At times, I do not know what to write or say.  Events leave one speechless at times.  What do you say?  What do you say when served divorce papers?  What do you say when you have asked a person to leave your family alone and they continue to interfere?  What do you say when you sit alone in the dark?  What do you say, when the world crashes in and you feel like there is nothing left?

 

Elijah was that way.  He beat the prophets of Baal.  Out ran a chariot.  Threatened by a queen.  Ran away.  When he arrived at the mountains, he sat.  Speechless.  What do you say?  He felt alone.  He felt rejected.  He felt empty.

 

Then God comes along.  God picks him up.  Reassures him.  Sends him deeper into the mountains.  Provides for his needs.  Then, Elijah is no longer speechless.  God talks to him.

 

He leaves and fights another day.  God has a way healing the wounds and giving one words again to speak for Him.

Recently, I was treated like I was at fault for another persons actions.  The act was started by them.  They did the deed.  But, I am at fault.  I  did not do the deed.  The other person did and yet now, I am seen as the one at fault.  All the “advice” I have been given is directed at my mistake.

 

In our society today there is a behavior that is sweeping this nation.  It has for some time.  One can intentionally make a mistake, then blame someone else.  Everyone believes it.  It is done in politics.  It is done in the schools, at jobs, in relationships.  The mistake is made.  The perpetrator is then made to be the victim and the victim is made into the perpetrator.   Sad by true.

 

It angers me because there is no accountability for the true perpetrator.  At least not now.  There will be on the day of judgment.  Many people will line up for the pearly gates only to be turned away because they did not tell the truth, hold themselves accountable, and most of all turned people away from Christ.  One act can spiritually kill thousands.

 

Put good people around you.  People that ask, “How may I help,” instead of “you need to do this.”  People that reach out a hand and listen without judgment and with love.  These people will truly know Jesus.

What is a scoffer you are asking?  A scoffer is one who mocks another or a belief.  We see it in politics.  We just call it political humor. 

However in the Bible it is a serious term.  It is aligned with the idea that a mocker is intentionally trying to derail an idea, a church, or a person.  This is done through lying, false testimony, or even living a false life.  The later is called hypocrite.  A hypocrite is just a very good actor.

 

Peter states that these people will suffer destruction at the very hand of God. 

 

So what is the opposite of a scoffer.  It is a godly person, a holy person.  This person is known because their traits and atrributes are the same as Gods.  They bring peace to everyone and each situation.  They are different because they love they give is pure without any repayment or harm.  In other words, you like being around them because when they leave the room there has been healing, peace, comfort, and unity.

 

Is that you?

I cannot believe that I am getting ready to sit in a classroom again.  Who would have thought?  My mine fear is that I will fall asleep and snore.  There is no way to make this material interesting, unless the prof is exceptional.  I hope.

 

Learning is not always easy.  Most people learn by hands on.  That would be me.  Maybe that is you.  Sitting and listening to lectures, drive the stock of coffee companies up.  I will do three pots and still go to sleep.

 

Jesus understood this.  That is why he taught in stories that people understood.  He lived it.  They watched. 

 

It is that way now.  As we live by the Spirit, He teaches us through experiences, people, dogs,  events, and other ways to many to mention.  It is always a learning experience.  So watch the teacher today.  See what He does.  I promise the Spirit will never fail to teach if you are willing to learn.

I once had a college professor who occasionally would say, “I would love just to give them a swift uppercut.  In love of course.”   It was interesting to hear a Christian college professor utter those words.  We laugh.  We would like to do that at times, right?  That one person drives us crazy, lies, cheats, or steals bringing us to the conclusion that a swift uppercut in love would not hurt them.

 

Jesus said the opposite.  Notice that He does that a lot.  He said that we should pray for our enemies.  We are not to pray that they get an uppercut.  We are to pray that they come to know of their sin and they come to know Christ most of all.  Life without Christ is nothing.

 

My college prof would utter those words.  We would laugh.  Everyone had a person in mind.  Today, when I hear him say those words, I smile and pray.  Everyone needs Jesus. 

 

The upper cut may come later.  LOL

Many times we receive a gift.  It comes out of the blue.  It is unexpected.  Maybe it is a gift card or a check.  Sometimes, it is someone mowing your lawn, taking out your trash or just bring over dinner.  It is a gift.  You do not know why, but it is given.  You do not feel worthy.  You did nothing to deserve it.  It just came.

