tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24562423535721007122024-03-05T07:48:17.728-05:00JustBeingMichaelCoffee | Laughs | Spirituality | Politics | PublicHealthcare | Technology | #GlassExplorer | #Note3 User | #Gear Wearer | Hyper-connectedJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-3021229437981595722016-04-27T16:09:00.003-04:002016-04-27T16:09:44.778-04:00Following God's Schedule#DailyProverbs Romans 11:33-36: "How great are God's riches! How deep are his wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain his decisions? Who can understand his ways? As the scripture says: 'Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give him advice? Who has ever given him anything,<br />
so that he had to pay it back?' For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory for ever! Amen."<br />
<br />
I don't like to wait. <br />
I don't like delays.<br />
I don't like it when plans are not followed. <br />
<br />
Part of me could be diagnosed with any number of things (and I have) to explain why I get irritated and feel compulsions to have things in a certain order or way. When I do not have that, I get physically and emotionally uncomfortable. Or, all of the psychology aside, it may just be that I am a human being that's alive and experiences emotions, like everyone else does. Or, maybe I just want my way. We all want our way. (FYI, I don't know of ANYONE that doesn't want their way.)<br />
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All of us enjoy feeling in control of our own schedule and grow frustrated when things don't go according to plan. Yet if we truly desire to walk in the center of God's perfect will, we must become willing to cooperate with His time frame. This is the hardest and most annoying God-lesson you will ever learn. God's time does not equal your time. God's way, isn't' your way. God's knowledge and sight are deeper and longer than your knowledge and sight. I don't love that fact, but it's a true fact. <br />
<br />
Consider how you pray about situations in your life. Without realizing it, you may be demanding that God follow the schedule you've constructed according to your very limited human wisdom. I want God to give me jobs that let me have x, y, and z times free. But, really, if I'm provided for, then God's job is done. Satisfaction and perfection were not on the table in our discussion, just forgiveness and a commission to go. Or, I want MY candidate to win, but hey... God may know things I don't, and may want things I don't. (I get schooled e'ery day by people, friends, foes, and yes... God.) <br />
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However, Christian... let's just say this: if we *truly* believe He is who He says He is, how can surrendering to His way not be to our benefit? If we "really" believe in truth - wouldn't we actually walk and talk and live and share and help like we are following the teachings of Christ (loving God, loving others)? Wouldn't you actually do the stuff - the hard stuff like in the early first-generation church (sharing, leaving lots of comfortable religion and seeking to share what Jesus did for you with those that you'd likely never associate with) - that Jesus talked about if you believed he was real and coming back and you would have to account for your life? Because otherwise... you are just in a really strict social club. Sure, church is moral, and teaches good things and is fun. But church won't save you. Jesus will save you, then you go to church to hang out and collaborate with other saved, forgiven folks. Church isn't some magical thing that does the transforming. Jesus does that. Church is something you are a part of and something that is edifying, not the reason to be edified. That li'l Ghandi fellow said it nicely: "I like your Christ, I just don't like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." And that's just a powerful statement EVERY true believer and follower needs to be sensitive to... if we exuded Jesus, people wouldn't think we are all a bunch of hypocrites that equate affluent conservatives with "good christian folk." We wouldn't be de-friending people over Trump, Clinton or bathrooms if people just exuded Jesus. You'd love them anyway, have peace with them anyway and move on about your business of being grateful you got saved, and sharing the good news of your own testimony. Not legislating and bean-counting the worthiness of everyone else. #Oops #TooMuchMK #GoodChristiansJudgeDontThey #No<br />
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Think about His unique, praiseworthy qualities:<br />
<ul>
<li>His all-encompassing knowledge. Unlike us, Jesus has complete awareness about our world and the details of every individual life--past, present, and future. And He doesn't really need you keeping those details on anyone else. He can do just fine.</li>
<li>His complete wisdom. God understands man's every motive, whereas you are unable to accurately discern people's intentions, until later. And even then, your own emotions and agenda get in the way. I know mine do. I love the Lord, and I try to show love to people, but even I have a hard time with some. God is way smarter than me and picks out paths that I can't even see or pattern. We make choices based on partial information, whereas He has the wisdom to take action based on truth.</li>
<li>His unconditional love. Our Creator is always motivated by love and constantly has our best in mind. Unless we trust His heart, our view of reality will be distorted. And I say that because we truly have a tendency to say we 'love,' but we don't. Not like Him and not perfectly. We love with condition. We love with expectations. If I do this, you will do this, or I will stop doing this. That's human. But it's not God.</li>
<li>His perfect sufficiency. At just the right time, God will provide us with everything we need to carry out His plan. Period.</li>
</ul>
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Submitting to God's timetable and his planning requires faith AND courage. It's scary and it takes GUTS to follow the Lord. Believe in the goodness of His heart and His plans--and determine to wait until He gives the signal to move forward. Then, as you follow His schedule, you'll experience the joy of watching Him make all things beautiful in His timing. And you'll never ever be short of miracles to be amazed at. I am amazed every day at the things God does, when I listen, when I take on the things that scare me and possible even make other "christians" mad at me; but man, God has NEVER let me down in planning or in scheduling.<br />
<br />
Cheers, <br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-82183798217725650892016-04-25T17:25:00.004-04:002016-04-25T17:25:48.264-04:00Learning From Failure#DailyProverbs Luke 22:31-34: "'Simon, Simon! Listen! Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers.' <br />
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Peter answered, 'Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you and to die with you!'<br />
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'I tell you, Peter,' Jesus said, 'the cock will not crow tonight until you have said three times that you do not know me.'”<br />
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The disciple Simon Peter was a man of great faith and bold action. The foundation of the Church as we know it, and the predecessor to Saul/Paul's writings and even their great conflict. But as readers of the New Testament know, his brash style sometimes led him to make humiliating mistakes. More than once, this disciple had to wear the label of "miserable failure" rather than that of "obedient servant." I know that I can relate to him. I relate to him much more than Pauline teachings on many subjects. I am brash. I am tempermmental. I would likely cut a soldier's ear off in the heat of the garden confrontation. I know I'm not alone. We can all relate when it comes to falling short of expectations. Obedience to God is a learning process, and failure is a part of our development as humble servants. When we yield to temptation or rebel against God's authority, we realize that sin has few rewards, and even those are fleeting.<br />
<br />
Failure is an excellent learning tool, as Peter could certainly attest. Through trial and error, he discovered:<br />
<ul>
<li>Humility is required of ALL believers (John 13:5-14);</li>
<li>God's ways are higher than the world's ways. Period. (Mark 8:33);</li>
<li>One should never take their eyes off Jesus (Matt. 14:30).</li>
</ul>
Peter took each of those lessons to heart and thereby grew stronger in his faith. Isn't that Romans 8:28 in action? God caused Peter's failures to be put to good use as training material because the disciple was eager to mature and serve.<br />
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God doesn't reward rebellion or wrongdoing; however, by His grace, He blesses those who choose repentance, and learn to retry until they get this "love everyone" thing down right. We can even learn to embrace correction and getting it right. We can embrace chastisement as a tool for growth. If you have mistreated people lately, spoken out of hate, instead of love, or even judged others because they are different. God can still use you, and you can still be reconciled back to God. Maybe you have used your standards as a witness instead of your actions, but don't worry Apostolic, God still loves you and God still wants to work through you to show the love of Jesus to people that need Him the most: the abused, the poor, the needy, and those that have been disenfranchised. Don't worry, Christian... just because you have gotten it wrong in fearing the world, and what you don't understand, doesn't mean you can't do better. We are called to not be OF the world, but we are definitely IN the world. Don't make the mistake of being so separate that you don't provide a view and connection to Christ. That's what you are there for. There's always a chance to do better. The particularly nice thing about those of us that have failed so spectacularly is that we are a forgiving, and sometimes even forgetting, people. We will most certainly forgive your failure and lack of love to those that God loves, and help you embrace the teachings of Christ to be kind to all, and love all, and share with all. <br />
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We would probably all prefer to grow in our faith without ever making a mistake before God's eyes, but we cannot deny that missteps are instructive. Failure teaches believers that it is much wiser and more profitable to be obedient to the Lord. <br />
<br />
That's a lesson we all should take to heart.<br />
<br />
Cheers, <br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-73022899350998894892016-03-29T10:40:00.003-04:002016-03-29T10:40:33.500-04:00#DailyProverbs 3/29/16#DailyProverbs 29:1: "If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover."<br />
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Cheers,<br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-24995865666772038612016-03-23T15:07:00.003-04:002016-03-23T15:07:41.170-04:00#DailyProverbs March 23, 2016#DailyProverbs 23:21: "Drunkards and gluttons will be reduced to poverty. If all you do is eat and sleep, you will soon be wearing rags."<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-88056993234294811182016-03-22T13:20:00.000-04:002016-03-22T13:20:07.730-04:00On NegativityLook, some people are just negative. They are hard-wired to see the fault and see if and how it affects them first. That will always be their first reaction and their default setting.<br />
<br />
It doesn't mean they aren't kind people, or even good-hearted or fun-loving, but... BUT, that trait will always show up. They will always find the one note missed in a beautiful song of thousands of notes. They will always find a way to be stressed or unhappy, even in the best of circumstances that so many others would consider a dream. If they have food, it's the wrong kind... if they have water, it's not what they wanted, if they have a roof, it could be better. If they are dieting, it's the worst ever. If they have lost weight, it's not enough. They will always want more and more and more... whatever it is, it could be better or different. They are just never going to be satisfied.<br />
<br />
So, stop trying.<br />
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Life your life. Do what you are going to do. Go where you are going to go. Let them come, or not. Let them join, or not. They will be confused and hurt when you retreat or don't always seek to include them. And rightly so, either love them or don't love them. But don't be their "sometimes" friend. But, under no circumstances are you required to cater to them or ensure their happiness is secured ahead of your own.<br />
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The world is a big, beautiful, fun place - and even with the horrors that hit us daily - it's still great to be alive and sentient and able to pursue your passions and life paths. Do not let someone else hinder and derail that. Invite them along, but don't stop for them.<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-57563755746589425662016-03-16T11:14:00.000-04:002016-03-16T11:17:22.270-04:00#DailyProverbs: Controlling Our Appetites1 Corinthians 9:23-27: "All this I do for the gospel's sake, in order to share in its blessings. Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last for ever. That is why I run straight for the finishing line; that is why I am like a boxer who does not waste his punches. I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to the contest."<br />
<br />
You can't win a race, if you don't run it. You can't succeed in something if you never attempt it. You can't learn from mistakes, if you never take action and fail. What are you trying to win? What do you want to make happen and what does success at that look like? Are you making steps to achieve those goals? Why? Why not? Is your appetite ruining your diet? Is your diet causing you to fail at things?<br />
<br />
What words would you use to describe our society? Materialistic, sure. We are. Our capitalistic sensibilities are good at making us want to work and see profit, but they also train us to focus on the end goal of making money - getting stuff. Everyone loves stuff. (Remember the Steve Martin movie, 'The Jerk?' When he lost his fortune and his wife left.. she said, "it's not about the money, it's a bout the stuff." We are sensual, sure. We know that sex sells everything. If you can get us to feel flushed and excited, we equate the product with that feeling of beauty and intimacy and we will spend money for it. We are impatient. We want it all and we do not want to wait for any of it. We don't want to build and see growth, we want the finished product. We are indulgent. We reward every step of a process and then wonder why we can't even finish the goal. We expect others to cater to our wants, and not realize that we breed entitlement, even in those that work hard and try hard... they become expectant that just normal, everyday, grown-up activities should get them some type of "extra credit." And people indulge that behavior. We are undisciplined. We create things like "cheat days" because we know that our mentality needs to feel like it's getting something it shouldn't. We do well, then we cheat??? We starve, then gorge. We are disciplined, then we take a break.<br />
<br />
Those are just a few examples, but one of the worst is that w are also "have it right now" society and we have bred that expectation and culture since the industrial revolution. We do not want to strategically plan, lay the foundation, and then do the work to see results. We dont' see far, as in see past generations of work and planning to the future of the Earth. We want convenience and gratification today. The devil specializes in presenting us with opportunities for instant gratification while promising us that indulging our appetites will bring us the satisfaction we seek. But they don't. Over- and often-indulging will make you sick. It will make you fat. It will bloat your processes. It will cripple your speed. It will break your discipline. It will expand your materialism. It will twist your sensuality.<br />
<br />
