The Well of Hope

The 3 P's of Promise

2010-11-05T23:30:00.000-04:00

Gen 37:6-8 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: (7) For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. (8) And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
Gen 45:4-8 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. (5) Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. (6) For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. (7) And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (8) So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Growing up, every child or young person has a dream of what they will eventually be, do, or experience as they mature. It is really a neat thing to see these same youth, with their face lit up and a gleam in their eye, express what they perceive will be reality in their near futures. Unfortunately, reality dictated by the devil, a sinful atmosphere in life, and the cares of life become dream-stealers to those who once held a promise and a dream in their heart!

What separates those who accept the robbery of their dreams / promises from those who simply will not quit holding on to them, is what the scriptures acknowledge as faith! Many in the church have been victims of spiritual "robbery" in that, they have gotten used to living beneath their God-given privileges of a life of victory, joy, and spiritual happiness! They have instead settled for fear, bitterness, and weakness of committment! What we need is a baptism of Promise in our life! The scripture bears out that some held on to their faith regardless of circumstance!

When referring to faith, there are others that we look to that confirm to us about perfect faith, abundant faith, and consistent faith.
We acknowledge Abraham’s Perfect faith of simply going when he did not know where he was going!
We acknowledge Elijah & Elisha of the abundant faith exercised in the Book of the Kings!
We acknowledge Samuel for his consistent faith as he learned at an early age of the faithfulness of Jehovah God until the end of his life!
We even acknowledge Job somewhat of his enduring faith that helped him to not charge God foolishly through his trials!
But, we would be remiss to not acknowledge Joseph of his tested faith that began with a dream! This preferred son of his father, Jacob, over 11 other sons, became the chosen by Jehovah God to be a surrogate savior for the Jews in the future! All because of a dream that God gave Joseph!

We know the story, but what caused Joseph the most problems was not that he was chosen...or that God even gave him a dream, it was the fact that he believed it so much, he was willing to speak it by faith to his brethren! And that, was what caused the 'dream-stealers' to get working against the dream!
Let me be clear, the Hebrew definition of the word, "Dream"…means to "make something that is small… plump"! To make something small into reality or fact by enlarging it"! In other words, the word "dream" is synonymous for Promise! A dream can be anything ever sent from God to you that looks beyond the natural into the supernatural!

THE 1st P....THE PIT- The place of trial that makes you second guess the dream!

Even though Joseph had a dream, he was wet behind the ears...inexperienced. All he had was the 'end-result', but what he didn't have was the what, how, and why of attaining the dream! This is the time where faith kicks in and sustains us while we languish in the pit of trial!
Most likely, he may have thought he had all the answers…because well...he was chosen, right??
News-flash!!! Just because we have a dream does not mean that we won't have to visit a pit along on our way to dream fulfillment! Joseph learned to trust, because he didn’t have any choice! The dream was out of his mind at this point!

THE 2nd P.... THE PRISON– The place where you doubt God’s timing, ability, and calling and wonder if the dream is even real or not!?!

The next transition to dream fulfillment came when Joseph was sold into slavery into Potiphar's house. When Potiphar's wife lied on Joseph, he was thrown into prison! Understand, he was wrongfully put here by another through no fault of his own! He had been doing right, and STILL got punished! Can anybody relate here??
The dream may have been postponed…but what was he learning here? He learned patience. While he was focused on his life, God was still enacting the dream in his life!
The prison was a testing place for promise! A proving ground for his faith! It was a place of frustrating doubt because he knew where he was supposed to be (Potiphars house) but was bound literally by what others said about him! Notice, the Prison sometimes becomes the burial ground for promise! Faith usually dies right before the last "P"!

THE 3rd P....THE PALACE – The confirmation and the commitment!

The Palace became realized when the time in the Pit and Prison was faithfully navigated! It should be understood....blessings delayed are not always blessing denied! Joseph had to endure the PIT and the PRISON, before he experienced the PALACE!

To those of you who have a dream...be faithful through your Pit or Prison experience, and the remainder of your life will be spent living in the Palace! Also known as the place of your dream fulfillment!!!!

The Difference between the "WHY" of God and the "WAY" of God

2010-10-11T12:39:00.000-04:00

Alright, let me go ahead and say it right at the beginning of this blog....sometimes God don't make any sense!?!
Try as I might, there are just some things that I will never understand about God! That doesn't make my statement blasphemous, it just is simple truth. Humanity sometimes reconcile their spiritual confusion by saying things such as "God works in mysterious ways” and it somehow puts our trials in an "Oh well" category and totally miss what God may be trying do in an individual's faith!

Here is what I come up with...we as children of God struggle with the "WHY" of God, when in reality, we should be seeking the "WAY" of God!

I have reconciled awhile ago that there are some things that I will never know!
All together now in a collective response....ARRGGHH!

As I write this, I cannot, nor will I attempt to understand the purpose or direction that God takes us towards understanding Him more completely, but what I can tell you is that His intention for us is not to struggle for divine direction, but achieve divine revelation….of who God is!!! We don’t know the causes to what and why God does His business, but I can tell you that the effects should be more of a revelation of WHO He is in our lives!

We question God on why negative things have to happen to us, when in reality, God maybe revealing Himself through a way that, while inconveniencing us, reveals to us His Way for our lives! It's easier to question than to wait! Easier to receive the short-term answer than the long-term revelation and blessing!!!

