Today was not an easy day, yet an important day. I awoke with my heart in my throat knowing that this day could change my life. I fixed my breakfast, took my shower, laid out my clothes and waited. As I did so, I tried to use something else to take my mind from the events unfolding. Therefore, I went into my morning ritual, of Bible study, catching up on unfinished homework and email. As time drew near, I dressed and left for my morning appointment, all the while knowing the peace I had known was faltering. Still I proceeded on to the task at hand arriving early, and pacing the floor. As the other parties began to arrive, the feeling of doom became more persistent, until I could no longer tolerate the theft of my serenity and I rebuked that which was trying to torment me. It did not just pack up and leave, I had to repeat this rebuke several times, until finally after my appointment I stopped to wonder down the aisles of inspiration. You never know where you may find inspiration, or as some like me might see it, a word from God to build us up when we need it. Today was a small victory very small, yet victory is victory, and if looked at from another view can be seen as a much larger victory. I know very few of you know the story or exactly what I’m talking about, yet somehow relate none the less. Today, I relied upon God to defeat my fear and doubt, to keep them from stealing my peace and joy, which was the larger victory. After that, I came upon these words of wisdom:
It is not what is in your past.
It is not what is in your future.
It is what you have inside of you.
That makes you, who you are!
I do not know the author of that powerful statement; I thank him or her for writing it and sharing it with those who find need of it. Still, more than anything I thank God for bracing me against the darkness, asking me to stand even when I cannot do so on my own, bestowing ability upon others, to give encouragement and strength, when needed. Today I was not strong enough on my own, today I needed those words to remind me that Christ lives in me, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. With my peace returned, my joy safely tucked away to be shared at the appropriate time, I can now evaluate the small victory and see it as one more step towards the defeat of those who would steal my peace, my joy, promised me, by my King. Praise be to God for His glory forever! Amen!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Have you lived today? If you were gone tomorrow, have you lived today?
Rats in a maze
Rats in a maze
Make haste make haste
Such waste such waste
I’m late I’m late
Time escapes it escapes
Such waste such waste
From bed we race
We run we run
No, fun no fun
Till done till done
At the end
Is where we began
Time escapes it escapes
Such waste such waste
Have you lived today?
Are you a rat in a maze?
Lived
1.to spend your life in a particular way or under particular circumstances
2.to enjoy life to the fullest
These are just two of the definitions of what it means to have lived. So, can you honestly look back and answer this question? There is a song I love called “Line Between the Two” by Mark Harris. I love it because it makes you stop and think. The first verse grabs your attention:
A beginning and an ending, dates upon a stone
But the moment in the middle is how we will be known
Cause what defines us can be found within a line
Finding reason for our time
These words say so much, and you have to ask yourself, what defines me. Have I lived for a reason, for something more the taking up space, to exist, or have I wasted the time I was given? In my early years, I never anticipated living past the age of 25, so I never made plans for the future. I lived from moment to moment, day by day, one party to the next, one woman to the next, never really caring about anyone, but myself and not much of that either. Until one day, I was given a gift that scared the hell out of me. I met Jesus Christ, but I turned and ran as fast as I could the opposite direction. Oh, I tried at first, nevertheless I had so much anger in me, and I blamed Him for my pain. Yet He never quit on me, which is amazing considering how I was for all those years.
After years of running away from Him and myself, I finally came to a point I realized, I had ended up right where He knew I would be, all along. While I thought, I was running away, I was actually running to Him, and running from me well how vain is that. It was not until I reached full circle that I realized I had been searching for Him all along. It was in discovering who He is and growing in my walk with Him that I began to question my existence. This is why this song rings so loud in my ears, and the point of my original question.
To have lived, truly lived we all have purpose, a purpose that not only will give our life meaning, but also in Gods own way help out our fellow man. Finally, I now know my purpose; I understand how to fill that gap between the two dates on a stone. Though the second verse has strong meaning for those of us who long to live a good life, it is the third verse that brings it home:
I could live a life for just myself
Or I could live a life for someone else
But I’ll live and die just to hear You say
Well done my son come and be with Me
These words not only have power to stop you in your tracks, but the last line is something all Christians long to hear from our Lord. Still, you would like to know before that time; at least in your own heart, you have lived a life of meaning? The years fly by, time waits for no man, or as the Bible puts life is a vapor. This brings me to the chorus:
And the years go by, how they seem to fly
They’ll all be over soon
When our life is done, did we live and love
The way we wanted to
Cause everyday that we leave behind
Goes on to tell the truth
Of how we lived in the line between the two
Meaning and purpose begin outside of one’s self. Many things in life one can devote themselves to, yet none of them means anything unless they have two main ingredients, self-sacrifice and love. Which is the exact example Christ taught us, in order to live we must die to self. Have you lived today?
