Sinner's Clean

This poem's dedicated

   To my father

Who has been redeemed

   Why'd you have to go so soon

It seems like yesterday

 We were hanging

     Round the pews

Now we're  gonna

     Keep your memory alive

           Sharing God's good news

A life time of memories

  I can not contain

I'd like to keep claiming

   But must first get past the pain

I lift my Bible to your memory

 Romans 10 verse 9

Gives me peace of mind

  Knowing one day soon

      We'll be,

          seeing eye to eye

This for my family

..this is for my father

See you when I get there

 Cause this sinner's clean, this sinner's clean...

My God My God

..could you pass on a message for me

Tell him to hold his praise for a second Lord

..Listen to his family

Could you tell him

...we'll never let go of his memory

So his church will know

....you don't have to cry no more

Cause God's got their back

... I said God's got my back..

A life time of memories

..we cannot contain

We'd like to keep moving

... But need time to heal the pain

I lift my Bible to your memory

..1 John 1 verse 9

Gives me hope that I

..know that one day soon

We'll be, seeing eye to eye

This is for my family...

Doug

Throw away Discontentment

Psalm 67; ³ May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.
⁴ May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you rule the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations of the earth.
⁵ May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.

============

Eight o’clock at night was the final phone call from the bill collector. My car was a junker and I barely made enough for rent. I hated going to the job because I could never get out of working to live and living to work. I went to bed grumpy and woke up the same way. How am I supposed to make it?

• When I am frustrated I do not have words of praise.
• When I am angry I do not have words of praise.
• When I am frightened I do not have words of praise.

Mt prayer life had been reduced to nil. I shrunk back away from the gawkers who ask “how are you doing”, knowing they really didn’t want to know. I really felt as if no one cared. BUT GOD said something different.

• GOD said to me “I AM here with you right now.”
• GOD said to me “The reason I say do not fear is because I have you protected.”
• GOD said to me “I see you and I know you and MY plan for you is great.”

I slowly began to pray again. Not daily, but here and there. My grumpy cloudy thinking cleared up to sunny skies. I was in the same situation but realized I was the one who wanted something different to happen and had not realized that GOD was blessing me. I soon realized that the quicker I can accept a situation, the faster my contentment can come.  I don’t mean I have to remain stagnant, but I can accept obstacles and keep moving.

I focused on my studies and graduated a year and a half later. GOD taught me an important lesson, start being content in the middle of the storm rather than waiting on the storm to end. This means thanking HIM and praising HIM and recognizing HIM even when things don’t seem to be going my way. HE IS there for me always!

• Are you lacking contentment?
• Do you yearn to be in another place in your life?
• Can you start being content in the middle of problems?
• Will you recognize the calling GOD has you in to see HE is opening your eyes to people you can now relate to?

Amazingly Chosen

Psalm 65: ¹ Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
    to you our vows will be fulfilled.
² You who answer prayer,
    to you all people will come.
³ When we were overwhelmed by sins,
    you forgave our transgressions.
⁴ Blessed are those you choose
    and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
    of your holy temple.

============

“That’s funny, all the other windows look wet but my driver’s window looks dry” I thought to myself. Then I wondered if I left the window down. To my dismay my car had been broken into. The initial shock caused me to question. “Why did this happen to me?” “Was it the sin I blatantly committed last night at or after the club?”

• Sometimes I think life is a balance of being sinful and being good.
• Sometimes I think I can get my way by being good.
• Sometimes I think I am being punished for being sinful.

Quite honestly it does seem like more goes wrong when I blatantly sin than when I try not to. This perspective is very dangerous because it breeds controlling GOD to the point where I can commit sin when I want to then be good for a while to balance the sin. GOD is not a thermostat, nor is HE the justice scales.

• GOD saved me in the “middle” of my sins which took tremendous grace on HIS part.
• GOD saw that I would not choose HIM so HE chose me and I had nothing to do with that choice.
• GOD blessed me with HIS decision to forgive me and it is now my choice to accept HIS direction.

Being supreme means GOD’s decisions are final and cannot be questioned or challenged. HE can take me low or lift me up. HE can choose some to live and some to die. HE answers my prayer with careful planning so I should never be upset with the answer because HE has a wonderful plan for me. Praise awaits YOU, my GOD, in Zion for HE answers my prayers with supreme authority!

