Something Spectacular!

Told you so!

Now, I did say I would post something that was NOT a spider!

This was yesterday evening. From out of the cloud grew this enormous light. It started off real small and subtle and then it just grew into more and more spctacular light!

Breathtaking. I spent about 20 minutes watching this amazing work of God Art!

Something new everyday! And I was hoping it was like a “red” carpet invitation to Heaven, but no such luck; what I think it was instead was a glimpse into Heaven!

Amazing! Can you imagine how much better Heaven will be than that work of art?!

I can’t wait.

New bodies, new looks, new lives, new hope!

No pain, suffering, problems, heartache.

Peace, joy, happiness, parties, reunions!

The only reason I wouldn’t want to go RIGHT NOW is because I selfishly want to stay here.

I want to see my parents come to know the Lord, I want to see my children grow up in the Lord, I want to remarry my man after five years (coming next October), I want to see my mother repent, I want to see my step children come to the Lord, I want to see my grandchildren grow in the Lord.

I want to see a lot of things. Very demanding aren’t I?  ;o)

Seriously, I would love to be here to experience it all, but you know what … I know that if I were in Heaven, each and everyone of those things mentioned would bring a celebration in the Heavens … so, in a sense, I would still be able to experience it …

Anyway … I just want to physically be here to see it and be with them. I’m sure ya’ll know what I mean!

So, I will continue to selfishly pray that the Lord will allow me one more day on Earth to pray for them.

Either way … I can’t wait!!!

Can you?

Yowza!

 

Have you eve seen a more horendous creature.

Look at the size of this big guy!

He was on our pool screen yesterday evening.

Ever since I made a comment about how much I enjoy spiders … I gotta tell you, I been seeing more and more of them.

This guy was about the size of a small egg.

Any way … I just thought since I know how much you all like spiders …. Hahahha

Promise … later today I will post a most spectacular sight that I also saw yesterday … and it won’t be a spider! Promise. I will contain my self.

Big hug! … from Mr. Spider … and me!

Spiders and Heaven

I love spiders! I think they are the most fasinating creatures on earth!

Yeah, you heard me. They are beautiful. Crafty. Cunning. Creative. Patient. Mysterious.

These two spiders were on the screen of our house last Sunday. Fasinating. The little one was taunting the big one. It was a sight to see. It reminded me of those of you who have little dogs … with big mouths … the ones who think they are bigger and tougher than they really are.

All of my surrounding neighbors have itty-bitty dogs, about the size of a standard football. They bark at you as though they could tear you limb from limb; but that’s all they do. The minute you come closer to introduce yourself, they run off to their master. Funny.

Anyway. This little spider was trying so desperately to construct a web around this big guy. When he got a little too close for comfort, the big orange one would get up and lunge at him (barely) and the little one would back up into the corner of the screen. Funny.

I watched them for about 15 minutes. Amazing. They stayed that way for hours.

Well, until I got bored and wanted to see some real action and started taunting them both. Thank God they weren’t deadly. Just your average web builders … AKA orb-weavers. They just build webs and catch their dinner. The big orange one spends all day making his web and then eats it the next day. The little one just builds webs and sits and waits.

How could you not appreciate spiders? Here in Florida there’s a vast majority to see. Just yesterday I witnessed one on our pool deck. It was a small back one, about the size of a walking nickel. Small legs and a triagular sized, rusty-red behind. The coolest thing. And this morning I saw one about the size of a large carpenter ant … he was dying though. Walked through some of our household bug killer. Poor thing. His butt was black with small white circles on it. COOL!

Spiders are the most interesting things. The next time I see my two favorite ones, I will post them up for you. They are both jumping spiders. One is brown and his behind, get this; if you look closely has a design like a lion’s head on it. Really cool!! The other jumping spider is black with large luminescent green eyes (nearly a torquiose in color) and his butt has the design of an upside-down smiley face painted in white! It is the funniest thing.

