Where Do I Go From Here? (Reprised)

The title of the first "blog" that I ever construed back in 2007 was "Where Do I Go From Here?"  A question that many of us continuously ponder from day to day, hour-2-hour, and minute-to-minute.  I thought I had it all figured out.  I thought I understood what I am called to be.  But the deeper I dig, the more confused I become.  The mantra that I held while I was finishing high school has not become any clearer now that I've been out of college and integrated into the adult life.  Wasn't this thing called life supposed to make more sense??

That's probably the reason I haven't been blogging recently; there are so many underdeveloped thoughts in my head that I can't get it out to form a complete thought.  Or worse, as I work on the process to compile a complete thought I end up spiraling into a wave of confusion.  It feels like my brain isn't able to fully process anything.  My humanly, finite brain isn't able and it's frustrating.

Sure I've tried to talk about it to others.  My relationship with my parents hasn't been stronger since pre-teen years.  But religiously, ever night, I spiral into this deep sense of establishing my worth.  When I say my worth, I don't mean it in the negative way because believe me, I know to whom I am.  I am a child of the Most High King and as that child, I know where I'm going once that one glad morning happens.

No, when I say my worth, I mean what am I supposed to be doing on this planet.  How can I be the best person I possibly can in the church, in the workplace, in my family, and with my friends.  If you have any answer besides the cliched one I welcome them.  In church I often feel, to take the words of a former substitute teacher: "lost-in-the-ghetto-sacuce."  At work I'm now changing mindsets and paths thus having absolutely no clue where it's leading.  With my family, I'm consistently trying to bring us all together by being more societal driven by fighting back our urges to be individual robots.  And with my friends, oh with my friends, I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.  We'll leave it at that.

It's suffice to say that I'm lost.  It's not a coincidence that my recent studies have evolved around Job and the Psalms.  The theme of desertion is plastered throughout those pages along with the thought of whether God is really listening and if so, where is he?  Why aren't my ways his ways?  Why aren't my thoughts his thoughts?  I want to be like David- a man after God's heart but I don't feel it...

Remember.

Hope in God.

Trust.

Those are the three words that are continually echoing in my head.  Maybe it's because I just got finished reading Ps 42 and 43 where hope in God and remembrance with a dabble of trust are sprinkled in the literature.  God is present.  Jesus is alive and is coming back.  I look back and remember the sacrifice that my God made and all the wonderful works that he's done in the lives before, around, and in me.  Through that remembrance I find a hope in God. A hope that I'm not going through all of this confusion and questions for no reason.  Hope that there is a great plan because sometimes there doesn't feel like one.  One of the products of hope is faith (Hebrews 11:1).  The product of faith is trust.

Any time I think about trust, I'm always brought back to a Donnie McClurkin song that reminds us that we need to trust in God.  Remembering helps us hope which helps us trust..

I don't know if this is going to help anyone out there.  This could be something that I'm just going through that no one else is struggling with.  But if you're out there and reading this now, I want to remind you to just trust Jesus.  That's what I'm (trying) to do.

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all of your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." - Prov. 3:5-6

That my friends, is what I'm trying to do.  

Take care everyone,
-MJA

Losing My Promised Land

Ya know, I was interacting with my Bible earlier tonight as part of my normal routine and on the agenda was to read Exodus 3-4.  In my head (sorry God), I was thinking: greatttt I get to read the story of Moses again...yayyy.  I thought that I knew the story from head to toe, but once again the Lord opened my eyes to a small but rather important detail that I've always skimmed over.

Chapter 3 is when Moses is "called" to saved the Israelites from Pharaoh's captivity and as God was knighting my man Mo, he kept brining up excuses and excuses on why God must've picked the wrong person.  The largest excuse was that he couldn't lead because he had some sort of speech impediment ("slow in tongue").  Some biblical scholars suggest he had a stuttering problem.  But that's besides the point.

Here is Mo' telling God all the reasons that he, being God, selected the wrong person to lead Israel out of captivity.  Let me say this again with added embellishes.  Here is Mo' tellin GOD all the reasons he being the [all-knowing] GOD, selected the wrong person to lead Israel out of captivity.

Pause.

This sounds wayyyy to familiar to me...

UnPause.

