Sleeping with the Enemy?

 

 ^"You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God."  

James 4:4[a]

Social acceptance, prestige, or wealth are all described by James as friends of the world. Divided loyalty toward God is like adultery against one's spouse.
When we say "yes" to God, we find ourselves ushered into a strange and painful reality. Our defiance and self-reliance has kept us separated from our creator. The very one who breathed life into us and planned our life while we were being formed in our mother's womb.
What begins to transpire has been described as Holy Surgery. We were born into a sinful and fallen world as children of a sin nature. Relying on our own understanding of the things we see, taste, touch, and smell. We gather information from those who have been charged with caring for us, and as we grow older, we begin to develop "common sense." I believe this is the most stifling quality to the Good News of Christ we possess. Everything we do in our life is governed by our own framework of "common sense."
Since the beginning of time, man has been searching for the throne of God. We can't find it on our own, so we resolve to create a throne room in our minds or our homes, and we worship the god of us.
When you say the words of Isaiah, "here am I, send me" to God, you've given Him permission to check you into hospital. You are wheeled into surgery and He begins to remove everything that was never supposed to be there.
The greatest misconception of the work of God, is that He must change my surroundings and environment so that I can not be tempted to fall away. Although, that's not a bad idea, it never really deals with the core issue, YOU.
God wants to have a relationship with you, but to do that He needs your trust. Every lesson of self-reliance you have ever learned must be cut out of you and replaced with dependence on Him. God will never force Himself on you, or strap you on the surgeon's table, or even knock you out so that you feel no pain. In other words, this process could last a lifetime. Oh yeah, did I mention it was going to hurt?
John Piper writes that pain is not for nothing, but that it is producing a peculiar glory in us. Oswald Chambers writes, through pain and circumstance is the only way we build character.
As a man, I tend to always seek the affirmation of others. This helps to galvanize my way of thinking. God has been clear in His desire to severe that way of thinking.

If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.  

Luke 14:26(b)

Once you take a step of faith in the direction of Jesus Christ, the next thing you will face is the people who should understand you the best. This is where it gets REALLY hard. You've spent a lifetime leaning on the knowledge and experience of these relationships. James makes it very clear what divided loyalties will produce, you will become an enemy of God.
One of the biggest blows to our self-help mentality, is that the pain we experience is not FOR you. When you accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are presented before God blameless and righteous.

 " I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me...."

Gal 2:20a(c)

So then why must we experience so much trouble?
Your choices and behavior influence everyone who is in contact with you. If your life looked like anything less than the redemptive life of Christ, then the world would never recognize their need for Him.
So how do we reflect Christ to the world?
When we say "yes" to Christ, we enter in to the "undeserved privilege" of the new covenant. Our everyday life is transformed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Which reminds me of the old hymn:

"Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."(d)

 

I need a bigger shoe horn!!

