Month: September 2009

“I look up into the night sky, I see all the stars in heaven, I wonder if they are watching us, seeing with a peaceful eye. How long O Lord must we wait, how long O Lord must we stare out into the empty blackness wondering when our judgment will come. O God, Creator of the Earth and of the Heaven, of all the angels, and saints, have mercy upon us.” (Brian, 2009)

I would  like to think that every single human being who ever lived prayed a prayer such as this one at some moment in their life. I would like to think that our trials and tribulations are really not that different. I would like to believe that everyone in this world realizes that we need Gods divine mercy. Sometimes this hope of mine is out of the longing to identify, and to be identified with my fellow mortals. Then other times these hopes and aspirations are rooted in shier selfishness, as I do not want to be the only one being tested by God in such ways. I say that because we sin, because we are born sinners, all of use will wither away and die, turn to dust, and we all whether we like it or not, need desperately Gods divine mercy.

“22Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.” (Lamentations 3:22, NKJV)

This week I would like to describe why we should ask for Gods mercy, why it is important. But moreover I think it also important to illustrate for how long has God really been merciful with us. Each and everyone of us needs Gods mercy, from the lowliest of people, to the highest of Angel. There is no one who is as perfect and as righteous as God. With this knowledge comes the feelings of inadequacy, depression, the feelings of not being good enough. The mortal mind is left asking over and over again, “How could we ever measure up to God?” The truth is I am glade we can never measure up to God, I am glade he made us imperfect, gives us these trials and tribulations, because that makes me come closer, want more, ask for more of His divine mercy. It might sound crazy, but I am not alone in this feeling, for even King David felt this way, let us not forget his profound words;

“1Have mercy upon me, O God, According to your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2, NKJV)

“8The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” (Psalm 103:8, NKJV)

“12I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore. 13For great is Your mercy toward me, And you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” (Psalm 86:12-13, NKJV)

There is no denying it, David begged God for mercy, he asked for mercy, he thanked God for showing him mercy. David wrote lamitations in honor of Gods divine mercy. But King David was not alone in this celebration of receiving Gods mercy, In fact God came down from heaven to proclaim his name to Moses, as Mercy.

“5Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6And the Lord passed before him and proclaiming, “The Lord , the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abounding in goodness and truth, 7keeping mercy for thousands , forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:5-7, NKJV)

Gods divine mercy is written into His very character, and in His nature. It is through His overwhelming love and compassion He has for us, His children, that He does not punish us, as we so rightfully deserve. Moses was always asking God to have mercy on his people, asking God to forgive them each time they sinned against God. You can hear the frustration in Moses’s voice each time he made the long arduous journey up the mountain to intercede for them. The most amazing thing is that God did show Moses mercy, the people mercy, as he still does for us today. God for thousands of years has shown mankind mercy. This word; “Mercy”, God has placed so much of his divine wisdom upon it that it is easily the second most powerful word, under that of Love, forever linking them into the same Godly nature. This truth has been proven over and over again throughout the Bible, and in doing so, has shown that our God, the God of Adam, Moses, David, and Jesus, New and Old Testament alike, has indeed spent vast amounts of energy proving to all of us that He is truly merciful.

King David knew Gods mercy, as did Moses, but neither of these two men where ever put directly into the path of Gods fury, as like Job. Test after test, after test, God allowed Satan to take things away from Job, and Job remained in favor of God. Gods mercy in the end was poured out upon Job in ways that would, and did baffle the human imagination.

