Christ said, “The first shall be last, and the last shall be first”. But what does that mean? The first one to give up will be the last one in the Kingdom of Heaven, but the last one who stands and fights for his faith shall be the first one in the Kingdom of Heaven!
Every day we battle LIFE, within our faith, jobs, financial problems, family or relationships. My wise Grandma always used to say, “Pick your battles”. You and I pick our battles. The important thing is that we never give up! There are days where we can take on the world and pity to the foolish mortal that gets in our way. And then there are days where we are on our knees crying and pleading for everything to just go away.
Throughout every battle you learn about yourself and your enemy. You evaluate your strengths and protect your weaknesses. Sometimes we charge right in and attack. And other times we evaluate the situation, wait patiently and then attack! Mistakes are our best educator. We can always learn from our mistakes if we are wise.
Our faith is our best defender. When the world says, “There is no way!” Our faith stands strong and lays waste to everything that opposes us! On those days where we feel we are falling apart and there is no hope in sight, we call out to the Lord.
Do you know what the shortest prayer is? One word, “HELP!” Sometimes we can’t even find the words to express to Him. The important thing is to seek His help and if that is with just one word, THEN USE IT! Sometimes the Lord tests us just so He knows He will hear from us. Don’t waste this time He’s given us to fight and to grow in our faith. We are living in the end time and time is fading fast. But His love and strength will always be there one step ahead of LIFE. Don’t give up, don’t give in! Ask Him for “HELP!” STAND AND FIGHT!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Where is God?
A Sunday school teacher asked the question of her class. “Where is God?” All the children sat quietly and said nothing. The teacher spoke up and said, “God is so big that He created this planet and everything you see. He is so big that He created our solar system and the entire universe. But children, He is small enough to fit into your heart.”
Is God in your heart? Many times when we think of God we think of this powerful figure sitting on His throne looking down at us with a stern look on His face, deciding how He can make our lives miserable. And that most of the time perhaps He is just not even smiling or happy with us. Maybe sometimes we feel He is so far away from us that we don’t even think He knows who we are.
Please consider this. If God made us in His own image don’t you think that sometimes He feels just like we do? He smiles and laughs. He gets angry and disappointed. He gets sad, His heart breaks and He cries, and there are times when He feels hurt too. We are human and we have many emotions. He is our Heavenly Father and He understands every one of our emotions because He gave them to us.
He is the Supreme Parent. If you have children and you see your children are suffering don’t you feel for them? Don’t you agonize with them? Wouldn’t you rather take on what they are carrying so their lives will be better? But you know in your heart that for them to learn they need to experience life, all the good and not so good that life holds. And you can’t interfere. But you can give them a hug, you can listen to them when their heart is broken or they are suffering. And you can tell them how much you love them and that you will always be there for them.
Our Heavenly Father feels everything we feel! He is as close as we will let Him be. But there are times where He cannot interfere. But He is always there to give us a hug, and to listen to us whenever we want to talk with Him. And He will always love us, and He will always be there for us. And if you let Him into your heart He will lovingly help you carry whatever troubles you. But you have to be willing to let Him in.
Where is God now…
Is God in your heart? Many times when we think of God we think of this powerful figure sitting on His throne looking down at us with a stern look on His face, deciding how He can make our lives miserable. And that most of the time perhaps He is just not even smiling or happy with us. Maybe sometimes we feel He is so far away from us that we don’t even think He knows who we are.
Please consider this. If God made us in His own image don’t you think that sometimes He feels just like we do? He smiles and laughs. He gets angry and disappointed. He gets sad, His heart breaks and He cries, and there are times when He feels hurt too. We are human and we have many emotions. He is our Heavenly Father and He understands every one of our emotions because He gave them to us.
He is the Supreme Parent. If you have children and you see your children are suffering don’t you feel for them? Don’t you agonize with them? Wouldn’t you rather take on what they are carrying so their lives will be better? But you know in your heart that for them to learn they need to experience life, all the good and not so good that life holds. And you can’t interfere. But you can give them a hug, you can listen to them when their heart is broken or they are suffering. And you can tell them how much you love them and that you will always be there for them.