If you were to start a business selling swimming pools, how successful would you be in Nova Scotia? Or maybe your greatest idea is to market wood burning fireplaces in Panama. How long till you began turning a profit?
I used to work for a farm and home retailer that was always looking to increase market share. The CEO would commonly ask questions like, "When you came to a new market, were there cows on the loose? Were there a lot of skinny animals? Were the people of the town naked?" His point was this, someone in this new market was taking care of our customers needs. "How are we going to convince them they need to buy from us? What can we do that will set us apart from our competition?"
These were great questions that begged for more research. Anybody can set up a new business and start selling, but if your business is not relevant to the surrounding market, you may as well stop before you start.
Take the time to learn the people you are trying to reach. What's important to them? How will my product or service be of any use to the customer? How much can the market afford? Lastly, which is probably the hardest question; is my product or service only important to me?
If you answered yes to the last question, be careful. You may be teetering on the edge of arrogant irrelevance.
Sometimes, we have these brilliant ideas that could really affect the culture that we live in, but we end in failure because we try to use a giant shoe horn to persuade people to our point of view. Sure you may gain a few followers or patrons, but are you really making an impact? In most cases, we influence people to take a hard stance against our ideas, which in turn hardens the way for others with similar thoughts and aspirations.
In order to make the biggest impact or gain the biggest market share, you have to dissect your idea down to one question. Do I want to be relevant to the community or do I want the community to recognize my idea as relevant? One question looks to serve and the other looks to be served. This is where many businesses reach a stalemate in their path to success.
Why am I discussing business development principles? I believe many Christians take this same thought process when trying to make inroads for the Gospel with the people they encounter. We often fail to ask the right questions and we forge ahead with idealism and passion toward creating a real difference. However, we most often become as irrelevant as a rain drop to a bonfire.
I am concerned about the lack of compassion to the present surroundings. In Luke 17:20-21(a), Jesus was asked by a Pharisee(or religious authority) "When will the Kingdom of God come?" It took me a long time to realize this next bit, but Jesus says "Stop looking for signs and signals, the Kingdom of God is among you."
Many have read this passage and assumed Jesus was referring to himself, since the Pharisees were still anticipating a conquering hero, but I believe Jesus was also referring to the outcast, the poor, the widows, the helpless.
A friend of mine tells a story when he was summoned to speak at a conference on eradicating poverty. Dressed in his white pastor collar and sport coat, he had just phoned his friend for directions to the meeting and began to walk in that direction. He had noticed a man who was, as he put it "worse for wear", and tried to figure out how to move quickly as to avoid any conversation. Just then the man hollered, "Oy, mate!!" Next thing, my friend was trying to think about how much money he had to give or whether he was going to offer this man a meal or maybe both, but didn't have enough time since he was already running late. After stammering around the subject with the gentleman, the man said to my friend, "I don't want your f***in' money, I want to know your Jesus!" At that moment, my friend had realized "I've just professionalized my calling."
Does this sound like you? Have you been so focused on your idea or passion that you were too busy to notice what God had placed right in front of you?
We fall into such traps and deceptive lies. Somehow we began to believe we deserved our life, our dreams, our successes. God was here for us, right? He loved us so much, He sent His Son to save us, right? Why wouldn't He want ME to be happy?
Once you enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, you have to begin to recognize the sacrifice God gave because He loves you. Here's the part that stings; He didn't crucify His one and only Son just for only you......We were created for a purpose far greater than our own ideas or abilities. We were created to reflect the love of Christ and His redemptive story to a lost and dying world. There is nothing in comparison you can fully commit your life to apart from the instruction and leadings of Jesus Christ. If you even take one step in the direction of your own strength, you have disrespected the authority of God and His sovereignty over ALL things.
If you want to change the world, great!! Start with you. Surrender to the author and perfecter of our faith(b) Jesus Christ. Allow Christ to tear off the scales from your eyes and begin to allow Him to show you the world as He sees it. We are all God's children, and in regards to those it is our job and only job as Christ followers to love them as ourselves.(c)
I met a missionary recently on a vision trip to Iowa and we were talking about this subject. He told me this story:
 He and his family went to serve in a village in Africa and many of the women did not wear shirts. As a man this proved a great temptation, so next time they came he brought them all t-shirts. The women loved them and put them on immediately. Disaster averted, right? Well, the next time the family returned to this village, all of the ladies had cut holes out in the shirts, so their breasts wouldn't feel so constricted while they were working. Needless to say, He learned a valuable lesson towards understanding what's important to the people he was serving.
This poses and interesting question. If we perceive a sinful lifestyle being lived, shouldn't we help them understand their sin? If we allow it to be normal, does it mean we are then condoning and enabling them to sin?
I will finish with one more story of how sometimes we think our godliness is right for everyone.
I have a friend who opened a coffee shop in East London to reach the people of the area for the Gospel. This is a very immigrant area, and several refugees live there as well. This is also the former industrial area of London. Buildings are rundown and graffiti litters their walls. Crime and nefarious things lurk among those less fortunate. One thing he noticed was that several prostitutes worked in that area, and this grieved his heart. He prayed about a way to help and God told him to start a bakery that would provide for the coffee shop. The way this was going to eradicate prostitution was to provide jobs. His reasoning was, "You can't tell someone their career is a sin, if don't provide an alternative for them to meet their needs." Most of these women didn't choose this life, but for various circumstances, it chose them. You cant tell a poor person to "Go get a job" if no one will hire them. Just as you can't convince people the product your selling is for them, if they have no use for it.
So what do we do?

