suffering within our heart, is hard, but we can overcome the darkness inside us if we work on it daily, practice it and telling ourself every day that we can put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes one foot in front of the other is all we can do. Every single day we must ask God to take that pain, take the traps on the path we walk and remove them from our hike through the world. Our faith is something we must continue to work on, every day we will find ourselves under attacked from the Devil’s lies, the Devil’s tricks, the Devil’s temptations, and we must allow ourselves to fight the fight with the help of God. We cannot fight the Devil alone and we will loose if we choose to get into the ring with Him and try to go one on one. We must always keep in mind we are nothing without God, we achieve nothing without the grace of God and we cannot make our way through the rugged terrain without the blessings God bestows upon us. This path we walk there will be bloodshed, there will be tears and no matter how the path gets us down, allow God to pick you back up always, and you will see that even in the hardships you will feel the grace of God.

 

 

 

 

The Daily Broken

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The Daily Broken

As I sit in the ER finding the news about my bulged disc in my neck, looking at a likely surgery, I find Gods timing to be both ironic and pleasant. The pain in the simplest of tasks like breathing makes sleep a dream and the painful reality a nightmare. The shooting pains into my lungs every deep breath I take are like knives being twisted each inhale, and with every exhale the knife inches it’s way further in.

Any motion of my body causes more shooting pains and causes an uncomfortable feeling that makes sitting still the only reasonable option to the excruciating pain I feel during the slightest of movements now.

Just another test, one right after another, and like David for the 15 years of war, and Job before him, rest will come when it’s time. My trials may continue and my pain and tears may too, but one day when the time’s right, God will bless me.

Every sunrise is a chance to wipe away the sins and mistakes of yesterday. To start new and a chance to right the heading when you’re so far off course. God doesn’t care about our yesterday. Take out that compass of salvation and follow it straight to God, do it today. Don’t wait to right your wrongs we never know how much time we have to do that.

The crashing of the waves that drown me fills my lungs with water, the gasping for air as if being crushed by life. One thing I’ve learned in 9 months of therapy. Saying stuff like ‘it could always be worse’ downplays the struggles someone is going through. I realize it’s an attempt to place some things in perspective, but sadly usually that method does more harm then good and always shuts the door on communication.

When looking at the event and actually measuring the level of emotion to the event, saying stuff like it could be worse, actually tells the person that the emotional turmoil a legitimate problem causes is not important. Furthermore, if someone is legitimately taking active steps to help solve the problem validation is actually the best way to help. Validation and brainstorming actual possible solutions to the problem is what’s needed to help when the world seems too much to bear.

We all as people require some kind of validation and when we are going through troubles we wish people would understand us, sympathize and emphasize with that pain. No matter what life throws at us we must have faith Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” If we take our time to grieve and know that in every time there is a time to feel all these things, we must also remember that in John 14:1-4 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” As humans we are all bent, some are broken, but it’s a constant struggle sometimes to stay afloat. The loneliness we may sometimes feel, the weight and crushing waves we often undergo is the evolution of our lives.

I think something that has become taboo, a common misconception is that to be Christian means we don’t let things bother us, and we are able to always run with stride. No matter the faith you have there are times when life may do damage and get you down. There’s no faith on the planet that can prevent depression that can prevent hardships or trauma. The faith we have in Christ to be with us in the midst of the storm is the one promise we know that is kept. I believe that even though hearing that voice of God can be hard and sometimes nearly impossible when the storms at it’s worst, God is still with us every second of every day. God only wants for us to love and cherish Him and to be there always for others and ourselves. I’ve heart this sentiment many times and I keep the faith that when my time comes I’ll be able to continue to stand tall in the storms, and let life takes it’s natural progression without hurting myself or others as I find myself terrified and uncertain about God’s path for me. Allow yourself to meditate in the quiet of God’s presence, and allow yourself to quiet your mind, and lay self down and focus on God, the glory of all that we do and how it lifts up the name of Christ in our actions.