• Are you trying to steer GOD?
• Do you think you are getting away with sin or do you think you can balance your sin with good?
• Can you accept the fact that GOD ha already provided you with an enormous amount of grace?
• Will you release control of your life and let GOD guide your path?

I thought I did it Myself

Psalm 64: ⁹ All people will fear;
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him;
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!

============

Leadership training taught me to take credit for “my” accomplishments and help others do the same. I saw videos that showed the power of one person stopping a tank. I “can” be powerful, I thought to myself.

• I have read so many motivational sayings about power from within.
• I have heard so many people tell me “I” am great.
• I have listened to motivators tell me “I can conquer anything” but they leave off “how.”

Arrogance is bred when “I” think “I” accomplished anything on my own. I mean I have held some great titles and been rewarded by people. Sometimes these awards went to my head and I thought I was doing something. BUT GOD truly wants me to give HIM credit.

• GOD wants me to acknowledge I cannot anything on my own.
• GOD wants me to state that HE can tear me down or lift me up as HE pleases.
• GOD wants me to understand that all “my” works are known by HIM way before I do them.

There is no power within me. GOD is my source of power. HE gave me an empty shell and I have the choice to fill it up with “me” or HIM. No matter what I choose, when it is all over I will be required to proclaim the works of GOD. I choose to believe that GOD is my refuge and I rejoice at all HE is doing!

• Do you feel self-made?
• Do you lack confidence?
• Can you stop looking at yourself and start looking at GOD for the source of your strength?
• Do you know when you are at your weakest, GOD’s strength shines bright?
• Can you reset your confidence by going after “that” thing with GOD in front of you?

Too Busy to Think

Psalm 63: ⁶ On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
⁷ Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

============

Sitting in a hotel room I hung up the phone from my wake up call. I had no idea what city I was in. Sounds like amnesia or craziness doesn’t it? This particular week was a heavy travel week and I had been in three cities in as many days and I had more to visit. The schedule started early and ended late. This was my group I carted around the nation and I was in charge of the trip. “I better get my thoughts together to manage this day!” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I get extremely busy.
• Sometimes I take on a lot of work.
• Sometimes I have a pile of thoughts racing a mile a minute.

“Too busy to think” is a phrase I use when I am doing so much that I have no down time. I mean I can’t sit and process because my schedule will not allow time. I get so busy that I don’t have time to think of GOD. I don’t even have a thought if HE would mind or not if I didn’t acknowledge HIM or the things HE is doing for me. BUT GOD wants different.

• GOD wants me to spend time with HIM each and every day in order to listen to HIS direction.
• GOD wants me to “Seek HIS kingdom first” each day in order to keep my focus on what truly matters.
• GOD wants me to quiet down each day because the roaring sounds of life may cause me to worry.

GOD knows this world is full of turmoil and HE cares for me deeply. HE is the one who cursed the earth and knows exactly what I will go through. HE knows the barrage of sin coupled with blind ambition will cause me to forget HIM. HE simply wants me to slow down each day to acknowledge HIS presence. HE wants me to hear what HE has to say no matter how strange the request. Strange being HE may want me to do something that aligns with HIS word that I am too busy for.

GOD wants my time. HE even made an entire day for me to rest and it seems difficult to simply sit still and take a timeout. GOD wants me to hear HIM so I can get inside HIS shelter.

• Are you running fast?
• Are you extremely busy?
• Have you asked yourself “How is this furthering GOD’s kingdom” lately, whatever ‘this” is?
• Will you take time today to ask GOD to take your worries of “this” day away from you and stop looking at the future, which GOD owns?

Hiding in a Safe Place

Psalm 62: ⁵ Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

============

Pea green was the color I remember as a child. The first time I watch the clouds go from very dark charcoal grey to a greenish color stayed in my mind. The clouds began to swirl and I stood on the porch and watched as a small tornado began to form. It never touched down but I was fascinated. I saw the sky change again as a teen, then again in early adulthood. The last time I saw the clouds look like that was when I had to tell my family to go in the basement because the twister was definitely on its way.

• There are times in my life where I have had to run for cover.
• There are times in my life that seem like the situation is too powerful for me.
• There are times in my life that seem so overwhelming that all I can do is run and hide.

