The more we become aware of the HOLINESS OF GOD, the more we become aware of our distance from GOD. Through the MANIFESTATION OF OUR SORROW the MERCY OF GOD touches our hearts. Immense Compassion for GOD, ourselves and others bring TEARS OF JOY! Psalm 126:5, "Those who sow in tears, shall reap with shouts of JOY." "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted". To experience GOD'S Compassionate Loving Mercy brings TEARS OF JOY IN THE MOURNING.
Though for the Day: Tears come because words aren't enough.
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What do you think of when you hear "Therefore lift up one another" (1 Thessalonians 5:11)? I had the unexpected opportunity to have a meeting with a man I consider my MENTOR. As we talked, I soon became aware that my questions were being answered NON VERBALLY! I would speak, he would PAUSE, the answer came and I would repeat what I had heard to him. As we continued to talk, I realized HE WAS "LIFTING ME UP" to JESUS for the answer. He was making me depend upon my own relationship with GOD for the answers. I learned that a MENTOR is someone who is WISE and can be TRUSTED; But they are not THE COUNSELOR! THANK YOU GOD, THANK YOU PASTOR JIM!
When we don't feel well and have a fever, we take an ASPIRIN to feel better. But it only reduces the fever and does not cure the illness inside. It treats the symptom and not the cause. When we lie, steal, cheat, gossip, feel that we are better looking or smarter than someone else; do we comfort ourselves by saying, "I wanted to protect them", "it was just a little lie" or "what they don't know won't hurt them"? SPIRITUAL ASPIRINS that treat the "symptoms", while the inner SOUL is being destroyed by sin! Do we give GOD the "left overs" - by giving HIM what we don't need, instead of giving HIM what we need most? "...it is your inner self...which is of great worth in GOD'S eyes." (1 Peter 3:4). Do we just treat our symptoms by taking SPIRITUAL ASPIRINS?
Do you ever wonder if words are invented in an attempt to describe our Desires and endless wandering for pleasure? So much so that even those words that we once held in "reverence", have lost the impact of meaning! Has this happened to our lives, where we send too many messages of who we are? Have we given up the purity of the Sanctuary of our Souls to conform to others' values? Do we deceive are own hearts with TOO MANY WORDS (James 1:26).?
These are our "special" times; alone with GOD. A time when we see the "Folly" and "Absurdness" in Philosophy and Self Righteous Theology. A time when we realize the "great" teachers and philosophers of the world are nothing more than "blind" persons trying to paint a portrait of Creation. GOD made us in HIS IMAGE and set ETERNITY in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). IN HIS IMAGE; even though I have greatly distorted and "sadly" tarnished THIS IMAGE within me, SIN has not DESTROYED IT! However despicable and unworthy I am to this world, I no longer doubt GOD'S love for me. Moments like this, is where "TIME" in our "Bodies" is no longer at WAR with ETERNITY IN OUR SOULS!
Has it ever occurred to any of us that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same tuning fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of "one accord" and synchronization", not by using each other as their standard, but using a standard greater than themselves. "The humble are lead in what is right....and their path is steadfast love and faithfulness" (Psalm 25:9). Is our "standard" to emulate the lives of others or follow THE GREATER STANDARD? It can be as simple as a TUNING FORK.
"HE cannot deny HIMSELF." "Do your best to present yourself ...as one approved." (2 Timothy 2:13-15). What we think is who we are, or who we will soon become. We are but a shadow of our thoughts; a silhouette exposed in the LIGHT. What you do and what you think when you are alone, IS WHO YOU ARE! When you are ALL ALONE, with no one else around; DO YOU EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT?
When we "taste" the Glory and Mercy of GOD, it both satisfies us and make us hungry for more. We become conscious of our need for Grace, and yet, we are ashamed of our lack of desire for HIS WORD. We pray to be filled with the constant "longing" to know what is not known, and to be in the presence of what others think is unapproachable. Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness..." Does our SOUL seeks to return to its SOURCE; as it GAZES UPON GOD?
Do we limit ourselves and others with our expectations? Do we get disappointed when GOD does not "perform" the way we think HE should in our situations? Naaman was angry because Elisha did not "wave his hand" and cure his leprosy; instead Elisha told him to wash in the Jordan (2 Kings 5:11). Are we still troubled, angry, "still seeking GOD" and have made "little" progress? Could it be that we are not to the end of ourselves? Do our expectations of GOD lift us HIGHER; OR DO WE EXPECT LITTLE OR NOTHING FROM GOD, SO WE ARE NOT DISAPPOINTED?
FAITH is not an invisible part of our imagination; it is knowing we are not in control (and never were in control) and life is being in delightful awe of our CREATOR. If we made a list of the reasons for our FAITH, and then made a list of things that make us cry, wouldn't they be essentially the same list? 2 Chronicles20:15-17, "...Do not be afraid...for the battle is not yours, BUT GOD'S...you do not need to fight...watch the LORD on your behalf..." In knowing this, we share the FAITH WITH THE BIRD THAT SINGS WHEN THE DAWN IS STILL DARK.
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December 2015
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