Our Heavenly Father feels everything we feel! He is as close as we will let Him be. But there are times where He cannot interfere. But He is always there to give us a hug, and to listen to us whenever we want to talk with Him. And He will always love us, and He will always be there for us. And if you let Him into your heart He will lovingly help you carry whatever troubles you. But you have to be willing to let Him in.
Where is God now…
Thursday, November 26, 2009
To Be Thankful
It is on this Day Thursday, November 26, 2009 that our Nation pauses and we turn our hearts to God and thank Him for all He has done for us in this past year. We spend time perhaps in His house, we bring Him a thank offering. We spend time with family and friends and often reflect upon past Thanksgiving Day celebrations. And we stuff ourselves until we can’t breathe. Ahhhh the holiday’s!
It is not a coincidence that our Nation is so blessed. This country’s principles were built upon our God. Our Forefathers sought after God’s blessing when they formed this great Country. And because Abraham Lincoln’s heart was so moved, he established this day for all of us.
How are we thankful? Do we stop and think today about how truly blessed we are? Do we look into our own hearts and find a true appreciation for all that our “Good Father” has given us? It is very easy to say thank you when everything is going right in our lives. But I propose this to you. How thankful are you when we feel everything is going wrong?
Do we grow angry and distant from our Father? Do we turn our back on Him because we may feel He has done the same to us? Do we stop praying, stop talking to Him completely? Do we feel He is punishing us and therefore we will punish Him by not dealing with Him anymore? Do you have any idea how much His heart breaks when we do this? Yes even God cries!
He tests you and me to show us that we can handle the test. He doesn’t test us so we can prove to Him we can do it. He already knows you can handle it that’s why He is testing you. He NEVER punishes us.
How does a person learn if they are not tested? If you can, while in the tests of your life, find a way to see that He is helping you grow and tell Him, “THANK YOU”, then you have reached a new level of faith. It is in our darkest moments that we shine the brightest because He is with us!
Stop and look at your life in a different way from this day forward. Look at the positive things you have in your life. See how blessed you really are. Look at your bad moments as a growth period and show God how thankful you are by allowing Him to help you grow closer to Him. He’s sees your heart and knows who you are and feels EVERYTHING you feel. His love for you…will always baffle your mind!
It is not a coincidence that our Nation is so blessed. This country’s principles were built upon our God. Our Forefathers sought after God’s blessing when they formed this great Country. And because Abraham Lincoln’s heart was so moved, he established this day for all of us.
How are we thankful? Do we stop and think today about how truly blessed we are? Do we look into our own hearts and find a true appreciation for all that our “Good Father” has given us? It is very easy to say thank you when everything is going right in our lives. But I propose this to you. How thankful are you when we feel everything is going wrong?
Do we grow angry and distant from our Father? Do we turn our back on Him because we may feel He has done the same to us? Do we stop praying, stop talking to Him completely? Do we feel He is punishing us and therefore we will punish Him by not dealing with Him anymore? Do you have any idea how much His heart breaks when we do this? Yes even God cries!
He tests you and me to show us that we can handle the test. He doesn’t test us so we can prove to Him we can do it. He already knows you can handle it that’s why He is testing you. He NEVER punishes us.
How does a person learn if they are not tested? If you can, while in the tests of your life, find a way to see that He is helping you grow and tell Him, “THANK YOU”, then you have reached a new level of faith. It is in our darkest moments that we shine the brightest because He is with us!
Stop and look at your life in a different way from this day forward. Look at the positive things you have in your life. See how blessed you really are. Look at your bad moments as a growth period and show God how thankful you are by allowing Him to help you grow closer to Him. He’s sees your heart and knows who you are and feels EVERYTHING you feel. His love for you…will always baffle your mind!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Offer the Lord a piece of your heart not your wallet!
So many times I hear of certain churches or religions insisting on a specific dollar amount that people need to give to worship in the Lord’s house. Yes, the church needs money to function, but when the main focal point is placed on money instead of a blessing from the Lord then the church is straying off the path.
