"Feel His Pleasure"

Yesterday evening, my husband and I decided to take our dogs to the dog park. Our Large dog Dexter can not contain his excitement when we announce to him that we are going to the "DOG PARK!!" Those two little words he understands so well. He jumps and runs to the front door, then back to my husband, then bounds to the front door again. It makes me smile to watch his excitement build. We grab our little dog Bailey and head to the truck.

Once inside the truck, as we drive to the dog park, Dexter paces frantically from one window to another with great anticipation and excitement. The closer we get the less he can contain himself from whining and groaning. Once the dog park is in sight, the whining is in full swing. His tail wags and his tongue hangs out as he pants breathlessly, waiting for us to let him out of the truck.

Once out of the truck, my husband struggles to hold him back as he pulls, full force towards the gate. There is no stopping him. If you pull back on the leash, he pulls forward with more might than we thought he had. My husband and I chuckle, because at times, Dexter will dig his paws into the gravel and start a low crawl to try and get to the gate faster, whining the whole way.

After we step inside the gate and his leash comes off, it's like watching a scene from chariots of fire (if the characters were dogs that is). In a flash Dexter is off, running at an incredible speed. Just watching him run makes you feel invigorated. He is free, and in his element. He will run, and run and run. It amazes me how he can continue on and on as he does. Where does his stamina come from? He easily out runs any dog that is there, no matter how hard they try to keep up.

 If you have ever seen the movie Chariots of Fire, which I referenced previously, then you will understand what I meant. The movie was released in 1981, and it is truly a classic. I have seen it once or twice, but there is a popular line in which the main character Eric Liddell states: "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure". This is the quote that always comes to me as I see Dexter run.

What I'm getting at here is something I felt the Lord was saying to me. We are all created by Him and given specific gifts. Those gifts were imbedded within us when the Lord created us in the innermost parts. God did make us for a purpose. We are never here, both on this earth and in our specific places in our own life's journey, by accident. He has purposed us to be where we are for a reason.

Sometimes, we just don't understand what those reasons are, and even at times seem to resent what those reasons might be if the sailing is no longer smooth. What reason would God have in bringing me to such a dark place in life? ... we question. Yet, it is not our job to question the purpose of God in our life. We either believe what His Word says (Jeremiah 29:11) or we don't believe His Word at all. It's as simple as that. If we do believe, then we know deep down, no matter how rough those patches get in life, we know we never have to walk through those dark places alone. He walks with us, and brings us through. There is always a morning that follows the night.

In knowing that He has purposed us in this life, our purpose is very much intertwined with our gifts. If we are not using the gifts He has given us in this life, we may find our walk through life is dull. The gifts and talents we poses were given to us for two reasons. First and foremost, they were given so that we may use them to bring glory to Christ and be a blessing to others. Secondly, they were given so that we may, as Eric so greatly put it, "feel His pleasure." God has given us life, both eternal life, but He also gave us this temporal life on earth. Eternal life, when we choose Christ, is something we all greatly look forward too. Yet scripture tells us he has given us life, and not just life, but abundant life. Yet to have this abundant life here on earth we need to be aware of our giftings. We need to use them to glorify God, bless others, and in turn there will also be a God-given pleasure in our own lives.

So I guess my question to myself and to you is: What are your God given gifts and talents? And more importantly, once you know, are you using them or wasting them? Just as Dexter is in his element at the dog park where he is free to run like the wind, what is your element? Don't waste those gifts. Find them, use them and in turn "feel His pleasure" and cause those around you to do the same.

Disconcerted.

   Facebook is sadly one of my favorite pastimes. It's wonderful to reconnect with old friends whom you haven't seen or heard from in years. It can also be a great way to learn a lot about new friends from browsing their page. Sometimes you even learn things about others that you would have preferred not knowing. In my case, I like to stay connected with friends and family back home in Buffalo, New York. My point is, you often see peoples true colors through their social networking sites. What the majority of their status' are about, how they interact with friends... oh and yes, pictures of course... the can often times speak for themselves. Social Networking. It's fabulous!

  Now I myself have learned some lessons about posting things I shouldn't. The way I see it, you either learn quickly or you simply don't learn at all. But this isn't really what my blog is about... so back on track here.

   Lately I have been somewhat disconcerted and even saddened over what I learn about people. I cannot tell you how many friends I have on facebook who used to or even still do claim to be Christians. Yet, if I had never met them before, judging by what I see and read, I would be shocked to learn such a thing.

   Friends who used to possess such a passion for the Lord who have completely lost sight of the precious hope we hold so dear. It truly breaks my heart. I grapple with trying to understand how one can simply dismiss or walk away from truth, from life, from hope. How do you consciously let go of all you once held dear.

