“LOOK CAREFULLY!”

Ephesians 5:15-18                            (ESV)

“15 “LOOK CAREFULLY” THEN HOW YOU WALK, not as unwise but as wise,

16 MAKING THE BEST USE OF THE TIME, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS.

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the SPIRIT,”

Listening to GOD can be an extremely easy thing to accomplish, while at the same time be one of the most difficult things we ever attempt.  Keeping JESUS at the center of our thoughts is one of the most IMPORTANT things we can do. From personal experience, electing to follow our own “heart” can turn out disastrous.  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds” according to Jeremiah 17:9-10.  

There are times when our hectic schedule and the busyness of “this world” can attempt to “SUPERIMPOSE” itself on our lives, delegating our time and resources to things we really prefer not to be doing.  Why do we (mainly I) allow the enemy to deceive us (me) when my eyes have been opened to TRUTH?  UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS should be something we desire IF we have intentions of acting as Believers.  Acting the “way we were born” is a demonstration of living a life that has not been regenerated, or BORN AGAIN (John 3:3)!  When we “LOOK CAREFULLY” THEN HOW WE WALK, we should be exhibiting characteristics of a NEW MAN (Ephesians 4:20-24), created in righteousness and holiness of the TRUTH! 

Scripture says in many places that we MUST experience a CHANGE in our lifestyle when we are “drawn” to HIM.  John 8:31 (KJV) says “Then said JESUS to those Jews that Believed on HIM, “IF he continue in MY Word, THEN are ye my disciples indeed;”!  Matthew 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto ME, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of MY FATHER which is in Heaven.  Many will say to ME in that day, LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in THY name? and in THY name have cast out devils? and in THY name done many WONDERFUL WORKS?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.”  The WORKS we perform are only an indication that we have been BORN AGAIN.  They are NOT meant as a payment for our sins!  That would indicate that we are assisting HIM with HIS FINISHED WORK!  

Upon the Exodus from Egypt, the Children of Israel were provided a PILLAR OF CLOUD by day, and a PILLAR OF FIRE by night to guide them in the way they should be going.  They didn’t have to “LOOK CAREFULLY” to discover when they got outside of their cover.  The intense heat of the desert would let them know!!  When we become accustomed to our own PILLAR OF CLOUD, the HOLY SPIRIT, leading our lives, we should also become very uncomfortable when we step outside of HIS protection.  How about you?  Do you “LOOK

 CAREFULLY” at your FRUITS???

“THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED!”

1 Corinthians 2:9                            (ESV)

“But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor “THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED”, what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM".

Recently I was BLESSED to see a friend  I have known for longer than I care to admit.  She has been diagnosed with a cancer that doctors have said will more than likely win the battle for her physical life before the end of the year.  Seeing her husband do whatever he can for her as her ability to live life slips from her grieves me to my core.  It seems that she is losing a treacherous battle, that is until I remember something said to me in 1996.

My younger sister was 33 years old when she was diagnosed with Gastric Carcinoma, or Stomach Cancer for us lay people.   She died 3 days after her 34th birthday.   One day following her diagnosis, while talking with her about what Heaven was going to be like, I was talking about seeing our “Grandma” and other relatives who had gone on before.  My sister said in an almost joyous sounding voice, “I want to see JESUS”!  My tears begin to flow as I thought of her apparent priorities and my limited vision of what Heaven was really all about!  All I was SEEING was from a natural persons perspective, while she had a viewpoint of a grounded Spiritual Warrior who was about to graduate to Glory!  

The Apostle Paul had a much better knowledge of what to expect than most of us.  In 2 Corinthians 12 he writes “I know a man in CHRIST who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, GOD knows.”  Most believe he was referring to himself.  Yet in his first letter to the church at Corinth he recalled what Isaiah 64 said, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor “THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED”, what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM"!  

Why then do we do so much to delay our exodus from “this world”?  Many of us understand that Heaven is our Home, we are just passing through “this world”.  But others DON’T KNOW and probably don’t want to think about the future beyond their earthly life.  The closer I get to my eternal destination, the more I look forward to "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor “THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED”!  Physical Death doesn’t “scare” me in the least!  Just like a child who is going to their grandparents home, I am longing to see what is beyond all that “THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED”!!!

“URGENT!”

Exodus 12:33-36                      (ESV)

“33 The Egyptians were “URGENT” with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, "We shall all be dead."

