What You Will Be

As I gazed up at the mountains, I was awed by their majesty;

I bowed my head and asked myself, "Why should He care for me?

I am not great like the mountains that tower so high above,

What is there about me that God can find to love?"

"Father, I am not strong like the wind that makes your tall trees sway,

I cannot sing sweetly like your birds; will you love me anyway?

But most of all, I am simply me, and often have cause to fear,

In spite of all my weaknesses, do you promise to be near?"

With eyes closed tight against my tears, I wished He could hear me pray.

Then I felt His Spirit tell me, "Child, look up, I have something to say.

"You are simply you, the spirit I love, a part of my great plan.

I put you here to learn of life and to return to me again."

"You are more beautiful to me than the loveliest mountain I made,

And your strength exceeds that of the wind's, so do not be afraid.

I love you not for what you are, but for what I know you will be.

I am always beside you watching you grow, you are very special to me."

A smile touched my lips - I knew it was true, my Father had always been there

Giving me comfort and blessings and love and my own special talents to share.

So I do my best to make Him proud. I am not afraid, for you see,

He loves me not for what I am, but for what He knows I will be.

Pancakes and Love

ix year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.  Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, and he didn't know how the stove worked!

Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.  And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was make them proud.  He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process.

That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend or we can't stand our job or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes," for God or for others.  Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried...

Eye Opener

I saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in his mid-70's, with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the good news with him.

He was a well-respected, honest man with so many characteristics a Christian should have, but he had never put on Christ, nor entered the doors of the church.

"Have you ever been to a church service in your life?"  I had asked him a few years ago.  We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting and talking.

He hesitated. Then with a bitter smile he told me of his childhood experience some fifty years ago. He was one of many children in a large impoverished family.  His parents had struggled to provide food, with little left for housing and clothing.  When he was about ten, some neighbors invited him to worship with them.

The Sunday School class had been very exciting! He had never heard such songs and stories before!

He had never heard anyone read from the Bible! After class was over, the teacher took him aside and said, "Son, please don't come again dressed as you are now. We want to look our best when we come into God's house."

He stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls. Then looking at his dirty bare feet, he answered softly, "No, ma'am, I won't ever."

"And I never did," he said, abruptly ending our conversation.

There must have been other factors to have hardened him so, but this experience formed a significant part of the bitterness in his heart.

I'm sure that Sunday School teacher meant well. But did she really understand the love of Christ?  Had she studied and accepted the teachings found in the second chapter of James?

What if she had put her arms around the dirty, ragged little boy and said, "Son, I am so glad you are here, and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus."

I reflected on the awesome responsibility a teacher or pastor or a parent has to welcome little ones in His name. How far reaching her influence was!

I prayed that I might be ever open to the tenderness of a child's heart, and that I might never fail to see beyond the appearance and behavior of a child to the eternal possibilities within.

Yes, I saw him in the church house for the first time on Wednesday.  As I looked at that immaculately dressed old gentleman lying in his casket, I thought of the little boy of long ago.  I could almost hear him say, "No, ma'am, I won't ever."

And I wept.

-- Author Unknown

Three Strangers

A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

 

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked.

 

"No", she said. "He's out."

 

"Then we cannot come in", they replied.

 

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.

 

"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!" The woman went out and invited the men in.

 

"We do not go into a House together," they replied.

 

"Why is that?" she wanted to know.

 

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success and I am Love."  Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

 

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed.  "How nice!!", he said,  "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"

 

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"

 

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

 

"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

 

The woman went out and asked the three old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."

 

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success:

 

"I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"

 

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him.  Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!!!!"

 

 

What Can I Do? - A New Year's Resolution

I usually stay away from making new year's resolutions, primarily because like a great many of us, myself included, within the first few months of the new year, those resolutions go out the window! If the Lord allows the world to stand and my life to continue, I am making a resolution; my resolution is based on the question: What can I do? This year I am going to endeavor to make and keep my resolution; because you see, it is not about me but about doing the will of my Father. Notice I said Father, not father.

As I was reading an article in The Gospel Minutes (http://www.gospelminutes.org/) entitled "What Can I Do?" I realized with great sadness that I am not doing all that I can for the Lord. For one, I don't invite people to the Lord's service. Sure, I don't have many friends where I live, but I know enough people until I should be able to invite someone to service. That would include my family members as well. Take an example from the Bible where Andrew invited his brother Simon to meet Jesus; and looked what happened, they became close friends: Jesus and Simon (commonly known as Peter) John 1:40-42  I (we) can't save the world and shouldn't try, however, I (we) can start with one person!