   I know as Christians this could happen to anyone of us and that is why scripture is so clear about guarding your heart and not looking to the left or the right. Take Peter for example... here He is in the presence of Christ... walking on water... and even in seeing Christ and walking out in faith and literally WALKING ON WATER ... he still takes his eyes off Christ and begins to sink. So I am not standing here saying I am exempt from being disillusioned or led astray by the enemy of our souls. I understand this has happened to even some the greatest of Christians. But as long as I am continually seeking and pressing into the Lord and guarding my heart... I trust the Lord will keep me... even in my stumbling.

   Revelation 3 states: "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. ¹² The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. ¹³ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

It goes on to say...."These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

What a horrible thought. 

Matthew 6 states: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

At the end it states you cannot serve both God and money. Money represents worldly gain. Serving of self, greed, to gratify the desires of the flesh. This is something even Christians struggle with from time to time. Sometimes even in the simplest form as tithing. Giving God what is already His. Why is this so hard for us at times? That is another topic for another night.

    Needless to say I am grieved for the friends who have chosen the easy path; the broad path.  Matthew 7:13-  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." 

   I long to shake them and say.... "WAKE UP!! Don't you see what you have chosen???? Don't you know where this path leads????" I pray for them with a heavy heart. For I know I am not the only one grieved, but oh how it breaks the heart of the Father to see His precious children astray. 

   We are called to be set apart. We are not to blend in with those who have no hope. Lord wake us all up! Time is short, eternity could be one breath away. Let our every waking moment bring glory to our King.

   **Lord guard my heart. Help me to keep my eyes on you. May I not look to the left or the right, but keep my foot steadfast in Your truth. Wake my own heart up to area's that are lukewarm in my life. Convict me and help me to live a life wholly set apart for You. Draw back the ones you love. Bring them back to their first love. Captivate their hearts and minds once again. Let not the Holy Spirit leave them, but continually convict and draw them to You. Let me not be lax in my prayers for them. Let time not slip away, let not eternity greet them before they have again chosen You Lord. In your Holy and Mighty Name.**
 

Applying the Proverbs - My game plan.

I would have to say, one of my favorite ways to study scripture is online. Why you ask? Well, due to the convenience of it. With the click of my mouse I can view different versions of scripture. I often start with the New King James Version, but it can be fascinating to compare it to other versions such as The Message. I feel like I sometimes gain a deeper understanding with using more than one version at times. The site I love to use is biblegateway.com. I encourage you to check it out sometime if you have not already become accustomed to studying scripture online.

As I begin my study of  Proverbs, I asked myself how I could make this more personal than I ever have before. I thought for a while and as I began with Chapter 1, and this is what I came up with. I'll give you an example with chapter one.

Proverbs 1 (NKJV)

The Beginning of Knowledge

 ¹ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
       ² To know wisdom and instruction,
      To perceive the words of understanding,
       ³ To receive the instruction of wisdom,
      Justice, judgment, and equity;
       ⁴ To give prudence to the simple,
      To the young man knowledge and discretion—
       ⁵ A wise man will hear and increase learning,
      And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
       ⁶ To understand a proverb and an enigma,
      The words of the wise and their riddles.
       ⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
      But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

(do I fear the Lord as I should?  or do I despise wisdom and instruction?)

Shun Evil Counsel

    ⁸ My son, (do you) hear the instruction of your father, (?)
      And do (you)  not forsake the law of your mother; (?)
       ⁹ For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
      And chains about your neck.
       ¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you,
      Do (you) not consent. (?)
       ¹¹ If they say, “Come with us,
      Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
      Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
       ¹² Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,^[a]
      And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
       ¹³ We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
      We shall fill our houses with spoil;
       ¹⁴ Cast in your lot among us,
      Let us all have one purse”—
       ¹⁵ My son, do (you) not walk in the way with them, (?)
    (Do you)  Keep your foot from their path; (?)
       ¹⁶ For their feet run to evil,
      And they make haste to shed blood.
       ¹⁷ Surely, in vain the net is spread
      In the sight of any bird;
       ¹⁸ But they lie in wait for their own blood,
      They lurk secretly for their own lives.
       ¹⁹ So are (your) the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; (?)
      It takes away the life of its owners.

The Call of Wisdom

    ²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud outside;
      She raises her voice in the open squares.
       ²¹ She cries out in the chief concourses,^[b]
      At the openings of the gates in the city
      She speaks her words: (Do you hear her? Do you recognize the voice of wisdom?)
       ²² “ How long, (will I) you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
      For scorners delight in their scorning,
      And fools hate knowledge.
      (Do you delight in scorning or do you hate knowledge?)
²³ Turn at my rebuke;
      Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
      I will make my words known to you.
       ²⁴ Because I have called and you refused,
      I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
       ²⁵ Because you disdained all my counsel,
      And would have none of my rebuke,
       ²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity;
      I will mock when your terror comes,
       ²⁷ When your terror comes like a storm,
      And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
      When distress and anguish come upon you.
       ²⁸ “ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
      They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
       ²⁹ Because they hated knowledge
      And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
       ³⁰ They would have none of my counsel
      And despised my every rebuke.
       ³¹ Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
      And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
       ³² For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
      And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
       ³³ But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
      And will be secure, without fear of evil.”


