“Idle minds!”

 

“HIS PURPOSE!”

 

Romans 8:28-30                   (ESV)

“[28] And we KNOW that for those who love GOD ALL THINGS work together for GOOD, for those who are CALLED according to “HIS PURPOSE”. [29] For those whom HE foreknew HE also predestined to be conformed to the image of HIS SON, in order that HE might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those whom HE predestined HE also called, and those whom HE called BE also justified, and those whom HE justified HE also glorified.”

My grandsons are visiting with Nana and Pops this weekend, and NORMALLY I don’t “write” when my mind is split between the THINGS OF GOD and things of “this world”!!  But I cannot get past what the HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE to me this morning.   

There were two (2) pictures on social media this morning, BACK TO BACK!  The first was a coffee cup and the inscription said “GOD knew my heart needed you”, indicating my wife was CHOSEN for me!  The very next picture said “GOD knows when to send you exactly what you need. GOD is on your side.” The MESSAGE received from HIS HUMBLE SERVANT was GOD KNEW AND WORKED ALL THINGS (Romans 8:28) together for GOOD, for those who are CALLED according to “HIS PURPOSE”!

Although we (as a couple who are serving HIM) were CHOSEN before the foundation of the world, we are CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED from “the enemy” in an attempt to derail HIS PLAN!  The memes NOTICED this morning what humanity tends to ignore, but GOD HAS A PLAN, and we have NO ABILITY to alter it!!  HE WILL bring about “HIS PURPOSE” and we WILL LOVE IT, regardless of how much we cannot SEE it as it occurs!!!

“CAVE!”

 1 Kings 19:9-13                 (ESV)

 THE LORD SPEAKS TO ELIJAH

“[9] There he (Elijah) came to a “CAVE” AND LODGED IN IT. And behold, THE WORD OF THE LORD came to him, and HE said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” [10] He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the GOD of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken YOUR COVENANT, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” [11] And HE said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. [12] And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire THE SOUND OF A LOW WHISPER. [13] And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, Elijah?”

Watching “real-time videos” on social media is something that is not as bothersome as the fake, preplanned, “for profit” productions!  I recently observed a “real-time video” of an adult who actually rescued two children from traffic in one “swoop” with very little time to spare!  SEEING someone perform a heroic task is a lot different than “watching a show”!

Over eighteen years ago I EXPERIENCED a “massive brain hemorrhage”, something that was 80% fatal at the time.  Having gone through this monumental event is something that I will never be able to put into words, for words cannot express how PEACEFUL that  SEVENTEEN DAY coma truly was!  

Elijah had been through a very bleak and unresponsive time in his life mm.  But his “job description” didn’t include reporting on the situation to GOD, it was to DELIVER THE MESSAGE SPOKEN to him by THE ALMIGHTY!  As a matter of fact, in a few verses (1 Kings 19:15) Elijah is told by THE CREATOR to “GO”!  

But Elijah had to experience the PEACEFULNESS, SOLITUDE and STILLNESS of the remote “CAVE” BEFORE GOD would speak to him!!!  Maybe GOD is waiting for us to do the same???  I had to experience a near death experience before I was able to HEAR HIM back then.  My prayer is that I will LISTEN more intently and on HIS frequency this time!!!

“WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU!”

Isaiah 26:3-4                  (ESV)

    “[3] YOU keep him in perfect peace

        “WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU”,

        because he trusts in YOU. 

    [4] Trust in the LORD forever,

        for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

The vastness of the MIND OF GOD has to be almost INCOMPREHENSIBLE for the human mind to know or understand???  Yet HE CHOOSES us who HE elects to ALWAYS have our MINDS fixated on HIM, and my Brain Damaged MIND STAYED (fixated) ON HIM!!!

 

Being “drawn to” (John 6:44) solitude with HIM is not something that any of us can claim to have an unknown potion where we can determine our own fate???  Our salvation MOST ASSUREDLY is OWNED AND INITIATED by GOD ALMIGHTY (Revelation 7:10)!!  So the desire to be HOLY isn’t anything that I or anyone else should GLORY in, we were CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4)!  

Ever since July 2007 I have had a “new being” sensation, especially following the seventeen day coma.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION. The old has “passed away”; behold, the “new” has come.”   I didn’t have ANYTHING to do with my recovery, I just accepted the results when they brought me out of the coma.  It was ALL GOD that brought me back, and it is ALL GOD that keeps me here today!!  

Being a person “WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU” is not something that I would have consider myself, but as I mature in the FAITH my quietness and desire for HIS PURPOSE is something that I have a STRONG DESIRE to have in my life!!  

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause me to be known as a man “WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU”!!!

 

“WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU!”

 Isaiah 26:3-4                  (ESV)

    “[3] You keep HIM (JESUS) in perfect peace

        “WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU”,

        because HE trusts in you. 

    [4] Trust in the LORD forever,

        for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

One of the things I do is place a photograph of whoever currently “holds my heart” on the wallpaper of my cell phone.  My grandchildren held that post for ALMOST ten years, that is until my EYES were OPENED to UNDERSTAND that they would not be here without my wife succumbing to marrying me almost 42 years ago!  So I changed the photo back to my wife a little over a year ago and it remains on my most beautiful woman in my world!!!

But JESUS CHRIST carries a totally different image than even my wife could ever project!!  And according to Isaiah 26:3, HE thinks much more about me than I do for HIM!!!  “You (we Believers) keep HIM (JESUS) in perfect peace “WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU”, because HE trusts in you” is a verse that I have been ruminating about in my mind for a while.  Why would THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES even be bothered by a minuscule being such as me??  HE has already given me children and grandchildren that far better than I deserve!  BUT HE has ALSO BLESSED me with a “helpmeet” that FAR EXCEEDS my wildest imaginations!!!

My sons are imperfect, mainly because I am their father!!!  But when GOD SEES this humble servant, HE SEES the SACRIFICE (2 Corinthians 5:21) of JESUS on my behalf!!!  In NO WAY do I deserve this GRACE, but I am SO BLESSED that HE had Isaiah pen these WORDS almost 2,800 years ago!  

“WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU” is an unimaginable PROMISE from THE ONE WHO IS ABLE TO MAKE AND KEEP SUCH A PROMISE!!!

“BROTHERS!”

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11                 (ESV)

THE DAY OF THE LORD

“[1] Now concerning the times and the seasons, “BROTHERS”, you have NO NEED to have anything written to you. [2] For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the LORD will come LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT. [3] While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then SUDDEN DESTRUCTION will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE. [4] But you ARE NOT in darkness, brothers, for THAT DAY to surprise you like a thief. [5] For YOU (BROTHERS) ARE ALL children of LIGHT (John 8:12), children of the day. We ARE NOT of the night or of the darkness. [6] So then let us NOT sleep, as others do, but let us KEEP AWAKE and BE SOBER. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. [8] But since WE BELONG TO THE DAY, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. [9] For GOD has not destined us for wrath, but to OBTAIN SALVATION through our LORD JESUS CHRIST , [10] WHO died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with HIM. [11] Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

This morning, very little commentary, other than to emphasize that the Apostle Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, was communicating to we who are considered to be his “BROTHERS”!!!

Unless you are CHOSEN to be a part of the “BROTHERS”, your EYES WILL NOT be able to GRASP the impact of these WORDS!!!