“IN PEACE!”

 

Psalm 4:8                 (ESV)

    “[8] “IN PEACE” I will both lie down and sleep;

        for YOU ALONE, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

It is not often nowadays that I wake up early in the morning.  Since the Brain Hemorrhage over 19 years ago, I have slept about 10 hours a night most of the time, with very few exceptions. 

“The coma” was as PEACEFUL as anything I have ever experienced in my life!  Having the people who love me suffer through that tumultuous ordeal is not something that I would want for them, but LETTING GO of the cares of “this world” is something that is VERY FREEING!!!

When we are able to REST “IN PEACE” from the cares of “this world”, it is truly something that can only be achieved through THE LORD OF HOSTS!  Acknowledging that HE IS IN CONTROL is paramount to being able to sleep “IN PEACE”!!  

Being able to sleep “IN PEACE” is something that we need to TRUST in YOU ALONE, O LORD to accomplish for us!  Our lives are SO BUSY that we can’t seem to LET GO of everything and rest “IN PEACE”!!!

“THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM!”

 

Psalm 145:18-21                 (ESV)

    “[18] “THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM”,

        to all who call on HIM in truth. 

    [19] HE fulfills the desire of those who fear HIM;

        HE also hears their cry and saves them. 

    [20] The LORD preserves all who love HIM,

        but all the wicked HE will destroy.

    [21] My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,

        and let all flesh bless HIS HOLY NAME forever and ever.”

On July 09, 2007 I was operating at a pace that didn’t allow hearing from GOD, so HE ORCHESTRATED me being placed into a SEVENTEEN DAY COMA on July 12-29 to SLOW DOWN the feverish pace just a bit!  

“THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM” wasn’t talking about me, because I wasn’t taking time to listen to anything……especially GOD IN HEAVEN!!!

HE graciously brought me through the “massive brain hemorrhage” with minimal brain damage.  HE also gave me a few mementos to carry with me, similar to the following words from my doctor: “However, he has had a remarkable recovery that could ONLY be defined as a miracle from GOD”!!!  

Over nineteen years later I am now BEGGING to be a servant written about above….“THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM”!!!  PLEASE LORD, speak to YOUR humble servant!!!

“ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME!”

 

Hebrews 13:13-16                 (ESV)

“[13] Therefore let us go to HIM outside the camp and bear the reproach HE endured. [14] For here WE HAVE NO LASTING CITY, but WE SEEK THE CITY THAT IS TO COME. [15] Through HIM then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to GOD, that is, the fruit of lips that “ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME”. [16] Do not neglect to DO GOOD and to SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE, for such sacrifices are PLEASING TO GOD.”  

Formerly in my life, I was CONSUMED with the results of my favorite college football team!  Keeping up with the team and their results was paramount to me.  Friends of mine currently are going to see their favorite teams, as I’m sure most of the country is.  The amount of investment that is spent towards collegiate sports is ASTRONOMICAL, because of the love of the respective teams.  

When I saw the above listed verses, my mind went to all of the time, effort, and treasure that was invested in supporting my teams.  But then I take into consideration the amount of money that I have spent playing, watching my loved ones playing, or just watching good teams playing all kinds of sports, and it rattles my brain that I should have been investing in THE KINGDOM OF GOD as much as my own desires!!!

As I am probably in my senior citizen years, it is almost shameful that THE KINGDOM OF GOD has been in the “back seat” of my mind until now??  Sure, my sons (and now my grandchildren!) dominated my passions at the time, but THE KINGDOM OF GOD is the MOST IMPORTANT from my current point of view!!!

GOD’S WORD is instructing us to “ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME” in the passage of Scripture above!  Whether it is a sporting event, a social gathering, or whatever we try to elevate before our SAVIOR…….we MUST “ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NAME” and WHO HE TRULY IS……THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES!!!

“THE LORD WHO GOES BEFORE YOU!”

