The Center

The Center

Revelation 4: At this point I had another vision and saw an open door in heaven.

 

And the voice that sounded like a trumpet, which I had heard speaking to me before, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” ² At once the Spirit took control of me. There in heaven was a throne with someone sitting on it. ³ His face gleamed like such precious stones as jasper and carnelian, and all around the throne there was a rainbow the color of an emerald. ⁴ In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, on which were seated twenty-four elders dressed in white and wearing crowns of gold. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. In front of the throne seven lighted torches were burning, which are the seven spirits of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

 

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Science fiction became a favorite genre of mine early on. From cartoons about space travel to the movies about galaxies far away, I enjoyed the creativity. During science class, some were trying to make sense out of what was being observed. I enjoyed hearing theories of human existence. One theory was the entire universe revolved around earth.

 

• I struggled with theories that could not be truly measured.
• Theories that I learned had merit to human accomplishments, but they fell short because they left GOD out of the equation.
• Asking “What is the true center of existence?” is still being questioned by philosophers, religious leaders and scientists.

 

John, the disciple that JESUS loved, was guided by the SPIRIT into the throne room of JESUS. He could barely describe what he saw. JESUS appeared extremely different than any human depiction and everything emanated from HIS throne.

 

My Observations:

• I believe everything originates from JESUS.
• I believe GOD cares about the heavens and the earth and even the hairs on my head.
• I believe everything revolves around JESUS.

 

Seeing life from the true origin makes a huge difference. I mean, when I believe that GOD spoke everything into existence, life makes sense to me. Even the fact that everything revolving around and belonging to JESUS, helps me think of things slightly different.

 

HE is on the only throne that matters. HE is not worried and is in thorough control of everything I could imagine. HIS power is unending  and HIS glory is the highest. I cannot wait to see the true center.

 

Challenge

• Who helped the writer describe everything seen?
• Have you ever question the center of life?
• Will you consider seeing life revolving around JESUS to understand “what must happen after this” so you can be prepared?

My Tribute to Preston Washington

 

My father taught us about the love of JESUS. In later years, he came up with the phrase “Adam Broke it, JESUS fixed it.”

 

Here is my thought on his phrase.

 

How many of you have heard of Adam and Eve? 

Both were innocent but the deceiver lied to Eve and Adam. He played on their desires to know more than they were supposed to know. 

Deception Deals. 

 

He made them question GOD by twisting words. 

Deception Deals. 

 

He made them make the biggest mistake, causing all of humanity to fall. 

Deception Deals. 

 

"Adam where are you?" asked the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent GOD. HE knew, but asked a rhetorical question. Adam blamed..., Eve tried to cover her tracks by not taking responsibility. 

Deception Deals.

 

They were thrown out of the garden. But the garden remained in plain sight.

They had two kids, Cain and Abel. Painful child birth, as promised. The lap of luxury in plain sight, but they had to work hard just to eat. Cain may have decided to try to build his own garden. Seeing his parents suffer and hearing them talk about how it used to be easy, he spent his time growing vegetables and probably had plenty.

 

Abel may have seen that GOD was sovereign in throwing his parents out. He may have had a heart of repentance and he sacrificed something precious, namely their food supply. He modeled what GOD did by mimicking HIM in the best way he knew. 

He was killed by his jealous brother.

Deception Deals. 

 

Cain where is your brother? Asked the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent GOD. He took after his blaming, lack of responsibility parents by trying to cover things up.

Deception Deals.

 

But there is a better way. The TRUTH. 

Truth Heals. 

 

JESUS had to fix the mess that Adam and Eve caused. They believed in deception. HE lived a sinless life only to be killed by HIS own creation. 

Truth Heals.

 

HE was raised from the dead to overcome every lie and deception you live. 

Truth Heals.

 

HE became the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE. 

Truth Heals.

 

Preston and Susie taught us about JESUS. But not the one you think of. In spite of racial hatred and gender inequality and deception of superiority that was going on at the time, they both taught us that loving GOD is the beginning of abundance. 

Truth Heals. 

 

Loving one another is more important than self-deception, self-protection and self-affection.

 

If you can seek GOD's truth and not your own, you will not fall for the deception the world has to offer. 

 

Do three things

1.                   Think of a lie you told yourself and how easy it was to lie to yourself.

2.                   Think of a lie you are living, or one that you will take to your grave 

3.                   Ask GOD to give you the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE today so you can be set free.

 

My Thanks

Thank you Preston and Susie for teaching us about JESUS. Thank you for working hard to feed us, clothes us and to provide for us the best way you could. Thank you for being the example by taking in your brothers, sisters and missionaries into your home. Thank you for providing for your parents when they couldn’t do for themselves. Thank you for overcoming extremely difficult situations by praying and persevering.

 

Thank you wife Gia, daughter Jasmine and son Samuel Preston, a name not given lightly, and is affectionately known as Percy by his sister. Named after his grandfathers but also after one of the most powerful prophets to encounter GOD.

Thank you big bro Chris, big sis Lisa and sis Linda who I call gull.

Seeing Beyond Distractions

Seeing Beyond Distractions

2 Corinthians 11: I wish you would tolerate me, even when I am a bit foolish. Please do! ² I am jealous for you, just as God is; you are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself. ³ I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ—in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake's clever lies. ⁴ For you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and the gospel you received from us!

 

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“Why is he talking to me?” I thought to myself as the playground thug stopped me to ask very random questions. I was taking a different route home I usually did not take. He was being oddly nice for a change. Other thugs, who were within sight, began to giggle.

 

I expected being pushed or punched so I braced myself. After the brief conversation, they walked away. Someone said to me, “They were practicing picking your pocket. Didn’t you feel the guy rummaging through your coat?” I did not.

 

• When I get distracted I can be deceived.
• I was too busy looking at the problem to see the deception.
• Instead of staying on the path home, I went to a place where I let the deception happen.

 

Paul tried to soften the blow that people were being deceived into believing a false gospel of salvation. He was afraid that their minds would be corrupted and the pure devotion to CHRIST would be abandoned in trade of another lesser spirit.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to remain focused on JESUS as the only way to salvation.
• GOD wants me to accept the promise HE has for me, to be with me for eternity.
• GOD wants me to remain devoted to CHRIST as my Savior.

 

Distractions are in abundance these days. I mean anyone could raise up a cause and speak boldly about it and be justified in what is being said. BUT GOD wants me to surrender my life to the one and only truth, namely JESUS.

 

When I can name a human or a group of humans as having “the answer” I fall prey to being distracted from the purpose GOD created me for. I lose sight that I am here for one reason, that is to be pleasing to GOD. I then try to make GOD bow down to my path and decisions BUT HE laughs at the attempt. I am glad JESUS saved me from myself and those who try to steal GOD’s title of being the MOST HIGH.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the concern of the writer?
• What do you notice about the mind in this passage?
• Will you look beyond the distractions of your circumstances and be led by the HOLY SPIRIT, who was sent by JESUS to live inside those who believe in HIM as the one and only true Savior today?