"It's just WORDS!"

Psalms 19:14   (KJV)

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."

Psalms 5:1   (KJV)

"Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation."

The "WORDS" we use can determine how we are perceived.   If one is uneducated and unlearned, their language is usually the first place to reveal that.   On the other hand, if one is well educated, they generally reflect a keen knowledge of the language.  

GOD has a way of getting HIS way in our lives.  After all, HE created us and HE has the prerogative to do as HE chooses!  My brain sprung a leak six years ago and I was hospitalized for 52 days.  Afterward, my ability to "select" WORDS (Word Recall) has been limited.  Sometimes I just can't find the words to say exactly what I am feeling!  

I am no spiritual genius, but I think GOD uses that inability to find the desired words to "slow down" EVERYTHING in my life, and get me to WAIT ON HIM!  Not having the "WORD RECALL" like I had prior used to frustrate me, and still does sometimes.  But I am starting to see that when more thought and preparation are put into my "WORDS", I better express what GOD would have me say.  

I will be 53 years old in 3 weeks.  And it has taken me almost all 53 years to learn that the "WORDS" I say can be compassionate, sincere, funny, hurtful, or painful.  They can be uplifting and encouraging, or they can be used to dishearten  and tear down.  

Life is short!   If my purpose in life is to allow Christ to live through me, should I be using my few words to "tear down"?  Or should I be reflecting the LOVE OF CHRIST?  

"EYES AND EARS!"

Matthew 13:15-16  (KJV)   "For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."

A little over three years ago we "inherited" a little puppy from my future daughter-in-law and she and my youngest son talked "Dad" into keeping him for them for a while.  I guess I am the "push over" for our kids!  Not long afterward, my oldest son and daughter-in-law had a puppy that grew past the 50 lb. weight limit of their apartments.  So "push over" Dad came through once again.  

"ROME" and "ECHO" are now ours. My oldest son and daughter-in-law named their puppy "ROME" because they were engaged in Rome, Italy.   I guess the name "Italy" just didn't fit?

"ECHO" was named by my youngest son and then future daughter-in-law. He has extremely limited hearing abilities and his vision is not good either.  It took the longest for me to get accustomed to ECHO being NOT ABLE to hear when he is being talked to.  Be it in discipline or in a cuddling moment, ECHO simply cannot hear!  Occasionally, he can hear you if you scream at him, but you have to be real deliberate in your mannerisms.  At other times, ECHO will se sleeping in the floor, and "JUMP" as if he is startled, almost running for cover!

GOD has used this "puppy" (my wife has said they are 65 lb. lap dogs!) to teach me so many lessons.  I am a simple man so my lessons are generally just as simple.  Since ECHO cannot hear well, we tend to give instructions to ROME and hope that ECHO follows his lead.  ROME loves being the center of attention, and ECHO literally adores being the "tag-a-longer"!  ROME goes crazy when a Frisbee is in sight, and ECHO does too!  But, ECHO does not chase the Frisbee, he chases ROME who is chasing the Frisbee.  One can speculate the reason is because ECHO's vision is so limited he cannot see the Frisbee in the air, but he can see ROME running right in front of him.  

Isn't that the way people operate at times?  You have "LEADERS" and then there are "FOLLOWERS".   Some are "spoken to" by GOD to carry HIS message to others.  Others are simply waiting to follow the lead of the one "chasing the Frisbee"!  

Cherish the "role" GOD has given you!  It makes no difference if you are chasing the Frisbee or chasing someone else who is chasing the Frisbee.  Not everyone can fulfill the same roll, nor would they be happy trying.  Search HIS word and find your niche' and be the best ______ you can be.   

GOD will reveal to you what you need to be at exactly what HE has planned for you to be.  Like ECHO when he is startled, sometimes only you will hear what HE is saying to you!  

Matthew 11:27 says "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the SON WILL REVEAL HIM."    Keep your eyes and ears open!  

"SIX YEARS AGO TODAY!"

Six years ago today!  was my mom's 77th birthday.  Six years ago yesterday I was in a drug induced coma.  But six years ago TODAY, they removed the ventilator, turned off the DIPRIVAN, and brought me back to life!  