In St. John 11, the Bible tells of a familiar story of Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus, who was on his deathbed. Verse 5 tells that Jesus loved this family dearly and while Lazarus laid sick unto death, Mary & Martha sought out Jesus in the next town. They wanted Him to come and heal their brother! However, Jesus had a seemingly curious statement in verses 14 & 15! He said, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad….for the intent that ye may believe”. Mary & Martha went home to watch their brother die, because their friend and Savior did not come when they wanted Him!

Now, believe me when I say, that would not have made a lot of sense to me either if I was Mary or Martha, but we see later that God was doing something else for a greater good! You see, Jesus could've come when they wanted Him to come and healed Lazarus and would have been bound by His relationship to just heal Lazarus! BUT they would have only known Him in a more limited way comparatively to what He actually did when bringing Lazarus back from the dead!
During the waiting on God to arrive, the question in their mind was..."Why God?", but after Jesus stood at the tomb and called forth a dead Lazarus, their mindset was illuminated to the "Way of God"! In other words, doctors can heal, but there is only one who can give life!?!
What am I saying? I'm saying that they received a deeper understanding and revelation of who He was, rather than what He could do for them!

It was Thomas when told of Jesus’ appearing after the Crucifixion that said, “I wont believe until I see and feel the wounds in His hands and feet” Why did he say that? He said it because he couldn’t wrap his natural thinking around a miraculous happening like His Resurrection. In other words, Thomas didn’t understand the "hows" and the "whys". Jesus appeared for the express purpose of showing Thomas that… just because you cannot perceive it does not make it unreal! When Thomas became acquainted with the wounds of Jesus by touching, it was then that he had a revelation...“My Lord and my God”!!!
Did ya hear that? Thomas found out who Jesus was when he became acquainted with suffering!

Listen to a few scriptures that remind us that understanding the Whys of God are not as important as the Ways of God…!!!

James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” The word, “Patience” is interpreted as “constancy” or “hope”

1 Corinthians 10: 9-13 “ Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. (10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. (11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” The MOST powerful aspect of that scripture is the reminder that God is FAITHFUL!!!

If we could ever understand this concept of revelation through struggle, we might be able to adjust our mindset that God may be revealing himself in a deeper way!!!
How do I know Him as a healer, if He never heals me!
How do I know Him as a Savior, if He never saved me!
How do I know Him as my God, if I never allow Him to be?
In other words, how do I learn the "Way of God" without first experiencing the "Why of God"?

The End is Greater than the Beginning....

2009-11-20T09:45:00.000-05:00

Not long ago, one of my good friends lost his father after a prolonged illness. Although I did not know this man on a personal level, I was listening to my friend tell about his father to me. He explained that the man was a good father, BUT he recounted to me of the man's avoidance in walking with God altogether.

For years, the man dealt with issues of unworthiness of God's love and mercy in his life, and he never made any move towards a life of service towards God for years!
But as the man's illness began to incapacitate him, he realized his need for God in the short remainder of his life. As the days passed, the man grew weaker physically and the years of life not serving God had seemingly caught up to him. To a casual observer, one could think that God had forsaken this man and his final days. But during a family prayer on the man's death bed, he began to repent of the sin in his life and asked God, who it seemed had deserted him, for the saving power of the Holy Ghost to fill him. And God DID! He had already been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ earlier in life and was filled with the Holy Ghost a few short days before he passed on from this life. This life transitioned into another that will be filled with the endless day with the Creator, Savior, and Friend, Jesus Christ!

"You see..." my friend explained, "...during most of his life it seemed to never make sense to him. He could never find the joy that the Holy Ghost could bring him because he always tried to find it in a bottle or somewhere else. But when he realized he came as far as he could go on his strength, he turned to God!"
And while he said these things to me, I thought..."his end was greater than his beginning!"

Notice however, the only caveat is that the end will be greater only with Jesus Christ at the center of one's life can they truly embrace this promise! I've often thought if only everyone could realize the same golden opportunity that is available to has to make their "End greater than their Beginning!"

In the Bible, Job said that a man that is born of women is "few days and full of trouble". I guess that covers everybody, huh? We are trouble, and in trouble, and cause trouble...BUT God is not, nor shall He ever be, confounded by trouble! Moses, David, Job, and Peter all experienced inadequacy and failure during their life and ministry...i.e TROUBLE. Their failures could have defined them forever...but you see, their ending was greater than their beginning!

** Moses, after killing the Egyptian, went to the back side of a desert, heard the call of God at the Burning Bush, and became the leader God chose to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt!
**David, a poor, unregarded shepherd boy not even validated by his own father, was anointed to be king over the nation of Israel, failed with Bathseba, became known as one of the greatest kings in Israel's history and was instrumental in preparing for the Temple of Solomon to be built...by who else? Solomon...David's son!
**Job, who lost it ALL, endured physical affliction and anguish from his wife and peers, and was faithful throughout for God to bless him double and greater from his previous losses!
**Peter, who knew what it was like to hear and see the Master minister to the needy and unsaved, knew what it was like to hear the voice of God, denied his walk with Jesus! Through it all....through later repentance and remorse, became the mouthpiece to trumpet the Message of Salvation to the history of the World!

All of these experienced and could tell you today that their End was Greater than their Beginnings!!!

Whether we want to believe it or not, every soul will spend eternity somewhere. Heaven should be our destination focal point! A life free from the addictions to the flesh and sin can be anyone that desires that change towards God! Why not go about making the right decision and change your spiritual destiny...let God change your direction!

You too, regardless of your spiritual level or vantage point, can experience this great opportunity! All you have to do is give it to Jesus, surrender your life to Him, obey Acts 2:38...and watch God make your endings better than your beginnings!

