The dream

My wife and I were in a strange place, not strange in crazy and weird sort of way but in a place that was unfamiliar to me. We were arguing, but about what I do not know? All I remember is that we were on bad terms, I could feel the tension pulling at us but I do not know what the subject matter of our problem was. Only that we were either angry or hurt but could find no resolution. We were outdoors, seemingly out in the country somewhere. I don’t remember seeing anyone else around, no houses or barns, nor any other sign of civilization. My wife and I were together and though we were at ends with one another every decision was almost like we made it together, if not almost seemingly made for us. Or better yet as if every decision affected each other equally.
We couldn’t stay where we were, we had to get moving, we couldn’t go back the way we came, to go back was impossible. Although there was no man made fence bordering us in, we were hedged in from the back by large trees and shrubs bordering behind us to a sharp point shaped like a “V”. The feeling I got was that the only thing to do was to move forward.
All of the sudden we where in a vehicle, some how it was ours, I mean it belonged to us I guess, but in real life we’ve never owned anything like it. It was a total jalopy, something like a cross between a ‘93 Chevy Corsica and a Lincoln town car? It was worn out, with battered mint green paint, no driver or passenger windows and missing hubcaps. Carla was in the driver’s seat taking us forward and I was in the passenger seat, out of control and leaving the driving up to her.
As we moved forward to the “V” shaped opening there was this huge stagnate pond right in our path. It too was hedged in with no way to go around it and no way to go over it. The only way to the other side was through it. The pond looked deep, with dark muddy water, and it had very steep sides. I didn’t know what to do. I knew in my mind that this kind of pond would produce very thick mud, the kind you would sink in like quick sand if you tried to walk through it.
The only thing to do was try to drive through it. With this kind of car that would be an impossible feat,( I mean come on, after all, it’s not like we were driving a turbo charged “V 8” powered 4X4 with Super Swamper tires and a high powered wench on the front.) With Carla in the driver’s seat we raced for the pond only to stall somewhere in the middle. It felt like we were as small as a water beetle trapped in a half full bowl of cereal. We tried hard to get to the other side. I would direct her to try this and try that. Go this way and Go that way. Nothing worked. No matter what we tried we couldn’t get out of this hell hole we had gotten our selves into.
Feeling utterly defeated, and not knowing what else to do, I sat there frustrated and overwhelmed. Then I began to weep from the inside out, I felt like a little child lost in Wal-Mart. Scared and unsure of what to do and wandering what would happen next? Then I heard a small, quiet and calm still voice speak with in me. “Don’t give up! Only believe and I will get you out of this mess.” At those Words I knew it was the Lord who had spoke to me.
This gave me great confidence. All the times we had tried before and failed seemed distant now. I said a short prayer to the Lord asking for guidance. Then Suddenly in my dream I was over taken by an enormous strength in will power and spirit. I looked at Carla and pointed to the direction that seemed best, one we hadn’t tried before, just then she punched the gas and off we went.
We slid from side to side, that car was doing the best it could. The engine was racing as hard as it could go we began to move slowly toward the bank, but it just didn’t have it in her. I knew what the Lord had said to me and I was not about to give up, bound and determined, I reached my hand out the car window only to reach the ground with my finger tips. At that moment I got “White Knuckle” and with all my might I pulled and pulled to the point of tears….Slowly I began to feel the car move forward. As the front tires began to move slowly up the bank my heart filled with encouragement to pull harder. Just as we began to reach the top it felt as if I were sweating blood and before I knew it, we were out. My heart pounding and jumping for joy we stepped out of the car and for a slight moment I almost felt proud. But looking back my heart was quickly humbled. I knew that there was no way we had just made it through that on our own. It wasn’t in the car, it wasn’t in my ability to out smart the problem, and it definitely wasn’t in my own strength that we made it out alive. God alone, the power of his mighty hand had reached down from heaven and pulled us out. He saved us like a burning stick pulled from the fire; we were still smoldering. Who could question this, neither of us couldn’t.