I will be honest, there is no way anyone can “buy” their way into Heaven. If some has told you if you give this dollar amount you are assured a place in Heaven, they are lying to you. No man has the authority to dictate whom the Lord will allow into His kingdom, no man!
Offering is as personal as faith itself. Some say give 10% or more than 10%. It should be a quiet moment of inward reflection that is born out of the heart. It is not the amount we give that impresses our Father, it is the way we offer to Him. We need to think more about why we are offering, and how we should approach Him with our offering as opposed to how much we are offering.
Do we pick a monetary amount and give it to Him out of fear? Do we give Him some of our pay check because we owe it to Him? Offering goes beyond the sum of money we give, it was born out of the act of “giving” and showing Him our “thankfulness”. The Lord gives you and I so much, our offering is a personal moment between us and our Father when we thank Him for all that he gives us.
Do you ever pause and think about the blessings that He has given you in your life? Do you think about Him and His Son? Do you delve deep into your heart and find a joy, a peace, a confidence, a love that you feel that you would like to express to Him by giving Him something? Or, do you just pick a dollar amount and throw it at Him?
If you paused and thought about WHY you were offering and told Him WHY you were giving Him this amount it would impact your life and your faith more no matter what the dollar amount was. In turn, you would touch His heart too.
Stop offering just your money and what little time you can give to Him and instead, give Him a piece of your heart…
I will be honest, there is no way anyone can “buy” their way into Heaven. If some has told you if you give this dollar amount you are assured a place in Heaven, they are lying to you. No man has the authority to dictate whom the Lord will allow into His kingdom, no man!
Offering is as personal as faith itself. Some say give 10% or more than 10%. It should be a quiet moment of inward reflection that is born out of the heart. It is not the amount we give that impresses our Father, it is the way we offer to Him. We need to think more about why we are offering, and how we should approach Him with our offering as opposed to how much we are offering.
Do we pick a monetary amount and give it to Him out of fear? Do we give Him some of our pay check because we owe it to Him? Offering goes beyond the sum of money we give, it was born out of the act of “giving” and showing Him our “thankfulness”. The Lord gives you and I so much, our offering is a personal moment between us and our Father when we thank Him for all that he gives us.
Do you ever pause and think about the blessings that He has given you in your life? Do you think about Him and His Son? Do you delve deep into your heart and find a joy, a peace, a confidence, a love that you feel that you would like to express to Him by giving Him something? Or, do you just pick a dollar amount and throw it at Him?
If you paused and thought about WHY you were offering and told Him WHY you were giving Him this amount it would impact your life and your faith more no matter what the dollar amount was. In turn, you would touch His heart too.
Stop offering just your money and what little time you can give to Him and instead, give Him a piece of your heart…
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Faith and Battle
A friend of mine recently made this statement to me; “Why is the Christian faith all about battle, when other faiths focus on acceptance?” It caused me to think about nature and the world that we live in.
When a farmer plants a seed in ground he digs a deep hole and places the seed in darkness. Perhaps this seed feels it is all alone and doesn’t realize that there are many other seeds just like it all around. This seed is forced to battle for life, to look for water, to grow, to become strong and burst through the ground seeking after the light that will sustain it and help it get stronger. In time and season it becomes part of a large harvest with others just like it. But not all seeds that are planted grow and become harvested. Would these seeds be better off if after the farmer put them into the ground he made a small hole right above them, to make it easier for them? No, they wouldn’t grow then.
What about a tree?
When the wind blows on a tree is it a detriment to it? Doesn’t the wind cause a tree to sink its roots deeper into the ground so it will become stronger and stand tall? And if the tree doesn’t sink its root then it is toppled over and dies.
If the Lord God doesn’t change and He is always consistent in everything He does then why wouldn’t He expect the same battling from us as he does in nature, in the world He created? We are surrounded by darkness. But we are not alone in this battle. We have other brothers and sisters that surround us. But we all grow at our own pace. Some of us are strong, others are week in their faith and every day we decide if we want to battle on or just give up.
