Dear friend-

My dear friend-

I am fairly certain that, despite your assertion that I didn’t offend today, given a few hours or a few days, that opinion will likely change.  Please know when that does happen, that first, I am sorry for any hurt caused and that it was not my intention to cause either mental or spiritual anguish and so for that, I ask your forgiveness.  Please also know, however, that the words I spoke were so said out of love, in a sincere desire to help you come to the Truth.

Yes, truth with a capitol T.  The one that can only be found in the black and red in that book sitting on your nightstand.  Not from the lips of man (or woman,) for we are all fallible and broken, bur rather as breathed from the very lips of God.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.       2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

I said that I wish to win you for the Kingdom.  And I do.  You have a good heart and are a considerate man.  I do not wish to see you lead astray by false doctrine.  As stated in 2 Timothy, in all things, consult the Bible- it’s there for confirmation, correction, and guidance.  It’s not written in a manner that must be interpreted for each follower, but rather, so that each follower may read it and garner what God wishes to show them for where they are right then and there.  It is easy to be mislead when you are not anchored in Bible.

He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
Proverbs 4:4 (NKJV)

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32 (NKJV)

I sincerely want for you, the peace and ease promised by Jesus, even when looking at the chaos of the world as it is today.  (Though I will freely admit that I find it awe inspiring that we are watching history in the making as what is written in the Bible is unfolding before our very eyes.)  Sure, there are days where I too falter, but I generally try to remind myself:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Matthew 6:25-27 (NKJV)

He’s got this.  Regardless of what we’re going through- He’s got it.  He’s bigger than any of our problems or fears.  He has a plan and He’s shown it to us that we may learn from it and help guide others to Him.

Along with that peace, is a sense of fear.  (I use it in the same context as the Bible meaning awe and reverence.)   For not only are none of our works enough, (Romans 3:20) but all that Jesus asks of us is to have faith, believe in Him, and follow.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.       Matthew 11:30 (NKJV)

With love and hope to be able to call you a brother in Christ,

 

CPB

From common to superpower

My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.

    Hang on to them,

for they will refresh your soul.

    They are like jewels on a necklace.

They keep you safe on your way,

    and your feet will not stumble.

Proverbs 3: 21-23 (NLT)

The joke for some time, has been that “common sense” is anything but common.  There have even been images circulating the internet that equate common sense to a super power.  How could it be that something that seems so obvious to some, be completely lost on others? 

To me, at least at this point in time, it seems to be as obvious as breathing.  I know though, that it was not always so for me.  I can look back and see times where I made some very bad calls that, had I just had a modicum of common sense at the time, would have turned out very differently. 

Guess what.

Those were also times where I was not walking with God as I should have been. 

To me, the apparent lack of “common” sense in today’s world doesn’t just speak to the fact that we’ve become so coddled, (political correctness, over the top regulations and warnings, etc) but that it primarily speaks to the fact that we are losing our religion.  Specifically, we’re not working on our relationship with God. 

In the verses above, David notes that common sense refreshes your soul.  Not just your outlook, or your overall sense of well-being, but your SOUL.  Last I checked, the soul was not something that could be helped by the physical or material world, (but could most certainly be harmed by it.)  Rather, the soul is tended to and nourished by God. 

When you’re in closer communion with Him, your soul flourishes.  When you walk away and become a slave to sin, your soul begins to die.  

Believe me though, when I say that the seeming irony is not lost on me.

Today’s world cherishes science.  It focuses on the seeming in-congruence between science “fact” and religion and uses that as justification to trust what you can see and leave behind the matters of faith.  And yet, the seemingly simplest way to make sense of the world and how to cope and deal with it comes from those that do their best to Walk by Faith.

But then again, I guess that seems pretty obvious, common sense if you will, to those that believe.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

    do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

    and he will show you which path to take.

                           Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NLT)

 

CPB

Your mindset determines your reality

People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

There’s something that’s been eating slowly away at me.  It’s humanity’s willingness to embrace the negativity in others without question, while seemingly struggling to accept the positive.

Falsehoods and slander spread like wildfire across social media.  Even when it’s the same old “news” that has been debunked for years or maybe even decades.  It seems to be summed up pretty well with the e-card  that continues to circulate showing an image of Abraham Lincoln with a quote attributed to him stating, “The thing about quotes from the ineternet is that it’s hard to verify their authenticity.

And yet, rather than questioning and thinking about items, it seems as though people will usually accept a negative item at face value, but question the positive.

Why?  Whatever happened to the thought that, while flawed and broken, people are, by nature, more apt to try and do positive than they are negative?

My thought is that this shows, more than just a commentary on people as individuals, that the nation has a whole has become very egocentric (as others have been saying for quite some time and I don’t intend to really try to address in this,) lost it’s religion.

By buying into the negativity spread about others, we’re able to point at it and essentially say, “Wow, look how bad they are.  Can you believe this?”  The unspoken comment though, is “I am better than this person because I would never do such a thing.”  Rather than seeing the brokenness and empathizing by acknowledging the brokenness in ourselves, we’re trying to elevate ourselves above that on our own.

It doesn’t work that way.

The latest packet of negativity I have seen circulating is a post about Jane Fonda that has been circulating the internet for years now.  While most of the information contained within that packet has been debunked, (by those that wrote it initially even,) people still willingly accept it as fact and forward it on it’s way to others.  Yes, she spoke out against what was, and still is, seen as a very controversial war.  Yes, she met with the opposing forces and asked our side to stop bombing the North.  Yes, she even said something very negative about returning veterans which I will not quote here.

She has admitted that she will regret that comment till the day she dies.

Have you never said anything that you have regretted once the words passed your lips?  I know I have.  I immediately cringed once the words were out, knowing that I couldn’t take them back.  Because I made a mistake, should it be held over my head for the rest of my life?  Or should my seeking forgiveness be enough to encourage others to let it go; not necessarily to forget, but at least to forgive and move forward?

By refusing to use negativity circulating social media and the internet as a means to making ourselves feel holier than though, we accept the situation for what it is; a chance to minister and hopefully, water the seeds planted in others.

If we point out that yes, this person made a mistake but I did as well, we can hopefully get people to think and reflect on their own lives.  Stones aren’t always physical clumps of minerals that one can hold in their hand and throw.  They can be pixilated as well.  So before throwing another stone, just because others before you have already begun, think.  Are you missing an opportunity to share your story of how you were once broken like the person being targeted and have now been restored?

I can’t believe what she said

I can’t believe what he did

Oh, don’t they know it’s wrong, yeah?

Don’t they know it’s wrong, yeah?

Maybe there’s something I missed

But how could they treat me like this?

It’s wearing out my heart

The way they disregard

This is love, this is hate…

We all have a choice to make

Tenth Avenue North- Losing

CPB