Lonely Mission

I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground."

Isaiah 63:5-6

In reading this passage, I was trying to understand if it were Isaiah or the LORD speaking. The message I'm receiving his how lonely it is to pursue God's righteousness. To break away from the patterns of the world and choose to stand alone seems to be lonely. But God promises to never allow this to happen, even though we do it to God Himself.

I admit to feeling lonely sometimes. And that continues on until I start talking with our Creator. I'm trying to grasp how God feels when the very things He's made goes off and seeks companionship elsewhere instead of Himself. How excruciating that must me! I'm not a daddy but I can only imagine this heartbreak. And so what do I do about it? Spend time in fellowship with Him! Yesterday, our small group agreed to pray every night at 9pm for the next week. God placed it on our hearts to pray together even though we're not physically together. Intentionally setting time aside to sit with God is an amazing gift that's barely opened. I need to discipline myself and lead others into it as well. Last night during the prayer time, Michelle came home and I think she saw me praying. That led to sharing time, worship time and this morning she shared the loss of Tracy's daughter and more prayer time. It's been a very spiritual 12 hours and I feel a strength and encouragement from God. I need to continue this path.

Father God, thank You for creating us for relationships. I pray LORD for Tracy's family right now in Your Son's mighty name. Help the family bond together to You first then to each other. I humbly ask that a leader emerges from the family to spiritual healing and repentance. Our lives are just a breath and will be swept away very soon. Help us to see the urgency. We love You Father, Son & Holy Spirit. In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen!

I Am Dust

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

Psalm 103:13-16

Sometimes when we are down and depressed we forget how great our God is. We forget that God is the Creator and Maker of our soul & body. We forget that time and all circumstances are under His rule. We need to remember that these bodies we call home are temporary vessels that will return to the earth and that the capacity to do more than the Spirit allows is impossible. God will do everything He desires with this collection of dust in the most compassionate and love of ways.

There are no flaws. There are no defects in God's kingdom because everything He creates is perfect; God does not create junk. It's true that people can take something like this and distort the truth but we need to see everything as dust in different shapes & forms. When we allow God's desire to rule over us we live so blessed but it's when we disobey where we do things God's instructions clearly states not to do, that's when problems arise. God even perfectly gives us repentance, which allows us to break away from worldly patterns. As I look at my existence as dust, held together by love and compassion, how can I not declare Him a great God?

Father God, I reflect on my existence and I'm so humbled. My eyes has seen this body as something magnificent and beautiful but today I stand corrected. I see myself as dust, held together by the magnificent and beautiful One! LORD, free my mind of all the lies & distractions which prevent me from living for You. Help me see things the way You want me to. In the beautiful name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

God Knows Best

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts..."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Here's where my faith really gets tested. God instructs us to follow Him and His ways because He knows best, He's the one who planned everything in the past, present & future. So who am I to argue? I have to trust God! Sometimes the world's circumstances will attempt to pull us away from God' ways but we need to focus on His word rather than our emotions. His ways are eternal, ours is temporary.

I feel like my life's journey is a sprint. God's at the center with me always going off on tangents only to be gravitated back on the center. I'm following Him but exploring my surroundings by my own curiosities and reasoning. I know God's telling me to trust Him and stop leaning on my own understanding but it's hard. Just yesterday I was stricken with a range of emotions because of a misplaced key. Frustration, anger, sadness, depression & even happiness all messed with my mind. I constantly had to place my trust in God, not necessarily to find my key (even thought that's what I wanted), but to allow God's best to infiltrate my heart and my marriage. At the end of it all the key was found and it was my fault, I had it in my pocket. To deal with that I had to be completely transparent with my emotions so that God could deposit His gem. He used Michelle to open up a conversation about our feelings and I believe there was growth at that moment. At the end of it all we didn't allow emotions to lead us but rather God's heart & Spirit.

Thank You Father God for a wonderful wife! You chose perfect times to reveal a little more of Your plans by letting me know how my marriage is complete only with You as the center. You remind me struggles are a part of our journey but not the destination; it's such a wonderful comfort when I respond obediently. Thank You and I pray never to wander too far from Your voice. In Your Son's precious name I pray, Amen!

Remain Fixed on Calling

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:10-11

You can't go wrong if we keep our eyes focused on completing our mission. God, through Peter is reminding us that it's so important to know and to pursue our calling because the devil uses confusion to discourage and tear us away from our service to Him. Having direction in this life keeps us going; a promise to hold onto... a faith.

It's so true what Peter talked about. We will always fall, that's a given, but it's the strength given us to get back up that's key. I realized that some failures in my life aren't due to the mistakes but rather how I dealt with them. Eve today, I'm faced with some issues that causes frustration that hurts, lead to giving up. I want a more pleasant route, an easier route. But always taking the path leads nowhere or to destruction. It's when I plow through all the bushes and branches creating a path to the destination that's where I have a sense of fullness, accomplishing the calling God set for me. I need to persevere on to the promise land and not be stuck going around in circles in the dessert.

Heavenly Father, Your mighty Word is perfect in timing! As I easy my way back into work and ministry I need to keep my focus on my calling. I need to see through the confusion and distractions and see where You want me to be no matter how righteous other tasks are, You will anoint others to carry out that calling. Give me eyes that are focused on You yet receptive to the cries of the sheep. In Your Son's precious name I pray, Amen!