Hold Your Position! #137

"I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." 
~1stLt. Clifton B. Cates, USMC
in Battle of Belleau Wood, 19 July 1918

I was speaking to a sister in the Lord that I encountered today. When I asked her how things were, she didn't just throw the smily Christian - "I'm blessed!" - veneer at me. Instead she was honest. "Things are a mess right now, and I feel like I am coming apart at the seams..." 
I replied to her, "I totally relate, but God will give us the strength to occupy until He returns." 
I was reminded of the above quote from Lt. Cates, at the legendary WWI Battle of Belleau Wood. There are times that I feel like I'm in a foxhole with Lt. Cates and my sister and I'm sure so many others. The enemy's barrages are bombarding us, as we fend off wave after wave of attacks. 
We may be bloodied and wounded, our ammunition getting scarce. 
Let us not forget who we are in Jesus, just who it is we serve!
God, Adonai Tz'va-ot, (Lord of Armies, literally) tells us : "Hold your position, do not give way to the enemy. Do not be dismayed or discouraged, I am your strength, sword and shield, mighty tower. 
Beloved , so the Lord says : Hold your position! 
Greater is He that is with us than he who is in the world., and He will NEVER leave us or forsake us.
He promised!

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:12-14, 17, 20 NIV

Crossing the Jordan/Opposition

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” (Numbers 13:1, 2 NKJV)

Moses and the children of Israel had finally come through the wilderness after"taking the scenic route", and there they camped poised on the banks of the Jordan. God had already declared and reaffirmed to His Chosen People that He was giving them the Promised Land. In spite of God's promise, all but 2 of the spies who were sent returned with negative reports. Fear, doubt, discouragement, and anxiety were sown, but among some there was still hope and faith...after all, God had promised, and they had seen and heard with their own eyes and ears too many miracles.
Moses had given Moses a message for each person and also for the entire company:

Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said. And the Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-8 NKJV)

Headed into this new year I understand what the children of Israel felt. Hope and faith are alive, but to be honest, discouragement and its unwelcome companions can sometimes take root.
These negative thoughts are tares sown by the enemy of our souls, the one who is the accuser and discourager.
It is his job to intimidate and immobilize us, and he does it exceedingly well.
But the Word of God tells us that God is love...Perfect love casts out all fear. He promised to go before us...and promises to be with us...even to the end of  age. We know the power of  God, trust trumps worry. Faith, hope, and courage overwhelm discouragement and anxiety...
Enemies vanquished...Land possessed... Promises fulfilled.

Rhetorical Questions/ The Navigator 191

"Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:4-9 NKJV

God asks Adam a rhetorical question here: Where are you?"
The Lord already knew where Adam was, since the Scriptures tell us that nothing is hidden from the King of the Universe. Not only did God know where Adam was located, but He also knew everything that had taken place, He knew Adam's every thought, and what was in Adam's heart.
In spite of Adam's fear he nonetheless fessed up.
He understood there was really no point in hiding from his Creator God.
When the voice of God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, and asks us the same question:
"WHERE ARE YOU?"  it is also not because we are hidden from Him.
It is an introspective call for us to search our hearts.
Our Father, the Lover of us all, is listening, wanting us to "come clean" and admit what He already knows.
God always makes a way for us; He is the ultimate Navigator.
His Word is the only sure lamp and light for us.

'Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left."
Isaiah 30:21 NKJV

Lamp-Lighter/Legacies #161

We buried my brother today. Technically not "buried", as his earthly body was cremated, but we said our good-byes.
I am reminded of the 19th century lamp-lighters, who lit the street lamps on their routes one by one.
Getting to the end of their routes, they could look behind and see the results of their work.
We are all meant to be "lamp-lighters...the lamps are those whom we have a chance to ouch and illuminate. Our legacies are found in relationships and the measure of a person is found through love, not wealth or stuff.
What is your legacy...how are the "lamps" on your "route" doing?