 

Deuteronomy 31:7-8                 (ESV)

“[7] Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. [8] It is “THE LORD WHO GOES BEFORE YOU”.  HE will be with you; HE will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Remembering “”before the Brain Hemorrhage” of July 09, 2007, “my thoughts” were that I was “in control” of my life???  But when I awoke that morning I was ANYTHING BUT in control, as I was unable to communicate, walk, hug my family, or perform any other task!  It was as if GOD was displaying to this “giant of a man” that HE IS IN CONTROL, not me!!!!

As I sat in the “waiting room” of the hospital recently while a dear friend was in surgery, it was made clear to me ONCE AGAIN that GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!!!  Even when “we think” that we are in complete control, GOD IS IN CONTROL!!  Even though my memory from my 2007 hospital stay (52 days!) is quite sketchy and very troubling for my family, in the latter days I DO REMEMBER that I UNDERSTOOD that I was NOT IN CONTROL OF ANYTHING and that GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!  

“We think” that we are “in charge” of whatever things we are doing in life, but we are MOST DEFINITELY NOT!!!  Joseph was NOT IN CONTROL when his brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 17:18-36)!  He WASN’T IN CONTROL when he was placed into prison by Potiphar’s guards (Genesis 39:19-21)!  And still Joseph WASN’T IN CONTROL when he was ELEVATED to second in command, behind only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:37-44) supposedly!!!

Because of the PATH I have been ASSIGNED, my VISION is quite different than what others have the ability to SEE!  I was TOTALLY “out of control” while I was in the drug-induced coma in 2007, but IN REALITY, I was NEVER in control!!!  GOD WAS/IS IN CONTROL!!!

When will my EYES TRULY be OPENED to SEE that GOD IS IN CONTROL???  Regardless of who or what is “on the throne” in the eyes of man, YAHWEH IS IN CONTROL!!!  

“TWP BLIND MEN!”

 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭                (HCSB‬‬)

“As JESUS went on from there, “TWO BLIND MEN” followed HIM, shouting, “Have mercy on us, Son of David! ” When HE entered the house, the blind men approached HIM, and JESUS said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this? ” “Yes, LORD,” they answered HIM. Then HE touched their eyes, saying, “LET IT BE DONE FOR YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH!” AND THEIR EYES WERE OPENED. Then JESUS warned them sternly, “Be sure that no one finds out! ” But they went out and spread the news about HIM throughout that whole area.”

It is really EYE-OPENING to understand how GOD IN THE FLESH worked during HIS BRIEF three year earthly ministry?  JESUS HIMSELF SPOKE to the TWO blind men who “FOLLOWED HIM” without being made whole and begged “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”  HIS response was “Do you believe that I can do this?”  “Yes, LORD”, to which HIS response was to say, “LET IT BE DONE FOR YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH! ” AND THEIR EYES WERE OPENED.”

Scripture doesn’t indicate that two men were flawless in their walk before or after their healing, a walk where especially beforehand they couldn’t see where they were going, but they were able to see after their EYES were OPENED by THE ONLY ONE WHO had the ability to HEAL them!  JESUS “warned them sternly” to “Be sure that no one finds out!”, but the news couldn’t be kept quiet by humans, as they had experienced DIVINITY IN ACTION!

“LET IT BE DONE FOR YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH!” were words that were definitely not misunderstood by the “TWO BLIND MEN” in the above Scriptures.  Romans 10:17 (KJV) says “So then FAITH cometh by HEARING, and HEARING by the WORD of GOD.”  “TWO BLIND MEN” were NO LONGER “TWO BLIND MEN”, as JESUS made them whole!!!

“IMPERISHABLE!”

 

1 Peter 1:3-5                 (ESV)

Born Again to a Living Hope

“[3] Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST! According to HIS great mercy, HE has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of JESUS CHT from the dead, [4] to an inheritance that is “IMPERISHABLE” , undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5] who by GOD’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME.”

imperishable -

“not subject to decay; INDESTRUCTIBLE; enduring permanently”.

Mere words of mortal beings are incapable of describing the GRANDEUR of that which awaits those of us who are CHOSEN to be with HIM FOREVER AND FOREVER!!!

“HE TESTED THEM!”

