Inching Along

 

 

 

Today I took my three girls out for a walk.

We ended up sitting on a bench by a stream.

My two youngest girls were throwing rocks in the water, and squealing at the splashes.

"Did you see that Daddy?!"

My oldest daughter and I were chilling on the bench,

just watching the girls and chatting. 

I felt a little tickle on my hand.

I looked and there was this baby inchworm just doing its little "inch squiggle" thing, on its way up my hand.

I showed my daughter, and she thought that was just the coolest thing.

It was the smallest inchworm either of us had seen.

I was telling her how it actually was tickling my hand, so of course she wanted to feel it too.

I told her to put her finger in front of it, and sure enough, little wormy  hopped right on her finger.

Of course, by that time we had the attention of the smaller girls as well.

We were all mesmerized at the little movements of the worm.

It would do a step, step, lift up it's little body to look around and survey the landscape,

then step, step, and repeat. 

We needed to get back, and I said, "Who do you think can get to the house first?".

The two little ones take off full speed.

The smallest one soon got discouraged,

because she wasn't as fast as her sister.

I said, "Look, me and your sister (the one holding the inchworm) are behind you".

"Actually, the inchworm is ahead of me!", the oldest daughter said,

as she was holding her arm out in front of her.

My mind flashed to the thoughts of the inchworm.

Here he was, inching along.

So small.

Thinking he was making no progress.

When in all actuality he was moving at human speed.

Moving much faster than he could ever imagine.

I thought, isn't that exactly how we are.

We tend to take a step.

Look around.

Take another step.

Seemingly not covering much ground.

Not getting much closer to our goal.

When all the while, if we are in God's hand, we are moving at God speed.

We are tickling God with our steady progress.

The angels and the "great cloud of witnesses" are gathering around watching us and cheering us on.

Don't think because you are small that you can't go places.

Stay in God's hand.

He'll take you where you need to go.

He will provide for you. He delights in you. You bring Him much joy.

Don't stop. Take the next step.

Don't get discouraged by what seems to be a lack of progress.

Just keep inching along.

Don't Be Fooled

Once you've been exposed to the truth, something about a lie just won't feel right. 
It'll make you feel uneasy. Queezy even.

The preacher may get up behind the pulpit, the words may sound similar, but something will be off.
They may look Pastorly. They may sound Pastorly. But they are predators.
They are not shepherds, they are butchers.

You may be surrounded by church folk, they may worship like other church folk, but it won't seem right.
They may clap their hands, they may lift their hands, they may even raise their voice in praise. 
But it'll all seem a bit contrived.
Going through the motions.
Outward actions not affecting their heart.
The music may be great.
It may evoke a response.
It may even be easy to get caught up in the momentum.
The lights, the music, the excitement, the emotions. 
To the unsuspecting it may have the look and feel of "having church", 
but not to you. 

You've experienced the real.
You can sense a fake.

Have you ever seen a dancer do "the robot"?
I've seen some whose bodies were painted painted metallic gold or silver.
They train their limbs, joints, and sockets to do the herky jerk, and the way they sway, pop, and maneuver, you'd think they were actual robots.
Only they aren't.
They just appear to be.
They have gotten the motions and movements down pat.
That's how some "churches" and "saints" are.
And the devil is perfectly fine with that. 

God is seeking those that will worship Him in Spirit, and in Truth.
Don't be fooled into believing a lie.
Don't be fooled into believing a feeling, an emotion.
Don't settle for anything less than the Spirit of God.
Don't settle for anything less than the Truth.

There are many deceptive ways that the devil will try to deceive you.
Some of them are blatant temptations.
Some of them look like angels, church, preachers, truth.
That is why you need to know, for yourself, through prayer and Bible study, what truth is.
The Bible speaks of those who will creep in among you, false prophets, deceiving even the very elect.
Grievous, ravenous, savage wolves that appear as sheep, but whose purpose is to destroy the flock.
Their demonic goal is to lure you away from the truth, until you can't tell the difference between the truth and a lie.
Then they (the demonic influence), can take you out and have their way with you, at their will.
You will be susceptible to every wind of doctrine, tossed to and fro.
And you will never know.
Because on the surface, they look like they are for you. On your side.
Like angels and sheep.
Beware when some one make you question what the Bible says.
What God said.
That was the serpents first ploy with Eve.

