and thats what this whole thing was about...

rec·on·cile

1.

to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired: He was reconciled to his fate.

2.

to win over to friendliness; cause to become amicable: to reconcile hostile persons.

3.

to compose or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.).

4.

to bring into agreement or harmony; make compatible or consistent: to reconcile differing statements; to reconcile accounts.

5.

to reconsecrate (a desecrated church, cemetery, etc.).

 

o·bey

1.

to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of: to obey one's parents.

2.

to comply with or follow (a command, restriction, wish, instruction, etc.).

3.

(of things) to respond conformably in action to: The car obeyed the slightest touch of the steering wheel.

4.

to submit or conform in action to (some guiding principle, impulse, one's conscience, etc.).

So, that's what this whole blog thing was about.  Obeying the Lord, He would show me why.  What He did was reconcile me, heal me.  He reconciled me to myself, to others, and to Himself.  The thing is, if you have walked away from the Lord like I did, when you come back...there's a whole lot of healing that needs to take place.  It is not for the faint of heart.

Did I want to blog?  Not really, Ive never been a writer, except for assigned schoolwork.  I was obeying and trusting the Lord He would show me why.  i was truly saying "alright I'll do what you say".  He did, about a week ago, and man am I glad I obeyed Him.  This was for me, it was an essential step in my healing process, if it hurt or offended anyone else, I am truly sorry, that was not where my heart was at all.  This is out there for the whole world to see, but it was for me and my journey with Christ. 

I learned much from doing this though, mainly about myself, but also about building Christs Kingdom.  Would I do anything differently, I don't know to be truthful, but I doubt I would.  What I gained from obeying the Lord is so wonderful.  I might switch some words, but if I changed the course, the result may not have been the same. 
James 3
 ¹ Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

So to end this ol blogaroo, I can say that I laid it out there.  I gave testimony to all continents but Antarctica and South America, reaching multiple countries around the globe, thousands of times.  It is said to preach to all nations, this is how I did that.  I got my calling cemented in me from this experience, and that is to be a missionary, in a not so safe place to preach the gospel.  I want to work alongside with others, showing them what Christ can do, the light He provides for our steps.

I would like to thank everyone who read with an open mind, shared with an open heart and saw what the intent of this was.
James 2
¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

I am me, my words can be foolish and wrong.  My heart was completely in the right place.  I was obeying the Lord.  I was doing my part to build His kingdom in the process.  If any offense took place, I am sorry, I truly hope that we see past our words and look at the intent and the body on whole.  That is not just in reference to this blog.  The last thing I would like to "impart" on anyone is this.

When we truly offer our hearts and lives to Christ and say have your way.  I really hope we don't get caught in our "own" ways.  All of us, say dumb things,(Christ followers included), all of us by intention or lack of intention hurt others, all of us have lied to save our keesters, all of us are flawed.  In the body, we need to strive to look past the offenses of others.  In the body, we need to truly apologize if our intent was taken wrongly.  In the body we must put off the facade that we are more "holy" and righteous than we really are.  In the body, we truly must cast our judgemental ways away.  If we are here for the lost, sick, and brokenhearted....there should be zero tolerance for judgement of the lost, sick, and brokenhearted.  I have known all too many "church goers" who are the most hypocritical and judgemental people I have met, bent on unforgiving, but the facade looks great in the four walls.  Fortunately the church I have called home for the past few years is great about walking out what is taught in the Bible.  Without this body, I would still be lost.  Without this body I would not know what true Christ followers look like, talk like, and act like.

We are all just flawed people who happen to follow Christ.

Welp, this is what it is, and this be it...

The end...

Covet

Whats it going to be...
cov·et

1.

to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others: to covet another's property.

2.

to wish for, especially eagerly: He won the prize they all coveted.

verb (used without object)

3.

to have an inordinate or wrongful desire.

so coveting has been on my mind for quite some time.  I guess it could be due to this time of year where "keeping up with the Jones'" raises to another level, gifts.  We as a society covet.  Coveting is brought to a whole new level in the time of year where it should be at the lowest of the low.  We covet because we seek what only God provides...LOVE.  We covet because we have the mindset of "if I give my wife the gift that he is giving his wife, maybe then she will really love me..."  "if I give me friends that gift, maybe they will like me more..."  "if I give my children that gift, maybe they will love me more, maybe they will know how much we love them..."

