FISH OR CUT BAIT!

So you have been on this journey for a long time and you think you know what building the Kingdom of God should look like.....yet you sow discord among the brethren (of course thinking you are doing God a favor); you participate in character assassination by propagating rumors you have heard discussed (and you have 'listened' to, in spite of knowing that God holds the sin of gossiping the same as the sin of murder). Let's be very clear about this behavior.....it is wrong and innocent blood is being shed. And even if there is some 'truth' that is being shared around, you will not be held guiltless. "There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends." (Proverbs 6:16-19) Even if there is a shred of truth to all the accusations....it is not your place to judge. It is God's job! It is our's to bring reconciliation to any situation that might rise among us. It appears to those on the outside, that you are no different than the world; no different than those who do not profess to know the God of the Universe. STOP IT! If you have been offended. Make it right. You are just as responsible to clear the offence as the 'offender'. Either be part of the solution, or get out of the way, but do not be a participant in bringing down those who are also on this journey Home. Either fish or cut bait! Get in or get out! For in the end, "ALL things work together for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28) When you are taking things into your own hands, damage that you cannot imagine is being done in hearts and lives you cannot see. "It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble." (Luke 17:2) And if you think this applies only to little children, you are mistaken. We have people born into the Kingdom every day that are babies in Christ. Some remain that way for many years........and they can be severely damaged when older, more experienced ones are participating in sowing discord among the brethren. If this post is offensive to you, ask yourself if it's offensive because you are guilty and are justifying what you are doing. A church, a business, a marriage, a friendship, a family can be severely damaged by this kind of behavior. I am not your judge but the Word is and the Holy Spirit is speaking to you to repent of this behavior and to bring healing to whatever the situation is; bring mercy and bring Grace...for where sin abounds ( and believe it.....gossip/tale bearing are sin) Grace does much more abound. Be a builder and a lifter of those around you. God will forgive everyone and reconciliation will come. We are in perilous times and this is no time for us to be wasting the Gift that the Father has given us in His Son, Jesus, the Christ. Live a crucified life and make it count!

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

This morning as I am considering writing one more blog, I wonder where the time goes. At my age now, it seems to fly past at lightening speed, so fast, in fact, that if I don't write it down, or make note somehow, I may forget many things associated with the passing of that time.
I recall when I was young, with 4 children at home and a disabled husband, that I was able to work a fulltime job, outside the home, be the church clerk, worship leader, Adult Sunday School teacher, and lead singer in a trio that sang at other churches on invitation and special services, regional/district meetings, etc.
How did I do that?
Looking back down that tunnel of life, I don't know, except it was driven by a passion so strong that I could see no other way of life nor did I want another way of life. It seemed perfect to me except for a few nagging issues that I just could not seem to get worked out...
After 26 years of marriage (the last 13 as a sold-out, blood bought, heaven-bound follower of Christ)I was faced with divorce, not my choice, but his. And my world turned upside down.
The next 19 years flew by so fast, that it's all a blur to me now. In the last 6 years, my mother, my step-father (who was an awesome Dad to me), my biological father, and step-mother and my youngest child, Shelley, have all gone to be with the Lord. The last living sibling on my mother's side passed away 5 weeks ago and his last words to me were, "Stay here as long as you can, but when you are ready to come Home, I will be watching for you." Where has the time gone? A lot of it has gone on to be with Jesus.
How we 'spend' the time will make a difference in how we handle the issues of life, such as divorce, and the loss of loved ones. If we are rooted and grounded in the Word of God and have a fresh relationship with Christ, though there is pain and there is loss, we count it all joy that we are able to endure when these times of testing come, knowing at the end of it all awaits joy unspeakable.
How are you 'spending' the time that God has allowed you upon this earth? Are you always waiting for the time to be 'right' for you to allow God to use the gifts and talents He has placed in you. Are there other demands upon on your time, your life, that come before your service to Him. What price are you willing to pay, to bring Him the reward of His suffering?
Did I do it all right? Absolutely not! Could I have done more? Absolutely! All we have is right now. We have no promise of tomorrow. So what we do for Him, must be done today, right in the middle of life's demands. Does He understand that we have families to care for, baseball, soccer, basketball, football games to attend? Does He get it that we have to prepare meals after working all day, try to keep the laundry done and the floors swept, the dog groomed, the lawn mowed, the weeds pulled out of the flower beds, the garden?
There is nothing new under the sun. He gets it about the cares of life. All He requires is that you live it with a passion for Him. Let everything you do be done as unto Him. All of it! Then, as time passes, and you sense how quickly it is slipping away, you can rest in knowing that you have loved Him, and with great joy you have served Him and brought Him honor and glory with your life.....how are you 'spending' your life?

IS ANYONE LISTENING?

Is anyone listening? That's an odd question to be asking when starting to write a blog. After all, you read a blog, you don't listen to it.....or do you?

Some of us think we are compelled to share what is in our heart....and then we may begin to question that drive to do so when there is no input, no reaction, no "Amen", no one listening....

Let me encourage you, as I encourage myself. Never, ever think that what you do does not impact someone's life, for better or for worse. We do not live in a bubble, separated from the world, but rather, we live in a fish bowl.

Inside the fish bowl we only see the plants and deep sea artifacts that may have been placed in it for looks, but outside the bowl, others are watching every move we make. It may just be the cat, but someone is watching and therefore we are affecting the lives of others. Especially the cat who may be hungry and is trying to figure out how to get his paw in the bowl and retrieve you...

Life is very much like this. We come and go, move about in this culture, and may never feel sure that we are contributing or making a difference. The fact is, whether we realize it or not we are making a difference, one way or the other.

When it is all over, and we draw our last breath, I hope we can know that we did the best we could to fulfill our purpose in this life. And, yes, we each have a purpose and we only have a brief moment in time to complete it...

Make it count. Don't wait another moment. Say what you have to say now....someone is listening.

"Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

WHAT'S IT GONNA' TAKE?

In this life, we spend so much time searching for what seems to always illude us. We are never quite satisfied; we are unsettled; we create busy-work/activities; always seeking what seems, in the end, to escape us.

It takes many forms such as: knowing the 'right' people; driving the 'right' car; participating in the 'right' social activities; dating the 'right' man/woman; having the 'right' house; wearing the latest fashion; belonging to the 'right' clubs. The list is endless and yet, nothing satisfies.

C. S. Lewis said, "If I find myself a desire which no experience in this world will satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

There it is! We were known before we were every formed in our mother's womb! We were called into this world, by whatever process, for a purpose and when that purpose is our focus, we will find satisfaction in this world.

What is it going to take?