Journey part 4

Today I want to write about a scripture that I have looked at many times over the last I guess 6 years. I remember the first time I read it and it sort a grabbed me in a way. Then the Lord just kept putting the scripture in my life through books and devotionals. It is talked about and written in many different ways. After reading it and looking at other explanations this is what it speaks to me and ties in to what we have been writing. Psalm 84:5-7 ‘What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping  it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.’ The chapter is written by the sons of Korah, they were priest who every year traveled to the temple to come before the Lord and celebrate the Feasts of tabernacles. They were probably door keepers in the temple in service to the Lord during the celebration. They say it was an actual journey they took but is also a comparison of the journey each of us take to be with the Lord. A relationship with the Lord, knowing Him, His presence in our lives, and growing to become more like him is a believers greatest joy and is most important in our life. The scripture starts out with what joy and blessing in those who’s strength comes from the Lord. I have traveled 38 years without the Lord in my life and 8 with the Lord, I can tell you it is way different and a blessing and a joy. The next part is important it says who have set their mind or heart on this journey to be with the Lord. The Lord is in us and will help and give us what we need on the journey but have we opened our heart to him and is our thoughts and focus on Him and the journey. Are we committed and faithful or are we divided in our mind and heart. Proverbs 23:7  'For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Eat and drink!” he says to you,  But his heart is not with you.' Amos 3:3 'Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?' I think the big thing here is the Lord is going to take you on a journey, He is faithful, but how are we going to travel and we don’t control the journey. 2 Timothy 2:13 'If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.'  Quote by Frank N. Johnson. “The valley of weeping is not an option for God’s child, but a necessity and a certainty. Psalm 84 does not say “if they pass through the Valley of Baca,” but, “as they pass through the Valley of Baca.” The valley of Baca or weeping is a place we all go through for a reason and purpose from God. But when we go through are we going to encounter God come closer to Him and give more time and focus and intimacy with Him. Are we going to transform, change and grow, maybe it is to train us or discipline us or a place where we find our calling or Identity in a deeper way. Or will we go through the valley focused on our selves and our problems or the things of this world and close our heart to God and become further away from Him. It may be a very hard place and take time to adjust but I think it says if we focus on the Lord and come closer to Him and allow him to transform us for his purpose we will be refreshed and filled and become stronger in the Lord. I’m pretty sure the Lord has put some great people in my life who have been through this valley of weeping, maybe a few times and they are blessed and have grown in the Lord and became stronger. I know God also uses these experiences in people to bless others and pour what He has given them into others.  Psalm 126:5-6 'Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.' I have been able to give to others out of some hard situations I have been through and I have also been a recipient of blessings poured into me from others because of the hardships they went have went through. I Think Paul said it best, maybe one of the reasons we go through the valley of weeping is to become more one with him. Philippians 7-11’ I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ  and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.  I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,  so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!’ There is nothing wrong with being happy and enjoying life on the journey with the Lord. But I think the big thing is no will ever fully understand how God works in a person for his purpose. You can read all the books you want and some things you will never know. The main thing to focus on our relationship with God and trust him, we know as a believer  we will be with the Lord forever and here what ever we go through it is for a reason and he is in control and sovereign. He leads we follow by Faith, we are not supposed to know everything and be in control, He wants us to rely on Him deeply. Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 ‘But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.’ Luke 12:29-32 ‘And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.’ I think as a believer we will go through hard times maybe even more than a nonbeliever, I don’t know, but a believer has a relationship with God, the maker of you and everything is inside you and we have a hope, faith, love, and peace that a person who is lost can not even fathom. The only thing we take with us when we leave this place is Him, the relationship we have with him.  Hebrews 12:1-4 ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.  After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.’  Luke 9:57-58 'The Cost of Following Jesus As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” I don’t think God never intended for anyone in a relationship with him to set up camp and get to comfortable where they rely on their selves. It says to throw off everything that weights you down. I think the valley of weeping is a blessing even though hard and a place we all go and hopefully where we will experience God in a deeper way. I know some men think crying is for wimps and sissy’s but I think this may be a place when you go through you experience God in a way only you and Him will understand and have tears of Joy. Others may not understand these emotions. Job had as many struggles as anybody I guess and he questioned God many times, but this is what he said after he was restored.  Job 42:1-6 ‘Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.’

