Walking With The Father

 Walking With The Father

Taking a walk with my 3 girls this afternoon, taught me about God.

Victoria wanted me to carry her the whole time. Isn't that just like us? God is more than happy to carry us when we are still babies. But once we learn to walk, He expects us to walk. God won't baby you forever. No matter how much he loves you.

Ava kept saying her legs were tired. I told her to use her muscles. Rather than walk lazily along, high step it, and we did a little march together. Let's face it, the road gets long and we can grow weary. This is a battle and we need to keep moving, or we'll be struck down. People are counting on us to keep fighting the fight.

Olivia, my oldest daughter was prancing/skipping/merrily moving along out in front of the rest of us. At one point she had gotten to far out in front and I had to tell her that we had come out to take this walk together, and that she needed to come back with the rest of us. Isn't it astounding that when God calls us to walk with Him, sometimes we tend to get ahead of His plan? Try to step up Gods pace? Take His invitation and run with it? God sometimes has to put the brakes on us for a while, just so we can realize, He asked us to “walk” with Him. “The race is not to the swift, but to him that endures”. We need to learn how to keep at Gods pace. If you're running to fast to comfortably talk (with God), you're running to fast. It's easier if we learn to walk with Him. “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.” You weren't made to go it alone.

We had stopped to play at a park, and when I was ready to go, I said ”C'mon girls, it's time to go”, and proceeded walking. Of course some of the girls didn’t think it was a good time to go, and tried to get some extra play time in. As I about to walk out of the fenced in area, and was noticeably further away than they were comfortable with, I heard them say,”daddy slow up, your walking to fast”. To which I responded, “I'm not walking fast, you just didn’t come when I asked you too”.

Jesus says follow me. He doesn’t stay and coax us to do what He says. He doesn’t ask us to run out in front of Him. It's an invitation for fellowship. Stay close. Lets talk. Let's spend some time together.

There is nothing like fatherhood to teach us about our Father.

And there is nothing like being a father that will teach us about how to be a child (of God).

 

Genesis 5:24 KJV

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Genesis 6:9 KJV

These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

How To Dwell Together In Unity

*I gleaned this from http://blog.chestermitchell.org/

Here is a simple roadmap to Christian unity from Ephesians 4:
1. Walk worthy of the calling
2. Walk with all lowliness
3. Walk with gentleness
4. Walk with longsuffering
5. Walk while bearing with one another in love
6. Remember that the church is one body
7. Recognize and respect the gift of God in each other
8. Unity cannot exist without authentic relationships
9. We cannot be immature or childish
10. Every truth must be spoken in love
11. Anger only needs a “d” to become dangerous
12. Watch your words
13. Check to be sure that the Holy Spirit is not being grieved
14. Forgiveness is a non negotiable

Have You Ever?

Am I alone, or have you ever had an awkward moment where you felt like you needed to say something, defend someone, and didn't because you didn't want to be disruptive and didn't think it was the right time and place?


And have you ever gone to someone in confidence, only to find out that it was betrayed, and now people are talking about you?

And have you ever gotten bold, telling people what they should do, and not do, when really it isn't any concern of yours, and things far worse have happened in your own home?

Have you ever passed judgment on someone without mentioning their name, even though everyone knew who you were talking about, and the person wasn't even in the room?

Have you ever tried to stand up for someone and were cast the evil eye because people didn't want to hear an opposing view to their own?

Is it possible that you have ever been wrong, or given bad advice, or maybe didn't understand fully the plan of God in your own life, let alone someone else's?

Have you ever caused discouragement, when someone came to you for encouragement?

Have you ever spoken for God, before even consulting Him?

Have you ever felt you had to choose sides, in a matter that didn't even pertain to you?

Have you ever felt that a choice for your own happiness would leave others feeling disappointed in you?

Have you ever wished that people would just love you instead of trying to cram you into their little "perfect Christian" box?

Have you ever had the feeling that people don't care about you, and have had to fight the urge not to care about them back?