May all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
- Steve Green, Find Us Faithful

Redemption 178

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:1, 2, 9, 12, 15, 16 NKJV)

My brother, Alvin Joel Nemets, Jr., died of a massive stroke on December 20, 2013, at the young age of 57. He was my only brother. He was 15 months older than me,  and bore our father's namesake.
We weren't very close between the years between of 20 and 50 years old. Each of us had gone our own ways. We exchanged occasional phone calls, and I brought Jesus as Lord and Savior up repeatedly over the course of the last couple years, especially after a tremendous awakening I had  followed by my suffering through health trials and nearly dying-passing over-myself.
He was a kind and gentle man, but he was plagued by decades of substance abuse.
Along with that were many relationships that were broken: relatives, friends, wives, and children.
I never knew for sure if he was really listening to me, whether he had really received Jesus as his Lord and Savior, or whether he really understood the gravity, importance, or urgency of this decision.
One day he told me that he had believed, confessed, and been baptized at the church where he and his wife had begun attending!
When he was found by a neighbor the morning of  December 21, he had died on his knees as if he had been praying when he passed into eternity.
Redeemed.
Jesus said that "the last shall be first". Redemption and salvation, a place in our Father's "big big house", is gladly extended by our Redeemer -Yeshua Himself.
It is a most comforting thought to know with certainty that I will see him-as well as so many
others who have passed before him-again.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3 NKJV)

True Identity 231

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,"(Romans 8:14-16 NKJV)

If you are asked who you are how would you respond? Often times the response is: " I'm a... (whatever that person's career/profession is).  We live in a world where identities are often mistaken. People confuse their professions, status and memberships, other attachments to temporal things as who they are, instead of the prospect of  identity given through the spirit of adoption by God the Father and sonship. If identity is related to profession, finances, what is left when there are shakings and these things are stripped away? The apostle Paul was of high birth and status, had a great job as a Gamaliel-schooled rabbi/Torah giant, and  highly respected ...he clearly had been one who identified himself through these things, and yet read what he wrote when he "got it": "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8 NIV). I have written this post not as an indictment against anyone, but because I am traveling down this road  and even now have not gotten to the end of it.  Our identities are meant to be wrapped up in knowing Jesus. My goal is singular: To know and be apprehended by Jesus, to remain focused on Knowing Him alone. I am focusing on the great truth that His worth surpasses everything else, but it's not always that easy. Nonetheless, my hope, my peace, my joy and content-my everything-can only be found in Him alone.  The demolition and transformation that life as a followers of Jesus brings will continue until last moment on earth. Ruth Bell Graham's gravestone reads:"End of construction...thank you for your patience!"

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." (John 1:12, 13 NIV)

Blue

"The people living in darkness have seen a great light, and on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16

The holidays are again upon us, and although we are admonished to be filled with "Christmas cheer" there are many who have the holiday blues, living in the darkness brought on by depression, anxiety, worry, sickness, lack, and more. Caught in this web of darkness, they ...we...me can lose sight of the truth-the revelation that the Light dawned over 2000 years ago. The advent of God, Yeshua, coming down so that we could come up, Im-anu-el, God-with-us... God sending His only Son, forsaking heaven to bring the greatest gift to the race of men.
"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." Luke 2:9, 10 NIV
Good news...great joy...abounding mercy, grace, furious love, deliverance, protection, provision ...He is worthy of all adoration, worship, and our trust.
So beloved, not just in this season, but always, let us turn our eyes upward, not inward.

Overcoming Envy

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

Thankfulness and gratefulness are essential keys to life. They are weapons that combat envy and covetousness, those dark emotions and desires that came from the devil himself. Envy creates focus on things that are not ours, but someone else's. Envy creates jealousy, fuels animosity and anger, and regardless of what is possessed or supplied to the envious it is never enough...envy is insatiable in its very nature. 

