Today

Let today be the day that you don't get frustrated.

Let today be the day that you choose to forgive.

Let today be the day that you give up what is yours.

Let today be the day that you see everyone with love.

Let today be the day that you get right with God.

Let today be the day that repeats itself for life.

Awakening

As I sit here at 1am, listening to to the song Awaking from the Passion cd, I find myself...aware.

Aware of a problem in this stale heart of mine....

This heart, a heart that I've promised to my Lord many times before, has filled itself with everything but a passion for my God, my Savior - at least for awhile now.

And when I finally realize it? I Keep myself even busier...then I don't have to think about how little I think about/depend on God in my daily routine.

No longer Satan. My soul is awakening again, this soul knows that meaning in this life is much larger than what I can try to make it....

This my awakening. I am a child of God. I haven't loved my Father - I've treated him as if His unconditional love warrants apathy...when the complete and total opposite should be the case! My passion, heart, and love should overflow towards He that gave me all of the blessings I have in this life (and even if I had nothing but the gift of Salvation - I have more than I can ever repay or appreciate).


My blog title: The Fire Within - may that once again be the case.


Father, I am a prodigal. I have known the truth, and like Adam, hidden from it - ashamed. I have sought to make life mine - it isn't...and I know that I never want it to be...change this heart to make this life Yours...Yours. Renew my love, passion, faith, and heart. May it beat for You.

Unconditional Love

Through the train window, she watched the villages and vineyards of the Italian countryside go by. It was 1942 and Sussi Penzias, a young Jewish woman who'd fled Nazzi Germany, was traveling alone, hoping to remain unnoticed. Since she'd arrived in Italy three years earlier, she'd been moving from place to place, staying with friends and friends of friends, hiding from the authorities. Now she was on her way to yet another safe house in a new town.

Suddenly, the door at the end of the train car swung open and two police officers came in. Sussi's heart beat wildly. They were wearing the black uniform of the Fascisti, the government police. To Sussi's horror, the policemen began making their way down the aisle, stopping at every row to examine the papers of each passenger.

Sussi knew that as soon as the policemen discovered she had no papers, she would be arrested. She was terrified she'd end up in a concentration camp and would face unimaginable suffering and almost certain death.

The officers were getting closer, just a few rows away. There was no escape. It was only a matter of minutes before they would reach her seat. Sussi began to tremble uncontrollably, and tears slid down her cheeks.

The man sitting next to her noticed her distress and politely asked her why she was crying.

'I'm Jewish and I have no papers,' she whispered, hardly able to speak.

To her surprise, a few seconds later the man began shouting at her, 'You idiot! I can't believe how stupid you are! What an imbecile!'

The police officers, hearing the commotion, stopped what they were doing and came over. 'What's going on here?' one of them asked. Sussi began crying even harder.

The man turned a disgusted face to the policemen and said, 'Officers, take this woman away. I have my papers, but my wife has forgotten hers! She always forgets everything. I'm so sick of her. I don't ever want to see her again!'

The officers laughed, shaking their heads at the couple's marital spat, and moved on.

With a selfless act of caring, the stranger on the train had saved Sussi's life. Sussi never saw the man again. She never even knew his name.

It all starts Here (and with Jesus! Duh!)

I found this on the floor while cleaning up this evening, and it's still one of my favorite writings!

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes." ~Charles Swindoll

Worlds Apart - Jars of Clay

Afraid of the Sabbath - Or afraid of Trust?

Are we afraid to trust God by honoring His Sabbath?

Exodus 20:8-11 - “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

I've realized that in choosing to not honor/keep/have a Sabbath, I'm not only breaking a commandment (and treating it as less "important/less practical" than other commands - I'm ultimately showing my own lack of true trust in God.

How?

Just like tithing when you don't have the money - keeping the a Sabbath day(the Bible doesn't demand that it has to be Saturday, or Sunday) when you DON'T have the "time" for it is even MORE important than ever.

Do you, like me, tithe when you can afford it? Do you, like me, honor a day of rest when you can? Or do you, like we've been commanded, trust God enough to actually give when it hurts...rest when you're afraid He won't honor your trust by making all of the "important stuff" come together in only 6 days instead of 7?

Trust Him. Don't put the "Important stuff" above the Important God.

I've been doing it. I'm going to repent and re-prioritize. And if you're in my boat...I love you, and I'm praying for you as I am myself. Praying that God becomes so Important and Big in our lives that we can't put him second to ANYTHING.

And all of God's people said :)

Amen. Now to actually follow it.