Moses' fear of leadership stopped him from receiving one of the biggest blessings.  He let his fear of public speaking (which happens to be the greatest fear in American adults) stop him from doing his task.  Not only that, God essentially told him that everything was going to be alright; God promised to have his back!  WHAT!?  And Moses was still afraid.

Eventually God gave up.  He was tired of Moses' bickering and doubt so he told him that Aaron, Moses' brother, would be the speaker with Moses being the mouthpiece for God.  So, God spoke, Moses spoke to Aaron, and then Aaron spoke to the people.  All that nonsense all because Moses was afraid to speak in front of people.

That tidbit of information really got me thinking about how many great opportunities have passed my grips because I was afraid.  Or that I didn't trust that my God is greater that my minor disabilities of sorts.

Yes, Israel was saved and historically more people remember Moses than Aaron.  It did indeed work out.  But, how much different, maybe even better, would it have been if Moses didn't let his fear consume him.  Maybe he would've lived to see the Promised Land instead of dying right before it happened.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to let my fears, doubts, and lack of trust prevent me from seeing the promised land.

If I am to be honest, I'm still going to have fears.  And at times my fears will seemingly drive me away and I may lose a bit of my Promised Land.  But, I'm glad God revealed to me this tidbit of information because it has vastly changed the narrative for me.

Thanks for reading you guys/gals!  I hope this encourages you not to let all your fears conquer you and that you don't lose a slice of your Promised Land!

--MJA

"Telephone" Gone Wrong

If you have ever played telephone with 10 people or more (or even 5), we can pass down a message from one person to the other with the hope that the last person in line repeated what the first person wanted to say. During this process, we think we might have heard something so we pass on the message to the next person who then thinks they heard what you said and starts to paraphrase or even completely mess up with you wanted to convey. You get "I actually do not own a pair of toms" to "I am not an astronaut that eats Tums" (Okay, maybe that was a horrible example...give me credit.)

We in a sense tell God that he can write the story of our life. The moment God is ready to press His pen onto paper, we in a way push his hand out of the way and assure God something like "I was actually kidding, did you actually think I could live with someone dictating my life without editing the final version? You, instead, can narrate my story." How does this differ?

I'm in the sciences and what we look for mostly consists of cold hard facts on paper, not what someone said. For instance, we would rather believe in Newton and his physics principles that has been written on paper instead of what your local mailman can tell you about when it comes to science.  If you didn't know of their credentials, how on Earth is hearing facts from people reliable? Scientific facts does not become official unless there is research on paper with fancy numbers and data.

What am I getting at? Without asking for discernment, we would rather let God "narrate" our story so that way we could easily switch His words to things we think  He might have said. I'm not saying God is unable to speak to us, but I am saying that it would be best if we just let God write our story. We don't know what's best so why do we try to twist God's plan? I'd rather bank on having a cold, hard truth written by God instead of how I feel a certain day and how I plan to twist on God's word intentionally or by mistake.

- Moises -

Sometimes You Just Don't Know

I was doing my nightly bible study and I cam across this verse, Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts."

This is one of those verses that is quoted on a daily basis and I'm not really going to say anything radical but I'm going to emphasis the fact that: sometimes you just don't know.  I don't know why God does what he does.  But I do know that it is going to be for my good.

For me, that not knowing thing is a huuuge issue because I'm the type of person that likes to be kept in the loop; I'm a planner.  Realizing the validity of Isaiah is an extremely hard thing but at the same time it's refreshing.  Knowing that I don't have to do everything, knowing that I don't have to plan everything is a releasing thing.  I don't have to be perfect.

So when I don't understand, I just trust.  When trouble comes I keep going, I persevere.  It drives me absolutely nuts because I really don't know what my future holds but there is one thing I know for sure: as long as I am continually praying to God, and reading his Word, I can't fail!  The closer I get to my calling in my life, the harder it's going to become.  But when you persevere and endure, the fruit is your character. And after you're character is formed, you find hope.

Without hope, we, as Christians are nothing.  We have hope that everything is alright.  We have hope that God's ways are greater than our ways!  Just gotta keep on believin and hopin when things are bleak!  We can do this! We can endure!  We can trust God!  It's true that sometimes you just don't know why God does what he does.  But I'm here to tell you that that's alright!  That's how it should be. Keep on Trusting God.