From childhood I was taught to go hide in a basement or the lowest place I could find when a tornado approached. This form of weather is so wild and extreme and out of control that all I can do is hide, same with life sometimes. Life has a way to seem so wild and out of control that it can feel like a tornado of missed expectations from all sides. Where can I hide when life gets out of control?

• GOD says to me “Come unto ME all of you that are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
• GOD says to me “Look to ME and I will give you renewed hope and peace.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the only fortress, every other shelter will be shaken.”

Reliance on houses, cash, insurance or ability is what causes me to be shaken. When I rely on stuff that could be broken or run out then I feel scared. BUT GOD is never exhausted, never scared, always willing to love me in spite of me. HE knows I forget about HIM when times are good and welcomes me when I run to HIM when I am scared. HE is the best hiding place in the middle of a storm and I can say “thank YOU for whatever the outcome as long as I am with YOU.”

• Are you frightened?
• Do you feel a storm around you?
• Can you relax your thoughts and stop focusing on the problem and focus on GOD’s greatness?
• Will you stop believing the lie that GOD is not doing anything in your life and believe that GOD is blessing you daily?

Planning for the Future

Psalm 61: ¹ Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

² From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
³ For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.

============

What will they say about me at my funeral? I mean will they say that I worked hard and accumulated a great amount of wealth for myself? Will they say I had a wonderful title at whatever company? I wonder.

• Sometimes I chase pleasing the crowd.
• Sometimes I try to be what everyone else wants me to be.
• Sometimes I live to meet someone else’s expectations.

Getting accolades for being a corporate warrior sounds great on paper. I mean I received status, wealth and a little fame. But GOD called me out of this path and onto a new one. HE woke me up to see people who are in need and desires that I serve them with all my heart, no matter who they are or what they believe.

This is a different calling that leaves no legacy. I mean who will remember getting served or prayed for? With busy lives, people soon forget they received prayer and GOD granted them solitude. At the end of my life I desire more than a legacy.

• At the end of my life I want GOD so say “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
• At the end of my life I want GOD to wipe away my tears and point me to eternity.
• At the end of my life I want GOD to give me rewards that I never would have expected.

David recognized his need for GOD early. In order to be ready for a full life serving GOD, I have to start early. I have to begin dropping off the need to be dependent on the world and relying on GOD for direction and delivery. HE provides and HE has plans for me that are far greater than any I could have for myself. HE is my refuge and leads me to the rock upon which I can build my foundation.

• Are you tired?
• Do you feel you are working yourself to death?
• Have you given GOD a little time this week to serve who HE wants you to serve?
• Are you seeking a legacy to yourself or rewards in heaven?
• Will you serve someone today without the need to get an accolade here on earth?

Pride doesn’t match the crowd

Psalm 60: ⁵ Save us and help us with your right hand,
    that those you love may be delivered.

============

Curiosity got the best of me as I desired to see if my head could fit between the railings on the porch. It was a snug fit and took a bit of squirming but I triumphed! This short lived victory was followed by deep panic. How was I going to get myself out of the predicament? I know, “Cry!”

• Sometimes I get myself in predicaments that require outside help.
• Sometimes I get myself in situations that need others to assist.
• Sometimes I get myself in circumstances that I cannot get myself out of.

As innocent as my thinking may have been, many times I have gotten into predicaments that I needed help. This means that when I cry out for help I should expect a crowd of people to help me. But what if I made enemies or what if I cried out once too often. Will I get help?

• GOD says to me “Cry out to ME and I will save you.”
• GOD says to me “Confess to ME and I will forgive you.”
• GOD says to me “Trust ME and believe in ME and I will give you and abundant life.”

Sometimes I think GOD is not in my corner. I mean I’m the one who chose to get myself in “name the situation.” “HE can’t possibly forgive me this time” is the lie that pops into my head. BUT GOD says different. GOD says “MY grace is sufficient. HE knows the heart is willing but the flesh is weak. JESUS called me a “sheep” and rightfully so.

Sheep have no means to really take care of themselves. They are curious animals who innocently wander off, looking for greener pastures to graze. They constantly need rescuing and forget they got rescued yesterday. JESUS was right in HIS comparison. HE desires that I recognize where salvation comes from, both in eternity and here on earth. GOD delivers me.