DO NOT GIVE UP! Seek after the light that shines all around us. Seek the Good Father in prayer and feel the light that shines from His smiling face that will warm your heart and cause you to grow closer to him. Seek after the grace of His son Jesus which is just like a gentle rain that falls all around us and nourishes us. And ask the Holy Spirit for comfort which is like a gentle blowing wind that will make us stronger.
When a farmer plants a seed in ground he digs a deep hole and places the seed in darkness. Perhaps this seed feels it is all alone and doesn’t realize that there are many other seeds just like it all around. This seed is forced to battle for life, to look for water, to grow, to become strong and burst through the ground seeking after the light that will sustain it and help it get stronger. In time and season it becomes part of a large harvest with others just like it. But not all seeds that are planted grow and become harvested. Would these seeds be better off if after the farmer put them into the ground he made a small hole right above them, to make it easier for them? No, they wouldn’t grow then.
What about a tree?
When the wind blows on a tree is it a detriment to it? Doesn’t the wind cause a tree to sink its roots deeper into the ground so it will become stronger and stand tall? And if the tree doesn’t sink its root then it is toppled over and dies.
If the Lord God doesn’t change and He is always consistent in everything He does then why wouldn’t He expect the same battling from us as he does in nature, in the world He created? We are surrounded by darkness. But we are not alone in this battle. We have other brothers and sisters that surround us. But we all grow at our own pace. Some of us are strong, others are week in their faith and every day we decide if we want to battle on or just give up.
DO NOT GIVE UP! Seek after the light that shines all around us. Seek the Good Father in prayer and feel the light that shines from His smiling face that will warm your heart and cause you to grow closer to him. Seek after the grace of His son Jesus which is just like a gentle rain that falls all around us and nourishes us. And ask the Holy Spirit for comfort which is like a gentle blowing wind that will make us stronger.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Peace
I have a favorite poem that a student from one of my meditation classes gave me. I keep it on my refrigerator.
Peace.
It does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble
or hard work. It means to be in
the midst of those things and still
be calm in your heart.
(unknown)
Peace is not the absence of war. Peace does not come from an outside source. Rather it is born and held from within the soul.
It does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble
or hard work. It means to be in
the midst of those things and still
be calm in your heart.
(unknown)
Peace is not the absence of war. Peace does not come from an outside source. Rather it is born and held from within the soul.
Jesus Christ said; “peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” (John 14:27) KJV.
Peace is something that you and I can choose. We decide how we will react to any situation. We have peace within us. We just need to tap into it. How do we do that? With prayer! We can ask the Lord God to open our heart, and we can ask Him to also give us more peace.
So often I hear people say; “I have been robbed of my peace!” In actuality they were not robbed they chose to give it away. No one can take our peace away from us if we are always mindful that it is ours to hold and cherish. Peace is like a precious jewel that should be treasured and guarded against.
I submit to you a challenge, the next time you feel anger swelling, stop and chose peace. Life is full of choices, good choices and bad choices.
What will you chose?
Friday, October 30, 2009
When does God get to talk to you?
What is grace?
Grace can be defined by “favor or good will”. I define it by “undeserved love”. It is the Lord God who grants grace daily. He said; “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious”.
I speak with so many people that tell me they belong to a faith but they don’t attend services. Many tell me they don’t need to go to church because they talk to God all the time. I tell them that is good, but when does God get a chance to talk to you?
Others tell me they feel too guilty to go because they haven’t gone for a long time. Some seem to only go to church when they are going through a tough time. They only pray when they need something. They can’t seem to face Him. They feel as though He won’t help them.
I ask them, if they are parents, if your children walked away from you, or hurt you in some way would you stop loving them? Would you turn them away if they asked you for help? Of course not! Love goes beyond all human understanding. Magnify the love you have for your children or family a million times over and you will still not be able to comprehend the love God has for you.
He doesn’t hold grudges, He is incapable of hating. And, most importantly, you can’t fool Him. He is not ignorant. He knows what you need and hopes you will pray and ask anything of Him. He waits for you to come to Him. He hopes you will come to church so He can strengthen you. Why? Because faith comes from hearing the word of God. If you don’t feel you are being fed in the church you haven’t gone to for a while then find another one.
