Joy . . . Heavenly nuggets

Create in me a pure heart, O God, & Renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

question . . .???

Have you ever? Do you play that question game?
Well . . . then Have you ever wept? or even wept bitterly?
You know the one you ever wept over making a mistake so hard you thought you were or you did vomit?

Yeah . . . I have. Just like the gospels share how individuals have done this. It also has happened to me a few times. Twice over a broken heart. Scared the crud out of me both times. Once b.c. you know - "before Christ" came into my life and very recently while in Christ but . . . broken none the less. Yeah . . . well . . . in layman's terms . . . broken . . . knowing that in the vastness compared to Jesus Christ - He needs to be my refuge. I wept so hard that it hurt from my innermost being from deep with in my bowels. I now think I know how Peter cried, (Mt 26, Mk 14, Lk 22) when looking into Jesus eyes or when Jesus cried as he looked over Jerusalem (Matt. 23) & when Lazarus died (Jn. 11)- looking into ones eyes - we know what eyes mean to me. Well . . .

In Jesus and Peter from the outpouring of their love and sorrow they wept.
Only deep love can make one cry that 'deep' from with in. Both times for me - was an unfathomable bolt & discovery to run to Christ. Once shortly before being "called" and the second well . . . no details . . . just when God needed to reassure me once again he wouldn't leave and he IS regardless circumstances! Love . . . true love . . . keeps loving even when one can't breathe - sacrificially - without delay - in LOVE - out LOVE - in LOVE - out LOVE. His Love revived me both times, one breath at a time. Amen. Still on the Heavenly respirator . . . IN -OUT even while I wept.

Differences prt 2 . . . and then some

Okay - so here it is. The professor listened to the few who volunteered to speak. Explanations given at the possibilities of the "Whys". Well, My friends it is much easier to be pulled down to a lower level regardless if supported by another. You see those three students all were able to bring him down off that table along with the momentum was on their side, you know much like the laws of physics and gravity. Therefore, to pull them up was a very difficult task. On the other hand it was a bit hard to drag him down off the table with a helper along side of him and they together were able to lift them all up onto the table. Still exerting energy, some scrapes, bumps and bruises but successful.
My dear friends . . . we need to rest in Jesus Christ with everything we have. The world is represented by those three in the first illustration. Sure we may be fit, somewhat prepared for what we "see" is coming but The world will drag us down~. However, when we have another true believer in Jesus Christ on our side it is difficult for the world to have the same effect. And if we allow Jesus Christ to be "in control" the results are even better. You see the Lord said, "come to me all of you who are weary and heavy laden and I WILL give you rest." He said it - I BELIEVE IT. Then why do we try to "do it my way"? Or even rely on what worldly others or counterfeit believers "think"?
We can't rely just on our humanness or our friends. We really need to have God on the top with us at ALL times, and then only those whom are grounded firmly in Jesus Christ by our sides so that the world losses its' grip and it is difficult for the world to drag us down. "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves, A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" Ecc. 4:12
Surrounded by influences other than Christ is dangerous. And if we are not in his word every day we can loose our footing and be "pulled-down" easier. Sin - temptation - the cares of this world are real- Gosh - They are subtle other wise we would run for sure - clear away from them at a sprinters pace!

Read the word DAILY, Interact with YAHWEH continually, humbly walk with God, & surround yourself with GODLY influences. That is how you make it - especially when you are in the world but not of it.

Something Crazy Alright!!! YEAH!!!!

First of all . . . I am so incredibly sorry for the truancy of now for "the rest of the story." Please allow me to give a little side note. We had a very full Sunday schedule! A bountiful one that will be cherished for a long time.

"Something Crazy Sermon and illustration", A New Members Banquet that was superb, The visit of a wonderful young man from our "yut" (Youth Ministry) days, and then Simple Grace Ministry :-) - All so worth the day! Even with the Severe Weather/Tornado Warnings and Watches we were in! God is Good ALL the TIME! Okay here are just a few Pics! Then I'll write the Story

Differences

Wow if this isn't one of the toughest life skills to accomplish. There has been much happening in life lately that it makes my head spin. Why is it so hard to understand that we as believers are to be 'different' from the world and not embrace it? Why is it that when you try to change in daily life, those around you expect your feet to NEVER slip? Why is it that . . . . it is so difficult? WHY!?

Because the world sees it as "foolishness". Because it would mean "I have to give up _________ (fill in the blank with what you think it could 'cost you') and I just can't do that."
To be friends with the world is a dangerous thing if we don't have a walk with the Lord.
There was this professor one day who had been standing on a very high table and awaited his class to arrive. Upon the pupils arrival and bewilderment of the oddity of him standing in the center of the table, they sat puzzled awaiting the explanation. The professor asked for three volunteers. Out of those three he picked different physical physics, one very muscular athlete, one average physically fit individual and one petite in stature young lady. He asked each one to try and pull him down off of the table after he first tried to pull them up on to the tabletop with him. The three individuals were to not assist him in the attempt to be lifted up. It was very difficult for him to lift them up to the table to be beside himself and each one didn't quite make it totally - only one but with great exertion of physical efforts with the cost of scrapes and scratches along the way for both of them. After resting for a few minutes he then he asked each of them to try and pull him down but he was allowed to give resistance. Each one came and with not a lot of difficulty all three were successful in their efforts to bring the professor off of the tabletop. He then asked the pupils to sit down and write down what happened. Who was it successful for the pupils and the professors' attempts and why? Some gave it the explanation of the Law of physics, others because of the fitness of each human being, and so forth. After they finished writing he asked for one other volunteer, he picked another pupil who was average height, built and strength. He had them come up to the table and asked again for the three again to try to pull them down and vice verse. He was successful in bringing all three students up and the three had a much more difficult time attempting to bringing the professor down off the table. Again he asked them to write what happened this time.

What do you think?

I'll finish with "The rest of the story tomorrow". :-)