I don’t make it a habit of killing them. The only ones I kill are the black widows and the ones I speculate to be recluse spiders (they look like small house spiders) and I don’t take any chances with those. Squash-em … and kill em dead! No remorse.

So anyway! Spiders are interesting. Their webs are amazing and flawless. If you have ever looked closely at one … wow! How can you NOT be impressed by God’s majesty!

God is so cool! I praise him for his amazing craftsmenship! I mean how cool can he be! I can’t wait to see what Heaven looks like … if I am fasinated by a spider’s web, can you imagine how cool it will be when we get there?

God is preparing a place for us. A most magnificant place.

He created spiders which I enjoy, I know not many of you can appreciate that … but hey! If he created spiders to be so dedicated to their webs, which are incredible; then guess how amazing and incredible our home in Heaven will be.

If God can create a spider, who then creates the most amazingly perfect web, imagine how perfect Heaven will be for us. And there won’t be any poisonous spiders there! Yippy! Spiders you won’t have to be afraid of and squash! Yeah! I can’t wait! … and little dogs who won’t bark your head off! Yahoo!

I can hardly wait!

Can you?

Just when I thought …

Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks …maybe months) when you think you have it all figured out? And then BAMM! God decides to tell you a thing or two?

Yeah, me neither. I just thought I’d ask.

Psych!

Of course, I’ve been there. Otherwise I would be perfect and would have no need for God whatsoever.

In this case, I actually thought I knew what was going on around me. When God opened my eyes to reveal truth to me, I didn’t want to believe it. It hurt like hell and, in fact still does when I think about it.

I thought I knew the people in my life. I thought I could believe what I saw. Which reminds me of that old cliche, “Looks can be deceiving”. No kidding.

There are those close to me who put on a masquerade. They act Christ-like, but aren’t. They say all the right things, but don’t mean it.  They even go to church. They listen to Christian music; they pray; read their Bible; all the stuff a practicing Christian would be expected to do.

So, what’s the problem, you ask? Well, they don’t mean any of it. It’s a masquerade. It’s for show. It’s for those around them to “see” them.

Remind you of anyone? It should. Come on … you can do it …

It’s starts with an f sound … then the stuff you breathe in … then what you use to look around you …

Ok, I’ll tell you. Pharisee.

F-air-i-see … get it?

Ok, well, so much for having any fun with you guys today!

So, in the Bible, Jesus has some issues with these guys. In fact he has a lot of issues with these guys. And he warns his followers to be careful; vigelent; on guard for people who will decieve them. What?! Now, why would he do something like that? Because apparently when Jesus walked the Earth there were a boat load of “fakers” (that’s what I call ‘em). They fake it till they make it. But truth be told, they ain’t makin it no where.

Hey, don’t get upset with me … I didn’t write the Bible, I just read it and let ya’ll know what’s been happening with me and my life as I think it relates … and those around me trying to mess me up!

So, what to do …. what to do …

Be prepared. Be dilegent. Be on your guard. Be in prayer. Read the word of God. Ask for wisdom and discernment. Spent time on your knees or face or in your favorite chair in prayer (with God, not yourself). Be patient. Trust that God knows what he’s up to (and he doesn’t have to fill you in on the details). Keep your faith in him. Don’t lose heart.

I know these are all fancy things to say … that are so easy to say … but you can do it. He will help you through it. Jesus made through it and he was put (nearly dead) on a cross. And just think, you won’t have to go through that!

He knows what you’re going through. He knows it ain’t an easy thing. He knows it hurts. These are people you trusted, people you love; people whom you revealed things to; secret things. God knows. And don’t sweat it. Just keep doing things God’s way. Keep following him. Believe me, the time will come (God promises this) that all will weep what they sow. All who do things out of evil will eventually be handed things evil, all who do things for the spirit will be handed things from the spirit. You may not be there to witness it, but it will happen.

