My Heart in His Hand

Once before I mentioned that it’s not often that I get to visit other churches. Well, I recently traveled with my sister and brother-in-law to the southland (note my previous post) and on the way back we politely attended church with our host and hostess with whom we had spent the night. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, but needless to say I was taken back in utter shock. I knew that here in America all too many believers are in a state of spiritual deadness, but wow; I guess two hours of sitting in the middle of it just made it hit home. Although when relating some of the message to someone else I was laughing so hard I was crying, when I sit down to write this a sort of sick feeling settles in my stomach, and waves of pity flood over me.

So we started out this day of worship in an unofficial committee meeting/over-age sunday school. With coffee and coffee-cake available to those who had not gotten up in time to fully wake their senses, and all scripture for the session printed out for those who had forgotten their Bibles or else neglected to bring them, we began with making plans for a Christmas get-to-gether. Origional plans of going out to eat must be changed as it meant $30 a plate which no one wanted to pay. O and then the day, few would be able to attend if it were on Christmas day so wouldn’t Friday or Saturday work better? But then if it were on Saturday it would have to be cut short in order for enough rest before Sunday services. But of course, Friday might interfere with kid’s basketball. Did anyone know their kid’s schedules? Would they please raise their hands?

And then finally the message. This is where I about lost it. The message was derived from 1 Timothy 4. After rambling through the first three verses with suppositions and propositions we arrived at verse four in which quoting from the text they handed out “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude.” Interpretation: “We shouldn’t kick the donkey.” I immediatily pressed the search button in my mind which took me to Baalam. So I waited for the the speaker to corelate the two, but it never came for the next phrase was, ” We shouldn’t hit and kick animals because they are God’s creation and they’re good. Only deranged people do that.” I’m not joking. That’s what he said. My mind almost locked up it took so long trying to process! We went from it being fine for you to hold to whatever diet you feel best, as long as you don’t jucge others by it, to not abusing animals because they’re good. Read 1 Tim. 4:3,4,5, re-read this, and then tell me if you got it! That was just one example from that message.

Then we entered the main auditorium for the morning service. It was there and then that I learned that we serve a thrice holy God (when we sang Holy, Holy, Holy.) I about passed out as we sang Blessed Assurance at an allegro tempo! Listen to it sung southern gospel style just once, and you’ll hate it any other way. It loses all meaning! Anyway…so yeah, of course another message followed. This scripture text was also printed in the bulliten. (And *read* out of the bulliten, by I’m assuming a deacon, prior to the sermon!) We learned about the self-centered Mary who was so caught up in her own selfish grief that she didn’t even recognize the angels or get this – Jesus himself! May I insert a word, please! Show me a Mary in your church! Ok, so there isn’t one; how about anywhere?! She was so focused on Christ she could not leave till she had found him! She didn’t even have her own heart – Christ was in posession of it! Her extreme sorrow was so very far from herself!

Then *ahem* *cough*, along the same line(?) We are often caught up with material things, causing us to forget about people and relationships. We also are alot of times so sorrowed by our trials that we forget they are there for our good. God is faithful and we should be praying “Help me!” O how that ticks me! Will we ever get it out of our heads! – the “Help me” thing! Help me with nothing Jesus! Do your will, and if you see fit to use me in order to do so, I rest here – at your service!

I could go on, and on, but alas…lest I bore you into a different state of deadness, I shall respectfully stop my fingers from typing any further.

So yeah, I had a wonderful Sunday in the midst of fellow believers worshipping Christ and eddifying one another!

Note: I mean no disrespect towards any persons or the church; I feel for them – what they cannot feel.

Now these are a few things I’m in love with
A small part of the reason I go back
To Carolina, Mississsippi, Florida, gorgeous Georgia
Now if you think I’m happy down there you’re on the right track…

You ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie
‘Cause the cattle call’s callin’ me home
So put me down there where I wanna be
Plant my feet with Robert E. Lee
Bury my bones under a cypress tree
And never let me roam.

If only I could find words to tell you, my readers, exactly how much this verse means to me!
A while back our family began memorizing Charles Spurgeon’s chatachism. The first question just so happens to be, “What is the chief end of man?” with the answer as, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” Time after time, I’ve quoted the above with the verses to support it, without taking much thought at all to it’s meaning and truth.

A must read!

Not long ago I began reading “The Normal Christian Life” by Watchman Nee, and “O the wonderful, wonderful things you will find!” (sorry, favorite authors tend to wear off on you) hidden in it’s midst! It was while reading this book that God began to reveal himself to me, in ways I had never seen Him before. And it was then that I began to behold His glory! Since then I have not been able to pray anything, but “Not for my sake, Lord, but for yours.” I have never experienced the revelations of God so plain and so clear as He showed me those nights that I was crying out to Him while reading the book. Although it seems like it took me to a whole nother level in my Christian life, I know it’s just the beginning on my journey to “the normal Christian life”. But O, I must say, the joy He’s given me in these simple truths: it really does feel at times like “He made a brand new me”! He has become so close and so real!

I’d been thinking that I needed to come up with something for my blog, but I was kind of waiting for God to put something on my heart, and then this morning when Pastor Ben preached on “Father, glorify thy name.” it just flooded over me and filled me to the point that I overflowed…onto my blog.

No, I’m not one of those Obama “Haters” and I try to give respect where respectfulness is due, but a young friend of mine wrote this and I don’t know about you, but I got a good laugh out of it; it just fit so well!

Joe Biden – to America (Proverbs 3:1-12)

1. My supporters, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments.

2. For length of days, and cease of suicide, and world peace shall Obama add unto thee.

3. Let no mercy and truth dwell within thee, bind hate and jealousy about thy neck, write evil and sin upon the table of thine heart.

4. So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of Obama and I.

5. Trust in Obama with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6. In all thy way’s acknowledge and listen to him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7. Be thou wise in thine own eyes; fear the president, and depart no from evil.

8. It shall be health to thy naval and marrow to thy bones.

9. Honor Obama with thy money, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.

10. So shall thy houses be filled with plenty of sin, and thy casinos shall burst out with strong drink.

11. My country, despise not the advisement of Obama, neither be weary of his stupidness.

12. For whom Obama hateth, he correcteth not, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth not.

The Author

http://campfema.com/obama-youth-army_camp-fema.html

I was approached recently by a young girl (I can’t say young girl – rather, girl soon to be young woman) and asked, “Is it hard growing up?” My response a couple of months ago, probably would have been, “You bet! I wish I was a little tyke all over again!” But thanks to the Lord’s revelations to me lately, I had a very different answer, “It all depends.” (I love non-absolutes!) “How you look at it will determine how you feel it. Sure, you have more ‘complicated’ issues than you’re brother being a nuisance, but if you look at these as challenges and deal with them in the proper manner, it’s not too bad!”

To tell you the truth, I’m enjoying it! Every minute of it! And no, it’s not the liberty that comes with age. I have firmly decided that if you’re focusing point is on the eyes of your subject (photographer’s terms) your picture’s all good. We all, so many times, focus on the wall behind, or the shoulder in front, making everything else but a blur. It’s not a wonder we can’t see in perspective! Simply turn the dial. I’ve begun to realize that if I look at my problems as challenges, not only to deal with, but also why God has put them in my life, and what He excepts me learn from them, they can be fun to work out!

Not only do the trials come with growing up, but O the wonderful things God teaches and reveals! Daily we see lessons to be learned, but the joy, the overflowing joy when God reveals himself in new ways! I’m just all bubbles right now, (imagine! ) for twas just the other night when I saw the light and I realized, “This here aint me! (God talks southern like ) It’s *HIM*! My Savior and my God!” I could scream (not just shout) it from the house-tops just about now! It seems like such a little matter, but how very, very much it doth contain! For so long I have been trying to do things of myself. For all my life (almost) I’ve tried to be crucified with Christ. I’ve tried bring about the death of the sinful man inside me. I’ve tried to overcome sin. I’ve tried to be filled with His spirit. I’ve tried just about everything out there that there is to try, and you know what? I just haven’t been able to attain anything! You know why? Number one, it’s not me anymore. Number two, all that has already been done – by Him! Imagine trying to do something that has already been done. Trying to attain something that has already been taken. Stupid, aye? That’s me! Sure I prayed just a few times more than once, for God to help me in overcoming, but it just didn’t happen. ‘Cuz I was all wrong! I had focused way down at the bottom instead of my Jesus’ eyes! No longer am I the overcomer, for Christ is!

~ .~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

I am

crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith Sonof God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Oft times, I’ve had to wonder at multiple problems and concerns that I see in Christian’s lives. Significantly, they all seem to point back to the same fundamental issue — lack of faith.

