Motivation, Faith, and An Ordinary Man

So I was roaming about Facebook today, and happened upon a post in a healthy living group I'm on. It was a video of this man in his 90's I believe, who was extremely fit, and was in fact a model, known for his amazing physique. The man's story began with him as a young fellow, homeless. He had basically wasted his life and had no hope. but, somehow he found some motivation, and he began changing his life. he joined a gym. He pushed himself. He began getting offers for modeling gigs. he kept building up his body, his career, and his mind, until he became what he is today, a rather famous model in another country, and he has no intentions of stopping now!

This man's story was, as intended in that post, quite motivating as far as health goals go. But, it was motivating to me in so many other ways as well! His story reminded me of another story, of a man with very humble beginnings. a life that really, if the odds were stacked, wouldn't have stood a chance of making it past infancy.

Moses. A baby born in a time and place where all infant boys were to be left to die. His mama just couldn't do that though, so she managed to hide him, for a few months anyway. Then she couldn't hide him any more. I'm guessing, like most babies, he was getting a bit noisy.... Whatever the reason, mama knew it wasn't safe to keep him any more. I can't begin to imagine the heartbreak as she stepped out in what may have been the biggest step of faith in her life, placed her precious infant son in a basket, and set him adrift in the river.

Baby could have moved about and tipped the basket over, resulting in sure death by drowning.  He could have begun crying, getting the attention of a crocodile! Really, what were the odds he would be found, and if he was, what were the odds he would be allowed to live? He was obviously a Hebrew baby! But she took a chance, made a leap of faith, which ended up changing the course of history forever! 

Moses grew up in luxury, but found his way back to his humble roots. Then, as he came to the aid of one of his own by birthright, he became an outcast, a fugitive on the run. He traveled far in the unforgiving wilderness until he found himself coming to the rescue of some maidens, one of whom would one day become his wife.

Moses settled down and had a family. He tended his Father-in-laws sheep, and one day he stumbled across a burning, talking bush, which ended up being the voice of God, calling him to do what he had been set apart to do from time before he was born.

Moses was 80 years old when he finally managed to set out, leading the people of his birth to their promised land.  He was taking off on what would become a more than 40 year hike! He was going to hike right through the middle of the Red sea! He was going to hike up, down and around mountains! And he was going to partake in two forty day fasts! All the while putting up with a crowd of ungracious, grumbling Hebrews!

Moses had to have been in amazing shape, physically, mentally, emotionally, and most certainly spiritually! Wow! Talk about motivation!

But Moses didn't start out from his Father-in-laws homestead feeling like a motivated person. In fact, Moses tried to talk God out of the assignment! Moses didn't think he was able or worthy of such a calling. Moses was not a talker. And all Moses was interested in leading was a flock of sheep, and maybe a couple youngsters he was proud to call son... Moses was not a leader called in to service. He was a shepherd called to lead a nation. But, perhaps a bit like his mother so many years earlier, he had to step out in obedience, and that took a lot of faith!

Moses began life as a regular, poor baby, with absolutely nothing going for him but his mother's faith, and look what he became! He accomplished more than any man could dream of! He spoke to God, and God spoke to him! Audibly! and on a regular basis! He led his people through the middle of a sea, through the wilderness, victoriously through war, and ultimately to their promised land. If you want to know more about the amazing adventures of Moses and his people, open your Bible to Exodus. No one wants to read that much on a blog! :-)

I can't help but wonder, what amazing things the Lord might accomplish through any of us, if we had but that mustard seed size portion of faith in Him. If we were to take those first little steps into the unknown, no matter our age, no matter our faults and weaknesses. What if we were to open our mouths and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us? What if we were to go where He said go? Do what He said to do, comfort who He says to comfort, follow where and when He leads. I wonder what miracles would we see today?

Moses was an ordinary, reluctant 80 year old man when he struck out in faith, and look at all the Lord accomplished through him! I figure I've got a 21 year head start! How 'bout you?

Perseverance

This reminds me of Moses. Consider when he fled from the land of his birth, and the only family he'd ever really known, who had provided all the riches and comforts anyone could hope for. He set out across the unforgiving desert, alone. How frightening the nights must've been, hearing the animals but not seeing them, alone in the dark, with no shelter in which to hide himself. What did he eat? How did he find relief for his parched throat?
Trudging along in the sand, how his legs must've ached! But he kept on, moving forward, not even realizing he was being strengthened in the trials and the hardships for God's own purpose. He never realized the lessons he was being taught would be used as the Lord continued to teach him to rely only on Him and His spoken word as he would later lead his people out of slavery and point them in the direction of their promised land.
If we persevere in our walk with Him, relying on the Holy Spirit as our guide and our strength, who knows how God might use any one of us for the glory of His Kingdom?