That is how I will be going through most of the Proverbs. It allows me to take a deeper look and examine my own heart better.

An Old Journal Entry

This is an old journal entry of mine that I had posted on a previous blog back in 2008. I believe I wrote it not long before I posted it. After rereading it I decided to share it once again on this blog. 

"There is a strange longing in my spirit. A restlessness, a beckoning, a lack of contentedness. A desire to see more, to do more and to be more than what is simply expected of me. It's a silent, yet disturbing feeling. A strange sense of familiarity mixed with an ever present feeling of subtle discomfort. A desire to draw near to the One who is never far away. One whose name brings overwhelming peace and presence to any situation or circumstance. One who is jealous for my heart, my mind and my time. It's a call to come back, to come forth and to call out for holiness, purity and unity. To come back to the simple truth of who Christ is and what his Hearts Cry is. To understand Him like never before through intimacy with His spirit. To desperately desire His will and to hold tightly to His commands. To pray with a passion rather than an obligation. To consume his word as if it was our only source of life. To understand our limits and weakness only to recognize our utter dependence on his faithfulness and grace. To lay down our temporary desires and goals that will serve to only satisfy our earthy lives but to live for the eternal. To set out eyes on the things above. To shine with such light that the world is left in complete awe of our love for another and most of all a Love for our Creator. To live above the norm. To stop comparing our Christianity with those around us and live with conviction to the standards of the word. To stop blaming and pointing the finger and wake up to the other three fingers pointing back at us. To live our lives as a testimony to the hope that we have found. It is time to stop blending in with our surroundings and time to stop playing church and to start diving into the pure and unaltered presence of God daily, both in our personal and public lives. It is time to put an end to compartmentalizing our lives to conform to what feels right at that time. To let Holiness consume our hearts AT ALL TIMES. To stop settling for less than what He holds for us. To stop trying to manipulate His hand according to our plans. Becoming less and less and allowing Him to fill us more and more through fasting and surrender. To reach out to the hurting and those without hope. To become the one whom Isaiah speaks of in chapter 61. An anointed messenger. To care for the widowed and the fatherless, both physically and spiritually speaking, as unto those who do not believe. To no longer blend in with our surroundings but to be set apart as He has called us to be. To live for a higher calling which is for His purpose. To stand and not back down in the face of adversity. To remain strong when faced with trials, not losing our faith nor dare we blame God, but like Job, praise him through the storms, for He is still worthy. He is unchanging, so we too must be steadfast. To be ready in season and out of season. To study his word and be filled with His wisdom so that we may show ourselves approved when called to take a stand. To hold out for purity's sake, that we may be a blameless and spotless bride when in a blink of an eye, the Bridegroom returns. Hiding his word deep in our hearts, being transformed by the renewing of our mind. This is a High calling for those who love Christ. But it is not only I who has been called to this. If you are a follower of Christ may this stirring in my heart encourage you to draw closer to the One who is never far and to live life beyond what you have planned, but to set those plans aside and take up this cross of extraordinary significance. To listen to the voice of the Lord and to set forth on a journey of holiness which we are all called to. Let us lay our lives down and take up a renewed spirit and passion to live for the one who died because of his relentless love for you....and who lives now, inside our hearts. Be Gods. Be Blessed."

Applying the Proverbs.

I have decided, along with my mother, to delve into the Proverbs a bit deeper than I ever have before. The book of Proverbs is an extremely beautiful book when you think of all the wisdom that is imparted through it. It's Christ's heart saying.... "This is the way! Walk in it!". Yet all my life I have read through the proverbs as a bystander. Gleaning insight when I thought useful, admiring truth, yet never fully applying it to me, on a very personal level. I have never completely examined my own course of actions and thoughts in close comparison to the way of the wise; ever so clearly laid out for us in this wonderful book. So here it is. My Journey starts now.

I would challenge you to join me if you too, have never done such a thing. It won't all be pleasant. Your choosing to humbly approach scripture with the question, how do I measure up to this? Where is my heart on  this? Your opening yourself up for reproach from our King. Your wholeheartedly saying: "Lord change me, open my eyes to my own misguided ways, show me the way of truth and wisdom, no matter what the cost." I am expecting some painful moments on this path. My eyes will be opened to some "skinned knees" if you will, from all the areas I have so desperately fallen short. Yet it's when we realize our brokenness, and our need for change, through Christ's Grace we are covered, healed, and changed. That is my ultimate goal. At the end of this journey, I want to be changed. I want to look more like Christ than when I started. That is my desire. That is my prayer.