Appetites are not bad. Human appetites, in and of themselves, are not sinful, nor are the activities taht go with each a sin. In fact, they're God-given, God-ordained, and God-approved. However, because WE as humans tend to take one of a good thing and corrupt it by making it the sole focus, the greater purpose, and something we cannot control... we make sin out of them. Because of our fleshly weaknesses, they need to be controlled. Do you think sex is bad? No, of course not. Sex is great. But people get addicted. They begin to twist something very good into obsession. They being to have a harder time being pleased with something and they need to take it to a different level. Their boredom and complacency begins to make them want different partners, to do harmful things, and to want to make it something it was never intended to be. Food is the same way. Food is merely fuel... but when you make it a great focus of your life... when you make food a reward system for your behavior... you can eat "x," if you accomplish "y." That's crazy. Food is for your body. Not reward for your action. Food isn't your comforter. If you eat to negate negative feelings... you will create an emotional link between how you feel and the food you tasted and smelled when you were feeling that feeling. When you do that repeatedly... it becomes more and more ingrained in you. The examples can go on and on...<br />
<br />
When our appetites rule us, we become something of a slave. We are not in control and we are not able to rationally do the tasks we need to do in front of us. We're in trouble. Paul equated and gave the analogy that likened the Christian life to that of athletes who are so focused on winning the race that they exercise self-control in every area of their lives. And that is exactly how we're called to live. We have purpose in our lives. We have so many reasons to be grateful, happy, and to be at work on various things... but we don't. We seem never satisfied.<br />
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And it's more than just lacking motivation and determination. It's that conditioned response and years of bad behavior that must be modified. It's generations of teachings that just... need to be excavated and demolished and rebuilt in a way that is healthy. If you are weak, you are not alone... we lack the power to do so in our own strength. For this reason, we need to rely on the Holy Ghost. If we yield our lives to Him and step out in obedience to His promptings, we'll have the strength to say no when unhealthy and detrimental appetites and behaviors feel overpowering (Gal. 5:16).<br />
<br />
But the bottom line is super simple, and super easy: You can do it. You can actually begin to make small decisions and choices every day that begin to build up to larger changes over time. If you made them all in one day...you may not stick to them. You might feel overwhelmed. But take baby steps. Make one good choice a day. Then add to them.<br />
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Love y'all. You can do it.<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-4109546774567959692016-03-16T10:42:00.000-04:002016-03-16T10:42:19.833-04:00#DailyProverbs 16:7#DailyProverbs 16:7: "When you please the Lord, you can make your enemies into friends."<br />
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You don't have to speak. You don't have to act. You don't have to lift even one finger. Hold your peace, let God fight your battles. All you have to do is love God, and love others. The rest will unfold.<br />
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It is when you get involved, involve your emotion, your self-righteousness, that you begin to alter the outcome that could have happened, had you left it alone and let God handle it. Sometimes, you just need to shut up, step back, and leave it alone.JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-81303867260841577312016-03-03T12:38:00.001-05:002016-03-03T12:38:27.435-05:00The Waiting Game#DailyProverbs 16:9: "You may make your plans, but God directs your actions."<br />
<br />
Have you ever *really* wondered what you would do if God spoke to you? Have you ever considered why you are kept in the dark on so many things? Can you be trusted with God's vision for the future and your part in that vision? Do you think you would be so compliant and trusting if you actually had discourse with the Lord and understood His way, timing, and plans? Would you be able to wait on the Lord for the plans and the years and time it takes to have them come to pass? Can you see in years and decades and scores of years (of which you are able to take part) and imagine the millennia that God has to oversee and wait for entire generations and peoples to come to terms with their place in the world?<br />
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The honest truth is that, likely not. You would likely want to skip steps. You would likely want to hurry the process up. No one likes to wait, but have you ever wondered why? It's because delays show us that we are not in control. Someone or something else is calling the shots, even God. And we can't stand that. We assign free-will to ourselves because it still gives us the comfort that WE are in control of the ultimate end of ourselves. (Another topic for another day, but we want that control, but we still blame God if the outcome isn't what we desired. Sigh. With that power, comes that responsibility. If you can't fathom God being true to His word and hell being real, and it being your own fault if you go there, then change your thoughts to predestination and set up a belief system in something other than free will.)<br />
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Waiting. Waiting on things beyond our control. Although we may be able to identify the immediate cause--like a traffic light or the long checkout line--ultimately God is the one who controls all our delays. Our starts. Our stops. Since Jesus is sovereign over everything in heaven and on earth, even our time and schedules are in His hands. This means that in every delay, we are actually waiting for God in one way or another. You might have thought that the expression "waiting upon the Lord" applies only to spiritual applications and beseeching answers in an altar, but that's such a limited view of God. That's such a tiny spectrum, that God would only be with you and meet you in a church, in an altar, or on days of your begging. Sure, God is there when you are seeking guidance from Him or an answer to prayer. But it can mean so much more when you remember that He controls all your day-to-day inconveniences and frustrations, too. Y'know, like a real relationship.<br />
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Do you want God to tell you things? Do you want Him to give you foresight and truth? In the Christian life, learning to wait is vitally important because until you do, you'll never be able to walk in obedience to God, have an effective prayer life, or experience the peace of resting in His loving sovereignty. But you will also have to learn to be given data, do nothing with it, hold it, trust it, nurture it, and watch over it while it grows into a promise. We must learn to trust His judgment--about not just the big events in our lives, but also the trivial ones which cause us to become irritated, impatient, or even angry. If we're sensitive to His instruction, each delay has a lesson. Each period of waiting has a truth to be learned.<br />
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The next time you face an unexpected or unwanted wait, remember that it comes as no surprise to God. He loves and you and it isn't just about some random platitude concerning patience, or increasing something as trivial as YOU. It may be a something that sets world events in motion. It may be something as important as you not disrupting a soul coming into His presence. It may be something that keeps you and saves you. It may be so you don't ruin something.<br />
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Jesus, I've found in my walk and in my talks where He has shown me (more than I ever truly wanted) things... He's more interested in developing godly character than He is in making sure your schedule runs according to your plans.JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-27998636571527268512016-02-26T10:47:00.001-05:002016-02-26T10:47:52.703-05:00Sins of the Father: Wounded Parent, Wounded Child<span style="font-family: inherit;">#DailyProverbs Jeremiah 32:17-19: "Sovereign Lord, you made the earth and the sky by your great power and might; nothing is too difficult for you. You have shown constant love to thousands, but you also punish people for the sins of their parents. You are a great and powerful God; you are the Lord Almighty. You make wise plans and do mighty things; you see everything that people do, and you reward them according to their actions."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Being just, and being righteous, doesn't always seem to equate with being "fair." Or, and least with being fair according to humans. And it doesn't seem very fair that the children pay for the sins of the parents. However, it goes deeper. It IS deeper than that. It's not just linked with accountability for yourself and your own life... it's about the legacy you inherited and the legacy you leave for the future. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So often when we deal with difficult people, it's easy to form judgments about them based on their behavior or attitudes. And actions and attitude are all that I can see about a person, so, that's a natural progression: if you act in a manner, I'll associate you with that manner based on the only evidence I'm given. But, aside from that, have you ever stopped to wonder what has made that person so disagreeable or foolish? Do you know people with "good hearts" but that behave atrociously? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the Bible says God "repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children" (v. 18), it is speaking about generational cycles of sin. Notice how some people are broken in ways you cannot fathom, and they act out accordingly. In fact, unless someone in the family line makes a deliberate choice to change, sinful and dysfunctional behavior will be passed from parent to child for many generations, and it's not just what you "teach" your children, it's what they watch, learn, and absorb. If you are a constantly anxious mother, you'll likely have a constantly anxious daughter. If you accept abuse, you'll teach your daughter to accept abuse. If you are an abusive man, you'll teach your son to be an abusive man. Your sin, your behavior, and your general outlook will pass to the next generation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is really just a confirmation of the principle of sowing and reaping. We pass down standards for conduct, our religious beliefs, our standards for living and the character traits that we received from our parents. Those can be wonderfully traditional and create family bonds for generations. Or they can create horrible and terrible family traits. If we are unwilling to change our sinful habits and attitudes, they will, almost always without fail, find their way into our children's lives. Look at drug abuse and alcoholism, children that hate how their parents acted on drugs, will eventually find a way to experiment and see what the big deal was about. Children of alcoholics generally become drinkers, or even heavy drinkers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is true for sin is also true for wounding. When a child is emotionally bruised, or even broken, in the home, his and her behavior and character will be negatively affected. So, think about that when you encounter difficult people. What hurts do you think shaped his or her life? A heart of compassion originates from a willingness to empathize with those who have been wounded. This doesn't excuse someone's sin, but it does aid in opening our hearts toward the individual's plight, and need for compassion. Kindness goes a long, long way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What about you? What childhood wounds contributed to who you are today? How have they affected your life? How are they affecting the lives of those around you? Are you lashing out at others because of what you inherited? Are you hurting others because of what you learned? If you haven't dealt with them, you'll probably pass similar hurts down to your children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With God's help, you can break this cycle and begin a new one that will benefit, instead of harm, future generations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Peace, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#JustBeingMichael ツ</span>JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-82171499327516706222016-02-23T10:10:00.002-05:002016-02-23T10:10:28.207-05:00#DailyProverbs February 23, 2016#DailyProverbs 23:9: "Don't try to talk sense to a fool; he can't appreciate it."<br />
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I love the twosidedness of this scripture. We tend to believe that when WE speak, OTHERS will listen and be transformed. Stop. You will likely never change someone that obstinately refuses to change on that principal alone.<br />
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Just like when others speak to you, trying to teach you something... you refuse to listen to them.<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-56152999729652920732016-02-22T09:16:00.003-05:002016-02-22T09:26:37.289-05:00#DailyProverbs February 22, 2016#DailyProverbs 22:29: "Show me someone who does a good job, and I will show you someone who is better than most and worthy of the company of kings."<br />
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Happy Monday, y'all... I may be tired from a full weekend, and church, but let's go get today started! You are the only person that will affect the outcome of your day and your attitude. Bad stuff may or may not happen. Co-workers may or may not help you. Deals may or may get inked. Contracts have issues, traffic may be a nightmare, maybe you just wont' "feel like it..."<br />
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So?<br />
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Don't let anything stop you. Go be your best "you" and give your best work. Then watch as everything else fades into the background...JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-81913611497843469672016-02-18T14:37:00.002-05:002016-02-18T14:37:19.400-05:00Responding to God's Love#DailyProverbs John 3:16: "For God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life."<br />
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The <i>entire</i> context of this scripture is so often overlooked. I am STILL studying about accountability, and I am STILL working through this other series, but in my studies on accountability, love is a recurring theme. It just keeps coming up. Loving God. Loving people. l recently wrote about love. And God's love and how it is different than our human love. We have to respond to God. We have to respond to the act of love shown us and given to us, but the real question is HOW? How can we respond to love, when we don't really know what love is? How can we accept unconditional love, when we don't love unconditionally, and we rarely even love when it's not convenient or returned.<br />
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The only way I know is to look at what God would do, and model that, instead of thinking about what I'd do, and then trying to shoehorn God into what my mind can comprehend. So, let's look at the "greatest" love ever: the love God had for humanity when he sacrificed Himself as Jesus.<br />
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In John 3, the chapter starts off recounting what Jesus and a great teacher in Israel, Nicodemus, were discussing and "how" to be saved, essentially. How to get to heaven. Jesus said be born again, Nicodemus gave Him the side-eye and flippantly asked how to come out of a womb twice. So, Jesus laid it out there:<br />
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John 3:10-21: "Jesus answered, 'You are a great teacher in Israel, and you don't know this? I am telling you the truth: we speak of what we know and report what we have seen, yet none of you is willing to accept our message. You do not believe me when I tell you about the things of this world; how will you ever believe me, then, when I tell you about the things of heaven? And no one has ever gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from heaven.'<br />
'As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. Those who believe in the Son are not judged; but those who do not believe have already been judged, because they have not believed in God's only Son. This is how the judgement works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. All those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up. But those who do what is true come to the light in order that the light may show that what they did was in obedience to God."<br />
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There is SO much going on in that passage of scripture that we gloss over. We are taught one little scripture to hold on to, that gives us salvation in a nutshell, but doesn't in context give the entire conversation and how judgment and guides for living are laid out right with it:<br />