I had this dream Saturday and have continuously pondered it since. It spoke to me about how Carla and I had gone through all those rough times in our marriage about a year and a half ago. Why did God help us out of that situation? After all we didn’t deserve it; we were the one’s who had gotten ourselves in that mess in the first place. Then I thought about my own children, How much I loved them and how much God must love us and His children. I thought about some times when my children had messed up, and to teach them a lesson I disciplined them by giving them work to do. Nothing to hard for them age appropriate of course like folding laundry or making a bed. Every now and again when I do this they’ll say, “But Dad I can’t do it!” or “I don’t know how.” “I’m not big enough yet!” The fact is that more so than not they are scared to try because they’ve never done it before. So I tell them “Yes you can, and you’re going to, so quit winning and arguing and get to it.” Eventually they’ll get started, usually with a half hearted attempt, but as soon they see that I won’t easily give in and let them off the hook so easily, they’ll give it their best shot and find out what their made of. However, on occasion, the task has been so hard for them that they couldn’t do it alone, and I won’t help them at first. But it’s when I see them get “White Knuckle” and really giving it their best, that’s when my heart caves in out of compassion for them. That’s when Daddy jumps in and gives them that extra hand or “push” needed to get the job done.
Looking back at my marriage one year and a half ago that process was much like this dream, and I can’t take any credit for where we are to day, but in Christ alone, His strength, His might, His power. It was through Him that the impossible was made possible. And I give Him the Glory and the praise for what He’s done for me and through me, and I thank Him who makes the changes that LAST.

Revelation

How can we be intimate with God?

I was reading Bobby's Blog today and he was talking about prayer. He was right, prayer is definately an intimate way we can be with God. Often, We share our troubles with him, our burdens. We come to him when we need forgiveness, when something isn't working out the way we'd like it to, or when we feel some thing has come up that we can't handle or possibly overcome by our selves; and quite frankly without him we couldn't overcome them on our own.
Sharing all these things are great, in fact I am quite positive that for many of us if these occasions didn't arise from time to time, or if not daily, most of us would probably never go to God at all. Can anyone relate?

I'ts okay if you don't agree, it's just a thought.

Notice how the word sharing above was in bold. By sharing that is just what we do we share, we give some and we keep some. Continually coming back to God for the same old reasons. What we should be doing is surrendering these things to Jesus in loving obedience. ALL things to Jesus.
What does it mean to surrender? Definition: to give up or agree to forgo to the power or possession of another. See the difference when you share your troubles, that's just what you are doing sharing, and that is not the same as surrendering. Now why is ALL in bold. Well we know what ALL means, there is no need to define that. But when we don't SURRENDER ALL, we are still just sharing. We are picking and choosing what we give to God and what we keep for ourselves. And look what we are holding onto. Being mad at that boss at work= Unforgiveness. Worries, why? Bitterness, anger, resentment, our pet sins(the ones we don't talk about or want to give up because secretly even though we feel guilty we enjoy them) the evil desires of our flesh, the idols of this world we put before God. These things are designed to destroy us, and ultimately will if we don't let them go. People claim to be Christains, but they don't act the same at work as they do at church. They hide their pain, their sins and put on that happy face for two hours a week and wonder why they are still struggling. It's because they are sharing not surrendering. What are you holding onto that is keeping you from God's best? Are you ready to let go of the things that have been holding you back, stealing your joy? then my dear friends pray with me to God right now.

Father, I love you. Praise to your name. You are wonderful. Father I confess to you that I have sinned. I have put the created above the Creator. I have allowed my selfish desires to be my god, by putting them before you. I've let them get in the way of me and You. God please forgive me. I will my will to be Your Will. Lord I surrender my sexual desires to you. I surrender my sexual relationship between me and my wife, Lord I give them to you. I surrender my pain and all the hurts from my past. I give youUnforgiveness and bitterness. Memories from the past that had the power to keep me controlled in their grip. take away the anger and resent ment from my heart, I give them to you now. Father forgive me for holding onto these things, I surrender them to you, they are yours. God I am letting go. Father I ask you in the name of Jesus that you would give me strength, your perfect strength not to pick them up again or take them back. Throw them far away from me, Lord as the east is from the west from me Lord. Renew my mind, change it Lord, transform my mind and my heart to be like you. Jesus I fully surrender my life to you now and for ever and I give you my life gladly. I trust you with it, after all you have said in your word "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.[12] Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.[13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Thank you Jesus, because you gave your life for me. you did not die for me to just share my life with you but so that I might surrender my life to you. "come all you who are weary and heavy laden cast all your cares upon me for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."I trust you with all these things LORD. Thank you for taking them from me. Make me more like you. Father I praise you. By faith I recieve what I have asked for. Father thank you who is more worthy than gold, more beautiful than diamonds, more precious than silver. I ask you to fill my heart with love so that I can love others the way you love me. Empower me with your Holy Spirit Lord God and make me a blessing for your kingdom. Father thank you for taking my burdens away. Now and forever more. Praise the Living God of Israel, The God of Peace, the Almighty Creator of the universe. Thank you Jesus. By faith I ask these things in Jesus name Amen.