I belong to the New Apostolic Church and I can tell you I am always fed, strengthen and my faith is renewed every time I go there. If you want to know more go to http://www.nak.org/ and find out for yourself. Stop making excuses and go back! It’s still not too late to hear what God wants to say to you. He holds all of your answers in His hand. And His son is coming very soon…
Grace can be defined by “favor or good will”. I define it by “undeserved love”. It is the Lord God who grants grace daily. He said; “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious”.
I speak with so many people that tell me they belong to a faith but they don’t attend services. Many tell me they don’t need to go to church because they talk to God all the time. I tell them that is good, but when does God get a chance to talk to you?
Others tell me they feel too guilty to go because they haven’t gone for a long time. Some seem to only go to church when they are going through a tough time. They only pray when they need something. They can’t seem to face Him. They feel as though He won’t help them.
I ask them, if they are parents, if your children walked away from you, or hurt you in some way would you stop loving them? Would you turn them away if they asked you for help? Of course not! Love goes beyond all human understanding. Magnify the love you have for your children or family a million times over and you will still not be able to comprehend the love God has for you.
He doesn’t hold grudges, He is incapable of hating. And, most importantly, you can’t fool Him. He is not ignorant. He knows what you need and hopes you will pray and ask anything of Him. He waits for you to come to Him. He hopes you will come to church so He can strengthen you. Why? Because faith comes from hearing the word of God. If you don’t feel you are being fed in the church you haven’t gone to for a while then find another one.
I belong to the New Apostolic Church and I can tell you I am always fed, strengthen and my faith is renewed every time I go there. If you want to know more go to http://www.nak.org/ and find out for yourself. Stop making excuses and go back! It’s still not too late to hear what God wants to say to you. He holds all of your answers in His hand. And His son is coming very soon…
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Heaven – Eternity are they the same?
It is my belief that when you die here on earth, you do not go to Heaven.
You are taken by whatever spirit you served here on earth to a “Realm” in Eternity. That may be a good situation or it may be what some people have called “Hell.” The easiest way to comprehend the “Realms” is to think of the old saying, “Birds of feather flock together.” The murderers are with the murderers, the liars are with the liars and so on. If you would like to get a pretty good idea of what the realms of the departed are like I would encourage you to watch a movie called “What Dreams May Come.” I can tell you that it is almost accurate.
Now, everyone seems to think that when Jesus told the malefactor next to him on the cross, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise” that Jesus took him to Heaven. If all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and repent before we die to get to Heaven, then why would Jesus, be coming back for a select few? Jesus took the malefactor to a “Realm” in Eternity called “Paradise.”
I ask you this question: when Jesus died, where did He go for three days? Jesus, The Son of God, didn’t even go to Heaven after He died.
The Bible states in I Peter 3:18-20 (NKJV):
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.”
Why did He do that? When the people were about to drown, they repented with an open heart and their pleas registered at God’s throne. Jesus’ death ushered in a new era called “The time of Grace.” God sent His own Son to tell these souls that soon they will be redeemed. When Jesus arose from the dead three days later, He spoke to Mary Magdalene in the garden.
It states in John 20:17 (NKJV):
Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”
Not all of these Realms are bad. Please, I don’t want to give you the impression that all of them are horrible places. They are not. We really know very little about them. All I do know is that they do exist.
You are taken by whatever spirit you served here on earth to a “Realm” in Eternity. That may be a good situation or it may be what some people have called “Hell.” The easiest way to comprehend the “Realms” is to think of the old saying, “Birds of feather flock together.” The murderers are with the murderers, the liars are with the liars and so on. If you would like to get a pretty good idea of what the realms of the departed are like I would encourage you to watch a movie called “What Dreams May Come.” I can tell you that it is almost accurate.
Now, everyone seems to think that when Jesus told the malefactor next to him on the cross, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise” that Jesus took him to Heaven. If all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and repent before we die to get to Heaven, then why would Jesus, be coming back for a select few? Jesus took the malefactor to a “Realm” in Eternity called “Paradise.”
