AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS!

IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES , AND PRAY, ANS SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14

"AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS"

Unfortunately, I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so I have become very dependent on Dictionary.com.  I decided to look up the word "Wicked" this morning.  It read "Wicked-evil or morally bad in principle or practice; SINFUL; iniquitous: wicked people; wicked habits."

Why do we try to sugar coat what GOD is telling us?  Sometimes we even try to make the MESSAGE less offensive to make GOD seem less judgmental!  The message is clear!   As a people, we have become so "WICKED" that we don't even recognize SIN anymore.  

GOD is PURE!  HE does not change.  James 1:17 says there is NO "shadow of turning" with HIM!  HIS commandments have not evolved into suggestions!  Just because "we" have a want or desire does not cause a HOLY GOD to relax HIS WORD. 

The BIBLE declares that we must "TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS"!   My sin is just as bad as a death row inmate.  I MUST PURIFY MYSELF DAILY!!

AND SEEK MY FACE

IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES , AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14 "AND SEEK MY FACE" Seek- means "to go in search  or quest of" according to dictionary.com.  Jeremiah 29:13 says it best....  "And ye shall SEEK me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."  MY FACE-  When you are intimate with someone you cannot get enough of just looking at that person.  I have a picture of my wife, made before we were married, that she gave to me that I absolutely "CHERISH".  I carried it with me wherever I went for the longest.  The replacement cost of that picture TO ME can not be figured in dollars.  She cares for me like no one else.  I love my wife dearly.    We are "CHERISHED" by GOD and HE desires for us to CHERISH HIM!  When HE commands us to "Seek My Face" , GOD is saying that HE desires for us to be dependent on HIM and TRUST (Faith) HIM with everything!   Our very next breath comes from HIM and we should acknowledge HIM for it!   Whenever we get to the point that we trust in our own abilities and actions rather than relying on HIM, we have returned to IDOLTARY!   I CHOOSE TO TRUST HIM!  

"IF"

This morning, while having my quiet time, I was praying for our nation.  I was doing the typical "GOD, grant us" prayer when my thoughts and prayers came to an abrupt halt!  It was as if GOD was telling me the SAME thing HE had to tell author (Ezra?) of 2 Chronicles in his day.  "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV) So, I decided to SLOW things down and see what I heard.  The first word in the verse is "IF"!   I believe in GOD's sovereignty and that HIS creation is under HIS authority.  Man can believe he is making choices when GOD is directing man's heart.  Exodus 7:2 says "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and will multiply MY signs and MY wonders in the land of Egypt.  But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my and upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgements."  Pharaoh was not a GODLY man, yet GOD hardened his heart to bring GOD glory.  Couldn't Pharaoh have just let the Israelites go free?  Why do we try to live GODLY lives when GOD can "harden" or "soften" our hearts at HIS discretion?   I believe our purpose is to bring GOD glory.   It is not to have the largest house, biggest bank account, or live "The American Dream"!  I believe our purpose is to bring honor and glory to the Creator in everything we do.  So, I begin my exposition declaring that I am chosen by HIM to bring GLORY to HIM!  I am not worthy, but blessed beyond measure.   At this pace I should be all the way through this verse in a couple of months!  

"LITTLE CHILDREN!"

My wife and I had the privilege of eating Dinner with my sons and their wives Saturday Evening before Mother's Day on Sunday.    Just sitting there watching and listening to the conversation around the table was enjoyable for me. It is amazing that I have two sons that are 25 and 21 years old! 

In my quiet time this morning, I was reflecting on my kids growing years.  It is amazing how time slips by!  It is also frightening in a way to realize how the things that SEEMED so important while they were growing up, now seem so insignificant.  Playing baseball, winning a spelling contest at school, playing in a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP game in high school, all seem so removed from today!  And yet, the events seemed to dominate our lives at the time! 

Whose "fault" was that?  Who let the PRIORITIES of our family be set in one way or another?  1 John Chapter 2 starts out by saying "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."  It ends by saying "And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him" in 1 John 2:28-29 (ESV). 

I (Dad) may have gotten my FOCUS off a time or three while my sons were growing up, but GOD never allowed me to be apart from HIM!  Sometimes our vision gets obscured, but when we focus on OUR KING the goal becomes extremely clear.  LORD, help me to be more focused on the things YOU deem are important so I will not have to "shrink from him in shame at his coming!"

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Today is the day we celebrate MOTHER'S DAY!  Mom's from across the globe are getting flowers and candy and being told how much they mean to their family.  Happy Mother's Day to all of the mom's out there!

My wife is a MOTHER to two wonderful young men that are blessings from THE LORD!  Her mother was the "spittin image" that she followed!  Her and her mom are the perpetual "MOM" in that they are always "doing" for their children. 

My MOM was the BEST mom......for me!  Your mom is the BEST mom for you!  MOM's do/don't do things for us that GOD uses to MOLD into what HE desires us to be.  I have read on Facebook this morning and in the newspaper all kinds of tributes to MOM's and people who want to be with their mom........one more time! 

I LOVE my mom. although she passed from this life into ETERNAL life in 2008.  But I do not want to see her again NEAR as much as I want to see JESUS.  I want to see the one who left HIS heavenly home to VISIT HIS creation and make a way for me to come where HE is.  Isaiah 64:6 says "all out rightousnesses are as filthy rags!"  I want to see what HE makes of me when I enter HEAVEN!  Deserving..........not in  the least!  EXPECTING...........absolutely!!!

