Just Let Go, and (Let GOD) Move Forward

¹⁶ I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! ¹⁷ I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.” (Eccl. 3:16-17 NLT)

So last night Cherilyn and I sat down together and opened the letter from the St. Louis County Courts, and to our utter shock, the judge ruled in favor of the people that mishandled our vehicle, returned it to us mechanically destroyed, and then after we had to come to court twice (the defendant didn't show up the first time), and pay for summons/sheriffs to reach the defendant.....they charged us, YES CHARGED US $63 in court costs.   Now if there was ever a time I/we felt robbed......last night was it, but no sooner than we were shook about this.....A friend of Cherilyn's is facing the reality that her father is going to die.  I'm praying for other's with a sick parent, some traveling, and other prayer requests....that force me into this belief that despite the state of current affairs.......GOD IS STILL GOOD.   Our van will get fixed......but our friends & family members who are experiencing the pangs of life & death....will need our prayers and support.

The reality is, if we are all honest.....WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH SOMETHING, and whether they rule in our favor, we have to remember GOD's promises to never leave us or forsake us is true.  That HE WILL PROVIDE.     That there is a day of judgement coming where EVERY WRONG will be vindicated.  THAT THIS IS THE DAY THAT HE IS MADE, and I CHOOSE ....WE CHOOSE (despite emails, judgements, workings of the enemy, etc) to rejoice, YES REJOICE!  I thank each of you for praying for Cherilyn and I regarding this court case, during the transitions at our beloved church, and just because....your prayers have given us the PEACE & JOY of the LORD so that we can focus on LOVING GOD & LOVING PEOPLE!  HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND and this concludes my BLOG A TIME FOR!  LGLP

DO RIGHT!

Colossians 3:7-9 (NLT)

⁷ You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. ⁸ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. ⁹ Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.  Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

No matter where you turn, you can see a mixture of these sign posts.  Some people are telling the truth, some people are lying, but everyone of us are doing one or the other.   I sometimes sit back and read FB posts about politicians and wonder if we are so blind that we don't even see that we too, lie.  That we too mix a little scripture with a lie, and try to make it true (or walk) simply to fulfill our own agendas.  BUT if you are a believer.....well this should drastically changes things.  TRUTH TELLING "in LOVE" (which is you allowing the SPIRIT of GOD to lead your conversations...not you mavericking your way to tell on folks)  should be an intricate part of your conversation.   Not gossipping, anger, malicious behavior, dirty jokes or disgracing God's creation. 

WAIT DISGRACING GOD'S CREATIONS?  Now wait a minute I can't talk about people even when I know they are wrong?  Here's my question for you.....what GLORY does GOD get out of your conversations?  Cause if it's not about getting or giving GOD GLORY, it's about you getting GLORY, and my friend....you're GLORY aint worth an eternity spent basking in the sinful lather of it.  GOD created you....and them....Satan didn't make/create one human being.  So as you are talking about him, her or them....you are either blessing GOD's creation or attempting to curse it.

SO may your speech today, give honor and GLORY to GOD!  I pray you catch yourself, that you feel convicted, you stutter over your words when you part your lips to say anything that curses that which GOD has blessed (created).  If you can't say nothing good.....PRAY! It's time to do right..and no better day than today to start! May the NEW CREATION PLEASE STAND UP!!!!   LGLP

And A Time of Peace

And a time of peace.  (Eccl.3:8d)

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—  Ephesians 4:1-4 (ESV)

How fitting is it that when King Solomon was closing this part of his lisitng of "a time to or fors" that it ended with " and a time of peace."  You know at the end of the day, that's all many of us want.   Truthfully we probably would take it at the begining of our day, during our day, as well as at the end of our day too!  But the reality is.....peace is somewhat hard to come by, simply because we are in a fallen world.   There are forces and voices constantly working against what God designed urging us to do & say things that don't necessarily bring peace, but rather inject confusion.   This is the very reason why Paul, while imprisioned is writing to those that are free in the congregation of Ephesus that he begins Chapter 4 with "urging" the reader to walk in step with GOD has it relates to their calling, and to do so with gentleness, patience, perserverance through love, and an eagerness to maintain unity of the Spirit in what keeps us together, peace. 

People take of work to get peace.  They go on vacations to get it.  They shut off their phones, take sabaticals, they, we are sometimes willing to do anything to escape to get peace.   If peace were a drug we'd all be addicted.  If peace were food, we'd be obese because we simply can't get enough of it.  Even the most outgoing extroverted person even wants a little peace everynow and then.  There's this saying that use to hang in my cube, it read " Some people bring peace when they come, others bring it when they go."  So my question to you...is which are you?  Do people generally enjoy your presence?  If no, why not?

