Too much to do

I don't know about the rest of you but I find from time to time that I have too much to do and become overwhelmed with life in general with my comings and goings. This great concern with the world is one of the greatest pitfalls that we can ever encounter. Sometimes I find that because of this problem I cannot focus, get frustrated easily and become angry with my failings and inabilities. It is at times like this that prayer was made for. Perspective and my place in the world is what needs to be reset and the only way to do that is to be face to face with my creator. Below is an example of what I pray and I hope that in the sharing of this others might find the same peace and contentment as I do. God Bless.

Lord, my life is full of questions and doubts, peppered with supposition and vain imaginings. Only when I am in your presence do I find true peace and comfort. The world is a heavy weight, one that we often pick up and place on our own shoulders. Let my perspective be corrected by you today and the understanding of your all-encompassing rulership settle my heart and quite my soul. For when I acknowledge your vast and awesome presence, then and only then do I know that nothing is beyond your grasp and control. May my being rejoice in the knowledge that you are my creator and you have known me from the beginning of time. And that you will guide and rule events, circumstances, and all of the daily mundane things in my life. And recognize all the love shown to me. May songs of joy always ring out from my lips, and I ask you to mold my heart with your spirit to become the man you wish me to be. May I have a vision of you in all things so that my steps will always be guided. Amen.

Welcome home

Recently I had a family member return from a long trip, the reason I am writing about this seemingly normal occurrence, is because I have noticed something in myself I don’t like. You have probably heard this catch phrase before, “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” or “you don’t know what you have until you lose it.” I am sure many you know have used at one time or another.

When you break down these two phrases, you should realize how sad these statements are. Not only does it show a lack of care or concern but true apathy. I am sorry to say that, I too am guilt of such a foolish and inconsiderate thing. We are social creatures and yet so many times we communicate badly with one another, without thought or care. Why is it that we only really care about something or someone when it is gone, broken or injured? So many times and ways I have heard the words, “I love you spoken” and the actions say something else. Regret is a terrible way to live and that is how most of us choose to operate day after day.

People often say that love is an emotion and comes from the heart and shouldn’t or doesn’t involve the head. To me this is a falsehood, that feeling you get when you are around someone you care about is made up of more than just a warm and fuzzy feeling. It lives and breathes in action and deeds. If faith without works is dead as the bible states, then love without care and intention is dead as well.

So I urge myself, and others, to love with your heart and your mind now, and not later. Stop living in regret, stop reacting to things around you and be proactive, share yourself with someone today. Don’t wait for their return after a long trip; tell them now “Welcome Home,” the one that dwells in your heart for them and them alone.

A Letter of reminder to my soul

Be still my wayward heart, rest in the Lord and know peace. Why do you run toward trouble and where is thy contentment? Do you not tire O my soul, is not your constant searching tiresome? What is it you search for? Do you not know that God alone fills the emptiness, repairs the broken hearted, and heals all wounds? To what end do you race to and fro, what is accomplished that will remain? Is your heart so vain as to believe you can leave a mark upon the world? Your wisdom and knowledge is foolishness before the Lord and shall fade with your bones into the dust.

Only your deeds will remain and only in the heart of those who recall your service. Be not puffed up and know thy place, settle for nothing less, you are a child of God and will transcend this world of tangible things and in that day of the spirit only what is within will remain. Leaving behind the trappings of this world.

Praise God that you are free and not bound to this Earth and life. Remember your place and know joy instead of temporary satisfaction, be contented O my Soul.

Psalm of Ed

My words are not ample to express my heart for the Lord, for what can one offer to his Saviour but thanks, and for their return of one's soul, service? For he did not rescue me from a simple calamity; but from myself and my sinful fleshly ways, and no other path could or would suffice. He alone can accomplish this for nothing exists without him and nothing is beyond his grasp.

I did not simply fall physically, but mine was a spiritual fall, and I alone was unable to return upright. For once a deed is complete, ripples continue and increase as a stone in a pond would, actions have consequence. Trying to correct them would be as if to grasp at air, futile and laughable, so I ask how else can one pick themselves up and continue?

Only forgiveness by the offended will suffice. O Lord you are more than a remedy, more than a balm, you are the great healer who knows no bounds or limitations. It is written that you have removed my blemishes as far as the East is from the West and for that I weep with joy. For with my sin go also pride, hurt, shame, regret and all other forms of guilt and self-chastisement.

Who else deserves my attention or praise, only you O Lord. Your name and yours alone is worthy to be praise, for all the power and Glory is shown over and over to be singularly yours. Righteousness and worthiness are needed to remove a blot like mine, and so you sent your son, to right this plight of mankind.

For even my soul, heart and mind convicted me, not only once but also continuously. And if I; the imperfect creature, blamed and accused himself, what then of you, the one who is wholly Holy? What weight could set right the scale of balance, how large a stone from your perfect creation would tip back the scale? Only your son; the one who breathed life into every part of it, the one whose very essence was present at creations great advent.