~v11. Jesus knew that he had people hanging onto Him, that still didn't "get" the message.<br />
~v12. Jesus knew that even the disciples barely understood getting fed and him talking in parables they *could* understand, much less heavenly babble about new, secondary births and love being greater than earthly kingdoms. Stopping the fighting and resistance, even when that was political and national suicide, and giving twice as much to those that would steal from you as they asked. That was outside the realm of understanding. And it sounds like Christians today. We can't fathom not being a strong conservative, patriotic army-supporting Christian, but would Christ support war? Or would he draw in the dirt and point out some things we all need to consider?<br />
~v13. I love that Jesus himself reiterates that He came from Heaven. It takes it right back to John chapter one and how He was there from the very foundation of the universe and all that was created.<br />
~v17. For now, and for the purpose of salvation, Jesus came to save us, to be a savior, a healer, a comforter, and an advocate. He didn't come to judge and to shame and to wallow. He came to save. If only we, as his followers, could grasp that and treat others that NEED him with that care and love.<br />
~v18. Wanna skip judgement? Get saved. Get saved by believing in Jesus and THUS, following Jesus in deed and not only in word.<br />
~v19-21. He lays it DOWN on how we do not love light and we will seek darkness to blend and hide our own dark deeds. Those who follow Him and seek light, will expose their dark deeds and begin to "act true" according to a translation and will love the light for showing them their deeds. <br />
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So may people say that it confuses them that God created us, and will send us to Hell if we don't love Him - but that's not entirely accurate. Yes, He can see the future and yes, He knew what would happen, but that's the thing with free will. You can see something coming and still hope for the best. Lots of you do that with your relationships. You see the texts and signs and actions, yet... there you are... hoping and pretending. God is kind of like that. He hopes we'll act right and then grieves when we don't. Thus, the sacrifice of Jesus. But, after mankind rejected God, rejected the garden, and rejected perfect communion and companionship... if you don't accept the way God made out of bondage, out of Egypt, out of sin... yes, you will go to Hell. And it won't be God that sent you. You will have actively made the choice to go there.<br />
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See, the truth at the heart of all of this is that God has to be true to Himself. People, by and large, are foolish to entertain the hope that He will ignore justice and sacrifice holiness in order to allow unbelievers into heaven. That won't happen. There aren't seven ways, it's not all of the same spirit behind differing beliefs, and it's not just finding your inner peace and personal happiness. Morality is not the same thing as spirituality. You can't be moral "enough" to satisfy the payment for sin. "Good enough" will never be good enough.<br />
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And as much as the Jesus loves us and desires to save us from our sins, He cannot deny His holiness by accepting sin in His presence. Jesus is a part of the universal spirit of God, and he IS God in flesh, but God is pristine perfection--a Holy Being who, by His very nature, must condemn all sin. It really is the height of self-grandiosity and egotism to think that God will bend both His law and His nature to make special allowances for *you.* I don't mean that to be a dig. I don't mean to be so harsh that you are turned away, but I don't mean to gloss over this. I don't mean to allow whoever reads this to walk away thinking that they are the unique, special snowflake that got hugs after every race, and participation trophies after every game that God will treat you that way. He will, in fact, not. Either follow the teachings of Jesus, be saved, and live for God... or don't. You are in control and make those choices.<br />
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That sounds mean, but it's somberly and wholly true. It doesn't sound much like "love" speech, but the accountability portion requires us to be candidly truthful IN LOVE. The bottom line is that I am not worthy and still require lots of care from God. And you are not worthy. There is not one person who's good enough to enter heaven on his or her own merit. Every one of us needs Jesus. The end. Period. The stain of sin is washed clean only by the sacrifice of Jesus. Those who believe in Christ are forgiven their wrongs and cloaked in His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21: "Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with Him we might share the righteousness of God.") Our ONLY hope and righteousness is from partaking in a relationship with Christ.<br />
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So, how DO we respond to God's love? It doesn't necessarily always feel very loving to how we are taught today. We are taught that unless we are sublimely and completely sated and happy, then we are not loved. We don't view love as a means to salvation. We don't think it's fair that we bear the sin-debt of generations before us. And we think it ludicrous that because that sin-debt must be spiritually-legally paid, we are required to handle it. But we couldn't. We never could. Jesus did. And that is why love took over. Love and love alone made it possible for us to have this hope. So how do WE accept it? Let me make it very clear that trusting Jesus is exactly who He said He was, and who many followers have claimed, and learning that He is God and can save us... is far more than giving intellectual assent to His existence--that's something even the Devil acknowledges. It's relationship. It's communion. If you REALLY believe, you will follow His teachings. A true believer enters into a *gasp, that word again* a RELATIONSHIP with a God that loves his soul enough to save him from eternal punishment.<br />
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Or... sometimes, they don't. Some people intellectually know Jesus, but they will never give up sin, never stop hating others different from themselves, never give away their cloak on top of their shirt, never become selfless enough to share their lives with others, never give up war and death, and never turn another cheek when offended. They know that Jesus sells albums and books and tickets. They know that Jesus builds big brands. They know that Jesus brings groups of political prowess together. They know that Jesus will make people band together for a commonly held regional belief... Those who remain tightly wrapped in their mantle of sin, even when willfully ingrained through ignorant teaching, cannot hope to "sneak" into heaven. It's binary. It's pass or fail, not graded on some cosmic curve.<br />
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They do not get it and they are not taught these scriptures in such a DIRECT and blunt manner anymore. They are not IN a relationship with Jesus. They do not grasp the holy shema (Deut. 6:4: "'Israel, remember this! The Lord — and the Lord alone — is our God.' Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.") They do not look at those in need with compassion. They do not know that the ONE God is grieved by their lack of love for those around them, their neighbors, those needing hospitality, those forced from their homes, those that are victims of war and crime and unfavorable leadership. All of these point to a lack of love and devotion to God. If they WERE in a relationship with Jesus, they'd be following His teachings and His example. they would know the shema and God's first commandment, and they would then follow Christ's example of loving everyone around them in a manner they they would want to be love.<br />
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God's holy nature demands perfection, and since we can't provide this for ourselves, the Lord has given it to all who believe in Him. He has exchanged our filthy rags for a cloak of righteousness (Zech. 3:4: "The angel said to his heavenly attendants, 'Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing.' Then he said to Joshua, 'I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear.'”).<br />
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God loves you.<br />
I do, too.<br />
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Cheers,<br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-23604643520717697202016-02-16T11:57:00.001-05:002016-02-16T11:57:23.021-05:00How To Accept Love...#DailyProverbs 1 John 4:7-12: "Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. And God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: it is <u><i>not </i></u>that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us."<br />
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The world hurts. We don't really know what to do anymore in so many situations. We aren't sure of the changes that occur, the progress society makes, or how we fit in anymore as we get older. Many people cannot process love. They cannot accept love from themselves, from others, or from God. Basically, people simply can't believe that the Lord loves them. Of we twist and pervert God's love in our interpretation of how He loves us, and we pass that twisted, perverted love to others when we believe that He loves them, but only when they are pleasing Him in some way.<br />
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Why is it so hard for us to accept His unconditional love?<br />
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The main reason is that we assume God is anthropomorphically human. We attribute Him to be human, because he made us. But God ISN'T human, Jesus is God in Flesh and even from the foundations of the universal creation, he isn't bound by our mental and emotional reasoning. Because we think Jesus is human-like, we assume that He, like us, has a hard time loving others without condition. We might say the words "I love you" to our spouse, children, friends, co-workers, or fellow believers; but, all too often we are calculating in our mind whether or not they've lived up to our standard. We sometimes excuse ourselves from loving certain people because their behavior upsets or annoys us. The fact that <em>we</em> place restrictions on extending love and favor causes us to incorrectly assume that the Lord does likewise. We are wrong. We are not like Jesus, and we don't love like Jesus. Jesus loves us all, unconditionally. Even those you judge and condemn... Jesus can still love and save.<br />
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Another valid, but less-often true, reason is poor self-image. Most people give themselves a pass, even when they hold others to a standard. That's human nature... we want to be judged on our INTENT vs. our actions. But we always judge others on their ACTIONS vs. their intent. Probably because actions still cause us issues, detours and pain. But we want others to consider that for us. However, considering ourselves unworthy, we refuse to accept God's love. And you know what? That is very true. Not one of us is worthy of Jesus' goodness and mercy—so you can let go of that excuse once and for all. We're not coming to Him based on our worth, our works, our standards, our actions, or even our love... Rather, we're coming to Jesus based on His grace, and because of His love, grace, and mercy extended to us as created humanity, our position is secure in Christ. To put yourself down as "beneath His grace" is to trample and denigrate His quite generous gift. God arranged an awesome divine way for us to be reconciled to Him, and His greatest desire is for relationship with each of us.<br />
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If you feel unloved, or even if you just struggle to understand or accept yourself, begin to understand that only through Christ are we worthy, and only through Christ can your acceptance and peace be complete. Receive the truth that He reveals. It will be a completely different story about your value as an individual.<br />
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#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-17416035456372834482016-02-05T12:00:00.000-05:002016-02-05T13:03:31.653-05:00Godly Living in an Ungodly Age... Old Landmarks in a New Generation#DailyProverbs <a href="http://www.singingnews-info.com/uhncnfzznjgsjjkzsggdhsmjvnspfvvjqfdkvqgqqwmhfw_hsvwwvmnsscb.html" target="_blank">Titus 1</a><br />
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The Founding Fathers of the United States created a governing framework based upon spiritual and moral principles, but that were inherently very giving to free will. That's probably because they were not raised American, and had been under the rule of a King for so long. But they trusted in God and in their conscience to guide them to the founding of an entire country that was wholly something new. President Eisenhower urged Congress in 1954, some 178 years after the nation's founding, to add "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance. Two years later, President Eisenhower signed a law that added "In God We Trust" progressively to paper money over a two year period through 1958. (Incidentally, "In God We Trust" was on metal currency beginning in 1864, a mere 88 years after the nation was created.) Also in 1956, 180 years after the founding of the United States, President Eisenhower also changed, or made alternative, the nation's motto from "E Pluribus Unum" (out of many, one) to "In Got We Trust." What had been in place since the birth of the nation, and for almost two hundred years was changed specifically to not reflect many, but to point to God.<br />
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Slowly, methodically - even tragically - we’ve become, in numerous ways, an ungodly nation. So many are driven by materialism and power; immorality and rebellion are prevalent; empty philosophy and false doctrine are widely acceptable. Underlying it all is a vocal decision to take God out of the nation’s “official business.” I don't give all of this to merely discuss civics. I give it to show that many saints for hundreds of years lived morally, spiritually, and Godly prior to what was on money, or what was read in a school. You misinterpret me if you think that I foolishly believe that a pledge, sayings on money, or mandatory one-faith prayer in a school is what makes you Godly.<br />
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Materialism is at the heart of conscienceless capitalism, not the teachings of the church founded in Jerusalem by Peter. Not the sharing between all that came to Christ equally and caring for those that needed to be cared for... Not the denying of self and luxury so that others could come to Christ and live equally free and unencumbered. Power that corrupts should be carefully evaluated and moderated. Immorality has many forms, but aside from what you think of people that fall into sexual sin... immorality is also turning a cold, blind eye to the hungry. Immorality is thinking that someone's suffering isn't your problem because you aren't affected. Immorality is being unfeeling to those that need love, and a friend, even at their lowest point. Immorality is qualifying the reason someone might need help and becoming the judge on a human soul's worthiness. If you are a true Christian, then believing yourself righteous in any other way than through Christ is false doctrine. You are not good enough, you never were, and you never will be. Only through Christ can you be anything more than worthless and deserving of death to pay for sin, and you should never take the stance that someone else is worthless or incapable of being saved, or even feel like your service to Christ has made you "better" than anyone that may be in a gutter somewhere, for whatever reason. Those are the false, loveless, teachings Christ warned against and that will lead you on a path to separation and eventual loss of Christ. That is the society to warn against, those that are cold, that do not love, and that are so resolute in their duty, they forget that all need Jesus.<br />
