True friends in this day are a precious commodity. We live in a world filled with back stabbers, swindlers, druggies, thuggies, busy bodies, deceivers, temptresses, violators, soothsayers, creepers, slinkers, goonies, sorcerers, politicians, heathens, sweet talkers, and Ted Turner (and all of this is can be found in just 2 super bowl commercials). So in a world that offers no place for the Christian, is there someone whom you call friend. Maybe it's a brother or a sister or cousin. It could be a spouse or significant other. Some of us may even still have a close friend from college or even highschool. Still even others may confide in a Pastor, Youth Minister, or Teacher. Reguardless of how you are connected, remember this. A true friend speaks the truth in love. In a society where it is practice that one should tell another what they want to hear so as not to offend them remember John 8:32, "Then you shall know thw truth, and the truth shall set you free.
There is no value in a lie. There is no excuse for lying, especially to a friend. Truth is the only thing that heals. Truth is the only thing that saves. A lie simply gives a false sense of joy which is short lived and ultimately prolongs the healing process. Put your faith in the truth. When a friend comes to you in need, share the truth. Even when it's painful, abide in the truth. All else is empty and fruitless.
SeeqPod - Playable Search
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Ready...Set...WAIT!?!?!?!?!?
So relationships..... Yeah that's about how it is with me. Just a long sigh. HA HA HA HA! No I'm just kidding. But seriously relationships are a big thing in our society. You gotta be with somebody right? Even if you drag the thing out for 5 years to a shouting match and never talk again it was worth it right. WRONG!!! God definitely has a much more superior plan in store for those who trust him. I found this out the hard way. I thought I could push God into a corner by saying, "hey I love this person, now you have to make it all work out!!!!" Two serious relationships and one crazy fling later I was at the end of my rope. A relationship that was spiraling out of control had finally led me to be standing on a bridge outside of Kennestone Hospital with my mother. As we talked about God's grand plan for my life, (even though neither of us hadn't the faintest idea what it was), it was placed upon my to give me a novel suggestion. She told me that should take 2 years out of my life and forget about girls............. What! I couldn't believe what I was hearing! No girlfriends! Restricting myself to just being friends! Letting opportunities slip past my fingers! Needless to say, I agreed. However, the pain of a break up was still fresh on my heart and only a few short weeks past before is started the shortest and most nerve racking relationship of my entire life. Around the beginning of June, I found myself free of women and broken before God. I remember crumbling to the floor in the my shower and just weeping. I saw my obsession with needing to feel "loved" and at the same time came to the realizarion of just how much love I was ignoring.
One year and 7 months later, I was in a whole new arena. I had been (and still am) blessed with the closest friend I have ever known. I was growing in areas of my life that had tuely never been worked on. I had walked through fire after fire, and god had held my hand like an infant the whole way. Now once again I was learning to walk on my own with God as my guide. Everything was leveling and I found that I had learned more about relationships from being single than I ever could have from being in one. I thought that it would be years before I even had another serious taker and had learned to not dwell on my interest of the moment. One young lady, however, remained stuck in my mind. Assuming that this was little more than a temptation, I began to pray that God would tell me if I should go on to ask this young lady out. Secretly while doing this I began to hope that God would simply say no and let me go off on my merry way. However to my shock and suprise, the more I prayed, the more I became overwhelmed with 2 words pounding in my head over and over again. "NOT YET." Fear overcame me as i realzed the test that I now had to face. What may be prove to be the one of the toughest trials in my life was to simply wait. I was to sit there and watch something that had the potential of becoming something really good and waiting. Wow! Now that's a test. Time past and eventually I felt led to share my feelings with her along with the ramifications of the committment I had made. From my perspective she took it suprisingly well but I'm a guy so I'm probably wrong. Either way we came to a mutual agreement that these next 3 months would be a good time to really get to know each other without making any kingd of committment. Over time I hope God will allow something beautiful to grow out of this but right now it mine to wait and not pursue
So what is the point of this whole long rant of mine. Simply put it is this: above all things that I have learned in these 2 years is that God wants to things: our obedience to him and faith that he will over come all of our adversities and afflictions. I realize full well that between now and June I may loose this amazing, Godly, young woman to some guy who may be leeps and bounds beyond me. However, in spite of that threat, I trust God Almighty, my Saviour, Redeemer, and Lord to supply all of my needs according to his riches in glory. I have trusted him thus far and a will continue to long after that time alone has passed. Rest assured, if June 1st roles around and the opportunity stands that I'll come calling; but with a new zeal to pursue what God wnats for me and not what I want for myself.