34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders.

35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for SILVER and GOLD JEWELRY and for clothing.

36 And THE LORD HAD GIVEN THE PEOPLE FAVOR in the sight of the Egyptians, so that THEY LET THEM HAVE WHAT THEY ASKED. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.”

In April 2017 I went to an “URGENT” Care Facility.  My reason for going was a suspected pulled muscle in my upper chest area and the Emergency Room at the hospital was swamped.  The “URGENT” Care Facility saw me in two minutes and had me admitted to a hospital within a couple of hours.  My suspected “pulled muscle” wound up being a blockage in a coronary artery and bypass surgery was performed to correct my problem.  Going to the “URGENT” Care Facility wound up being one of the smartest moves of my life!  

The Children of Israel were being “made” to leave Egyptian soil in an “URGENT” manner because “they said, "We shall all be dead".  GOD had SO caused their hearts to be grieved because of the firstborn son of every household being slaughtered that they WERE GIVING SILVER and GOLD JEWELRY, even letting them HAVE WHAT THEY ASKED!  When ALMIGHTY GOD is guiding your footsteps, and ultimately the footsteps of those opposing us, whether slow and methodically or “URGENTLY”, HIS Plan WILL BE FULFILLED!  

My bypass surgery was performed in Little Rock Arkansas.  Was that part of GOD’s Plan?  The results speak for themselves as I was TOTALLY released from the surgeons care at my THREE WEEK checkup!  No Cardio-Rehab, less blood pressure medication, feel great, and better Blood Pressure readings!  Trying to operate outside of GOD’s Plan will cause frustration and heartache.  Experiencing GOD’s PEACE through being in HIS Plan, even when things don’t come as rapidly as I prefer, is a JOY that is unexplainable.  

The thing that really excites me is that ALMIGHTY GOD isn’t through with me YET!  HE has displayed to me that just because I think everything is “URGENT” doesn’t make it “URGENT” in HIS Book!  It was “URGENT” for the Children of Israel leaving Egypt, but GOD changed the Egyptians hearts to accommodate the Exodus.  HE is allowing me to help others in a way that might seem insignificant to others, but doing what ALMIGHTY GOD leads me to do is anything but insignificant to me!  Following HIS Plan is exactly where I want to be, and whether it is “URGENT” or not makes me no difference, as long as I am used by HIM!!!

“BE STILL!”

Mark 4:35-41                         (ESV)

“35 On that day, when evening had come, HE said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."

36 And leaving the crowd, they took HIM with them in the boat, just as HE was. And other boats were with HIM.

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

38 But HE was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke HIM and said to HIM, "TEACHER , do YOU not care that we are perishing?"

39 And HE awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! “BE STILL“!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 HE said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no FAITH?"

41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "WHO then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey HIM?" 

As I was “scrolling” this morning, I saw a meme with the words to the chorus of a song named “Till the storm passes by”.  It seemed my mind was stuck on this theme, so I researched and discovered the “HIS”tory of ONE OF THE storms in Scripture listed in Mark 4.  As I was going to Mark 4:35-41, I passed by NUMEROUS “parables”  in Mark chapter four that were spoken to those who heard.   When asked why HE spoke in parables, JESUS replied in Mark 4:11-12 “To you has been GIVEN the secret of the kingdom of GOD, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that "'they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.'”  

Not everyone who “hears” words spoken are moved by those words.  Regrettably, I was in that scenario many times, and sometimes still am.  The words “BE STILL” grabbed my attention around 2009 following the Brain Hemorrhage of 2007, mainly because I had been in a coma for seventeen days and for Psalms 46:10 Ministries.   But here JESUS is speaking to the wind, a force of nature, and it obeyed HIM without question!  Yet most of us want to understand WHY GOD is asking us to do something, or how HE is going to accomplish something, or anything else we can think of to avoid doing what HE is leading us to do.  We want to “figure out” a way to escape our predicament when GOD maybe trying to grow us through our difficulties?  

The words “BE STILL” could also be stated “LET GO AND LET GOD BE GOD”.  Although we want to think that we are Spiritually mature enough to guide ourselves through the “valley of the shadow of death, we DON’T HAVE all the answers to life’s problems.  As a matter of fact, I am finding more and more that I am a TERRIBLE captain whose life navigational skills are severely inadequate, maybe even catastrophic.  