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Even in an unbelieving society, people can and do, as individuals, follow Jesus. But the world will continually disseminate faulty teachings, so believers must be discerning. You will hear them, daily, from so-called Christians, telling you that success and ease is what God wants for His people. The devil will always tell you that more is more. He will never tell you to deny yourself. The doctrine of the superlative is not scriptural. Jesus was clear that we are to follow Him and nothing else. He made it clear that if your family is more important, you can't follow Him. He made it clear that if you follow Him, you will be considered odd and disowned. When you get "too" fanatical about Jesus, people will think you strange, and consider you an "other." He made it clear that His followers don't retaliate, they don't fight, they don't judge others worthiness, only their fruit, they do not hate. He made it clear that His followers are to love, and <b><i>only </i></b>love. He wants us to be kind. He wants us to love in the face of hate. Jesus never said we'd be okay. That is false doctrine. He actually said we'd be hated because of our difference, ridiculed, reviled, possibly tortured, possibly killed. Love and the kindness to those that do evil to us is WHY they do not understand who Jesus really is. Those without love, cannot stand to see it in action. Those without love will never understand what you do, or why you do it, based on love. If you are super comfortable in the world, then you are worldly. If you think that your "anger" and your "might" will show someone Christ when you don't "like" something, then you are not pointing the way to Jesus. If you find it easy to adopt and blend, then you are not the "salt and light." Erroneous messages can lead Christians to compromise their convictions. Trust me, if you can grow hair, you can be kind. If you can preach till you are hoarse, but would rather sit in a deer stand and cuss about politics than you would walk downtown and give food to people sitting in doorways that are homeless, then you are not pointing to Christ. If you can worry about whether or not your looks are your witness, then you can use your mouth to show love and kindness. When you see and hear other "christians" that are not showing love and not bearing fruit that love brings, and you identify with that, because you think anyone that isn't like you isn't worthy, then you need to evaluate what you define as "christian." The most simple way to define it correctly is someone who follows the teachings of Christ. You will hear it said that it is someone that simply believes in Christ. But, the devil believes... demons believe... that's not enough. The actions you take based on the teachings and will of Christ are what transform you into A Christian. Luckily, the simplicity of God is confusing to humans... it is the most simple set of rules to follow when you begin to love Jesus:<br />
1. Love God.<br />
2. Love others.<br />
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If you do those two things, everything else will fall into place. You won't have to worry about rules and regulations, legislation of morality and the confusion of what you legally want to control in others. When you love God, your speech, dress, attitude and care for others will SHOW that you love God. When you love others, the way you treat them, speak to them and handle them will SHOW that you love them. When you begin to follow Christ, and take up your cross, and deny self, and then show love to those that seemingly cannot be loved... you'll see. Your affections and priorities will change. Don’t let the world’s clamor make the Holy Ghost's voice less audible. Without Jesus' guidance, our minds become vulnerable to lies.<br />
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I believe in tradition. I <b>believe</b> in keeping up a standard. But I also know that when something becomes dry, dusty, and is decaying, it must be revived, or removed. You can't live, unless you prune back your confusion, your complacency... You <i>cannot </i>sustain on the blessings and love of previous generations. You must find them anew in your own life. You have to wake up every day, and show love. The Word of God is a compass that keeps us headed in the right direction—even in the midst of confusing messages all around. What is the most direct, simple message of truth from the word?<br />
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What is the Word? Jesus.<br />
Who is Jesus? God.<br />
What is God? Love.<br />
See? Easy.<br />
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We need to be consistently filled with truth by reading, believing, meditating upon, and applying real Scripture, and not the platitudes of well-meaning "saints." God also tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_592838314" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">5:17</span></span>). If our minds are focused upon Him, unholy beliefs and lies about what it means to be a good person that is a conservative Christian will not be able to take root. You will follow the Christ, not other "christians." The Word (<i>Jesus</i>) is our guidebook. We will still face difficulty as we live in this imperfect world—it is a confusing, dark place that entices us but never fulfills our true longings. Yet God’s truth will bring confidence and boldness, and the Holy Ghost will direct and strengthen, enabling us to live victoriously.<br />
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#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0Tampa, FL, USA27.950575 -82.45717760000002327.5019215 -83.102624600000027 28.3992285 -81.811730600000018tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-72882241348362264982016-02-04T10:28:00.001-05:002016-02-04T11:49:14.070-05:00All You Need Is Love#DailyProverbs John 15:11-17: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them. And you are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. This, then, is what I command you: love one another.”<br />
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Want to have joy? Love.<br />
Want to have complete joy? Love.<br />
Want to be right with Jesus? Love.<br />
Want to defeat the devil? Love.<br />
Want to be a friend of God? Love.<br />
Want to follow the commandments that Jesus gave? Love.<br />
Want to be chosen? Love.<br />
Want to bear fruit? Love.<br />
Want God's attention when you pray? Love.<br />
Want the name of Jesus to be powerful when you use it? Love.<br />
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#AllYouNeedIsLove #LoveIsAllYouNeedJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-18571647318699505362015-12-08T13:39:00.003-05:002015-12-08T13:39:58.479-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Names of Christ</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><a href="http://www.singingnews-info.com/bzpzgqssgnjynnmsyjjtpybnvgycqvvnlqtmvljljbzcbp_wwdssdzfwwgv.html"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Philippians 2:5-11</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Bible ascribes
many different names to Jesus, all of which provide great insight into His
character and person. Here are some from John’s gospel that I find particularly
revealing:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Good Shepherd</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"> (10:11)
protects his sheep at all cost from predators. They know His voice and follow
Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Door</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"> (vv. 7-9) is
the only way to enter heaven. Whoever enters through the “gate” of Christ will
be saved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Vine</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"> (15:1-10) is
the source of our spiritual life. When we stay intimately connected to Jesus,
we bear fruit. If we do not remain in Him, we wither.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Bread of Life</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"> (6:25-35) the
only one who can truly satisfy our hearts. Jesus feeds our souls with sustenance
that never leaves us wanting for more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Light of the
World</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"> (9:5)
shines His light through our countenance as a ministry and testimony to a dark
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Way </span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">(14:6) to happiness,
peace, joy, and eternal life is Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Truth</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"> (14:6) of His
revelation, as recorded in the New Testament, is the reason we can know as much
as we do about God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Life </span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">(14:6) Jesus imparts
to believers is powerful, effective, and fruitful, not only in eternity but
here on earth as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<rss version="2.0"><content></content></rss><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">In biblical times,
Israelites would choose a baby’s name based on the child’s characteristics or a
hope or prayer of the parent. The names given to Jesus tell a great deal about
His ministry on earth 2,000 years ago. The scriptural names describing Him
reveal who He was and is and will be for eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
ツ✔
Cheers,
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-74163936907918815762015-05-05T15:11:00.000-04:002015-05-05T15:12:11.619-04:00#DailyProverbs 2015_0505: Choosing Love Over Privilege<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">The church cannot afford to wait any longer for many of the <i>phobias </i>and "-<i>isms</i>" of our history to fade. The bottom line is that people are tired of being mistreated. People are exhausted from the abuse. And, sadly, the church has grown cold and selfish in hoarding grace and has, <i>essentially</i>, done away with extending mercy to those in need of Christ. I have never once read an example of scripture where the early church body stayed in buildings and waited for people in need to come to them. I have never once read an example of where Jesus didn't meet those in need where THEY were and not where they SHOULD be, or where they were judge to have been lacking. Even the disciples tried to shoo away those that would become the greatest examples of faith and restoration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">Most well-known conservative Christians, or "<i>christianist </i>pundits" would rather wait for the 24 news cycle to fade than dispense mercy to someone in need. If you slay someone's character for a mistake on the news, or your show, and you don't act as a minister of reconciliation, how am I to assume you understand love from God, and the grace that extends to us all. And so many Christians these days are talking about having their rights trampled and how they are the subject of attack and denigration; but I am here to say that if you truly follow Jesus... what did you expect? Jesus doesn't "fit" in this world. Following the true teachings of Christ will never be "in fashion" in a conservative, capitalistic country will focus on the bottom line. Jesus isn't about a bottom line; He is about a life line. Your rejection by others and your abuse at the hands of those that decry your faith is part prophesy fulfillment and part test. You will be despised and ridiculed for the sake of the name of Jesus. Period. Nowhere in scripture does it say that you'll take up arms, bring politics into the body, rebut this abuse, and subsequently form a super PAC that legislates morality or a majority vote for your continued economic monopoly. Scripture paints a vastly different picture.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;"><b>Matthew 5:38-48:</b> "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek, too. And if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him."</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your friends, hate your enemies.' But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in Heaven. For He makes the sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! You must be perfect - just as your father in Heaven is perfect."</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">We openly talk so much of our "freedom" and our "rights" these days when what we mean is privilege. We want our way. We want no opposition. We want to be the majority. We want to be comfortable in our position of leadership. We want everyone to understand us. We don't want to be questioned. We want to be agreed with, b</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">ut, that's not realistic. And it's not scriptural. And it's not going to happen... so why rail and fight against something that, in the end, makes YOU the sinner when you behave badly and trample the cross. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">We talk so much of our "rights," y</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;">et the attention given to human entitlements has not brought about collective or individual freedom.</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> Instead, it's splintered and divided humanity into selfish and jealous groups. Intersectionality is a word thrown around to get groups of disenfranchised people to work together, collectively... but what has happened is a competition for whose rights can be won first, a race for whose equality can come sooner. If you make two steps forward... then why didn't you include my special group, too? You can't be a white feminist and still understand the struggle of a woman of color. You can't be black and not make fun of white fragility and privilege. This halts the conversation and this endangers the peace of mind and personal growth of many on ALL sides of the issues at hand. This is not the way. This isn't how it should be. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18pt;">It's a sad fact that the exhaustion that comes with social activism makes most people "periodic" activists. I have friends that do it for cycles or periods of time and then they need a rest. They need a sabbatical and to come to terms with "self-care." The heightened emotions, learning, and being told example after example of abuse, and just... the evil that people can do is draining. It's emotionally crippling. You want people to act right. And each group and person and story has a POINT and has a valid voice and reason to exist... but the truth is that most people end up being prisoners of jealousy. They are jealous of one groups "greater" rights. </span></div>
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These people... these souls... become prisoners of greed. In their minds, they deserve more, and "more" becomes "never enough." Christians have moved from the message of salvation to one of legislation. Abortion, gay marriage, racism, 1%, tax breaks... these are not the arenas in which Christ dwells. And you can't campaign, and fight, and legislate a clear "winner" in these issues. If you always set a finish line in your head that when THIS law changes or when I GET this exact same right, then you are done... but that's not how it goes. Then there is another finish line, and it moves again, and again.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 18pt;">For example, every "christian" will tell you that you can't be a champion of women's reproductive rights AND a "real" Christian, right? You can't counsel someone that you feel abortion is wrong, if you still think the choice should be legal, safe, and sane, correct? In truth and full disclosure, I am anti-abortion, but I am pro-choice. How can this be, Michael? Well, because I think it's insane for anyone that isn't a woman to think they'll ever be put in the position to need an abortion, or to have to make choices that are unconscionable, or to need to have safe alternatives. We, as men, are not hardwired to think anything other than we can do what we want. We'll never be in the position to be told, legally, that we need permission to do something with our own body.