When we choose to thank God in all things, in spite of situations and circumstances that may be difficult, we exercise faith which by very definition is "things hoped for that are yet unseen " we please our Abba. Regardless of what difficulties may be in front of us or we are in the middle of,  the Word of God reminds us that we are not forgotten. We serve a mighty God who hears our praises and prayers and He is so good, even when current circumstances are difficult and uncomfortable. 

Give thanks to the Lord!

Fascinations 205

"Whatever fascinates us will guide us, so I pray that the only thing that will fascinate me is God and His marvelous glory."
~ AW Tozer

Fascination: A powerful attraction, something so overwhelming that everything else pales in comparison (my definition).
 I am fascinated, overwhelmed by the One who made me. Constantly fascinated by His love, His magnificence, and awestruck by Him.

"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
Psalm 27:4 NIV

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."
Psalm 42:1 NIV

I want to see my Father's glory,  to be awash in the radiance of all that He is.
I want to be overtaken by God's radiance, ignited as a tinder-dry forest is set ablaze.
Staying fascinated though means setting my face like flint, focused on Him.
To be honest it's not always that easy for me though.
Storms do come.
I cannot bow to distractions and pressures of this life, regardless of their origins.
The trials that come are not meant to discourage or distract, but rather to draw,
keeping me face to face with Him.
I don't want preoccupation with media, electronics (even my beloved Apple devices), sports,etc. to interfere with my Magnificent Obsession.
Nothing else is worthy of my devotion, my fascination with Him.
If I sound to you like an incurable lovesick fanatic I'm more than okay with that.
Like Tozer, I pray that the only thing that will fascinate me is God Himself-and His marvelous glory.

Keep Digging 64

"Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.
So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” "
Genesis 26:17, 19-22 NIV

There are times in our lives when things go so wonderfully. The wells we have dug are flowing with refreshing water. Plans execute with perfection, our cups run over brimming with dreams fulfilled, a full hearts, and life abundant.
But when we are in times and  seasons of dryness, trudging through a desert as our enemies clog up our "wells" how do we respond?
This is not theoretical or rhetorical to me. For those of you who read me regularly you have probably noticed my posts have been fewer, less regular.  It seems as if sometimes my "wells" have been messed with-by the enemy who are always doing all he can to shut me down, cutting off the flow of joy, creativity, spiritual insight, and all the gifts and blessings that emanate from my Father.
The solution which was spoken over and into me as a brother prayed over me today: keep digging! Keep shoveling through adversity, discouragement, fear, and doubt as The Lord Himself takes me into new seasons and wide open places, Rechovot, where hope and faith are restored as fresh waters revive and replenish.
Keep digging!

Perfect Timing/ Faith or Experience 180

"We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to The Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Covenant says Jesus Christ is! and then think of the despicable meager ness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, " I haven't had this experience or that experience"! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides- he can present us faultless before the throne of god, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified....How can anyone who is identified  with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief."
"Faith or Experience"
Oswald Chambers,
My Utmost For his Highest, November 13

Yesterday I did not get out of bed till 10:30.
To be honest I have had moody moments,
tough times of  roller coaster emotions as of late when selfish feelings have gotten the best of me.
But God's timing is always perfect for every reason.
Here is some of  the resulting prayer that I journaled:

"Father forgive me for allowing dryness and weariness to cover me instead of your glory, peace, and joy. There are times when I feel like disappointment and unfulfilled expectations overwhelm me and cause me to mope about like a spoiled child. Instead of rejoicing in your extravagant love, grace, and mercy, I've complained about small things. Forgive me when I've sat immobilized covered in the dust of doubts, fear, and faithlessness, even as you are before me, waiting for me to allow you to wash away these things. Help me, Lord, to step out out that sinking boat I've been sitting in, and walk where I didn't think possible because of thoughts that I was not gifted enough, holy enough, not worthy of your calling. Help me to hear your voice and embrace your words of love, tenderness, encouragement, affirmation, and grace."