--MJA

Oh and by the way, Check out Romans 5:3-5

All You Have to Do is Ask

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.

Where does this line come from?  If you guessed the Declaration of Independence you were absolutely correct! Ding Ding Ding!  You win a big helping of nothing but pride.

Why did I open up this blog with one of the greatest lines in American History?  Well partly because any time I get to relay my history nerdiness I will jump at it, but more importantly it's the premise for life.  It's the supposed premise for America although at the time, a large group of people would hold into contempt said proposition   Nonetheless, the fact that all men (and women) are created equal is a self-evident truth.  In other words, it speaks for itself.

What this line brings into question is the legitimacy of this theory.  I mean, does everyone have the same opportunities   Does everyone have the same gifts?  Are all gift equal?  The short answer to those questions is no.  History and just human interaction consistently reminds us the fact that we are inherently different.

However, God is not bound by our finite perceptions.  It is my complete conviction to have everyone on the earth go to heaven.  I want everyone on the earth to proclaim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior before he comes back.  I want everyone to hold the self-evident truth that those that call on the Lord will be saved.  And once you are saved, there's no turning back.  Or as Calvinist would say: "Perseverance of the Saints."

Lets be clear, the Bible reminds us that not everyone will be saved.  Actually only those who were elected by God will be saved.  But heres the kicker, I don't know who the elect are.  All I can honestly deduce is that at least one person won't go to heaven!  As long as a person confesses with their mouth that they are a sinner and believes in their heart that Jesus rose from the dead (amongst other things), that person will be saved.  The fact that it's such a "simple" thing always perplexes me?  I mean why wouldn't someone want to be saved?  I guess people have their reasons.

All you have to do is ask.  That's it!  And this just doesn't apply to unbelievers.  No matter what you are going through, God will wrap his arms around you and protect you.  You might get a little burned but you will be saved.

This truth is consistently re-iterated throughout the Old Testament.  I mean anytime Israel did something stupid like worship an Idol and then repented and called out to God, he saved them.  I believe that God has a huge heart.  He doesn't want us to falter.  I mean the reason he created the 10 Commandments was to protect us from hurting ourselves.

The reason that only the "elect" will be saved is because only the "elect" proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.  At least one time in everyones lives they will have the opportunity.  What they do with that opportunity is up to them.

But I don't know about you, but even though I am saved I have to consistently ask God to save me from myself.  I don't mean that I'm physically hurting myself, but sometimes I kill myself emotionally or I let other people crucify me with their words or actions.  Sometimes I just have to call out to the Lord and although I might not see any evidence of it all the time, I know...I just know that he saved me.

There is plenty of evidence about the Lord hearing the cry of his people, but an example of one is found in Psalm 106: 44-45 which says, "Nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry.  For their sake he remembered his convenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his love." (NRSV).

You're never to far away.  All you have to do is...ask.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7 (NIV)

--MJA

Struggle Well

I need to issue an apology.  I need to issue an apology for all those people, all those churchy folk, all those clergy men and women that put the lie in peoples heads that being a Christian/follower of Jesus is easy.  Yes, the steps of it is "easy," repent, accept BUT the hard part is living the life.  Now, I'm not going to get into all the semmantics of what makes the perfect Christian because when it comes down to it:

1. I am NO WHERE near the perfect Christian.

2. I am not quaified to even describe what the perfect Christian is.

3. We aren't expected to be the perfect Christian.

Besides, this blog isn't about being a perfect Christian.  This blog is about the myth.  The myth that has some christians (yup little 'c') believe that oh since I have Jesus everything is just gonna be flowers and daisys.  For anyone that believes that, you are in for a rudddeeee awakening.  If there is anyone out there that is willing to take their Halos off (like Rev. Waller would say), you would acknowledge that being a Christian is ridiculously hard.  In fact I will venture off to say that it hurts.  It can suck.  It's a rough rough non-ending-feeling journey.

There are times that I am so angry at God that I have temper tantrums in my bed (which happened a couple weeks ago).  There are times when I get in such big funks that I seem to snap at everyone for absolutely no reason.  There are times when I get so annoyed with everything and I need to a moment to "get away from God."  I have all these moments.  We all have these moments.

