No Questions 179

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. 
Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." 
I Corinthians 13:12 NKJV

I was having this conversation with my daughter the other day about one of God's saints, Corrie Ten Boom. I have been posting a few of her quotes lately on my Facebook;
I mentioned that I can't wait to meet her, that I have so many questions I want to ask  her.
As I said this I thought about all the others I can't wait to meet.
My Father-God, and the Son, let me not forget Holy Spirit, and all those in the great cloud of witnesses.
Holy Spirit showed me that there would be no need to verbally ask-
we will just know all of it!
Think about that: we will know and be known-instantly.
All of life's mysteries...the answers to all of the hardest questions here, such as the untimely deaths of those we loved and valued. The difficult times and circumstances that directed our paths as we journeyed through our earthly lives...we will have an ah-ha moment that will be like a supernova exploding. All of it driven by the furious love of our Father who always purposes all things to work together for good.
So, with this in mind I find myself at a greater level of peace knowing there will be only answers and revelation when we are finally face-to-face.

Called #164

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” "
Matthew 4:18, 19 NIV

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— "
Romans 1:1 NIV

How do you view yourself?
Do you ever feel like God can't use you because of your lack of diplomas and certificates, physical flaws or disabilities, or an unremarkable resume?
In the Old Covenant, God used people who were stutters, prostitutes, and wimps, and  when I think about  how Jesus picked the Twelve, I am always amazed. He didn't go to the Sanhedrin or the cohenim (the priesthood), or rabinical schools like Gamaliel's, advertising:
"Wanted - 12  Disciples, Now Accepting Applications". He wasn't interested in fancy resumes, the declarations of the proud and the self-aggrandizing. He was looking at the hearts of men, and He found what He was looking for in Simon called Peter, Andrew, John, and the others.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."
Acts 4:13 NKJV

They did not have credentials or titles,  just pure hearts, willing to drop everything and follow Him.
Although Paul was highly credentialed, (a Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin, Gamaliel-trained, etc) this is not what he identified with. He wanted to be known as "Paul, a servant of Messiah Yeshua", counting everything else as garbage (Phil. 3:8).
Jesus is no respecter of persons, which is not to say that He doesn't respect each person as a person but it does mean that He has equal consideration and love for every one, regardless of their list of credentials, or lack of credentials.
I am blessed to be associated with a kaleidoscope of people and personalities in different walks of life, and the different ministries we are associated with, and I see among these brothers and sisters a commonality: they, like Paul, don't flaunt their credentials, because they know and understand that "the eyes of the Lord are run to and fro across the earth"... they possess pure and surrendered hearts, abandoning all else, for the highest calling...all servants and bond-slaves of Jesus.

As we respond to His call with willing hearts it is then that He qualifies and enables us to do extraordinary things through the Holy Spirit,  just as He did with twelve "ordinary"uneducated blue collar men. 

Truth/Decisions 181

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."
I Peter 4:12, 13 

My goal is to always be real and transparent-truthful and honest-in my writing, and I consider myself a victor and an overcomer. But I would be less than truthful to say that my state of being is always '4 stars and 2 thumbs up".
So in this spirit of transparency I want to share a bit:

The truth is that I'm not always as farsighted, visionary, and joyful  as I'd like to be.
The truth is that sometimes I feel like Elijah- slaying my "enemies" and running in the spirit so powerfully that I overtake my better equipped adversaries, but then find myself shaking like a leaf and high-tailing it to some hiding place ( but not THE HIDING PLACE) inside myself, trying to flee pain, fear, and anxiety..
The truth is that sometimes it is downright hard to "rejoice to the extent I am partaking of my Messiah's sufferings", hard to deny my "self" , hard to see past the pain that takes my breath away.
The truth is that sometimes I can't get out of the way of my own sense of suffering, which is most noticeable when the words, "Thank You, Lord" , seem to be missing from my vocabulary.
The truth is that I am just a flawed and weak man.
The truth is that when I forget that there is a direct correlation between suffering and the certainty of what's coming when His glory is unveiled  I lose sight of the fact that joy and gladness trump trials and suffering.
The truth is that when the conscious decision is made to realize and understand that suffering in this life as a follower of Yeshua our Messiah cannot be viewed as strange or unusual; He never promised a rose garden, and even if He had we must understand that roses bushes have thorns.
A greater revelation comes when I consciously deny myself, and praise and thanksgiving flows from my heart in place of groans and tears.
Suffering is meant to be transitionary, and when it comes it should be a reminder of the future glory that every moment that passes brings us closer to the everlasting experiences that "eye has not seen, nor ear heard".

Beloved, remember that although we will deal with weakness and trials, it is God's will for us to walk in a strength not fueled in or of ourselves, but fueled by the greatest joy-the joy of the Lord.

For with God all things are possible.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Questions For The Potter 299

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 
Exodus 20:17 

Have you ever been envious of another's gifts, talents, ministry- their life- dealt with or perhaps dealing with right now-feelings of inferiority as you measured yourself against that person, and to your mind come up short? Have you ever lamented the fact that you are you and asked God: "Lord, why couldn't I have been that other person?Why couldn't I  look like them, have their gifts, their house, their cars & boats, their job, their wealth, their spouse, etc.?
You, the clay, asking the Potter why He made you the way you are?

"... And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12:1a-3

God, who is omni-everything, loves and values each of us most highly.
He doesn't make mistakes.
We are all running the race marked out for us, but on varied and unique tracks, paths that He has mapped out especially for each of us. These paths are illuminated step by step  ("Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105 NIV). We see just far enough so as to not stumble, but not like headlamps on a car that illuminate way ahead. But additionally and more important  to remember is that because we each have our own journey, it is necessary that we not jealously compare our lives and the gifts God has given us, as well as our own races to those of our brothers and sisters, no more than Cain jealously compared his situation with Abel's.
Taking our eyes off of Jesus, and looking  jealously across the track at others who have different and varied gifts, is a dangerous thing.
So beloveds, let's persevere, and remain focused on Jesus, our prize.
In so considering the Author and Perfecter we will not weary, nor shall we lose heart.