Salvation is yours alone God, for I could never right my wrongs, that much loved could not be found in myself. And so in your perfect wisdom, tempered with Mercy and Grace and Love, you sent Jesus to take on my shame, and death on the cross. And to merely balance the scale; for you would never be enough, you did more than I could imagine, and gave me the gift of life ever more. Hallelujah!

Yet as I bare marks from the fall, I take solace in the knowledge that you, God, reign above it. And at your right hand sits one who made right, my wayward fall. Because he is risen I rejoice; knowing soon I too will be in your presence, not of my own merit, but because he did it all.

Until that day may my lips proclaim that you are the lover of my soul, and the giver of an eternal gift, offered to us all. Mere acceptance and recognition is all that is required, and a thank you Jesus in heart, soul and mind to respond to your call.

Why we are called to commune with one another

Many times I have heard fellow Christians mention that they believe in Christ and the bible, but yet they no longer attend a church or regularly associate with fellow believers. Some of these people are family members for which I care for deeply. And so in the hopes of encouraging them to reconnect I am writing this entry into my blog.

From my own experience, I myself went through a phase of being away from the Church and the Body of Christ. At first it was due to a traumatic let down by someone within the church and then simply not wanting to face my actions away from the church. I am assuming that these loved ones have also experienced something similar.  This is something I can certainly understand and empathize with. Whatever the “event” was; please let me assure you, it had nothing to do with GOD. Stop blaming him for the actions of that person, who like you is imperfect and probably not even aware of how it affected you. It took me a long time to realize that the anger I felt toward God, the betrayal I experienced and subsequent loneliness had nothing to do with him.

You see sin of this nature has a kind of double-edged effect, and for those not aware, it can easily become a snare. I am sure, at some point in time everyone reading this has felt the pang of hurt inflected by another, the tricky part is letting it go. You know that you have been wronged; God knows that you have been wronged, and maybe even the injurer knows you have been wronged. But the bottom line is that you are still in control of how it will all play out from then on. I know, I know; your thinking what is he talking about, is he saying it is my fault or that I caused the injury or even deserved it? To those questions I respond with a resounding NO. What you are responsible for however is the length of time you will be bound and imprisoned by your resentment. You see, holding another person in contempt is a sin as well; which in turn heals nothing, but deepens our own injury. Forgiveness, real forgiveness and by extension freedom, can only be present if it is complete and relies solely on the effort of injured party.

This is one of the greatest lessons I have learned in the past few years and I have found that with forgiveness comes great peace. For me, it was the first healing step in the recovery of my relationship with the church and my fellow believers. Like every journey the path has many twists and turns, but I am not looking back. This newfound attitude, coupled with my willingness and ability to see God in all areas of my life along with the acknowledgment that all things are for the good of those who love God, is a life changing experience.

We were never intended to simply accept what life brings to us, but to actively rejoice and remember that God is good in all things. Philippians 4:7-9 King James Version (KJV) states:

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

I don’t know about you but that is one hard example to follow. I know that there have been many times in my life or situation where it has been really hard to see or hear God. This is why we are called to commune with one another. The sharing of our stories is essential not only to help each other and encourage each other but also to fulfill one of the greatest commandments.

John 15:11-13 King James Version (KJV)

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

For what better example could we have, then our Lord and Saviour Christ who died for us and while on this Earth communed with us. Should we not choose to do likewise and follow his great and perfect example? I think the benefits out weigh the cost and so did Christ.

Hebrews 10:24-25King James Version (KJV)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

A Girl's Message of Love

A friend shared this video with me and I wanted to share it with you. It is a reminder of the heart of Christ written in Matthew 22:35-41 King James Version (KJV)

³⁵ Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
³⁶ Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.
³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
⁴¹ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

My Thoughts on Psalms 23

Here are my personal thoughts and perspectives when I read one of my favourite memory verses. I wanted to dig deeper than the surface so I asked questions and meditated on the words as I went along. My thoughts are in Blue to separate the original text from the KJV.

The Lord is my shepherd (The lord is a guide, a provider and protector, someone who oversees not only me but a group of followers); I shall not want. (My guide provides for all of my needs.)

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures (Where he guides me leads to rest, abundance and is the perfect place for me): he leadeth me beside the still waters. (Not only does he provide peace but he also quenches my thirsts.)
³ He restoreth my soul: (From where I have fallen or gone astray, he has restored me.) he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Leading connotes that I am following willing, and also in his name sake because my path was not the right path. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.)
⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; (Christ lives in me and is with me at all times even the gravest. With him death is only a shadow, because his victory on the cross took away it’s teeth for me and was made hollow. I too will rise again someday, so fear is dispelled.)  thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (His rode of correction and staff of guidance help me maintain my daily path.)

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies (Christ invites me to his table to commune with him and part take of his life, and because of this enemies may abound, 1 Timothy 4:10 King James Version (KJV)10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

 : thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (You have sealed me, blessed me, chosen me and set me aside for your own and because of this I will never thirst again thanks to the endless living water you provide.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (The goodness and mercy left behind which follow are the fruits born because of my path and the following of Christ and the ultimate gift of Grace, eternal life and communion with my creator, the One True God is mine and nothing and no one can change that. John 10:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.)