SeeqPod - Playable Search
One year and 7 months later, I was in a whole new arena. I had been (and still am) blessed with the closest friend I have ever known. I was growing in areas of my life that had tuely never been worked on. I had walked through fire after fire, and god had held my hand like an infant the whole way. Now once again I was learning to walk on my own with God as my guide. Everything was leveling and I found that I had learned more about relationships from being single than I ever could have from being in one. I thought that it would be years before I even had another serious taker and had learned to not dwell on my interest of the moment. One young lady, however, remained stuck in my mind. Assuming that this was little more than a temptation, I began to pray that God would tell me if I should go on to ask this young lady out. Secretly while doing this I began to hope that God would simply say no and let me go off on my merry way. However to my shock and suprise, the more I prayed, the more I became overwhelmed with 2 words pounding in my head over and over again. "NOT YET." Fear overcame me as i realzed the test that I now had to face. What may be prove to be the one of the toughest trials in my life was to simply wait. I was to sit there and watch something that had the potential of becoming something really good and waiting. Wow! Now that's a test. Time past and eventually I felt led to share my feelings with her along with the ramifications of the committment I had made. From my perspective she took it suprisingly well but I'm a guy so I'm probably wrong. Either way we came to a mutual agreement that these next 3 months would be a good time to really get to know each other without making any kingd of committment. Over time I hope God will allow something beautiful to grow out of this but right now it mine to wait and not pursue
So what is the point of this whole long rant of mine. Simply put it is this: above all things that I have learned in these 2 years is that God wants to things: our obedience to him and faith that he will over come all of our adversities and afflictions. I realize full well that between now and June I may loose this amazing, Godly, young woman to some guy who may be leeps and bounds beyond me. However, in spite of that threat, I trust God Almighty, my Saviour, Redeemer, and Lord to supply all of my needs according to his riches in glory. I have trusted him thus far and a will continue to long after that time alone has passed. Rest assured, if June 1st roles around and the opportunity stands that I'll come calling; but with a new zeal to pursue what God wnats for me and not what I want for myself.
SeeqPod - Playable Search
Friday, February 13, 2009
"One Last Breath"
So I love music. I mean who doesn't. It inspires and comforts. Lately i been going wild buying up and borrowing all sorts of songs. The other day how ever I came across a song that I hadn't heard in forever and it got me thinking. As Christians, we think that our songs have changed from: help me, help me, I'm on the edge; to: Free and easy down the road I go. We think that this crazy world can't touch us cause we've got some kind of Super Terrific Jesus Force Field that automatically shields us no matter what we do and anyone that has a struggle is just a "bad christian" or "a back slider." This, however, is not true. This world and the fears, struggles, temptations, and traps that it offers are still very real. Anyone of us could fall into a trap if not careful. The only way to persevere is to stay strong in Gods word. Ephesians 6: 13-17 says: "Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
So knowing that even though God dwells in us we will still have struggles to face, we are taken back to our original thought; has our song changed. Psalm 33:3 says:Sing unto him a new song,
Play skilfully with a loud noise; and Psalm 40:3a says: And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. The bible tells us that God given us a new song in our hearts. The word for new that is used here implies freshness or a difference in occasion. So what is the difference. If we still find times where we sit and cry out, "help me help me", how is that different from any lost person on the planet. Simple. When a lost person cries out "help me", it is aimed out into the void for any one to pick up. However, when a christian falls broken to the ground and cries "help me", it is directed towards God. Now here's the best part. God answers the christian back! That's the difference. Our song may at times be a cry for help, but it's directed to the Great Rescuer; and when we cry he hears us and rescues us.
That is why I love the song One Last Breath by Creed. I especially love the part that says:
I'm looking down now that it's over
Reflecting on all of my mistakes
I thought I found the road to somewhere
Somewhere in His grace
I cried out heaven save me
But I'm down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
I know exactly how it feels to see all that I've fallen short on and just say God hold me and pull me through. I'm overjoyed to tell you that he has not yet failed me, nor will he ever fail me.
SeeqPod - Playable Search
So knowing that even though God dwells in us we will still have struggles to face, we are taken back to our original thought; has our song changed. Psalm 33:3 says:Sing unto him a new song,
Play skilfully with a loud noise; and Psalm 40:3a says: And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. The bible tells us that God given us a new song in our hearts. The word for new that is used here implies freshness or a difference in occasion. So what is the difference. If we still find times where we sit and cry out, "help me help me", how is that different from any lost person on the planet. Simple. When a lost person cries out "help me", it is aimed out into the void for any one to pick up. However, when a christian falls broken to the ground and cries "help me", it is directed towards God. Now here's the best part. God answers the christian back! That's the difference. Our song may at times be a cry for help, but it's directed to the Great Rescuer; and when we cry he hears us and rescues us.
That is why I love the song One Last Breath by Creed. I especially love the part that says:
I'm looking down now that it's over
Reflecting on all of my mistakes
I thought I found the road to somewhere
Somewhere in His grace
I cried out heaven save me
But I'm down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
I know exactly how it feels to see all that I've fallen short on and just say God hold me and pull me through. I'm overjoyed to tell you that he has not yet failed me, nor will he ever fail me.
SeeqPod - Playable Search
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