Have you ever had to put things into question form, even though you knew the answers?

Today I was thinking about the power of the silent letter: Car, care, hat, hate.

Simple difference. Changes the whole word, just by adding one letter you can’t hear. It’s presence is known, because you can see it. Just by standing or sitting there in silence, it is able to make a change. I didn’t have time to search the Internet or scour the dictionary looking for words with a silent i or u, but we both know that there are plenty of times where if u or i were silent, it would have changed the outcome.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for boldness, and speaking out, and not being afraid to state your case. But there are instances, probably more than we care to admit, when silence would have been the better choice, ultimately providing the best outcome.
I know that most of the time we want to shout from the rooftops that we are right, and we are smart. We want to proclaim our own goodness. Funny how even proclaim, has a silent i, in it.

Maybe it isn’t so important that we have so much to say. Maybe the great I AM has something to say, and I’m convinced that He can say it in far fewer words. In fact, the one time in history that someone had a right to fight for their honor, and defend themselves, and lay out their case and position, was when Jesus was being tortured. His response?

“He opened not His mouth”

Was He lied about? Yes. Was He wrongly accused? Yes. Was He mistreated? Yes. Was He misunderstood? Yes. Did He open His mouth and rail against His accusers and justify Himself? No.

“He opened not His mouth.”

WOW! That is difficult to do, when everything in us wants to respond and retaliate. We like to climb the mountain and dare anyone to confront us, challenge us, or come against us. We are “king of the hill”, and any opposition will get thrown down. That is not how our King on Calvary’s hill responded.

Have you ever been in an awkward silent situation, where you felt you should say something just to break the silence? You felt like it was your duty to say something, bring comfort, give direction, share wisdom… don’t. Just be there. In your being there, you’ve done enough. Sometimes words are best left silent.

There is a peaceful strength in the presence of powerful silence.

 
this was previously posted at http://www.thirdoptionmen.org/blog/power-silent-letter/.

The Asking Price

The asking price. Nobody wants to pay it. We have become accustomed to getting everything for less than the full value. If we can't get it on sale or if we don't have a coupon, chances are we'll pass. Doesn't matter if it's shoes or shampoo. "What's the best price?" or "What's the lowest you'll take for it?", have become common questions. It has become so prevalent that sellers intentionally mark up their item just so you'll feel good about buying at a perceived less price.


Here's my point. God has an asking price. He wants it all. Everything. All too often we walk away sad like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus asking what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus' answer was "Go, sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and come follow me." You might say, "well that's a pretty steep price". But look at what the young man was asking for. Eternal Life. Is temporary riches more valuable than permanent life? Jesus was essentially inviting him to become the 13th disciple. "Come follow Me". The Bible says Jesus was grieved when the young man walked away, because He loved him.

What in the world do we value more than heaven? More than walking with Jesus? More than being His disciple?

At one point Jesus, who was used to being thronged by crowds of thousands, watched as everybody left, the price He was asking was to great. Then He looked at His 12 disciples and asked them this question, "Will you also go away?". My question to you is this, "Are you willing to pay the asking price?" Or are you looking for a cheaper version? Something that will cost you less?

That was one of the temptations of Christ. "Just bow to me", the devil said, "and you can have it all". It's the temptation that we all face. Do we want it all, or will we be willing to give our all?

Jesus was never one to glorify following Him as a life of ease. He told one "The foxes have holes, the birds have nests, but I don't have a place to lay My head." You still want to come? This is a far different doctrine than one you will hear in most churches today. The Cross? Anyone hear about the Cross? It's where Jesus gave His all! It wasn't a life of prosperity, cars, and homes. Jesus said "If any man does not deny himself, and take up the cross, and follow me, he cannot be My disciple".

You are being summoned by God, "Come follow Me".

Are you willing to pay the price?

this blog was previously posted at http://www.thirdoptionmen.org/blog/price/.

It's No Joke!

Can you believe it?

Where did the time go?

We are racing towards 2012.

