Last Year's Thoughts

I wrote this a year ago. Nothing in it has changed, but I think many Christians have. Circumstances have forced us to "Put up, or shut up" when it comes to following the Lord.

April 16, 2016

Fortune cookie says "If you keep trying to learn the tricks of the trade, you may never learn the trade itself." 

Wise words.

I have been concerned in recent years of the amount of classes, training courses and 'how-to' studies soaking into the church culture.

I hear people talking about going deeper into a ministry area, pouring all their time and efforts into a specific gift or calling, yet never living it out fully.

I have done that myself; pouring my heart and soul into a ministry, learning all the rules and regulations set up by the leadership, investing in "close friendship" with everyone else involved, and finally, standing to the side wondering what happened because nothing changed!

                                                                                                                                               

   

 Everyone involved with hearts desiring a stronger witness, yet losing the path to truth. 

The point is; you can't go deeper, or wider, or stronger, or closer, without doing it God's way.         

Jesus said to go into the whole world, preach and make disciples. 

In other words (like the ones we call the scriptures) spend every day of your life talking to God, claiming the perfect, holy life of Jesus Christ as God on earth, doing what He did, saying what He said, in the power of the Holy Spirit who spends all of His time wrapping Himself around us.

For one month I challenge you.

1. Stop using a quarterly or daily devotion book for your 'quiet time' or whatever you call it. Ask Him what HE wants to show you each day.

                                          

                                          

2. Spend at least one hour a day in conversation with Him. I mean, talk to Him while you're doing your daily stuff like to any other friend. 

3. Share something of your day with Him with someone else.

4. And if He tells you to do something, for crying out loud, do it.

P.S. Don't, even once, consider what someone else thinks of the way your acting. Let Jesus bless you for being honest.

shalom

Coins

HEADS

Has anyone kicked you in the shins lately?  
No?
Maybe you're not standing close enough.

Has anyone shoved you away lately?     
No?
Maybe you're not hugging them enough.

Has anyone shocked your senses by yelling in your face lately?    
No?
Maybe you're not asking questions enough.

Has anyone come close to breaking your heart lately?    
No?
Maybe you're not risking enough.

(Right now,  you're saying "That's dumb. And sanctimonious.")  😆

"You always hurt the one you love, the one you shouldn't hurt at all."

The song says it pretty well.

But that's the easy part. It's fairly common to hurt someone else and still function.

The hard part is being in the position to be hurt.

Maybe.

Here are some hard statistics for the USA

Divorces  813,862  (2016)
Children in foster care  427,910 (2015)
Abortions   51,888,303  (1970-2014)


What we don't know is which side of the equation these people were on. Were they the 'hurt' or the 'hurter'?

Is there a difference?

TAILS

Have you kicked anyone in the shins lately?
No?
Maybe they quit standing close enough.

Have you wanted to shove anyone away lately?
No?
Maybe they gave up hugging you.

Have you yelled in anyone's face lately?
No?
Maybe they quit asking you questions.

Have you broken anyone's heart lately?
No?
Maybe there was no one left.


Domestic Violence victims     2 of 7 (women and men)
Suicide     43,000 est.
suicide attempts   1,000,000 est. each year


Statistically, someone who hurts others has been hurt themselves.

Statistically, those that have been hurt by others will hurt someone else.

Statistically, the percentage of people who will hurt, or be hurt, involving themselves with other humans, is 100.

100%   
100 por ciento       
One hundred percent       
1.00  
100 אחוז   

zu 100

The only way to avoid this is never to have been conceived.

It all seems so overwhelmingly awful, doesn't it. 

That's why some people make a good living compiling statistics.

But...

Here's  the cap on the bottle; the cherry on top; the whipped cream on the cocoa!!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  John 10:10

...and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.   1 Peter 2:24

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23


Heads or tails, a coin always has two sides, but it is always one coin.

They cannot be separated, even as we cannot truly be separated from each other.

Without the love of Jesus Christ, there will always be pain in our lives. 

But...with Him, there will NEVER be pain we cannot overcome in complete victory.

So, when you're in a situation where you might hurt someone, or are sure to BE hurt, you better let Someone else flip your coin.

shalom