While every single day is a new day to try and reinvent yourself, to treat every day like it’s a new opportunity for us to teach and preach, to glorify God. It’s also an opportunity for the Devil to do His work against you too. Every day is a battlefield full of decisions good and bad. Every day is a convergence of millions of choices by millions of people, which affect our every minute. The forces of nature in this cosmic battlefield can work for us, and they can work against us. The choices we make every day cannot only affect our own futures, but those for others. The hope we can make our choices in the midst of bad things, horrible events and have each of those choices bring glory to God and have each of our decisions be pleasing to the Father. We may not always get it right, we may not always do or say the right things, but when we wrong, when we do things that aren’t right, we must try to make up for the bad things we do by fixing them, doing anything possible to right our wrongs. The life we live may not always go how we want, we may have broken bodies, broken spirits, but when we are lost and battered turn to the Father of all things and the giver of life and give thanks and praise. Fight the evil around you, and inside you. Fight for what’s right and have the faith to let God guide you to the truth and just.

Living with memories that hurt us, living with the constant reminders of events, of failures, of hurt and pain, knowing that those pains, and those instances of suffering are just training to allow us to help others in need. Those who can endure and press on have a responsibility to show those who struggle how to push forward.

The Rise and fall of an Age

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The Rise and fall of an Age

 As the son rises and falls over the vast sky the sun also rises and sets on chapters of our lives. When each chapter comes to a close we must remember that in all things fall to the glory of God. Psalm 113:3 “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.” When I’m with the Lord I feel peace. When the sun sets on a chapter of my life I raise everything to the Lord and I know that I’ll be all right. Ecclesiastes 1:5-7 “The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. 6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.” Because of Jesus we are told not to worry about tomorrow, for it will worry for itself.

The pain that comes from heartbreak, the pain that comes from loss, yet the joys that come from birth, and rebirth, the joys of success, and peace, all comes from the Lord. Daniel 2:21 “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:” The truth will set you free. Of course it’s easier said then done. We are left with scars of times long past. We pray for absolution, that sometimes never comes. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” No matter the time, the season, the place, God’s on the move and is still in control. We must have faith and understand that sometimes we too will have to stand up and scream to the world that God is in control.

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Will you be judged by man, or allow man to judge us and stand right before God? We always get the choice to live life pleasing to God. Will we be the ones to deny God to save our own skin? Throughout all times God asks only Loyalty and Obedience. It’s easy to praise God when times are good, and things are in perfect alignment, but when it falls apart, that’s when our faith is tested. Psalm 31:14-15 “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!” Scream Hallelujah, because God is good.

As we move towards Easter remember what the resurrection did for us. Remember what our future means because Jesus bled and died for us. He fulfilled the promise of scripture and the change of seasons happened that first Easter morning.

No matter what season you’re in, no matter what chapter you’re in, the sun will rise and fall and the old will pass away into memory. Try not to fear tomorrow. Try instead to embrace it, and see the positives in the changing river.

 

 

Silver Lining in the Clouds Above

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Silver Lining in the Clouds Above.

Look to the skies after a storm, we often see beautiful colors in the clouds, beautiful rainbows in the sky to signify the rain has passed. Such is the symbolism in our own lives. James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” We should know that through the good and bad we should count our blessings. Our faith is always tested no matter the challenge, no matter the situation, because it’s in both our hardships, and our successes that we owe everything to the Lord above. Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” As we commit to the Lord we will be guided in all things. Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” The bad will always fall to the wayside. It may be a few days, it may be a few months, it may be years, but know that we must have faith, we must know that our storms may pass and we shall see our silver lining. The clouds will move on and the days will continue to come and go no matter our understanding. Job 14:1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” Of all people in the Bible who knew pain it was Job. He lost everything and still remained faithful to the Lord. Find your own silver lining in any troubles you may face. Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” “Red Sky Morning Sailors Take Warning, Red Skies at Night Sailors Delight.” For every red sky morning, there’s a red sky at night. Do not loose hope, do not loose faith.