I know it doesn’t make it all go away, trust me … I wish it would all go away. I wish some people would just go away! It’s not that simple. God is testing you during this time. I know it doesn’t seem fair or even justified. I know it doesn’t even make any sense, but it will. Eventually. Follow God’s ways. Don’t try to fix these people doing things your way.  Leave things in God’s hands. If you have already discussed their disgusting lives and bad habits with them; in other words: their fakeness is apparent to you now and they know it … if they choose to repent, great. If they act like you’re the one with the problem, well then seek counsel, go back with a mediator and try it again. If they still treat you like you’re the one with the problem,  then leave it in God’s hands.

You did things God’s way, you trust him, now obey him and pass this test. Do it for him. Do it for yourself and for your faith to be further rooted in Christ!

Keep on keepin on!

Pray that only what is wholesome and uplifting will escape my mouth (and yours).

And if you’re wondering why I chose that picture … because it’s a FAKE! The shark was added.

A Crafty Creature

Ya know I have been contemplating writing about this for a while now …

So, I’m just gonna put it all out there. This is just, ya know … what The jessy thinkith, so don’t get all alarmed and your panties in a bunch over it, kay?

I’ve read Genesis a whole mess of times. More recently the third chapter.  And I am a bit confused about something. Maybe you are, too!?

In the NIV, which stands for New International Version; it’s just another version of the Bible, apart from the “old fashioned” King James Version that is a lot easier on the tongueth … and on the braineth for that mattereth.

So, according to the NIV, chapter three starts off saying that the “serpant was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.” I’ve even heard some pasters say he was beautiful, but I think crafty works well.

What confuses me is this: all the story books, all the pictures, all the art work and even in most of the preaching I have heard speak of the serpant as we know it (a snake); however, here’s where I get confused…. the Lord didn’t turn the serpant into the kind of serpant we see today until later in chapter three (verse 14)

So the Lord God said to the serpant, “Because you have done this (referring to him tricking Eve into taking of the forbidden fruit, eating it and giving some to her husband),

“Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.” 

Ok, so here’s what is even more confusing: Why do we always refer to the snake who decieved Eve?

Now, I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t talk to a snake … not what we refer to as a serpent (snake) now a days. No way. Not even if he offered me a milion dollars! I would cut it’s head off first. But I may talk to a Peacock. They are so beautiful and prestine; I don’t know that they are crafty, but hey, they are a whole lot more attractive than a snake, don’t cha think?

The serpant refered to in verse one of chapter three says he was the most crafty of all the wild animals. Why else would Eve be compelled to engage in conversation with it? Think about it?

He was crafty, some even say he was the most beautiful of all God’s creatures. I can only imagine; after all God is quite imaginative and creative.

So, if Satan were going to tempt you … do you really believe he would tempt you with a slippery, slimy, disgusting snake figure? I beg to differ. I believe what scripture says. According to scripture God made him crawl on his belly. What do serpants do … crawl on their belly’s. And eat dirt. And mice .. and small children. No, not really. Small dogs … maybe. )

So. Here’s what I think. Satan took the form of something in which we have no reference point. Something beautiful and crafty. We have no idea what a serpant looked like because the Bible doesn’t discribe it. However, we know what one looks like now because God turned the creature into one which crawls on its belly; that which we know of as a serpant now.

I don’t know about you, but Satan has a way of decieving us in ways in which would surprise most of you. He is cunnung, crafty and mysterious. He is also magnificnat and quite beautiful and handsome. He has to be. Would you listen to something ugly and scarey and disgusting looking? Of course not.

I am not sure what the original serpant looked like, but I bet it was fantastic to look at. I think he chose the form of the original serpant because he knew it would bring attention to himself. Why else would Even be so drawn into a conversation with such a creature? Hey, be nice … no blonde jokes.

I guess I write this as a warning as well. Satan is wise. Yes, he is defeated, but I don’t think he is quite aware of it yet … I think he thinks; as he did when he was a celestial being, that he can still overcome God and be in charge. He is crafty and cunning. He is bold and daring. He is also gorgious and breath-taking. That’s why the Bible warns us to be aware and be on-guard.

