Excited about the future.

Im excited about the future. I dont know the answer to crime statistics, poverty, the president, job recovery, the economy, healthcare, taxes etc.I cant put my hope in those things therefore I cant put my focus on those things. I dont even know the answer for whats for supper. I know Im gonna look around and see how awesome things around me really are. I cant wait until things get better to live life we are not promised tomorrow. John 10:10 says I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Our lives could change at any moment and the piddly junk we are currently focused on could change forever. Time to focus on the unchanging and the things that matter most.

God is GOD!

Either God is God the creator of the universe, maker of man, who sent his son to die on the cross to be risen from the grave to save us from our sin and eternal damnation or the Bible is the greatest story of fiction to ever be written. Either God is 100% God or 100% a figment of imagination a character in the longest running practical joke of all times. Either God is in control and deserves our worship or he cant handle it and therefore we should keep on being self reliant. Either God is God and we have hope in eternity or its all a cruel joke meant to give false hope to the hopeless. God is God or a crutch for the weak a since of false hope a myth.
I mean of course we believe in God. Thats easy I mean we have lots of holidays every year where the focus has been turned to a character we have never seen. Its easy to say I believe in God. I think where the challange comes is living as though we do. I mean if God is God then he is not a hobby, a club, a facebook status he should be our focus in every aspect. I mean if he is God everything we do should be done as though he is God. A focus of our joy, our hope, our focus, our worship.

If only I could see as well as the blind man.

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

This morning we were in Luke. I decided to read a little before the text to see what led us to where we were. Well this passage hit me like a bolt of lighting and I thought I would share.

I think a lot of times we pre qualify those we share with or those who God wants us to share with. I also think we pre qualify those God chooses to use and sometimes think it wont be us because of our flaws. I also think sometimes we just need to slow down and see what and who God is trying to show us rather than being so task oriented.
The blind guy is a beggar who depends 100% on society to provide for him and meet his needs. The man is not proud and is completely dependent. From the outside looking in he doesnt have much to offer and is physically flawed by the worlds standards. Yet he cried out to Jesus knowing without a doubt Jesus could help him. The man didnt wait until he could see to ask for help. The man didnt wait until he got his mess together or was wearing the right outfit. All he did was cry out.
Those who led the way I think represent church people. See they were so busy leading the way that they forgot why or who they were suppose to be leading the way for. They were so task oriented they forgot that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. That Jesus doesnt want the blind and lost to just be passed by in our day to day routine so that we can hurry to our nice building we call church and then decide we want to see Jesus. I think a lot of times we get so busy living that even while meaning well we pass opportunities that God has given us to share. I wonder how many times we walk past the blind beggar thinking man I sure wish God would give me a chance to share.
Jesus healed him not because of what he had done, or could do Jesus healed him because he had faith. Not faith + XYZ but faith. What those leading the way didnt realize is obviously someone had planted the seed. The blind man knew who Jesus was. The seed had been watered and just because the man looked like briars and thorns the harvest was almost bypassed.
This also shows me God doesnt just use the pretty or the perfect or the bold or the wise. God uses those who submit. When the man was healed he was on fire. For so long he had walked in the dark yet now he could see. This man wanted everyone to know the source of his joy and healing. I wonder how often we search and wander in the dark when Jesus the light of the world wants to give us sight and vision. Also how often after we see the light does our fire begin to dwindle. There was no doubt a change in this man and others wanted to know about the change and he wanted to share. Are we changed? Does the world see a change? Ok maybe more later had to clear this off my heart so I could rest.

Live life

Over the past few days and weeks our community has lost a lot of great men of whom I respect. While I dont put myself on their level it really has caused me to stop and think. How quickly our lives can change. How quickly things can go from smooth sailing to uncharted waters choppy water.I think its caused me to reflect less on how I will or could die and the after effects and more on how I want to live. Less on my relationships in death and and more on my relationships in life. I am confident in my salvation. I want to take better care of myself. I want to eat better. I want to learn to slow down and relax more. I want to smile and laugh and be more carefree. I want to care less about the things that dont matter and more on the things that do. Less about the actions of those that arent important and more on the actions toward those those that do. I want to focus less on the things I have no control of and more on the things I can. I want to read the lecture be reminded thats 98% of the piddly things I worry about arent important at all. I dont know just a lot on my mind this morning. Just because you are breathing doesnt mean you are living.

Stopping smoking, depression, prayer and grace

Original FB post 08/11/2009 a lil update. Many of you know and have followed my quest to stop smoking (De quit as well). I can say that its has been over two months and getting easier. I know that some of you have followed the process. This process included a strange time for me that I chose not to hide. I had a hard time adjusting to not being on Chantix (meds used to stop smoking) during my withdrawels I battled a wide range of emotions one of the hardest to battle was depression. I allowed it to jump on me and I didnt realize it. I had become seriously down and irratable. I have an awesome life and the chemical imbalance tried to convince me otherwise. For a time it was succesful. I know that through the power of prayer and support I know feel as if I am stabalizing. I thank you all for your kind words, suggestions, concerns and prayers. I have learned that depression sucks. If you try to battle it alone it can and will whoop you. I only hope others who face it have someone who cares enough to point it out to you. I am grateful for De and Cambelle I havent been much fun but they have stood strong. I honestly think this has been a learning process for me. I think there were somethings that I was trying to hold on to. I think there were something I had control over and I could handle. I have been reminded the old adage let go let God. That phrase hasnt survived the years by accident. I promise. Thank you all for taking the journey as well. I leave with never be to stupid or proud to ask for help sometimes you have to hit your knees in submission before you are ready to get up.. Its a journey live it.

Standing at a crossroad. I have got to decide which fathers aproval I desire the most. I have one who I will never please nor satisfy their wants nor do enough for them. I have another who loves me unconditional not because of anything I've done nor anything I can do. One whom the more I do for the more he wants the other the more I do the more I receive and the more I want to do. I must choose who I will serve. I can't serve two masters it doesn't work

Trying to figure out. Do I want people to change because its good for them or because its good for me? Do I want people to be who they can be or who I think they should be? Do I pray for God will in my life and the life of others do I honestly want his will or my agenda.
Love my neighbor doesn't say just love the loveable or just those that look, act, or think or even believe like me. While I don't think loving your neighbor means to necessarily give them everthing they want. Somtimes loving your neighbor means saying no and allowing them to do for themselves. Neighbor can be substituded for friend, parent, child or even neighbor