Did I choose to believe?

In my previous post, HUMILITY was the word of the day!  As I stated, it will serve me well to realize and understand that it (MY LIFE) is all about HIM! 

Ephesians 1: 4B-6 then reminded me that EVEN my salvation is a GIFT from THE CREATOR!  In Ephesians it says "In LOVE,  HE predestined us for adoption as sons through JESUS CHRIST, according to the purpose of HIS will, to the praise of HIS glorious grace, with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved."  My salvation and relationship with HIM is about me serving and praising HIM!  Without HIM, I don't even have the desire to live for HIM!

HE chose me before HE formed the worlds!  Verse 4A tells me "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world".  So, even my salvation was not my idea!  I did not CHOOSE HIM, HE chose me!  How humbling is that?  How AMAZING is that?  UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Are you HUMBLE?

On May 04 I wrote about being humble.  My post was from a friend and it began with this. 

"Humility is the voluntary lowering of yourself or the willingness to give up something that should rightfully be yours. To be humble, you must eliminate pride and arrogance from your life."

The LORD will not let me get passed this statement.  I am not very intelligent so I have to look everything up on Dictionary.com.  Humility, according that website, is defined as a "modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance."  The statement above goes on to say we must "eliminate pride and arrogance" from our lives. According to Dictionary.com "PRIDE" means "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit or superiority".  The definition of "ARROGANCE" is an "offensive display of superiority or self-importance: overbearing pride". 

The word "OWN" is used in two of the three definitions listed above, and not in affectionate tones!  It is not about what I want or what I think I may need.  GOD loves me, but just as I did not let my children have everything the wanted or asked for, GOD cannot and does not allow me to have everything I wish for.  It is about HIM and what HE has determined I need. 

When will I realize that my existence here on this earth is NOT about ME!!!  It has taken all of my 50+ years to come to the realization that life is not about what I want or I desire.  It is about how I can be used "OF HIM, FOR HIM, and BY HIM" to do HIS WILL! 

Cindy Hodde

"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body."  C.S. Lewis

This quote was made before C.S. Lewis passed away in 1963.  A year or so before C.S. Lewis died, GOD brought Cindy Hodde into this world as a SOUL! 

Cindy Hodde has been my friend since the late 1980's.  We went to church together and have sang in choir, praise teams, trios, quintets, and duos.  She always was singing in her heart as well with her precious voice.  Let me say also, Cindy CAN cook!  It always makes me wonder what GOD was thinking to make some people so skinny and still be able to cook! 

Now I am not going to lie and say that Cindy has never said a bad word about anybody.  I don't want to try and make her more than she really is!  I am not sure that those people REALLY exist.  But to those who know Cindy, she is as sweet a person as you will ever meet.  And she LOVED her LORD! 

Her husband, Richard, has been her best-friend for 30+ years.  They reared three young men and THEN adopted two young ladies and finished raising THEIR girls!  Cindy Hodde was NOT perfect here on earth!  But she is now!  On May 03, 2012 at around 9:00PM Cindy Hodde left her body and continued her ETERNAL LIFE in heaven with JESUS and the angels!  ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) won the battle for her body, but the ultimate VICTORY was won on Calvary when JESUS died for her! 

I will miss seeing you...............for awhile!  My friend, as Rusty Goodman wrote a few years ago "LOOK FOR ME, I WILL BE THERE TOO!

I NEED A NEW _______ ??????

Where did the idea come from that someone would provide ANY of our needs?  Why do we think that we should get unemployment check when we don't work?  Why do we think that when our family is "POOR" or destitute that we should get help from anyone?  We have WIC, Food Stamps, Welfare, Rent Subsidies, Insurance assistance, and on and on!  When we accept help from the Government, we are in essence taking help from our neighbors! 

Psalms 121:2 (ESV) says "My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."  The Creator of the Universe is the ONE who sees to making sure our needs are met.  "OUR NEEDS" sometimes has a different meaning when THE CREATOR is the one deciding!

A few years ago I was unable to work and was relegated to accepting an UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK from the US Government.  At that time, I felt I had no other alternative.  I had suffered a brain hemorrhage and could not find ANYONE who would hire me!  GOD was there for me. But I was not looking for HIM!  I was looking for a check!  Sometimes, we get so caught up in finding OUR SOLUTION to a problem when GOD is wanting to provide HIS SOLUTION!

LORD, help me to realize that YOU are my sustenance for my daily life!  Father in HEAVEN, help me to depend ONLY on YOU and to be thankful for all of the blessings YOU provide! 

WHY?

So many times I am left wondering WHY GOD allows the things HE does?  Why did HE let a friend of mine die in an auto accident and yet ME survive a near fatal brain hemorrhage?  Why did my younger sister die of stomach cancer at the age of 34 years and 3 days old?  Why would HE choose to allow brutal, senseless attacks on children in this world and let evil people seemingly flourish?  WHY?

There seems to be no good answer. But, it IS possible, that we do not know all there is to know?  GOD says in Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.".

As smart as WE THINK we are, we do not know all the answers to all of life.  Problems, questions, and difficulties appear and we have NO ANSWERS!!!  GOD is the only answer!  Later in Isaiah 55 GOD says "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth, it shall NOT return to me empty, but it SHALL accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it".

This is not some High School philosopher or prognosticator guessing!  This is the CREATOR of ALL telling me that HE is going to accomplish HIS purpose for HIS GLORY!  When we start to live like this is not all about us and it us all about HIM it will start to fall into place!