Which if you haven't heard, according to many people,

 (who believe the Mayan calender),

 is when the world is supposed to come to an end.

Personally, i don't buy into that at all.

If you think you  have until 2012, you may be over estimating.

I didn't think I'd be here this long.

It wouldn't surprise me a bit , if we were called home before then.

Doesn't the Bible say that we are to long for his appearing?

What does that mean?

To desire for it earnestly, cant wait for the day of it, to want it more than anything.

Is that what we are doing?

Longing for his return?

So do I really believe that we could be caught away soon?

Yes I do. I have to. and it scares me to no end.

And if I were a betting man I'd bet it scares the be-jeebers out of you too.

Why is that?

I don't feel the need to go into it. I think we both know why.

Why is it that so many Christians,

 who know that the rapture could happen at any second,

 who know that the end is near,

 act as if it doesn't matter?

It doesn't faze us.

I'm reminded of the story of Lot in Genesis 19.

Two angels told Lot, "We are going to destroy this place,

 the Lord has sent us to destroy it.

 Whoever you have here, family, sons, daughters, sons-in-law,

 you need to get them out of here."

The Bible says in Genesis 19:14, that Lot went out, and told them,

"Get out of this city, the Lord is going to destroy it."

You know what they thought?

They thought it was a big joke.

He seemed to them as "one that mocketh".

They laughed at him.

"What's gotten into you Lot, getting all preachy on us?"

"Stop it Lot, your embarrassing yourself."

"Cut it out, your cracking us up."

"Don't get yourself all worked up."

Lot told them. They may have laughed, but he did tell them.

We like to make a big stink about Lot living in "Sodom",

 but let me ask you,

 how close are you to living in the "world"?

How easily do you fit in?

You ever wonder why they thought he was a joke?

You ever wonder why they laughed at him?

You ever wonder why when he told them, they didn't believe him?

 if they would believe us?

Or would they laugh?

Would they ask, "Where is all this coming from? You never said anything before. What makes you think your so much better than us?

You really love us and want us  to be saved?

Yeah, right. That's a good one."

You ever wonder what the people around you think of you?

You ever wonder how effective your witness is?

Can you imagine how Lot must have felt,

 as he's pouring his heart out, trying to warn them, trying to save them, and in their eyes it's all a joke?

I wonder how many people Lot told that night,

 before he went home because no one believed him?

Today with all the social media available to us, how many people could we tell  by the click of a mouse? How many "friends" do you have on facebook? How many "followers" do you have on twitter?

It's amazing how quick we are to say or post, what we eat, where we eat, what  movie we've seen or are going to see, what song or video we think is so good, how badly we feel we've been treated, or how misunderstood we are, how rotten our life is, or how we wish we didn't have to study or stay up late, or wake up early, or how awful the weather is.

Man, we can really let the words fly. 

We love it when people hit the "like" button, leave a good comment, or re-post.

If Lot were living in our day....he would have texted, called, emailed, tweeted, posted and had his status say, " Get ready, get your house in order, you don't have time to play around, the END is closer than you think".

I wonder if you, called, texted, emailed, posted, and tweeted that...what response would you get? 

Would all your friends and family laugh at you?

Or unlike Lot....would you even warn them?

Are you afraid of what people might think of you?

Are you to afraid to warn them?

Here's the hard part to deal with....our family, friends, co-workers, and classmates are going to be destroyed.

I get it that we don't care, that we're chicken-hearted and weak kneed, and don't love them as much as we profess too.....

So let's just take everyone you know that is going to hell...let's just take them all, out of the equation.

What about you ? Are you sure that you're going to make it?

I see people, Christians, going about their days, especially during the holiday season, laughing, having a holly jolly good time, being merry, spending money they don't have on gifts they can't afford, going into debt for things they don't need, eating, drinking, being festive, acting as if they don't have a clue that when they woke up, that this could be the day.

It's as if Christians today have this fog of complacency around them.