Sinning Saint

I'm realizing more each day how difficult it is to truly live life righteously. Not to say that I'm living my life in evil, but is choosing to live a day without true dependence and focus on God...well, righteous?

Let me explain further, I am very aware of some of my strengths and virtues - and also aware of some of my weaknesses and sins. I used to believe that someone that loved, trusted, and believed in honoring and glorifying God, could live a righteous life with Jesus' help.

But I was missing something.

I can't live a righteous life with or without Jesus' help...I am covered in a righteous life - holy and sinless in the eyes of God...but not because of the deeds I try or don't try. It was my Savior's death on the cross that gave me a righteousness that I can't maintain or earn. A righteousness based on "documentation" and heritage rather than work or skill.

In layman's terms. I am a sinner and live with this fact every day of my life. And since believing in Jesus the Christ I am a saint in the eyes of God - Holy, set apart - every day of my life. Contradiction? Not according to our God.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not depressed about my earthly state of sinfulness, though DEFINITELY not proud of it. And I'm NOT arguing that we shouldn't TRY to live righteously and fight the good fight. I'm realizing that as we realize our own faults, sins, and failures - loving others becomes easier. Judging others becomes harder with these thoughts. Realizing my absolute longing, need, and dependence on God - becomes much easier too....

In conclusion,

I'm a walking contradiction (in earthly standards).

I believe in absolute Good and Evil, God and satan. I live for Christ, and yet for myself (the latter far, far more often...I'm ashamed to say.) I'm a "good" guy according to earthly terms, a daily sinner and failure according to the laws and truths given by God in His word, a man deserving of hell according to my views on my own hypocrisy, sins, actions, and thoughts...AND a man fully cleansed and redeemed, sinless, holy, and righteous according to God - through the price paid by my Kinsman Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and God - Jesus Christ.

My life is nothing without Him.

"Thank God for Jesus."

Lord, help guide my actions and words. Forgive me where I'm abusing them. And encourage me when I'm not. I'm not where I want to be, but You're bigger than that - make me wholly dependent on your will. In Jesus name. Amen.

Our Connection

Connection. That's what each and every one of us as believers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our Messiah.

As I was reading the novel, The Last Christian, I was reminded how incredible - and what a blessing - it is to have a connection to my brothers and sisters in Christ...and even more so, my connection to a Living, Righteous, Holy, Merciful, Just, Unfathomable, Uncontainable, Loving, Powerful, Creator, God. A God who paid it all, to obtain what He could have rightfully seized by force, my love, my hope, my faith, my life, my all.

What a God!!!

To our Savior, the Light and Life that this world needs, Jesus Christ!

John 3:16, John 14:6 and John 15:5 - AMEN!

It Begins

And so it begins. I've known for over a year that this day would come...the day that I moved to Alabama and started jumping through hoops to get the education I would need for my career. I argued God then, but I knew where I was called. So, I've honored the call. *sighs here*

Don't get me wrong, I love Alabama (though I'm a Mississippi Boy now, at heart) - but I wish that it didn't come at the cost of all the places, people and decisions I've been around. My Family, Meagan, my friends, my church, my home. Not that I lose them...but even to leave for a time...well, it hurts. But I won't be that guy.

I will see this as my mission field, and my chance to prepare for the next step that God allows me to take in this life. I'm determined. I'm passionate. And I will fight Satan and his minions with all the power that Christ gives me!

I've decided to start exercising and eating healthily while here. I've also decided to do a Chronological Read through of the entire Bible this year (with Meagan, for support and accountability). I'm checking into McAlister's tomorrow, for a short term job, AND I'm doing plenty of reading into aspects of the SWK program at Alabama and prep for it! *whew!* Time to rock and roll! I ask for prayer and support - as I do all that I can to live my life in a way that brings honor and glory to Our Father.

~Me

Christmas Thoughts

So, since the last time I blogged, I've turned another year "wiser" ;) (see what I did there? hehe). And it's currently Christmas day! I'm trusting. I'm trusting that everything in my life is taking me where I can bring God glory. I'm trusting that even when I'm scared, that God is in full-control of all around me. I'm trusting that no matter what happens, I won't compromise my relationship with my heavenly Father - the same Father whose Son's birth and purpose is being especially celebrated this very day!:)

The Gateway

Pride. The "gateway" sin. Or at least David would believe so by the end of this night:

He wasn't exactly the type of man you would call quick tempered, but unfortunately, too often in his life, he managed to hurt others with his words and deeds. "Why?" he asked himself. He just gotten out of a long argument with his grandfather...an hour long argument about his lifestyle. It didn't matter that he'd followed the laws of the household. What mattered was he didn't live the same life that his family had chosen.