“12Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13He also had seven sons and three daughters.” (Job 42:12-13, NKJV)

This giving nature also reveals Gods mercy, as what was taken was given back, but not just one for one, but in the thousands to one. Gods divine mercy is so perfect, and longsuffering that God departed this merciful nature unto mankind within his only son Jesus. The amount of energy and due diligence God placed within that one single act, and then as to drive home the point Jesus’s message, like Gods, was that of mercy;  

Q12 “Happy are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see the face of God. Fortunate are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (also see; Matthew 5:7-9)

As a matter of record, God delivered Jesus up to be crucified to vanquish our sins, the ultimate act of mercy unto a world filled to the brim with sin, and sinners. Love, compassion, and yes mercy is all the predominate characteristics of our God, as He had so proclaimed to Moses. I also would like to mention for the record, that as Moses had prayed for mercy for his people, an act which exhibited his selfless nature in line with Gods, that this was but a common theme in line with  Jesus’s character as well. This is important because Jesus came to deliver the New Covenant with man, as Moses had delivered the old one, these teaching of Jesus are a command that we, in current times are to follow:

“35But love your enemies, do good , and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36Therefore be merciful , just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36, NKJV)

So I like to think God hears our cry’s for mercy, he responds to them, and understands them. He tests us and then in the end shows us mercy, kindness, and love. The very nature of God is proven through His thousands of ye
ars of patience, His ability to wait, His mercy in not delivering our punishment so soon, being slow to wrath. Indeed God is a just, and righteous Father, and everlasting, longsuffering, merciful God. This is also the same God who wants to have an active relationship with us all, each and everyone, without discrimination, prejudice, or bias. For God has his hand outstretched, ready, willing, and able to lift you up into the most perfect, merciful relationship you have ever known.That in-and-of-itself is both a miracle, and a testament of our Lord, our God, it is also, in reality His divine gift, His proof of His sincerity in delivering everlasting mercy.

Amen,

May peace be with you all the days of your life. If you have been moved by this blog I invite you to become a follower, and learn to Listen Faithfully to our Lord Jesus Christ.

How many times has it been said, “Patience is a virtue”? How many times have you said it to someone who was acting rash, and thus needed to be calmed down? What does it really mean to be patient? For how long are we to be patient? The questions go on and on and what is more perplexing is that there seems to be no real solid answers to these questions. But to God, his strategy is built upon the foundations of patients. To be godly in your life is to be patient, because that is the legacy you leave to your children, family, and your husband, or wife. In that we are to be patient all the days of our lives, no matter how long you shall live.

“13But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13, NKJV).

This week I wanted to talk just a little about something that occurred to me while flipping through the bible, as I was praying for strength in my personal life this past Sunday in church. See as a human I want things which I cannot have in my life, at least in this moment. We are constantly looking for instant gratification, wanting more and more until we have what we want then we want something else. But in this cycle there are some things we should never have in the first place. Some of use are like a child in a sand box, wanting all the other children’s toys so badly until, they reach out a grab all of them, snatching them away from the other children. What does this have to do with patience you may ask? Well God lets none of these acts stand, and with patience the other children will redeem what they have lost. What drives us all crazy is that time laps, between our rights being violated, to when we get back what we have lost. It is in that time laps that we are being tested by God.

That single moment in time, which to use could be hours, days, weeks, and even years, but to God is a single moment of injustice, and tribulation which rocks us to our very core. It is this which God wants so desperately to see we to can show restraint, and patience for those around us who are incapable of patience. He wants us to show we are mature in our faith by testing us, using those people in our lives who know not of peace, kindness, tolerance, compassion, and love. It is quite fascinating to see how God uses other people as like a skill saw, or hammer, to drill into our personality those things which we lack. His method, his strategy builds within us the characteristics of perseverance, loyalty, compassion, and hope. Because when we do show patience we exemplify God, and we give him glory.

Gods perfect foundation of his kingdom could never have been laid without patience being the rock, the corner stone as it takes great tribulation to test and to purify that which is imperfect. His strategy is clear, but to us as human beings, it is so convoluted and intermixed with agony, suffering, and moments of personal grief, and pain. Often times the pain and heart ache is so great we entertain, however brief, turning away from God, quitting, and walking away from Him. In our hearts we feel no hope, and we often times blame God for our own sin. The true want in that moment, is for the pain to stop, but if it does will we not learn the lessons God wants us to learn? Will we not come to the true understanding of patience, and help build the solid foundation of heaven?