I also don't pray enough, and I should-we should! We need to pray for ourselves and others. Prayer keeps us alert, prayer heals us, prayer takes the focus off us. Prayer is our intimate, ultimate, conversation with God. Colossians 4:2-4 Our prayers should be continuous, there should be no part of our world that we don't invite God in through prayer.

I need to love more and that love has to be unconditional. I have to love those that don't love me. I have to constantly show love and get over myself! And I need to learn not to complain about anything or anyone. Everything I do has to be done with a love that does not look for anything in return. After all, Jesus loved us unconditionally; so much so until he gave his life for us without a second thought, and we absolutely were/are not worth it! 1 Peter 4:7-9; 1 John 4:9-11

I also realize the gifts that God has given to me. I am good with planning and orchestrating events for the ladies at my congregation. I am also a good cook. I don't "need" to use these gifts, I "have" to use them! God gave them to me, and I need to be willing to use them to spread the Gospel to the best of my ability. If I can bring my Christian sisters together for fellowship by spearheading a program; if I can show non-members what a glorious thing it is to be part of the Body of Christ; if I can bring women together to showcase their individual talents, then that is what I should do! 1 Peter 4:10-11; Ephesians 4:15-16

So exactly what is my new year's resolution? To do all I can to promote the Gospel of Christ, and I resolve to do this by

• Creating a personal atmosphere that will so engage me with others that they will be receptive to my initiations to hear the Word;
• Pray more for myself and especially others without selfishness or hypocrisy;
• To love more and unconditionally; and,
• To use the gifts God has given me to bless others through support, creativity, leadership and always being ready to do service for the Lord, regardless of what it is.

 Can I challenge you to do the same? Remember it is not, never has been and never will be about you. Don't wait until January 1st - start today!

What You Will Be

As I gazed up at the mountains, I was awed by their majesty.
I bowed my head and asked myself, "why should He care for me? I am not great like the mountains that tower so high above. What is there about me that God can find to love?"

"Father, I am not strong like the wind that makes your tall trees sway; I cannot sing sweetly like your birds. Will you love me anyway? But most of all, I am simply me, and often have cause to fear. In spite of my weaknesses, do you promise to be near?"

With eyes closed tight against my tears, I wished He could hear me pray. Then I felt His Spirit tell me, "Child, look up, I have something to say. You are simply you, the spirit that I love, a part of my great plan. I put you here to learn of this life and to return to me again."

"You are more beautiful to me than the loveliest mountain I made, and your strength exceeds that of that of the wind's, so not be afraid. I love you not for what you are, but for what I know you will be. I am always beside you, watching you grow, you are very special to me."

A smile touched my lips - I knew it to be true. My Father has always been there; giving me comfort and blessings and love and my own special talents to share. So I do my best to make Him proud. I am not afraid, for you see, He loves me not for what I am, but for what He knows I will be.

The Awakening

Please read to the end!

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change...or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming or Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you...and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of what you are...and that's okay. They are entitled to their own views and opinions. And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself...and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself...and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging others and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties...and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained in your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe you parents, family and friends.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with...and in the process you learn to go with your own instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for you next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn to that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you lean about love.

How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them to be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. And you learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK...and that it is your right to want things and ask for things you want...and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands. You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less.

And you learn that your body really is a temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise. You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear and uncertainty so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels the soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve...and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen. Most importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone...and that its okay to ask for help.

You learn the only thing you must fear is the robber baron of all: FEAR itself! You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometime bad things happen to good people. On these occasions, you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. Life is just happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself, by yourself and you make yourself a promise never to betray yourself and never ever settle for less than your heart's desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so that you can listen to the wind.

And you make a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

THIS IS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT!

It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hours before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got him the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentlemen told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer Disease.

As we talked, and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

I had to hold back the tears as he left. I had goosebumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along the way!

CONDUITS OF COMFORT - Part Three: Overcoming

In this short series, I’ve talked about pain and loneliness. I want to end it with an explanation of the title, Conduits of Comfort and how to overcome not only pain and loneliness, but everything that sends us to a bad place and causes us to take our focus off the most important entities in our lives; our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the Father of us all, the Almighty God.

According to Merriman-Webster, a conduit is defined as: 1) a pipe or tube through which something (such as water or wire) passes; and 2) someone or something that is used as a way of sending something (such as information or money) from one place or person to another. 