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need."  

Matthew 6:33 

I'm too tired to continue.....

      In the book The Dream Giver(1) the main character Ordinary finds himself in The WasteLand. Never mind, he just stepped out of his comfort zone to follow his Big Dream, and he just made it through all of the Border Bullies who tried to stop him, he now has stumbled into the desert of The WasteLand.

      Here is where Ordinary faces the greatest difficulty of his journey. Just when he convinced himself his dream was worth it, his faith in the Dream Giver was to be tested.

      This is an all too familiar journey for me. Two years ago in 2011, I decided to stop being just a cradle Christian. I stepped onto a path God had been waiting for me to see. This was the path designed for me and only me, and it was laid out before I was even "knit in my mother's womb."(a) However, had I known the struggles I would face, I might have chosen a different route.

      That's what I've grown to love about faith. If God told us everything upfront, it would blow our minds. He desires a deep intimacy with us, and I'm not sure we would feel very intimate knowing the circumstances we were to face and how He would engineer them for His glory.

Following a dream or calling is a walk through a series of trials and persecutions, but that refining was never intended for our gain and purpose.

"If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others." - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest(Nov 5th)

When I think of persisting in difficult circumstances, I'm often reminded of a speech given by a former college basketball coach. Suffering from cancer, he was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award. Here are some excerpts of his acceptance speech:

“But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special.”

“…and I always have to think about what's important in life to me are these three things. Where you started, where you are and where you're going to be. Those are the three things that I try to do every day.”

“I just got one last thing, I urge all of you, all of you, to enjoy your life, the precious moments you have. To spend each day with some laughter and some thought, to get you're emotions going. To be enthusiastic every day and as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Nothing great could be accomplished without enthusiasm," to keep your dreams alive in spite of problems whatever you have. The ability to be able to work hard for your dreams to come true, to become a reality. “
"Don't give up, don't ever give up."
“Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.“ - Jim Valvano 1993 at ESPY Awards(2)

 

Decision #7

The Persistent Decision*

I Will Persist Without Exception.

Knowing that I have already made changes in my life that will last forever, today I insert the final

piece of the puzzle. I possess the greatest power ever bestowed upon mankind, the power of choice.

Today, I choose to persist without exception. No longer will I live in a dimension of distraction, my

focus blown hither and yon like a leaf on a blustery day. I know the outcome I desire. I hold fast to

my dreams. I stay the course. I do not quit.

I will persist without exception. I will continue despite exhaustion. I acknowledge the fact that most

people quit when exhaustion sets in. I am not “most people.” I am stronger than most people.

Average people accept exhaustion as a matter of course. I do not. Average people compare themselves

 

with other people. That is why they are average. I compare myself to my potential. I am not average. I see

 

exhaustion as a precursor to victory.

How long must a child try to walk before he actually does so? Do I not have more strength than a

child? More understanding? More desire? How long must I work to succeed before I actually do

so? A child would never ask the question, for the answer does not matter. By persisting without

exception, my outcome—my success—is assured. I will persist without exception. I focus on results.

To achieve the results I desire, it is not even necessary that I enjoy the process. It is only important

that I continue the process with my eyes on the outcome. An athlete does not enjoy the pain of

training; an athlete enjoys the results of having trained. A young falcon is pushed from the nest,

afraid and tumbling from the cliff. The pain of learning to fly cannot be an enjoyable experience,

but the anguish of learning to fly is quickly forgotten as the falcon soars to the heavens.

A sailor who fearfully watches stormy seas lash his vessel will always steer an unproductive course.

But a wise and experienced captain keeps his eye firmly fixed upon the lighthouse. He knows that

by guiding his ship directly to a specific point, the time spent in discomfort is lessened. And by

keeping his eye on the light, there never exists one second of discouragement. My light, my harbor,

my future is within sight!

