GLORIFY

Definition of GLORY

1a : praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent : renown b : worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving <giving glory to God>

 

 

Definition of GLORIOUS

1a : possessing or deserving glory : illustrious b : entitling one to glory <a glorious victory>

2: marked by great beauty or splendor : magnificent <a glorious sunset>

 

Definition of GLORIFY

1a : to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration b : to elevate to celestial glory.

 

I think most of us would say that we want to live a life that Glorifies God.  More over a life that Glorifies Him and also points others to do the same. But what does that mean? What does that look like?

 

Matthew Chp 5 says we are the light of the world, let our light shine, others will see and glorify the Father.  I know I for one look at myself and think, "How can I point others to Glorify the Father?" when I look at what all is wrong with me how can God use me.

 

Really the answer is simpler than one might think. God's is bigger than you are. What can you do that God says, "Now what am I going to do?" Nothing. Read through the Psalms, as you see David a man after God's own heart, crying out to Abba, praising Him, searching for Him. 

 

It wasn't that David was perfect, he apparently had a few issues throughout his life. Same as us, but God saw through all of those faults (which God uses to change us) and built a great Kingdom through David. 

 

God is working through you. Take heart. With your Heart seek Him, seek His Love, seek His mercy and grace.  Remember that this is a constant spiritual battle, and wanting to good evil is right there with us. 

 

Please take a minute, follow this link read Psalm 69.   

 

Finally I leave you with a few scriptures.

Psalm 86:12
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.Psalm 63:3
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.Psalm 34:3
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

I want to thank you so much for reading. My prayer from the beginning was that God be glorified. To spread the Love of Christ. To question religion and find Relationship. To challenge others to realize the leadership potential God has built within them. You are here for battle. We might have varying roles in there, but I feel we are at war.

 

Love in Christ- David

 

 

Diabetic Christianity

If you have ever been around a person with diabetes, that suffers from low blood sugar, they usually have something to eat nearby. I know in Oklahoma a restriction on your license can be to have food or candy within reach of the driver.

If you have been around someone that is experiencing low blood sugar, they can do some strange things. They even act like they are drunk. Odd behavior, extreme emotional swings, they have it all. If they would have just maintained there blood sugar.

For me diabetes runs in the family so I watch out for signs of problems. And though I have never been diagnosed with it I have noticed some issues I have. For instance there have been times I could tell, and others around me like my wife, that I needed to eat something. I get really cranky and I personally can't always tell. Sometimes I get a headache and feel a little sick. But I'm not always able to see it. I'll be working away at something, forgetting to stop. One of those times when time flies by. You look up and "Man where has the time gone!". You're in a hurry so you move on to the next thing. Later realize, "I didn't eat lunch." At least that's what can happen to me.

My Walk with God lately has turned out the same way. If I had known it was lunch time I would have eaten. I don't like to feel bad, so what happened? I got so busy I didn't even notice I missed something. I didn't even know I was hungry! That seems so crazy. If you don't eat, well we don't run on just air. I feel my relationship with God should be just as extreme. I want to live!

Matthew 5:6

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,    for they will be filled.

Apparently my lack of ability to judge time and needs for my own life are impaired. I don't know I'm hungry and I don't know it's lunch time. So now what. I believe this is what Jesus was talking about in John 14. He says He is going to the Father, He will do whatever you ask in His name. 

This is the kind of thing, I believe, truly makes Abba proud. To ask, Father make me hunger for you, thirsty for you. I can't be trusted to take this task on my own. I need God's help, I want to feel the hunger, long to drink from His cup. And always be looking for more.

With love and hoping you're hungry- David

MIND GAMES

I would say it's probably just me but I do know were not in this alone. I hope.

Recently I seem to be struggling with my thoughts. All kinds of craziness going on in there. It is like none of the things that I want nor what was there a couple months ago, is in there. All the God stuff is gone. Replaced by evil thoughts and/or emotions. And unless you're 3 years old we generally are expected to think before we act thus I'm wondering what is going on up there. If I had acted on the thoughts I probably would have given another driver the finger right before I ran him off the road. AGGHHHH!