Well then. What to do? What to do?

Be on guard. Be aware that Satan can interfere in your life just as much as he did with Eve. He doesn’t care about you anymore than he cared about God. He cares about power and control. He won’t care about the consequences of your actions after you listen to him … btw, where was he after Adam and Eve were cursed and thrown out of the Garden of Eden? Did he come back to offer his apologies? Absolutely not. He is too proud and arrogant for that. He is out to distroy your life and never look back.

Just because you are a Christ follower doesn’t mean you are safe from his attacks. In fact Christ warns us he is like a Lion on the prowl. And just like a lion, he will attack the weakest of them all first and when he’s threw with you, he’ll leave your remains for the hyenas. So, don’t be fooled. Be on the look out for what doesn’t match the word of God. Filter all you hear through His word; not your own philosophies. Remember what happened to Eve.

When in doubt … seek it out.

… search for proof

…. within God’s truth!

Ok. Here goes nothin’

Sorry. Sorry for not writing. I have only one excuse … well, actually no, one reason. I had nothing profound to write about. Well, I have had some thoughts, but haven’t wanted ot take the time to type it. Sorry. And now those thoughts are but vapors ….

So. Anyway. I thought I may just write some randomness here and remind those who are here that I will be closing out my other blog soon … as soon as I copy and paste all that I have written into a file for my portfolio. Of things and stuff …

I am going to my neighbors’ son’s baby shower today. Not for him, but for his lady. They are having a boy in September. I am so excited for them. I think I may hold their gift for ransom … they have to give me visitation rights to their dog, Buddy, whom they took with them when they moved to their own home (

I miss Buddy. He’s the dog I wrote about in my other blog. Alls I had to do was say “where’s that kitty” (referring to my cat, whom he loves to chase after) and he would escape from his fenced in yard and come over to play with me. I need a dog … or a life …  )

I still have no idea how to add other people’s blogs to this blog … or put up pics or videos … just when I got used to blogspot … I chose to give this a try … but only as the result of some one’s whose blog I read forced me to register as a wordpress user in order to read it … then I got caught up in this and forgot to read his blog … sorry.

Anyway. I fell behind in my running … again. Oops. I ran yesterday for the first time in a week. It felt good. I think I run a 45 minute mile. Just kidding. Maybe a 10 minute mile. I’m not sure. Need to cut it down to maybe 8 or nine at least. I’m getting there, though. At least I don’t stop any longer as I once did. Still waiting to add on the additional block to make it a little over three miles. Right now I can run 2 miles non stop in about four and a half songs. Ha hahahaha.

So, if a song averages about 3.5 minutes in length that would be a total of about 16-17 minutes running time; which would be about a 8 or 9 minute mile … Yeah, right?! Those songs must average closer to 4 or 5 minutes … I’m counting next time … just what ever you do …DON”T tell my man I’m challenging myself. He’ll start racing me. Then I’ll get discouraged and think I can’t do it.

Yesterday, while we were running, I came up to the last quarter mile; I could see our mailbox. And just when my feet were burning so bad I thought they were on fire (running on pavement is hot) this song came on my ipod called “Impossible” by Bayje. From the movie Step up 2. Anyway, towards the end of the song, she starts saying “nothing is impossible” over and over again. It got me thinking about what God promises us throgh Christ. That nothing is impossible.

Nothing. That should then, therefore, include running. Should it not? Yes, of course. So then, why would I allow myself to be discouraged? Well, there’s lots of reasons why. My head was hurting from the heat, my feet were burning from the street. … I was being a winer and I just wanted to go home. So I started telling myself that nothing is impossible, inclusing finishing this run without stopping AND the faster I run, the sooner I will be home, where I can kick off my shoes, do my 100 sit ups and wine in the shower…. Ha hahaha.