• Do you need deliverance?
• Are you in a predicament that you cannot get yourself out of?
• Will you patiently cry to GOD without panicking?
• Will you be able to wait on the LORD for HIS deliverance, HIS way in HIS timing?

Taking Credit

Psalm 59: ¹⁷ You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
    you, God, are my fortress,
    my God on whom I can rely.

============

Prayer was approaching a habit at this time. I decided to pray about the situation and it seemed like everything cleared up overnight. People around me saw that I had talent and I was promoted. Soon after I got as tough as the other bosses. “’I’ am strong enough to handle these people” I thought to myself.  “I” made it here “myself” and “I” can reach the top.

• It is false to think that I have any power whatsoever.
• It is false to think that my health, wealth and welfare come from me.
• It is false to think that I can breathe on my one, work on my own, live on my own.

I used to think that strength came from me. I mean when I was scrawny, I lifted weights and grew large. When I wasn’t successful, I worked harder than anyone else until I was. Soon I thought I was a self-made man. BUT GOD wants different.

• GOD wants me to give HIM credit for every step that I take.
• GOD wants me to praise HIM for everything that is done.
• GOD wants me to sing to HIM and about HIM because HE is the one who deserves credit.

It is GOD who raised me up and it is up to HIM to place me wherever HE wants me to go. HE is the bright shining light in the morning who blesses me with strength. I have no might at all. I cannot breathe without GOD. HE has the right to do as HE pleases and I praise HIM for it. I can always rely on GOD.

• Are you doing things on your own strength?
• Do you think it is your might that has you where you are?
• Do you think that your sin controls GOD’s blessings?
• Can you look at GOD’s grace as being sufficient?
• Will you look to GOD and praise HIM for being your strength today?

Equality

Psalm 58: ¹ Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
    Do you judge people with equity?
² No, in your heart you devise injustice,
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.

============

Twisting words is dangerous. What I mean is when someone spoke the truth, I took that truth and applied “my” truth to it making their whole statement invalid. My measure for doing this was the “Who are you” measure. The more “important” the person the less I asked “Who are you?”

• When I put people beneath me I ask in my mind “Who are you?”
• When I ask “Who are you” in my mind I put people beneath me or beneath others.
• When I think in terms of “level” or “expertise” then I put people beneath me.

“Level” is a corporate term that I learned to give a person a grade which affects their compensation, the better the performance the more the pay. Then I ran into places where I was told to hire or elevate a person regardless of their performance. I had to learn something different, “justifying my actions.” This justification led to twisting words which is a very dangerous place.

• When I seek superiority I am not seeking GOD.
• When I seek elevation I am not seeking GOD.
• When I seek to be placed above people I am not seeking GOD.

GOD saw that being “GOD” was not something to be sought, instead HE decided to become the most helpless thing on the planet, namely a human. The reason humans were so helpless was the fact that all were sentenced to be sent to Hell because all have sinned. Intellect could not save me. HE decided to lower HIMSELF, become one of us and to die in my place.

GOD says “do not think more of yourselves” to me. This means I must serve as GOD served me.

• Are you trying to elevate yourself?
• Do you think you “deserve” better treatment or more of something?
• Are you twisting someone’s words to get ahead or stay ahead?
• Can you lower yourself in order to have GOD raise you up HIS way?

Praise to Everyone

Psalm 57: ⁹ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

============

Ambivalent was my emotion towards airing my beliefs at work. On one hand I have a large crowd who I spent an immense amount of time, on the other I had people who worked with me who “may have” gotten offended by my show. GOD put it on someone’s heart to challenge me to leave the daily spiritual voicemail that would go around the company. “No thanks” was my answer. I mean, what if someone got offended?

• There have been times where I hid my relationship with GOD.
• There have been times where my job was more important than showing my relationship with GOD.
• There have been times where I was ashamed to mention GOD.

Money and power have a strange way of squeezing GOD out of the picture in my life. If I praise GOD daily I look like a religious freak. If I mention GOD in public I would be ridiculed and labeled as a nut. BUT GOD loves praise.

