Perspective

Perspective

In my hometown there was a debate and apparently an answer about a forty foot cross that will be decidedly removed.

A group decided that this was a Christian symbol that it was offensive to them as Atheist.

Needless to say I was pissed.  Then, well then it hit me.  This landmark has been in my hometown for decades.  The large cross had been there for so many years, that I the Christian honestly considered it a landmark.  Literally when giving people directions it was normal for the locals to tell others driving in that area, you will see a big cross go halfway around and the club (yes the club is on the right)

What hit me is that Atheist notice our symbols and fret them more then we honor them.  Two, do people really believe the blessings is in the symbol.  The key to this entire wonderful journey is that the tomb was empty and the cross was bear.


IJS (My kid taught me what that means)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Cross

I am YOU

I’ve missed talking to you this way…Thank you for always being right there when I return

So the new thing I have is I actually grumble and buck at God.  Yep I’m not brave just observant that God has nudged me and I have nudged back and said well if You xYZ then I will do ABC.

My expectation my deep lie that I tell myself is that He isn’t listening to little old me.  Oh yes I believe in God, but the lie I believe many of us and at least I have told myself is that He is way too big great and wonderful to speak with little old sinning me.

He never fails me though.  He always finds ways to remind me that.

He counted each hair on my head…

His plans for me, specifically are for good

That He gave his son, for me Nene, Senetra specifically

A lot of his promises that start with “I Will” I’ve noticed say you.  Not everybody, not all of Y’all it says you.  You is a word that touches my soul because it means the eyes that I am looking into, the ear I am speaking in to, the heart that I am mending.

God is I AM

I am You 

Do you know how we get to develop a relationship is when we recognize that each of us is the individual you.

I’m back Father be with me – Thank you for being with me.  

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

My thought on Heaven has always been this, not only will I see a lot of relatives that have passed on, like my grandma Esther and I will even get to meet her mother Josephine, but that I will also meet a lot of folks who I never knew by name, but my life had crossed their lives.

Don't worry I'm not planning to die or pass as they say in the south.  Also cording to a Facebook quiz that I took to find out how old I would be when I die, it stated "You will die at 94 in The NASCAR"!  Therefore I am good to go.

Anyway a few days ago God met a need of mine in a totally unexpected way by a totally rare but wonderful visit from a friend.  So I decided to give 10% of what I was given.  I had a debate with myself whether it should go to the church.  Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of a conversation about filling the storehouse (My view that's the church).  Then if I wanted to give above that well, that would be cool too. 

So with $10.00 in my hand I was determined to bless someone and before were the Golden Arches - Good old McDonalds.  So I used my 10 bucks to purchase something for the people behind me.  Giving feels AWESOME...I was floating and I thought when I meet those guys in Heaven, they are going to tell me how that one kind act changed their perspective on humanity.  (Too much oh well it's my day dream)

Then my mind glided into another group of people that I would meet in Heaven as well.  These individuals would be made up of the people who I had given the finger to while driving(Yes bad drivers will be in Heaven too), the telemarketers that I yelled at, the servers that I didn't tip cause they were rude, the people that I had gossiped about, the neighbor that I would turn away from to avoid speaking too cause, I just didn't feel like talking.  The family member that I could have shown some grace too.  The ex's who could have had some forgiveness. 

Yes they too would be there ...

The point think before you act, pray before you speak, love before you hate, praise before you curse, cause where all going be in Heaven one day...Yesssssss even the person that had 30 items in the 10 items or less line.

Thank you God for the gift to write may it be a blessing  Thank you God for the Holy Spirit who whispers my path and when I don't listen he shouts.

I started this post a different way...It was a lot about me doing a good thing.  The post didn't feel right though so i didn't publish it.

Then it struck me - in a gentle whisper, it's not you kiddo, but the Me that is in you.

This past year has been full of ups and downs.  Saying goodbye to my cousin Rhoberta, sad and joyful at the same time because, her life had given me and my family so many wonderful memories, which eased the pain.

I got a new great job when I wasn't even looking.  My relationship status  changed and my house grew.  All while becoming closer to a half century. 

Count it all joy - Yes that is a hard verse to swallow.  Its sweet when it includes great health, new births, new homes and relationships.  But what about the other side of the rainbow.  A bad health report, unruly children, or even death.

How in the world do you count that hot mess all joy.  Well because you put it in God's hands, your tears, your bad medical report relationship all the good and the bad that you get from relationships. 

This post is far from my best blog and not even close to my worse post, but I count it all joy because it is too God's glory that we live.

Amen

Cracked...That small voice

Matthew 6:25-26

25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns — and yet yourHeavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Yep its broke ugggghhh!  The funny thing is I'm wondering if at least half of you reading this already know what i'm talking about before reading any further.