Anyway. I was glad to have my man with me. He is such an encouragement to me. Even though he could kick my sorry you know what and leave me in his wake, he runs just a tad bit next to me or behind me. It’s like a fast walk for him really, but he does it anyway. What a man! He knows how it would make me feel to have him blow past me and be way far aheard of me. And when I do have to stop, he runs so slow, I think I could catch up with him in a quick pase walk! I love him so much. I am so proud of him for being such a encourager!

It’s amazing to me the people God puts in my life. Some I could do without. Well, actually … to be honest there’s a lot of people I think I could do without, but in all actuallity, I need them. Even the most difficult people; the most challenging ones. Ya know why? Because they still teach me how desperately I need God in my life. In my life. Not just there when I need him, like a genie in a bottle, but really there. In my life.

Ok, for someone who was just going to write a little … ramble a little … I really don’t think I know what that means …

Know that I love you all. I cherish your prayers and I cherish you! I think of you so often, I think it may surprise you!

Make mistakes …

Make them proud!

… then learn from them …

… and learn it outloud.

 

ok, now how so I publish this thing …. gimme a minute …

I think I might not have a clue …

So like I moved to wordpress and stuff … and I am still trying to figure it out …

so gimme a few days to meander betwixed here and my other blog … www.thejessythen.blogspot.com.

Unequally Yoked

Training oxen requires putting two different animals together; ones who have been raised from a different master and teaching them to work for another master: YOU.

This is so atypical to the natural course of things. You take an animal who has already learned what is necessary to get the job done and now you put them in a yoke and force them to relearn it all again!? WHAT?
That’s crazy!

You know why it’s important? Because you are their new master. You have to undo what they have already learned and teach them how to do it your way. It’s your job as their new master.

Each time they are yoked together they will learn something; either something profitable for them or not. It is extremely uncomfortable for the oxen to be unqually yoked during their training; but it is essential. Here’s the interesting part: They will challenge everything you do as their new master. Why? Because they will continue to create ways to have their own needs met.

Oxen will follow the rules of the master. If they think they are the master of their own domain; they will do what they please; however, if they know you are their master, they will follow your rules. But first you need to show them who’s boss. You must prove yourself worthy, worthy to follow, to trust and provide for them.

Training them is not just about who’s boss. It’s about whether or not you are a trustworthy leader. They need to know you can be trusted to take care of them; to apply what you say; to be consistent. You must earn your respect as a leader. Remember, it is extremely uncomfortable for two seperate oxen to be paired together.

By showing you are a good leader, you must break the bad habits: yours and theirs. They will learn through the value of consequences. This requires a vast amount of commitment and follow through. You cannot let them do something you have not taught them, you cannot allow them to disobey or run off. Any time they disobey, you must teach them a lesson; the longer they disobey, the longer the lesson. They need to learn who is in charge.

It is far better to start with the young than the old. Once you have trained a young ox, they submit to your authority more readily than an elder. With an elder, more “mature” ox, you must constantly show them who’s in charge. What a pain, right? It is important to train them while they are young, because once the young are older, they will be much larger than you and yet you will still be able to control them: you have already earned their trust. Once you have been established as their leader, the oxen will respect you. They will heed to your commands.

Now, you may be asking what the heck this has to do with being unequally yoked… Well, according to scripture Jesus tells us not to be unequally yoked. First read the verse:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” II Corinthians 6:14-17

Okay, so what in the world does that mean and why am I writing about training oxen….

First of all, let me first say that I am sad to hear of so many believers I know getting married to those who aren’t … and then they aren’t happy with the results. It saddens me. And most of the believers are women married to men they think they can “win over”. Okay, well scripture does say we, as women, can win them over without saying a word …but … it isn’t working.

Here’s why …. ladies …. first of all, you are not the head of the household. Now hold on all you feministic fanatics out there … I’m not saying what you do and say doesn’t matter in the house. I am saying that the man is the head, the leader, the Oh captain, my captain of the ship. I didn’t set it up that way: God did. Ephesians 5:21-25

It’s all about love and respect. If you respect him, you will be willing to serve him. If he feels this from you, he will love you and be willing to serve you. It’s odd, I know – but it works because God set it up that way and I know if you just do it that way, it works. It will.