A lot of people want to know did I experience any "visions" or "trances" while in the coma?  There is very little I can remember between July 09, 2007 and July 29, 2007.  

The only way to define how I survived the Brain Hemorrhage is from my medical records from my first doctors office visit on September 25, 2007.  "However, he has had a remarkable recovery that could only be described as a miracle from GOD" wrote my doctor.   

Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."  Over the past few days I have been writing about how GOD uses everything in one's past to develop us into a tool HE can use.  

GOD certainly healed me after the Brain Hemorrhage.   I will continue to serve HIM as long as I have breath in this life.  Then, I will celebrate LIFE with HIM in the next life!!

"LIVING IN A "REAL" WORLD!"

1 John 5:19-21   (NASB)

"We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. "We know that we are of GOD, and that THE WHOLE WORLD lies in the power of the evil one." And we know that the Son of GOD has come, and has GIVEN us UNDERSTANDING so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life."

Our bodies are "real".  We can touch, taste, feel, see, hear with and through them.  But, don't get so caught up in the here and now.   We look right past what we SAY we believe, and live as though the "here and now" is "reality"!  THE "SPIRIT" WORLD IS  THE "REAL" WORLD!   The enemy would like to continue to have our focus remain on the "here and now", rather than on "what's to come"!  

Ephesians 6:12 says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."  When I start to try and figure things out "on my own", I generally get into trouble.  In the book of John 18:36 JESUS says "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of THIS WORLD: if my kingdom were of THIS WORLD, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."  When I think of all of the supposed wisdom in today's culture, I am reminded that GOD is far above what society deems as wise.  Matthew 11:25 reveals "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the WISE and PRUDENT, and hast revealed them unto babes."

Perhaps, we should be looking for someone who is "IN TUNE" with GOD, rather than someone with numerous college degrees to lead us?   

Then in 1 Corinthians 1:20 it is written "Where is the WISE? where is the SCRIBE? where is the disputer of this world? hath not GOD made foolish the wisdom of this world?"  

Ephesians 1:21 says "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which IS TO COME".

The Bible has PLENTY of warnings and "stop lights"!  The "REAL" world is coming!  Yet, we live our lives in such a fast pace that few have time for GOD and HIS WORD! We are more contempt wondering in the wilderness than we are entering The PROMISED LAND!   I pray that "ears to hear" and "eyes to see" will be opened while there is still time.   

"ROCK BOTTOM!"

2 Corinthians 7:8-10   (ESV)

"For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it-though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.  As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For GODLY GRIEF PRODUCES REPENTANCE that leads to salvation WITHOUT regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."

Even though we sometimes have to go through something's in our lives that are difficult to deal with, the results are worth it in the end.   You have hear the old adage "When you hit rock bottom, there is no place to look but UP!"   

GOD has to get us to "ROCK BOTTOM" sometimes so that we can see HE is the "ROCK at the bottom"!!!

"STRAINING THE MILK"!

My grandmother was well-known for her skills in the kitchen.  Everybody knew that "Grandma" could cook like no other person.   As a matter of fact, "Grandma" cooked our wedding rehearsal dinner when we married February 17, 1984.   Regrettably, she slipped into heaven February 15, 1985, two days before our first wedding anniversary.  

My GrandPa used to milk his milk cow everyday.  Grandma would "process" the fresh milk as soon an GrandPa brought it in the house.  She would strain the milk with a "strainer" and then strain it again with a special cloth especially made for straining the cream out of milk.  Only the milk made it through the straining cloth.  Everything else was removed.  

Over the past couple of days, I have been writing about lessons from the book CLASSIC CHRISTIANITY. The stories shared, Reed and Marian dealing with the death of their daughter Wendy, and Tim Stevenson preparing for his Canadian Wilderness trip, made me think of Grandma straining her fresh milk.   