I ask you this question: when Jesus died, where did He go for three days? Jesus, The Son of God, didn’t even go to Heaven after He died.
The Bible states in I Peter 3:18-20 (NKJV):
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.”
Why did He do that? When the people were about to drown, they repented with an open heart and their pleas registered at God’s throne. Jesus’ death ushered in a new era called “The time of Grace.” God sent His own Son to tell these souls that soon they will be redeemed. When Jesus arose from the dead three days later, He spoke to Mary Magdalene in the garden.
It states in John 20:17 (NKJV):
Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”
Not all of these Realms are bad. Please, I don’t want to give you the impression that all of them are horrible places. They are not. We really know very little about them. All I do know is that they do exist.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Angels and Demons
Before time began God created angels, spirits and everything we can see with our natural eyes and He called it good. He also created a world that can’t be seen with the natural eye but deep in the hearts of those who have faith. They know it exists.
After God created man He told the angels that they would serve man. One angel, Lucifer, the archangel of light had a problem with this idea. He told God that there was no way he would bow to man and serve him, for he had the strength of 10 men and was superior to man in every way. It was in this one brief moment that God gave angels the privilege to choose whether they would serve God’s will or their own.
Lucifer stood on one side of heaven and God stood on the other. The choice was made and one third of the angels were cast out of heaven and as they fell to earth Lucifer claimed a number of spirits and took them with him as well. Satan corrupted these angels and spirits. He created a hierarchy within his forces. He established commanders and generals over all of the earth with one mission in mind: to destroy man.
Today we face these unseen forces. Lucifer has many names now but we all know him as Satan. The fallen angels are known to us as demons. Demons play on our emotions and desires. They can directly affect our health and they can also kill us. But there is “one” who stands between us and them and it is the Lord God!
Many seem to think that God is powerless over Satan but He is not! We give Satan more power than he will ever deserve. He cannot do one thing to us without God’s permission, and often we forget that. Fear nothing and place your trust in the Lord and He will always be there to defend us.
Battles are won many ways, by sheer numbers alone or by strategy. The Lord God alone with one though could wipe out Satan and all of his forces, so I ask this one question of you: How can we lose then?
God has a plan. He made this plan before anything happened. He knows the future and he longs for things to be the way he always intended them to be, to share his kingdom with man. But God never just hands anything to us, He expects us to have faith, to trust Him and ultimately to love Him not because we fear him, but simply because we want to.
After God created man He told the angels that they would serve man. One angel, Lucifer, the archangel of light had a problem with this idea. He told God that there was no way he would bow to man and serve him, for he had the strength of 10 men and was superior to man in every way. It was in this one brief moment that God gave angels the privilege to choose whether they would serve God’s will or their own.
Lucifer stood on one side of heaven and God stood on the other. The choice was made and one third of the angels were cast out of heaven and as they fell to earth Lucifer claimed a number of spirits and took them with him as well. Satan corrupted these angels and spirits. He created a hierarchy within his forces. He established commanders and generals over all of the earth with one mission in mind: to destroy man.
Today we face these unseen forces. Lucifer has many names now but we all know him as Satan. The fallen angels are known to us as demons. Demons play on our emotions and desires. They can directly affect our health and they can also kill us. But there is “one” who stands between us and them and it is the Lord God!
Many seem to think that God is powerless over Satan but He is not! We give Satan more power than he will ever deserve. He cannot do one thing to us without God’s permission, and often we forget that. Fear nothing and place your trust in the Lord and He will always be there to defend us.
Battles are won many ways, by sheer numbers alone or by strategy. The Lord God alone with one though could wipe out Satan and all of his forces, so I ask this one question of you: How can we lose then?
God has a plan. He made this plan before anything happened. He knows the future and he longs for things to be the way he always intended them to be, to share his kingdom with man. But God never just hands anything to us, He expects us to have faith, to trust Him and ultimately to love Him not because we fear him, but simply because we want to.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
A Reason, A Season, or a Lifetime
I love this poem and below it have offered my insights on its meaning.