A friend of mine once said, "I am a thief and a liar. I covet other peoples possessions constantly. I have impure thoughts, lust. I have extreme bouts of anger. And that's just since I accepted Christ."

One problem I see within my self is that I think that I can "self-help". I can even do christian things and be in a self-help mode. Jesus saw this at work and talked about it in John Chp 5:39

³⁹ You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,

 

It's about why you are reading the scriptures. It's all about Jesus. The Bible alone cannot change me. It cannot "fix" me. It cannot change my mind. Jesus talked about prayer the same way. You know the guy standing in the front vs the tax collector in the back.

 

A scripture that was on my heart through this last week.

Ps 51:10-12

 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,    and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence    or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

I am unable to "self-help". I cannot do it on my own. You know the whole potter and the clay thing. God is the one who makes the changes within you.  Leading us, teaching us, molding us.

 

Ps 139: 23-2423Search me, God, and know my heart;    test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me,    and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

God I'm tired. Tired of life as I know it. I know you're as close as ever but something doesn't seem right. Restore me to the place I once was. Protect me against the evil of this world, the corruption of my own mind. Give me your thoughts, your love, your insight. To say I am unable is not drastic enough, You are Emmanuel, Abba, the God of our Fathers, Glory be your name. Help us.

What's a BIG DEAL!?

Who at this point hasn't had some thing happen that was a really big deal? I think everyone has. Let's  look back in time and I mean, lets go way back. How about High school, far enough?

When I was in High School I was ultra self-conscious, at least till I was a Senior. But I can remember some things that happened that were really a big deal. Like not having enough money to go to the movies with friends or having to take my lunch when I was a freshmen, thought that was a big deal. Basically anything that didn't go MY way was a big deal.

But what is a big deal to God?

I have seen loved ones die after years of illness. Is this not a big deal? I have seen friends lose their children before they take their first breath, is this not a big deal? I have seen my own family struggle through difficulties, is this not a big deal?

One thing I have noticed over the years, is that God has changed my perception of what is a BIG DEAL. Most things that are currently a big deal, focus on me. I'm focused on my problems and I am only looking at them through my perspective.

Nothing has happened or will, that God has not known. My life has one main purpose, to be conformed to the image and likeness of His son.  Through that statement, it is a life of gratefulness, thanksgiving, love, and compassion.

I do not know hardship or suffering compared to what others throughout the world do. Nor does it compare to the Love that God himself showed for me. While I was wrapped up in a BIG DEAL, wrapped up in self, wrapped up with the concerns of this world, wrapped in sin, Christ died for me. 

As I look back on those things that were a big deal at the time. I see God provided and delivered and moreover LOVED me through all these things. Furthermore, I couldn't show the kind of compassion and comfort to others I should, had i not endured and been brought through these things. Since I was comforted, I can better show comfort to others. 

I hope the next BIG DEAL that comes along I will have a better handle on it. That I will have less self in it. That I will immediately turn my face toward Abba, our Father in Heaven, and glorify His name. For nothing is out side of His ability, His Love, His Faithfulness.

What's a big deal to God, You, more than your physical well being, it's your spirit, a Big Deal is your eternity.
May the God of Peace wrap you in His unfailing Love- David



AWAKE

I don't know about you but sometimes it seems like I am on a train that keeps making the same trip over and over. I get used to the bumps, the curves, some unexpected stops to let people on and off. I have even gotten used to the noise. This week I heard on a local radio station, this Hip-hop bible verse thing, really loved it. It was called "Streetlights Project".  It is a free download by the way.

But any way, the verse they played on the radio was Eph 5: 1-21. After I downloaded it, I have listened to that one passage many times. There was just something in it that was entangling my mind. Although that might not take much, it was still happening.  Actually one little part, a couple words, from one verse.

vs. 14

“Wake up, sleeper....