"I won't do this anymore!" he shouted to God. Rationally, he knew that it wasn't God's fault, and deeper still - he knew he had no problem with God. His problem lay with himself.

"No. It's not my fault. You hear me??? He brought it up, he bashed my choices, my life, my beliefs, he all but told me that I need to start over! I won't back down this time! I can't always be the "weakling" or the "coward" or the "good guy"...it's not fair. I don't deserve this again."

He stood waiting.

"Well? Aren't you going to tell me that I'm wrong?" he said sarcastically, hating himself for treating and talking to God the way he was.

"I'm sorry" said David aloud. "Really I am. I didn't mean to be so spiteful and mean, but my prid...."

Pride comes before the fall.

The voice resonated in David's brain. He froze. "Is that you Lord?" he whispered.

Silence was his only response.

And then, he collapsed, exhausted from his fighting, frustration, and pride.



"You will do it more David, you'll do it for as long as you draw breath. Fault doesn't change your reaction - mercy, grace, and forgiveness. And of course it works that way, in My world, my son. Don't you see, you're not a weakling or coward for choosing to fight your Pride and your justifications.

I died for sins I didn't commit. I came in human form, a form I didn't "deserve". I chose to take what was dished - am I weak, afraid, cowardly or wrong? Where were you, my son? Where were you when I created the galaxies, stars, planets, earth, sea, and sky? Where were you? You don't deserve it...you deserve nothing, yet have been given everything. It isn't fair...but you've been given forgiveness for all your sins anyway. You want justification...and you've received justification through the death of my son. Your pride is hurt, what pride? What have you done without me? Name one thing, my son. Name one good thing you've done without MY help? Pride? It is not of Me, toss it aside. Apologize for using your words and actions to tear down. Instead, build up others. And take all that is given as your lot. Not because you're a nobody...but because you're MY child...a child of a King, God, and savior...that was the servant of all. Can you follow Me, my child. I'll give you the strength for today."

David woke from his dream in a cold sweat. It was the middle of the night, but sleep had been eluding him...he knew why too....

He had known that he had no right to react the way he did, but it was so easy to not want to care. Unfortunately, he wasn't going to be able to sleep tonight until he'd taken this to his Savior. He knew that it was already forgiven, but the cause of the problem hadn't been taken. Like pulling out the weed, but leaving the roots...if he was going to live the life that he'd been called to live - he couldn't let any pride, frustration, or selfishness live. It was time to die again. Every day, the call to die to himself must be answered. Every day, Jesus must become his reason, his strength, his role-model.

David stepped out of bed and got to his knees, "Jesus, I'm sorry. So sorry. Of anybody, you're the one I hurt the most.... You're right, I don't have the "right" to let anything phase me. I haven't been tortured and killed for sins that I didn't commit...only You Lord. Only You. I know that I'm washed white as snow, but help me to live it out in my daily walk with you. Give me a strength that doesn't exist in me otherwise. Give me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. For against these things, you've told me, there is no law. I love you Lord. Let me live it today! I'm a sinner, saved and striving for Your will. Thank you. Amen"

David felt peace overtake him for the first time in many hours. He now realized that his dream was much more than it seemed...and knew that he could sleep well - for now his cares and life were back where they belonged...in the arms of his Father. He love on his grandfather more tomorrow, now that he could face his pride and cast it away. "Goodnight Pride, I won't be seeing you tomorrow." David smiled at the thought, as he slowly faded into a restful and meaningful sleep. He would renew himself day by day. If his calling was till he last drew breath, then he'd fight the good fight...zzzzzzzzz.

After he awoke of course.

From The Inside Out

Apostle of the Gentiles

Paul found himself standing in the "great" city of Athens. Admittedly, this wasn't his first day here, but even so he couldn't help but take things in anew. He knew that most would stand in awe of the marble architecture that surrounded him. In fact, he would have had to agree that to the earthly eye - it was indeed a marvelous sight to behold. But he also saw another level of things that the inhabitants of this city seemed to have missed. God, his Lord, the Christ had no place in this place. Especially here at Mars Hill, the local amphitheater.

He had felt the frustration building up inside of him all morning, as he tried reasoning with the the local Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. He had spent his time in the marketplace for the last two days, and the synagogue all of this one...still it seemed few were willing to hear the Gospel, the good news of the risen Messiah.

