Standing Face to Face

Could it be that people do not pursue God more aggressively because they have no reference of how great being in his presence really is?

Can you imagine what it would be like to walk with Jesus? Literally walk down your street with him? Can you imagine having him stay in your home? Eat at your table? Talk with him in the flesh face to face, see him heal a life long paraplegic or raise your child from the cold grip of death?

I can’t.

I think I have a very good imagination but that is all beyond me.

To stand face to face with God……what would I do? I know what I would like to think I’d do but probably I would stand there frozen with my jaw on the ground. And I think I’d probably be afraid. What should I read into that?

I have no idea how fabulous being in the presence of God will be and so I do not pursue it to my fullest extent.

The Spirit

I continue to wonder about the spirit of God and receiving the Spirit and being Spirit filled. I really don’t know that that means. I have assumed that that meant that I had not, was not, and would be at some point. I also believe that it does not preclude me from being a Christian. But perhaps there is another answer.

Often we own great expectations of how something is going to be. Then when the event happens we are disappointed. Remember the old ketchup commercial, “Anticipation is making me wait.” The anticipation, the build-up to an event, often is greater than the anticipated item. In the case of receiving the Spirit of God I expect bright light, fanfare, and an Earth shaking experience.

Could the Spirit come more as a whisper than a shout? I think ABSOLUTELY. So in looking for a tornado a breeze can be overlooked.

I have never said that I was not or had not received I only said that I was unsure of what it meant. As of yet no one has been able to give me an explanation that I can works. Then I came to 1 Corinthians 1:11-12.

For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no
one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit
who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

I certainly don’t understand the whole of what God has given me but I realize more each day. Isn’t that the growth we’re expected to go through? I certainly hope so.

Life Sucks and You Want To Die

There's $52.84 in the bank account and $873.26 in bills that are due in a few days. Payday is over a week away.

Ah, the wire.

…but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Well I must have a lot of character, or perhaps I don’t and that’s why all this crap that is heaped on my life.

There are times when the wire is a bit less stable than others and it’s difficult to stay afoot. I appreciate what Paul, Peter and the twelve went through but do I really want to be imprisoned? For any reason, including my faith? Not really. I prey I’ll never be put to that test.

Right now I’m not faced with a sword, a beating, death by any means because of being a Christian. I am faced by the turmoil brought on by too many bills and not enough in the bank. How I got here is for another time, what is important is how I deal with the situation now. It’s time to persevere and build some character. It’s time to thank God for my suffering and for the person who I will become because of it.

Father thank you for the trials in my life. Thank you for the obstacles and suffering that I learn from, it opens my eyes to see the sufferings of others and brings me closer to them. I have faith in your promise that you will not give me more than I can handle with you and hope in the knowledge that these times of hardship are short lived and that I will be a better person and son when they have passed. In Jesus name, Amen.

I feel better.