There was something in those word that called out to me. They made me want to listen more and read that passage again.  But I am not a sleep am I? I have accepted Christ, is this for me?

But maybe I have been napping or sleep walking. We had a message at our church months ago that said "just because something isn't bothering you, doesn't mean it shouldn't be."

Maybe that is me. I have lost the seriousness of the situation. That all things are either good or bad. There is not a gray area with God. There is Truth or a lie, Light or darkness, Life or death.  

God this week, I need your help. Eph 5:1-2 - Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Help me to follow your example, help me to be an imitator of your love, compassion, and grace. Give me your thoughts, your insight, let your Spirit flow through me, through all of us.  And God, thanks for the Wake Up call.

Love- David.

YOUR IMPACT: HIGH

One of the things that I sometimes struggle with is where I am in life. I was really bad about this but have slowly been changed over time. I used to say God if I had this Job, this House, this Money, this and that. It was beyond being content. I was happy I just wanted more of God and determined I knew the way to grow that relationship. That my usefulness to God some how related to the circumstances I find my self in.

So in this growth the scripture that God led me to is in Corinthians. Paul is addressing marriage, circumcision, and slavery but it seems to apply.

1 Corinthians 7:24

²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

So now I know it is not where I'm at nor is it what I'm doing. Another verse tells us do everything as unto the Lord. I think God wants people everywhere, almost like we are infiltrating the world. You might think your job is a low position in society. Or maybe that your just a new christian and don't know anything, so God can't use you. As far as I can see, you need to know this. God loves you and everyone else. Jesus died for all of us, and God raised Him from the dead; and acceptance of that is the only way to heaven. Love God and love others. TA DA. Let God do the rest.

That's not to say there won't be other changes in your life, but God is the potter we are the clay. Our church has a thing they call the code, this is one of them.



We will do anything short of sin to reach people who don’t know Christ. To reach people no one is reaching, we’ll have to do things no one is doing.

So today my family, an extension or as ambassadors of God, we are going to a car show.  We'll be handing out "church" invites but more than that we will be showing God's love for all the people of the world.

Good luck and God Speed- David.

Imaginary Friends

My oldest  son asked me this week if I had an imaginary friend.  I of course said yes! Then I said well the older I get the more I seem to talk to myself anyways. I think I scared him a little. But that's good parenting right there!

As I thought about the question he asked I began to recall many people that have crossed my path. Friends seem to change over a life time. Some just because you drift apart, your thinking changes, time restraints, there are many things that move friends around.

I've always thought there were three things that test all your friendships.
1. Get married. 2. Get divorced. 3. Get Jesus.
But as life moves, so do friends. Friends have been there through good times and bad. They've "caused" the good times and the bad. But they have not been imaginary.

I also developed (of course) a different view of what these people are in my life.

Whether Friend or Foe, they are instruments of God. You see in scripture God used non-believers, like Pharaoh, to advance the Gospel through adversity. God also used the death of a best friend and the sorrow of a family to show His power, when Lazarus was raised from the dead. The prophets of God generally didn't show up and just say how awesome people were. They told people where they could improve and where they were doing well.  Consider the new testament Paul where in Ephesians he commends them for their faith, but tells them no unwholesome talk would come from you.

I love my friends past, present, and future. I view them differently because God has placed them close to me. In nearly constant contact with some of them. Some I speak with only on-line, others I see occasionally, and yet some we are intentionally connected friends. God has given us time to see each other every week, to share our struggles and successes. To live life together, our church calls it a Life Group. It is my inner circle, which is a model that Jesus shows. God placed them there, not by accident, but with purpose.

All of you, everyone I would call friend, know you are an extension of God. You are being used to change my life. To those of you God will use through adversity, well your probably not reading this anyways.................but God loves you and I am able to love you through my trust in Him. There it is I'm a hippie, Love for everybody.