Original Poem- author unknown
Some come into your life for but a reason,
sent by the one that sees your heart's need.
Cry not when that friend's not in season,
but carry on and plant the next seed.
Some come into your life for a season,
and when that season is through,
the Autumn will have it's way for this reason their purpose in your life is now over,
tho' their season may come anew.
Some come into your life for a lifetime,
that companionship is so sweet.
They'll never leave you, even in strife time,
not while they yet walk on mortal feet.
Learn from all who are sent into your life-
they're sent by a friend of all.
Learn, the first time, what they've come to teach you,
all those lessons, great and small.
My insights on A Reason, A Season or a Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide
you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or
spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend, and they are. They are there for
the reason you need them to be Then, without any wrong doing on your part or
an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the
relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must
realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.
When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your
turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you experience of
peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real!
But...only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must
build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to
accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have
learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said
that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
The PRESENT is the gift from God that you receive when he puts someone in
your life, whether it be for 5 seconds, five years or fifty years. God
doesn't promise us any certain time with someone and it's what we make of
that time that is our gift from God That's why we call it the PRESENT. So
Enjoy the PRESENT from God.
Original Poem- author unknown
Some come into your life for but a reason,
sent by the one that sees your heart's need.
Cry not when that friend's not in season,
but carry on and plant the next seed.
Some come into your life for a season,
and when that season is through,
the Autumn will have it's way for this reason their purpose in your life is now over,
tho' their season may come anew.
Some come into your life for a lifetime,
that companionship is so sweet.
They'll never leave you, even in strife time,
not while they yet walk on mortal feet.
Learn from all who are sent into your life-
they're sent by a friend of all.
Learn, the first time, what they've come to teach you,
all those lessons, great and small.
My insights on A Reason, A Season or a Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide
you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or
spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend, and they are. They are there for
the reason you need them to be Then, without any wrong doing on your part or
an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the
relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must
realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.
When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your
turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you experience of
peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real!
But...only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must
build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to
accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have
learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said
that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
The PRESENT is the gift from God that you receive when he puts someone in
your life, whether it be for 5 seconds, five years or fifty years. God
doesn't promise us any certain time with someone and it's what we make of
that time that is our gift from God That's why we call it the PRESENT. So
Enjoy the PRESENT from God.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Hope...
We currently live in a period of time known as the “End Time”. We are surrounded by war, famine, disease and natural disasters. One may feel that this is the worst time to live or maybe there is no hope, there is no one to turn to, or no one that can help. But there is hope, a very bright future and there is someone whom we can all turn to. It is God! He has always been with us even before time began. All of these events are the mirror image of The Book of Revelations in the bible. These are the signs of the end time and they herald the return of the true King. His Son, Jesus Christ.
Now, today in the 21st Century, God is just as active as he was thousands of years ago. He is the same now as He was then. He longs to complete His family and take them home. Some ask questions, why would God allow such horrible things to happen in the world? Why won’t God step in and stop these things from happening? Why do so many people have to suffer because of others? In my view, there is one answer.
When God created man He gave us one of the most precious and complicated gifts of all of His creations, “Free will”. You are free to make our own decision and choices in life. Some are good choices and some are bad and these choices affect the world we live in. At no time will God interfere with free will because of His righteousness. He will, however, try to move the heart of man in the right direction so that we do make positive choices that affect the world in a good way.
Some believe that giving your heart to God is the best gift we can give Him, but I would have to say that giving God your free will and completely surrendering yourself to Him is the ultimate gift you can give Him. Our free will is the only thing we have control over. Why is that the ultimate gift? You would have to trust Him completely with no reservations. You would have understand that all He tested and tried you with would be for your perfection and in time would lead you to the goal of your faith, Heaven.
My book; “One wish…Won Battle!” is about how I gave God my free will and everything He has put me through. I would gladly go through all of it again because of where I currently stand in my faith, the understanding I have of Him and the love I feel from Him. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Now, today in the 21st Century, God is just as active as he was thousands of years ago. He is the same now as He was then. He longs to complete His family and take them home. Some ask questions, why would God allow such horrible things to happen in the world? Why won’t God step in and stop these things from happening? Why do so many people have to suffer because of others? In my view, there is one answer.