 

Psalms 27:14                 (KJV)

“WAIT” on the LORD: be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen thine heart: “WAIT”, I say, on the LORD.”

It is very seldom that I read from the King James Version of the BIBLE anymore.  My experience is that other translations are more closely translated from the ORIGINAL TEXT, and in my humble opinion my life has to experience the closest to what GOD meant for me to hear!!!

However, the Hebrew word for “WAIT” is “qavah”, and that translates to “to bind together (perhaps by twisting)”.  That tends to SHINE a completely different LIGHT on things, in my humble opinion.  “BIND TOGETHER”, with THE LORD!  be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen thine heart: “BIND TOGETHER”, I say, with the LORD” gives this servant a VASTLY different message than WAIT!!  

Why the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES would desire to “BIND TOGETHER” with a Brain Damaged Stroke Survivor is almost INCONCEIVABLE, in my opinion?  Yet HE left me here FOR A PURPOSE and I DEFINITELY need to “BIND TOGETHER” with HIM before I attempt to do ANYTHING!!  If I get up and begin driving early in the morning, I always try to go to bed early the night before I am trying to leave.  But HE PROMISES to never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6), so I CLING to HIS PROMISE!!!

Discovering a different translation of THE WORD OF GOD is something that I research very closely, because TRUTH is VERY IMPORTANT to me!!  But I do appreciate that “BIND TOGETHER” is what “qavah” translates to and I am grateful for that!!!

Lamentations 3:25

 Lamentations 3:25                 (ESV)

    [25] “The LORD is good to those who wait for HIM,

        to the soul who seeks HIM.”

“TO SERVE!”

 

Mark 10:45                 (ESV)

“[45] For even the SON of MAN came not to be served but “TO SERVE”, and to give HIS LIFE as a ransom for many.””

Sharing a video recently from Dr. David Gibbs, Jr. about his dad SHOWING him about serving is something that brings back memories to this servant of THE MOST HIGH GOD!  1 Corinthians 3:16 days very plainly “Do you not know that YOU ARE GOD’s temple and that GOD’s SPIRIT dwells in you?”   

When we SURRENDER OUR LIVES to JESUS, we give up CONTROL of “calling the shots” as far as the decisions about what we do and where we go.  

Probably when I was around ten years old, I remember riding with my grandfather to his fathers house (my great grandfather) outside of Idabel, OK to pick up a milk cow that needed to go to the “sale barn”.  My grandfather was given a check by his dad for his gas and the “trouble” he went through helping his dad sell his final cow before “great grandpa” died a few years later.  He tore that check up on the way back to where we lived, WITHOUT COMMENT!!  

That act of kindness and generosity shown to my great grandfather by my grandfather came to mind as I saw the video recently.  The Privilege to Serve video exquisitely said what my grandpa WOULD NOT say back then!  It was an honor and privilege “TO SERVE” the one that gave him life, while SERVING THE ONE WHO GIVES ETERNAL LIFE!!!

“THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE!”

 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19QpWHjrbc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

“BIND TOGETHER!”

 

Psalms 27:14                 (KJV)

“WAIT” on the LORD: be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen thine heart: “WAIT”, I say, on the LORD.”

It is very seldom that I read from the King James Version of the BIBLE anymore.  My experience is that other translations are more closely translated from the ORIGINAL TEXT, and in my humble opinion my life has to experience the closest to what GOD meant for me to hear!!!

However, the Hebrew word for “WAIT” is “qavah”, and that translates to “to bind together (perhaps by twisting)”.  That tends to SHINE a completely different LIGHT on things, in my humble opinion.  “BIND TOGETHER”, with THE LORD!  be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen thine heart: “BIND TOGETHER”, I say, with the LORD” gives this servant a VASTLY different message than WAIT!!  

Why the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES would desire to “BIND TOGETHER” with a Brain Damaged Stroke Survivor is almost INCONCEIVABLE, in my opinion?  Yet HE left me here FOR A PURPOSE and I DEFINITELY need to “BIND TOGETHER” with HIM before I attempt to do ANYTHING!!  If I get up and begin driving early in the morning, I always try to go to bed early the night before I am trying to leave.  But HE PROMISES to never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6), so I CLING to HIS PROMISE!!!