Reminders 204

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"
Matthew 6:26, 27 NKJV

This week I received a reminder from my Father that no situation is unseen by Him, not even the smallest of needs. We have a 5 year old Civic that has metallic paint. It has 100,000+ miles on it, it has been a great car and to be sure my attention to taking good care has contributed to the great condition. In the last couple months though, I had noticed that the paint on the roof of the car has started to become chalky and faded rather suddenly. I wondered how this happened and begun to wonder if the previous owner had done  undisclosed, shoddy repair work. There was no record of it if this was the case, but it really bothered me. I began to think of how I was going to manage to get this refinished as money has been tight.
Two days ago I received a notice in the mail from Honda informing me of a factory defect in the paint finish of certain Civics - and ours was one of them! Next week the roof of the car is going to be repainted compliments of Honda, but really, compliments of a Father God who chose to do small thing to remind a son that He loves me and that He's totally got this handled-as well as every other need.

Prayer: Father forgive us for sometimes worrying and wondering about how our needs will be taken care of. Help us to jettison any poverty mentality clinging to us, and walk in our true identities as sons and daughters of the King of the Universe, AMEN.

Remembrances/A Letter To My Father

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 
Exodus 20:12

Yesterday was October 22, and being the sentimentalist I am, I remember important dates. I find that I don't have to write some dates onto my calendar, they're just engrained into my consciousness. October 22 is such a date-the anniversary of my father's passing.
Below is a letter I've written to my father:

Dear Dad,
It's hard to believe that you have been gone 24 years. I am so thankful that you lived to be 82, and considering that you were 50 when I was born I consider myself blessed that I had you for 32 years.
I have some great memories of you, Dad, remembrances I cherish: the horseplay at bedtime when you tickled me till I couldn't breathe... you carrying me to bed when I was a little boy when I feigned falling asleep in front of the TV... the scent of your cologne...your amazing cooking when you were home. Your career managing restaurants kept you very busy and I didn't get to spend a lot of time with you when I was young. I find that I took your life span for granted, that somehow I never really considered the inevitability of your passing. I had so many questions I wanted to ask you, but I can't now. I knew that you wouldn't live forever. You had a couple bouts with cancer, but I did not rearrange my schedule in order to spend more time with you, especially the last 2 years.
I wanted to know so much more about your life but the opportunity never came. I wanted to share with you  the changes that Yeshua had made and continued to make in my life, and I know that you saw how different I had become, but time slipped away. I know that you did not understand my decision to believe in Him but you still loved me.  I was a newlywed and my job required many of my hours.
Although I wish that I could go back and do things differently I can't.
Today I choose to be thankful.
I thank God for you, for the love you gave me, and for those positive qualities I received as your son. I choose to embrace, cherish, and honor my memories of you. Today I only know in part, "seeing through the mirror dimly" as Paul said,  but one day "I will know and be fully known", and in that day I look forward to seeing you again.
I love you,
Hugh

Daily 184

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20

When I received Jesus as my Savior, I came just as I was, and He received me that way, covered in all my filth, brokenness, and corruption. I had no idea what it meant to be crucified with Him; I didn't understand what it meant to be baptized into His death. I thought that I'd just be able to put on the "saved and born-again coat" spotless and white, over the soiled personage of who and what I was, and that would suffice. 
His sacrifice, His effort, all to my benefit, yes, but I thought that I'd just coast along.
In the beginning of my walk, I thought just Jesus got up on His cross so I didn't have to, Praise God. Yes, He paid the ultimate penalty for me, but early on I had no idea there was a great transformation that would be required. 
He loved me so much He wouldn't-couldn't-let me stay the way I was(Romans 12:2).

"Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,and follow Me."