The Good that comes from your Storm!!

2009-04-07T09:44:00.008-04:00

It's tornado season in Indiana and with it a great potential for devastation can happen! Storms and their wake have impacted our great nation over the last few years as well (Hurricane Katrina). Although the damage of a storm can be considerable, there is always something positive that comes from storm!?! I know, crazy as it sounds...it is TRUE!

It was inspiring that many across the nation united to help those in need...many left their homes and their jobs for the purpose of giving aid and comfort to the displaced residents in New Orleans a few years back. But the underlying messages that I received from this was that Hurricane Katrina 1) exposed weaknesses in the levee that needed strengthening; 2) woke up the need for better application of aid and response for the future storm; and 3) reminded us once again to appreciate what we do have and that we are not alone before our storm, in our storm, and after our storm!

May I say equally that spiritual Storms determine a lot within our lives. Let us be clear at the outset of what spiritual parallel that storms are in our lives….

Storms equate as trials, sufferings, hard times, low times, weak times, trying times, failures, thorns in the flesh, lack of faith, and/or physical – emotional – mental pain!

However, storms don't just reveal things about us, but what is in us!!!

The Bible refers to Paul , regarding his personal “storm” in 2Co 12:7-10 – “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Looking at these scriptures, I can see that there is something good that comes from our storms!!! Paul noticed that his storm didn't cripple him, but gave him strength through the storm! We must remind ourselves that when we are going through a storm, the things that make up our weaknesses are going to change us into something better!

But the problem is NOT THE STORM!!! But it is how we respond to it! We need to change our perspective about Storms!!! In fact, I want to tell you that Storms are Good!!! Obviously not when they are happening, BUT WHAT COMES FROM THEM!!!
BTW...let me just tell you, you’re crazy if you think I am telling you to embrace the Storm and all the negative wake it brings...!!! What I am telling you is to embrace the strength within your storm and the testimony it brings!!!

Hey listen, there are Biblical examples of what I am talking about...I am telling you that there is good that comes from your storms! There are 4 times that tempests/storms are experienced that directly relate to the people of God! (Not talking about rain, but storms!)

THE 4 C’S OF STORMS...

1) CORRECTED: (Jonah 1:11-15, 2:1) Jonah was CORRECTED from his course. We look down on Jonah, but we do the same thing in our relationship with God! It's all about what we want, and not about His will for our life! It is human nature when we lean to our strength and will! We are willful in our desires. Israel has had troubles throughout their history to even today because they consistently strayed from what the Will of God is for the nation! We are the spiritual Israel, we too want to do our own thing! And the consequences are always a warning to change or face judgment! Let's be honest...whenever there is storm trouble in our life, it’s probably because we need a course correction!

2) CONFIRMED: (Matt 14:22-32) Peter was CONFIRMED in his belief that Jesus was the Master of every situation when he called him to walk on the water! Watch this......By stepping out of his comfort zone, Peter’s ability in his walk was changed from ordinary to the extraordinary!!! Did you hear me? His faith and trust was confirmed in such a way that Jesus allowed him to have power over the water! The very thing that threatened to drown him!

3) COMFORTED: (Mark 4:35-41) Disciples were COMFORTED that through their Storm, Jesus was still on the boat! The Storms came, and the Disciples do what we tend to do, they fretted more about the Storms rather than who was on the boat! I find it very curious that the Bible does not record Jesus ever doing the mundane like sleeping except at this place in scripture! He never wasted an ounce of time, so why was He asleep? Why? Think that maybe the fishermen were saying, we got this! We’re fishermen! We can handle this and you can be here when we need you or when we get to our destination!?! We want you on the ship but we can drive it! Interesting that they relegated the Master to the bottom of the boat! But despite all of that, even though they put him on the back burner...Jesus was still present on their boat through their Storm!
When the storm was raging, they knew they couldn’t help themselves and when they got themselves into trouble, they woke Him up! In other words, they empowered Him to move on their behalf! I'm sure they weren't timid or quiet about it either!! IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STORM…WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS WAKE HIM UP IN YOUR LIFE!!

4) CONVINCED: (Acts 27:10-11, 14-15, 21-25, 31, 44) Paul was CONVINCED by an Angel to “FEAR NOT…” during the most fierce storm in his life! We need to understand that there is a God who is concerned with us!

I'm not sure that I can tell you about the why's and the how's so much as to who is in control of them! It is important that we look to Jesus in these trying times and not to our own strength! What comes from our storms is that we have strength in our weakness and we have a testimony at the end that... God is able! We have to be prepared for what we will face in our storms, but we must realize that we can make it through.

Our actions and response will determine what we do during the storm, and what will come from it....to illustrate what I am saying...consider the sad outcome of the recent accident of the NFL players. Though these men had sufficient physical power and ability in any other area of their life, when the storm came, they were helpless to the waves. Just having knowledge of a storm and its potential effects would not be enough.

But the message in this sad story was that their anchor got anchored in the wrong place, and when the storm, wind, and waves came, their ship was turned over.

Their anchor was anchored in the wrong place...

Friend, we need to anchor our anchor into the right place...it is found in the House of God, in Acts chapter 2, verse 38. There is good that comes from your storms, but only if you are anchored in the ROCK, Jesus Christ!!!