We are all unique in our Christian walk.  Our spiritual "DNA" is developed by the dealings and circumstances of our lives.  No one else has my experiences, with the people I knew, at the time I had them, for the length of time I had them, and on and on.   We are made with GREAT care and PRECISE motions.  Psalms 139:14 says "I will praise thee; for I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."   GOD knew Jeremiah "before I formed thee in the belly" (Jeremiah 1:5).   Reed and Marian both lost the same daughter, yet they individually had to cope with the tragedy in their own way.  Tim Stevenson prepared for "Discipline" in his life like few others. 

Everyone has thoughts and emotions that make us unique.   GOD knows our thoughts (Isaiah 66:18; Psalms 94:11) and HE has HIS thoughts about us (Jeremiah 29:11).  

Sometimes I get impatient with GOD trying to get all if the impurities out of my life.  It seems that HIS plan is to keep "STRAINING" my life until all the cream and impurities are removed.  Like Tim Stevenson, HE does it because HE LOVES me and HE wants me to succeed.  I just have to remember Psalms 27:14 that says "WAIT on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I say, on the LORD."

"HARD TIMES?"

Today, I share the second of the stories from the a book titled CLASSIC CHRISTIANITY.  I pray these stories have as much impact in your life as they have in mine.  

First though, we must define two key words.  PUNISHMENT is a penalty imposed on an offender for a crime or wrong doing.  It is usually dealt with "behind" (or after) the offense.  

The second word is DISCIPLINE.   DISCIPLINE is totally different.  DISCIPLINE is "training" that develops self-control, character, and ability.  It is usually dealt with looking "ahead" (in preparation) of when it is needed.  Now, to the book:

"JESUS said, 'In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33).  When faced with tragedies and troubles of life, there is no human tendency stronger than to ask the question, 'WHY?' 'Why did it happen?' we cry. 'Is this problem a sign that GOD is angry with me?'  

A tremendous illustration of this principle came to Tim Stevenson one day when he was out running on some country roads.  "I had a trip planned that I was really excited about," Tim explains.  "I was going on a week-long wilderness canoe trip to Canada, to an area that I had been to several times before and really love.  But this was no leisurely vacation.  This part of Canada is true wilderness.  It's very challenging, so I was spending several weeks getting ready for the trip---running extra miles, doing extra push-ups, and so on." 

"This particular day, it was about 90 degrees in the Texas sun, with the heat radiating off of the blacktop roads.  I had nearly completed my three-mile run, dead tired, when an idea suddenly occurred to me.  If my body could talk, I thought, it would be saying, "What is this?  What's going on?   Why are you doing this to me?  Are you mad at me?  Is there some unconfessed sin in my life?"

"I would have answered back, 'Body, I  am not mad at you.  I'm doing this because I love you.  I know the future and you don't.  I know that in about six weeks, you're going to be paddling a canoe for up to eight hours a day, you're going to be carrying a 75-pound canoe or a 90-pound food pack for up to a mile at a time, up and down hills, often through sloppy mud.  You'll have a whole week of that.  Now, if I get you ready, you'll have a gray time.  If I don't get you ready, you're going to die".  

"I burst out laughing when I realized this is exactly how we respond to GOD when we run into problems.  Like ancient pagans, we are continually trying to interpret events.  When things go our way, it means the gods are happy with us; when we run into problems, it means the gods are angry with us.  That's the way man naturally thinks, and we still carry that into the Christian life. We still find it hard to trust in the good intentions of a GOD who has done everything conceivable to demonstrate HIS love and concern for us".  

The Apostle Paul writes the following books while in prison in Rome: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.  The Apostle John writes the Book of Revelation while in prison on the Island of Patmos.  ......IN PRISON!!

Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

 I just have to learn to TRUST HIM more! 

"BAD vs. GOOD!"

As many know, at the fellowship I attend we have been reading a book titled CLASSIC CHRISTIANITY this summer.  There are two stories in the latter chapters I am led to share over the next couple of days.  I pray they minister to you, as they have to me.  

"Why would GOD tell us to give HIM thanks in all circumstances, even in bad ones?  Because giving thanks is a concrete expression of our faith in GOD---that our lives are in HIS hands, and that we are trusting HIM to fulfill HIS promise on Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose."  The result if trusting GOD with our lives and expressing that faith through giving thanks is a freedom and peace that is supernatural. 