However … however, I love that word … However, if you don’t do it that way … there will be conflict. Now there’s a word I don’t like. So … imagine if you will you are standing on a chair. Now, imagine there is someone standing next to you. Now … try to pull them up on the chair with you. No, they cannot help you. No one is there to help you. You have to do it with only your strength.
It is impossible. In fact, the person may end up pulling you off the chair and hurting you and themselves. You being on the chair represents you as a believer in Christ; a citizen of Heaven; higher in stature; position (but by no means in arrogance).

I’ve tried it. Trust me. I have not once been able to pull a person up to the chair without help. A lot of help. That being said … how many times have you tried to convince someone to think the way you think; believe what you believe; feel what you feel? You can’t. You just can’t do it.

So then, why would you think if you marry the guy (or the girl) you will be able to change them to believe and feel what you feel.

I know what you’re thinking. Yeah, I can’t, but God can. And you’re right, God can …BUT … he said don’t do it. He said don’t do it. He said DO NOT BE UNEQUALLY YOKED.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to not like being told what to do. And I also have this tendency to think that I can change someone. It doesn’t work that way.

Only God can change people … and that person has to be willing; they have to be open; they have to have their heart softened towards God. And only God can do that. No matter what you say … only God has the power to change some one’s thoughts, beliefs and feelings towards him.

I know you might also be thinking that love will conquer all and you can win them over with your love. That won’t work either. Only the love of Christ will truly win them over. I know you love them a lot, otherwise you wouldn’t be with them, but only God can truly turn their lives around. Marrying them does not open a door to change. Trust me. I’m married. There is no changing him. He will change if he is convicted by God, not convinced by me.

You see, God set things up the way he did for a reason. Just like training an ox to follow your rules, God uses Jesus and his teachings to train us to follow his rules. The oxen don’t like to be told what to do any more than you and I; however, when they finally submit to the authority of their master, they are blessed. Blessed with positive consequences.

I know you love them. But sometimes the act of love is letting go. Sometimes if you genuinely love them (and yourself) you have to be willing to be obedient to God first. In doing so, hey, you never know, God may honor your obedience by turning their heart towards him and eventually back towards you. Only God knows.

Trust that God knows what he is doing. And just like your parents, who sometimes had you do things you didn’t want to do, and maybe you did it and maybe you didn’t. No matter what you decided, there were consequences to your actions. If you obeyed, it was good. If you disobeyed, it was not so good. And I’m sure you didn’t like it, but it was good for you and it taught you right from wrong; good from bad. It taught you to honor and obey; to trust.

There is a perfectly good reason why God puts these rules out there for us, like it or not; they are to protect us and keep us from getting hurt: hurt by others and hurt by ourselves.

Now, I leave you with this. My sister-in-law married my brother. Out of love. She is a believer, my brother is not. He left her. For his best friends’ wife. They have a daughter. Her name is Nikki. She is six.

A non-believer will do what non-believers do; just as an ox will do as he pleases, unless he is under the proper authority. In this case: God’s.
They will pull you down from the chair. And the whole time they were doing it … you thought you were still up there. My sister-in-law is only now beginning to realize when she started falling off the chair.

Jesus is our master. He knows the uncomfortableness of being unequally yoked. He knows the pains, the hardship. Just as the master of the oxen must be patient and consistent and loving; our God will be that way with us. It is difficult for the master to train those who are unequal; it takes a long time. But it is much more painful for the oxen; and they don’t have a choice, whereas you do.

Be careful. I know you love them, I am not discounting that. Love is a great and powerful thing; but so is God. And his love is above all the love you can imagine.

A Broken Leg

Did you know that sheep are pretty dumb animals?
Did you also know that the Bible refers to believers as sheep?
Logic would then tell us that we are pretty dumb.
Therefore, we need a shepherd.
Hence, Christ.