I'll Praise Him In The Storm

God is so good! He loves me! No matter how tired I am, no matter if I'm feeling ill, no matter if my income doesn't line up to my out-go...No matter what, I know He is working all things together for my good, because I love Him! Because He loves me! Because He has called me according to His purpose!  He knew me before I was, and even then, He had predestined me to become more and more like His Son, so that He would ultimately be my big brother! "...so that He may be the firstborn among many brethren."

Romans 8:28-29

My God, my Lord and Savior works all those negative things in my life, the hardships, the aches and pains, the trials and the sorrows together to grow me up, to strengthen my spiritual muscles.All the while He is walking alongside me, even within me to help me along, so we, His Spirit and I will emerge out the other side of those troubles together, with me a stronger, more Christlike image than ever before.

That is why I will praise Him in (and through) the storm!

National Day of Repentance

Tomorrow, April 30, believers in our nation, The United States of America, as well as around the world, will be joining together to pray and repent for the healing of our land

Yes, it is true we are able to pray, to fast and to repent any time, any hour and any day of any week we may choose; And yes, the Holy Spirit is certainly capable of moving at any time and in any place he chooses.

However, as Esther called on her people to fast and pray, "for such a time as this" in Esther chapter 4, and as Hezekiah called his people to sanctify themselves and cleanse the temple in Chronicles 29 and 30, if we are wise, we might choose to look around and take notice of what is going on around us and within our own selves, and even in our churches.

We might then consider the words we have hopefully hid in our hearts, and recall how in the past, our God has responded to such arrogance from His children, with wrath, withholding His hand of protection and grace until such time that His people listened to the prophets He sent, and the words He spoke through them, and responded with prayer, fasting and true and complete repentance.

This kind of turning back to Him by His people is just what He promises to honor in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

It is with this promise in mind, as well as the examples provided throughout our Christian history, that I choose to join with those who are answering the call to "The National Day of Repentance", tomorrow, Wednesday the 30th of April, followed by "The National Day of Prayer" on Thursday, the 1st of May.

I believe, as He did in 2 Chronicles 30:20, "and The Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people", when we join together as one, our Lord will hear and move on our behalf.

I hope and pray those of you who share my faith, and are adopted into that most Holy family with Almighty God as our Father, will join with me.

Of Sin And Millstones

Recently, I've seen several posts and blog entries discussing sin, whether particular actions are sins, and how we, as Christians really have no business judging sins, or those who commit them. Is there a point when how someone else acts or believes becomes anyone elses business?

Many of these questions I have pondered myself in the past, and seeing these questions in print the last couple days has caused me to think on these questions once again, and brought me to the place I should find myself much more often than I do, in prayer with my Lord. Naturally, I was surprised when He answered by directing me to His Word...

　

John 8:10-12



New King James Version (NKJV)

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"

11 She said, "No one, Lord."

And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."


Then He led me to Romans:

　

Romans 3:23


"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"


Then there was Luke:

　

Luke 13 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?


Okay then! It would seem, I'm no better than anyone else! Just as I've always been told, I'm a sinner, just as the folks sitting in jail for stealing, fighting and even murder are sinners. Jesus died for their sins at the same time, and in the same way as he did for mine.

Then read verse 5 of Luke 13:

　

" I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

Hmmm. This thought He deemed important enough to repeat! It rather reminds me of an earlier verse, where Jesus is talking to the prostitute. Yes, He forgave her, but He did more than that. He added a qualification: "go and sin no more."

All righty then! Now we begin to see the difference! Yes, we have all sinned, and being human, odds are we're all going to stumble and sin again. We can all thank God for His faithfulness to hear our pleas and reach down and help us back up. When we ask, in all earnestness, He is more than willing to forgive us, but, there is a qualification. We have to really mean it! We have to mean it so much that we are willing to stop what we were doing. We have to "go and sin no more" It's not the sin so much as it is the habitual sin, the unwillingness to reject the flesh and strive to be Holy as He is Holy.

Now the "big" question would seem to be, what constitutes a sin? Again, God makes it so simple even I can figure it out. Go to His Word. Most everything I can think of is covered. If you're not sure, don't try to figure it out yourself. Ask Him. If He says it's wrong, it is.

Once you've got all that figured out, please keep one more thing in mind. This one makes me shudder to think I may be guilty of it myself:

　

Matthew 18:6-7(NKJV)


6 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!"


This is where I believe we need to stand up to the world. I cannot judge someone else for their lifestyle, and I certainly can't expect someone who is living in the world to live by the same standards I would expect to see in a Christian brother or sister. However, when a group gets together and starts forcing that lifestyle upon me, or more importantly, my children, then I need to step in. I should be able to say no to my tax dollars being used to teach what God has proclaimed to be wrong.

Neither can I judge someone who has legally opted to abort their child. He will forgive even that. But don't even try to convince me or any of my children that it is an option for them. And don't bother trying to convince me that it is okay for my tax dollars to fund the murder of innocent babes. It's not gonna fly. But hey, it's your millstone necklace..

A Tale Of Two Nations

Monday, most of us were shocked when we learned of the terrorist attack in Boston. Personally, I was more saddened than shocked. What some may find disturbing is what I was saddened about, for it was not the act itself, but rather the reason the attack was allowed, and by whom. As well, I was saddened that no one, and especially notable no one in The Church seemed to be aware of what was and is actually going on, for although I pray for those who's lives were affected in the horrific event in Boston, it really had nothing to do with Boston. Boston was merely a random spot within the borders of the much larger target. A target set up by none other than it's collective self.

In order to get the whole picture we need to go back in time to the first nation of God. We'll begin with a group of hikers being led by a fellow name of Abram, who received a word from the Almighty Himself to take His people and head out for a new land. After many miles of journeying, Abram's God, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow God we serve today, honored Abram for his faithfulness, renamed him Abraham and promised him a miracle son from whom God's favored people would descend. Though there were many years filled with many trials, through which His people ultimately learned valuable lessons and gained strength, the Israelites became a nation who blessed God, honoring His commandments and in turn were greatly blessed and supernaturally protected by their Lord.

The problem came when after many years the Israelites forgot the miracles, and began taking their blessings, including their safety for granted. They began allowing little "things" to creep in. Perhaps Someone moved in to town from another land with different customs, and were allowed to continue their "odd" practices. After all, what harm could there be? One day, the newcomer has someone over to dine, and they notice an interesting artifact in the corner, or perhaps finds their form of dress or worship to be "pretty" or "entertaining", and cetainly not harmful. The seed is planted. Soon others move in, bringing their "harmless" idols, pieces of art really, and pagan practices, just more fun and games when you think about it, and before ya know it, the king is sacrificing his babies to Molech!

All the while God is watching. He's sending His prophets to warn His people, pleading with them to turn back to Him, but they just keep playing with fire, ignoring the warning signs 'til at last, God has to lower the boom. He removes His protection from His people, and there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. A great nation, blessed of God, turns it's back on Him and falls.

So here we are, thousands of years later. One nation, founded on Godly principles, known as a shining light in and for the world, and we were incredibly blessed for it, enjoying an amazing shield of protection in a world otherwise torn apart by war. As a child, I wondered how it was we seemed to somehow, miraculously remain untouched by the madness all around us. How was it possible? What set us apart? And just as important, what changed?
We have, slowly but surely and willingly jumped on the slippery slope and allowed the world to permeate our nation and The Church to the point it becomes difficult to see where the world ends and the church begins! We use their language. We dress in their styles. We even practice pagan rituals within our individual Church walls! Sooner or later, we had to realize, as He did with Israel, God would tire of us turning our backs on Him, playing games with pagan idols and rituals and give us a well deserved holy kick in the behind.



We turned our backs on God. At best, we, as His body in our nation have allowed ourselves to be polluted. We've become lukewarm, brackish. We've sat back and watched, silently for the most part, as our nation allowed, embraced, and even funded abortion. Initially, it was only allowed in the first trimester, before the child was completely recognizable as such by human eyes. They called it an embryo., Slowly, but surely the laws changed and women were legally allowed to pay someone to end the life of their children for increasingly longer periods of time until now when we find "botched" abortions where somehow, miraculously the attempt on a childs life may fail, resulting in the live birth of an injured baby, who is very recognizable as a human child crying out in pain, longing for his or her momma's comforting arms. Instead that sweet baby is greeted by cold, uncaring hands who want no more than to finish him off and be done with the whole mess.

Tell me, other than the fact that centuries ago folks were giving up their children as a sacrifice to what they thought were gods in ned of appeasement, and we, for the most part act on desire for convenience, just how different is what we are allowing, with our tax dollars, from what Ahaz did in the firey furnace called Molech?

Of course abortion isn't our only national crime. There's rampant, accepted homosexuality, being taught and encouraged in our public schools. There's pornography. There's even talk of allowing full frontal nudity on TV, including commercials at all hours of the day, on all stations. There's language once considered illegal in public forums and media, now accepted as "free speech." Then there's our modern day ride of Paul Revere, "The Islams are coming!" But no one is listening. Rather, we are welcoming them with open arms, even asking them to teach our children their ways, in the name of "unity". Then we wonder what happened when we begin to implode. We, as a nation, and as the church have turned our backs on God too many times, and for far too long, and He is now pulling out that last straw. One way or another, as with Israel, He will get our attention.

It is happening, and the faithful best wake up and get to work, spreading the word, and cleaning up our homes and churches, while preparing ourselves and our families for the horrors sure to come. Boston wasn't the beginning, and is certainly nowhere near the worst we will see and experience before the end. We need , each one of us individually, to allow The Spirit free access, to work in us and through us, for there is no way we're going to survive, let alone rise up and conquer on our own without Him. We need to get into the word, daily, and pray without ceasing. 2 Chronicles 7:14 say's," If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

God is calling us to be His Elijahs for our generation. Are we up to the challenge?

Happy Resurrection Sunday

He is risen!