But now, Paul the Apostle, found himself standing in front of a crowd of philosophers, both Epicureans and Stoics. Now he found himself standing in front of a crowd of doubters, both Jew and Gentile. Now he found himself standing in front of a crowd of worshipers, of both idols and self. Now was the time to speak. He felt God's Spirit come over him, calming and preparing.




So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them:

“Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”



When the crowd had finished hearing what he had to say about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said to him, “We want to hear more about this later.”

Paul knew that his discussion with them was over, but was encouraged nonetheless - for some came up to him afterwards - ready to become believers. Among them was a man who had seemed quite intrigued earlier, Dionysius(a member of the council), a woman named Damaris, and others with them. "Thank You Lord!" he prayed. He knew not to fear what he couldn't control, he had done the planting - perhaps, in time, an even larger harvest would take place from this crowd of pleasure seekers and deniers.

He still remembered the remarks being made about him as he had spoken. "What is the babbling fool trying to say?" Others stating, "Is he a believer in other foreign gods?" But he knew the truth. He, the persecutor of the Christians, was now a part of Christ's body and was God's representative to the gentiles. The apostle of the the gentiles, that was his label - one that he'd bear willingly for God's Kingdom. He knew it was time to prepare for his trip to Corinth, but he understood that his charge to make disciples meant that at least some time would be spent with Dionysius and the others - preparing them for the rough, but meaningful and beautiful road of giving everything in this life to the One who gave life all meaning anyway - Jesus Christ - Savior, King, and Lord of All.

These are the Days of Elijah

1 Kings chapters 18 and 19 have just spoken volumes to me about...well God's faithfulness.

From God's power being revealed by the sarcastic and confident Prophet....

From the decision to flee when things got rough....

From the voice of God only being heard in the stillness of life....

From Elijah's false belief that he was the only one left of God's faithful....

In all these things, lessons can be learned in my life and yours. Elijah, a man who saw God's power in ways we can't even begin to fathom - but in ways that we rarely fathom - though God is still the same God, was able to hit the full spectrum of "human" emotions...and still be used by God in his doubts, fears, and lack of understanding. We don't always see it, just like Elijah, but as God pointed out in chapter 19...we're not in it alone. God is being followed. And we are being supported...we must never forget that God is bigger than our perspective. His is the only perspective that matters anyways! :D Thank you Lord for reminding me about Elijah!

Satan,

I am sick and tired of seeing and hearing those that I care about believing that they aren't - *fill in the blank with whatever word they need to believe about themselves*.

Get out of their thoughts, dreams, decisions, and lives. And that goes for your flunkies too. In the name of Jesus Christ. Get away from my Father's family. Now.

My Heart - Christ's Home

Disclaimer: This is probably the longest blog post I've posted in my 5 years of blogging. It's a short story - Not my own - that I read long ago, and have read many times since. Often we make the mistake of not giving Christ our everything. He has part of us, but does He consume us? Can we allow Him to have free reign over all parts of our lives, relationships, decisions, beliefs, and dreams? If you choose to take this on in pieces, chapters if you will, then I should have divided this easily enough for you to do so. Regardless, I hope it reminds you as much as it does me...Christ deserves our all. :)







In Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, we find these words: "That [God] would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" (Eph 3:16). Or, as another has translated, "that Christ may settle down and be at home in your hearts by faith."

Without question, one of the most remarkable Christian doctrines is that Jesus Christ himself through the presence of the Holy Spirit will actually enter a heart, settle down and be at home there. Christ will make the human heart his abode.

Our Lord said to his disciples, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23). It was difficult for them to understand what he was saying. How was it possible for him to make his abode with them in this sense?

It is interesting that our Lord used the same word here that he gave them in the first of the 14th chapter of John: "I go to prepare a place for you...that where I am, you may be also." Our Lord was promising his disciples that, just as he was going to heaven to prepare a place for them and would welcome them one day, now it would be possible for them to prepare a place for him in their hearts and he would come and make his abode with them.

They could not understand this. How could it be?

Then came Pentecost. The Spirit of the living Christ was given to the church and they understood. God did not dwell in Herod's temple in Jerusalem! God did not dwell in a temple made with hands; but now, through the miracle of the outpoured Spirit, God would dwell in human hearts. The body of the believer would be the temple of the living God and the human heart would be the home of Jesus Christ. It is difficult for me to think of a higher privilege than to make for Christ a home in my heart, to welcome, to serve, to please, to fellowship with him there.