If it looks kinda right.
Sounds kinda right.
Feels kinda right.
RUN!!!

Once you've been exposed to the Glory of God, basked in His presence, felt His Spirit, taken on His name, heard the truth, a counterfeit "experience" pales in comparison.

You need to love the truth.
Search it out.
Believe it.
Live it. 
Obey it.
Don't give it up for anything.

It's when you willingly reject the truth, that you start believing a lie.
Why?
Because you want to. 
It's easier.
Sounds better.
But in the end you pay the price with your soul.

If the devil tried to trip Jesus up by tempting him with twisted scriptures, don't think he wont attempt the same thing with you. 
And he doesn't come with a pitch fork and a pointed tail.
These three words are what Jesus used to defeat Satan, "It is written".
You better know what the Bible says.

Now is not the time to settle back in your easy chair.
The devil wants to "steal the word" that was planted in you.
Choke it out, by the "cares of this world", or by the "pleasures of sin", or by getting you to embrace blatant false doctrine.

"They have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof,
 from such turn away".

Have you ever tried to watch a TV channel and the signal wasn't strong, and the picture was distorted, fuzzy, and in and out.
Have you ever tried to listen to a radio station and the reception was bad, and it was full of static, and you kept turning the dial back and forth.
 
In life we allow things to interfere with our reception. 
We get a weak spiritual signal because we allow dark clouds to come between us and our source.
Scanning the dial or changing the channel wont help.
We need to lock our dial in on God.
Tune in to His frequency.
Hear His voice.
The rest is just static.
Distracting noise.

Stay pure. 
Stay clean.
Stay holy.
Stay undefiled.
Stay free from sin.

Get in the Light.
Stay in the Light.
Shine the Light.
Draw near to God.
Don't give up.
Don't let up.
Don't back down.
Don't turn around.
Embrace the truth.
Fight the good fight.
Keep the faith.

If the truth isn't changing you,
isn't affecting your daily life,
isn't taking root in your spirit, 
isn't making you draw closer to Jesus and further from sin and a sinful lifestyle, maybe what you're being exposed to isn't the truth.
Or it is, and you're rejecting it.
You'll know the difference.

Don't be fooled by or settle for a cheap imitation.

Jesus said, "Take heed, lest ye be deceived".

Preparing For A Storm

Schools are closed.
Banks are closed.
Jobs are closed.
Grocery stores have been raided.
Flash lights bought.
Gas tanks filled.
All in preparation of the oncoming landing of the promised storm that is being tracked by satellites.
Power companies and Cable companies have called to warn of impending shut-offs.
Nobody want to be unprepared.
We hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Who wants to be without power for days on end?
Who wants their homes flooded by what is supposed to stay outside?
Who wants to be stuck in one place?
Who wants to be stranded because it isn't possible or safe to drive?
Who wants all that you have stored to go to waste?
Who wants their children to go hungry?
Who wants to live in darkness?
All of these things should make a person willing to prepare.

You know where I'm going with this right?
I see people preparing more to meet "Sandy", than they are preparing to meet God.
I see people preparing more for "Sandy", than they are preparing for eternity.

God has promised to pour out His judgement on this world.
I am reminded of Noah's day, and Lot's day.
He has promised He is coming soon.
He has warned us to be prepared. To stay ready. To be watchful.
Many have, but sadly too many to mention haven't.
Have you?
Are you ready?
Don't take the chance that it'll all end up okay.
It won't.
Don't take the chance that you'll escape unscathed.
You won't.
He is coming for a bride (church-speak, I know), that has made herself ready.


We have all heard those emergency tests, that say, "this is a test, this is only a test. If this had been an actual emergency, the signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news, or instructions. This concludes the test of the Emergency Broadcast System."


If you haven't prepared, aren't ready, and don't know what to do, there are simple guidelines, instructions on how to weather the storm, and to be prepared.
In Acts chapter 2, the people looked at each other and asked the same question, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
The Apostle Peter stood up with the other disciples and delivered the instructions of what to do,
and how to start preparing.
You will find those simple steps in the book of Acts, chapter 2, and verse 38.

This concludes this message.
You have received instruction.
If your church does not teach this, seek out one that does.
This is not a test.
This is an emergency.
You have been warned.
Please prepare accordingly.

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/.