Journey part 3

Last week we ended with this verse Psalm 16:5 ‘The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: you maintain my lot.’  No matter where the Lord leads us or takes us, who he makes us to be and the plan he has for us. We know the Lord will always be faithful to do what his word says he will do. 2 Corinthians 1:20 ‘For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.’ What ever happens in this life if we accept Jesus we know he will be with us and lead us to be with him in eternal life. ‘Psalm 16:11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.’ He desires to teach and show each of us the blessings, promises and joy of knowing and walking with him in this life and we will live with him forever. I want to share a paragraph from a devotional I read, it is written as the Lord speaking. Though I have brought many pleasures into your life, not one of them is essential. Receive my blessings with open hands. Enjoy my good gifts, but do not cling to them. Turn your attention to the giver of all good things, and rest in the knowledge that you are complete in me. The one thing you absolutely need is the one thing you can never lose: My presence with you. Psalm 116:12-14 ‘What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.’ Because of the Lords Love and grace salvation is a gift to all of us who accept him and he wants us to love him, have an intimate relationship with him, walk with him and learn his ways, and be faithful to him. Being faithful to the Lord means accepting not only all the blessings and promises from the Lord to each of us but also whatever cup or lot or plan he has for each of us. This is where the journey can get very hard and complicated. We have the Lord and eternal life but as fleshly humans we don’t want to suffer or go through hard things. Jesus always says in his word the flesh is weak. We will find our strength in the Lord to accept the cup, lot or portion he wants to give each of us in this life and do this journey. Romans 8:15-17 ‘So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.  Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.’ If your relationship with the Lord is just based on well if I do good I will get good from the Lord and if I make a bad choice I may be disciplined  from the Lord. That doesn’t sound like a relationship to me it sounds like a contract of works and maybe could lead to control and manipulation. Good luck trying to manipulate the all knowing and all powerful Lord to control the journey with good works. He wants us to abide in him and be obedient and walk with him and learn his ways. But it’s our relationship with him and who we become and doing his will. There are plenty of people in the bible who went through hard times that didn’t seam to deserve it. In Matthew 20:20-23 The disciples John and James and their mother came to Jesus and asked for the top positions of sitting at Jesus’ right and left in his kingdom.  ‘Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” James and John were very close to Jesus and went on to do great things for the kingdom. But they also had to humbly accept the portion, cup, lot, blessings, and suffering that came with following Jesus and wanting to serve their friend, master, and Lord and accept his will. Jesus was completely faithful accepting and asking for God’s will for his life. Mark 14:36 "Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." John 18:11 ‘But Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?" Even though we may fail many times we must want to be faithful like Jesus and ask for God’s will for our life. Though in his will there may be some suffering he promises to help and his faithful to his word. 2 Corinthians 1:5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 ‘It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.’ I will end on a quote from Francis Chan In the book Forgotten God. The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn’t normally want or choose to do. The Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross, as he lead Jesus to the cross, and that is definitely not a safe or pretty or comfortable place to be. The Holy Spirit of God will mold you into the person you were made to be. This often incredibly painful process strips you of selfishness, pride, and fear.