 

God’s grace is just that.  It is unmerited favor or simply put: it is an undeserved gift of forgiveness.  You do not deserve it, but He gives it all the same.  Why?  Because in God’s eyes, you are worthy.  You are very special.  You are very important–to Him. 

 

Our response.  Well that is up to you.  You accept it.  You reject it.  Accepting it will be seen through your commitment to Him.  After all, why not be committed to someone who is willing to heal your soul, forgive your mistakes and sins, and take care of you for the rest of your life?  After all, to God you are worth it.

He sat in his recliner.  His wife had left him.  His boss called and laid him off.  In front of him was a Bible from some church in town, preaching grace and peace.  Where is the grace and peace now, he thought.  He took the bottle on his end table.  Taking the bottle of whiskey, he popped the cap, poured out the pills in his hand.  No one.  I have no one he thought.  The Bible laid on the table.  Big deal.  “Where are those Christians?” he muttered. 

 

Just as he tilted his head back as his final act of life, he heard it.  It was soft at first, then louder.  “Help me.”  Silence.  “Is there anyone in there. It’s dark out here.”  He dropped the pills back into the bottle and capped the whiskey.  Opening the front door, a little boy stood.  He was staring at the man.  “Help me, it’s dark out here and I am lost.”

 

The man brought the little boy into the living room.  “Where is your mom and dad?” he growled.  “I don’t know,” the boy replied.  The man rubbed his jaw.  He called the police.

 

Thirty minutes later they arrived.  After talking to the boy, one office told the man the sad news.  The boy’s parents died in a car accident.  He had been placed in foster care but kept running away looking for his parents.  It would be hours before the social worker would arrive.  They would take him to the station or the man could keep him.  The little boy was all flustered.  He was trying not to cry. 

 

“I will keep him” he said.  “Just until the social worker arrives.”  The police nodded.  He told the little boy, who ran to the man and hugged him.  “Thank you,” he said trying not to cry.  “It was dark out there and I am all alone.”

 

Sometimes we are all alone.  Then God steps in.  Maybe with a little boy, a phone call or a knock at the door.  God does step in.  Then it is not dark.

 

One of the most known events in the Bible is that of David and Bethsheba.  David did not go to war as he was suppose to.  Instead, he stayed at home.  One day, looking out over the city, he noticed a beautiful woman.  He called for her.  They had sex and she became pregnant.  David brought her husband home from war.  His hopes was that he would go to his wife and “catch up.”  He did not.  He stayed at the gate of David’s palace, which showed his loyalty to David.  After a while, David sends him back to war and he dies.

 

David takes Bethsheba as his wife.  All is well, right?  The sin is hidden.  No one knows. 

 

Nathan, a prophet of God, comes to David.  Tells him a parable.  David becomes enraged.  He starts demanding justice.  Nathan tells David that he is the one that took from the one who had little.  David repents.

 

There are takers in this world.  They take from those who have little, sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly, but they still take.  The point is God knows.  While justice may not be soon, there will be justice.  Takers always lose.  Takers always hurt others.  Takers will always receive justice.  Have a great day

It is another Monday.  The week begins again.  First let me say, thanks to all the people who rode the shuttle this weekend. 

 

Yet it is back to the same old grind this week.  Sometimes life is just that — the same ole.  It is not about the great moments, it is about being faithful in the boring, same ole moments.

 

In the Bible we read of these great people.  Truth is, we only read about maybe days or even moments of their lives.  We do not read of the every day issues.  We do not see how they handled burning the breakfast or what they did when the sheep ran off. 

 

However, it was the faithfulness of the everyday moments that brought them to the great moments.  Their faithfulness caught God’s attention.  Their faithfulness is why God used them.

 

Do not give up.  God will use you.  Just stay faithful.  Have a great day.

For my Master’s class I have to read a book about culture.  Awesome.  Yet, in this book there is a valid point made, the middle eastern people are all about family.  They live, breathe, and operate under the fact that family comes first.  Anything else is foreign to them and in some cases insulting.

 

Throughout the Bible, the concept of family is mentioned and lived.  For us this is a different idea.  We value our independence and personal freedom.  The Bible teaches that family gives independence and freedom.  Family takes care of each other, so that each member can without restraint and with encouragement pursue their dreams, ideas and passions.  During their pursuit they will be encouraged, strengthened, and helped by the family.  No one has to do it alone.

 

Church is God’s household.  In His household, His family, we encourage, build each other up, strength each other, and more.  No one should live this life alone.  In God’s family, no one does.