“20For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps” (1Peter 2:20-21, NKJV).

Suffering is but momentary, and this that we may look at or take as being punished is in reality the nurturing hand of God. For how much did Jesus suffer for us, how much did he take for us, how many times did Jesus stand up and was ridiculed and put down in our name? How many sins did Jesus take upon his shoulders and bared for us so that we might be saved? How patient was Jesus with his disciples, with the church leaders, the people who asked for healing? No where in the bible is there a rash judgment or act done which was not first proceeded with Jesus being patient. Everything Jesus did form the being to the end, was done purposefully, and patiently. Our earthly trials and tribulations are given to us, and are individually specialized for us to achieve what Gods wants us to achieve. Consider a life time of tribulation handed to John Milton, and English poet who went blind. Consider his poem which reflects his blindness, referencing the moment he no longer could see:

Fear; this emotion is so powerful it can make the most honest person lie, the most calm person strike out. It can be debilitating, keeping us locked up like a prisoner. Fear grabs a hold and refuses to let go, utilizing other powerful emotions like worry, doubt, and dread, leaving us feeling oppressed. People often times us fear to manipulate others into doing their bidding in some evil or vial act, knowing how the other person will end up feeling in the aftermath. As an educator I am sworn to report such actions as child abuse, and take this very seriously. Fear strikes at the hearts and minds of our children and forces them to see evil, making them grow up quicker forever destroying their child-like incense. Fear is equally damaging to adults, and in most cases can render the most outspoken person silent. Fear is used to threaten what we love, and is the devils favorite tool to use, because of its potency. Tell a man his child or wife will be harmed if he does not stay quiet, or a women that her husband will be killed, or a child that your parents will hate you forever, and see how quickly we all are to shut up.

This week I wanted to explore an emotion that we all have felt, some more so than others, for various reasons, an emotion which has the power to make your steps stumble, and loose the focus on your personal walk with God. Fear is such a common emotion we sometimes don’t really give it to much attention. We do not analyze things which scare us, rather we allow it to take affect and we just respond. Some people have even attained some level of tolerance to fear, and instead of it activating the “fight or flight” mechanism they have become dare-devils, and adrenaline junkies. However, or whatever your specific case, fear can be lethal and it can become the major controlling force in your decision making process if it is not recognized and swiftly dealt with.

This then leaves the question how to see fear for the damming tool of Satan that it is? By no means is this a guide or a professionals opinion, but this is simply how I control fear in my own life. I first ask why am I so fearful of whatever I am afraid of that is affecting me that moment. I remember that God has control of ever aspect of my life. This in turn gives me great peace.

“But He said unto them, “40Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? (Mark 4:40, NKJV)

Jesus just moments before had been sleeping in a fishing vessel with his disciples out on the great Sea of Galilee when a storm came from nowhere and about sank the boat. In fear they woke him.

“32Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32, NKJV).

In this Jesus was teaching his disciples not to ever worry about such things as what to eat or drink, and to not be worried about their own lives as our Father in heaven shall surely take care of us. In both of these examples fear is being defeated by the very words of Christ. In these words Jesus is assuring us that God’s kingdom is where we shall forever dwell. In that fact Jesus defeats fear, worry, doubt, and even dread.

“25Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, 26And will keep your foot from being caught” (Proverbs 3:25-26, NKJV).

With faith in God we are promised to have his guidance, his confidence. When fear grips my heart, I remember how much God loves me, and how He will take me by the hand and walk with me. In my greatest moments of darkness and fear I have always looked to God for comfort, and have never been left hanging. God has always been there, has always been the constant guiding force in my life. No matter the struggle, the fight, the task, or the obstacle, God has always been there to help me, to calm my fears and to squelch my panic.