Psalms 46:10 in the King James Version and English Standard Version says to “BE STILL”, but in the NASB version says to “CEASE STRIVING”, and know that I am GOD!  Since HE is GOD and HE is in control, we don’t have to know the outcome to every situation we face in our lives, we just need to TRUST in HIM!  The disciples wanted the storm to dissipate, but JESUS wasn’t “worried” about the storm, HE was asleep in the stern of the boat. Maybe I need to REST IN HIM more and “LET GO AND LET GOD BE GOD”?  

It was if JESUS was telling HIS disciples to don’t worry about the storms that we have no control over in the first place.  We are only on earth for a brief time and then we are called HOME.  We might be placed directly into a storm so HE can be Glorified by delivering us from that storm.  Or that storm may be HIS instrument to bring us HOME!  If the winds of the seas HAVE to obey THE CREATOR, why shouldn’t I “BE STILL” and LET GOD BE GOD???

“GUARD YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS!”

Psalms 91:9-16                          (ESV)

“9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place- the MOST HIGH, who is my refuge- 

10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 

11 For HE will command HIS angels concerning you to “GUARD YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS”. 

12 On their hands they (HIS ANGELS) will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 

14 "Because he holds fast to ME in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows MY name. 

15 When he calls to ME, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 

16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him MY salvation."  

There are many times in my life when I have a particular phrase on my mind and I “wear it out”!  It seems that lately “GOD, however, never invited me to be co-god with HIM” dominates my thought pattern.  Another quote I am using is “The same GOD WHO makes the rose petals, also makes the thorns on the stem”!  

When I look back at my life and observe how ALMIGHTY GOD has so  orchestrated the events of my life for HIS Glory, I am simultaneously humbled and awestruck!  The words of verse thirteen above won’t be used in many sermons by prospective preachers.  It says “You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot””, for a couple of verses prior HE says “HE will command HIS angels concerning you to “GUARD YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS”. 

When I reminisce about my youth and young adult life, I am amazed how the HAND of ALMIGHTY GOD was leading and directing my every move.  Now, that is not saying that I have always made wise decisions!  As a matter of fact, many times having to go through difficulties is where I experienced the greatest growth, but usually with a measured amount of pain!  

Later in life I have been “through the valley of the shadow of death” a couple of times and HE has delivered me with the apparent greatest of ease.  But remember, we are referring to the CREATOR and SUSTAINER of LIFE, with WHOM, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE (Luke 1:37)!  James 4:3 says “You ask and do not receive, BECAUSE YOU ASK WRONGLY, TO SPEND IT ON YOUR PASSIONS.”

HEAVENLY FATHER, cause me to have a desire to SEE YOUR work done in my life, and in my surroundings. YOU have brought me this far FOR A PURPOSE, and YOU still have a Plan for my life.  My prayer is that YOU will “GUARD YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS” as I perform the tasks YOU have assigned to me!!!

“TRUTH!”

Romans 1:18-23                                  (ESV)

“18 For THE WRATH OF GOD is “revealed” from heaven against ALL UNGODLINESS and UNRIGHTEOUSNESS of men, who by their unrighteousness SUPPRESS THE “TRUTH”.

19 For what can be known about GOD is plain to them, because GOD has shown it to them.

20 For HIS invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. SO THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.

21 For although they knew GOD, they did not honor HIM as GOD or give thanks to HIM, but THEY BECAME FUTILE IN THEIR THINKING, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 CLAIMING TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS,

23 and EXCHANGED THE GLORY OF THE IMMORTAL GOD for IMAGES RESEMBLING MORTAL MAN and birds and animals and creeping things.”

A song named “It’s Still the Cross” was reportedly written by a group called The Imperials in 2004 that says a lot about how the degradation of society has progressed in recent years.  Briefly, it says :

“It's not conservative or liberal, 

However they're defined; 

IT’S NOT ABOUT INTERPRETATION, 

OR THE JUDGEMENT OF THE MIND; 

IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF POLITICS, 

POWER OR PRESTIGE; 

IT'S ABOUT A SIMPLE MESSAGE,

AND WHETHER WE BELIEVE.

Chorus:

It's still the cross, 

It's still the blood of Calvary; 

That cleanses sins, 

And sets the captives free.

It's still the name, 

The name of JESUS, 

That has power to save the lost; 

It's still the cross.