Covet, what a nasty little sneaky word.  This has crept into our lives like a snake slithering through the grass, only visible when it is brought out into the open.  Naked to the eye 

James 4(NIV)

Submit Yourselves to God

 ¹ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4(MSG)

Get Serious

 ^1-2Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.  ^2-3You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

To covet something is to allow your flesh to rule you.  Instead of coveting that gift that will make someone love you, or hopefully show someone how much you love them, why not pray to God?  What I mean is why don't we pray to gain wisdom from God on the situation.  If it is for love from someone, do we really know who God is?  If it is to show someone how much we love them, do we really know what Jesus did at the cross?  God our Father, and Jesus our saviour sacrificed for us.  Lets let that sink in a little.  They sacrificed for us.  God did not lavish His only begotten Son with possessions did He?  He lavished His only Son with agony, pain, and suffering.

Husbands and Wives.  Do we have that love of the Father towards each other?  Do we walk out in our actions and with our lips that we truly love our spouses?  Do we secretly covet the job of our best friends husband?  Or do we encourage and build up our husbands with our words instead of telling them they don't have a good enough job?  Do we covet anothers spouse?  Do we secretly covet the way our best friends wife keeps the house spotless?  Or do we step in and do "womens work" instead of hitting the links every weekend?  Do we covet anothers spouse?  Do we covet the way those kids behave and ours run amuck?  Or do we pray for wisdom as one(husband AND wife) for wisdom on how to discipline our children, or let us know what desire we are not meeting with them?  Do we covet others children?

So what causes quarrels among us?  If we read the Word of God above, it is this nasty little word...covet.  Letting our flesh rule us for wordly desires.  We feel we are entitled to it, we are spoiled children.  We want things to come how and when we want them.  And how do we do that?  If we look throughout history as a human race...it is done through possessions.  Possessions of wealth, resources, power, and even love.  Wars are fought over such things.  Love is spoiled because of such things.  Marriages are lost because of such things.  Families are broken because of such things.  Generations are cursed because of such things. 

I challenge us to be real with ourselves.  Do we covet possessions?  Or maybe we covet relationships?  Confess it to ourselves, confess it to God.  Let us pray as one for things of God instead.  Let us pray for wisdom on how we handle situations.  Let us pray for reconciliation.  Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us.  Let us pray for grace and to allow us to give more grace.  Let us pray for Gods will be done here on Earth.  Let us pray for His kingdom come, regardless of what we personally get out of it.  It is not about us, this thing called life.  It is about Him, it is about spreading His message of love.

It is what it is, and this be it...

what to say

what to say what to say...

Mark 13

¹⁰ And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. ¹¹ Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

How true, so very true.  I count on the Holy Spirit to show up when needed.  Not when just going to court, but pretty much all the time.  Whenever a "talk" is needed, I expect the Holy Spirit to show up and do my speaking.

Whats the Holy Spirit telling you?

Time, it is such a perplexing thing.  Time heals all wounds.  In due Time.  Time is money.  Time is...

Man, these times are great.  Never in the past has there been a time like now.  The speed of time in this day and age is crazy.  In the past 100 years, think of all the things that the eye has seen compared to the times before.  Wow so crazy.  So much change, in all facets.  An explosion of all things has taken place from population to technology.  So much good to so much bad.  Times have never been like this, ever.  Regardless of what anyone says, times have never been like this.

It is my time, and by "my" I mean I am truly open to the Lord having His way with me.  At peace with it and expecting Him to show up big.  I'm at the edge of my seat, and oh so ready.

Are you?  If not what are you waiting for.  Is fear holding you back?

It is what it is, and this be it...

Identity Crisis

As a world we are in an identity crisis.  Finding out who we are and who we walk out as seems to be one of the biggest questions and most sought out answers of this age and day.

We have a desire to be "real" and there is a push to be "fake".  Finding the balance of who we are is a challenge.  Being "authentic" can be perceived and can be selfish and self involved with a reckless abandon for how we affect others.  Being "fake" is perceived as well, being fake, and can either be seen as selfless or selfish.  Being fake for your own gains is rather immature.  Being authentic for your own gains is rather immature as well.

Being authentic of who you are, putting your identity in Christ is mature.  Walking out His will instead of ours is difficult.  If we constantly worry how we're being perceived it is neither authentic or fake, it is just ceasing to exist, ceasing to thrive, ceasing to let God do what He does best...shine

Being fake is walking out in an identity other than what Christ gave you.  Being fake is becoming something other than yourself for reasons of this World.  Being fake is walking out your will for who you are rather than walking out your identity in Christ.