Philippians 4:6-7  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to GOD.  And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  

The greatest example I have witnessed of this truth in action was the story of a young couple named Reed and Marian.  Reed was one of several fathers taking a girls' group on a camping trip to Oklahoma.  Before leaving their home in Dallas, their six-year-old daughter , Wendy, came up and asked, "Mommy, is it okay if I ride in the other car with my friend? She doesn't have anybody to ride with."  Marian said it was fine, and the group set out.  It was raining and the streets were slick.  Before the group had gotten far, the driver of the car in which Wendy was riding lost control.  He tried to bring the vehicle back, but the trailer they were hauling fishtailed.  Miraculously, in a chain-reaction accident that eventually totalled 26 cars, the most serious injury was a broken arm to one of the girls---that is, except for Wendy.  Wendy was thrown out of the car and was instantly killed. 

Just a few weeks later, I was riding with Reed in a funeral limousine.  This time, he was a pallbearer for one of his closest friends, Steve, who had died of cancer at the age of 32.  Surprisingly though, Reed was his usual, soft-spoken smiling self, even though his eyes were teary.  In spite of everything, he seemed to be doing very well.  

"Well, Reed," I said gently, "I suppose you have had enough of this to last you for a while."  

He smiled and said, "That's for sure."  

"Tell me," I asked.  "How are you holding up? How have you learned to deal with the loss of Wendy?"  

"Let me tell you about that," he said.  "Marian and I look at it this way.  What if GOD had come to us six years ago and made us an offer. 'Reed and Marian, I have a little girl, a daughter of Mine, named Wendy.  Now she's only going to be on earth for six years.  But I need someone who will love her, look after her, and teach her about ME for those six years.  Then I am going to take her home to Me. So I wonder: Would you like Me to give her to you, realizing that those are the conditions?'  Marian and I would have both said, 'Oh yes, LORD. Give her to us!"

"And that's just what we feel that GOD has done.  We have chosen to be thankful for every one of those six years that Wendy enriched our lives.  We miss her terribly.  We've cried, and we'll cry more tears.  But we know we will see her again, and we thank GOD for it all."

Bishop Robert E. Smith once told me "Writing helps crystallize my thoughts and enables me to better articulate my deductions."  Typing this out has made me slow my thought process to a point I can absorb what is being said.  I challenge you to "SEE" what it is that GOD is saying to you today!  

"THAT'S MY BOY"!!

Mark 1:9-13   (KJV)

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him.  And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am WELL PLEASED.  And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.  And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him."

My relationship with my sons is very special to me.  In my eyes, both are caring people who minister to others selflessly.  They have married beautiful, Godly women who support them fully.  

I can still remember when they were both born.  The joy and excitement they brought goes beyond words.  Later in life, when their shortcomings had to be dealt with, some of the "joy and excitement" faded a bit!  But, those times were never as bad as I thought at the time, nor as they could have been! 

In the scripture above, JESUS was baptized by John in the Jordan River.  GOD had to let the world know how pleased HE was, like I did when my sons were born.  Keep in mind, GOD's holiness precludes HIM from being seen by man.  Moses (in Exodus 33) had to shield his face to even see the back of GOD when HE passed by!  GOD was SO pleased with JESUS that HE said "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am WELL PLEASED"!  It was like GOD was telling everyone "That's my boy"!  

In studying "CLASSIC CHRISTIANITY" one of the things Bob George emphasizes is that when GOD sees us, all HE can see is CHRIST!   John 17:23 says "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."  When GOD sees me, HE says "That's my boy"!  

GOD is pleased with me because CHRIST lives in me!   HE doesn't see the "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) I bring, HE sees the HOLY LAMB of GOD!  

I cannot describe the LOVE in my heart for my sons, and now my daughter-in-laws!  JESUS says in Luke 15:10 10 "there is joy in the presence of the angels of GOD over one sinner that repenteth."  I am so glad that GOD's plan included me! 