My Heart - Christ's Home


One evening that I shall never forget, I invited him into my heart. What an entrance he made! It was not a spectacular emotional thing, but very real. It was at the very center of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light. He built a fire in the cold hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness and he filled the emptiness with his own wonderful loving fellowship. I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will-- not into eternity!

This, of course, is the first step in making the heart Christ's home. He has said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20). If you are interested in making your life an abode of the living God, let me encourage you to invite Christ into your heart and he will surely come.

After Christ entered my heart and in the joy of that new-found relationship, I said to him, "Lord, I want this heart of mine to be yours. I want to have you settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I have belongs to you. Let me show you around and introduce you to the various features of the home that you may be more comfortable and that we may have fuller fellowship together." He was very glad to come, of course, and happier still to be given a place in the heart.






THE LIBRARY

The first room was the study -- the library. Let us call it the study of the mind. Now in my home this room of the mind is a very small room with very thick walls. But it is an important room. In a sense, it is the control room of the house. He entered with me and looked around at the books in the bookcase, the magazines upon the table, the pictures on the wall. As I followed his gaze I became uncomfortable. Strangely enough, I had not felt badly about this before, but now that he was there looking at these things I was embarrassed. There were some books there that his eyes were too pure to behold. There was a lot of trash and literature on the table that a Christian had no business reading and as for the pictures on the wall -- the imaginations and thoughts of the mind-- these were shameful.

I turned to him and said, "Master, I know that this room needs a radical alteration. Will you help me make it what it ought to be-- to bring every thought into captivity to you?"

"Surely!" he said. "Gladly will I help you. That is one reason I am here. First of all, take all the things that you are reading and seeing which are not helpful, pure, good and true, and throw them out! Now put on the empty shelves the books of the Bible. Fill the library with scriptures and meditate on them day and night. As for the pictures on the wall, you will have difficulty controlling these images, but here is an aid." He gave me a full sized picture of himself. "Hang this centrally," he said, "on the wall of the mind." I did and I have discovered through the years that when my thoughts are centered upon Christ himself, his purity and power cause impure imaginations to retreat. So he has helped me to bring my thoughts into captivity.

May I suggest to you if you have difficulty in this little room of the mind, that you bring Christ in there. Pack it full with the Word of God, meditate upon it and keep before it ever the immediate presence of the Lord Jesus.






THE DINING ROOM

From the study we went to the dining room, the room of appetites and desires. Now this was a very large room. I spent a good deal of time in the dining room and much effort in satisfying my wants.

I said to him, "This is a very commodious room and I am quite sure you will be pleased with what we serve here."

He seated himself at the table with me and asked, "What is on the menu for dinner?"

"Well," I said, "my favorite dishes: old bones, corn husks, sour cabbage, leeks, onions and garlic right out of Egypt." There were the things I liked -- worldly fare. I suppose there was nothing radically wrong in any particular item, but it was not the food that should satisfy the life of a real Christian. When the food was placed before him, he said nothing about it. However, I observed that he did not eat it, and I said to him, somewhat disturbed, "Savior, you don't care for the food that is placed before you? What is the trouble?"

He answered, "I have meat to eat that you know not of. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me." He looked at me again and said, "if you want food that really satisfies you, seek the will of the Father, not your own pleasures, not your own desires, not your own satisfaction. Seek to please me, and that food will satisfy you." And there about the table he gave me a taste of doing God's will. What a flavor! There is no food like it in all the world. It alone satisfies. Everything else is dissatisfying in the end.

Now if Christ is in your heart, and I trust he is, what kind of food are you serving him and what kind of food are you eating yourself? Are you living for the lust of the flesh and the pride of life-- selfishly? Or are you choosing God's will for your meat and drink?






THE DRAWING ROOM

We walked next into the drawing room. This room was rather intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a bookcase, sofa and a quiet atmosphere.

He also seemed pleased with it. He said, "This is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet and we can have fellowship together."

Well, naturally, as a young Christian I was thrilled. I could not think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes apart with Christ in intimate comradeship.

He promised, "I will be here every morning early. Meet with me here and we will start the day together." So, morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the drawing room and he would take a book of the Bible from the bookcase. He would open it and then we would read together. He would tell me of its riches and unfold to me its truth. He would make my heart warm as he revealed his love and grace towards me. They were wonderful hours together. In fact, we called the dining room the "withdrawing room." It was a period when we had our quiet time together.