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18pt;">Gay marriage is a another great example. The word mostly used is equality, but what's really being wanted is "fairness." Fair doesn't come to everyone. But everyone is equal and should be protected legally. Unfairly, in the fight for equality, is that it's mostly white lesbians and dual-income GWM that will benefit from the tax privileges and the ability to say the word "marriage." This causes a lot of division in other groups that think marriage equality being the "cause du jour" and "face of equality" is ridiculous. What does a pair of well-to-do white folks have to do with the struggles and day to day life of a young, black, trans woman that just needs to not be kicked out of housing, or be fired from a job? She just wants the right to exist and live. She's not worried about tax breaks when her 1040EZ doesn't even get to make deductions. Is life "fair" for her? Likely not. Poverty is an unfair cycle of suck for most people of ANY color. Does it mean that the happy well off white couples doesn't care about her? No, not likely. I mean, it's not like they are taking an active role in her struggle, but they likely "care" and even make donations to causes, etc. Does it mean that she doesn't care about them? No, she likely does. But some people are always going to have tunnel vision for their own cause, because that is what is affecting them immediately. Does that mean you don't care?? No. You, too, have your own cause. Does a Christian have the ability to love and support gay people, even if you don't understand it or believe in the cause or morality of a thing? You better believe it. You can love and support someone and not believe something they do is right. You can believe in their cause OR not believe in it. That doesn't mean you don't love, care, support, and pray for them. Human compassion, love, and hoping that people don't get mistreated are what Christ would do. Finding some common well to talk at, searching out the humanity in someone and not reducing them to a body, or a sexual compulsion, or a sin and showing Jesus... that's where the difference is. Most gay people are </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">stereotyped</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> as hedonists that cannot control their impulses. Well, if that's true, then how do you expect someone to not be promiscuous if you only ever tell them that the sum of their being is based on a sexual choice? Their worth becomes an extension of sexual choice, sexual desirability, and their existence begins to cycle around ways to couple that into a justified way of life. How do you expect a gay man to find Christ if you tell him Christ will never love him, as is. The woman at the well was </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">promiscuous, adulterous, and then some - and yet... she's an example of thirsting for God and finding peace.</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> Did you forget that Christ died for all, as they were? You don't change to come to Christ. Your experience, the repentance, the water baptism... those bring about a new creature that is changed in love and shows the love of Christ.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18pt;">Why do you think that black men are so angry? If you can even categorize a group and make a nearly-racist-blanket-statement like that. Consider that maybe being black and seeing so many young black men disparately sentenced into corporate for-profit prisons for crimes less than those of other races that get no jail time. Or that's if they are lucky. Most are killed or abused. It would even be nice if white frailty would stop saying the phrases when a black man is gunned down that "blacks kill them, too." Or vilify the victim, bringing to light every past mistake, to justify passing a death sentence without due process or even a jury of peers. Yes, weed means he should have been shot. Yes, running away in fear means he should have died. Sigh. That's a soul that will never repent or change now. We white folks claiming to be all about Jesus get really upset and boycott places that say "Happy Holidays" instead of exactly what we want for Christmas. Yes, really. We get all up in arms over a word, or something petty... but we want to stay out of it when it comes to saving lives. I mean... it's pretty one-sided as far as the offense goes. Or, consider that the fact they are legislatively forced out of black homes may be a justifiable reason for anger. Maybe the fact that if you, as a black man, reside in the home of your wife or girlfriend, she can't get public assistance for the babies she was forced to have, some of which likely came from sexual assault if statistics are true. People are legislating the family and core values of a nuclear core of family away. (Some white person just rolled their eyes and said "get a job.") That'd be easier if you had a white-sounding name, and no previous record because you chose to resist being beaten down in a traffic stop because your music choices were considered wrong, or your car was too new for your color.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18pt;">When did we, as Christians, begin to think that we could tell others how to live, behave and then find ways to politicize that? I get that not all Christians do this... but it is seeming like more and more of the sane, normal "Christians" I knew are moving further away from scripture and focusing on the love of God, to a religion of political capital and conservatism as a tenant of faith. The message of Jesus was clear: radical love and escorting both religious and social change through BEING changed. When you have an experience with Jesus, your walk changes. Your talk changes. Your ability to forgive and move on changes. Your ability to love beyond yourself changes.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18pt;">Christians, watch out for bitterness. Be so careful... you can read the above, you can watch the news, and see your </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">news feeds</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;">. You will feel entitled to judge. You will feel like you are above others. You will want to find a reason to feel violated. But be so careful. You will start to hang on every word, looking for offense. We are IN this world, but we are not OF it. Stop acting like you don't speak the language, stop acting like you are so offended and roll up your sleeves and HELP others know the same freedom and life in Christ. I know many white people that will, ignorantly, never learn the difference between racism and bigotry. They will use misnomers like "reverse racism" and show their overt privilege in doing so. And they will say that indiscriminately and call other white people racist, or self-hating, for not believing in it. They will leave the race conversation, heatedly and early, because it becomes uncomfortable and they will alienate and harm souls in the process. To what end? Who do you bring to Christ by making skin and culture an issue? It will have an effect, but not the one you are thinking: It will cause black people to be so sensitive to every word then, and the stress and emotional duress that comes with evaluating everything's meaning is life-draining. It also creates so much further division and a splintered group on how to say AA, black, of color, or light, bright, almost-white... Throw in </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Latino</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;">, </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Hispanic</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;">, </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Asian</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;">... and the </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Anglo</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;">-euro distinctions and suddenly everyone feels that they must be distinctly called out, represented, and "respected." </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Majority, minority, powerful, powerless, special interest, or even those that have a tenuous grasp on the power they have left in their final generation of rule... they all feel violated and hurt and somehow "marginalized." To quote Dreamgirls... "</span><i style="line-height: 24px;">Effie, we ALL got pain.</i><span style="line-height: 24px;">" And we do, so tell someone what power in the name of Jesus can do vs. helping to define yet another point of separation. </span><span style="line-height: 18pt;">If we are in Christ, there is NO difference. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. There is neither Jew, nor Greek, nor Gentile. There is no Moor, Highlander, or Saxon. There is no Republican, or Democrat, or conservative, or Liberal. There is no black, no white, no male, no female... We are all one in God. So, why are we, as Christians so determined to show off the differences and not proclaim the wonder of what the power of living God can do to a soul that was in distress? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;"><i><b>1 Thessalonians 5:12-18</b>: "We beg you, our friends, to pay proper respect to those who work among you, who guide and instruct you in the Christian life. Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. <b>Be at peace among yourselves</b>. We urge you, our friends, to <b>warn </b>the idle, <b>encourage </b>the timid, <b>help </b>the weak, be <b>patient </b>with everyone. See that <b>no one pays back wrong for wrong</b>, but at all times make it your aim to <b>do good to one another</b> and <b>to all people</b>. Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus."</i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">Instead of
focusing on the privileges we feel that are "due" to us, we should take the biblical perspective of
loving enemies and forgiving persecutors (</span></span><b style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;"><i>Matt. 5:44</i></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">). Believers must lay down what they consider their
rights and privileges so they can take up the cause of a holy kingdom. That </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> mean that
we let people trample on us. Rather, we offer a </span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;"><b>proper </b></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">response according to
biblical principles. In short, true followers of Jesus Christ, according to scripture, should be more concerned about showing
God’s </span></span><u style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;"><i><b>LOVE</b></i></u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> to those who do wrong than about demanding their rights and enforcing a legislative cap on other groups that don't follow or believe the same. You will never legislate the love of God into someone's heart; but you can humble yourself and show the true power of the </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">servant-hood</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> of Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">Some of you are thinking, </span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">"Who is this guy? He has NO idea about black people, or the struggle of women, or how it feels to be in a marginalized group of trans people. H</i><em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">e </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> know how </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">I've</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> been mistreated. He doesn't know MY story." </span></span></em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">Indeed, I do NOT. But
what I do know is how Jesus Christ, our example, reacted to terrible atrocities and abuse. I do know that no matter what you've gone through, Jesus loves you. I know that no matter whether or not yo and I agree on the morality, or spirituality of a situation, that I don't hate you and I love you. I do know that Jesus lived his life as our very </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">road map</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> that we were to follow. I know that if I am to be able to honestly claim that I'm a Christian, I have to be willing to go through the same things as the Christ. He
was betrayed by His friends, persecuted by His people, condemned by His peers,
and crucified for our sins. Yet He said, “</span></span><i style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">Father, forgive them</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">” (</span></span><b style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;"><i>Luke 23:34</i></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Can we <b>do </b>that? Can <b>I </b>do that? Can you do <b><i>that</i></b>? Before assuming
that Jesus’ capacity for forgiveness and love is out of reach for you and me, as mere human
beings, remember: the Holy Ghost dwells in believers. We can choose to believe that, and <i>LIVE </i>that. Or we can throw away one of the greatest spiritual gifts ever given: LOVE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;"><b><i>Luke 6:29</i></b> says to
turn the other cheek and give up more than is asked because expressing love, expecting fairness, and being an example all outweigh exerting our "rights" or even our "privilege." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">If you never read this whole thing, if you never learn from my mistakes in my past, if you never really grasp any of this... get THIS: You simply cannot lose when you show others the
boundless, and endless love of the Lord. You gain His blessing. He supports and defends you in this, and essentially, and most importantly, someone will hopefully be saved because of your example.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Christ,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#JustBeingMichael ツ</span>JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-83790695512758144812015-04-02T13:05:00.001-04:002015-04-02T20:03:58.018-04:00"Maundy" Thursday #DailyProverbs<div class="MsoNormal">
People use the word faith a lot.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is a song that so many find
moving. We are not faithful by nature… and we weep when we raise our hands and
sing “He’s Been Faithful.” We know that in our moments of fear, through pain
and tears… there’s a God, who’s been faithful to us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But we don’t really know the depth of “faith.” We have “faith”
in some one, or some thing. We interchange “faith” with “trust.” We do things
in “good faith.” We use “faith” like a deposit into savings, hoping our “faith”
will garner returns in goods and services from God. We send in seed “faith” money.
We gotta have “faith” according to a popular singer. All of those things are
really misnomers of scriptural faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, then, what IS faith? People MISquote this scripture
constantly… it is not the EVIDENCE of things hoped for. It’s the opposite.
Seeing it in front of you isn’t faith. Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the SUBSTANCE of
things hoped for; the EVIDENCE of things NOT seen.” Faith is believing against a
crisis in hope. We keep on even when it seems all is over or lost. It is believing
even when things are seemingly about to fail. Faith is KNOWING even when it’s
illogical and you can’t prove it. That seems dangerous, and can be if you are
following a wrong path or a person that has abused your trust and misled your
faith. Or it can be one of the most powerful things on the planet, if you are
correctly placing your faith in God and using your God-given brain and heart
and instinct to follow right, instead of wrong.<o:p></o:p></div>
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People want GREAT faith. They think mustard seeds and
mountains are the sum total effect that Jesus left with us. Not even. People
tout from pulpits and matronly dinner tables that if WE only would believe ENOUGH,
magic would happen and we’d walk around flinging rock cliffs into oceans. Well…
maybe we would, but to what purpose? Just to prove faith, or to serve God
better? Do you think faith is there to act as a spiritual ATM, giving you every
wish and desire? Do you think faith is so you can get a better purse or nicer
car? Do you think every person has the SAME faith? Well, Romans 12:3 says that
EVERY person gets “THE measure” of faith. Some translations indicate it varies,
but several translations indicate everyone gets the same measure to start with.
And I think we as Christians DO get the SAME measure to start. What is that?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Belief. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Belief is where we start. Belief in Jesus, in salvation, in
repentance, in grace, and in the gospel. What happens after is up to us. The
level of powerful, overcoming living is up to YOU. Faith is like a muscle… Everyone
starts with musculature and a certain level of ability. We develop those. Some
atrophy and wither. Some are damaged they become cripple. Some are weak and are
never used enough to be more than what they are, always depending on others to
do the job. And some just never get used at all. Faith is like that…. the more
you use and develop that faith, the stronger and more it can be used. What one
person can lift is different when two are there. Faith is like that. What one
person can accomplish in faith is different than what TWO people praying in
faith can accomplish. Faith can grow when you are obedient in “little” steps of
faith into a great and strong faith. When you trust God to bring you through a
small trial and you are obedient in the smaller details… you can face the
bigger and harder trials and your faith with carry you more easily.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today is “Maundy” Thursday. Traditionally, it’s a great day
for communion because it’s the day Jesus held the Last Supper with his
disciples. He knew what lay ahead. He had his own measure of faith and he was “ready.”