The Atmosphere that God Moves In. Part 2

2009-02-16T15:06:00.006-05:00

THE SHOWDOWN…

It was a day of dryness in the land of Israel at this time, a place where previously lush crops of wheat and barley grew a few years earlier, but now was only dirt! There were no water reserves, because no rain had come for 3 long years! The punishment of no rain came by the mouth of Elijah due to Israel’s king Ahab and his wicked and idolatrous ways! And as no rain did not come and the land began to dry up, God led Elijah to the brook Cherewith to protect him from Ahab's wrath, God sustained him by Elijah being fed by ravens. Finally, after the time had passed, God said “Its time you reveal yourself to the King”

I believe that it is exactly what God is commanding his people to do today! The Bible says in Joel 2:16, “Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.”
I believe in the day of trouble, it is time that we reveal and not be ashamed of who we are! In an environment of dryness and deadness, the time of God’s people is now! We should understand at the time of our unveiling is really the time when we are needed the most!

And when Elijah finally came in contact with Ahab...(after dealing with a sell-out pseudo-Christian...), Elijah challenged Ahab at Mount Carmel by telling him to offer a sacrifice to his god and Elijah would then offer to his God! It was a challenge regarding who was responsible for the current drought and who was the REAL God of Israel! He said we will know who the REAL God is, by how He responds...the "God that answers by fire"!

I've always wondered, if they were suffering from a drought, why didn't Elijah say “the God that answereth by water"? as opposed to fire? If I am in a drought, I'd want water, not more heat!

Well, this what I come up with...I believe if He would’ve answered by water, it would only have placated them until the next watering! But with fire, the impureness of sin and their unbelief can be burned out of them! In other words, water would’ve helped their flesh get stronger but from what I know of scripture… Fire purifies! Most times when fire was sent, it was to consume a sacrifice (repentance)! Therefore, water would’ve appeased the flesh, BUT the fire purified the spirit!!!

3 THINGS ELIJAH DID TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE …

A) Elijah…1) REPAIRED THE EXISTING ALTAR WITH 12 STONES THAT REPRESENTED THE 12 TRIBES.
(I Kings 18:30-32) “And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. (31) And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: (32) And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD:

The ALTAR is a place in the OT used for offering a sacrifice to God to cover sin! May I say to you, The power of Repentance is still as strong as it has been for centuries! The Blood of Jesus is able to cover the sins of mankind! 2Pe 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

When Elijah built the altar, it was very significant! BUT, when he used the representational stones, he was intimating to them that he was not about to introduce any new religion, but to revive the faith and worship of their fathers' God, and reduce them to their first love, their first works.

Elijah…2) INCORPORATED WATER AND PREPARED THE SACRIFICE (REPENTANCE)…
(32) “…and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. (33) And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. (34) And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. (35) And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. Some say that he used the water to eliminate any thought of fraud before the fire came! He could’ve used another way to prove not fraudulent, but whatever the case, WATER WAS USED AFTER THE SACRIFICE WAS DONE!!!

Finally, Elijah…3) BEGAN TO SEEK GOD!!!
(36) And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. (37) Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. (38) Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (39) And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

If we desire to draw closer to God, we should be wanting to create an atmosphere in our life that God can move in. If we do this, God will surely minister to our needs, strengthen our resolve, and uplift our faith in the time of trouble! How we do we do this?

Do what Elijah did and... 1) Make an Altar in our Life, 2) Incorporate Repentance in our Life on a Daily Basis and apply the Name of Jesus through Water Baptism, and 3) Begin to Seek God and Watch what He will do in your Life within the proper atmosphere!!! He will fill you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire!!!

The Atmosphere that God Moves In. Part 1

2009-02-04T14:15:00.009-05:00

There are many variables that influences our day! But in my opinion, there is no greater influence than atmosphere or more specifically, how it can affect us.

Let's be honest...one of the first things we do, unconsciously, is that we check the weather to see what kind of temperature or cumulation we will face! And what we hear directly affects how we will dress, how we will travel... how we will drive our car (fast or slow) according to the atmosphere and what route we will take!

And yes, I will admit too that it affects our overall mood towards that day and its schedules!(ouch!)

Isn't it interesting to think about that we can create a certain kind of atmosphere in our everyday circumstances also? For example, if we are having a party, we can create an atmosphere of fun by getting a cake, balloons, party hats and streamers, etc...so that we have the proper atmosphere of fun! (if you don't do this, your parties may not be too fun...I'm just saying...) The same holds true for a wedding...

Or how about the performance of our jobs by cutting out unnecessary distractions at the workplace...Creating the right atmosphere...

Or the overall effectiveness of exercise can be won or lost by what shoes you wear or your overall seriousness to exercise...Creating the right atmosphere...

Or if we are trying to diet, we should eliminate all the twinkies that we have hidden in our cabinets so that we can eliminate the temptations! Creating the right atmosphere...

Such it is in the Spirit, atmospheric conditions within the realm of the Spirit affect us and influence us by what we dress (holiness), how we travel (Godly Service), our spiritual speed to our destination (Spiritual barriers), and it affects how we treat each other (Unity)!!!

May I say to you that WE can affect our spiritual atmosphere!!! Positively AND Negatively!

What is atmosphere specifically? Webster’s define atmosphere as “The weather or climate at some place;” He describes it further as “A particular environment or surrounding influence”
Now understand, we know that when a particular atmospheric or environmental conditions is present, life can begin, flourish, and grow!

I realize that is not very deep concept for some of us…we know that if there is no water or sunshine, a plant cannot sustain itself! BUT NOTICE... (These are only the right conditions, but this isn’t atmosphere conditions by themselves! Just because it rains one day and has sun for one day, makes it the exception and not the rule! In other words, it isn't considered atmospheric!) I mean, DUH, right?!?