TODAY you will probably leave the house, and as you prepare to do so lemme urge you to be peacekeepers.  Some of us are in your face, sometime even confrontational and there is a place for that, but let's seek to maintain unity on the job (because you are all there to do one, and if no one else is...you should be the one pointing what you do, and why you do it towards GOD.) unity in your home...(be patient with your spouse, your kids, your neighbors especially, and even your pets.) unity abroad ( don't feed into political negativity, don't be found complaining while waiting in line, don't look for ways to divide people but be ruthless in bringing them together) and lastly within yourself (how.....control your thoughts by 

Philippians 4:8-10 (ESV)

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE  (thank you all for bearing with me these last weeks through this A Time For Devotional Blog; I love you all.)

A Time of War

A time of war, (Eccl. 3:8c)

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,  2Cor.10:3-5

The war that I am speaking of today is not the war in Afghanistan, or Somalia, or Kabul, or Israel, no.  I'm talking about the war that was waged upon God and the people of God long before you, your parents and even your parents parents breathed their first breath.   I'm talking about the war against the rulers of darkness, and wickedness in high places.  I'm actually talking about the war occurring in the world that the movie The Matrix speaks of that is just beyond the 20/20 eye's sight.   We are at war with the forces that are behind every terrorist act and ponzi scheme.   We are at war against the forces that promote murders, lies, cheating, child abuse and abduction.  We are raising our voices over & against those that chant wickedness into our society.  We are fighting the forces that love divorce and hate marriages.   WE are silence the gossipers and back biters with the truth in love.  We are fighting the forces that desire to keep us slave to our fears and our pasts, and we are setting captive the will and desire to live for GOD our SAVIOR  & REDEEMER.  WAKE UP people....we are truly a world at war.  Simply because your soul is at stake.  Your children's children are at stake.  Your neighborhood, your job, your church are all collateral damage if we don't take up the whole armor of GOD & stand affront these forces that desire nothing more than to see us turn against God, one another, and ultimately ourselves. 

GOD has not left us defenseless, but equipped us with His WORD (which assures us...He fights for us, and we have to trust that He is fighting for us, and He WONT BE DEFEATED).  He's dealt to every man a measure of FAITH (no need to pray for more faith, but rather you'd tap into the ability to TRUST in HIS PROMISES and not view of your current situation) and lastly and most importantly THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (by which we can DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST who STRENGTHENS US.  It's by the very same power that rose CHRIST from the dead, that's alive in You & Me.)

So put on the whole armor of GOD and a smile because we are more than conquerors, and GOD is our deliverer, He has declared victory over our enemy.  Our job our daily tasks here on Earth is to LOVE GOD enough to devote our lives to serving & trusting Him, and LOVE people enough to serve them in His love.  LGLP

HATE

And a time to hate; (Eccl. 3:8b)

The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate. Proverbs (8:13)

Yesterday I saw something quite interesting.  I saw a reflection of myself in my daughter during a basketball game in a way that I don't think I noticed it before.   They were playing a team that came focused and ready to play.    Some of the key players on her team had essentially lost their cool, and began to turn on each other.  She wasn't apart of the off the court confusion, and the coach put her back in, and as she played "focused" things got worse on the bench, and to the point the ref called the game.  She so busy, so focused on trying to do well noticed things falling apart and wanted to fix it all, but I called her to myself and began to encourage her for being a good team member.  She began to drift into weeping and I noticed how she loved this team, this game called basketball but HATED CONFUSION, HATED PEOPLE GIVING UP, and HATED NOT BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, because she was willing to give her love to the success of the team.

As weird as it may sound to say it....Christians are permitted to, encouraged to Love what He loves, and hate what God hates.  So let me try to keep this short:  You will find in scripture that GOD hates (Psalms 11:5, Proverbs 6, Malachi 2:16) acts, not His people.   Search yourself....I mean that, really search yourself.....Have you allowed your heart to hate certain people?  Seriously....how do you feel about homosexuals, blacks, whites, republicans, democrats, liberals, rich, poor, homeless, affluent, Bosnians, Russians, Africans, Catholics, Baptist, Pentecostal, Drug Addicts, Drunks, pedophiles, murderers, ex-convicts.....you get it???!!!?!?!

The only way to truly WORSHIP GOD is learning to LOVE HIM and ALL OF HIS PEOPLE (ALL THE one's HE CREATED...and since SATAN isn't, can't, and has never been a creator...this means every breathing soul) and hate behaviors.  Proverbs challenges our thinking....do you really hate evil?  Do you discourage pride & arrogance when you see it budding in yourself or others?  Do you encourage bad jokes or back biting (talking behind peoples backs- gossipping)  or do you love them enough to tell them to their face your feelings regarding their actions?  SATAN wants to pervert GOD's way and His Word.   He wants you to HATE PEOPLE...instead of ascribing your hatred towards their actions that are prompted in part by him.

