Lighting the path or blinding?

There are two kinds of light - the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.  ~James Thurber


I stumbled across this quote while doing a search for inspirational writings tonight. 


This is a thought some of us can relate to. Being the representation of THE LIGHT, sometimes our passion can blind people. I know this one for sure!




Christ came to illuminate the path to the Father for the world. Sometimes we think we are bringing light..we can stand in front of HIM! 


P.s This was not supposed to be a heavy post. It's just proof we are His! He is the sun and we are the moon. We reflect his light in the darkness. 


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Safety?

 Do you pray that everything goes as you planned or even that you have a "safe" trip??
I'm not saying that praying for protection is bad, but some of us are obsessed with safety. There are many stories of brothers and sisters that depended completely on Christ. Many were put though dangers so deadly that it looked bleak for them many times. 


For my life... It's a lack of faith. I tend to think my view of life is how God thinks. LOL! It's like a pot telling the master potter that he made a mistake. He knows what you are to look like. Most likely not how you want to  look.  God told Jeremiah that "For I know the plans I have for you,they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."


God's will is better than being safe in ourselves.  What may seem like a bad thing can bring great things! He covers us with his wings. 


Do you believe this? I want to. 


Tomorrow is another day. His will be done!

Walking in the rain with your love.

Walking in the rain with the love of your life can be romantic. I can vouch for this.

 I mean you want to be together through everything right? Rain or shine? Sometimes you're even closer in the rain in fact.

LOL....

 The SUNNY DAY
Walking through life with THE LOVER is similar. You seem to feel close (at least I do) to God when things are easy, problems seem to fix themselves, and you feel in love with God.

RAINY DAY
Then the rains come. Most people as soon as the rain starts run for shelter. But sometimes there is some crazy lovestruck pair that seem to refuse to get to shelter. They find it "romantic" to spend time walking in the rain.

 Then compare it to the relationship with Christ. Many Christians today tend to run for "shelter" when the difficulties arise. They feel safe from the storm and seeming alot smarter than the couple walking out in the rain.

Now to the beloved's point of view.

You feel more alive than ever! This storm has caused you to draw closer together! As you feel the warmth of walking beside the Lover, you see those poor people out under their "shelters" with the leaky roofs,  cold and without light . As you call out to them many just point and laugh. Others are curious, so they venture out towards you. As they get closer, they too feel warmer. You start to realize the storm brought others to HIM who is the warmth and the light. This experience causes obsession. After a while warmth feels a great area and those who are filled with the warmth are sent to the shelters of the COLD and DARK. They bring news of the great light who makes it all.


I think I just got an idea for a story!
WOW! GOD IS AMAZING!

Unworthy

 Ever really asked yourself why God loves you? Few of us, if any, feel that we deserve his love (and if you do, WATCH OUT!)

Today I contemplated alot of my past. How I probably ruined lives or stood in the way of God. He could of said "GET BEHIND ME SATAN!" Instead he wrapped me in his everlasting love. To really understand this love, we  will be given chances to be Christ in  the earth. We may completely fail or miss the other side of our decision at the time,only to look back later and see what we did.

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS!

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28  Young's Literal Translation




That can mean our failures and "wake" of destruction can be used for GOOD! Each person has  or may have different intensities of this, but it is for the same purpose in the end....HIS GLORY. 

Us...broken vessels to be used

The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. The other pot had a crack in it and by the time the water bearer reached his master’s house it had leaked much of its water and was only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?” “I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the universe will use our flaws to grace its table. In the universe’s great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don’t be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.

- Author Unknown

God is amazing! I have been thinking about this story for a while. I did not remember the name, but wanted to put it on my blog for a while. Ironically, I've felt that God has been showing me this week how Christ pointed to the Father throughout the time He spoke to people. We, like the cracked pot, have no honor in ourselves. Without the everlasting water we are just dust. How often do I ask to be the pot that was full at the end, forgetting that it is for the glory of the Father that I'm the cracked pot. I was searching for a picture of a "cracked or broken pot" on Google images and stumbled on the story again. 

Christ came to draw us to the Father. He gave us His life water to pour out on people. We are imperfect in our flesh  for Christ's glory...

Without Christ, we are NOTHING!

Is it about you or Him?

I just got done dumping my disappointments on God. I've wanted to go on a "missions" trip for a while now. It really feels like a burning inside my heart to touch people in other countries. To feel their pain and be changed into a more caring person.

But then comes reality. 

Every time I start saving...something comes up. Right in my face. It may be a need in the house I live in to help out, a friend who needs support, or God wants to lavish on someone and he chose me as the vessel. 

After all that, I end up spending all that I'd saved. Though I don't want to fool you, I do plenty of self pampering as well with my savings. (I'm learning that no matter what I have, it never seems enough! Black hole syndrome ) 

Anyways....

I asked God why this was happening and He really answered! This was no way in my mind.

He asked : Are you wanting it for you or me?

Big question. I just know I'll look back at this post on a later date and feel like it was for then as well.

If it was God I should be able to wait. If it is just me wanting to say that I did something, it will most likely never happen.  

One question for all my readers. 

Are you living your life for Him? Or is it wrapped up in the affairs of the world? 

Do you feel like God has spoke now YOU need to make it happen? 

If so, it may not be God after all. Though that is just from my experience. God works differently  with different people. But please consider the answer.

Don't ever rush Him. You will ALWAYS miss opportunities that he gives along the way.

Remember the words of Paul: "To live is Christ and to die is gain." 

Whatever you ask..do you really believe this?

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13 (KJV)


Have you ever really thought about this verse? Not just a fleeting thought but had your mind truly fixed on it? This verse means different things for each person, so here is an example of it that happened to me this week.


Well, let me start a little back in time. A few years ago, I read Hudson Taylor's autobiography. Within his life he had many examples of this verse. Whenever he asked Christ to put him in situations that would cause him to have to draw closer to the Creator, it happened. Most of the time, it really tested his faith. Hudson became so close to Christ that he eventually went to China. In his time in China, the lessons he learned before arriving caused him to trust that Christ was in control. 


Just last week, I had a similar situation. Wednesday I asked God to cause a deeper relationship with himself,no matter what it took. I've had a few times like this before.


Well, He gave me an opportunity. 


I have been wanting to go help a friend in Mexico for a few months now. I started saving money this past week and had a budget plan. Everything seemed to fall into place. 


Now  comes the fun  part. 


Friday I got a text from a brother who I live with that I was behind on my ministry dues. For those few non-RCV'ers who follow, we have been supporting "Mercy Homes" in India see http://mercyhomes.org/),  a couple orphanages in Myanmar (formerly Burma) through Heaven's Family (see http://www.heavensfamily.org/), and helping a church in Africa by micro-loans to start their businesses.


I wasn't just a little behind, I was $215 behind! That really hit me. It wasn't a convicted reaction either. I threw a fit. A 25 year old disciple of Jesus Christ, someone who is supposed to have given up everything to follow him...threw a fit. I said I didn't understand. My good friend and brother in Christ,  John Bob, told me that it was my responsibility. He told me (not perfectly quoted) " you want to be a missionary, but miss God right in front of you." He was right. I found out later after I made a payment plan to get caught up, I had overdrawn my bank account recently. All my "savings" for Mexico had disappeared. 


It was then I heard, "No matter what?"


Yep. As you can guess, I got a first hand example of Him answering my prayer for His glory. 
I believe even more.


May He always get the glory in my life. 


No matter what.