He gave instruction to his group, his friends, his family… his disciples on
this day that he’d be betrayed. He’d be killed. He’d be the sacrifice for the
world. And, yet… being the rabbi he was, he still took the time to impart a
lesson: he gave instruction to let them know he’d live again. He instructed,
through his casual teaching that they should have “faith.” Now, if someone told
me over dinner they were dying and that I needn’t worry, they’d see me next
week… I can admit that I’d scoff. I’d laugh at them or commit them or even
doubt them. And to listen and believe Jesus took big faith – GREAT faith. But
why? They’d seen so many miracles that they should have no problem with it,
right? They lived with Jesus, traveled, witnessed, proselytized, and converted
so many WITH Jesus and they had seen it ALL. They saw the resurrection of Lazarus.
Their faith then, individually and collectively, should have given them no
pause for what they were facing, right? But, even still… Thomas doubted, Peter
denied, John was heartbroken, Mary moved on to France, Judas was misguided in
thinking it’d be a slap on the wrist and that an earthly kingdom would follow. Everyone
had their own level of faith at that point… worked and grown, and tended into
what they could fathom Jesus was to them. They each had to carry their own
faith, and make their own way after this event. This supper. This Maundy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We all do the same thing today, don’t we? We believe as a
last resort. We are preached to, prophesied over, and we read the scriptures
and we “know” what’s facing us. Scripture foretells it, we see it in the
devolution of society, we see it in historical cycles of hurt, and war, and
human suffering. But we act like we are… numb… over… or shocked… by the things
we know. But we still act like ANY solution will be better than faith or God.
Don’t ask in prayer that God help you with a bill… no, go to a check cashing
place that charges 150% interest and creates a domino effect on your finances.
Don’t pray AND seek medical help. Ignore that and keep your illness and your
pain to yourself… why would your Christian family uphold you? No. Pain shared
is pain halved. We are TO BE THERE for one another, carrying burdens (real and
emotional). We say that our faith is symbolic and that the time of living BY
faith is over and that biblical things no longer apply. But, is it? We
rationalize what we can’t prove, but that still happen. I’m a witness, in
flesh, that miracles are still real. I have vacillated numerous times over my
own healing. I have wondered if cleaner living and helped me heal. Or did God?
Did I do something that created spontaneous cell growth and help? Or did I get
healed by God? Did I dream it all? Did I really speak in a real tongue under anesthesia
or is my Doctor crazy? Do I really believe that God put skin on and died for
me? Or is this a collective trance meant to control the masses and create moral
order? Is the evidentiary support of science a threat to my faith, or does it
bolster my faith? When we talk about praying the cancer off of somebody, or a
cold, or a back ache, or pain, or mental anguish, or emotional instability, or
spiritual oppression… do we believe it? It’s easier to take a pill than to
trust God for a need. That’s why rich people and privileged people and our
society have SUCH a hard time with faith. Why do we need God? Why do we need
angels or protection or even help? Do our lives have “room” for faith? Mind
over matter makes the body heal… not prayer, right? Surely, no, not that. We
preach that our collective socialization with one another IS the breaking of
bread and that rote prayers ARE what God intended. It’s hard to fathom that we’d
interrupt our scheduled lives if God said to pray for three days for a
breakthrough. Would we skip work and do that? Would we file that under PTO or
Sick time? We don’t want the inconvenience of obedience and trials that
increase faith. We certainly don’t seem like we want GREATER faith or the
responsibility that comes WITH great faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today is “Maundy” Thursday. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Tomorrow is “Good” Friday. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sunday is “Easter.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Where is your faith? Do you believe? Are you having a last
supper moment and wondering what will happen to you? Are you able to be in
Communion with God? Do you believe that even though it’s dark, light is coming?
Do you know that for the “lack of evidence” so many claim that there is someone
that was the First Born to the resurrected? Our God isn’t a dead God that is
worshipped in memoriam… our God is alive and still working. There’s no need for
fear or sadness or even doubt. But are you at a place where you can accept
that? Is your faith “tired?” Are you tired of trying and believing and
seemingly failing? You can’t have great faith, until you are obedient and grow
it. You have start somewhere and from that place it grows. But when you ignore
those opportunities for faith, when you sideline and bench your faith, when you
prove you don’t need faith… the result is atrophy. Your faith WILL wither. It
WILL become small and hard and dried up. It will retreat into itself and become
that much harder to access. Layers upon layers of justification,
rationalization and even condemnation will cocoon and hide that seed of faith. Playing
church, being a whited sepulcher, running from God, open rebellion, sin… it all
covers and hides and assaults your measure of faith. It weakens and proves that
YOU can MAKE it on your own. Watering down the truth of the gospel and
preferring to have easy conversations and sermons that only focus on the
prosperity of the gospel, and not the work it takes will harm your faith. It
will make it that much harder to believe, to really be open to the fact that we
are not all there is, that God really does LOVE everyone and anyone and that
WHOSOEVER means YOU, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I want to repeat that: Have faith… let me encourage your
faith… the faith that is hidden, scarred, abused, and scared… HAVE FAITH that
there is a God that loves you and cares for you. That YOU are reachable,
findable, and restorable. HAVE FAITH that regardless of what a human being told
you in error, cruelty or because of being misled… GOD LOVES YOU. You are one of
the “whoever” that God died for, resurrected for, and for whom is infinitely
equal to any other human. God Loves YOU.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Happy Maundy Thursday. It may get darker tomorrow. But
Sunday will come. It will happen. Light will come.</div>
JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-88183349367596331582015-03-17T16:11:00.002-04:002015-03-17T16:11:39.662-04:00Appetite Control...<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#DailyProverbs <a href="https://www.bible.com/bible/416/1co.9.gnbdc"><span style="background: white; color: black;">1 Corinthians 9:24-27</span></a>: “Surely
you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the
prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training
submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will
not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. That is why I run
straight for the finishing line; that is why I am like a boxer who does not
waste his punches. I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete
control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to
the contest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Suppression. Control. Alleviate. Assistance. There’s a pill for
everything now. Wouldn’t it be GREAT if we had that for our spiritual life??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What words would you use to describe our society?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Materialistic…<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sensual…<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Impatient…<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indulgent…<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Undisciplined…<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">--these are just a few. We're also a "have it now"
culture. We want microwavable. We want instant. But our tastes call for gourmet
and home-cooked. You will never beat homemade biscuits. You’ll never find
anything better than your Mamaw’s yeast rolls for a Sunday dinner on the
ground. But we don’t want to pay for it, in time. We don’t want the work that
comes with rolling out the dumplings from scratch. That’s how our society
operates now. Satan specializes in presenting us with opportunities for instant
gratification while promising us that indulging our appetites will bring us the
satisfaction we seek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our human appetites, in themselves, are not sinful. They are, in fact,
God-given. However, because of the fact that we cannot control our own weaknesses,
we need help. They need to be controlled. When our appetites rule us, we stay
in trouble. Ask any alcoholic how it started out… one glass of wine was fine.
Then unlimited glasses would never be enough. Control and moderation are the
key. You can’t eat your cheat day every day and stay healthy. And you can’t
sustain stringent discipline forever either. The body requires periods of
bulking up, leaning out and even fasting to operate optimally. Paul likened the
Christian life to that of athletes who are so focused on winning the race that
they exercise self-control in every area of their lives. That's exactly how
we're called to live, yet we lack the motivation, determination, and power to
do so in our own strength. For this reason, we need to rely on the Holy Ghost
within us. If we yield our lives to Him and step out in obedience to His
promptings, we'll have the strength to say no when fleshly desires feel
overpowering (Gal. 5:16).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another key to success is keeping our focus on the eternal, instead
of the temporal. Many decisions that seem mundane are in fact spiritually
significant. They happen in a moment and then you are trapped. Gossip? Easy to
make the CHOICE in the moment to talk about someone. But that choice then makes
you an assassin to character. You are harming another. You are a spiritual
murderer. It creates a list of other things necessary like repentance,
restitution, saying you are sorry, and even addressing the harmed party to let
them know you did it, are sorry for it, and are ready for the consequences of
broken trust. It’s not a simple breath of “I’m sorry” to God. What about the
choice of lust? Or the choice to cheat on your partner or spouse? The choice of
financial inconsistency? It’s a choice to lie. But what about our exaggerations?
The choice we make when we use guile? What about the choice of skipping church
because you are tired, even if you have responsibilities and need to be there
to share the burden of work? What about the choice of saying you don’t “feel
well,” when you really just “don’t want to?” What about the CHOICE of ignoring
those that need help? What about the choice you make in judging a person
holding a sign asking for food, assuming they are just drunks or not worth helping?
What about the CHOICE of ignoring the poor? What about the choice of ignoring
the widowed? What about the choice to judge and ignore single moms? What about
the choice we make to alienate the divorced and those wives left and struggling
with both heartbreak and children and loss and stigma? What about the choice
you make to exclude them because it’s less comfortable to listen or sympathize?