But I'm here to tell you that it's ok.  It is perfectly normal, rational, and understandable to get frustrated or dare I say angry at God.  There is not ONE person in the Bible (NT or OT) that questioned/was frustrated with God at least at some point.  What does that tell us?  It's part of or Christian growth.  It's part of life.  But most importantly, what happens after you have your moment with God?  A couple of things I realize is that:

• I realize that I was wrong and have to repent.
• I realize that it was nothing but the devil trying to get to me.
• I realize that God isn't angry at me for my mistake.
• I become closer to God even more because I didn't hold anything back.
• And most importantly, I fall even more crazy about God.

It's crazy.  We have to get to the point where we need to realize and believe that "all things work together for the good of those that love God, and are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 KJV) We HAVE to believe that.  We NEED to recognize that.  I know this phrase is overused, but: Everything happens for a reason. Can the church say, "For a Reason."  You may not see the reason right away.  But I will promise you that for a Christian, that reason is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS for your good.

So, I going to tell you to embrace your struggling; I'm going to tell you to struggle well.  Embrace your situation.  Dare I say love your situation.  I don't know what you are going through.  I know a bunch of my people still in college are dealing with the stress of Finals Week.  But I can tell you that if you struggle well by studying and listening, the fruit of your hard work will work out.

I know some people are going through financial situations.  But, I can tell you to keep trying in God.  Keep relying on God.  I'm not going to make one of those Name It. Claim It. Obtain It. people because it's more than that.  But know...remember Romans 8:28.  Make that a verse that you commit to your memory.  You may not know why, but you know that it's for your good.

As a matter of fact, let's make that everyone's memory verse.  Romans 8:28,  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV)  Just go.  Keep on trusting God.  Don't give up on him.  

Struggle Well my brethren!

--MJA

I'll Make It

I'm going to be completely honest, I'm not as all chippy as sometimes my blogs may portray me as.  Currently, I am a college graduate, unemployed and stuck in my parents house which is driving me absolutely INSANE (no offense to my parents).  It doesn't help that I look around and see successful preachers and I keep asking myself, How can I ever be that successful   These men of God have PH'Ds, leading choirs, singing while they are preaching, like MAN. How in the world would I EVER be able to do that.  Next thing I know, in the middle of a revival service, I'm just down....the complete opposite of a revival service.

One of my greatest issues/weaknesses is the need-to-be-needed.  The need to feel important.  The past four years I was part of a family, my UVP family (Messiah College's Gospel Choir) and for the last 3 years I was a selected leader part of that family as well as the choir director of my church choir.  However, that season has passed in my life, and I find myself just doing nothing.  No job, no life, no money. Just blah.  I feel like I went from the pinnacle of Mount Klakilaki (My made up mountain..don't judge me) to now the bottom of the grand canyon.  And no matter how much I try to climb through those walls to get into leveled territory I keep slipping.

The more I think about my future, the more I become nervous and become stressed out.  Will I ever direct a choir again?  Will I actually ever preach again in my life.  The foreseeable future is uncertain about that and that drives...me....BONKER$!!!

Where in the World Do I go from here?  Sometimes when I blog about struggles, I write that "I heard a still small voice telling me that it'll be alright" but to be honest.  I'm not hearing that right now.  Where I am right now, is I'm at a place in my life where I need to be.  I am in a place in my life where I need to be fully dependent of God.  Somehow I'm still able to pay my car note because money is literally coming out of nowhere.  Somehow I can be down in the dumps for the entire day, but out of nowhere something happens to lift me up.  Sometimes I feel abandoned by God, and I, like the great psalmist David cries out: Where are you Lord? Why aren't you listening to my prayers?  You know my needs, why aren't you supplying them?  Why am I still in this place in my life?? (An example of David crying out can be found at Psalm 22)

It's frustrating.  It's very frustrating.  But after going to revival I actually feel a little better.  After hearing the preacher preach, I do feel a little encouraged   Hopefully I can pass this along to one of my readers.  The preacher preached from Isaiah 43:2 & 5.  And the part that really spoke to me is the end of verse 2, where it says: "When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."  The preacher pointed 2 points of emphasis   The fact that the passage says "when" and the fact that the passage says "through".