• GOD says to me “Praise ME to the nations”
• GOD says to me “If you are ashamed of ME then I will be ashamed of you.”
• GOD says to me “Sing about ME among the peoples.”

“Praise GOD” seems like a canned response but really should be said daily. As a person who follows GOD, I should make it known to everyone that I am HIS regardless of the position or the place. It’s easy for me to say this, living in a country who allows me to speak about GOD freely. BUT GOD has enabled me to speak about HIM in other places around the world where HIS message was not wise to speak. GOD wants me to open my mouth, speak about HIM and never be ashamed.

• Are you hiding your relationship with GOD because of your status?
• Do you feel embarrassed speaking about GOD?
• Can you praise GOD in public without feeling embarrassed?
• Can you drop the feeling of embarrassment by opening your mouth and saying JESUS to someone, knowing there is power in HIS name?
• Will you praise GOD today regardless?

Where to go when I am afraid

Psalm 56: ³ When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
⁴     In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?

============

“Do not be afraid” appears in the Bible a lot. I mean it seems like when I turn another page, the statement about fear is addressed. On many occasions, I have felt fear, sometimes to the point of panic. When this happens, I run around as a chicken with a severed head. What is it about fear that is so stifling?

• I notice when I have fear, I am usually looking into the future.
• I notice when I have fear, I am usually replaying my situation over and over.
• I notice when I have fear, I am usually stuck in the past.

What is it that makes me afraid? I believe fear is the collision of my desire against GOD’s will. I mean when GOD wants me to do something and I want to do something else, our wills collide. Of course GOD will “win” but HE isn’t out to “win” He simply wants to show love to me. When I am afraid, what should I do?

• When I am afraid I will go put my trust in GOD.
• When I am afraid I will praise HIM and HIS word.
• When I am afraid I will realize mere mortals cannot do anything to me that is not ordained by GOD.

Trusting in GOD means placing all of my life into HIS hands. HE understands my needs wants and desires. HE has the right to say “No” “wait” or “yes.” My dependence should come from HIM daily. HE wants me to sit, listen and watch HIS deliverance.

• Are you afraid?
• Do you have something troubling you?
• Can you trust that GOD knows what HE is doing even in the middle of crisis?
• Will you place your dependence on GOD today?

Someone Cares About Me

Psalm 55: ²² Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.

============

Staring at the phone did not make it ring. I even checked it to make sure that it worked, thinking “maybe the ringer is broken. Does anyone care?” I was not used to the silence after my noisy lifestyle of being the “party maker.” Staring at the phone again later in life still did not make it ring. This time I waited on a higher paying job after my noisy lifestyle of being the “hotshot programmer.” I checked the phone thinking “maybe the ringer is broken. Does anyone care?” I was used to headhunters calling me and they had stopped.

Staring at email did not make the responses come through, “maybe they didn’t get my email. Does anyone care?” I wonder if there is a pattern!

• When I want something and I am not getting it, I wonder if anyone cares.
• When I desire something and I am not getting my way, I wonder if anyone cares.
• When I crave something and I am not quenching want, I wonder if anyone cares.

“Does anyone care?” has run across my mind a few times in my life, usually when I faced an extended wait period. My party crowd had found their parties and the business crowd their candidate. “What about me?” blinded me to the care that was given to me.

• GOD says to me “I care for you deeper than you can ever imagine.”
• GOD says to me “I love you deeply and I will never leave you.”
• GOD says to me “I can handle whatever you are concerned about and I will sustain you.”

GOD knows every concern I may have, yet it is very liberating to search myself and tell HIM what is bothering me. When I tell GOD about my concern, HE gives me peace. HE sustains me through storms and does not let me become shaken.

• Are you going through a storm?
• Do you feel that no one cares?
• Can you place your cares at GOD’s feet?
• Will you understand that GOD cares about you deeply?

Where to Cry Out

Psalm 54: ¹ Save me, O God, by your name;
    vindicate me by your might.
² Hear my prayer, O God;
    listen to the words of my mouth.

³ Arrogant foes are attacking me;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    people without regard for God

⁴ Surely God is my help;
    the Lord is the one who sustains me.

⁵ Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
    in your faithfulness destroy them.

⁶ I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
    I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.
⁷ You have delivered me from all my troubles,
    and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.