What about the choice you make to tell gay people that God doesn’t love them
and they are reprobate? What about the choice you make to tell people of color,
in word or deed, that they are less than white people? What about the choice
you make to fight for minutia and political silliness when entire groups of
women, children, and girls are slaughtered due to greed? The choice to look the
other way is just that… a choice. What about the choice to still trade and
purchase goods those countries provide, but to boycott a soap product because
they aren’t Christian in their mission statement? What about the choice we make
to actively ignore the scriptures that tell us to exactly the opposite than we
think – to bless our enemies and to befriend and help those that have nothing? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you think God loves anyone that you don’t agree with any less
than you? Do you think that are you more lovable from the perspective of the
Cross? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you indulging an appetite of comfort that allows you to look the
other way? Is your ability to not be bothered so great that it’s more important
than reaching out to those that need it most? When the Enemy tempts us, he
always tries to keep our attention on our desire and the pleasure of indulgence
rather than on the eternal rewards and blessings we're forfeiting. Just remind
yourself how quickly immediate gratification wanes and how long eternity lasts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cheers, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#JustBeingMichael ツ</span>JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-68638568233142939242015-03-13T10:23:00.000-04:002015-03-13T10:23:36.350-04:00Wholeness, Fullness: God in you<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
#DailyProverbs<br /><a href="https://www.bible.com/bible/416/eph.3.gnbdc" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">Ephesians 3:14-21</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you ever just feel empty? Exhausted? Tired? Tired of being sick and tired? Do you feel like something is "missing?" Have you ever
wondered if you are a "whole person?" We all have struggles in life
that could make us feel incomplete, but Paul (or whoever wrote his writings after his death *snark*) says we can be
"filled up to all the fullness of God" in verse 19. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, w</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18pt;">hat does that look
like?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A "whole" person is generally satisfied... with life, work, family, self, God, church, others. Satisfied, content... not complacent or lazy. That kind of peace and satisfaction seems impossible in this day. Especially in this age of malcontent and obvious longing for "more." The whole person also feels loved and is able to
love others in return. Difficulties and hardships don't devastate them, because
they are able to go through them with confidence, not of their own selves, but a calm assurance in God. The whole person isn't a complainer or
someone who is quick to blame others. A positive attitude guards the whole person's mind since they know that the Lord will work everything out for good (Rom. 8:28).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We, as followers of Christ, have allowed "christians" to sully our good names. We've allowed conservatives to use the banner of Christianity to abuse sinners, the downtrodden, and to abuse the poor, widowed, bereft and those that NEED Christ the most. That creates a hardness to some of us. We lose the love aspect of Jesus. We think that any "good christian" acts like a white, Republican, conservative that looks, walks, talks, and VOTES a certain way. When the truth is, being a Christian in and of itself doesn't automatically make us that way. We don't automatically become that way. Jesus wasn't that way. God IS love. Jesus IS love. And becoming a Christian, a real, true Christian doesn't always immediately make you feel complete. Fullness, true and complete fullness, comes only from love. Specifically, it is when we
experience God's love FOR US. For many years, I knew theologically, mentally, and scientifically that God loved me. God is love... For God So Loved the World... Oh How He Loves You And Me... I sang about it. I traveled with groups, chorales, my family and even on my own. We shouted it, taught it, held conferences over it and yes... me... EVEN me... I preached about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I didn't really feel it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">Shocking, huh? That someone can be told something and hold onto it, and repeat it and tell it and share it... only to really not believe it or "feel" it. I allowed men to tell me that I wasn't worthy of God's love. I bought that lie in Bible school. I had to act a certain way, and be a certain level of "good" for God to continue to love me. I mean, we tell sinners that God loves them, even in their sin, enough to die for them. Die. But once we have converted someone, we tell them that any issues or sin, or even questions make them </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">aberrant and in jeopardy of God's love. Cut your hair? Well... then you are in danger of hellfire. The truth is... standards are great and I have mine. You should have yours... but they should be driven from LOVE, not law. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">I allowed people, who similarly felt rejected, to tell me that WE didn't need God... he didn't want US, and the feeling was mutual. I bought that lie. It was ONLY after the complete fracturing and restructuring of my life that I realized, I was incomplete. I was functional, but not filled. I was alive, living, and even thriving (with God's providence) to a degree. But I wasn't whole and I wasn't full. Only
after I took a deep look at my life and started dealing with events that had
shattered my soul in childhood did I begin to experience His love in an truly personal, one-on-one and intimate way. Once I FELT the security of His love for me, regardless of me, my past, my sin, my direct disobedience, my running, my full blown disrespect in encouraging others to run... God still loves me. LOVES, not loved. After that full revelation of WHO Jesus is, and HOW MUCH God loves me, I discovered great
joy in walking in obedience to His will. I even take great joy in my personal convictions and standards now. I understand the consecration "unto the Lord..." and not at the request or demand of humans. That The reason was that I knew I could
trust God with my heart, with my standards, my life, my sin, my everything came from love - specifically God's love. That love gave me a trust level that I could also trust God to meet all my needs in His time and way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><rss version="2.0"><content></content></rss>Do you feel God's
love, or is it just a biblical fact to you? A felt board fantasy? Some far off God sitting in far away judgement? The fool has said in their heart, there is no God... Maybe the two of you haven't spoken in some time. Here's the truth... the real deal: If you long for wholeness, the key
is to experience an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Not your mom, your dad, your heritage. Not your memory, or your past. God, today, can heal you and make you whole. You can till up the hard, cold ground in your heart. You can change. This is possible
only when you're willing to open up and let the Lord search your heart. God is fully capable to show you what to repent of... what to live like... how to talk, walk, and treat others... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 24px;">He'll reveal what's holding you back from accepting His love, from believing it, and from moving forward to a fruitful and successful life in Christ. You can be whole. You can be full. You can be content.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cheers, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#JustBeingMichael ツ</span>JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-9631686899894649582015-03-06T14:44:00.001-05:002015-03-06T14:44:09.158-05:00Are You Ready For A Miracle? Then Learn To See The Miraculous...<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>#DailyProverbs </b><a href="https://www.bible.com/bible/416/1th.5.gnbdc">1 Thessalonians 5:19-24</a>: "Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; do not despise inspired messages. Put all things to the test: keep what is good and avoid every kind of evil. May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being – spirit, soul, and body – free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful."</div>
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Everyone wants the supernatural. "<i>Don't quench the Holy Ghost!</i>" every Pentecostal grandmother has prayed over their grandchildren. Everyone wants a miracle – proof, if you will – that something is out there, listening, paying attention and is in some way enamored of us. Some "need" a miracle more than others, but we all "want" it. We all want that "touch" of divine in our lives and that we have an inside track, or a hedged bet. We want the world, prosperity, the blessings of God's favor in our lives, yet we also want God to give us inspired messages. We want him to walk in the garden in the cool of the day with us. We want the "cattle on a thousand hills," and we want a clear mapped-out route to avoid all evil and any pitfalls. We want gold. We want power. We want fame. We want a free pass to worldliness. And on top of all of those things that we want to easily come to us, we want God to <i>PROVE </i>that He loves us and that He exists. Those that decry the existence of a God will tell you that WE are our own Gods, we need only look to the divine within us. If you just trust yourself, and be good in your eyes, then your perception becomes your reality and you will love yourself to a better place and plane of being... But that’s utter crap. </div>
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~<i>WE </i>are not divine. God is divine. We have righteousness through the sacrifice of Jesus. That is our ONLY path to righteousness.</div>
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~<i>WE </i>are hostile, busybody, hateful things that wreak havoc and destruction. We can only be truly better when we denounce that, repent, and truly represent the teachings of Christ through giving, love, and helping. Think that's too simple and hippie? Talk to Jesus about it. It's His message. I'm just telling it.</div>
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~<i>WE </i>need help. We are pitiful. "Filthy rags" is the term we throw around in testimony service. "We serve a big God." "God's able." Well, honey... GET UP and start acting like God is God, you are human and that you are connected to the ultimate source of power and goodness. ACT like you know who Jesus is.</div>
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We that are adamant about the existence of a God are so sure that we are correct…we kill and divide because we are SO sure that “they” are wrong and “we” are right. We bastardize the very name of God and the truth we love so much to BE right. You want to baptize like WHAT? I mean, I put emphasis on the name of Jesus, but I don't want to kill those that don't believe like me. When did Christians start that? Wars, the Crusades, the poor, the "less than..." We have shifted to be a religion that follows radical teachings of love and help to one that turns on victims, women, and the poor. We teach that all life is sacred, but We kill and murder in the name of conservatism, blatantly disregarding the teachings of Christ on love, pacificity, and non-Earthly kingdoms. Yes, I love getting a paycheck and I like not worrying about my future. But I don't think we are supposed to do it at the expense of our souls and walking over the rights, lives, and bodies of other people. The saddest part is the death. The needless death we cause not only in direct conflicts, but as collateral damage laid on the altar of conservativism and how we ignore the needs of those around us. Maybe you don't. Maybe everyone doesn't. But we sure do like to legislate and decry helping those that need it.</div>
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So, let’s have a moment of real talk: You want a miracle? Then act miraculously. You want God to save you, then stop arming up and killing and allow God to save you. You want to show the world "<i>God shed his Grace on Thee...</i>" THEN MAN UP AND LET GOD SHINE THROUGH instead of your own interests. I’ve already experienced a few miracles. To be blunt, I’d be MORE surprised now if there wasn’t a God and that God wasn’t watching over me than if you told me my friend was in the next room. I expect God to wake me up and show me things, to talk with me, and to guide my life just as clearly and and just as much as if my friend calls me on the phone. It’s become that real. It kind of has to become that real when you, your family, your health, your life, your job, and your purpose are turned upside down and around. My life isn't what it was, and isn't even where it will be. </div>
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I love those pieces of proof. I treasure what God’s done for me and it anchors me to God… but it’s NOT the best thing God ever did for me. I won't ever "get over" or "feel less" about my grandmother's testimony, her time in Heaven, the writings she left me... the MANTLE she passed to me... that's a miracle. That's one I can't escape, though I didn't ask for the burden and responsibility. My healing? Yes, healing me ON the operating table and curing my Barrett’s esophageal cancer was a miracle, a true in-the-books, medicine-wrote-about-it AMAZING. Watching my sister stop in MID-HEART ATTACK because I called out upon the name of God was awe-inspiring, and even something I can't believe when I remember that night and those moments. Though no less miraculous, but less life-threatening, God’s provided finances, energy, strength, clarity, and even guided me away from harm. But EVEN THEN, that’s not the greatest miracle or help I've received from God.</div>
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Want to know the real miracle? Salvation. Possibility. Hope. The hope of a better tomorrow. The hope that I won’t be doomed. It's amazing, but true, that God's grand plan for your life is far greater than you can imagine. In fact, this earth-bound existence has us so preoccupied with the demands of life that most of us give little thought to what it will mean to be completely sanctified - the hope that I can be a better person and grow from a place of love and acceptance and repentance. That I’ll use my gifts and what God blessed me with to help those without. That my eyes are opened to the equality of another, though in sin and pitiful. That my own sin and evil nature are no better than anyone’s and our equality in certain damnation is what gives us equality IN salvation.</div>
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No one was worthy, therefore all are undeserving and on equal ground at the cross.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Presently, every single day, we all struggle with sin. Every one of us, from the person that just shot up in an alleyway - doing who knows what to score the drugs. All the way to the Bishop of our own churches, trying to maintain fiscal responsibility and clarity in dealing with families and disruptions and attitudes. All of us deal with sin in some way, but when we die, our spirits and souls will ascend to heaven and be completely sinless. Knowing this, how will you live today? The miracle of salvation isn’t meant just to give hope, or a free pass, or to give you unlimited chances… but to spur us on to holy living.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Quit rationalizing your sin. Come to God. Quit justifying your church-y behavior and follow Christ, not your social construct of judgement and shame. Quit living in your past, stuck on sins and feeling sorry for yourself. Get up, wash your face, and do something for God. Live for God for the next 5 minutes, the next day, the next month. Put one foot in front of the other and stop sitting there, waiting for someone to bring it to you.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>#GetUP</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>#DressUP</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>#ShowUP</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i>Cheers, </i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>#JustBeingMichael ツ</b></div>
JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-25756807399298294002015-02-24T11:39:00.002-05:002015-02-24T11:39:51.094-05:00#DailyProverbs February 24, 2015<span class="label" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding; background-clip: padding-box; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #777777; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 0.9em 4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span>
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#DailyProverbs 24:16: "No matter how often honest people fall, they always get up again; but disaster destroys the wicked."<br />
<br />
Stop wallowing.<br />
<br />
If you do your best, and live for God, and stay honest, and try hard... you might fall. You might fall a lot. You may even feel deserted, neglected, and become hurt. You may have moments where you wonder if God has forsaken you. You aren't alone, and you are in good company. Even Jesus Himself had moments of fear and felt deserted by God.<br />
<br />
Many (most) successful people had multiple failures and many times of trial and error before you ever knew of them. Many of the successful inventors and many of our creature comforts were thought of, built and designed by people that died in obscurity and abject poverty. And??<br />
<br />
Get up. Srsly. Get up, dry your eyes, wash your face and move on. You are not finished until your last breath is breathed. Are you dead? No? Then you still have a purpose and a chance to fulfill your purpose. YOU don't have to stay in the shape that you are in. YOU don't have to live in your current circumstance and feel left. YOU don't have to accept or buy into the lies that you will never do more or be more than what you are, right now.<br />