Recently, I felt like God was talking to me about spiritual atmospheres, and what happens when we learn to create and dictate atmosphere! So I looked into the word of God…

THERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES THAT ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE THAT GOD THINKS ATMOSPHERE HOLDS IN THE LIVES OF HUMANITY...

First... GEN 1:1-2 : "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

See that!?! God created the heaven (an atmosphere)…then… the Spirit of God moved!!!
Let’s be clear, if we want God to move in our lives, we must learn to create an atmosphere FIRST BEFORE God can be able to MOVE IN!?!

Secondly... GEN. 1; 6-8: - "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. (7) And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. (8) And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

And from verses GEN. 1:11-30: God made the seed and plant life on the 3rd Creative Day; sea creatures and the fowl on the 5th Creative Day; then, He created animals and Man on the 6th Creative Day!

ALL that life that God created, He did from just committing to make an atmosphere that He could move in!

IF WE CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT GOD CAN MOVE IN, GOD CAN MOVE AND HE CAN BRING LIFE!!!!!!!

So I ask you, isn't it worth creating an atmosphere within your life that God can move on your situation and bring life to the deadness within your life???

If you don't have God moving in your life, may I submit to you that you need to create an atmosphere that God can be loosed in your life and how you do that is get connected to the House of God! Secondly, you need repent of your sins and have the Name of Jesus applied to your life in Baptism. And finally, let God fill you with His Spirit...and watch the God move and bring Life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Part 2-Next Week)

In Jesus' Name...

2008-08-22T19:05:00.005-04:00

Recently, I came across some old notes that I had written out while hearing a sermon. The preacher that I had been listening to is named Robert Bayer. He is a tremendous preacher and Man of God, and as far as I know, he is still evangelizing within North America. He was also indentified as a man who had committed himself to Biblical memorization in such a way that he was able to recite the text and any auxilliary verses without the use of the Bible during his preaching!

Bro Bayer illustrated that whatever the action done, word said, or function performed...it is to be done in the Name of Jesus! Everything he preached regarding this is found within the Scriptures. He also pointed out that many denominal religious institutions are readily accepting of the name of Jesus in most, but not all of the things commanded in the Bible!

But they are not willing to use it in the most important way commanded...which was during baptism! We are COMMANDED to use the name of Jesus for the washing and remission of sins! (Acts 4:12). And you can guess, it was a doozy!

So I thought that I would add this to the Blog for your personal edification in hopes that you are reminded of the power and glory that is in the Name of Jesus!!!

1) James 5:14 - Anoint the sick in the name of Jesus.

2) Matt.12:21 - Gentiles trust in the name of Jesus.

3) Mark 16:17 - Cast out devils in the name of Jesus.

4) Mark 9:37 & Matt 18:15 - Children received in the name of Jesus.

5) Mark 9:41 - Cup of water given in the name of Jesus.

6) Acts 15:14 - The Church is founded in the name of Jesus.

7) Phil. 2:9-11 - Confess in the name of Jesus.

8) 2 Tim. 2:19 - Depart from iniquity in the name of Jesus.

9) Acts 21:13 - Ready to die in the name of Jesus.

10) Matt 18:20 & 1 Cor. 5:4 - Gathered together in the name of Jesus.

11) 1 Cor. 6:11 - Sanctified in the name of Jesus.

12) 2 Thess. 1:12 - We glorify in the name of Jesus.

13) Matt. 10:22, 24:9, 13:13 & Mark 21:17 & Luke 15:21 - We are hated in the name of Jesus.

14) Acts 3:16, 4:10,30 - Healed in the name of Jesus.

15) John 14:26 - The Comforter / Holy Ghost sent in the name of Jesus.

16) 1 Cor. 6:11 - Justified in the name of Jesus.

17) Acts 5:28, 40, 41 - Suffer in the name of Jesus.

18) Rev. 2:3 & Mark 9:41 - Work and reward given in the name of Jesus.

19) 1 Cor. 1:10 - Words are to be unifying in the name of Jesus.

20) Phil 2:10 - Every knee to bow in the name of Jesus.

21) Col. 3:17 - The rites and practices of the Church is performed in the name of Jesus.

22) Acts 2:38 - We are commanded to be baptized in the name of Jesus.

23) Acts 4:12 - Get saved in the name of Jesus.

24) 2 Thess 3:6 - Withdraw from disorderly and the divisive in the name of Jesus.

25) Acts 9:27, 29 - Boldly preach in the name of Jesus.

26) 1 Cor. 1:2 - The sanctified call in the name of Jesus.

27) 1 Cor. 6: 11 - Washed in the name of Jesus.

28) Eph. 5:20 & Heb. 13:15 - Give thanks in the name of Jesus.

29) John 14:13, 14 - Ask for an answer / blessing in the name of Jesus.

Thank God for the name of Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Power in a Seed

2008-07-28T12:09:00.008-04:00

Recently, during my research for a Biology class that I am taking to complete my degree, I stumbled upon a very interesting article about ancient and extinct date seeds that were discoverered in Masada, (an ancient fortress in Israel). It was built by Herod the Great for the purpose of repelling foreign invaders. The seeds were uncovered by archaelologists in the 1960's and had been carefully protected until recently.

(http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/1122_051122_old_seed.html)

Now immediately...this article caught my attention!! Now, what really caught my fancy, was that until recently, these supposed dormant date seeds had been only considered a minor archaeological find!?! But it wasn't until a genobiologist reckoned that even though the ancient seeds on the outer shell was hardened by centuries of desert wear and tear, it had the potential for life within, did it ever become an incredible discovery!!