But little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities, this time began to be shortened. Why, I don't know, but I thought I was just too busy to spend time with Christ. This was not intentional, you understand; it just happened that way. Finally, not only was the time shortened, but I began to miss a day now and then. It was examination time at the university. Then it was some other urgent emergency. I would miss it two days in a row and often more.

I remember one morning when I was in a hurry, rushing down the steps, eager to be on my way.

As I passed the drawing room, the door was ajar. Looking in I saw a fire in the fireplace and the Lord sitting there. Suddenly in dismay, I thought to myself, "He was my guest. I had invited him into my heart! He had come as Lord of my home. And yet here I am neglecting him." I turned and went in. With downcast glance I said, "Blessed Master, forgive me. Have you been here all these mornings?"

"Yes," he said, "I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you." Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my faithlessness. I asked his forgiveness and he readily forgave me as he does when we are truly penitent.

He said, "The trouble with you is this: You have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to me also. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at a great cost. I desire your fellowship. Now," he said, "do not neglect this hour if only for my sake. Whatever else may be your desire, remember I want your fellowship!"

You know, the truth that Christ wants my fellowship, that he loves me, wants me to be with him, wants to be with me and waits for me, has done more to transform my quiet time with God than any other single fact. Don't let Christ wait alone in the drawing room of your heart, but every day find some time when, with the Word of God and in prayer, you may fellowship with him.







THE WORKSHOP

Before long he asked, "Do you have a workshop in your home?" Down in the basement of the home of my heart I had a workbench and some equipment, but I was not doing much with it. Once in a while I would go down and fuss around with a few little gadgets, but I wasn't producing anything worthwhile.

I led him down there.

He looked over the workbench and what little talents and skills I had. He said, "This is quite well furnished. What are you producing with your life for the Kingdom of God?" He looked at one or two of the little toys that I had thrown together on the bench and he held one up to me. "Are these little toys all that you are producing in your Christian life?"

"Well," I said, "Lord, that is the best I can do. I know it isn't much and I really want to do more, but after all, I have no skill or strength."

"Would you like to do better?" he asked.

"Certainly," I replied.

"All right. Let me have your hands. Now relax in me and let my Spirit work through you. I know you are unskilled and clumsy and awkward, but the Spirit is the Master-worker and if he controls your hands and your heart he will work through you." And so, stepping around behind me and putting his great, strong hands over mine, controlling the tools with his skillful fingers, he began to work through me.

There's much more that I must still learn and I am very far from satisfied with the product that is being turned out, but I do know that whatever has been produced for God has been through his strong hand and through the power of his Spirit in me.

Do not become discouraged because you cannot do much for God. Your ability is not the fundamental condition. It is he who is controlling your fingers and upon whom you are relying. Give your talents and gifts to God and he will do things with them that will surprise you.







THE RUMPUS ROOM

I remember the time he inquired about the playroom. I was hoping he would not ask me about that. There were certain associations and friendships, activities and amusements that I wanted to keep for myself. I did not think Christ would enjoy them or approve of them so I evaded the question.

But there came an evening when I was leaving to join some companions -- I was in college at the time -- and as I was about to cross the threshold, he stopped me with a glance. "Are you going out?"

I answered, "Yes."

"Good," he said, "I would like to go with you."

"Oh," I replied rather awkwardly. "I don't think, Lord, that you would really want to go with us. Let's go out tomorrow night. Tomorrow night we will go to prayer meeting, but tonight I have another appointment."

He said, "That's all right. Only I thought when I came into your home we were going to do everything together. We were going to be partners. I want you to know that I am willing to go with you."

"Well," I said, "we will go some place together tomorrow night."

But that evening I spent some miserable hours. I felt wretched. What kind of friend was I to Christ, when I was deliberately leaving him out of my associations, doing things and going places that I knew very well he would not enjoy? When I returned that evening, there was a light in his room and I went up to talk it over with him. I said, "Lord, I have learned my lesson. I cannot have a good time without you. We will do everything together from now on."

Then we went down into the rumpus room of the house and he transformed it. He brought into life real joy, real happiness, real satisfaction, real friendship. Laughter and music have been ringing in the house ever since.






THE BEDROOM

One day when we were in my bedroom, he asked me about the picture next to my bed.

“That’s a picture of my girlfriend,” I told him. Although I knew my relationship with my girlfriend was a good one, I felt funny talking with him about it. She and I were struggling with some issues and I didn’t want to discuss them with him. I tried to change the subject.