<br />
You get up, keep going, and try again. You will be fine, and you will one day see the history of success you leave. Never giving up is a form of success within itself.<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-84634763388342270042014-12-18T13:52:00.002-05:002014-12-18T13:54:58.720-05:00#DailyProverbs: A Lifestyle of Obedience#DailyProverbs<br />
<br />
John 14:15-21: "If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you for ever. He is the Spirit who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you. “When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you. In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live. When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as I am in you. “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them.”<br />
<br />
According to this particular set of scriptures, we know that Jesus was preparing his team for his absence, and the upcoming set of difficulties. He specifically and blatantly tells us, we express love for Jesus by obeying His commands. To love Him wholeheartedly, we must develop a lifestyle of obedience. Let's look at four aspects of such a lifestyle.<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>1. Our trust in Jesus grows. </strong>This confidence comes from believing that the Lord is who Scripture says He is. And God's Word tells us that He is good—as well as faithful to keep His promises (2 Cor. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1404154876" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">1:20</span></span>). Psalm 86:15 calls Him merciful, gracious, loving, and slow to anger. His character remains unchanged by difficult or hard-to-understand circumstances (Heb. 13:8).<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>2. We develop a deepening ability to </strong><strong>wait on the Lord/move when God says move. </strong>Delays can be hard in our I-want-it-now culture. But we must resist temptation and wait on Him instead of running ahead, or assuming that patient waiting is equal to "no." We must also be ready to move and act when God tells us to move or act. Waiting and acting are two sides of the same "coin of trust" on obeying God. If we trust God, we obey God - whether the answer is to wait or act.<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>3. We commit to obey God.</strong> Without such a resolve, we'll vacillate at decision time or allow fear to prevent us from choosing His way. When the answer really is "No," we must be willing to accept that and move on. And we must be willing to accept an answer of "Yes," even when we don't want to pick up, move or follow the cloud by day, and fire by night.<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>4. Our study of Scripture becomes consistent</strong>. The Bible reveals God's priorities, commands, and warnings. It acts as a light, illuminating His chosen path for us while revealing obstacles and dangers along the way (Ps.119:105). Without it, we are like a person who walks in the woods at night without a flashlight.<br />
<br />
Becoming a Christian, and following the teachings set forth by Christ, doesn't mean that obedience to the Lord is automatic or that we are made into robots. It's a lifelong process of growing in our trust and patiently waiting on Him before we act, and acting on faith and trust when called upon to do so, even immediately. This requires a steadfast commitment to obey so that we can say no to ungodly choices, doubt and inaction and yes to God, love, trust, and the peace that comes from doing what God says.<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
#JustBeingMichael ツJustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-59805534839134486572014-12-17T14:01:00.001-05:002014-12-17T14:01:23.765-05:00Great Is Thy Faithfulness: Trusting in God's Faithfulness<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#DailyProverbs 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24: "Be joyful always,
pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants
from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. Do not restrain the Holy
Spirit; do not despise inspired messages. Put all things to the test; keep what
is good and avoid every kind of evil. May the God who gives us peace make you
holy in every way and keep your whole being - spirit, soul and body - free from
every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you will do
it, because He is faithful."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Trust has been a big issue with me
lately... with the trust I've placed in others broken, I'm wary of new people
and those that might harm me or what God gives me. And sometimes I have to
wonder if God is wary of me? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Does God see/view/judge me the way I
see/view/judge others? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Am I holding others to a high standard,
but expect them all to understand my shortcomings and intentions? Do I think I
deserve to be looked at for my intentions and my heart vs. my actions and what
I actually follow through with? Am I the hooker, but have a heart of gold? So,
does God focus on my heart of gold, or the fact that I am still a whore? Or am
I wonderful as an abstract and complex "thinker," but do I lack
follow through and execution? I mean, I can draft plans, complex connectivity
and architect national data warehouses and mining/reporting plans... but the
simple fact is: plans without implementation are useless. Those plans collect
dust and become obsolete very quickly. I believe that Christ... the VERY
Christ... told us to help our fellow man in need, but if I pass one by, will
that be recounted or Judgment Day? Or will the fact that I was late be taken
into consideration? Your "belief" doesn't help someone in need, your
behavior does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, in the big picture of
"trust" and "trust issues" and even my own nature of
controlling-ness, I have to remember that I trust God, and God is faithful. God
has never betrayed my trust. God has never, not once, done anything to break of
"un-earn" my trust. What about you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is there something God has told you to do
that seems just too difficult?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you scared of your calling or what God
wants from you? Maybe it's a personal conviction. Maybe you are shy, but are
called to speak. Maybe you are not very compassionate by nature, but you are
called to give. Maybe you don't want a spotlight, but you are called to
minister in action. You can be sure that if He has called you to carry out His
will, He’s going to be faithful to accomplish it through the Holy Ghost living
and working in you. So if you tell Him, “I can’t do that, Lord—what if I fail?”
you’re really saying, “God doesn’t keep His word.” And yet, our total
expectation should be in Him—not in our own energy, ability, or experience. Without
God's direct intervention, help, and miraculous set up in MY life - I'd not
even be alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you doubt God’s trustworthiness, that
unbelief becomes a gap in your spiritual armor, and you can be sure that’s
exactly where the Devil will attack you. His only weapon is deceit and we are
so eager to listen, doubt, and then take action from a lie, instead of action
from God's instruction. You’ll begin to doubt even more about God’s character,
such as His Love, His goodness, His true power to heal and deliver - and that
will cause you to miss so much. That distrust will become a heavy load of
baggage you’ll needlessly drag through every area of your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You might feel that you do not have enough
faith to obey, but the Lord isn’t asking you to have faith in favorable
circumstances. And I don't buy into the big or little faith. I think faith is
binary. You either have it, or you don't. You either walk & live in faith
of the One True God and that He is working in your life, or you don't. God's
not asking you to do anything but believe and trust. He’s asking you to trust
that He is who He says He is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you believe that God is a liar?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s really that simple: either He is
truthful or He’s not. But if you believe that faithfulness is His character, then
you can do anything He requires. You’ll be strengthened by your dependence on
Him—whether a deluge or trials or a flood of blessing comes. It’s actually when
life gets rough and rugged that the sweetness of God’s faithfulness makes
itself real in your heart. As you walk through those storms in complete
reliance on His strength, your trust in His character becomes part of who you
are and strengthens from within.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Take a chance, trust God. Watch God work
in your life. This is coming from someone that truly... TRULY... was a lost
cause and not expected to live, much less thrive. If you can't believe enough
for yourself, I'll believe enough for you. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love y'all.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456242353572100712.post-20808552596500133232014-12-16T15:23:00.001-05:002014-12-16T15:23:04.104-05:00God's Wisdom Revealed<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#DailyProverbs 16:1,2: "We may make our plans, but God has
the last word. You may think everything you do is right, but the Lord judges
your motives."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you trust God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a simple question, but it packs a lot
of impact and potentially scary prospects with you answer. Almost every person
I know will say "Yes, of course" and they will hope to believe that.
In fact, growing up in the rural south... we are bred and trained to trust the
Lord and go to church and live our lives. And we spout that and talk it and
then we live as though it's not true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, DO you trust God? Do you trust Him
when He is telling you to be kind to someone and you think they don't deserve
it? Do you trust God when he says to give the cash in your pocket to the
stranger? And you think that bum deserves to be homeless and hungry due to bad
choices? Do you trust God when He says to you in a service, "Get up and go
hug that lady" and you resist because you don't want people to look or you
are scared you'll be rebuffed and embarrassed?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you trust God when you disagree with
Him? When you read a scripture that convicts you or causes you some weirdness?
Ouch. I don't always agree and want what I feel like God has for me or tells me
to do and go with. And it used to scare me to feel that way, like... somehow, I
was backslidden or a bad Christian if I had a personal opinion. (Granted, I try
to make sure that I eventually align correctly with God and that, to be honest,
He changes MY mind vs. me changing HIS mind... and there is a whole perfect vs.
permissive will thing that I try to avoid. Just because you stay saved and
alive doesn't mean you are IN God's will and living your BEST and
most-productive life. What if God tells you to move somewhere so you can be IN
His will and be in a place to grow and heal, but you are lonely or miss family?
Do you trust Him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you trust God when you feel like the
last idiot standing up for something? When so many of your conservative
"christian" friends and loved ones think that returning evil for evil
is the answer, do you stand firm and trust God's scriptural commands? When your
family tells you that helping someone in need is "fishy" and that you
need to be careful so they don't keep asking for help, is that what Christ
taught? Or if someone needs help, but they are not in your church, or don't
believe in your God, or don't agree with your politics... do you withhold help
and food and rent to them? Do you think they can "hear" your pitch on
being someone that follows Christ over the rumbling of their stomach and the
fear of being evicted? Do you trust God to work that out and you know your
proper place as a tool of His reconciliation and a vessel of His will? What's
more important to you, that YOU understand every detail of God's plan, or that
you are IN God's will and a usable and valuable vessel?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In his letter to Corinth, Paul talks of
the Holy Ghost and the very spirit of God giving us wisdom and letting us trust
the Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 is an AMAZING place to read some very real, but
scary and supernatural promises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6 - Wisdom for the spiritually mature<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7 - God's hidden wisdom, chosen to give to
us in plan hatched before creation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">8 - Carnal kingdoms didn't know and
couldn't know, or it would have gone differently<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">9 - Eyes have not seen, and ears have not
heard what God's got for us and what's coming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">10 - God reveals new truths and new things
via the spirit which is constantly searching for us and ONLY the spirit can
take us to God's hidden depths<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">11 - Only the soul in a person knows every
hidden thing and truth inside of them ONLY you know all you think and hope and
mean. You know your motives, your will, and your purpose. The same is true for
God and the Holy Ghost... ONLY the Holy Ghost can know all of God and ONLY the
Holy Ghost in YOU will give you access to the deep things of God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12- ONLY God's spirit can give us the
things of God. Not the world, nor other things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">13 - Our spiritual language and tongues
are the things that can teach in the spirit. Only those with the spirit, can
teach spiritual things<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">14 - Those without the spirit cannot
receive gifts of the spirit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">15 - Those WITH the spirit can assess and
judge the value of things, and remain judgeless of those around him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">16 - Who can know the Lord? Who has the
mind of Christ? Those with the spirit HAVE the mind of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, then... that's pretty heavy stuff...
And I love every bit of it. Why? Because after exposing the futility of worldly
thinking in 1 Corinthians 1, Paul introduces Christians to the higher realm of
godly wisdom. Paul wrote with lots of things I disagree: I think he was kind of
misogynistic, I think he was totally a spoiled brat, and I think lots of his
work was ghost written... BUT... I DO trust God to protect the message to
humankind and I trust God to protect the sacrifice of Jesus and the propagation of His church. But, with
Paul... he had to WRITE this passage with some trust in God. He had to trust
that Jesus was divine and that this kind of knowledge and understanding
isn't available through human intelligence and reasoning; it comes strictly
through divine revelation and the infilling of the very spirit of God. Only
those indwelt by God's Spirit have "the mind of Christ" (v. 16) and
access to "the things freely given" to them by God (v. 12).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do YOU trust
God? Do you NOT see that without this supernatural insight, no one can
accurately know the Lord or His ways? Do your actions belie your doubt? Do your
lips say one thing about you and your life says another? Many people say they
believe in God yet may not have a correct understanding of Him because their
perceptions are based on their own thoughts and ideas. To us, to the world, to
human wisdom... it's easier to custom-design a god to fit our preferences than
to make the REQUIRED adjustments that worshiping and following Christ require of us. Following Jesus isn't a
prayer you read off of the back of a tract, nor is it just having your Holiness
Standards and being comfortable, white, and Red. The ONE true God of Heaven,
Earth, Israel and that so kindly extended salvation to us gentiles demands
trust, faith... and ACTION that supports those beliefs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you trust
GOD to handle you? I know people that think God can't or won't forgive them.
They don't think God can help them with drinking, or drugs, or even with their
life and the way they choose to live or treat people. Do you trust God to be
big enough to deal with all of your mess? Even long-time and mature believers
need to guard against trying to fit God into their preconceived image of Him.
It's always so funny to me how Baby Christians and those young in the Lord have
SO much more faith in God to help them navigate their lives, until some
well-meaning older Christian gets a hold of them and talks them out of living
by faith, and instead teaches them to live by standards and by rote. The Bible
is currently the ONLY reliable source of divine revelation, but the Holy Ghost
can lead you and give you wisdom that your human brain can't hold and your
natural brain can't contain in the fullness of His Word. We must be careful to
consider the Scriptures as a WHOLE—it's critical that we don't just pick and
choose the verses we want to believe. For example, by focusing only on passages
that emphasize the Lord's loving-kindness while excluding those that speak of
His holiness and justice, we misunderstand His true nature. God is holy, but
God is ALSO compassionate. When we focus on how someone looks, rather than how they
LIVE and how they LOVE, we miss the mark. When we only focus on "if you don't
work, you don't eat" and ignore "if you have fed or given drink to
the least of these, it was as unto me" then you are MISSING the point of
God putting on skin and showing us a better way. Jesus showed us the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you trust
God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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JustBeingMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656151165688869148noreply@blogger.com0