True Love:

1 Cor. 13: 4-7 KJV

[4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,[5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;[6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;[7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

• Charity is a term in Christian theology (one of the three theological virtues), meaning loving kindness towards others; it is held to be the ultimate perfection of the human spirit, because it is said to both glorify and reflect the nature of God. In its most extreme form charity can be self-sacrificial. Charity is one conventional English translation of the Greek term agape.

1 Cor. 13: 4-7 NIV

[4]Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5]It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6]Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7]It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

God is love. I would like anyone who happens to read this to do a self evaluation, if you have done this before, that's fine, do it again. Find out the areas you need improvement, ask God to help you with them.

Okay. For the NIV translation, in every place where love is inserted, replace love with God or Jesus. (change other nouns and such as required to make good English).

Now what you have is a clear picture of God and his perfect love for us. Now the self evaluation part, instead of replacing love with God or Jesus, put your name there.

How true was that sentence? For me I have certainly missed the mark today. If you failed that self evaluation as miserably as I did join in and say this prayer with me.

Heavenly Father, whose grace and mercy endures forever, forgive me where I have fallen short of your glory, help me to forgive others the way that you do. Help me to love them the way You love them. Mold me Lord into what you would have me to be. Make me more like you. Give me a willingness to change, mold my heart into your image. Make me patient like you, kind like you. Help me not to boast or be proud. Let me no longer be rude or self seeking. Make me slow to anger, Lord let me keep no record of wrongs. Make me so that I abhor what is evil and cling to what is good and true. Through You Lord may I always protect, always trust. always hope, always persevere. Make me this way and be glorified Lord. Give me full repentance of my sins. May all that I do, say, and think glorify your name and please you. I ask these things of you in the name of Jesus because only you can make them happen, your son who died for me, who paid my debt in full.

Struggles

A month or so back, we were having our monthly 'Men's Ministry Meeting'. we were nominating people to perform certain functions with in the ministry. When they came to nominating for devotions, they nominated Bobby Graves, Jeremiah Young and myself. I looked at Jeremiah and he looked so excited, as did Bobby, so I just sat there and smiled right along with them. A few moments later I leaned over and whispered to Jeremiah,"So what are we doing?" he looked at me a little strange and I said, "What are devotions?" He informed me the we were going to be the ones standing up once a month on Wednesday nights to give the message or Devotion for that meeting. I couldn't believe it, I felt so overwhelmed. But after praying about it God reassured me not to worry, and I knew that if I just relied on Him everything was going to be okay. After all, I believe that God won't ask you to do anything that He Himself hasn't already prepared the way for you to do.
So as it turned out, I ended up going first, I prayed long and hard, and after praying every thing just seemed to come to me with ease, I felt the holy Spirit speaking to me so I just started typing every thing I was hearing. After that I went straight to the Word and just opened it up and my eyes just fell on the passages that went right along with the message. I was so relieved, then all I had to worry about was standing in front of all those people and not choking up. Sure I've stood infront of groups before, but these are people I know, people who know me, what if they judge me what if I mess up what if.. I had to stop thinking that way, it was destructive.
So finally the Meeting came around and I stood up and gave the message as prepared. Afterward everyone came up and told me how much they enjoyed it how great of a job I did and all that. But I humbled myself because I knew it wasn't me who did it. If it would have been all me, what a mess that would have been, i would probably have embarassed myself so bad I never would have wanted to go back. But lucky for me, the Lord is faithful, all the time!
Well next week we are having the meeting again, and yesterday I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me about it, so I prayed and before I knew a few hours had passed by and the lesson was all typed up. So I called Jeremiah if he didn't mind if I finshed the lesson from the Meeting before. Of course he didn't mind, and so it was. Until last night at church one of our elders in the church came up to me and stated that last time I spoke too long and that he wanted me to keep it down to about 15 minutes. I was devistated, he was asking me to interfere with what God had placed on my heart to do. I didn't say anything to him then but after the service I confronted him and said, "All I did last week was say what God placed on my heart, I don't know who it spoke to but I beleive it was for somebody. I can't promise you 15 minutes or even 20, all that I can promise is that I will say what the Lord gives me to say." I really felt like telling him off, inside I felt betrayed, how could you put me in this position! But I remained humble, then just simply and calmly said, "Listen, I will have to stand before God some day, and he will ask me 'why didn't you say what I asked you to say?' What will I tell him? I sorry ---- but I can't tell you how long it will be." He then seemd frustrated, and just threw up his hands. I felt really sorry for him. I don't want to give his name, but I want to ask that you all would pray for him. That God would bless him. Pray for me too, if I am not seeing this thing in the right way for God to show me, that God would allow he and I to see things from the same perspective, and that it would be from God's perspective, which is the only way to do anything right. Pray for us today.