But Jesus must have known what I was thinking. “You are beginning to question my teaching on sex, aren’t you? That sexual relations are only for those who are joined in the covenant of marriage? You’re feeling that I may be asking something unnatural, if not impossible, for you. You’re afraid my will on this will limit the full enjoyment of life and love. Isn’t that true?”

“Yes,” I confessed.

“Then listen carefully to what I am saying,” he continued. “I forbid adultery and premarital sex, not because sex is bad but because it is good. Beyond the physical ecstasy it is a means of bonding two lives in deepening love. It has the creative power to bring human life into being. Sex is powerful. Used properly, sex has tremendous potential for good. Used improperly, it destroys the good. For this reason, God intends it to be expressed only within the commitment of a loving life partnership. There is far more to love than just sex.”

“Let me help you in your relationship with the opposite sex. If you should fail, and feel shame and guilt, know I still love you and will remain with you. Talk to me about it! Acknowledge the wrong! Take steps to avoid it happening again! Rely on my strength to keep you from falling and to lead you into a relationship of love in marriage where two truly become one in me.”






THE HALL CLOSET

There is just one more matter that I might share with you. One day I found him waiting for me at the door. There was an arresting look in his eye. He said to me as I entered, "There is a peculiar odor in the house. There is something dead around here. It's upstairs. I think it is in the hall closet." As soon as he said the words, I knew what he was talking about. Yes, there was a small hall closet behind lock and key I had one or two little personal things that I did not want anybody to know about and certainly I did not want Christ to see. I knew they were dead and rotting things. And yet I loved them, and I wanted them so for myself that I was afraid to admit they were there. I went up the stairs with him and as we mounted, the odor became stronger and stronger. He pointed at the door and said, "It's in there! Some dead thing!"

I was angry. That's the only way I can put it. I had given him access to the library, the dining room, the drawing room, the workshop, the rumpus room, and now he was asking me about a little two-by-four closet. I said inwardly, "This is too much. I am not going to give him the key."

"Well," he said, reading my thoughts, "if you think I am going to stay up here on the second floor with this odor, you are mistaken. I will take my bed out on the back porch. I'm certainly not going to put up with that." And I saw him start down the stairs.

When you have come to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can happen to you is to sense his fellowship retreating from you. I had to surrender. "I'll give you the key," I said sadly, "but you'll have to open the closet. You'll have to clean it out. I haven't the strength to do it."

"I know," he said. "I know you haven't. Just give me the key. Just authorize me to take care of that closet and I will." So, with trembling fingers I passed the key over to him. He took it from my hand, walked over to the door, opened it, entered it, took out all the putrefying stuff that was rotting there and threw it away. Then he cleansed the closet, painted it, fixed it up, doing it all in a moment's time. Oh, what victory and release to have that dead thing out of my life!






TRANSFERRING THE TITLE

Then a thought came to me. I said to myself, "I have been trying to keep this heart of mine clear for Christ. I start on one room and no sooner have I cleaned that then another room is dirty. I begin on the second room and the first room becomes dusty again. I am so tired and weary trying to maintain a clean heart and an obedient life. I just am not up to it!" So I ventured a question: "Lord, is there any chance that you would take over the responsibility of the whole house and operate it for me and with me just as you did that closet? Would you take the responsibility to keep my heart what it ought to be and my life where it ought to be?"

I could see his face lighten up as he replied, "Certainly, that is what I came to do. You can not be a victorious Christian in your own strength. That is impossible. Let me do it through you and for you. That is the way. But," he added slowly, "I am not owner of this house. I am just a guest. I have no authority to proceed since the property is not mine."

I saw it in a minute and dropping to my knees, I said, "Lord, you have been a guest, and I have been the host. From now on I am going to be the servant. You are going to be the Lord." Running as fast as I could to the strong box, I took out the title deed to the house describing its assets and liabilities, its situation and condition. Then returning to him, I eagerly signed it over to belong to him alone for time and eternity. "Here," I said, "here it is, all that I am and have forever. Now you run the house. I'll just remain with you as houseboy and friend."

He took my life that day and I can give you my word, there is no better way to live the Christian life. He knows how to keep it in shape and deep peace settles down on the soul. May Christ settle down and be at home in your heart as Lord of all.

Why?

The battle cry resounds in all of our hearts...but are we afraid to answer it? Why?

Do we only believe that the rich can help the poor? Why?

Do we only believe that the educated can teach us? Why?

Do we only believe that the other nations need missionaries? Why?

Do we only believe that our nation needs missionaries? Why?

Do we only believe that we can help others if we graduate? Why?