Rats in a maze
Make haste make haste
Such waste such waste
I’m late I’m late
Time escapes it escapes
Such waste such waste
From bed we race
We run we run
No, fun no fun
Till done till done
At the end
Is where we began
Time escapes it escapes
Such waste such waste
Have you lived today?
Are you a rat in a maze?
Lived
1.to spend your life in a particular way or under particular circumstances
2.to enjoy life to the fullest
These are just two of the definitions of what it means to have lived. So, can you honestly look back and answer this question? There is a song I love called “Line Between the Two” by Mark Harris. I love it because it makes you stop and think. The first verse grabs your attention:
A beginning and an ending, dates upon a stone
But the moment in the middle is how we will be known
Cause what defines us can be found within a line
Finding reason for our time
These words say so much, and you have to ask yourself, what defines me. Have I lived for a reason, for something more the taking up space, to exist, or have I wasted the time I was given? In my early years, I never anticipated living past the age of 25, so I never made plans for the future. I lived from moment to moment, day by day, one party to the next, one woman to the next, never really caring about anyone, but myself and not much of that either. Until one day, I was given a gift that scared the hell out of me. I met Jesus Christ, but I turned and ran as fast as I could the opposite direction. Oh, I tried at first, nevertheless I had so much anger in me, and I blamed Him for my pain. Yet He never quit on me, which is amazing considering how I was for all those years.
After years of running away from Him and myself, I finally came to a point I realized, I had ended up right where He knew I would be, all along. While I thought, I was running away, I was actually running to Him, and running from me well how vain is that. It was not until I reached full circle that I realized I had been searching for Him all along. It was in discovering who He is and growing in my walk with Him that I began to question my existence. This is why this song rings so loud in my ears, and the point of my original question.
To have lived, truly lived we all have purpose, a purpose that not only will give our life meaning, but also in Gods own way help out our fellow man. Finally, I now know my purpose; I understand how to fill that gap between the two dates on a stone. Though the second verse has strong meaning for those of us who long to live a good life, it is the third verse that brings it home:
I could live a life for just myself
Or I could live a life for someone else
But I’ll live and die just to hear You say
Well done my son come and be with Me
These words not only have power to stop you in your tracks, but the last line is something all Christians long to hear from our Lord. Still, you would like to know before that time; at least in your own heart, you have lived a life of meaning? The years fly by, time waits for no man, or as the Bible puts life is a vapor. This brings me to the chorus:
And the years go by, how they seem to fly
They’ll all be over soon
When our life is done, did we live and love
The way we wanted to
Cause everyday that we leave behind
Goes on to tell the truth
Of how we lived in the line between the two
Meaning and purpose begin outside of one’s self. Many things in life one can devote themselves to, yet none of them means anything unless they have two main ingredients, self-sacrifice and love. Which is the exact example Christ taught us, in order to live we must die to self. Have you lived today?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
What’s love got to do with it?
Have you ever asked yourself that? It is a familiar question made famous by Tina Turner. Though I am sure, she is not the only one to have ever asked that. I know I have, and I am certain most of you have, especially if you have ever put your heart on the line. So, what does love have to do with it? The simple answer is everything. It is what we are here for, after all. However, one cannot look out into this world and not ask the question, so where do we find the answer? We have to look at what we believe in, our faith or lack thereof. If we have faith, what do we place our faith in; can we have faith that deep down inside everyone has some good in him or her? We cannot, I mean come on, just turn on the news and the answer to that is abundantly clear. We as humans cannot say that we have a core of righteousness. I am not saying this because of bitterness or disenchantment. Sure, there is hope, and for the most part people do have some good in them, we see it every day. Yet, at the same time, all of us are broken trying desperately to put the pieces back together. How do we do it; how do we get to the root of what is wrong with this world and fix it? Clearly somewhere along the line, we have as a society lost or become numb to morality, as if we no longer believe in anything but ourselves. Which if, recent news events cannot convince you how wrong that is, neither can I.
In spite of this, I will attempt to answer these questions and I hope share some insight to someone in need of it. The first question we must answer is; what is love? For years, I asked myself that question. I grew up in a very violent home yet, through all of it, I still loved my dad. I bounced from one relationship to another, always in search of the feeling of euphoria that somehow never seemed to last. Just when I had finally given up on ever finding it I realized the answer had been there all along, and with further search, I discovered the actual definition of love. Dictionary.com defines it as:
A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person, a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. Sexual passion or desire, a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart, affectionate concern for the well-being of others strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything. The benevolent affection of god for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.
I have problems with this definition first of which, love is not sexual passion or desire, if that were so, than love would not be so fleeting. The second is, love is not a feeling it is a choice. I will clarify this with the true definition of love found in the Bible:
1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
As you can see, nowhere in this definition do we see love described as a feeling, and who is a greater authority on love, than God Himself. Think about it, we do not fall in love as if we are just walking along and trip over the person we are meant to be with. No, first there is attraction of one form or another, and yes sexual passion (or as the Bible puts it lust) may be involved. Yet, what happens when we wake up one morning freezing, because he or she has stolen all the covers in the night. Maybe for some unknown reason, that wonderful boisterous laugh that so got your attention in the beginning, is like nails on a chalkboard.
Do we fall out of love, as if we have tripped over those little annoying things that were there from the beginning, or do we make a choice? We make a choice of course, we choose not to care for or love that person any longer. Either we have gotten all we think we will ever get from them, or we choose to love another. On the other hand, maybe we choose to continue to love them, by overlooking his or her little annoying traits. Anyway, you look at it love is a choice, which brings me back to the first question I asked; what’s love got to do with it? When Jesus was asked, which was the great commandment in the law He replied,
Matt 22:37 You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
As this world continues to darken and spin out of control, it has become apparent that most have forgotten this. We have become selfish, only thinking of ourselves and having no regard for God go about our lives as if we are more important than another is. Yes, in recent news we have had the occasion to witness what an extreme religious fanatical can do too. When did it become ok to throw love out the window, and sit in judgment of others? Did not Christ teach us the wrong in this, with the woman caught in adultery? Yet, we have religious fanatical people or groups killing others, because they do not agree with their view of God. We have pastoral leaders here in our own country passing judgment on others, because of their sexual choices or beliefs. Has not religious warfare taught us anything? Our fight is not with each other but with the devil. For who among us can say, we are without sin.
Yes, Christianity has had much to do with these horrendous acts. Still, Christianity must take the lead in society and follow Christ in love, which is after all what we are taught. It is only by making this choice of love that we can fulfill our calling and our purpose in life, which is to love. Jesus said,
Matt 5:46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Finally this brings me to the other question, what do we put our faith in? Maybe this could be better answered by defining what faith is. Once again, we look at Dictionary.com:
Confidence or trust in a person or thing; belief that is not based on proof. Belief in god or in the doctrines or teachings of religion, a system of religious belief. Belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc... The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc., the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc… Christian Theology, the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved, in faith, in truth.
The Apostle Paul wrote in,
Heb 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
The dictionary and the Bible agree on this subject. Not only does faith come from hope, morality, and God, they all are based in the longing for and trust of God. Which is why, some in this world float around from one religious practice to another, because they have not yet discovered who God is, yet they still have the morality mindset and heart of God. It is that mere morality mindset, that reveals God to them, yet they are unwilling to believe. Which is the root of the problem, for if one refuses to believe in something they believe in nothing including morality, which is the current direction of this world? They become self-centered egotist putting no faith in anything but themselves, picking which morality issues to follow, which not, and using others to get what they want. They love no one but themselves, which again brings out the question, what does love have to do with it. The Apostle Paul said,
1 Cor 13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Love was Christ on the cross! Until everyone accepts that, until everyone accepts the true definition of love instead of chasing a feeling. They cannot see the truth of love, which is
John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."
Love is the greatest gift we were given yet, most turn from it, use it, or throw it back in the face of God. So what’s love got to do with it? EVERYTHING!
All Scripture from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
In spite of this, I will attempt to answer these questions and I hope share some insight to someone in need of it. The first question we must answer is; what is love? For years, I asked myself that question. I grew up in a very violent home yet, through all of it, I still loved my dad. I bounced from one relationship to another, always in search of the feeling of euphoria that somehow never seemed to last. Just when I had finally given up on ever finding it I realized the answer had been there all along, and with further search, I discovered the actual definition of love. Dictionary.com defines it as:
A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person, a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. Sexual passion or desire, a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart, affectionate concern for the well-being of others strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything. The benevolent affection of god for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.
I have problems with this definition first of which, love is not sexual passion or desire, if that were so, than love would not be so fleeting. The second is, love is not a feeling it is a choice. I will clarify this with the true definition of love found in the Bible:
1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
As you can see, nowhere in this definition do we see love described as a feeling, and who is a greater authority on love, than God Himself. Think about it, we do not fall in love as if we are just walking along and trip over the person we are meant to be with. No, first there is attraction of one form or another, and yes sexual passion (or as the Bible puts it lust) may be involved. Yet, what happens when we wake up one morning freezing, because he or she has stolen all the covers in the night. Maybe for some unknown reason, that wonderful boisterous laugh that so got your attention in the beginning, is like nails on a chalkboard.
Do we fall out of love, as if we have tripped over those little annoying things that were there from the beginning, or do we make a choice? We make a choice of course, we choose not to care for or love that person any longer. Either we have gotten all we think we will ever get from them, or we choose to love another. On the other hand, maybe we choose to continue to love them, by overlooking his or her little annoying traits. Anyway, you look at it love is a choice, which brings me back to the first question I asked; what’s love got to do with it? When Jesus was asked, which was the great commandment in the law He replied,
Matt 22:37 You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
As this world continues to darken and spin out of control, it has become apparent that most have forgotten this. We have become selfish, only thinking of ourselves and having no regard for God go about our lives as if we are more important than another is. Yes, in recent news we have had the occasion to witness what an extreme religious fanatical can do too. When did it become ok to throw love out the window, and sit in judgment of others? Did not Christ teach us the wrong in this, with the woman caught in adultery? Yet, we have religious fanatical people or groups killing others, because they do not agree with their view of God. We have pastoral leaders here in our own country passing judgment on others, because of their sexual choices or beliefs. Has not religious warfare taught us anything? Our fight is not with each other but with the devil. For who among us can say, we are without sin.
Yes, Christianity has had much to do with these horrendous acts. Still, Christianity must take the lead in society and follow Christ in love, which is after all what we are taught. It is only by making this choice of love that we can fulfill our calling and our purpose in life, which is to love. Jesus said,
Matt 5:46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Finally this brings me to the other question, what do we put our faith in? Maybe this could be better answered by defining what faith is. Once again, we look at Dictionary.com:
Confidence or trust in a person or thing; belief that is not based on proof. Belief in god or in the doctrines or teachings of religion, a system of religious belief. Belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc... The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc., the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc… Christian Theology, the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved, in faith, in truth.
The Apostle Paul wrote in,
Heb 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
The dictionary and the Bible agree on this subject. Not only does faith come from hope, morality, and God, they all are based in the longing for and trust of God. Which is why, some in this world float around from one religious practice to another, because they have not yet discovered who God is, yet they still have the morality mindset and heart of God. It is that mere morality mindset, that reveals God to them, yet they are unwilling to believe. Which is the root of the problem, for if one refuses to believe in something they believe in nothing including morality, which is the current direction of this world? They become self-centered egotist putting no faith in anything but themselves, picking which morality issues to follow, which not, and using others to get what they want. They love no one but themselves, which again brings out the question, what does love have to do with it. The Apostle Paul said,
1 Cor 13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Love was Christ on the cross! Until everyone accepts that, until everyone accepts the true definition of love instead of chasing a feeling. They cannot see the truth of love, which is
John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."
Love is the greatest gift we were given yet, most turn from it, use it, or throw it back in the face of God. So what’s love got to do with it? EVERYTHING!
All Scripture from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Someone to Share My World (the country side of me)
Lord, here I go again.
Stumbling and falling in.
You’d think I’d learn,
after the last disastrous end.
Not me, I keep jumping in.
Lord I put it in your hands.
To many times, I have trusted my heart,
Only to see things fall apart,
Becoming someone else’s fool
Looking for, someone to share my world.
Lord, here I am again laying it on the line.
You know her heart, can I trust her,
to take this lifelong part.
Can I close these auditions?
Putting an end to this searching.
Lord I put it in your hands.
To many times, I have trusted my heart,
Only to see things fall apart,
becoming someone else’s fool
Looking for, someone to share my world.
Lord will you show me who you have in mind?
Does she have a lonely heart like mine?
Trying to find, someone to share her world.
Copyrights 6/17/98 rewritten 01/04/11
Stumbling and falling in.
You’d think I’d learn,
after the last disastrous end.
Not me, I keep jumping in.
Lord I put it in your hands.
To many times, I have trusted my heart,
Only to see things fall apart,
Becoming someone else’s fool
Looking for, someone to share my world.
Lord, here I am again laying it on the line.
You know her heart, can I trust her,
to take this lifelong part.
Can I close these auditions?
Putting an end to this searching.
Lord I put it in your hands.
To many times, I have trusted my heart,
Only to see things fall apart,
becoming someone else’s fool
Looking for, someone to share my world.
Lord will you show me who you have in mind?
Does she have a lonely heart like mine?
Trying to find, someone to share her world.
Copyrights 6/17/98 rewritten 01/04/11
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