Let’s be enlightened by the second definition; for that someone is Christ and that something is His Word, the Bible. The information being transmitted is hope. We have hope in Christ through the Word for overcoming every –and I mean every – obstacle in our lives! No matter how much pain we have been in or are in, there is no comfort like that found in Jesus Christ. No matter how lonely we are, there is no friend on whom we can depend on to be with us like Jesus Christ. Don’t you just love saying that name! Jesus - “Jehovah is salvation” “the healer” “the Soter or Iesous” (meaning savior of his people)” and Christ – “Christos or the anointed”  “Excellent” “Messiah or anointed of God”. Just the meaning of His name should give us immeasurable comfort! I love Jesus with every fiber of my being! When I think about the pain that has been inflicted on me, when I think of the pain I go through daily just by living in this world, I counter the pain with beautiful, wonderful, tearfully happy thoughts of my Savior. Have you been so happy until you can’t do anything but cry “thank you Lord!” Well that is just what we need to do when that pain hits us; thank Him! Thank him that we can go through it that we’re not so hard until we don’t believe He is going to help us get through everything! When I become lonely and feel like crawling in a dark corner, I counter the loneliness with thoughts of my Lord, Jesus. I know that the loneliness will only be for a season and when the season has come to an end, I emerge stronger, more ready to do His work!

Jesus and His Word are our conduits of comfort. See for yourself; know that He loves us and gives us strength to face the pain, to face the loneliness, to face to the ugliness of a selfish, cruel world. Remember that the Lord is good and kind, our ever-present protector and provider of comfort in times of need: Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Psalm 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Finally, the 23^rd Psalm says it better than I ever could: ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³ he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

As I complete this post, there are tears in my eyes because I know that as this day goes on I may experience both bouts of pain and loneliness. But the tears are not for that, they are for the knowledge that I am going to make it through because I know the Lord! I know Him! He is my everlasting conduit of comfort!

Endless Love

When it comes to my taste in secular music, I love jazz, soundscapes and “oldies”! Sometimes those oldies get me through a very trying day. You know how you listen to them and it’s like, “yeah, that’s it! That’s how I’m feelin’ right about now…go on with your bad self!”  You know, stuff like that. And oldies love songs…what you say! I can sit back and listen, and listen, and listen…then I cry, and cry, and cry! Wow, this is exhausting! But anyway, you know where I’m going with this…or…may be you don’t.  

So I was at work listening to music online, specifically, Motown oldies. You know about Motown, right? Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, The Commodores, Billy Preston….singing all of them good old songs. Songs you can actually sing the lyrics to; songs you can understand; songs that mean something…and they are all about love. Yeah, love…that elusive thing that we want, that we say we’ve had. Sometime I wonder about that, like, here I am 59 years old and I really don’t know what love is. I mean that real thing between a man and woman; that thing that makes you smile every day when you think about him; that thing that keeps you feeling 21 when you’re really 41! Oh well, at this age I kinda figure I’ll never experience that type of love, but what I do experience every second of every day is a love that is all-consuming, ever present, and all-sustaining! This love keeps me through the night and wakes me up in the morning. This love is endless!

So that brings me to the title of this post “Endless Love”; a song made famous by Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie. Take a look at the lyrics to this song if you will:

My love, there’s only you in my life

The only thing that’s right

My love, you’re every breath that I take

You’re every step I make

And I, I want to share all my love with you

No one else will do

And your eyes, they tell me how much you care

Oh yes, you’ll always be my endless love

Two hearts that beat as one

Our lives have just begun

Forever, I’ll hold you close in my arms

I can’t resist your charms

And love, I’ll be a fool for you

I’m sure you know I don’t mind

‘Cause you mean the world to me

Oh I know I found in you my endless love

Oh and love I’ll be that fool for you

I’m sure you don’t mind

And yes you’ll be the only one

‘Cause no one can’t deny

This love I have inside

And I’ll give it all to you

My love, my endless love

Wow! Whew! My Goodness! What a love…what a lover! When you hear those lyrics, you can’t do anything but shake your head and go hmm….If only! Okay so maybe I don’t have that physical love, that closeness with a person of the opposite sex, perhaps I’ll never experience such wonderment and I will admit it bothers me and at times it hurts. So when I become consumed with this type of thinking, I have to do something extraordinarily simple…I have to LOOK UP! Yes, look up to that One who is the epitome of love!  He is without question the greatest lover there is, He is the Alpha and Omega, the Almighty, the Highest, the love of my life; He is absolute love! 1 John 4 talks about His incomparable love.