When God created man He gave us one of the most precious and complicated gifts of all of His creations, “Free will”. You are free to make our own decision and choices in life. Some are good choices and some are bad and these choices affect the world we live in. At no time will God interfere with free will because of His righteousness. He will, however, try to move the heart of man in the right direction so that we do make positive choices that affect the world in a good way.
Some believe that giving your heart to God is the best gift we can give Him, but I would have to say that giving God your free will and completely surrendering yourself to Him is the ultimate gift you can give Him. Our free will is the only thing we have control over. Why is that the ultimate gift? You would have to trust Him completely with no reservations. You would have understand that all He tested and tried you with would be for your perfection and in time would lead you to the goal of your faith, Heaven.
My book; “One wish…Won Battle!” is about how I gave God my free will and everything He has put me through. I would gladly go through all of it again because of where I currently stand in my faith, the understanding I have of Him and the love I feel from Him. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Gifts From God
Fort Lauderdale, FL---October 6, 2009 A battle-wearied world, an economic crisis of global proportions, belly-churning hunger, rampant disease, overwhelming natural disasters, man’s increasing madness…all these are indisputable facts of life today. Yet, for some, the struggle is worth the price, when the reward is a renewal and affirmation of faith. In his moving book, One Wish…Won Battle, author James N. Rybak shares his hard-earned insight.
One Wish . . .Won Battle tells the story of the author’s faith in God. As Rybak relates, “After I gave my free will to God, He took everything away from me and put me on a path that would ultimately bring me closer to Him than I ever thought possible.” God opened his eyes to see angels, souls, spirits, demons, and much more. He gave Rybak many spiritual gifts and continually tests his faith. This is a classic story of good versus evil, the end time, and the struggles we all face in our battle between temptation and faith.
This rich, personal journal gives exact dates and locations of the author’s experiences. Laugh out loud while reading the true story of his life, struggles, faith, family life, dating, and expectancy of meeting the woman of his dreams. The author’s ultimate message is one of hope…“Find God and renew your own faith in Him!”
http://www.onewishwonbattle.com/ Book available online at Amazon.com. Review copies and author interviews are available upon request. Please contact Lori Gertz, Publicist at (847) 882-4234 to request an interview or review copy.
About the Author
James N. Rybak was born in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has three siblings. Family is everything to him. Throughout his whole life his family has always been there to support and love him. James’ career for the past twenty years has been in procurement (Buyer) for numerous businesses. He also served in a ministry in the New Apostolic Church for eighteen years. He sings in the choir and is also a choir director in his local congregation. James has been a member of the New Apostolic Church his whole life and has found great joy serving the Lord.
One Wish . . .Won Battle tells the story of the author’s faith in God. As Rybak relates, “After I gave my free will to God, He took everything away from me and put me on a path that would ultimately bring me closer to Him than I ever thought possible.” God opened his eyes to see angels, souls, spirits, demons, and much more. He gave Rybak many spiritual gifts and continually tests his faith. This is a classic story of good versus evil, the end time, and the struggles we all face in our battle between temptation and faith.
This rich, personal journal gives exact dates and locations of the author’s experiences. Laugh out loud while reading the true story of his life, struggles, faith, family life, dating, and expectancy of meeting the woman of his dreams. The author’s ultimate message is one of hope…“Find God and renew your own faith in Him!”
http://www.onewishwonbattle.com/ Book available online at Amazon.com. Review copies and author interviews are available upon request. Please contact Lori Gertz, Publicist at (847) 882-4234 to request an interview or review copy.
About the Author
James N. Rybak was born in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has three siblings. Family is everything to him. Throughout his whole life his family has always been there to support and love him. James’ career for the past twenty years has been in procurement (Buyer) for numerous businesses. He also served in a ministry in the New Apostolic Church for eighteen years. He sings in the choir and is also a choir director in his local congregation. James has been a member of the New Apostolic Church his whole life and has found great joy serving the Lord.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)