"WILDERNESS LIVING"!

1 Peter 4:8-10   (KJV)

"And above all things have fervent (having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit) charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.  Use hospitality one to another without grudging.  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

I know that people don't "read" the Bible like they used to.  And most don't read because they won't be really "changed" by the word, and they don't "SEE" a change in us that they would want!  I would venture to say that even most "church going" people don't grasp the fact that most of our problems are spiritual (Ephesians 6:11-20).  And if the church doesn't grasp it, then the "deaf" and "blind" (Matthew 16:13) sure can't understand it!  

I was reading recently and the estimation was that over $30 TRILLION has been spent on "The War on Poverty"!  I grew up in poverty, but I didn't know it!  My mom and dad divorced when I was four years old and my dad left the country to avoid paying child support.  My mom was a high school drop out with three children to raise.  

We had no ANYTHING!  No home, no car, no money, no extra clothes.  We moved into a house with no running water, no electricity, no sewer, only walls and a roof.  My mom got her GED and went to nursing school.  But, we had LOVE!  We were raised by her alone, with assistance from my grandparents and a whole community!   

"It takes a village to raise a child" should read "It takes the HELP of a village to raise a child".  My mom raised my sisters and I.  Everyone can be used, to better others or drag them down.  I don't know how many mentors I had as a 8-15 year old boy with no father figure in my life.  It would seem as though GOD would let me "leech" onto one person and then I would move onto another.  I praise GOD for each of these men he allowed to be surrogate dads for me. 

If we ALL uses the instructions from the Bible passage above, " Use hospitality (LOVE) one to another without grudging.  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another", our problems would be greatly reduced.  If we would "meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein" (Joshua 1:8)  in respect to GOD's Word, our journey would be a lot smoother.  The children of Israel chose to wander in the wilderness 40 years rather than follow GOD's plan.  

Our nation generally has a heart like the men I "leeched" off of growing up. The USA is the first nation to assist when a disaster occurs.  But, we have forgotten where our battles (Ephesians 6:11-20) are fought and we have busied ourselves beyond our capacity, choosing to live in the wilderness.  Until we return to acknowledging the source of our strength.......we will NOT HAVE PEACE!!

Psalms 29:11    "The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace."

"IT'S JUST WORDS"!

Ephesians 4:28-31   (KJV)

"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.   Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of EDIFYING, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice"

Matthew 12:34-36   (KJV)

"O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

Growing up I was taught a song that I still remember even to this day.   "Be careful little mouth what you say, Be careful little mouth what you say, For the Father up above is looking down on us, Be careful little mouth what you say!"   

There have been many times when I spoke out of anger or malice with no thought of the witness I was having for my LORD!  

FATHER, help me to guard my lips as "words" cannot be taken back and respoken once they are said.  

"LIFE.....the light of men"!

John 1:1,4       (KJV)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

"In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men."

The Book of the Bible that tells John's account of the Gospel of Christ has been used to reveal quite a bit to this student.   The "truths" displayed are moving and informative.  This morning, while reading in John, I was caused to go back to the beginning of the Book of John.  

John 10:30 says "I and my Father are one."  That is such a revealing statement to me.  But then I remembered John 1:1 saying "In the beginning was the Word (JESUS), and the Word (JESUS) was with GOD, and the Word (JESUS) was GOD"!  

I then remembered GOD telling Moses in Exodus 33 "for there shall NO MAN see me, and live".  There had to be a way to allow the vastness of GOD into man while not killing HIS creation.  

GOD/JESUS in HIS wisdom made "THE LAW" to show man he could not live up to the standard (perfection) of Heaven.  Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God".  

So "LIFE" was was provided through JESUS!  The antithesis of life is death.  Without JESUS, my existence would be an eternal "death"!   When you remove the "LIGHT", you are left with darkness. I don't have to do anything for light or darkness.   JESUS did everything for me.  

All I have to do is chose which team I will be a member of?  Either a team of "LIFE" or a team of death and darkness?  Everyone has a choice.  

Whom do you choose?  

