Where's the Towel

I spent most of my life confused, not knowing what I was doing or where I was going. I felt like the marble in a pinball machine bouncing from one thing to another and finally going down the tube. I’ve grown up in church since I was a baby and accepted Jesus at an early age as well. Then I spent most of my life feeling less than and not good enough.

I would go to church camps and seminars and would come home recharged and ready to take on the world because I had been revived and energized only to fall flat on my face in a couple of weeks. I would have a Bible reading and prayer time and memorize scripture by the chapters hoping it would help because the Bible said, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 I just couldn’t seem to get it right. So I would throw in the towel and give up thinking I was just too stupid to understand or I was just too bad of a person to make it.

Over time I would be revived again and take another run at it thinking maybe this time it would be different, but even though I might make it a little further down the road I eventually threw in the towel and gave up again. Each time I felt a little worse than the time before. Guilt had me weighed down so heavily I couldn’t even get up this time. I did a full sprint away from God and went to a place that was horrible. I ate some bitter food.

Then in June 2000 God drew me back in gently revealing things to me I never understood before. I actually started getting excited again and coming back to life. Then in May 2003 God opened my eyes to see Him as He really is and not the lies I had in my head. It was amazing. I later understood that Jesus never left me, He was just waiting for the right time.

During this time of growth all those scriptures I had memorized earlier in my life had started to make since. They would come to me at certain times where God would explain them to me in a way I could understand. I was still skittish as an abused dog and many times I would get scared and start to throw in the towel, but Jesus would carry me on threw. This happened frequently.

The Lord has taught me so much in these past years and it has been so amazing. What really amazed me is I had even forgotten about the towel. Wow! I don’t have one anymore. I’m not saying that I can’t fall again. I’m saying if I threw in the towel I have no where to go but back to where I was and I assure you I don’t want to ever go back there again. It would be like living in a comfortable house in the desert where I had food, drink and air-conditioning and to leave it would mean crossing the desert of 120 degree heat and 1000 miles away from anything. It was a horrible place and no matter what struggles I have now they can’t compare to living a life without God.

The problem I had most of my life was trying to serve God in what I thought was the right thing and in my own power. I thought I had surrendered to God, but I couldn’t surrender when I still had my own desires and plans. It was only when I had nothing left and was flat on my face and cornered was I finally able to surrender. This is why I like to work with people that are over 40. It took this long for me to eat enough dirt and try doing things my own way before I really gave up. I had made a real mess of things.

A verse that really touched me and it still does today is, “And they shall know the truth and the truth will set them free.” John 8:34 When I started realizing the truth the more freedom I received. If you are still confused and want to give up it means that you haven’t found the truth yet. However, you do have to seek it.

I was feeling a little sorry for myself this morning feeling like I just don’t seem to fit anywhere. I’ve had several health problems and still do and so I feel trapped. I felt like God had turned His back on me and really doesn’t have any use for me any longer. I felt like He had set me on the shelf and all I have to do now is wait to die.

It’s times like this is when we are really tested. As long as things are wonderful and going my way I don’t have to trust God. It’s when things look bleak is when my true character stands out. Do I trust God or not. All I have to say is that God has brought me this far and I want to go all the way. I’ve attached a song that God brought to me this morning and I wanted to share it with you. It’s called, “Time to Trust.”

As You are Going

It’s so easy to get caught up in the church programs and projects. We may even feel guilty because we don’t have the time for all these programs. Then we can’t help but pat ourselves on the back for all the good things we do. We make plans to do good deeds and if we are successful we can really be proud of ourselves. Some even believe this will make them a shoe-in for heaven.

It seems like if I ever make plans to do good they blow up in my face. I had a situation like this lately and it has happened to me many times. It used to make me angry because I thought, “God, here I am trying to serve you and you knock me down. Why?” Now I realized that this was my plan and not God’s. I was so busy trying to serve Him I didn’t notice where He was working right in front of me. He wants us to do it His way and if we do, the reward is much greater and it’s humbling. Allowing Jesus to work in us is really a privilege. It amazes me that He would actually let us be a part of what He’s doing instead of trying to make Him a part of what we are doing.

And Israel, (Christians or the Church) who seemed so interested in reading and talking about what God was doing, missed it. How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over. They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their "God projects" that they didn't notice God right in front of them. Romans 9:31-32 Message

We don’t need to go out looking for opportunities to minister to others. We just need to be alert and minister to those who God puts in our path. As we are going we need to be alert and obedient when God does put someone in our path. Rather than having a load of excuses why we can’t, we need to just do it.

I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.

2 Timothy 4:2

This could mean opening the door for someone or speaking to someone in the coffee shop that looks as if they’re hurting. We should take to time to acknowledge others and offer a kindness. Of course the greatest joy is to lead someone to Christ. When we do things God’s way it makes life so much simpler. There is so much more, but this is a good start.

I guess the best example there is and the one we need is, “How did Jesus do it?” He didn’t go out seeking certain people. He didn’t have programs and projects. The people He ministered to came into His circle and then He reached out to them.