However, did you also know that sheep, being the dumb creatures they are will follow the lead of another dumb sheep … and not the shepherd? Yup. The other sheep will just follow along having no clue whatsoever of where they are going or what they are doing.

They know one thing: follow that sheep.
The shepherd maybe calling the lead sheep and the lead sheep is not returning.
The other sheep continue to follow.

So what’s a shepherd to do?
Go get the trouble making dumb sheep who is leading the others astray, break its leg and carry it over his shoulder until the leg heals.

During that time of healing, the sheep whose leg gets broken learns the shepherd’s voice and learns to trust the shepherd. When the sheep’s leg is healed, the shepherd releases the sheep.

Guess what the sheep does then?
The sheep stays with the shepherd.
He no longer wonders off for others to follow it.

Now, that’s not to say that others won’t try and do the same thing, but at least one has learned its lesson.

Jesus says, the sheep know me and they know my voice.
John 10:4, 14, 27
In fact, just read all of John 10, because all is lost without proper context. As Bobb Biehl says, “Nothing is meaningful without context.” Nicely put.

Jesus is trying to say that he knows his people. He knows us.
He also knows that there are those among us who will try to convince us of things that are not true; are not of God. Satan, our enemy will use those closest to you to convince you of things; he will use those closest to you to hurt you and pull or push your buttons.

If we are close to Jesus, and if we have all been broken, which we have; logically speaking: all of us like sheep have gone astray – Isaiah 53:6… so … that being said, if we have all been broken, and we are all like sheep, then we, too know the voice of our shepherd. We learn to trust and obey him; to stay close to him.

So … then, why is it that we still struggle with believing what we hear from others and leave our shepherd’s side?

Here’s what I think.
I think it’s because we trust those around us to know what they are talking about.
I believe it is in our nature to believe in those closest to us; especially those we trust, those we believe to also be spiritual and religious and Christ-like.
However, there are many Christ followers who are not exactly who they claim to be.
We’ve all been there.
We’ve all been those people who say we care, but we really don’t.
We’ve all be hypocritical (and if you say aren’t, guess what? You just made yourself one).

We are all human … and that’s the problem.

So, what to do … what to do?
Well, definately pray.
Be close to your shepherd.
Spend time with him every day and seek him out.
Filter what others say to you through God’s word and through your own prayer life.
If it sounds hinky, it probably is.
Plus, if it is in direct contradiction to what you know is true, guess what, don’t believe it then.
Sometimes if you just use your common sense … it should tell you something.
If you believe something to be true because there is no other reason to believe otherwise, until someone or something comes around to convince you otherwise … maybe you should ask yourself why they are trying to convince you of something different. Maybe they have an agenda.

I know I have gone through this with my family; it’s family .. what can you do?
I have also gone through it with some of my good friends from church (who are no longer involved with the same church and are no longer good friends).
And that’s a good thing.
It’s good because …
It has taught me who to trust.
It has taught me to be more careful with what I believe.
It has caused me to pause when I hear things and filter it through the word of God and the voice of my shepherd.
It has caused me to be thankful for what has happened in order to teach me what to look out for next time.
It has caused me to reflect more than I ever thought necessary; reflect on the past in light of the present with a hope for the future.
It has caused me to be less judgemental and more open to what God may be teaching me in the moment.
It has also taught me the value of one’s character and integrity.
It has also taught me the most valuable lesson of all:
Trust God. Trust God. Trust God.
Did I mention it has taught me to trust God?

There have been countless amount of times that I have wanted to trust the person, the circumstance or my own thoughts…. It is impossible.
Even when what I hear and believe doesn’t make any sense: I need to Trust God!

We’ve all been broken.
Therefore, we should all know the voice of our shepherd.
However, it is our choice as to whether we will listen to him, others or ourselves.
I choose to listen to him; lest I be led astray.