When you walk.  When you walk.  Not IF you walk through the fire. I mean think about it.  We will walk into the fire.  We will struggle.  We will be down.  So we need to prepare for it. We need to put on the full armor of God.  The myth that followers of Jesus won't struggle is asinine!  God does NOT taking away all of our sufferings   Sometimes, we need to suffer in order to become new.  A caterpillar doesn't become a butterfly with a snap of finger.  It has to eat, get fat, and stay ina tight, annoying cocoon until nature (erm...God) tells it that it's ready. Struggle isn't always bad.

The second point is through.  The fact that the passage says that you will walk THROUGH the fire.  You aren't going to get scorched   You will not become set ablaze.  Wow.  That's encouraging.  That though we will have to walk through the fire, we will survive.  We will make it like the Hezekiah Walker song.

Even though I get annoyed with myself.  Even though at times I feel like God has abandoned me.  Even though I don't know the future.  I know that I will make it.  I know that I know that I can Stand.  No matter what may come my way.  My life is in YOUR hands. (My Life Is In Your Hands) Mannnnn....I'm encouraged!  I'm being completely honest with ya'll, at the start of this blog, I was down.  But the more I wrote, the better I was feeling.  So, this blog in general isn't just to encourage you the readers, it also helps me express myself and answer my own questions.  So, I thank you for reading.  I pray that you've been encouraged as I have been.

God Bless You All!
--MJA

Football Injuries

I'm afraid.  I'm can't front.  I'm scared to death.  I can't be on of those people, one of those people on stage, one of those people writing blogs, one of those people that just seem to have all the answers.  That seems to coast in life.  That has that strong shoulder to lean on.  Sometimes, I gotta get vulnerable. Sometimes I just..gotta be honest.

My future...what's going through my head can be summed up in one word: Doubt.  In football, when a player gets injured the team is required to post their injury and their status for the upcoming game.  There are four choices the coaches have: Probable,  Questionable, Doubtful, or Out.  The Probable status is understood to opposing players/coaches as to say that the player has a 75% chance of playing.  For each category, the chance of the player goes down 25% (Questionable = 50%; Doubtful = 25%, Out = 0%).  Basically, if you are a couch, and a player has anything under a probable....maybe a questionable, you assume that they aren't going to play.

Why am I bringing up football injury talk.  Well that's bascially how my brain has been envisioning my future since November.  In November I was sure...ABSOLUTELY sure thatt I was going to go to Law School, pass the Bar and become a lawyer.  But once December came in and I had my little tête-à-tête with Abba, my confidence in my future became a probable.  I knew that I now wanted to be a Pastor, I didn't necessarily know any of the critical details, but I knew what I wanted to be in the long run...a Minister of the Gospel.

Then came the Spring Semester of my Senior Year at college.  Mine eyes were illuminated to more than one thing but with that illumination came more messyness.  I started to learn more about the "profession" that I was gonna embark on.  The training I would need...The struggles of those in said "profession."  The questions...the uncertainty about being in the ministry because lets be real, what are the chances of me being the next Pastor Woody Dalton let alone the next Bishop TD Jakes...not veryyy high.  So I had to think of a way to make money...Enter PARALEGAL.  But that made my situation even more messy cuz now I had to get even more training.  So, I went from going to school for 3 years, getting my JD (Law Degree) and working on being a lawyer, to getting my Paralegal Certification & Master's of Divinity.  Yeah....the success of my future had now moved to the Questionable Phase.

Now, I've finished the summer (basically).  Finished with my internship at Harrisburg BIC Church (which I highly recommend for those in the area).  Came out with soo much more knowledge about Pastoring and what it really means to be in the Ministry.  Had a plan to take a Semester off and go to Seminary (PBU possibly) in the Spring and just chill in the fall/winter.  Welllll lets just say unforseeable, but great, circumstances have slightly altered my plans....DOubt.

And here I am, in High School my stress outlet was competitive Golf.  In college my stress outlet was choir, more specifically Directing Choirs.  And now I have lost all of it.  I feel like a college graduate...a college graduate that lives with his parents...A college graduate without a job....A college graduate that quickly loses money because of debt....A colllege graduate that can no longer express himself...A college graduate that has lost his stress reliever...A college graduate that feels like a bum.