I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith. In Jeremiah, my Creator declares, “For

I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a

 

future.” From this day forward, I will claim a faith in the certainty of my future. Too much of my life has

 

been spent doubting my beliefs and believing my doubts. No more! I have faith in my

future. I do not look left or right. I look forward. I can only persist.

For me, faith will always be a sounder guide than reason because reason can only go so far—faith

has no limits. I will expect miracles in my life because faith produces them every day. I will

believe in the future that I do not see. That is faith. And the reward of this faith is to see the

future that I believed.

I will continue despite exhaustion. I focus on results. I am a person of great faith.

 

I will persist without exception.

 

* The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews(3)

If I forgive, they win...right?

       Much of my adult life has been spent looking back, feeling resentful, regretful, and even feeling like a failure. It wasn't until recently that I learned self-pity is a form of pride. What makes it particularly sneaky, is that this form of pride only happens when you feel disappointed.

       I used to blame my dad for not being a better dad, my mom for not being a better mom, or even people who have let me down. My life was never a result of my own actions or responsibility. If I were to admit that I caused my own disappointment, then I am really a failure.

       Seems like a vicious cycle, never gaining any ground. Besides, I loved rainy days, sad songs, or any other reason to feel reflectively sorrowful. I excused it as a cleansing of my soul. Really, I was practicing the purest form of idolatry.

       Then, I had a chance to gain a better understanding of the results my life was producing. Instead of just recognizing that people let me down, I had to determine to forgive them and move forward. In some cases, I wasn't ready to let them win. Nevertheless, I was the only one being held captive, not them. I realized my prayers were hindered because I refused to forgive.

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

Decision # 6

 

The Compassionate Decision*

I Will Greet This Day With a Forgiving Spirit.

For too long, every ounce of forgiveness I owned was locked away, hidden from view, waiting for me to

bestow its precious presence upon some worthy person. Alas, I found most people to be singularly

unworthy of my valuable forgiveness and, since they never asked for any, I kept it all for myself.

 

Now, the forgiveness that I hoarded has sprouted inside my heart like a crippled seed yielding bitter fruit.

No more! At this moment, my life has taken on new hope and assurance. Of all the world’s population, I

am one of the few possessors of the secret to dissipating anger and resentment. I now understand that

forgiveness only has value when it is given away. By the simple act of granting forgiveness, I release the

demons of the past about which I can do nothing and create in myself a new heart, a new beginning.

I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive even those who do not ask for forgiveness. Many

are the times when I have seethed in anger at a word or deed thrown into my life by an unthinking or

uncaring person. Valuable hours have been wasted imagining revenge or confrontation. Now I see the

truth revealed about this psychological rock inside my shoe. The rage I nurture is often one-sided, for my

offender seldom gives thought to his offense!

I will now and forevermore silently offer my forgiveness even to those who do not see that they need it.

 

By the act of forgiving, I am no longer consumed by unproductive thoughts. My bitterness is given up. I

 

am contented in my soul and effective again with my fellow man.

I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive those who criticize me unjustly. Knowing that

 

slavery, in any form, is wrong. I also know that the person who lives a life according to the opinion of

 

others is a slave. I am not a slave. I have chosen my own counsel. I know the difference between right and

 

wrong. I know what is best for the future of my family, and neither misguided opinion nor unjust criticism

 

will alter my course.

Those who are critical of my goals and dreams simply do not understand the higher purpose to which I

have been called. Therefore, their scorn does not affect my attitude or action. I forgive their lack of vision

and forge ahead. I now know that criticism is part of the price paid for leaping past mediocrity.

I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive myself. For many years, my greatest enemy has

been myself. Every mistake, every miscalculation, every stumble I made has been replayed over and over

in my mind. Every broken promise, every day wasted, every goal not reached has compounded the disgust

I feel for the lack of achievement in my life. My dismay has developed a paralyzing grip. When I

 

disappoint myself, I respond with inaction and become more disappointed.

