How many times have we said or thought, "LORD, I'm really need to get this done so I can get 'back' to 'serving' YOU."  INTERRUPTIONS, do they make you frustrated, angry and even a little crazy at times?  JESUS' life was full of INTERRUPTIONS: HE was enjoying a wedding when they had a wine shortage; Nicodemus came after dark to learn he must be born again and a woman was bleeding for twelve years, HE not only healed her, HE took time to stop and talk with her.  GOD has HIS own plans for us; Moses was INTERRUPTED with a burning bush, Mary and Joseph were INTERRUPTED in their plans for marriage, and Paul was INTERRUPTED on his way to Damascus.  Proverbs 16:9, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."  Do you think our "to-do" list, business plan or "our sense of accomplishment" is on JESUS' "To Do List"?  Or does HE just smile and wait for us to realize that INTERRUPTIONS ARE REALLY OUR DIVINE APPOINTMENTS?
 
Things to Ponder...What are you "PLANS" for the day?   

The more we are around someone, the more their Character affects our thoughts and behavior.  If we are around someone who is constantly complaining and finding fault, it begins to drag us down.  The "closer" our relationship is with these people the more their "attitude" affects us.   We begin to think like them until our "character" starts to "transform" and we become more like them.  "Drawing near" has nothing to do with geographical distance; it is about "relationships", the only quality or attribute that can "transform" or "change" us.  Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near with a true heart...and our bodies washed with pure water."  Do we let yesterday's guilt keep us from experiencing GOD'S infinite HOLINESS, LOVE AND MERCY today?  When we DRAW NEAR TO GOD, we become more like HIM.  

Maybe we should have a law that requires us to wear a uniform, something like NASCAR Drivers wear.  By the names on their jacket and uniforms you know exactly who they represent, who provides for them and to whom they owe their allegiance and loyalty.  Such a law would require Politicians to wear the names of the "LOBBYISTS"  who give them money for their votes.  Such a law might require Doctors to wear patches telling us which drug companies provide their vacations.  AND, we "so called CHRISTIANS" what would our UNIFORM look like?  Colossians 3:12, "Therefore, as GOD'S chosen...HOLY and dearly LOVED, CLOTHE yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  Isn't it a shame that the "disharmony" of what we say and what our actions reveal, cause others to ask "ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN"? Instead  of knowing "YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN"!   DO OTHERS SEE OUR LOVE AND ALLEGIANCE TO GOD as well as NASCAR fans know their DRIVERS' LOYALTIES?  

We have heard it said, "the closer I get to GOD, the more satan attacks me".  When we are truly in GOD'S PRESENCE are we even aware of the evil one's "poison hemlock"?  When we are in this HOLY OF HOLIEST PLACES, there is no place we'd rather be; there is no temptation, there is no fear, there is only LOVE.  LOVE of GOD, LOVE for others and LOVE  for ourselves.  1 John 5:18, "...GOD keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him."  "HARD TIMES" are cherished because our FAITH GROWS, and we become even closer to GOD.  When "SOMETHING SPECTACULARLY PHENOMENAL" happens to you, do you waste time thinking about anything else?  

Is RIGHT always right and WRONG always wrong?  A child is swimming in a pond where signs are posted NO SWIMMING. They begin to drown; do we disobey the SIGN OF AUTHORITIES to jump in and save them, or obey the SIGNS?  Have we become so SPIRITUALLY RIGID that our RIGHT is always RIGHT, and our WRONG is always WRONG? Are we so convinced that WHAT WE KNOW is all there IS TO KNOW?  Don't we realize that our present knowledge is always less than THE WHOLE TRUTH?  Do we rely on the wisdom and promptings of the HOLY SPIRIT guiding us in GOD'S WILL, or do we continue believe RIGHT IS ALWAYS RIGHT, AND WRONG IS ALWAYS WRONG?  Romans 13:2, "...that by testing you may discern what is the will of GOD, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  RIGHT or WRONG becomes confusing and distorted, but GOD'S WILL IS ALWAYS TRUTH?  

Have we found out later in life that someone had "stood in our place" and spared us from the "punishment" or "struggle" we so richly deserved?  Did it leave us speechless, in awe, THANKFUL and were we humbled so much that we trembled in humility?  Daniel 10:8-13, "I was left alone with this great vision...no strength remained in me...a hand touched me a made me tremble..."  Likewise we never know how many times GOD has intervened with HIS Angels to save us, minister to us and protect us.   WHY?  Daniel 10:12, "Do not fear...from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before GOD, your words were heard."  NOW THIS IS A MEMORIAL DAY!   A TIME TO REMEMBER!

There is no podium, no pulpit or offering plate.  The GOSPEL is being shared without material gain or worldly acclaim; humbly and reverently LOVE ABOUNDS in the Message.  No buildings or steeples, no robes or choirs; just HIS HOLY PRESENCE in TEMPLES of flesh.  The Message of light in our darkness; forgiveness without asking and Eternity for BELIEVING.   BELIEVERS are in HIS PRESENCE, UNBELIEVERS BELIEVE.   ALL are united as ONE WITH JESUS.   1 Corinthians 9:16, "...For necessity is laid upon me...woe to me if I do not preach the GOSPEL."  Beyond reasoning and logic the Message is BELIEVED,  because it is given from A FIRE WITHIN.  AMEN....

 

Tranquility, Peace and Rest;  an Eternity of Sabbaths.  Hebrews 4:3, "For we who have BELIEVED enter that rest...."  We can have this HEAVENLY REST now in the midst of our earthly struggles.  Earthly Struggles come from our own selfish ambition, wants and pride, not from GOD.  We can have a life of hell or A LIFE OF SABBATHS, IT IS OUR CHOICE.

When we hear and read Scripture, we either "BELIEVE" it is the Truth, or we don't.  We act, speak and become what we BELIEVE.  We OBEY our BELIEFS.  The effect of one is the product of the other; we OBEY what we BELIEVE, and we BELIEVE what we OBEY.  Hebrews 4:1, "...a promise being left us of entering into HIS rest..."  Be AWARE of those who teach various interpretations in the meaning of Scriptures, different from the discernment of the TRUTH provided by the HOLY SPIRIT.  When we change or modify the meaning of Scriptures, our BELIEF SYSTEM CHANGES and WE OBEY WHAT WE BELIEVE. 

Does sometimes life seem like a dream, that if we where we were to wake up it would all vanish?  In the deepest part of ourselves do we  lack SUBSTANCE, and do we continue to drift like a "cotton seed" in the wind?  Is nothing permanent and reality appears and disappears like shadows?  Colossians 2:17, "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body of CHRIST."  But now, we only see shadows of JOY, of the REALITY, SUBSTANCE of which is to come: or is IT already here?  The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST is the Permanence and the Substance, that keeps us from "Drifting in the Wind".   We remain an "empty Shadow" of "good things" to come; until we have the SUBSTANCE, THE REVELATION AND PERMANENCE of JESUS CHRIST.  Our dreams, inspirations and our REALITY are beyond our imagination when HE COMPLETES US.