A good friend asked me recently if I have any regrets. As I mentally flipped through conversations, actions and experiences, I found myself saying ‘no. I do not.’ Then the friend asked, ‘how can you not?’ He confessed to having many regrets. When we are truly in sync with God and we do something that is regrettable, the Spirit is quick to convict. Repentance and asking for forgiveness quickly follow, as does forgiveness of others—and ourselves. If reconciliation is prompted,…
“Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness. You will see that the world is not on your shoulders after all. Your will find yourself, and God will find you in new ways. Silence also brings Sabbath to you. It completes solitude, for without it you cannot be alone. Far from being a mere absence, silence allows the reality of God to stand in the midst of your life. God does not ordinarily compete for…
During a recent prayer, I found I was having this conversation: Me: God. It’s me. Please, I need more muscles. Give me more muscles. God: I have given you all the muscles you need to do what you need to do. Me: But I’m having difficulty walking a long distance, and I can’t peddle my bike, I can’t stand for long, I can’t row my boat, I can’t do this, and I can’t do that. So, please, I need more muscles….
The experiences of yesterday, today, tomorrow and all the days to come are about: Location. Location. Location. It shows you where you are; IN RELATION TO GOD. IT LOCATES YOU. IT LOCATES YOUR HEART. IT LOCATES YOUR FAITH. IT LOCATES YOUR MATURITY LEVEL. IT LOCATES YOUR TRUST. IT LOCATES YOUR FRUIT. IT LOCATES YOUR OBEDIENCE. IT LOCATES WHAT YOU DESIRE.
Recently a life was uprooted. Completely changed, turned upside down and immediately thrust into an unknown place in a foreign land. The comfort of home, luxury of routines, lull of security, reassurance of surroundings, solace of friends, contentment of community and ease of tradition were instantly gone. This radical change led to feelings of nakedness, fearfulness, uneasiness, aloneness and utter isolation. As confusion set in, He began to reveal that the sojourner was attached to social ties, behaviors, comforts and traditions…
Is this what you call a ‘breakthrough’?
Meditating is done from the still mind and a quiet heart and can be most fruitful during normal daily activities. There is no one accepted way, as it is what is comfortable to the individual. There are many types of meditation and all involve the reflective and contemplative thinking processes. A word, action, question or parable that is turned over and over will eventually open to the understanding as the truth in the message is revealed. The purpose of meditation…
Find the place of peace and spiritual safety. This is done through constant forgiveness and unaffected humility in the very circumstance a believer seems to be stuck in. True humility is to trust and rely on the very one who holds your life in His hands and has your best interest at heart. During the process, yielding to a defensive attitude will take you down a road that you will not enjoy, for it will open the door to anger, sorrow,…
Two friends were walking on the beach one sunny morning having a discussion about their jobs. One friend, being a firefighter, was relaying his stories of the latest life-saving and dramatic rescues of the prior week. He explained that he was never afraid because he always kept an amulet in his pocket. “I am never without it and it protects me and keeps me safe”, he told his friend. The friend knew that the firefighter didn’t need the amulet and told…
The final progression of the commandment to “Follow Me” begins and the longing diminishes. A sense of well-being settles in and flourishes as the Christ-like nature is secured, and peace, happiness, and safety become a welcome home banquet. Service to the community of God and man becomes the lifestyle that is lived from the eternal spirit’s heart of love, compassion and mercy. This action is the authority of the believer on the earth. The heavenly kingdom now functions on the…