I realize today that it is impossible to fight an enemy living in my head. By forgiving myself, I erase the

doubts, fears, and frustration that have kept my past in the present. From this day forward, my history

will cease to control my destiny. I have forgiven myself. My life has just begun.

I will forgive even those who do not ask for forgiveness. I will forgive those who criticize me unjustly. I

will forgive myself.

I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.

 

* The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

The Gospel According to Dory

As a father, one of my favorite movies is Disney Pixar's Finding Nemo. I know what it is to be a single father, and I know the great lengths my heart would take me if something were to happen to my children.

If you've never seen the movie, the main character Marlin is on a search through the ocean to find his son Nemo, who was taken by some divers. Along the way we meet Dory. Dory is what my wife would say is "somewhat touched." She is a fish with short-term memory loss, and after she meets you or gains new information, she forgets it rather quickly.

Flash forward a bit, and Marlin and Dory are over a deep trench that stretches into the darkness. The only clue as to where Nemo may be had just sank into that trench. Marlin is beside himself as to what to do. He feels like his entire world just collapsed with that sinking clue.

Dory, in her serendipitous way, sees no problem. Her thought is to swim down into the abyss and retrieve what they need. Marlin cannot fathom(see what I did there?..fathom) even the possibility of retrieving the clue. Then Dory asks the question we all are frozen with fear to answer. "What do you do when life gets you down?"

Most of us think of a thousand scenarios of catastrophe and just give up. Dory's answer is not high on our preference, nor does it remotely seem logical. As a matter of fact, it's downright giddy irresponsibility! (I stole that from George Banks in Mary Poppins)

Dory simply begins to sing "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming swimming,....."

Today as you read what Andy Andrews has written, think of your life. Is squeezing out a smile and singing a song, painfully irritating? Think of your present situation or season of your life, and then take the advice of a little girl locked up in a prison camp. Anne Frank, in spite of all she was experiencing, chose to be happy.





Decision #5

The Joyful Decision*

Today, I Will Choose to be Happy.

Beginning this very moment, I am a happy person, for I now truly understand the concept of

happiness. Few others before me have been able to grasp the truth of the physical law that

enables one to live happily every day. I know now that happiness is not an emotional phantom

floating in and out of my life. Happiness is a choice. Happiness is the end result of certain

thoughts and activities, which actually bring about a chemical reaction in my body. This reaction

results in a euphoria, which, while elusive to some, is totally under my control.

Today I will choose to be happy. I will greet each day with laughter. Within moments of awakening,

I will laugh for seven seconds. After even such a small period of time, excitement has begun

to flow through my bloodstream. I feel different. I am different! I am enthusiastic about the day.

I am alert to its possibilities. I am happy! Laughter is an outward expression of enthusiasm, and

I know that enthusiasm is the fuel that moves the world. I laugh throughout the day. I laugh while

I am alone, and I laugh in conversation with others. People are drawn to me because I have laughter

in my heart. The world belongs to the enthusiastic for people will follow them anywhere!

Today I will choose to be happy. I will smile at every person I meet. My smile has become my

calling card. It is, after all, the most potent weapon I possess. My smile has the strength to forge

bonds, break ice, and calm storms. I will use my smile constantly. Because of my smile, the people

with whom I come in contact on a daily basis will choose to further my causes and follow my

leadership. I will always smile first. That particular display of a good attitude will tell others what

I expect in return. My smile is the key to my emotional make up. A wise man once said, “I do not

sing because I am happy; I am happy because I sing!” When I choose to smile, I become the master

of my emotions. Discouragement, despair, frustration, and fear will always wither when confronted

by my smile. The power of who I am is displayed when I smile.

Today I will choose to be happy. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit. In the past, I have found

discouragement in particular situations, until I compared the condition of my life to others less

fortunate. Just as a fresh breeze cleans smoke from the air, so does a grateful spirit remove the

cloud of despair. It is impossible for the seeds of depression to take root in a thankful heart. My

God has bestowed upon me many gifts, and for these I will remember to be grateful. Too many

times I have offered up the prayers of a beggar, always asking for more and forgetting my thanks.

