If you came into my office, you would notice that I have a number of pictures of my family. One of my favorite pictures is one of my three sons and me. Right away, the family resemblance is so apparent so that even Ray Charles would say “You got the right one, baby! Uh-huh!” I offer you this question: Can a world blinded by the enemy see that you look like Jesus? Now it is important to note that I am not referring to our Lord’s physical appearance. I am referencing His Spirit and character as well as His heart and mind. So, consider with me how people can see the Lord in your life.
Have you ever considered the weather condition, “fog”? What is it? Fog creates a cloud-like covering over surface areas - be it land, water or sea at any time. According to meteorologists, fog can develop immediately when warm surface temperatures confront and collide with cool air. Subsequently visibility is reduced to zero.
In last week’s blog, we were emphatically encouraged to not be in the habit of forgetting God’s Word. As we continue this thought, consider with me this sobering admonition and the colossal consequences when a people forget or abandon God and His Word.
Read MoreAll our lives we have been charged to not forget something. When we were school-aged children we were told not to forget books, school supplies, homework and to behave. I was raised in an era that if one’s behavior in school was not becoming to the scholastic setting, school principals partnered with parents to transform the misbehaving to behaving with a biblical method that masterfully mitigated challenges from the insubordinate. Mr. R.O.D., the Reminder of Discipline, was always present to encourage education for the head, heart and the part of the anatomy that was often attached to the chair. Mr. R.O.D. was phenomenal at placing us in a position to remember expectations regarding our behavior in the educational environment. We must not forget that corporal chastening comes from God’s Word.
Question: When was the last time that you heard someone enthusiastically endorse attending prayer meeting? In my B.C. (before Christ) days, my position on prayer meeting was fixed in foolishness and imbued with ignorance. With the mental prowess of a young man void of knowledge and discretion, I declared that prayer meetings are attended by those with gray hair, mostly women and those collecting social security. Such a statement screams that I had been struck with the stupid stick several times.
Many years ago, in the early years of my spiritual journey, I attended a worship service at a small church. At the most there were probably fifteen souls in attendance. It was a sweet, intimate time of fellowship that was inspirational and reflected a genuine investment to commune with God. After we offered worship using the hymn books, the Pastor invited us to share a praise or testimony regarding our relationship with God. One by one individuals in the fellowship declared how grateful they were for God giving them eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. They declared how habits that lead to hell were replaced with habits that hooked them to the confident hope of heaven. They declared that their manner of life was no longer mastered by polluted passions, lawless lusts, and Satan but their steps were now ordered by the Lord. In addition, they displayed a rich and real relationship with God that was marked by freedom from the ropes of religiosity (legalist rules and regulations).
Question: Have you ever wondered why we are often in a hurry to worry or feel woe? Worry is defined as to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; to fret and woe is defined as grievous distress, affliction, or trouble (Dictionary.com). What we worry about or walk into woe is a plethora of personal circumstances and expected and unexpected life events. For example, these could include one’s faith, finances, family, future, faculties, facilities, food, and favor, just to name few. No matter what season you are in your spiritual walk with God there are times that you will forfeit your faith and jettison your joy because of worry and woe.
Have you ever been stuck? Strapped, Tided, United, Connected or Knitted to a person place or thing. How did you set yourself to be stuck? This rhetorical question requires some reflection. However, it is plausible that the position of being stuck is pertinent to the set of circumstances or situations that one may find him or herself in. For example, one’s automobile may be stuck in the mud. Or one can be stuck in a job (desirable or undesirable), stuck in a relationship (pleasurable or unpleasant) or stuck and caught in a conundrum. Regardless of situation, I submit to you that being stuck can be a willful decision and declaration.
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above.
From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
In last week’s blog, I asked you to consider with me the concept that our nation is transitioning from being a blessed nation to a busted nation. Before we engage the concept let us explore the examples of faith from the framers of this Republic that have rewarded us with blessedness. The Founding Fathers or framers of this country fixed themselves in the faith and fact that there was a God and with Him all things are possible. They also put forth that a blessed nation is a nation that feared God and followed His commandments. What can we learn from American history?
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