Yesssss - cell phone screen cracked.  I don't want to say any names I will just say Life ain't Great right now, as I observed in slow motion like a beautiful yet evil dance my cell phone fly from my hand like a bird, but wait "It doesn't have wings!" and the cell phone and I both seemed to ponder its lack of wings at the time as it hurtled towards the cement.  I watched in shock...Not so much because I knew it was not going to be a smooth "Sully landing"

But because approximately 4 days ago, a sweet small voice said, put your case back on your cell phone.  I clearly remember thinking hmmm.  Thank you God, for the reminder, that probably means I' going to drop that phone soon.

Then came the distraction, who knows maybe my daughter called me, maybe something important and wonderfully irrelevant to my future occurred on the Hulu show I was also watching.  Heck maybe a song came on that reminded me of a past crush.  WHO KNOWS!!!! What the distraction was but like dust on a shelf the sweet voice reminder to put the case on was wiped away.

I pondered this as I held on the phone to later learn that my warranty did not cover this event. 

But something even greater came a BLOG from the big guy.  A reminder that He is real, He knows my beginning and my end.  He loves the big parts of my life and cares about the little nuisances that may occur. 

Pay attention to the voice.  You don't want to make Him Yell.  Special shout out for obedience as well. 

Take away!

He DOES SPEAK!  We (me - I) should listen.  My personal opinion dang if the Devil ain't in the distractions!

Ouch get off my toes... Time to Worship

Ouch get off my toes... Time to Worship

John 4:21-24 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

 

Soooo...I'm usually not on time for church.  The more proper term is late!  Others say time challenged.

Let's  move past that though, because there was a time in the past when I was technically late because yes service had started, but I had no desire to be there during the beginning.  I had decided I did not want to listen to the church bulletin read to me, nor did I want to hear the health tip and God, please forgive me but I did not  want to see the Sunday School kids report out. 

I just wanted to come in hear the service and leave (unless there was breakfast or something after)  I'm just keeping it real, because the reality is I'm not alone.  And I knew I wasn't alone because I would run into the same folks at the door as we waited to enter 32 minutes late, but right on time to see the Pastor stand up and walk to the altar.

Now as I take a step back and ponder my new adventure, my desire to be intentional and intimate with God MY FATHER.  I with great intention started going to church on time - (most of the time) or at least a lot closer to the beginning of the service than to the end.  And GUESS WHAT I RAN INTO...

I ran smack dab into God as he was ushered into the service with Worship.  You see in the past he was already in the room usually when I got there, he had been brought in by others praises, shouts, singing.  The room was already sweet, but not by my intimate celebration, but by others.

Now I was a worshiper I was ushering in MY FATHER, with reflection of what he had brought me through during the past weeks, what he had done just to make me smile (a double rainbow) I was there to tell MY Father in my own form of worship (sometimes off key, but sweet music to His ears) how I loved Him and that his everlasting love was perfect.  I honored the God that I proclaim not just with a church check off on the to do list - but I WORSHIPPED.  Little old me helped praise and worship and usher in the spirit of God, to strengthen and save souls. 

I will confess that I tipped out for coffee during the announcements, but I did come back (He not through with me yet...lol)    

Take Away - That worship at the beginning YEP It Has a great Purpose and its not about me but about WE and the Kingdom.

When you miss the beginning you may never be able to fully appreciate the end.   

Speak Lord...OMG did you just Speak

Romans 10:17(NKJV)  17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

Welcome to the mind of me.  Don't be scared.  Ok Ok so I'm praying right.

On my knees side of the bed talk to God moment. (Hmm I wonder if people still pray on the side of the bed).  Honestly I don't do it too often and rarely at night before bed, but in the morning I will take a knee and talk with my Father (Real talk...If I'm not running late)

This particular morning I was running so late that rushing was truly a mute point.  I thanked God, for this day and this life and I asked a specific question.  I got quiet and I heard God tell me the answer.

Now this is where the OKAY moment came in.  I am pretty sure it was God.   Let's say 98% sure at least.  My doubt in his response was not because I didn't like the answer, but I really had to ponder why when God tells me something.  I usually ask God if this is really Him talking to me or if I'm just making this up in my head or is it the deception of the enemy?  So as I do I asked God for a sign.  Usually the signs come quick and swift throughout the day.  Constant reminders that I am moving the way He is leading or that "Yes Child for the LOVE of ME! THIS IS WHAT I AM telling YOU TO DO!"

I've been a Christian for many wonderful whirlwind years.  With that being said, I've never quantified myself as a mature Christian, simply because I just don't feel that I am where I should be.

This particular morning instead of God telling me Yes it's me and showing me signs.  God quickly said to me - "It's not ME, It's YOU! YOU Don't TRUST YOURSELF"

I chuckled when I received this message, because it is so very true.  God loves me, God talks to me, God is my Father all the days of my life, the reality is I don't trust that I am worthy, deserving, important, CHRISTIAN enough to hear his voice, therefore I ask constantly for proof. 

Are you asking for proof?  Are you asking for signs and wonders after you've already heard the Word?

I don't have an answer(Although I do recommend reading the WORD), but I do know that often we are our own worst enemy.  I do know that sometimes it's me and that I GOT to do Better!  Let our adventures begin, trust who He has called YOU to be.

the way