Because someone saw the potential for life in a dead shell, the seemingly dead seeds were planted! The article goes on to say that within a few short months after the planting, the beginnings of a date tree began to grow! Now, there are two main spiritual points that I want to share with you that the article illustrated to me!

1) Within the Word of God, there are several references to seeds and the power within them. In fact, Jesus himself referenced the power within a seed! In essence, Jesus was driving home this point to those who were listenting raptly at His parable teaching. The lesson was that many discount the power of what is inside, by being influenced by what is not present on the outside! In other words, because they weren't impressed by what they saw, they weren't believing or interested in what could happen from the inside!

The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16, that the prophet Samuel came to anoint a new king of Israel in Jesse's house. When Jesse began to parade his outwardly, more powerful, more anointable sons...Samuel didn't see what he was looking for! The shame in all this was that David's own father overlooked and minimized him as someone who surely could never be a king! The prophet asks, "Is this it? Is this all the sons of Jesse?" Jesse replied, "Uh..well...there is one more..." But while he was speaking, Jesse was probably thinking "Surely not!" But Jesse fell into the trap that many others do, they look on the outward. But the Bible explains in (v.7),"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. We know the rest of the story, David was anointed as king and became a man after God's own heart!

You see, the power in the seed is not what it looks like on the outside...because it looks to be insignificant and small...but within lies a harvest of a thousand trees waiting to explode into life!

2) YOU are the seed! Within you lies an incredible harvest of life, but the problem with some of us is that we have a hardened shell that's been weathered by disappointments, hurts, failures, and overall...life in general!

To the Christian, you have the power to reach and influence a great many people that have lost their direction and can't find their way!

To the Sinner, you have tried other things to create life within yourself by planting or investing yourself in the erodong soil of this world! No one can successfully be rooted in a world that is failing because of its sin and hope to survive the coarse weathering of life!

To the Back-Slider, you've become hardened on the outside, but there is potential and hope for the inside! The Master Potter wants to re-plant you in the sunshine of His love!

To anyone who will allow God to be God in their life, he will bring Life to the Deadness, and a Harvest from just an old, dormant seed! Such is the power that's in a seed!

William Dawes..Who are you?

2008-06-24T21:53:00.008-04:00

“On a cool April morning, in the late 1700’s, 2 farmers named William & Paul , were horrified to learn that the enemy was planning to attack their camp/settlement in the very near future! They had been appointed to be prepared if the enemy should arrive by sea.

As the enemy came under the shadows of twilight, William and Paul set out to be the clarion voices of readiness!

They coordinated with the watchtower near the ocean, and waited for the signal = 1 if by land, 2 if by sea. And at midnight, when the lamps were lit, William and Paul, decided to ride into destiny, and warn the neighboring villages with voices sounding like a trumpet to the sleeping people…that ... "the British were coming! The British were coming!"

We are approaching that time of the year when we celebrate our country's independence from the British in the late 1700's. And being an absolute American History junkie and avid reader, many times I come across alot of stories of our Founding Father's and about those who were so willing to put themselves in harm's way for the future and vision of a new nation! It demanded sacrifice, courage, and perseverance through adversity mixed with blood.

The story of the Midnight Ride is one of those compelling stories. Read on, and I'll tell you why...

By now, its easy to guess that one of the riders was Paul Revere, whose timely announcement prepared the colonials to rise and be ready to the coming enemy advance!

BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE OTHER LESSER KNOWN RIDER...

William Dawes performed the same actions that Revere had; was moved with the same "like" actions of patriotism; desired to help prepare his countrymen for the sure war of the Revolution…but his place in history is in anonymity!

When taking a closer look, we find the reason why Willian Dawes' place in American History is lost!!!

1) DAWES HAD NO DIRECTION!

When Dawes started his ride, he took a lesser route…in other words, he went the wrong way! This simply means by having a message that could've prepared the sleeping colonials, he decided to go away from the areas where the general populace lived!

By choosing to go the opposite direction of where he should have gone, convinces us that He didn’t see the priority to sticking to the main roads and to the populated areas!

May I say that the message of Acts 2:38 still works! There is no need to go away from it!

This trip down the wrong roads illustrates that he could've only wanted the path of least resistance!

He traded the more important things of what he should have been doing for easier living of not being involved at all!

2) DAWES' WAS PARALYZED BY HIS FEAR OF THE ENEMY AND THE POTENTIAL OF BEING KILLED IF CAUGHT!

2 Tim. 1:7 says..."For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind!

Sometimes, fear grips our hearts about the things that we KNOW we should do! Fearful, of living for God; of making a solid committment, and afraid of what the enemy would do to us, if we are caught trying to do right!

The sad truth about it was that both William Dawes and Paul Revere did get caught! When Revere convinced his captors that he wasn't a threat, THEY LET HIM GO! Want to know what Revere did after this? You guessed it, he got back on the horse and rode, continuing on into American lore!

But as for Dawes, he so shook with fright, that he was considered a non-threat...and was let go! OUCH!

3) DAWES GOT LOST WHILE RIDING! He became unsure of his direction on his way back home! Simply, he LOST HIMSELF!

Jesus spoke in 3 Parables of something being lost. Sheep, Coin, Prodigal Son. Notice, in these parables, Jesus was speaking about the three stages of living for God, (The sinner, the saint, and the backslider). So, Jesus was trying to drive the message home! No matter what you're spiritual status is...we all can lose direction in our lives, and that applies to Christians also!