Do we only believe that we are truly helping others if we live in their same conditions? Why?

Do we only believe that we can't help others if we live in their same conditions? Why?

Do we believe that we have fallen short of our purpose? Why?

Do we believe that it's too late? Why?

Do we believe that we made a mistake? Why?

Do we believe that we have it all together? Why?

Do we believe that things are worth lying for? Why?

Do we believe that we should live for joy? Why?

Do we believe that we should live for pain? Why?

Do we believe that we should look a certain way? Why?

Do we believe that we should act a certain way? Why?

Do we believe that Jesus is our savior? Why?

Do we act like we believe it...in the way we live, laugh, love, hope, dream, trust, lead, teach, preach, talk, move, think, fight, submit, heal, break, hurt, pursue, sing, breathe, feel, and pray? Why?

Each of us have a unique calling from God. We are asked to respond to His battle cry...some follow through standing...some through falling. Some follow through teaching, others through following. Some follow through giving everything, some through maintaining to give that way. Some follow through seeking a relationship, some through avoiding one. Some follow through PHD's and education, some through no academic learning of any kind. Some follow through charging in front and center, some through working behind the scenes. Some follow through passions, some through a lack there of. Some follow through discipline, some follow through a lack there of. Some follow through waiting, some through acting instantly.

The point that needs to be grasped here is this:

Why? Only God knows an individual's heart. If God tells someone else to do things that we don't understand or intend on doing, would we truly know? If God wants us to be His missionaries to "all the world"...wouldn't it make sense that in the grand scheme some missionaries would be local and some foreign. If God wants us to reach "all people" wouldn't he have some educated and non-educated followers? Wouldn't He use the rich that love Him and the poor that love Him?

Our way of thinking is dangerous. God's is downright uncompromisable. With God all things are possible. Remember? So if God is in OUR hearts - shouldn't we believe in others when no one else does? If God is in OUR hearts - shouldn't we KNOW that pain will come, YET rejoice in it? If God is in OUR hearts - shouldn't ALL things work for OUR good? If God is in OUR hearts - shouldn't we be OPPOSED to the world's view of truth? If God is in OUR hearts - shouldn't we shine even when NOBODY else does? If God is in OUR hearts - isn't EVERY day worth being joyful over?

If God is in OUR hearts - shouldn't we be dancing and grinning and ready to praise Him for SAVING us for ETERNITY with Him in the ONLY REALITY that REALLY MATTERS AT ALL - God's.

The Battle cry has been sounded. Will you fight the voices in your head that aren't of God? God CAN use the good and bad, the right choices you've made thus far and the wrong ones, the lifestyles of a Mother Teresa, a Saul-turned Paul, or a you. Will you let Him? Or will you listen to Satan tell you how to keep living a life that God has "given" you?

Why?

That's My King!

That's MY King!!! :)

Reality

Nicole sat in the library, working on her homework. It was just another day, or so she thought. As the rain pattered upon the roof, she had the desire to look outside the nearest window. As she did, she saw a rainbow - what she didn't know is that this rainbow was more than a sign of God's promise...it was much, much more....

Nicole found herself standing in the middle of beautiful brick streets, with the brightest of stars shining above her in the night sky. "Where am I?" she whispered into the night.

You are where you're supposed to be.

"Who said that?" she replied, still trying to find the source of the strange but somehow comforting voice. Silence was the only response that she received.

She slowly walked down the street, gazing at the rows of buildings, Gothic Revival in style, that looked as if they had been made by the most skilled of architects. She felt as those she was back in the Victorian Era. She laughed silently to herself, realizing that she was completely relaxed, completely happy. She didn't want to wake up from this dream. She just stood there...marveling. She thought back to the voice, to his statement. She didn't belong here, did she? It was too good to be true...

All of a sudden the voice spoke to her again, "Life is what you make it. This is my gift to you Nicole. You don't ever have to go back if you don't want to."

A thrill rushed through her body, but she still needed an answer....

"Please, tell me who you are." Nicole said again.

As she waited for a response, she saw a great lion approaching her calmly, majestically. And though she knew she was supposed to be afraid, she only felt peace in this place.

And from the lion's mouth, the voice spoke again, "I am Aslan, the King and Lord of the realm, and many others. And I've known all along what your heart's desire was...and I gave it to you for a reason. This is your reality, it won't fade, it won't break...it is a part of you, as am I. That is my gift to you my daughter, my beloved."

Nicole smiled, sometimes too good to be true is true after all! :)