============

As I presented my idea, it was shot down quickly. “No big deal” I thought. At the next meeting I did the same with the same result. I went to another meeting with another group and got the same result. I wonder if it is my presentation style. I went to a mentor and asked “What was my problem?” He said, “This group has banned together, you cannot win.”

• There have been times when I’m on the other side of the crowd.
• There have been times when I’m on the outside rather than being on the inside of the crowd.
• There have been times when I cannot seem to win over a certain crowd.

The funny thing is as soon as I declared I would follow CHRIST a little deeper, I started having troubles. I mean I took a stance and would no longer participate in the “harmless” conversations that joked about body parts. I would no longer use the slander tactic to remove the leader above me, instead I would only speak positively, no matter how they behaved. I would no longer look the other way while someone’s drink tab was a bit high. How did I get there in the first place?

• Only GOD can help me follow HIS path because other paths are celebrated by the masses.
• Only GOD can help me follow HIS path because other paths, while destructive, are crowded.
• Only GOD can help me follow HIS path because other paths seem so glitzy and glamorous but are full of destruction.

Blind ambition is the correct term that put me in a place where I could no longer be “me.” I had to be someone else in order to get ahead. Whatever lusts the leader had, I had, or at least pretended to have. BUT GOD wanted me to act differently. HE said to me “What is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul?” This was a very harsh statement at a pivotal point in my career.  I chose GOD.  HE hears my cries and delivers me from my troubles.

• Where are you?
• Are you trying to fit in the crowd?
• Can you take a stance and follow GOD no matter what?
• Will you ask GOD to help you follow HIS path?

Good is Not Good Enough

Psalm 53: ¹ The fool says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
    there is no one who does good.

² God looks down from heaven
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
    any who seek God.
³ Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
    there is no one who does good,
    not even one.

^-------

⁶ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When God restores his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

============

In a bind I had nowhere to turn. “Side with the thief or the liar” were my choices. I had to become one or the other in order to get what I needed. I chose siding with the thief. I mean lying seems too extreme and the thief was admired.

• When I look at someone else’s righteousness I forget I am a sinner.
• When I look at someone else’s downfalls I forget I have issues.
• When I look at someone else’s sin I forget I have sin.

It’s easy to look at “that” person and say ‘Tsk, tsk, tsk, look at what they are doing.” I mean whatever “they” are doing is much worse than what I’m doing, right? Wrong! What I’m doing may be viler to GOD than what “they” are doing.

• GOD says to me “Do not compare yourself to anyone or you will be judged.”
• GOD says to me “Your righteousness is like filthy rags.”
• GOD says to me “MY grace is sufficient.”

We are all in the mud, throwing mud at each other saying “you have mud on you.” When I try to be “good’ to get my way with GOD and then get mad at HIM for not getting my way, I show just how evil my heart is. GOD knew that I would turn away from HIM and HE loved me anyway. HIS SON volunteered to restore my sinful life by dying for me. I am eternally grateful.

• Are you comparing yourself to others, even in the tiniest way?
• Do you talk about other folk’s mistakes or sins?
• Can you praise GOD instead of thinking bad or talking about someone?
• Will you allow GOD to save you, HIS way and in HIS time?

Simple Praise takes Awareness

Psalm 52: ⁸ But I am like an olive tree
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.
⁹ For what you have done I will always praise you
    in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
    for your name is good.

============

“Something” made me desire to plant an avocado tree in my house from an avocado pit. I followed the instructions meticulously. It took weeks for the first sprouts to appear and in about three months I had a twiggy looking plant. Not quite the plant I had hoped for. I nurtured it over the winter and it survived but only produced a few leaves.

I sat the plant outside in the summer. The very first day a huge thunderstorm came through. I watched the poor little twig blow around in the gale. The next day searing heat seemed to bake the pit from which the twig protruded. I stopped looking. It seemed harsh. Weeks later I noticed the plant had huge leaves and more on the way.

• Sometimes it’s hard to see why I am in the storm.
• Sometimes it seems like I barely growing and the wind is beating me up.
• Sometimes I feel like the searing heat of life is burning too much.