I do not wish to be seen as a greedy child, unappreciative, and disrespectful. I am grateful for

sight and sound and breath. If ever in my life there is a pouring out of blessings beyond that, then

I will be grateful for the miracle of abundance.

I will greet each day with laughter. I will smile at every person I meet. I am the possessor of a

grateful spirit.

Today, I will choose to be happy.

*Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews 

The Power of the Decision.

Soon after returning from London, I realized the answer to my questions. Although, this answer seemed to bring MORE questions. I began to take an inventory of myself and resources, because that's what wise people do when asked to DO something, right?

All I could hear in my mind was a small still voice saying, "Quit your job." This made no sense, nor was this the path I had spent years treading. "You can't quit your job without first having another lined up." is what I was always taught.

Many times after hearing this voice, I became convinced that was the answer. However, how do I take that step of faith when I can't see the path?

Many times this ended with me sobbing on my knees in the embrace of my wife assuring me that we would get through this. Disclaimer: DO NOT IGNORE THE VOICE!!

This was God's voice. He knew what lay ahead, and how my decisions would drive me deeper within myself. It finally culminated in September 2012. I left my career, but not for the reasons I had hoped. See, my ignorance to my depravity of sin and self, brought me to a mighty fall. My ego had grown to a mammoth size and I felt invincible. No decision was out of MY control.

"..For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Matthew 7:13

God had to allow the ME MONSTER to completely destroy me before He had any room to work in my life. I love Him for that.
My destruction didn't come from having a "decided heart", but one of fear of failure and a need to be in control.
The beautiful love story here is, no matter whether it's a debilitating disease or a career ending move, God will stop at nothing in pursuit of your heart.
When you hear "that small still voice", have a decided heart to trudge forward no matter what. He is trustworthy!!

 

Decision #4*

 

The Certain Decision

I Have a Decided Heart.

A wise man once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Knowing this to be true, I am taking my first step today. For too long my feet have been tentative, shuffling left and right, more backward than forward as my heart gauged the direction of the wind. Criticism, condemnation, and complaint are creatures of the wind. They come and go on the wasted breath of lesser beings and have no power over me. The power to control direction belongs to me. Today I will begin to exercise that power. My course has been charted. My destiny is assured.

 

I have a decided heart. I am passionate about my vision for the future. I will awaken every morning with an excitement about the new day and its opportunity for growth and change. My thoughts and actions will work in a forward motion, never sliding into the dark forest of doubt or the muddy quicksand of self-pity. I will freely give my vision for the future to others, and as they see the belief in my eyes, they will follow me. I will lay my head on my pillow at night happily exhausted, knowing that I have done everything within my power to move the mountains in my path. As I sleep, the same dream that dominates my waking hours will be with me in the dark. Yes, I have a dream. It is a great dream, and I will never apologize for it. Neither will I ever let it go, for if I did, my life would be finished. My

hopes, my passions, my vision for the future is my very existence. A person without a dream never had a dream come true.

I have a decided heart. I will not wait.

 

I know that the purpose of analysis is to come to a conclusion. I have tested the angles. I have measured the probabilities. And now I have made a decision with my heart. I am not timid. I will move now and not look back. What I put off until tomorrow, I will put off until the next day as well. I do not procrastinate. All my problems become smaller when I confront them. If I touch a thistle with caution, it will prick me, but if I grasp it boldly, its spines crumble into dust.

I will not wait. I am passionate about my vision for the future. My course has been charted. My destiny is assured.

I have a decided heart.

* Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

Carpe Diem!!

Sometimes when faced with trials or circumstance, we all lose sight of the path we are on. Sometimes we feel so overwhelmed by all of the bombardment that the only natural response is to sit down and cry. Sometimes we pray for God to just tell us what to do only to receive no answer.

After reading the heroic actions of one man on a hill just outside of a little town called Gettysburg; I really began to believe in action. I won't tell you his story here, but I challenge you to read it for yourself.