Be bold.
Be great.
Read Barbaric Grace

Feeling a "little" Liberated

I am reading this book called Barbaric Grace written by some guy with some vision … my pastor! It is amazing.
I cannot tell you how inspired this book has made me to do something I had only dreams and visions of. For years now, ever since moving to O-town I have had a desire to help the homeless, vegabonds and the prostitutes. I just don’t know how to … yet.
I thought I had this burden before I went to the Domincan Republic; since coming back two and a half years ago … it is still there. The voices are not getting any quieter … and no, I am not some schizoid dellusionary …
When my husband and I retire I still pray on going back there to teach English and give hope to those children (like the one you see in this picture); hope of a future; a future with plans of prosperity, joy and peace that can only come from Christ.

Now I know and realize there are many out there who take advantage of sorry saps like me who have a heart for the disadvantaged, but here it is …
It’s simple, yet so incredably silly.
I thought about buying a bunch of bread (which is like three bucks for two loafs at BJ’s wholesale – not bad) and some peanut butter; honey, fluff, jelly and butter.
Not done yet … hold on to your hats.
Make a whole mess of sandwhiches of different callabor; obviously not every one likes peanut butter and jelly and then pass them out … oh and milk. Can’t have peanut butter without milk.
Or … or … I could make and bring hot dogs and buns with ketchup, mustard, sauercraut … yummy. But then I would need someplace to keep them warm … And I think I would need a permit for a hot dog stand … not at all what I have in mind right now.

But first. I need to know where they all hang out. Now, before all the construction on the 408 and I-4 (thank you very much); and the blue laws activated, it was obvious where the homeless and the prostitutes hung out … BUT NOW … I can’t find their hang out … so how can I pass out sandwhiches to people I can’t find?
I can’t.

So .. what to do ….
What to do.

I really don’t know yet.
I think I can maybe go to the police station and ask them where the vegabonds are hanging out now a days … but I think they may think me crazy …
So, I don’t really like the looks of that idea …

So why would I go through all this trouble and money and time for people who may only just take advantage of someone like me …
Well now … THAT is a good question.
One which deserves an answer.
I have this burden.
It bugs the hell out of me.
Everytime I see a homeless person I can’t help but think of ways to help them.
You have no idea the hours I spend thinking up things. Hours. I hate it.
Everytime I see what looks to be a prostitute (it’s hard now a days because so many young ladies dress so provocatively, I can’t hardly tell anymore) I just want to help them out somehow. But how?
How do I do so in a genuine way without getting hurt, without hurting them and still answer the greatest question of all: how do I communicate Christ to them in a sincere, loving, genuine way without making Christ look like me?
Because, after all, it’s not about me.
It’s about him!

How do I bring them the good news without scaring them
off with “church-I-ness”?
Punn intended.

How do I get them to see that not all church people are the same?
They know all about the gospel and God and his goodness; trust me.
If they have been to any one of the shelters, they’ve heard it all … and yet … where are they? Why do some of us continue to act as though we have no responsibility to them when cleary Jesus commands us to take care of them?

I’m not saying you HAVE to do something; but clearly you have to do what God is screaming in your ear (or heart) to do … or at least it’s what it seems like.

I’m still in the pilot stage of my thinking … It’s a thought … it’s a prayer … it’s a burden … it’s frankly a pain in my neck!
Don’t you know I would rather think on ANY OTHER thing or person in the whole world than to think on someone who CHOOSES (or do they?) to be where they are when I drive by and see them standing there. Don’t you know I think of the same excuses you do (or not) when I see them and CHOOSE not to act.
You see, there I go again!
I could write on this all day!

Please pray for God to reveal HIMSELF to me in this.
I want to be in his footsteps and set a good example for his sake not my own agenda.
Do I even have one? I don’t know … I just know what bothers me and I also know where visions start and how they start and how they begin, or not begin and therefor die … I have lots of things I’d rather be thinking about and doing; but this … this things I keep thinking about it bugging me….