"HE STILL SPEAKS"!

John 10:22-31   (KJV)

"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.  And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.  Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:   And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  I and my Father are one.  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him."

"The Jews" claimed to have a desire to know The CHRIST.  They even said "How long dost thou make us to doubt?".  But, they only wanted to know the Christ they were searching for.  

As I wrote yesterday, Their minds were fixed on who they thought HE was, rather than who HE demonstrated HE was!  The Jews had the Real CHRIST right in front of them and they didn't even know it! They couldn't "hear" or "see" HIM (Matt 13:15).  

In v. 27 JESUS says "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them".  UThere is nothing as sweet as when one "hears" from HIM.  No, I have not ever audibly heard the voice of GOD.  But my Spirit hears from HIM with regularity.  There is nothing comparable to knowing when you have heard from The CREATOR!   

There is a song named "HE still speaks"!  I am posting the YouTube link for your enjoyment: http://youtu.be/7mVmi22CtJE

#regeneration

Mark 6:1-6    (KJV)

"And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.  And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.  And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching."

When I think of JESUS, the offspring of GOD ALMIGHTY, my mind goes directly to royalty and majesty!   But according to scripture, JESUS was not thought of very highly amongst those who had a "perception" of who HE was.  Their minds were fixed on who they thought HE was, rather than who HE demonstrated HE was!  

Our perception sometimes precludes our judgement.  We "perceive" things to be a certain way, yet the reality often proves us WRONG!  Typically wealth and public stature are used to determine acceptability and success.  

When you consider JESUS as a man, HE was not a great success story.  HE was a carpenter.  Scripture does not record if HE was a Master Carpenter.  HIS success as a carpenter was not well documented.  There is not a museum of artifacts that JESUS made while here on earth.  HIS work was "not of this world"! (John 8:23).  

HE was, and is, GOD in the flesh!  JESUS is GOD's son, yet HE lived in abstract poverty HIS entire life!  Why then does society tend to emphasize the temporal things (wealth, prestige, and earthly possessions) and neglect the eternal (relationship with GOD, loving our brother, caring for widows and sick, loving others)??

JESUS' ministry only lasted a little over three years here on earth.  Yet HE impacted this world in those three years unlike any before or since.  

The temple leaders were "astonished" at HIS teachings .  "And they were offended at him" at the same time!   When we are shown to be wrong, or our perception is misguided, our NATURE is to lash out and attack.   Our only hope is trading our "nature" in for a "SPIRIT"!    #regeneration

"GOD's GLORY"!

Exodus 33:

"And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found GRACE  in my sight, and I know thee by name.  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall NO MAN see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:  And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:  And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."

At my church fellowship, we are currently reading a book written by Bob George called CLASSIC CHRISTIANITY.  He writes that "the law" was given by GOD to drive men to CHRIST.  (That is another story that may take a week to write about!)  The thing I am fixated on today is GOD revealing HIMSELF to Moses "just enough" that all of Israel would know "The Law" was divine, and not man-made.   HE needed Moses to demonstrate that it was a divine appointment he was keeping.  

Moses only got to see GOD's "back parts" as HE past by Moses.  The GLORY OF GOD was so brilliant that Moses had to cover his face before seeing the Israelites.  The children of Israel could only imagine what seeing GOD was like, yet they KNEW Moses was dealing with DIETY!  His countenance "reflected" it!   

Exodus 34:33-35

"And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.  But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him."

Some people's perception of GOD is like a big "Bug Zapper", a light that kills bugs when they fly into it.  To the contrary, GOD is a GOD of love and compassion.  Why else would HE turn HIS back on HIS SON on Calvary in order to purchase my salvation?  HIS love is immeasurable.  

HIS desire is to "LOVE" us into changing.  HE was demonstrating HIS love when HE was giving "The Law" to Moses.  HE further demonstrated that love when JESUS completed our salvation on Calvary.   

The closer to HIM I get, the more of HIMSELF HE reveals to me.  My desire is to demonstrate HIS GLORY in my life, much like Moses did to the children of Israel.  I relish the thought of being used by HIM!