CHAOS

The informed have known for years that the original family is under attack. The informed have also known that before homosexuality became a huge item in America the enemy was often found in ones own home.  Cain murders Abel, Ham mocks his father, Noah, by looking at his nakedness, Jacob deceives his brother Esau and Absalom tries to take his father’s throne and many more stories like these are found in scripture.

In fact, chaos began with God. The Tower of Babel was one demonstration of unity that God interrupted. Why? The people were not unified in giving God glory, but rather to make a name for themselves, which contradicts God’s reason for our creation. This contradiction in-turn creates chaos.

If the family is to unify, it must be under the umbrella of giving God all the glory. By contradicting your purpose, you create chaos in your life. Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked (Ecclesiastes 7:13)?

There are churches picketing and putting up signs against homosexual marriage. Some are even bold enough to disrupt funerals and cause all sorts of drama, but is this wise? When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them (Proverbs 16:7).

What should the church do? Unify under the umbrella of giving God ALL the glory. Not actors or actresses. Not Prada or Brahmin. Not houses or hummers. God will straighten the chaos created by our contradiction. Your mission should you choose to accept it, is to keep your eyes and your affection on things above where Christ sits upon the throne. The measure of chaos in your home will diminish and when the world sees your good works they will glorify God.

God interrupted the people at the Tower of Babel to bring confusion because of their agenda. I can only imagine what he would bring to the people who are unified in giving him glory. God always brings something, but you choose what it will be. Peace or chaos?

picture by  _Gavroche_

WORRY?

Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up. Proverbs 12:25

It is easy to say “don’t worry be happy” but without a cheerful word the saying becomes useless. “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6

When worry visits you? Remember this blog and pray “Lord Jesus Christ get the devil off my back and tell him to cease with his words and open my ears to your message that says I can do all things in your name that strengthens me.”

*Note: worry is cancelled through prayer + praise to God, whose Spirit fills and settles down the believer.

WHAT’S IN YOUR DROP DOWN?

Are you the type of person that allows others to add to your drop down list? Was there a time when you can recall that your drop down menu was short? There were only a few things that you would accept? Societal change toward what some would believe is progress, but in actuality is decay and you decided to add it to the drop down. Are you picking up things that should not be an option?

It is important to review your drop down menu and make sure no option for sin or unwise living is available. Are you about to co-sign on a loan? The Bible records that to be an unwise decision, have you added this to the drop down? A growing number of secular counselors say adding pornography to the marriage is healthy. Have you added this to the drop down?

When you look at others who appear to do well sinning and smiling, please remember the Bible says the wicked are being set up. It is easy to add things to the drop down. That is why we must examine ourselves. So take time to examine yourself. Repent if needed. Move on and prosper.

LOVERS ONLY

For the promises of God to be performed in your life you must love God. He must be the object of your affection and not just a byword used when you’re in trouble. You must make a commitment to put him first and for him to become your God.

For the Bible declares that in all things God works for the good of those who LOVE him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). The key in this verse is love. You must love God for all things to work together for his good.

This verse is for lovers only. You must have a relationship with Jesus. You must confess your sins and repent and receive God’s forgiveness. When you become a lover of God all your works will lead to good. This does not mean you will escape trouble or that you will be perfect, but it does mean you will continue to follow after and God will continue to lead you to the promise land.

Love is not an emotion of ecstasy, but a choice and a decision made with the mind based upon your belief upon the person or thing. When you choose to love God with every part of your being by walking in obedience to his commands, watch out for the good that will follow you all the days of your life. This good will lead you all the way to a mansion in heaven and where every tear from your eye will be dry.

Remember this post is for lovers only.

The Mender of Broken Dreams

Most of us remember the rhyme from our childhood, ‘Humpty dumpty sat on a wall, humpty dumpty had a great fall…all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn’t put humpty dumpty together again’. Do you remember reciting that? Yeah, me too.

Dreams that fall apart unfortunately are something so many of us experience. All the kings’ men couldn’t put humpty dumpty back together. I know it’s a fairy tale rhyme but it sort of goes with this writing.

What happens when your dream just one day disappears from our life? What do you do? Can anything become of a broken dream?

Let me tell you a story. There was a young man named Jeremy who had a dream to own a motorcycle shop when he was old enough and had enough money. He (to use the term) lived, ate and dreamed about motorcycles. He started out when he was about six years old with a small mini-bike that he thought would rival Evil Knievel’s motorcycle. (For those who don’t know who Evil Knievel was might be a time to Google after reading the article.) He graduated to a dirt rider 100cc’s of power that would climb those Ohio hills like nobody’s business. At 16 he decided to take his bike to distant places to ride with the wind and go to where ‘no man has taken a motorcycle before’.

He had many adventures and spent many hours of pure enjoyment on a motorcycle. He graduated high school and went off to college to learn all he could about business and finance. Now don’t worry, he kept up with motorcycles to the extent that he freelanced writing articles for a popular motorcycle magazine. His love for motorcycles grew and grew almost at the same pace as his love for his new ‘girl’ Suzanne.

Suzanne was pretty, smart and she loved to ride with Jeremy on his motorcycle. It didn’t matter if she got caught out in the rain or splashed with mud…’all the better’ she would tell Jeremy when he apologized for the inclement weather.

Jeremy and Suzanne graduated college and got married. Suzanne wanted kids and felt that Jeremy should find a real job and ‘down the road’ they would pull their finances together to open that motorcycle shop. Well as marriages go and finances to raise a family seem to take most of income…that business never happened. One thing led to another, Suzanne had an affair and Jeremy and Suzanne got a divorce.

Crushed and devastated, Jeremy (who never wanted the divorce and truly loved Suzanne) almost suffered a nervous breakdown. He was at his lowest point even considered ending his life because he seriously didn’t think he could handle life without Suzanne.

One of Jeremy’s good friends was troubled for him and started to pray for him. God impressed upon James to talk to Jeremy and try to convince him to start again. James went to Jeremy and talked with him about what he felt and his concern. James assured Jeremy that when God instills a dream or vision he doesn’t take it away.

At first Jeremy didn’t have the energy or the desire to think about it. He couldn’t force himself to have a dream or revive his old dream, he was tormented with failure. But…one day he felt the need and he prayed out to God. He prayed to a God that he knew but his relationship was cold. Jason was raised in church and he was full of faith until he married Suzanne. He allowed his relationship with God to be ‘on the back burner’ and not as important as it used to be.

But God is all merciful and full of grace. All it takes is one prayer; one prayer of repentance and God is there. He reminds you that he loves you, he lets you sense peace and joy. Jeremy prayed and asked God to restore his dream…he asked God to ‘bind up his broken heart’ to mend all the pieces that were crushed and you know what?? God did.

Today Jeremy has his motorcycle shop. Today he is prosperous. Today he is living as a Christian and involved in his church. Today is the dream of yesterday.  Do you have a broken dream? Do you need God to heal your heart and restore your dream? He will, just as he healed Jeremy he will do the same for you. Just ask!!! Ask him now. He is only a prayer away and I know he will hear you.

By Sheila (Guest Post)