The Journey part 2

I wanted to write about this journey that all who believe take with the Lord. I don’t have it planned, I just write and I don’t have any idea how many devotional’s it will be, that will be the beauty of it. Most of the awesome stuff God has done in my life sure wasn’t planned by any means. That’s the whole thing about the journey with the Lord, it’s not planned and you just don’t know and it takes faith. Think about it, all the things the Lord has done in your life was it you that did it or thought of it and our great planning?  He wants us to have deep intimacy with him in the relationship and rely on him. What a beautiful gift and journey why would we want anything different?  Hebrews 11:6 ‘And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him’.  I’m not saying not to get equipped, change, grow, and learn. I’m just saying we might want to watch the control meter and constantly check or have accountability in this area from other believers. Especially people who lead others, they can be very vulnerable in this area and need others behind to support and help and watch out for them. We all need each others that is why the Lord made the whole body and God intends to use the whole body. My life before the Lord was all about performance, control, planning, success, everything had to be done at a certain time and jobs had to be done in a certain time or I was shorted money or replaced with another contractor. Almost all that happened was out of my control but I was still responsible. Most of the relationships I had especially with family sure could have been better.  I was filled with fear, pressure, stress and all kind of weird stuff; it was kind of like Ground Hog Day. My marriage kids and family was very important to me so when I came to the Lord a lot of my focus and prayers was on the family.  I was enslaved in the world like God’s chosen people in Egypt and he freed me just like he did them. Why would I want to change this journey or what the Lord has for me to go back to anything that even looks like that. I would rather go on this journey or road the Lord has given me then sit and wonder what would have happened even though it is hard and I’m not sure what will happen. When I finally came to the end of myself and called on Him,  I was saved through Jesus and he freed me like he does all of us who believe in Jesus and accept him. We know from God’s word that when we accept Jesus we have eternal life Revelation 3:5, ‘He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.’ Our Inheritance or eternal life is given to us from God because of our belief and faith in Jesus and his death and sacrifice he made for us. 1 Peter 1:4-5, “and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.’  That is the most important thing we need to know and focus on is where we are going. But I want to try to write about the journey we all take after we accept Jesus to be with the Lord that is way different for all of us. I’m not saying to create your own journey and quite your job and make changes on your own for your own reasons or happiness or selfishness. What I’m talking about is surrendering to the Lord and asking him to be your Lord and what he wants that will glorify him and please him. Ask the Lord to take you to place of complete surrender and allow him to lead and create the journey. Giving him all your life and the mess and say, “what ever you want Lord”.  2 Corinthians 5:15, ‘He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them’. I find this to be both easy and hard at the same time. His sovereignty, strength, and power does it for us but we fight against it and if we actually want to do this and set our mind, heart and soul on doing this there are many things that will come against us. I have had many people even close to me in my own camp try to offer advice to me about how I need to get off of this beautiful journey the Lord has put me on. It’s simple for me like Perry Stone says, “some people are in my Holy place but only a few are in my most Holy place”.  But that is the beautiful part of the journey letting Jesus be our master and learning to trust him for where he wants to take us and do through us. If God wants me off the path I’m on it will be him doing it not man and I will gladly surrender to my Master because I know that is what he wants and he has something better me to glorify and please him, it’s that simple. Pleasing man over your Master is huge snare for all who believe. Galatians 1:10, ‘For do I now seek the favor of men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ’. I have been reading this book by John Foxe called the Voice of Martyrs and it is about a lot of people who were martyred for their faith. It talks about how all the first disciples were martyred, most were crucified, beheaded, stoned, and some by sword. But I will list others, Andrew was crucified on an ‘X’ shaped cross, Mark was dragged by rope and hooks on cobblestone streets twice, Bartholomew was flayed till most of his skin was removed, Thomas was baked in an oven, Simon the Zealot was sawed in half. The apostle John was the only one who was not martyred and died of old age although he had three different attempts at his life. One was he was scheduled to be dipped in a pot of boiling oil but escaped by divine intervention. Second, was he was exiled to Patmos Island till death where later he was released. Third, they tried to kill him by making him drink poison and it didn’t harm him. There are many more up till present time, these are people who to me have completely surrendered and suffered greatly but will be greatly rewarded in the next life, wow!  I know he has a plan for all of us but that makes me feel like not doing more and getting busy but trying to give myself to the Lord and attempting to do this and His will for my life and not get in the way, which I struggle with in many ways. I will end with a scripture and a quote. I think for me is to understand that on this journey who is taking me on this journey. The Lord is sovereign and he is our everything and has the plan for our life and is in control. He has us and won’t let go and is going to take us on this journey but I need to let him in my heart and intimately walk close and let him control me and trust him.  Psalm 16:1-8 “Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.” I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing. I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight. Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken’. We will end and start with this verse next time.  I like another quote from John Foxe, “It is not where we go and what happens to us that matters all that much. What does matter is how we respond when Jesus comes to us and says, Follow me”.  I thought this was a great quote. It’s more important who we become on the journey then what we do. God’s love and the way he values us is not tied to our performance. Becoming Christ like and who he wants us to be for him is what’s important. After reading this a few times I just want to say that this is not meant in a rebellious way, I have four great leaders in my life that God has put there and many other people that have helped me and I listen to. I am very humble and serious in this area, I need others that’s a fact. But the point I’m trying to make is to be respectful and submissive to elders, leaders, and others in my life but I have to listen to the Lord to find out what he wants to do in my life and follow through and finish the race. I will stand before him one day and have made many mistakes, even after coming to the Lord but I would like to give this faith journey I have been on a whole hearted effort, not just go through the motions to please others. I would like to stay in the hot range and not become lukewarm.