Monthly Archives: July 2011

Bird Chase

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Toucan bird

Image by doug88888 via Flickr

A bird chases another by flying behind, just below and at a slight distance.  It remains in this position so that it can follow with the hope that its enemy will make a mistake.  And it flys below so that it can remain out of sight of the other bird.

So it is with satan.  He travels behind us in our blind spot.  He is waiting for us to forget that he is there.  He’s waiting for us to relax our grip on truth.  And when we do, the second stage of his work begins. 

By His grace.

An Unsettling Dream.

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"Landscape with the Dream of Jacob"

Image via Wikipedia

Dreams are always of interest to everyone.  Sometimes they mean something specific.  Most of the time it’s wise to consider what we had to eat before we went to bed.

I had a dream just before I woke this morning that has rattled my world.  Yet, in pondering its potential, I have come to a Christian conclusion. 

In the dream I did something.  I don’t know what I did.  But the effects of my action (or non-action) was too much for those who know me to bear.  I heard one person I know say, “That’s it!  I can’t take any more.”  And that person turned and walked away.  The others who knew me followed suit because the first person was more dear to them than I.  Evidently, I had one more obligation to accomplish near one of those who knew me.  When I was finished I asked that last person to help me dump remaining items into a sack.  After some painful deliberation on the part of the last person, he held the sack open for me and left.  I walked out the door into the street and felt the finality cover me like a tidal wave. 

When I woke, I wondered if this were a warning of something to come.  I thought about the Lord’s Right to be Lord God.  That nothing we desire is really ours to own.  In all things God’s will is to be accomplished.  And I accept anything that comes from His hand.  He is God!

Sadness resounds in my soul like a great bell on a hill.  I don’t know if this dream will come to pass.  But it’s caused me to ready myself for anything.  I give up willingly.  In fact, I place myself before Him with eager willingness.  I want God’s will to be accomplished in me regardless the outcome or my perception.

In considering the dream and the possibility that it is a warning of something to come, I am brought to another item of interest.  Many would fight to hold on to their place in this world.  But the servant of God should not be like that.  It is our duty under the Blood of His Son, that we should walk without blaming others for our situations.  I thought of Stephen, in the book of Acts.  He had done nothing wrong.  But the Jews were determined to kill him for his testimony for the Lord.  While they were stoning him he asked the Lord to forgive them, for they did not know what they were doing.  God was accomplishing something wonderful with every rock that impacted his body.  After he said this his soul was taken from his body.  With this in mind I post the following as a testimony to the Glory of God:

Father, You are Lord and God of absolutely everything in heaven and in earth.  Time is yours.  And in this place You have required us to endure testings of various kinds.  It is to You alone that man and angels will answer.  And You demand that Your people walk in obedience to Your Glorious will.  I ask You, Father, to hold nothing against anyone on my behalf.  Everything I have or own is not mine.  They can take nothing from me.  For I give it to You.  Even my desire to be loved is Yours to hold and do with as You see fit.  You are God!  By the Beautiful Name of Your Son Jesus I present this prayer.

By His Grace.

Too Weak to Speak.

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Christian symbol: This symbol was used primari...

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve talked to many Christians who think they don’t know enough about their faith to encourage others or convert the unsaved to a faith in Christ.  I was there too.  For many years I didn’t know what to say.  How did I get to the place where I’m creating a blog for the Lord?  I got here by watching others struggle with the truth themselves.  I saw how they stumbled around for the words.  And I was encouraged by their faith.  It’s not that they were able to make a mountain move off into the sea.  They didn’t have the faith to raise the dead or even heal the common cold.  They had the faith that in their trying they would gain from the Lord the understanding and strength to continue.

Look at how you’ve been encouraged by the faith of others who spoke out against wickedness or spoke of what is Righteous before the Lord.  When you begin to speak with what knowledge you do have, you will accomplish at least two things.  You will gain a confidence you didn’t have.  And each time you exercise that confidence it will grow.  And you will encourage others to speak out also.