At moments like these, I can't help but to doubt.  To question.  To think about whether their really is a plan for my life. Am I just aimlessly wandering around this life wasting each day changing plans...What the heck am I supposed to do? I'm reading all the "good" books, I'm talking all the "good" talks.  But I'm still wandering...I mean reallly God!  You said you have my back!  You said that you have a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11) ...But I see all my friends being successful.  Having jobs lined up.  Having lives.  Having money.  Moving away from their parental units homes (no offense to my house).  And here I am...doing nothing!  I am worthless.  Unworthy of the gifts you gave me.  I'm just wasting them! AJDNMFHSM,MD!

But it's at that moment...The moment that I had shut down my computer at 1 AM on Sept. 4, 2012, that I heard a still small voice in my ear saying: "I got this." My God!  I'd just gotten finished reading about when Jacob wrestled with God and told Him: "I will not let go until you bless me." (Genesis 32:26)  And at that point, God blessed him.  I'm reminded that God comes in right at the right time.  That realization was sooo amazing that I had to Boot up my comp again and just blog about it.  Honestly, I don't know how many people are going to read this, but I'm encouraged!

Don't get me wrong my peoples, I still have doubts.  To be completely honest, my life is still in the Doubtful status.  The nights are still going to come, but in the morning, I'll be ok.  Why?  Because I know that it'll never reach the Out status until my life on this earth is done.  I'm not going to give up.  I'm going to Press toward that Mark.  Ima keep trugging (Yes, I just made up that word.) forward.  Trusting God.  Knowing that I got put in these weird situations.  But I am embracing these situations.  Besides it isn't all bad, I got a family that supports me, AND I have a lady in my life that has my back.

That plus God over all of them being my North Star.  I'm golden!

Grace Amazing

I'm currently reading this book called Grace by top selling author Max Lucado and it's very enlightening.  It talks about the single topic of God's Grace.  Wow.  An entire book dedicated to that phenomenon.  Why would someone want to devote an entire book to that?  Maybe because we still don't understand it.  Sure we talk about God's Grace in our songs, hymns, sermons, and daily Bible discussion but do we really...I mean really understand the ramifications of God's Grace??  I know that I don't/didn't.  It's not something I can wrap my heads around it.  Like Jimmy Needham's song says: "You got that Grace AMAZING."

Do you realize what Christ did??  I mean do you really realize what Christ did for you?  This man, who came from God, came to the earth NEVER sinned, but took the punishment for the greatest sinner.  Bore the most humiliating death at that time!  I know I've noted that before but mannnnnnn...

Today (August 27th) is my parents wedding anniversary.  This year (2012) they will be celebrating their 35th Anniversary.  And I'd like to think that if you were going to ask them to sacrifice me to die for this wicked world they wouldn't do it. (I could however be wrong...sigh) But GOD did it!  Jesus willing died for us ALL.  Why??

Why the heck would Jesus die for this world?

There are something that I just...can't understand.  That's why His grace is AMAZING.

Not only is His grace amazing but it's free!  How does the saying go: The best things in life are free.  So you are telling me, that I get:

1. A peace that passes all understanding (Philippines 4:7, John 14:27)
2. Salvation; Eternal Life (Romans 10:9)
3. Forgiveness for ANYTHING I do. (Ephesians 1:7)
4. Love...not just any love but UNCONDITIONAL love. (Psalm 86:15)
5. Protection. (Psalm 23:4)
6. Power (2 Timothy 1:7)

All for FREE!  I'm sooooo thankful for God's grace.  This undeserving grace towards me.

I could've been dead!

Sleeping in my grave;

But God blessed me to see

Another Day

And even when I did wrong

You were still there

I'm so glad that

God

Still

Hears

A

Sinner's Prayer

Of course it ain't all that simple.  There is a force, there is a pow'r, there is a being that HATE's God's Grace.  He/It/That Thang wants us all the die...to perish!  You know what I'm talking about.  The great Accuser.  The devil doesn't want you to love God's grace.  He doesn't want you to accept God's Grace.  He wants you to look at it with skeptical eyes.  Blind eyes.  Lucado, in my favorite paragraph of the book so far talks about how the Great Accuser tries to make you feel bad...tries to blame you for everything..tries to pervert God's Grace.