Just going along in their own little happy world and couldn't care a lick that everyone in the mall they are shopping in, is going to hell.

Not even considering that today could be the day, more concerned about shoes, and skirts, and suits, than they are their soul.

More concerned about where they are going to eat, than where they are going to spend eternity.

Paul said in Romans 13:11, "It's high time, we wake out of our slumber." 

Snap out of it! Wake up! Smell the coffee!

In Luke 12:20 Jesus said about the man that thought he had lots of time, "Thou fool, tonight they soul shall be required of thee."

Lot really believed that Sodom was going to be destroyed.

Do we really believe that Jesus could come back at any time?

I think a lot of us are like, "Oh yeah....I believe that...just not any time, soon!"

What?! Are you kidding me? Can you not see what is going on around you?

Don't you read the newspaper? Or listen to the news?

How convinced are you that Jesus is coming back soon?

Hasn't He made it clear enough? Hasn't He said it over and over again in His word?  How may messages have we heard? Recently? What are we waiting for? How much clearer does He have to say it before we'll believe it?

Or will we be like Lot's family, and we'll be the ones laughing? 

We'll be the ones thinking that it's all a big joke.

Sit down preacher, we don't need to hear that again. I've heard that for soooo long. Surely our Lord delayeth His coming. His coming is far off.

Do you know what Jesus' last words are in Revelation 22:20?

"Surely I come quickly."

(Here's some homework for you when you get the time.

Get a dictionary out, and look up the word "quickly".)

Don't be like the people in Noah's day. They heard him preach day in and day out, "It's gonna rain!"

For a hundred years, the same message, "It's gonna rain, get in the boat!" 

Looking back we can say, "How can they not have known that it was going to rain? He preached the same message, he warned them, he preached for so long. How could they not know?"

Well, how many times have we been told, heard it preached, and read it in the Bible...Jesus is coming back, Get ready, He's coming soon......

Just like it was in Noah's day, when you see that it's happening it's to late to start getting ready. When you feel the raindrop, it's to late.

In Lot's day, when you looked up and saw the fire and brimstone falling from the sky, it was to late to start preparing. No matter that you were told, no matter that you were warned, when the fire was falling, it was to late to get ready.

This time of the year, we like to tell the story of Jesus coming to earth, and we see nativity sets, and we sing songs like "Go Tell It On The Mountain", and we can't believe that there was no room in the inn.

But there are as many, if not more, promises about His second coming to earth than His first, and they are all coming to pass.

Are we going to be like the chief priest and scribes in Herod's day and say "Yeah we know there's a promise, we know a saviour is coming, we know where he is to be born, we know what the signs are.......", and yet, they missed it.

What excuse will we have if WE miss it?

Yeah we knew, we were told, we read about it, we knew the signs, we just didn't think about it all that much.

Don't think you have a year, a month, a week. You have NOW.

That's all you know for certain.

Costumes, Masks, and Make-Up

Costumes, Masks & Make-Up

by David Munn

http://www.thirdoptionmen.org/blog/costumes-masks-make-up/

I was thinking this morning, that a lot of people went out over the last few days or weeks, and purchased costumes and masks, and make-up, and went door to door trying to get people to give them some candy.

 Some people may have even gone overboard, trying to impress others with their creativity, and how “different” from what they really are, they could make themselves look.

Why?

For some sort of acknowledgement, maybe a prize, and even some goodies.


AND HERE’S THE THOUGHT THAT CAME TO ME.


For some people, every Sunday morning is that way.

(Not just on Halloween Sunday.)

Let me get some nice clothes, look the part, smile,

and like some masquerade ball,

we’ll never be able to figure out who is really beneath that costume and mask.

And maybe if I’m good enough,

I’ll get some candy, or God will bless me,

even though I know it’s just a show.

And then the next morning we wake up and put on another costume and mask and go to work, and look and act totally different.


God is not happy with just the Sunday you, just part of you; He wants to set you free from the costumes and masks. He wants the real, genuine you.


He won’t be satisfied with less.