When walking by faith, typically you need to be walking. My friend has always said, "You take one step toward God, and He will take one step toward you." Although sometimes, that first step looks like a giant canyon.

My favorite illustration of faith, is found in "Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade". At the end of the movie, our hero Indiana needs to get the Holy Grail in order to save his father's life. After surviving a few of the challenges, Indiana is faced with crossing a wide crevice in a cave. The instruction was to "believe in the Lion" or make a "leap of faith". This is where many people lose heart in following God. If it doesn't fall into the rules of the five senses then it must not be. I know God wants so much more for us, but to experience it, calls for unconditional trust of your creator.

#1. The Bible says He will never leave you or turn His back on you. (Deuteronomy 31:6) and #2. He knows the plans He has for you, and they are for good and not harm (Jeremiah 29:11)

You see the issue is not about God not answering your prayer, He is just waiting for YOU to be ready to receive more information. To do that, we need to show we trust Him by taking the first step.

A better way to illustrate this is to tell you how to be a successful trapeze artist. 

When performing a trapeze act there are two people needed; a flyer and a catcher. In order for the flyer to be caught, the flyer waits until their swing has them at the peak of there flight, then they let go with there hands outstretched and still until the catcher catches them. There are two things that make this successful. 1#. You must remain still when flying or it will be incredibly difficult for the catcher. So no flailing about, no matter how scared you feel.

2#. When your swing has you at the top of it's arc, you lose complete sight of the catcher. That is when you let go, with both hands. If you hang on with one hand until you see the catcher, he will miss.

This all sounds a bit extreme, but remember God loves you so much He will stop at nothing to catch your heart. He is even willing to sacrifice His only son for you (John 3:16).

The coolest thing about God, is that if you let go of your trapeze swing and you look more like a chicken trying to fly, God will always catch you before you hit the ground; you just won't see that safety net until your falling.

So when you are faced with a day where you have lost sight of what to do, just trust your creator and DO SOMETHING!!

 

 

Decision # 3

The Active Decision

I Am a Person of Action.*

Beginning today, I will create a new future by creating a new me. No longer will I dwell in a pit

of despair, moaning over squandered time and lost opportunity. I can do nothing about the past.

My future is immediate. I will grasp it in both hands and carry it with running feet. When I am

faced with the choice of doing nothing or doing something, I will always choose to act! I seize this

moment. I choose now.

I am a person of action. I am energetic. I move quickly. Knowing that laziness is a sin, I will create

a habit of lively behavior. I will walk with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. The

lifeblood rushing through my veins is urging me upward and forward into activity and accomplishment.

Wealth and prosperity hide from the sluggard, but rich rewards come to the person

who moves quickly.

I am a person of action. I inspire others with my activity. I am a leader. Leading is doing. To

lead, I must move forward. Many people move out of the way for a person on the run; others are

caught up in his wake. My activity will create a wave of success for the people who follow. My

activity will be consistent. This will instill confidence in my leadership. As a leader, I have the

ability to encourage and inspire others to greatness. It is true: An army of sheep led by a lion

would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep!

I am a person of action. I can make a decision. I can make it now. A person who moves neither

left nor right is destined for mediocrity. When faced with a decision, many people say they are

waiting for God. But I understand, in most cases, God is waiting for me! He has given me a

healthy mind to gather and sort information and the courage to come to a conclusion. I am not a

quivering dog, indecisive and fearful. My constitution is strong and my pathway clear.

Successful people make their decisions quickly and change their mind slowly. Failures make

their decisions slowly and change their mind quickly. My decisions come quickly, and they lead

to victory.

I am a person of action. I am daring. I am courageous. Fear no longer has a place in my life. For

too long, fear has outweighed my desire to make things better for my family. Never again! I have

exposed fear as a vapor, an impostor who never had any power over me in the first place! I do

not fear opinion, gossip, or the idle chatter of monkeys for all are the same to me. I do not fear

failure, for in my life, failure is a myth. Failure only exists for the person who quits. I do not quit.

I am courageous. I am a leader. I seize this moment. I choose now.

I am a person of action.

* The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews