I had to relocate my blog AGAIN.
This time it is at: LAIR OF THE PENMAN.
The problem with the life of faith is our eyes often can’t see into the places where we must rely upon trusting god in order to make any plans or have any expectations. To that end, god doesn’t really have to work that hard to hide things from our view. Later, when it serves his purposes he will allow us to see what was hidden.
I assume that is in part what drives some to seek the help of psychics. After all if one can know the future then it does help improve on what we can expect. So in terms of eyes, one ends up depending upon the mind’s “eye” of some seer as opposed to one’s own sight.
From a spiritual point of view, the scriptures don’t exactly uplift such options as being from the Lord. And while people could debate the merits of such a resource as a form of aid, I think the main reason the scripture warn against being involved with such practices is because undermines one’s ability to trust the Lord.
If one puts faith in the ability of a psychic then can one really also trust to God? I think the scriptures make it clear that the answer from the lord on that issue is no.
And so wandering in the dark of uncertainty and absent any light for lucidity isn’t really an unusual experience. Within the Christian realm as part of the walk of faith it definitely has an understandable purpose in the Lord’s plan.
That doesn’t mean we like it or that we can him to always remove the hidden events and elements of life from their hiding places so our journey is less cumbersome. Neither does it translate into us obtaining a point of faith or maturity in this life where that will somehow change.
Perhaps in part this is why the scriptures also declare how in heaven there is no night. Beyond the literal meaning there is also the symbolic message of how in God’s presence where we no longer have to walk that same journey of faith there will only be light and all the hidden things will be revealed.
Until that glorious day, we must continue taking each step just like we took every step, trusting, grateful when the Lord’s grace sees us through our stumbling and keeping in our that image of heaven’s map we expect to follow. And while there are some who might claim to have a treasure map in the form of some kind of promise formula so you can easily find all the things God keeps hidden for a variety of reasons, the reality is that the Lord and the Lord alone will unveil what he keeps secret in due season and not before.
So light a candle of faith and keep walking. Celebrate that out of all the people in the world, God in his mercy called us and gave us that candle. It wasn’t because we deserved it or will ever let is shine perfectly. But in our shortcomings he will at times as it serves his purposes guide us to those hidden things we need to find. May we always be prepared to be guiding with our hearts and souls.
Then there are friends, co-workers and if that isn’t enough there are social organizations. One can pretty much find so many options to have a sense of belonging is that is one’s desire.
I didn’t mention being a member of a given house of worship. And that was from my view for good reason. That’s because to me there are two levels to being “among” believers.
First there is the being a member of a given church. That is an option in some ways, although if we are listening to the Lord’s spirit he will guide us to the house of worship where he desires us to fellowship or even to the “place” where he seeks us to serve.
But the problem is that we sometimes prefer to choose a church by some standard other than god being the one making the choice. We can go because they have a great children’s church, lots of social activities or even because we enjoy the teaching. All are valid reasons in the natural, but may have nothing to do with God’s will for our lives.
But for the believer who finds value in a given house of worship, it can be a wonderful experience if you manage to fit into the social pulse of that environment. And for an hour or two a week you can know the pure fantasy of being accepted to whatever degree that climate succeeds on convincing you they care. I say that because I’ve been in plenty of churches where “among” was more like being a member of an elite group. And you were allowed to participate, but that didn’t always mean you were accepted.
However all of that is the common dynamic of Christian experience. What is more difficult is the second level of being among. And that is where one is part of the family of god, but the Lord calls you to a given “place” that may or may not even have walls.
That time of calling to a ministry that doesn’t have any social window dressing will not have the appeal of a regular house of worship. But it doesn’t mean it isn’t important to the Lord. It just is harder at times to find people willing to be obedient to such ministries where the first question answered is not what do I get out of it.
Still it is God’s right to call us as he desires. And obedience should give priority to listening to God’s spirit in terms of where he would send us. That doesn’t mean it will always make sense at the time and that we can expect it to translate into anyone else knowing about it either.
Such realities of a calling can be difficult for some to accept. And of course God doesn’t lead everyone to such a calling. But more perhaps than are willing to listen, which is a question on each believer can truly answer within their own spirit.
May God grant us the light to see first of all when he guides us to the place he seeks for us. And second for the obedience and faith to be willing to follow!
Then there are friends, co-workers and if that isn’t enough there are social organizations. One can pretty much find so many options to have a sense of belonging is that is one’s desire.
I didn’t mention being a member of a given house of worship. And that was from my view for good reason. That’s because to me there are two levels to being “among” believers.
First there is the being a member of a given church. That is an option in some ways, although if we are listening to the Lord’s spirit he will guide us to the house of worship where he desires us to fellowship or even to the “place” where he seeks us to serve.
But the problem is that we sometimes prefer to choose a church by some standard other than god being the one making the choice. We can go because they have a great children’s church, lots of social activities or even because we enjoy the teaching. All are valid reasons in the natural, but may have nothing to do with God’s will for our lives.
But for the believer who finds value in a given house of worship, it can be a wonderful experience if you manage to fit into the social pulse of that environment. And for an hour or two a week you can know the pure fantasy of being accepted to whatever degree that climate succeeds on convincing you they care. I say that because I’ve been in plenty of churches where “among” was more like being a member of an elite group. And you were allowed to participate, but that didn’t always mean you were accepted.
However all of that is the common dynamic of Christian experience. What is more difficult is the second level of being among. And that is where one is part of the family of god, but the Lord calls you to a given “place” that may or may not even have walls.
That time of calling to a ministry that doesn’t have any social window dressing will not have the appeal of a regular house of worship. But it doesn’t mean it isn’t important to the Lord. It just is harder at times to find people willing to be obedient to such ministries where the first question answered is not what do I get out of it.
Still it is God’s right to call us as he desires. And obedience should give priority to listening to God’s spirit in terms of where he would send us. That doesn’t mean it will always make sense at the time and that we can expect it to translate into anyone else knowing about it either.
Such realities of a calling can be difficult for some to accept. And of course God doesn’t lead everyone to such a calling. But more perhaps than are willing to listen, which is a question on each believer can truly answer within their own spirit.
May God grant us the light to see first of all when he guides us to the place he seeks for us. And second for the obedience and faith to be willing to follow!
Even those who are adopted do have parents despite not always knowing who they are. That doesn’t mean we always enjoy the family we have, just that one is never someone deposited on this planet without some bond of blood to tie us to the rest of the human race.
This is all the reality of the body of course. Our flesh thus being the house in which we all must dwell while breath fills our lungs.
And in addition to being a member of family, we are also by history a member of a generation of others born in a given time period. Again that doesn’t mean we necessarily find that prospect thrilling at times, but it is still a fact we all know we have to accept.
But there is a difference between being a member of a generation bonded by time and to our flesh and being a member of a spiritual generation. Such generations are not necessarily tied to a time frame.
This might be difficult to follow in some ways, but the basic idea I wish to convey is that as believers we are part of Heaven’s family as a generation of faith. And to that degree we share our spiritual birth with others of our same calling or measure of faith.
With such generations they can span time and we will find in heaven that we may have spiritual relatives who lived centuries apart from us since it is based on faith and not any other criteria. For example those who suffered martyrdom for the faith are a generation unto themselves. As would be any calling with God.
I say this because well, I felt God gave it to me as a candle of understanding to share. And it means in heaven our generation will be the one where we share in common with other believers the same trials of faith as it applied to our calling. Those will be our kinsman for they will know what we know so intimately well.
Some people see heaven as a place where one is reunited with our fleshly family. Such a reunion does occur, but in it we will see each other differently. They will still be our earthly family, but in heaven ultimately it is our spiritual family we will be drawn towards. That is because in eternity it is that family we will join to complete whatever is our eternal destiny in the Lord.
This may be completely different from our anticipated idea of heaven. But then in this life that is only natural to define by our human desires.
God in his loving kindness will of course bring us to a point of clarity in that realm. And this will do as he promised and wipe away ever tear. Hopefully at the same time we will rejoice over the hugs from those who are members of our generation faith.
How often it seems that what gives cause for the curl of the lips is never something we can measure by tangible means. For the muscles of the face are not under the rule of the head, but the heart.
And since each heart is a composite of mood timbers different from soul to soul, what is the foundation of one that causes the lips to respond varies from being to being. This doesn’t keep some from attempting to tell everyone else where to find the perfect foundation to generate a pristine and enduring expression of inner rhapsody.
As with the word itself that is both a form of music and mood of euphoria, elemental rhapsody for the soul is one that reaches into the very core of our being, touching as a warmth and a song. It gives us joy of such intensity that it “scars” our memory with the single precious moment when it gave us wings to lift us from the world. And then too, it becomes a composition. One that is unique to our own awareness and needs.
That is god’s gift to the believer. When you receive it in its many forms and expressions you are never quite the same. However it only happens as the Lord intends with the “born-again” experience. So to the others, they may achieve a form of elemental rhapsody with some experience, which is why such encounters can be so addictive and lead people to repeat the same process to have the same rhapsody.
Still, none of those despite their effect on the person are as genuine or unique as the one that comes through faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior because God is the author and signs his creation with the power of his holy spirit. Those who are never touched in such a way will never know it’s beauty, its ecstasy or just how natural it truly feels even if you are experiencing it for the very first time.
Sadly there are those who attend church and are even viewed as good and faithful church members who have never known the grace of elemental rhapsody. It is so easy to see when someone is “born of approval of men” instead of born again.
For the first group, everything they do and say in Christian terms is generally a learned behavior and intended to impress. They know how to leave the impression that they are in the house of the lord because of faith, but when you talk to them everything they say is normally about how THEY did something for the lord. It never weaves in the song of faith. God is never given credit for their labors as a rule and most of all, they don’t honestly seem to enjoy their faith. It is all a chore done as fire insurance to be sure they are worthy of heaven.
The latter are the ones who have genuinely been touched by the holy spirit because in their hearts they have truly by faith accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. And through the power of the holy spirit they become motivated, however imperfectly to be obedient to God’s will. Service in a church isn’t done to impress so when they speak, it is to say, “this is what the Lord did through me.”
So sad are those that never know or experience elemental rhapsody. No matter how much they profit in life, no matter how many think of them as good, they are in God’s eyes spiritual paupers. And the question is, which are we? Only each person can answer that question for his or herself.
You and I may not be able to get passed another person’s “top soil.” Some people are just very good at keeping what is growing deep down a secret until it blossoms in their actions. Then they can end up surprising us by being somebody totally different that we originally thought.
God of course doesn’t have the same problem we do. His spirit is able to dig beyond our top layer of identity and knows what we sometimes work so hard to try and not let be seen.
And because he is able to look passed our obvious landscape, he will at times for our own good put us in a situation to what we planted on the inside blossoms outside. Being sinners we can be sure some of what blossoms and thrives will be sinful.
His purpose in doing this is to help us first of all see ourselves for what truly grows in those layers of secrets we work so hard to keep private and hidden from the rest of the world. He desires us for the sake of driving us to rely only upon Jesus for our salvation to have us see that no matter how spiritual we presume we are that we are still sinners.
There are some as Christians who seem to believe that the moment you become a follower of Jesus you stop sinning. They believe that somehow those weeds of sin that were thriving in one garden before accepting Jesus have miraculously vanished.
I’m no expert on gardening, but even I know how tough it can be to get rid of any kind of weeds. But with the ones that come from sin, there just is no permanent way to get rid of all of them in this life.
However that truth is one some people just refuse to accept. So they end up showing you pictures with their lips of the garden they claim they are growing. And those blurry images that they claim are the result of camera movement are in reality sins they don’t want to accept are still there. (One wonders if it might be better if they spent more time trying to sow the truth of God’s word and about the message of grace as opposed to trying to spread so much manure!)
God on the other hand only wants us to let have a garden that we aren’t afraid to let others see. And since he knows we aren’t perfect, he doesn’t give us the perfect weed killer to get rid of every sin in this life. Instead he helps us plant the fruit of the spirit so when it ripens and is ready for consumption it will be far more noticeable than the weeds.
Only it is so darn hard at times to get people to stop shoveling, by doing works with their own strength instead of faith to get them to let his spirit work the more maturity tilling of our inner soil. He will water it with his truth and in the end the flowers that bloom become the ones that end up in eternity’s vase. (It is a shame some will end up letting the intended flowers wilt and die because they wanted only the ones that they planted without god’s help to grow. )
May God grant us all the willingness to know the layer of our being as he sees them and accept when it is time to let his spirit do the planting and harvesting.
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