Luke 9:23

I didn't understand that there was a cross, custom-made with my name on it, if I were to follow Jesus, I would be required to pick it up daily. Luke 9:23..there it is...the term daily, not occasionally when I felt like it, no-it is written just like the dosage instructions for an important medication. If I wanted to follow Him then I had to carry my own, just as Jesus had.  Only room for one.
My natural fleshy nature has to die if my spiritual man is to thrive. 
The process prescribed is not elective, it cannot be transferred or allayed. 
My cross...daily...
Maybe I'm stating the obvious here. 
To most of us the Scripture I am referencing here are well known, as we nod with acknowledgement. 
No pain no gain, we say.
Yet how many of us can gladly carry their own crosses as if to say through every painful experience, "Thank you Lord, may I have another..."
I know that in and of myself I can't; I'm just being honest here, but thankfully the weight of it is offset by the easy yoke that He has promised to give me to lighten the load.

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. 

Unbound

Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.  Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” 

Daniel 3:19-25 NKJV

The other day I read this passage for the umpteenth time, and I noticed something I never saw before: The bindings.
Bound at the orders of the king these 3 faithful men of God were thrown into the furnace. 

Not only were they protected by God from the heat and smoke, no bruises from falling down, but the bindings that they had been tied up with were disintegrated! Their oppressors watched in amazement as they walked freely with a fourth being whose appearance was so glorious that Nebuchadnezzar himself referred to him as "the Son of God". In the flames, the only things burnt off were the ropes that they had been bound with!

"Therefore if the Son sets you free, you shall be free Indeed."
John 8:36

Often times we must go through refiner's fires in order to have the various ties that have bound us burnt off. Sometimes these shackles are the doings of the devil and others, but more often than not it is us- we have stretched out our own arms, legs, necks and bound ourselves. You know what some of them are: addictions to drugs, alcohol, sex, being double minded, and struggling with unbelief to name a few....
Although we may have stepped forward for deliverance, been prayed over, etc. many times, until we are thrown into that superheated "furnace" nothing changes, and we already knew that it wouldn't ... We want to blame the devil for everything, but every time those ties are loosened we ourselves cinch them tight again.
Only when we realize that it takes the glorious revelation of Jesus our deliver being right there with us, walking with us that we can truly become set free and unbound.

Beyond the Boat/Comfort Zones

"And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus."
Matthew 14:28, 29 

We have all read this scripture where Peter joins Jesus for a stroll on the Galilee.
The scriptures tell us that the lake was tempestuous, with high winds that had kicked up whitecapped waves. The small boat with the disciples on board-without Jesus-was taking the brunt of it.
There are no comments of the disciples recorded here, but I am sure they were not very happy about Jesus making them head out to the other side of the Galilee (Matt.14:22) without Him accompanying them. I'm sure they may have felt stranded, abandoned. They were "up the proverbial creek with a paddle", or so they thought.
Out in the middle of that stormy sea, just before dawn, they see something, or someone-walking across the waves! Thinking with their natural, unbelieving minds they surmise it's a ghost, but then they hear the voice of the Shepherd! How could it be ? After all, aren't they in the middle of this body of water that has a 33 mile circumference? But Peter calls to Him: "Lord, if it's You, bid me to get out of ths boat (paraphrased) and come to you on the water!" Jesus says."Come!" and as his astounded companions watch, he throws comfort and convention to the wind, swings his legs over the side, fixes his eyes on Jesus and does the seemingly impossible.

I find myself getting "out of the boat", maybe even being thown out of the boat,to be totally honest, out of the established comfort zone, jettisoned from my Egypt, my Ur... I'm headed down (or up) a new path that is directed by faith, not the convention or  wisdom of the world.
It is the voice of my Shepherd that guides me and I reach forward to grab hold of His hand.
Fixing my eyes on the Perfecter (Heb.12:2), I desire to do what Peter failed to do here...
he sank because He took his eyes off Jesus and let his worldly thought overwhelm him.
Jesus continues to tell me that nothing is impossible when He is with us and this is what I concentrate on. He calms my anxieties, squashes my fears, and  illuminates my journey step by step.
It is faith, not sight that directs me.  (2 Cor. 5:7).