I Am Human, Too!

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind, I am like a broken vessel. (Psalm 31:12)

I’m tired of being strong! Weary of being a leaning post. If people really knew how weak I was, they would never look to me for support.

But I am afraid to tell them!

Afraid to let them know I hurt, too. I don’t want them to know that I struggle with some of the same problems they do. It makes me looks so good, so spiritual to pretend…YUK!

Have I made myself appear to others as a great pillar of strength, a spiritual authority standing with outstretched arms, inviting people to look to me??

I dare not tell them what I really am!

Perhaps, I should hide the fact behind a gilded (to make appear bright and attractive, to make something seem more attractive or more valuable than it is) layer of superficial piety.

If they only knew how fragile I was, how easily broken, they would not believe in me again.
Perhaps, perhaps not?

Maybe confession is what is needed. To allow myself to be exposed. Broken! Then there would be no reason for others to come to me or hold me in esteem.

Yes, that’s it. Brokenness is what is needed~to lose the pieces of my own identity. Let self be lost so a new person can emerge.
One that is honest, glued together with love, unafraid to be exposed and obviously human.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. (Romans 14:13)

My mind was ruffled with small cares today. And I said pettish words, and did not keep long~suffering patience well, and now how deep my trouble for this sin! In vain I weep for foolish words I never can unsay.
H. S. Sutton

Father, forgive me when a cause of annoyance and distress arises and my expressions of impatience hinders from taking it patiently. Disappointment, ailment, even weather depresses me, and my look or tone of depression hinders others from maintaining a cheerful and thankful spirit. I say an unkind thing, and another is hindered in learning the holy lessons of love that thinks no evil. I say a provoking thing, and my sister or brother is hindered in that day’s effort to be meek. I am sorry when I do those things Papa!

How sad too, I may hinder without word or act! For wrong feeling is more infectious than wrong doing; especially the various phases of ill temper, gloominess, touchiness, discontent, irritability…

Do I not know how catching these are?

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
(Matt. 5:16b)

Intercession For Others

"I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks, be made for all men." (1 Timothy 2:1)

"Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not." St. Augustine's succinct statement sums up the twofold nature of intercession. God empowers us by the Holy Spirit to intercede for others' needs; without that empowerment, our prayers would be empty words.

God also invests us with Christ's authority to restrain evil forces that are blinding and hindering the person for whom we are praying. God could restrain those forces without us if He chose to. But He has equipped us and commissioned us to intercede by pushing back the enemy, thus allowing the Holy Spirit to bring conviction that leads to repentance.

Two Old Testament verses depict the need for an intercessor to do battle for sinful man: "God was appalled that there was no one to intervene" (Isaiah 59:16); "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30).

Of course, Jesus ultimately filled the gap. He became the mediator between God and man by giving Himself as a sacrifice for sin. But believers should also see themselves as intercessors; standing between God and the person(s) for whom we are praying, pleading for God to intervene.

If God be for us, who can be against us?

God~Made Tree

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth his fruit in his season, his leaf aslo shall not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3)

The Psalmist compares us to a tree, a God-made tree.We are "planted" trees ~ "he shall be planted." When we plant a tree, we select the spot where we want it and the type of tree best suited for that location and for the purpose we had in mind. God knows where He wants to plant us, and He has a purpose in planting us there.

God provides for His trees ~ He plants them "by the rivers of water."

We are to be "productive" trees ~ "that brings forth his fruit in his season." We must be productive in due season, bringing forth God's fruit in God's season. When our lives take deep rootage in Christ, we will bring forth rich fruitage for Him.

God's trees will be "perpetually alive" ~ "his leaf also shall not wither." We will be ever-living trees of unfading beauty radiating the loveliness of our lovely Lord.

We are "prosperous" trees ~ "whatsoever he does shall prosper." Rooted in Christ, nourished by the Word, and refreshed by the Spirit, our lives become blessings to others.

What's Your Miracle?

First and foremost, my salvation from a life of drugs and alcohol!

In 2003 I went on my very first missions trip to Mindaneo Philippines. It was right after the Burnham's kidnapping. There was a High Red terrorist alert out at that time. Our host family, myself, my traveling partner, and the police took an hour pump boat ride to a village to minister and have a feeding.

When we finished, we got back to our vehicle, a flatbed truck in which we rode in the back of to our destination through the jungle.

A truck load of rebels come up from a hillside. We had no idea we were in danger, but our host pastor did. Later on, the village pastor asked the rebels why they did not attack us? They were told that there was a band of men surrounding the truck so they just took off.

Things like that took place quite often while I was there, yet I did not feel in danger at all. I felt that if I die, I die, and the worst thing that could happen...I would go to heaven.

The hand of God is upon us and He gives His angels charge over us.
Let us not grow weary in well doing. He will never leave us nor forsake us. We will see the great things the Lord will do when we stand fast in the faith.