Here's my parting encouragement: (John 4:20) If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?  LGLP

Love

A time to love, (Eccl. 3:8a)

And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, (Hebrews 10:24  AMP)

Pictured is a young female lifeguard watching over a pool of people.  You know lifeguards are special people.   They risk their lives everyday for the sake of our fun and recreation.  They are willing to jump in what appears to be a desperate situation with the purpose of preserving one's life & ultimate safety.  Today's verse is about there being a time to love, and what better picture of love that according to scripture is the true mark of friend, a believer, or follow of Christ is there love for God, and others.  Lifeguards aren't partial regarding who they save.  They save whoever they see are in need.   Life is like a big swimming pool, some people are wading in it, some are swimming enjoying it, some are goofing off, and some are literally drowning in it.   We need to be watchful like lifeguard when it comes to living a life that displays an active love that we'd give our lives to save another one.    What about you and loving others?  Ok so you say....." I love God....." but you treat your co-workers like???????  Or you treat your next door neighbor like??????   How is it that your wife knows you love her?  Please.....save the what all you do.....I'm asking do you speak her love language, do you communicate love in the way that she can understand it recieve it, and be filled by it?   What about your kids?  Do you know their love language? Your friends?  Your co-workers?  Do you even know your neighbors?   OK DO YOU EVEN HAVE THE BOOK  (The Five Love Languages)?

Our secondary scripture asks us to be careful to watch, study how we can incite, excite, inspire others to love and demonstrate acts of good deeds.  So how will you do it today?  How will you demonstrate love to each person on the job today?  How will you be intentional in inciting and inspiring others to jump right in and join the mission of loving God, and loving people?   The secret is........just jump right in!  There will be multiple opportunities today to buy someone lunch, or just sit down with them at lunch and learn about who they are.   There will be opportunities for you to devise a way to celebrate a life; not just because it's their birthday or anniversary, but rather just because you love them.  Pick a person in your office....get somebody else involved....make it a big deal...and then next week or whatever choose another person until everyone feels valued cause in God's eyes....they areLGLP! 

Speak

And a time to speak; (Eccl.3:7d)

Then the angel of the LORD stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. ²⁵ When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. ²⁶ Then the angel of the LORD moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. ²⁷ This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.
 ²⁸ Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.
 ²⁹ “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”
 ³⁰ “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?”
   “No,” Balaam admitted.
 ³¹ Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.  Numbers 22:24-31

When was the last time your dog or cat spoke to you?  I know probably never....and if you have a parrot, well....that doesn't count, but imagine trying to do what you want to do, and it seems no one is cooperating, not even the animal you rode in on.  Funny isn't how we have our own will and sometimes, ok many times.....it's not the same as God's will.   We want to go to this school, and God is desiring us to go to that school.  Or you really like this guy/gal but you don't understand why they don't feel the same.   Or maybe you go on an interview and it went super, but despite your prayers they choose someone else.  Balaam was a prophet of the Lord and was being asked to do something that was against the will of God.  Balaam had prayed and God even told him not to go and attempt to curse what He had blessed.   But Balaam was being pursued by a king that was offering him "things" making it harder for Balaam to "just say no."

So Balaam set out to curse the people, and one of the most amazing fetes happen; a donkey spoke.  No this isn't a scene out of Shrek, but rather since Balaam hadn't listen to God, God decided to really grab his attention.  As you read Balaam had begun to beat the donkey because He wouldn't go forward as he was commanding/steering him to go.  It was only when the donkey spoke, pleaded with him, and then Balaam saw the Angel of the Lord opposed to his will.   Balaam realized that he was wrong on many levels.  He had allowed his heart to chase the wrong things.   He began to beat an innocent animal, and ultimately he was going against God's will.   

Who's speaking to you?  Who are you allowing to speak into you?  Who are you speaking to?  Is what you're saying leading people into a deeper relationship with Christ?  With everyone talking, with voices from the radio, television, all around in the marketplace, I'm just curious who is it that you are really listening to?   Contrary to public opinion I believe that when we all stand before God in judgement there won't be an opportunity or a need for us to speak, or plead our cases.   Simply because GOD knows it all.  He knows why you did what you did, or said what you said.  He's the discerner of our hearts, so that being said it won't be this back in forth regarding you getting into heaven or not.  See I believe your life....will have spoken for you.  No matter who the speaker is at your funeral, they can't preach you into heaven if your life, your time on Earth didn't point you or anyone in that direction.  Each day whether you are talking or not you're living.  You are living out your faith, which speaks for you. 

So in closing this devotion today....

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)  ²¹ The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. 

It's time to speak...what will your life say today?  LGLP