Someone said, "The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!" No one intends to be lost, but if we dont have a "route of riding" like ol' Dawes didn't, you won't get to the spiritual destination that you desire!

4) Dawes was not a public man, he was unknown because he wasn't completely committed to the rebellion against tyranny! HE WAS APATHETIC IN HIS INTENT.

During the planned rebellion and the response to the repercussions of the Boston Tea party, Revere was a member of the Sons Of Liberty, Dawes was not! Which meant that all Dawes was, was a casual spectator unwilling to engage the enemy when he was needed the most! He was committed just enough to ease his conscience, but not sold-out!

Just like in the church, we need to make sure we are living what we say we are! Our warnings of endtime could be falling on deaf ears because of our lives and how we live them! It is very important to be who we say we are!

The Midnight Ride poem written by Helen F. Moore in 1896"

The Midnight Ride of William Dawes
I am a wandering, bitter shade,Never of me was a hero made;Poets have never sung my praise,Nobody crowned my brow with bays;And if you ask me the fatal cause,I answer only, "My name was Dawes"
'Tis all very well for the children to hearOf the midnight ride of Paul Revere;But why should my name be quite forgot,Who rode as boldly and well, God wot?Why should I ask? The reason is clear --My name was Dawes and his Revere.
When the lights from the old North Church flashed out,Paul Revere was waiting about,But I was already on my way.The shadows of night fell cold and grayAs I rode, with never a break or a pause;But what was the use, when my name was Dawes!
History rings with his silvery name;Closed to me are the portals of fame.Had he been Dawes and I Revere,No one had heard of him, I fear.No one has heard of me becauseHe was Revere and I was Dawes.

The Memorial of a Memory

2008-06-18T21:15:00.008-04:00

The human brain is one of the most complex, the most incredible organisms known to the history of the Earth. At the literal snap of a finger, the brain has within its power the ability to compute many thousands of reactions to the sound in a single second! It regulates our bodies' internal organs, blood flow, and temperature on the subconscious level while being ready to deliver when things become more intense on the physical!

But, in my opinion, the greatest and one of the comparatively least complex abilities of the human brain is the power in a memory!

Isn't it amazing when the environment around us introduces (or reintroduces) something that it triggers an extraordinary counter response of memories!?! Ever smelled a smell and thought of Mom's home cooking? Ever heard a song and you are transported back to a place where you first heard the song? Ever saw a picture or picked up an object and the memories flood your mind so much that it can be seemingly overwhelming?? Or how about when we drive by an old place we used to visit as a child, and the memories of that place flood our minds so much that it seems almost like we are there again!? It almost makes you long for that feeling of yesterday! Thus, it is the power and memorial of a memory!

I must be getting old. Nostalgia grips my heart more and more now and I can recall so many things good and bad in my past like it happened yesterday! Every time, memories explode into my waking mind....

I smile...

or laugh...

or even shed a tear ...about what has happened in my life...and it sometimes makes me wish (OH, I WISH!) that I could go back again and relive it for so many reasons!

Maybe to just enjoy those incredibly funny times with childhood and teenage friends; to sit and talk to my deceased grandmother again and hear her talk about her life and her love for "professional" wrestling! (True, too true!) Or how about going back and righting the wrongs of a stubborn youth or correcting the attitude of myself as an early adult. Or simply just reliving a time when you laughed so hard with someone you cried because your belly hurt!

It is also here, however, that I remember with clarity lost opportunities, missed chances of friendship or a kind word, a handshake, a hug, a kiss, living in the moment with that special person, time, or place and long for it to come back.

Just one more time...

Alas, I cannot! A writer once wrote, "You can never go home again." I think I know what they meant. Again, there are memorials in our memories!

I was reading the Bible the other day and I saw what God told the Jewish people to do when they crossed over Jordan for the first time soon nearing the Promised Land.

(Joshua 4:1-7, KJV)

(1) And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, (2) Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, (3) And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. (4) Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: (5) And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: (6) That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? (7) Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

I want you to see the significance of what God was telling His people to do. The river Jordan, and this particular place in history was important because God was bringing His people to a land of promise and the Jordan river was one of the last hurdles before crossing over! So when God was telling Joshua to bring up the stones from out of the midst of the riverbed, He was effecting in them a change from the past to the present with a look towards the future! The stones would be a memorial for generations to come! In essence, how I interpret this is that God brought them through and whenever they thought about quitting or giving up or even going back to their bondage...the memorial would remind them that God was their God!

A memorial is something that preserves a "remembrance." I might add that it is an object or marker for a boundary of land. In other words, something that divides and separates! I believe that God wanted the memorial to be put up because it marked a turning point in their stages of life. Furthermore, it marked leaving the bondage of the past, to the future of serving Jehovah God! How about that...leaving a bad memory behind to no more bother us? Pretty novel idea that God had , huh?

I'm sure those people didn't fully understand the reasons for the stones as a memorial then, but over the course of time, they would see it was more than JUST a bunch of piled up rocks! But in reality, it was a sign to never go back where they came from! They could not understand it then, but eventually, through the years, they could go back and explain to their children the memorial of a memory was and is a landmark of salvation!

My friend, let me remind you something! Although your memories may define your thinking and environment today, they do not define you! I love that God builds little markers or memorials at the former places of my trials and tribulations so that I can go back and view them to remind myself of God's saving, amazing grace in my life!

Don't Miss The Obvious!

2008-05-29T13:56:00.019-04:00

I heard a joke not too long ago and I thought I'd share it with you...

The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep. Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, "Kemo Sabe, look towards sky, what you see?" The Lone Ranger replies, "I see millions of stars." "What that tell you?" asked Tonto.