Healing the Heart

The other day when I was eating at a Whataburger I was looking out the window and a nice SUV pulled in and parked. An elderly couple slowly emerged from the vehicle and came inside. They sat close to where I was sitting and I noticed the man wearing a veteran’s hat. On it was the name of the ship he had served on. For some reason I felt I had to talk to him so when I was leaving I stopped and asked about his hat. Everything began to get really interesting so I asked his wife to scoot over so I could sit down. I learned this man was 98 years old and still was still driving. His wife was 92 years old and they had been married for 66 years. He was 32 years old when they got married. That was right after WWII. I asked the wife what was the secret to their marriage and health. She said, “We like to laugh.” What a blessing I received from this couple by just taking a few minutes to listen.

I couldn’t help but think of the scripture that says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

This is why we need to stay far away from depression as we can. It will destroy our lives in so many ways. It’s easy to give in to depression and let it control us instead of us controlling it. We have to fight. I saying this from a place that I know because I’ve been there. This could be the very reason I’m having so many health problems now. I don’t believe I struggle with depression now, but I am to dealing with the consequences of my past.

It’s not just a matter of laughing. I’ve seen depressed people laugh and I did as well. Referring back to the scripture it says, “A cheerful heart” It’s not talking about what we manifest on the outside, but what’s in our heart.

Some of you may be in this situation right now feeling trapped and not knowing how to escape. I would be more than glad to help you. All you have to do is ask.

Hi! My Name is Sin

How’s it going? I’ve known all of you since birth and we have become very close at times throughout your life. I wanted to formally introduce myself. I know we have spent much time together, but I just wanted to make sure you knew who I was.

I assume most of you are familiar with my brother the Law of Gravity. Well, I’m the Law of Sin. The Law of Gravity is for holding you down physically on the earth while I, the Law of Sin am responsible for holding you down spiritually. There is also the one I like to call the black sheep of the family called the Law of Righteousness. I really don’t want to talk about him.

It really feels good to be wanted and many of you want me in your lives everyday. There are some of you that try to run me off. However, you usually end up inviting me back, but you won’t let be come back without my cousin justification.

There is something I want to set straight. Satan gets a lot of credit for my work and I want it to stop. Yes we are partners, but the only thing this guy can do is lie and he would be nothing without me. I have to admit he is really good at lying and we do work well together, but give credit where credit is due.

I guess one of my favorite places to work is in the church and of course religions. You have used me in so many areas and I’m good at making a mess of things. It’s like being invited to a banquet when you fight and argue. Egos start flying and before you know it I’m in charge. Hey, I’ve even got many of you rewriting the Bible to make it easier for me to exist in your life.

I’m kind of touched because many of you consider me the fun guy. I’m great at parties especially where alcohol and drugs are consumed. I help you loosen up and do things you really don’t want to do.

Some of my interest are: Destroying marriages and families, destroying lives, where there is a rape or murder you will find me there really enjoying myself, I always enjoy a good mutilation, when I have the opportunity I would very much enjoy watching you being tortured and killed. I’m behind many of the illnesses you people endure, sometimes I provide consolation after I rip your families apart through justification, anger and chemical means, but most of all I want you to know I hate you.

There are two things I hate even more than you. Jesus is the main one; He really frustrates me because he came to abolish me and the of course the Bible because it reveals all my secrets about how I work and how to avoid me. Fortunately most people don’t read their Bibles so I’m not too concerned with that.

I don’t want you to know that these truths. Such as, “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Mark 7:20-23 I also don’t want you to know, “For all have sinned and fall short of God” and “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23 Please don’t ever read the 10 Commandments.

Fortunately people don’t like to discuss me because that makes them feel uncomfortable. They like to refer to me as mistakes. They don’t like to use my real name because it makes them feel guilty and I love to make people feel guilty. The best part about it is they blame God for making them feel guilty and it’s really me. Some have gone as far as refusing to believe in God to help them to not feel guilty. Hey, that’s just dandy to me and as long you still let me control your life.

Something I find really amusing is when people try to clean me out of their life by doing it themselves. It’s like watching them take a bath in vomit and using feces as a bar of soap. Fortunately they haven’t discovered that Jesus is the only one that can clean them up.

I would like to say in closing, Thanks! Thank you for letting me control you life and keeping you in bondage. You couldn’t have made me prouder when I have destroyed you, your family and friends. Let’s stay close.

Heaven: God’s Point of View

I couldn’t find a worthy picture

for this topic so you will have

to use your own imagination.

When we think about heaven, most if not all of us immediately run to our selfish desire and think, “What is it going to be like for me?” “Will I be the same person, will I have special powers, am I going to have fun, will I be old or fat, am I going to get bored or will I finally be free from all my pains and illnesses?”

These are all very normal questions and curiosities. I’ve always asked the same questions. What’s in it for me? This morning as I was reading my Bible this thought came to me. What is it going to be like for God?

Most of you are parents. Imagine for a minute what it would be like to be separated from your children. They don’t know you as well as you would like them to and it may be some time before you get to see them. During this time your children do things that hurt themselves, the don’t even want to talk to you, they run and try to hide from you, but there are some who really seek a relationship with you and spend time with you everyday.

Then the day comes when God has all his children around Him in one place and never to be separated from Him again. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

12 We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

1 Corinthians 13:9,10,12

I can only imagine as a parent only a fraction of what that will be like for our Lord. We will know Him completely as He knows us. Wow! There are several more things I know, however take some time to ponder this for yourself. What will it be like for God? A love without sin, a love without selfishness or any kind of impurity distorting our vision. What a day that will be.