“5Let your conduct be without covetousness: be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6So we may boldly say: 

I have always been instructed to take the proverbial high road, meaning in all my encounters with other people I continually, almost automatically, look for the good in the evil act which has been perpetrated against me. I have always been driven to understand why someone would say the horrible things they have, thus cursing my very name. What is the mentality behind their words, the motivations within their false accusations, and even the anger which has stained their heart? I have always been told it takes a bigger man to walk away from a fight than the one who stands and fights. I guess that is why I have never liked getting into arguments with others, and or verbal contest we call sarcasm. I have only been involved in three physical fights, as a child. I walk away before I get to that point where I throughout the word of God and start hitting, I show restraint, I show respect, and I always try to make peace first.

The attributes to my character in faith are known to God as meekness, and grace.

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

My reflection this week is on the character God wants all of us to emulate, as Jesus was the perfect example for meekness, and grace. I have said this many times and I still believe that Jesus set so many examples, simultaneously, that it is hard to really grasp the true depth of each message as each of Jesus’s lessons teaches us different things each time we read them. No other teacher, educator, or professor has ever taught a lesson which can be applied to every aspect of your life in such riveting detail as that of Jesus. What is really mind blowing is that his lessons where as relevant when he spoke them, as they are to us today.

Meekness is not weak, nor is it a symbol of being scared to engage in a physical brawl. Rather it is the conscious choice to make your point without ever landing a blow. It is the invisible force of God that which makes people stop, stumble then fall down and ask for forgiveness as the Holy Spirit convicts them of their grievous act. To be meek is to be in tune with Gods plan for your life; one which you realize is not of your own will, but that of God’s will. A plan you do not know each detail, but trust in his wisdom that it is good, just, and absolute. A plan which is so perfect it is inconceivable to what the outcome will be, an outcome not of your design, but that of Gods. Through God’s plan we are shown he can make all things miraculous, magical, and to us in the beginning what was impossible, God proves that for him all things are possible.

Q11 “Fortunate are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.”

This verse is also found in the bible in Matthew 5:5, and in Luke 6:20. This message was so powerful and meaningful that Jesus spoke them aloud so that we might know them and obey them. That his example of meekness would be emulated by all of humanity.

“3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 6:3-12).

Jesus stated clearly in the Beatitudes that meekness is rewarded by God, for he blesses the meek, their battle has already been won, and the fight is over before it begins. However the act of being meek is also exhibiting love that resigns in the heart, this is linked to meekness and it is called grace.

The Merriam–Webster dictionary defines grace in this fashion; 1 a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification b: a virtue coming from God c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace.

Through Gods grace we receive something we otherwise would not, that being salvation. Because God promised salvation to the meek, these two words work in tandem and have a holy bond. Through his grace, Jesus exhibited and clearly defined how our relationship with him and with others is to flourish. Someone who is graceful in their acts towards others is at peace with the word of God, they receive peace in their heart, mind, and soul, thus the meek are filled with grace and are blessed by God. A graceful act is one which shows mercy to others. Thus grace and mercy are also inexplicably linked. Grace is found within your words which come from your heart, it can be found in the actions which are governed by your heart. Grace cannot be found in the harsh words of condemnation, nor in the violent acts of persecution, and sin.

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“20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20-21).

Jesus showed us how to be meek; his actions were filled with grace. God forgave us our sins so that we might be saved out of eternal love, which flowed from his heart, showing us grace within our salvation. Both meekness, and grace are powerful words, they are defined within our choices, and attitudes we chose to exhibit to one another. What fills our heart also fills our mouth, and the actions which result is what we are judged by. We are commanded to love one another, to love our enemies, to feed the hungry, to cloth the nagged because in these things we exemplify God, bringing him glory. We prove that being meek is stronger than being vicious; being graceful is stronger than being overbearing and malicious. We prove that Jesus loved us more tha
n he loved himself, and that God loved us more than he loved all of creation.

Amen.

May peace be with you all the days of your life? If you have been moved by this blog I invite you to become a follower, and learn to Listen Faithfully to our Lord Jesus Christ.