“For what you have done” are the words that caught my attention. This requires that I remember the things GOD has done which necessitates that I notice what GOD is doing. The difficult times are not there to break me because of my horrible failure of being human rather they are there to grow me. Each tempest that comes against me strengthens my weak dexterity. 

• GOD wants me to know HE loves me so HE takes me through the storm rather than around it.
• GOD knows exactly what it takes to grow me so HE places me in the position to squirm.
• GOD sends searing heat to burn off the things that are childish and the items that don’t belong.

It will take ten years for my avocado tree to reach maturity, but I notice the tree is flourishing. Only GOD can grow a tree. Only GOD can grow me. I will remember to praise GOD for the things HE is “doing” because I now notice them.

• Do you see GOD daily?
• Can you recognize that GOD is growing you because you asked to be taken to the next level?
• Will you let GOD blow the winds of life against you to mature you and bless you?
• Will you sing praise to GOD for choosing to grow you, HIS way?

A Request for Restoration

Psalm 51: ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

============

“Mend the relationship” was the advice I was given from an external mentor. He didn’t work at my company but gave some sage advice to keep my career going. He advised me to take the first step and admit where I had been wrong. I took a deep breath and thought about how I stood toe to toe against my adversarial Senior Executive.  

I invited him to lunch and cringed at the words that came out of my mouth as I mustered up an apology for my challenges towards his direction. He said he didn’t like my approach but respected me.

• Admitting when I am wrong doesn’t feel good.
• Admitting when I am wrong doesn’t make me leap for joy.
• Admitting when I am wrong doesn’t seem like a position of strength.

It is quite humbling to admit, “I am wrong” especially when something large is at stake. I mean the Senior Executive could have had me fired for insubordination when I admitted my opposing views on all of his plans, but I had to seek restoration.

• Seeking restoration from GOD means I know I am in a fallen state with HIM.
• Seeking restoration from GOD means I know I don’t deserve any mercy so I cannot even say “why have YOU forsaken me” to HIM when things go wrong.
• Seeking restoration from GOD means I know I have broken all of HIS laws and need HIS grace in the timing HE will give it and the method HE delivers it.

It is quite arrogant to get angry at GOD, especially when I haven’t admitted that I am the one who needs grace. Fortunately for me HIS grace is quite amazing! HE sees my anguish and gives me exactly what I need instead of what I deserve. HE placed the HOLY SPIRIT in my sinful body and rooted out all sin. HE forgave me when I asked HIM to.

• Are you down?
• Are you low?
• Can you confess to GOD what you have against HIM?
• Will you seek restoration by asking GOD to renew and restore you?

Give Anyway

Psalm 50: ⁸ I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
⁹ I have no need of a bull from your stall
    or of goats from your pens,
¹⁰ for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I know every bird in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields are mine.
¹² If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴ “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵ and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

============

As debts mounted I decided to go to church. I had nowhere to turn so I decided to go to a place I had not been in a while. Announcement after announcement distracted me for a moment. I had forgotten they did that in church. The offering plate was then passed and I had forgotten that too. It was like I was in a daze. “Should I give $1?” I thought to myself. To my dismay all I had in my wallet was a $5 bill. “I wonder if I should give it up” I thought.

• Sometimes I think all my riches are my riches.
• Sometimes I think my bank account is a testament to how much GOD loves me.
• Sometimes I think the accumulation of stuff is a blessing and having bills is a curse from GOD.

A small still voice said “Give what you have” and I unclenched my fist and gave. This was a sacrifice because I did not have any food and I was not going to get paid until the next day. I have no idea what the sermon was about that day. As the congregation was dismissed I got up and walked towards the exit in the cattle like crowd. Someone said, “Aren’t you staying for the meal?” I was amazed!

• GOD owns everything so HE knows my financial situation.
• GOD owns everything so HE knows my worries.
• GOD owns everything so HE does not need my giving but wants me to release all to HIM.

It’s amazing that the verse says “Sacrifice” before “Call on ME.” I would think this would be the other way around. BUT GOD says “I want your entire life not just a little of it.” HE knows my thoughts, HE knows my sins, yet HE loves me and wants me to have faith in HIM.

• Are you in debt?
• Are bills climbing higher and higher?
• Can you believe GOD knows this and loves you in the middle of your fear?
• Will you give to HIM what HE tells you to give soon?