We can water down theology, 

And PREACH A WORD TO SUIT OUR NEEDS; 

We can JUSTIFY sweet SUBTLE LIES, 

That are WRAPPED in NOBLE DEEDS; 

We can ALTER our CONVICTIONS, 

To adapt to SOCIAL WHIMS; 

But we CANNOT CHANGE the GOSPEL, 

Or the “TRUTH” contained within.

Chorus

Though some may say it's man's religion, 

Or ancient history; 

The cross of JESUS still remains, 

The price for sin that sets us free.

Mankind has become, and is continually devolving into, a power struggle between what is good and what is evil, with the even church being blinded by the confusion and SOCIAL WHIMS, that we allow that which ALTERS our CONVICTIONS to go unchecked by TRUTH!  There is NO way to CHANGE the GOSPEL, for “TRUTH” is “TRUTH” and we cannot appease others in an effort to NOT OFFEND them.  

“TRUTH” has cost many people their lives, and JESUS says that we should be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers (1 John 3:16).  HE paid a TREMENDOUS price their SPIRITUAL LIFE and we should be willing to give our physical life, if required, to keep them from experiencing SPIRITUAL death.  

Far too often we settle for the IMAGES RESEMBLING MORTAL MAN instead of waiting for what our CREATOR has in store for us.  We either DON’T WANT TO WAIT for HIS Blessings, or we are convinced that we know something better?  Once again, J.D. Greear’s quote that I am continually referring to is “However, GOD didn’t not invite me to be co-god with HIM”, and neither has HE requested help from any other human.  That is just the “TRUTH”!!!

“I THOUGHT!”

Genesis 20:3-4;9-11                             (ESV)

“3 But GOD came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "BEHOLD, YOU ARE A DEAD MAN because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife."

4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, "LORD, will you kill an innocent people?”

“9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done."

10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see, that you did this thing?"

11 Abraham said, "I did it because “I THOUGHT”, 'There is no fear of GOD at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'”

There is a Wikipedia article that was shared recently on a friends Social Media account regarding FALSE MEMORY SYNDROME.  There are sites that also claim to debunk such claims.  While I do not claim to be smart enough to “claim” or “debunk” such matters dealing with “the brain”, I can “only testify of what I have seen and heard” ( Acts 4:20)!  

The Wikipedia article begins with the following paragraph :

FALSE MEMORY SYNDROME:

False memory syndrome describes a condition in which a person's identity and relationships are affected by memories that are FACTUALLY INCORRECT but that they STRONGLY BELIEVE. Peter J. Freyd originated the term, which the False Memory Syndrome Foundation subsequently popularized. The term is not recognized as a psychiatric illness in any of the medical manuals, such as the ICD-10 or the DSM-5; however, the principle that memories can be altered by outside influences is overwhelmingly accepted by scientists.

When my brain hemorrhaged in 2007, I was placed in a drug-induced coma for seventeen days.  Evidently my brain was so traumatized by the Hemorrhage that “I THOUGHT” I had been in several different cities in the United States, including Chicago, Shreveport, Arlington, Little Rock, and others.  It literally took several YEARS for my wife to convince me that I had never left the hospital, that my journey had only taken place in my mind!  

Like I previously stated, I’m not saying that I am anything close to a BRAIN EXPERT, but what “I THOUGHT” was indisputable evidence turned out to have NO FACTUAL SUPPORTING EVIDENCE!  Reading my Medical Records (the TRUE ACCOUNT of what transpired) revealed to me that my wife wasn’t just trying to make me accept what she wanted me to believe, she was speaking TRUTH.  

Abraham could only SEE what was laid before him IN THE NATURAL.  His excuse of doing what “I THOUGHT” was best almost cost Abimelech his life.  Abimelech had done nothing wrong, but it violated GOD’s Plan.  We don’t need to try to understand and explain why or what GOD’s Plan is, we just need to be obedient to what HE has called us to do.  

Reading Genesis 20:14-21 tells us that GOD blessed Abraham immensely with wealth and prosperity, not because he was worthy, but because GOD was Believed to be WHO HE said HE was!  Hebrews 11:6 says “And without FAITH it is impossible to please HIM, for whoever would draw near to GOD must believe that HE EXISTS and that HE REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.”  We are NOT called to do what makes sense, what “I THOUGHT” was the right thing to do.  We are called to follow where we are led!!!