Abiding…

No doubt this is a very difficult thing to understand.  It was not only hard for those closest to Christ to grasp but even for us today and for any theologian or devote studier of the Word.  When recently asked what abiding meant, every answer involved doing something or have an outwardly expression that indicated “abiding”.  The thing that is puzzling is if you are doing nothing to show that you are abiding, how do you do it?  I believe it begins with praying without ceasing and dying to self.  Abiding in Christ is a complete commitment to take on the character of the Savior.  As a child abides within its mother for 9 months, relying on everything from the mom, so should be in Christ.  Once we are born into life we begin the eternal process of life that never ends.  Perhaps abiding is like a circle that has no clear beginning or end that can never be broken.  Jesus wants us and he wants all of us, as a matter of fact it is required in order to reach freedom from the world and joy and peace in a turbulent time.  Abide in me and I will abide in you….apart from me you can do nothing.

Preparations are in order…

 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.  Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”

Looking at the passage we see that Jesus has just completed several unique things.  He defied Jewish law as well as performed miracles.  Questioned for these actions I imagine he was growing a bit aggetated and ended up prophecying over our generation.  We are warned directly by the Savior that walking this walk would not be easy and that the enemy would attack even greater once our hearts are cleaned by the Spirit.  We are so caught up in reading and listening and not enough into application.  If I warn my children that the water is too cold, chances are they are going to touch it to see if I am right.  We as adults are the same way.  We are warned that the evilness that has been cast out of our lives will return and we ignore the question that we should as ourselves “Well then what do we do when that happens?”.  What we do is remain humble, remain prayerful and submissive to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, how to combat the enemy.  Furthermore we must learn who we are in Christ and understand fully the authourity that is given to us by the Savior.  It pains me that too often as Christians we think we are automatically qualified to give advice to others about their issues and at the same time become out of reach to take our own advices.  The enemy is very cunning but he is also very simple, remember the same evil spirit comes back with 7 others to mess things up even more.  I am learning daily that pride is such an ugly thing.  I used to think that pride was holding a tight lip or having and bragging about material things and I stand corrected.  Pride is also faking humility or faking vulnerability to seek out attention.  Who does not want the favor of God?!  But do we have the character that deserves that favor? Can we really heal our wounded spirits?  I think not, all we can do is open ourselves up for healing from the Holy Spirit and remain broken from there.  It is easy to walk in a self given purpose that makes us feel good but to walk in a God given purpose means that only God can make you feel good about it; because a war is taking place.  Glory to God and what power there is in the name of Jesus.  Evil spirits cringe at the mention of the name Jesus!  He is the light of the world, the Lamb of God.  I am so glad that he died for me!!

Been a minute but I’m back…

^{Luke 21:36}

“Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man”

I came across this passage at work the other day when Jesus is describing the end times and my eyes began to water right there in my cube.  Each morning I read a scripture and either I or someone else pray over our team before we start working for the day.  I teared up after reading this passage because I immediately thought, this one is too much.  My manager, whom claims, to be a Christian and even youth pastor likes scriptures that are more themed for the current vibe of the team.  Usually, scriptures that motivate or warn of unfocus and laziness are more of his liking.  Each morning my heart turns in my chest because I just want to have bible study and connection time instead of just work…or at least for more than 5 minutes.  Anyway, I chose another scripture to read but Luke 21 stayed with me all day.  Verse 36 really got my attention where it states, “…you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape…”  After the clear warnings of our Savior of how its going to go down in the end…how its going down now, he makes it evident that there is no way to escape except by being accounted for and worthy.  Who accounts for us to the Father? JESUS.  Who makes us worthy to escape God’s wrath? JESUS.  There is nothing more important than having the covering of the final living sacrifice that was put to death….JESUS.  Unlike any other living sacrifices before Him, His blood does not dry up with time.  It remains fresh on those that submit their lives to him knowing that they are but utter disgust in the eyes of the God without the blood of the Lamb on them.  All of these things going on around us in the world point to this passage and too often we fall for the logical explanation like.  My heart hurts for those who don’t know what is coming but it really breaks for those who know it but don’t believe.

In it all…

In the loss of loved ones, in the birth of new love.  In the frustration of miscommunication. In the completion of another’s sentence.  In broken bonds.  In restored relationships.  In pointing out what is bad.  In praising what is good.  In discipline but also in encouragement.  Through death, pain and misery.  To life, freedom and joy.  God is in it all.  To see that God is in all that we do, are and want to be means to know the Truth.  That Truth is staggering at first because we come to the awful reality that we will die with out Him.  We will suffer aimlessly without Him.  In Him all things are obtainable and the elements of life that must be loosed are easier to let go of…trusting in Him.  The suffering may not continue, life may not cut you a break but a meanderer you are no more.  Because as Christ suffered for the purpose to save us all.  So you must suffer to serve Him and rightfully so.  The reward?  Life, seated to the right hand of the Father.  Breathe my friend and take on His breath….He is waiting for you.

What its all about…

God, that is what or who its all about, I should say.  Of course it was all about me just last summer.  Fortunately, I was able to take a weekend voyage into my own life and see just how far away my spirit had gone to escape the reality that God has called me to be someone else.  Who I had become was not who God intended me to be and He was not pleased.  Waking up to the Truth flooded me with emotions that I did not know I had and left with an unexplainable peace that resonates from deep within.  I know that God loves me.  He loves me so much that He died a brutal and cruel undeserved death through His son Jesus Christ so that I may be able to live with Him, once my work is done here on earth. 

I must warn you now that the blogs here are real and in some cases not appropiate for those who are looking for something watered down or Hallmarkish.   Nonetheless, your feedback is welcomed.  I Thank God that I know the Truth…do you?