Slow Down Therapy

Slow down; God is still in heaven. You are not responsible for doing it all yourself, right now.
Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past. Rest there. Each moment has richnessthat takes a lifetime to savor.

Set your own pace. When someone is pushing you, it's OK to tell them they're pushing.

Take nothing for granted: Watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbor mow.
Taste your food. God gives it to delight as well as to nourish.

Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set. They are remarkable for their steady pattern of movement, not their speed.

Quit planning how you're going to use what you know, learn, or possess. God's gifts just are; be grateful and their purpose will be clear.

When you talk with someone, don't think about what you'll say next. Thoughts will spring up naturally if you let them.

Talk and play with children. It will bring out the unhurried little person inside you.

Create a place in your home...At your work...in your heart...Where you can go for quiet and recollection. You deserve it.

Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive. Rest isn't luxury; it's a necessity.

Listen to the wind blow. It carries a message of yesterday & tomorrow ~ and now. NOW counts.

Rest on your laurels. They bring comfort whatever their size, age, or condition.

Talk slower. Talk less. Don't talk. Communication isn't measured by words.

Give yourself permission to be late sometimes. Life is for living, not scheduling.

Listen to the song of a bird; The complete song.

Music and nature are gifts, But only if you are willing to receive them.

Take time just to think. Action is good and necessary, but it's fruitful only if we muse, ponder, and mull.

Make time for play ~ The things you like to do. Whatever your age, your inner childneeds re-creation.

Watch and listen to the night sky. It speaks.

Listen to the words you speak, especially in prayer.

Learn to stand back and let others take their turn as leaders.

There will always be new opportunities for you to step out in front again.

Divide big jobs into little jobs. If God took six days to create the universe, can you hope to do any better?

When you find yourself rushing & anxious, stop. Ask yourself "WHY?" You are rushing and anxious. The reasons may improve your self-understanding.

Take time to read. Thoughtful reading is enriching reading.

Direct your life with purposeful choices, not with speed and efficiency. The best musician is one who plays with expression and meaning, not the one who finishes first.

Take a day off alone; make a retreat. You can learn from monks and hermits without becoming one.

Pet a furry friend. You will give and get the gift of now.

Work with your hands. It frees the mind.

Take time to wonder. Without wonder, life is merely existence.

Sit in the dark. It will teach you to see and hear, taste and smell.

Once in a while, turn down the lights, the volume, the throttle, the invitations.

Less really can be more. Let go. Nothing is usually the hardest thing to do - but often it is the best.

Take a walk-but don't go anywhere. If you walk just to get somewhere, you sacrifice the walking. Count your friends. If you have one, you are lucky. If you have more, you are blessed.Bless them in return.

Count your blessings ~ One at a time and slowly.

~Unknown~

Others May, You Cannot!

If God has called you to really be like Jesus, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to measure yourself by other Christians; and in many ways He will seem to let other good people do things which He will never let you do.

Other Christian and ministers who seem very religious and useful, can push themselves, pull wires and work schemes to carry out their Christian goals, but these things you simply cannot do. Others may boast of their work or their writings or their success, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you ever try it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, but most likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence on Him and the joy of seeing Him supply your needs day by day out of an unseen Treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and keep you hidden and unappreciated because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work on and on without knowing how much you are doing; and then, to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.

The Holy Spirit will rebuke you for little words or deeds or even feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem to be concerned about, but you must make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and He has a right to do whatever he pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in the way He deals with you, but if you will just submit yourself to Him in all things, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are very near to His heart.

Settle it, then, that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that your secret heart becomes pleased and delighted with this peculiar, personal, private, jealous, guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, then you will have entered the very vestibule of heaven itself.

G.D. Watson 1845-1924

Setting Priorities

Set your affections on things above, no on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)

I read this by Jean Fleming and wanted to share it with you.

I view my life as a tree. The trunk represents my relationship to Christ, the limbs represent major areas of God-given responsibility such as family, job, ministry and personal development; and the branches represent the activities and opportunities of life. Even without special care, activity branches multiply. Soon the profusion of branches becomes more prominent than the trunk and limbs. When this happens, I feel trapped, frustrated, and empty. Why? Because my life is shaped and drained by activities that have lost their pertinence to Christ.

For example, the activities expected of a mother multiply conspiratorially; supervising a school field trip, organizing a car pool for soccer games, baking for the forth grade bake sale, helping a child with fractions.

To "sacrifice" for my family is sincere veneer that wears thin in time. I must go beyond defining life by activities. I must focus not on the branches, but on the trunk and limbs. I do what I do because of Jesus and His claim on my life. I don't do what I don't do for the same reason.

On a finely pruned tree, the trunk and limbs are prominent. The limbs grow out of my relationship with Christ and sprout many new branches each year. I must examine my tree and determine which branches need to be pruned back or hacked off at the base. Life is always changing. My tree must undergo changes, too.

EVERYONE THINKS OF CHANGING THE WORLD,......BUT NO ONE THINKS OF CHANGING HIMSELF . LEO TOLSTOY