Being authentic does not give you the right to trump everyone elses feelings or thoughts.  Being authentic is walking out boldly knowing your identity is in Christ.  Being authentic is being who Christ designed for you to be.  Being authentic is being you, but submitting to His will and the wisdom of others.  Being authentic does not mean you run around letting your emotions control you giving you a free pass to be a fool and lash out at whoever.  Being authentic is being you, knowing that you will not always be right, knowing that you might offend others, knowing that you will be wrong from time to time.  Being authentic is putting your identity in Christ and submitting to His will.  don't let the salt lose it's saltiness

Finding your identity means put it in Christ, stop trying to be whatever, just be.  Be open to the Holy Spirit directing your steps, be open to wise council, just be...


Proverbs 20
²⁷ The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD
   that sheds light on one’s inmost being.

I am delving deeper

Proverbs 17
²⁷ The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
   and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
 ²⁸ Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
   and discerning if they hold their tongues.

I do not regret what I have done.  Have I made mistakes, abso-freaking-lutely.  Have I or my words been mis-perceived, yup.  Am I worried, not in the least. 

Here were the goals of this thing:

1.challenge myself - check
2.spread the message of the gospel around the globe- check
3.challenge others - check
4.become more well versed in the scripture - check check check (biggest accomplishment this thing did)
5.reach an islam majority country in the middle east - check check and check

What I learned:

1.how far i have to go
2.i will never go back to the old life, I will never give up
3.about other people
4.God is faithful
5.Jesus is my provider

This is a time of self reflection I am in of learning and equipping.  I am delving deeper.  I am going on a fast from this blogaroo.  It is time. 

I challenge you all to delve deeper as well.

Peace out

It is what it is, and this be it...

The way it should be driven

Nice try.

I refuse to stare backwards. 

When you drive a car, do you look in the rear view mirror and just look forward out of the peripheral?  If so, you will never make your destination from either missing your exit or getting into a wreck, that is not a safe way to drive.  When driving you should have your eyes ahead of you, only looking back when making a change in direction to make sure you can make said change safely.

All too often I find myself living life like this.  Focusing on the past, and not the present and future.  This look will keep me from making my destination.  Praise be to God that I do not drive while looking back near as much as I used to, but I will still catch myself doing so.

When driving a car do you use binoculars or a telescope to have your focus 10 miles down the road?  If so you will miss all that is in between here and there.  You will not ever reach your destination because your focus is not where you control, the present.

I used to find myself driving my life like this.  One day I can see I will have it made, I will be doing this and that.  I was busy with my head in the clouds. 
Job 20
Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens
   and his head touches the clouds
Ouch.  I can say that this used to be true about me.  I wouldn't say I was exactly godless, but I can say I did not understand Him, and tried to figure Him out.  I did not put my focal point on Jesus and our Father.  Rather my focal point was me.

Thanks be to God and Jesus who does a redeeming work in me though, I can say I am now driving the car the way it should be driven.  My focus is on the present, my focus is on trusting God and doing my part...submitting to His will, not leaning on my own understanding, and having faith that Jesus does what He does best...deliver. 

I will still find myself looking too long in the rear view mirror on occasions.  Listening to the lies that I cant continue on this path.  That I am and those I love destined for doom.  That I will fail in leading my bride and family.  I will fail in building His kingdom.  I will not finish my tower.  I will open the door for all the mockers to say "Ah HA...look at him, he has no faith, he has no obedience, he has no blessing!  What God!?!" 

You know whats great about now though?  It isn't yesterday, and it isn't tomorrow.  Whats great about now is my whole heart, soul, and body believe with faith and expectation that Jesus will succeed where I fail.  My mouth and fingers do the same.  I know that I am not great, that I am not special, that I am me.  Jesus though has done a redeeming work through me and in me.  Jesus is my provider.  Jesus is never a failure.  My job is to drive my life in obedience, expectation, and faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Without Him, I am nothing.  With Him, I am nothing, but He will do the work.  He will keep from dozing off behind the wheel.  He will tell me to turn in .5 miles.  He will tell me to slow down there is construction ahead.  He will tell me to let it run.  I am full of faith, that pure unadulterated faith that is beyond comprehension, beyond logic, beyond reasoning.  I have seen Jesus with my own eyes, I know the power and good work He does.  There is none like Him.

Where I am at in life is living one day at a time.  Not leaning on my own understanding.  Putting my faith and life in Christ.  He said it best on living in...
Matthew 6

Do Not Worry

    ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?
   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

What I take from that is do not worry about your past or future.  Today is where your focus is.  Put faith in your God to do what He says He will...deliver.  I am driving my life in the present.  I will not believe the lies of driving while looking in the rearview mirror is the way to go.  I will not believe or have faith in my own self to drive safely, to my destination while looking through a telescope.  I will drive my life by looking in front of me in the present, trusting in my Lord and Savior Christ to give me the directions, glancing back only when changing direction to make sure it is clear.

It is what it is, and this be it...