Many are silent because others have been silent.  I encourage you to do your part to spread the Gospel.  Risk embarrassment.  It’s worth it.  And you’ll never become proficient as long as you never try.

 

By His Grace.

Nail it Down Now. Don’t Add to Regrets.

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Screw the deck boards in

Image by mathowie via Flickr

The deck out back wasn’t built very well.  The uprights aren’t spaced evenly.  And there aren’t enough of them to steady the weight from wiggling laterally.  It’s old.  And the nails they used are beginning to loosen.  I’ve hammered them back in a few times.   But they come loose again each year.   The frost, rain, and heat do their work to loosen what was done.  So I’m putting deck screws into the joints to help the deck last a few years longer.

While I’m doing this, I’m looking for similarities between my Christian walk and the deck I’m working on.  (No. It never stops with me.)  Then it dawned on me.  I consider the shoddy work done at the beginning of building.  And I’m here doing work to make that bad work last longer.  It will either come down on its own some day, or it will need to be torn down and rebuilt.  Either way, it won’t last as long as it might have done if the work in the beginning had been done well.

Consider your Christian life.  If you have had a rather shaky start, or allowed the world to mingle with your Christianity while you were forming the foundations of your faith, you’ll be fixing it till your last day on earth.  If you’ve begun a strong foundation to your Christianity, you’re likely going to be able to support more weighty problems.  And you’re less likely to be swayed by the winds of wickedness that the world will throw at you.

If you’ve had a shaky start, get in there and strengthen what remains.  Isn’t that what the Lord told us to do?  Keep what you have.  There’s no sense in tearing down what remains.  Refine your faith in the Lord.  Nail down those weak questionable choices you keep making.  Solidify your understanding in the Lord and learn what the Lord’s will is for you.  

Why am I out there sweating like a water faucet today?  I’m out there working on the deck because it needs to be done if I expect it to endure another winter or two.  What about you?   How long do you expect to have to endure this world’s assaults?  1 year?  30 years?  You’d do well to start strengthening yourself now.  The Christian walk either gets harder or easier come the end of your life.  Either you’ve planned and learned well to obey the Lord, or you’ve begun to forget the foundational teachings because you’re letting the world influence your choices.

By His Grace.

A Progression of Learning

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ABC Wikijunior

Image via Wikipedia

I had learned about math and hated it.  My brain doesn’t think like that.  I learned about history and thought it was fascinating.  “Now that’s more like it.”  I learned about reading and didn’t like it much.  My eyes track kind of weird so it’s not easy to read.  I learned how to make letters, “abcdefghijk…………”.  Hey!  This is more my style!  Now I can write about how much I hate math.   I can write about how fascinating history is.  I can write about how hard it is to read the stuff I love to write.

 

By His Grace.

Special?

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Martin Luther King, Jr.

Image by OakleyOriginals via Flickr

“If you drink this beer you’ll be special.” 

“If you shop here you’ll be special.” 

“If you act like this you’ll be special.” 

“If you have lots of friends you’ll be special.” 

“If you know the intricate details of the latest fad you’ll be special.” 

“If you gain that certain position of importance you’ll be special.”

Over the decades and into the centuries, who is remembered?  What great accomplishment can be made that will last for thousands of years?  Martin Luther King is remembered now.  But even as the days tick by there are people trying to rid historical books of his contribution to society.  In 200 years he will be forgotten except by a few.  Hitler is still remembered.  But there will come a time, if there’s enough time, when his contribution (or lack thereof) will be forgotten. 

Men come and go.  Deeds are done and then forgotten.  The only mark left is a memory or a little slab of rock.  Yet every one of us wants to be special and important.  We live out our days trying to leave our mark on this ball of dirt.  But what will last?   And what will happen to our “mark” when eternity rolls into view?

Only that which is built by the Father in Heaven through Jesus will last.  Don’t fool yourself by striving to become something in the eyes of other people.  Serve Him and you have the potential of becoming an eternal mark.

by His Grace.

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