The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says, "Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning. Theologically, it's evident the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What's it tell you, Tonto?" Tonto is silent for a moment, then he says, "Kemo Sabe, you dumber than buffalo. Someone has stolen tent."

I think I can relate to the Lone Ranger on this one. Ever felt like that no matter what you do, after you do it, the "obvious" smacks you square in the face and you KNOW you made a mistake?? This is where the younger generation would sometime interject at this embarassing moment... "Duh!" To add insult to injury, it is especially bothersome when I miss a seemingly golden opportunity to make a difference, and I go ahead and make a "bonehead" move! The irony is almost too much to swallow because what should be an easy problem of addition or subtraction turns into a complex algebraic formula!?! (I hate algebra by the way!)

Ok, enough with the cliches and slang...there are some obvious things, in my opinion, that we as humanity should not be struggling with! There are just some things that we can "put to bed" regarding issues! (There I go with the cliches, again!)

One day, Jesus was trying to enlighten the disciples by showing them the obvious connection between himself and God in John 14:1-13 KJV:

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (4)And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. (5) Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?(6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (7) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.(8) Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (13) And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

While expounding the obvious, Thomas the Doubter, as some knew him, completely missed what Jesus was saying. Jesus was saying (pardon me for putting it in my words), "Bud, you mean to tell me I have spent all this time with you, and you STILL don't know who I am"?? (Do ya think the other disciples were saying, "DUH!??!" Makes one wonder, huh?)

We pick on Thomas for his doubting, but really, Jesus was trying to explain to the whole Jewish race who He was...and they just didn't get it...and they still don't!

In fact, Jesus stood up in the Temple reading a prophesy out of the Book of Isaiah about the coming Messiah. When he finished, he said, "This day, this prophesy is fulfilled in your ears" In other words, I AM the one you have been waiting for, for generations!" (Luke 4:17-21 KJV) The Jewish nation is STILL looking for that Messiah, and the sad thing is, He has already come! They missed a golden opportunity...by missing the obvious!!!

The Jews were bound by tradition and a false piety. Many were hypocritical! They were so expecting to see their Messiah arrive and set up an earthly kingdom, that they missed exactly what they were needing and looking for in the spiritual!! They missed the obvious!!! How very sad!

You might be asking, "What are you saying?" I'm trying to explain to you the OBVIOUS! Jesus shed His precious blood at Calvary to take away your burdensome sins, ease the pain that's in your life, and establish a daily relationship with you.

If you are experiencing the overwhelming waves of this life so much that it is sinking your ship, it is obvious that you need to establish with Jesus Christ, which brings great HOPE! In a world that is failing more everyday, in almost every way...the OBVIOUS answer to the ills of life is Jesus Christ!

Isn't it OBVIOUS?

The Lesson of the Pearl

2008-05-28T12:39:00.018-04:00

Recently, through my studies, I learned some interesting points about pearls and how they are created. I learned that the formation of a pearl is really just a product of a healing wound that an oyster received. Furthermore, an offensive, foreign substance embeds itself in the most sensitive part of the oyster and a regimen of suffering begins. In the creation of a pearl, an ongoing process of pain produces a treasure of ever-increasing size. The irritation never goes away. The oyster continues secreting the substance to coat the hurt. That secretion hardens and becomes the pearl. The longer the hurt remains, the larger the pearl!

The Bible records a story of a man named Job. He was just an average guy who loved God, but he was about to experience pain and suffering on another level! In one day, he lost farms and livestock, houses and land, his household and family...he lost his reason for living.

Again, he lost it ALL in ONE DAY!

However, the Bible says in all of his pain and suffering, Job did not charge God foolishly. In fact, this average guy's response was anything but average. Job 23:8-11 says: " Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: (9) On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:(10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.(11) My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined."

You see, Job understood that even though he could not discern the presence of God in his life, God WAS there and had a purpose for his suffering and pain. The end result of Job's trust was that not only was he restored in every measure, but he increased exponentially and his new gains became greater than what he had lossed! What a testimony!

I wondered how many times I have caused and endured hurts of the heart and the mind during my life? Hundreds of times? Thousands?? Unlike Job, I've questioned the Lord on why suffering and pain even exists? What the purpose? Why do even dedicated people suffer pain? Why does it rain on the unjust AND the just??

But then, my mind goes back to the Lesson of the Pearl, and my understanding begins to be illuminated...

The beautiful pearl does not come from something that strengthens or nourishes the oyster, but only through what hurts it or causes it pain! Before Job could become increased in the way that he was, suffering had to happen! He simply had to endure the pain! But he didn't endure alone, God was with him all the way! I'm sure you've read the poem of the Footprints in the Sand? The one set of footprints was not the solitary steps of the author, but it was the footprints of the Lord carrying him through his trial and pain!

I don't know why God chose suffering and pain to be the catalyst for the pearl exactly, but what I DO know is that when I trust and love God through my pain, He will make something beautiful come from it! The greatest desire in our lives should be how we can love God and we can know Him better everyday!

The Apostle Paul wrote in Phillippians 3:10, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" Even though Paul knew God through the power, he didn't fully know God until he experienced the sufferings also! And when he did, he was made comformable, or"pliable or usable" unto Calvary.

My friend, it doesn't matter what your spiritual posture is currently, when the sufferings of this life tend to embed itself in the most sensitive areas of the heart, just know that God is taking the hurt and creating a pearl within you! The sooner we learn the Lesson of the Pearl, pain and suffering become easier to handle.