“He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” – Luke 7:50

We seem to look inside ourselves and build this imaginary picture of a mountain of faith based simply on the fact that as a little child we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Faith comes easy to a little child; they have a simple yet beautiful trust. You toss them in the air and they thoroughly enjoy every second of it — they trust you to catch them. They jump off of ‘great’ heights into your arms — because they trust you. Consider and tell me of your faith… You say you can’t trust man to such an extent, and it’s true. But if I child can man, can you not God? I don’t think we ever will realize exactly what all we hold on to, due to our faithlessness. So much more, what is held back from us do to our lack of trust!

“Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” – Matt 17:18-21

I don’t believe in the faith healings or prosperity gospel or anything like that, but I do believe that things would be a whole lot better for us if we posessed blind faith, even to the extent of as much as a mustard seed. It’s almost a scarry thought to think of Christ’s words

“According to your faith be it unto you.” – Matt 9:29

We seem to have this idea that obtaining/accomplishing(?!) salvation is some great feat and after that we have the joyous anticiaption of a future glorious and peaceful Kingdom of God in which we can live forever. Wake up folks! As is the laws of nature, so everything has an inbetween/middle *as well as* the beginning and end! I know that why it bothers me *so* much, is that I realize how very much the same I am! But, O how I could rant just about now! Why do we live the beginning, hope to live the end, and right now just kind of daàdle our ways through life like an engaged couple (or even newly weds for that matter)! We go around in this dreamy state of mind, not even comprehending what goes on around us! Our noses in the air, eyes glazed, and ears selecting their hearing!

The results of true faith:

Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. – Acts 6:8

 It had just begun to pour. We’ve had *a lot* of rain lately, including some great storms, but mostly they’ve been at night. I can’t remember a nice down-pour in a great long while now, in which I could go out and feel and enjoy. Until…tonight. I wasn’t in a position where I could run through the field and sing at the top of my lungs (though that was my heart’s desire right about then) so I just stood there soaking every drop in that I possibly good. O it felt soooooooo good! The feeling, the emotion it creates is totally undescriblable: it’s something each person must experience himself. Just a minute ago, two hours late, the thought suddenly presents it’s self, “How different am I when it comes to God’s rain of blessings!” Not that I wouldn’t enjoy standing out and feeling the wonder of them all as they pour down on me soaking through the flesh and into the soul, but I’m much too strong willed and rebellious to step out from under the overhang that provides shelter for my own wants and desires. My all-too-righteous self finds way to excuse it with, “At least you aren’t in the building with ungodly!” O, but how grossly close I stand! Yet on the other side not more than one simple step a way, pouring down on the ground, are God’s heavenly blessings! They could be falling on me! I could be feeling, experiencing, and enjoying the indescribable: yet I’m found lazily leaning on the side of the building – under the overhang. “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death”

What does our country need? Not armies standing

With sabers gleaming ready for the fight;

Not increased navies, skillful and commanding,

To bound the waters with an iron might;

Not haughty men with glutted purses trying

To purchase souls, and keep the power of place;

Not jeweled dolls with one another vying

For palms of beauty, elegance, and grace.

But we want women, strong of soul, yet lowly

With that rare meekness. Born of gentleness;

Women whose lives are pure and clean and holy,

The women whom all little children bless;

Brave, earnest women, helpful to each other,

With finest scorn for all things low and mean;

Women who hold the names of wife and mother

Far nobler than the title of a Queen.

A Maiden’s Warfare
by Carol A. DeLadurantey

Press on to heights of glory now,
And keep thou steady eye.

One must not falter in this fight,
Though some may flee or fly.

Take hold the charge thou has been given,
To battle we must go.

But not with our own maiden hands
Do we take up shield or bow.

We wage this war in words and actions,
With our every deed.

We follow Christ our captain,
Thro’ him we will succeed.

Tell me now have we forgot
The charge from God above

To keep our hearts in purity, grace,
Modesty, truth and love.

These are our weapons, our shields, our swords;
In this battle we now fight.

We strive not for an earthly king,
But for our God of truth and might!

Though I know it matters but little to many of you (for good reason), just thought I’d announce to the world that I WAS WRONG!

I truly did not believe it possible to survive in yankee country this long.

I want you to know I have made it 6 loooong years in this wasteland! And *NO* I’m not lookin’ for 6 more years! I know, if God wills it there’s not a thing I can do, but…but if only you could see the prayers ascending to heaven!

So in case there’s anyone out there that’s wearin’ my boots, but hasn’t yet beat my record in survival, well thought I’d let ya know…

God bless you and good luck!