The Monkey on Your Back

A person who is said to have a monkey on his or her back most likely appears to be struggling with an overwhelming and troubling burden. A persistent problem might be described as a monkey on one’s back. www.voices.yahoo.com/idioms-unpacked-monkey-back-5456074.html?cat=37

John Meggiolaro, a managing partner at the business development firm, The Travid Group, in his post Getting A Monkey Off Your Back profoundly stated that “almost all of us are walking around with one or more monkeys on our backs. For some, they are the size of a baby chimpanzee. For others, they may be full-grown gorillas. No matter the size, the fact that one or more are there demands our attention. And it's no secret that the care and feeding of these monkeys can be overwhelming”. http://EzineArticles.com/5174439

I can agree with Mr. Meggiolaro to a certain degree. Unless you are a child as described by Jesus Christ in Matthew 18:3, we all are walking around with a monkey-two monkeys-three monkeys (you get the drift) on our backs! And the monkey or monkeys is sin in its most basic form. So it doesn’t matter the size – sin is sin and because it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Anything that we allow to detach us from God puts us in a very bad place.

There were also several suggested for getting the monkey off our back, like: 1) pick a monkey; 2) state your desired outcome in a proactive manner; 3) identify the possible road blocks that might get in the way; 4) select actions to overcome those road blocks; 5) identify anything else that may impact your ability to achieve your desired outcome; and, 6) take action.

Pick a monkey. Galatians 5:19-21

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which, I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in times past, that those that practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”. These are your monkey choices and I guarantee you that we all have a multitude of these little critters; they don’t come in ones’!

State your desired outcome in a proactive manner. Matthew 7:7-8; Matthew 6:6; 1 Peter 3:12; 1 John 5:14-15

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”. We want to rid ourselves of the monkeys, we want relief from the stress and we want peace. God knows what we need even better than we do and he is willing to give us the means necessary to put our lives back on track. As a matter-of-fact, he has already given it to us, it is called prayer! But we have work to do…like His will….for starters and enders! “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil”. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him”. We have to be proactive in our petitions to the Lord and remember we have an active part in our prayers; we must be willing to do our share.

Identify the possible roadblocks that might get in the way. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9; Matthew 6:24; 1 John 2:15-17

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed”. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever”. Our only roadblock is the love of the world for this is the catalyst for every sin that we commit, no matter what that sin is, because if we love anything or anyone more than we love the Lord, we will sin. Whatever it is that has put us a guilty distance from God starts with something that is in the world that we desire…whatever it is, and all of this gets in our way of serving Him properly and causes those monkeys to jump all over us!

With You, I’m Born Again!

There are so many “old school” songs about love that simply move me to great thought, or maybe wishful thinking, depending on your interpretation of this post. Anyway, although I am fully aware of the worldly connotations of these songs, I can examine them from a spiritual aspect to interpret a love that is beyond comprehension; a love so beautiful and lasting until the very awareness of its existence, for some, is inconceivable. One of those songs is, “With You I’m Born Again”, a duet with Billy Preston and Syreeta. For those of you who aren’t old school and don’t know it, here are the words, without the stanza repetitions:

Come bring me your softness
Comfort me through all this madness
Woman [man], don't you know, with you I'm born again

Come give me your sweetness
Now there's you, there is no weakness
Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again

I was half, not whole
In step with none
Reaching through this world
In need of one

Come show me your kindness
In your arms I know I'll find this
Woman [man], don't you know, with you I'm born again
Lying safe with you I'm born again

WOW, what a love! But I am going to step outside of the boundaries of this song being about a male and female relationship and look at it from the lens of a spiritual relationship with the Lord. Contrary to those who say, “I don’t need anybody or anything”, we all need comfort in our lives and the Lord is there to shower us with His softness. He is our comfort, one that will never elude us. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will never forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” Deuteronomy 31:8. “Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:28-29. 

The world is in a perpetual state of confusion and Satan’s only goal is to trap us, get us caught up in the madness and keep us from looking up and seeking the peace that only God can provide. “And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7. And the Lord is so very sweet to us! “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” Psalm 34:8. Furthermore, there is no weakness in the Lord for our safety abides in His love because “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” 1 John 4:28. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” Psalm 4:8.

We are whole in the Lord, we have all that we could ever want…ever need! “[We] have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer [us] who live, but Christ who lives in [us]. And the life [we] now live in the flesh [we] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved [us] and gave himself for [us]” Galatians 2:20 and “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” 2 Corinthians 5:17. We reach out to the Lord and the world cannot touch us since “[We] can do all things through him who strengthens [us]” Philippians 4:23. [We] can conquer the world because [we] know the nature of what it has to offer; “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6:12 and “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” Romans 12:2.

However, we have a significant role in our transformation. We have to radiate kindness, we have to love; and that means everyone! We cannot pick and choose who we will love based on our perceptions of them, biases, prejudices, whatever! “Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” Colossians 3:14 and “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins” 1 Peter 4:8. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” Ecclesiastes 12:3.