"Satan never shuts up...Day after day, hour after hour.  Relentless, tireless.  The Accuser makes a career out of accusing...Satan's condemnation brings...regret.  He has one aim: 'to steal, and to kill, and to destroy' (John 10:10).  Steal your peace, kill your dreams, and destroy your future....He enlists people to peddle his position.  Friends dredge up your past. Preachers preach all guilt and no grace. And parents, oh your parents.  They own a travel agency that specializes in guilt trips.  They distribute it twenty-four hours a day.  Long into adulthood you still hear their voice: 'Why can't you grow up?' 'When are you going to make me proud?' Condemnation (is) the preferred commodity of Satan."

Now I'm not saying all this is true about everyone because I don't personally fit the parents section.  I've always felt loved by my parents but I've certainly felt the other mentioned ones as well as others not listed and I know you have as well.  As my previous blog, "No Condemnation" says, Jesus repeatedly said that he did NOT come here to condemn us, but to love us.

That's why Ima Christian.  That's why Ima Christ follower.  Jesus loves me, he gots my back no matter what!  I can talk bad about him under my breath (which God still hears), I can yell/argue with him about life, I can vent to him, I can boast about him...No matter what I do, He will still love me.  He loved me enough to die on the cross for me.  I just wish, I just pray that everyone one day will realize God's grace.  Will realize that He loves you.  Realize that he wants your heart so he can guard it and keep it safe.  God doesn't want your heart to eat, he doesn't want your heart cuz he's selfish.  He wants your heart because He knows that it's the only way to keep it safe for an eternity.  It's a fail-proof lock ya'll.

Ima end it with the song we used to sing at the end of my old church service:

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Do What You Gotta Do!

Go for it!  Do those that thing that you've been passionate for!  Wait...something is stopping you?  What in the world could be stopping you?  Ohhhh:

Fear

Doubt

Those..are nasty little things.  When you have those two little words circling around in your head you are major league screwed.

Is that the only thing holding you back?  Despite that fear and doubt of the unknown, do you still have this burning desire to do something??  Now hold on, I'm not JUST talking about those major life decisions like "I'm gonna go to Africa for the next few years" or "I'm going to get married!!"  I'm talking about those "minor" decisions as well.  The, "should I ask her out on a date" or "should I call her."  To name a few...oh wait...those are the ones that CONSTANTLY FLOAT THROUGH MY HEAD!

Once again...I digress...ok, but seriously.  It's the little things in life that makes the most changes in our lives.  Its those things that we tend (consciously) to pay the least attention to, that in the long run matter the most to us.  It's those everyday decisions that shape us.  Why?  Because we do them...everyday!

So, what has been placed on you heart today?  What are you running from?  What are you fearful about?  What do you have doubts about?  If it's on your heart, and the biggest thing holding you back in the unknown, I say go for it!  But, I'm not justing saying that!  The Bible says that as well! Proverbs 16:9 says:

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."

Has there been something that was placed on your heart (by the Lord) and out of nowhere a door opened and you had a chance to walk through it??...And you didn't ask the girl out...you didn't take the promotion...you didn't move to Africa because of those two pesky words?  The Word is clear: "the Lord establishes their steps."  If a door comes flying open right in your face..that's probably the Lord.  Granted, there's a chance that is the Prince of Darkness. But, if the deed was on your heart and the only thing stopping you is doubt, then, it's probably not the Devil.

Proverbs is in the OLD Testament, we want something in the New Testament oh crazy blogger!  Oh you want some NT huh?  Well how about John 14:26 where Jesus tells us a HUGGEEE secret! "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (It's the words of Jesus so it has to be in red right!?
Quick Historical Break...The context of this is Jesus talking to his disciples right before he ascended into heaven.  Here he is promising that we will have a map placed on our hearts to direct us and that map is from God.  A couple of verse prior to this, he tells them that they will do "greater deeds" that He, the Prince of Peace, did.

Sooo, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us!  That famous gut feeling that you always get right before any decision?  Yea!  That can be the Holy Spirit telling you something!  You just have to discern whether or not its the Spirit.  But don't let fear stop you any longer from doing anything!  Do let doubt of the unknown hinder God's blessing for your life any longer!  Do what you gotta do!  In Joshua 1:9, God makes a command to us. "Have I not commanded you? (see! haha)  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Let's go out and grab fear by the horns!  Let's go change the world!  Let's go take that risk!  Lets...go...ask that girl out...ehhh...we'll see about that. Haha.

Ima leave you with a quote from a great woman that goes by the name of Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962).  Thus saith Madame Roosevelt:
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."