Discovering a different translation of THE WORD OF GOD is something that I research very closely, because TRUTH is VERY IMPORTANT to me!!  But I do appreciate that “BIND TOGETHER” is what “qavah” translates to and I am grateful for that!!!

“CHILDREN OF GOD!”

 

John 1:9-13                 (ESV)

“[9] The TRUE LIGHT, which gives LIGHT to everyone, was coming into the world. [10] HE was in the world, and the world WAS MADE THROUGH HIM, yet THE WORLD DID NOT KNOW HIM. [11] HE came to HIS own, and HIS OWN people did not receive HIM. [12] But to all who did receive HIM, WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, HE GAVE the right to become “CHILDREN OF GOD”, [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, BUT OF GOD.”

The ABSOLUTE LOVE that is bestowed on my grandchildren is INDESCRIBABLE!!  But the LOVE of my CHILDREN made my grandchildren possible!  Similarly, ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO orchestrated THE WORD to be written by mankind, says in many places that BELIEVERS SHALL be named as the “CHILDREN OF GOD”, CHOSEN by HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4)!!!

To fully understand this is something that GOD has ELECTED to keep “secret” (Deuteronomy 29:29) from me, at least for now!?!  In HIS UNMITIGATED and INDESCRIBABLE WISDOM, GOD CHOSE me to be CHOSEN by HIM, BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, KNOWING how rebellious and cantankerous I would be, especially in my younger years.  HE CHOSE me, even though I was moving so quickly before the Brain Hemorrhage, and HE SUPERNATURALLY SLOWED me down to be able to HEAR from HIM!!!

My inability to find “the words” describing my LOVE for my wife, children and my grandchildren goes FAR BEYOND the Brain Hemorrhage! I am a FLAWED and IMPERFECT servant who is BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE with everything that GOD has given me!  But HE GAVE an insignificant servant THE RIGHT to become “CHILDREN OF GOD”, and I am BLESSED that HE did!!!

“THE SON OF MAN MUST BE LIFTED UP!”

 

John 12:27-30                 (ESV)

“THE SON OF MAN MUST BE LIFTED UP!”

[27] “NOW IS MY SOUL TROUBLED. And what shall I say? ‘FATHER, save ME from this hour’??? But FOR THIS PURPOSE I have come TO THIS HOUR. [28] FATHER, GLORIFY YOUR NAME.” Then A VOICE came from heaven: “I HAVE GLORIFIED IT, and I WILL GLORIFY IT AGAIN.” [29] The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to HIM.” [30] JESUS answered, “This VOICE has come for your sake, not MINE.”

SPEED READING has gotten me into trouble more often than not, yet VERY FREQUENTLY I have, IN MY HASTE, omitted acknowledging the question mark(s) (???) at the end of the third sentence listed above.  JESUS wasn’t asking this question because of what lie ahead of HIM, for HE KNEW what THE PLAN called HIM to do for HIS CHOSEN!  In John 15:16 HE plainly said “YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, BUT I CHOSE YOU and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the FATHER in MY NAME, HE may give it to you.”!  HE CHOSE US (Ephesians 1:4) BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, so HIS wretched future was preordained on our behalf!!!

THE GLORY of the hideous Cross is something so gory that humanity declares as reprehensible!!!  But my vile, reprehensible self required an ABSOLUTE PERFECT SACRIFICE to redeem it, AND JESUS WAS MY ONLY HOPE!!!  Without JESUS, I had NO HOPE of an eternity with MY SAVIOR!

HIS SACRIFICE seems SO EASY TO UNDERSTAND from where I sit currently, but it is also VERY IMPROBABLE knowing what HE received from Calvary.  Why would the PERFECT LAMB OF GOD YEILD UP HIS LIFE for someone who values HIS SACRIFICE with such disdain???

“THE SON OF MAN MUST BE LIFTED UP!”, not because I am worthy, but because HE IS WHO HE IS!!!