My Quest for Power!

Luke 14: ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

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The Chief Operating Officer of the Japan division was due to land in a matter of hours. We scurried to do research on his background to ensure our alliance would remain solid. Dinner that evening cost, well let’s just say it was a lot. On the way home, I felt proud that we had struck a good deal.

Dinners like this were a common occurrence and not once did I think about treating someone who could not help my career to this lavish lifestyle.

• When it comes to serving the poor I sometimes give my leftovers.
• When it comes to serving the lame I sometimes cringe, not wanting to see missing limbs or broken bodies.
• When it comes to serving the crippled I sometimes try to assess how they got like that so I can judge their lifestyle justifying my “non-action.”
• When it comes to serving the blind I sometimes fear blindness and I stay as far away from them as possible.

Networking with the rich and powerful was a quest I had for a while. I don’t know when it started but I could sniff out the leaders and get next to them quickly to “show my stuff.” They would embrace me and I would get the best projects and the largest budgets. But what about serving?

• The best reward comes from GOD when I do something for those who cannot repay.
• The best reward comes from GOD who sees what I do for others in secret.
• The best reward comes from GOD especially when I seek those who need help.

It’s real easy to ignore those in need to “get ahead.” I call them the “throw away people.” These are the less fortunate, less powerful and less desirable people who I tried to avoid, not on purpose, they just did not have anything to offer, or so I thought.

GOD wants me to have compassion for the masses so HE steered me in the direction of “seeing” the less fortunate now whereas before I could not see them. Serving them draws to HIM.

• When is the last time you served the poor?
• Will you reach out to the person who is crippled, lame or blind?
• Can you find time to serve the powerless today?
• Will you help someone in need as an act of worshipping GOD?

The Bible verse that scared me straight!

Luke 13: ²³ Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

   He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. ²⁵ Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’

   “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

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Many people have asked me in disbelief “would GOD send a person to Hell?” The answer is emphatically “YES”, but not in a happy way. The concept of Hell has been debated by many theologians. They question “if GOD created Hell, then is HE evil?” Well, they can question all they want to… all I know is salvation is extremely precious and should not be taken lightly.

• I believe GOD is pure love who created humans and angels with free will to choose HIM.
• I believe Satan chose not to follow GOD but attempted to be GOD.
• I believe GOD threw Satan out of heaven and in a tantrum Satan tried to ruin all humans with sin.
• I believe JESUS is the part of GOD who volunteered to die in my place to atone for my sins.
• I believe the FATHER agreed JESUS should become human and walk on earth without sinning.
• I believe JESUS allowed HIMSELF to be murdered in order to save me.
• I believe JESUS sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me until my earthly body dies.
• I believe I will live the remainder of my eternal life with the FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT.

GOD took care of everything.  HE didn’t want to lose any human so HE took it upon HIMSELF to uphold the perfect standard HE set and that is to remain sinless while dying for me. This act of love is held paramount to any activity I can get involved in on earth. Unfortunately there will be those who do not believe JESUS is GOD or that there is a GOD at all.

This verse scared me half to death. Did I truly believe? What if I were one of the ones knocking trying to get in heaven when it is all said and done? GOD assured me that “whoever believes in the SON shall have everlasting life.” Now HE wants me to make “every effort” to help others not reject HIS precious gift of eternal life.

• How are you serving GOD?
• Are you serving HIM your way instead of asking HIM how HE wants to be served?
• Do you believe in “Heaven” and “Hell?”
• Does being separated from GOD eternally move you at all or do you think it is just a myth?

Why do bad things happen?

Luke 13: ¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

 ¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶ Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

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“Why me?” are the words I have exclaimed many times when something went wrong in my life. When my bike was stolen, “why me?” came out of my mouth. When someone totaled my car, “why me?” was top of mind. When that relationship dissolved, “why me?” was hard to figure out. And when that person died “why me?” was the first thing I could think of.

• Satan wants me to ask “why me?” because it weakens my relationship with GOD.
• Satan wants me to ask “why me?” because it increases my selfishness.
• Satan wants me to ask “why me?” because it makes me doubt GOD’s position, abilities and love for me.

“Why me?” is focused on “me” not GOD. In the “circumstance” I call bad, GOD uses for good.  It’s immature to think a difficult circumstance is caused by my recent sin rather than understanding that difficulties are caused “because” I try to serve GOD.

• Immaturity says “why me” when something was stolen from me, maturity says “thank GOD” I am learning not to value possessions more than valuing GOD.
• Immaturity says “why me” when ‘that’ person is not in my life, maturity says “thank GOD” I no longer have that distraction away from my LORD.
• Immaturity says “why me” when ‘that’ person is hurt or dies, maturity says “thank GOD” salvation is available to me, my family and to all who believe.

I have to admit the “cursed” earth concept is hard to swallow.  I question GOD not seeing what HE is doing to make my life better. I blame HIM and fight HIM and challenge HIM rather than giving my will to HIM and doing HIS work. Oh, but when I do follow GOD, marvelous things happen.

Since I am at war with Satan, the question isn’t “why me?” the statement is “of course it’s me!” I am a follow of GOD!

• Have you run into some difficult times?
• Are you asking, “why me?”
• Can you take a moment to understand GOD loves you even through this difficult time?

I act like CHRIST isn’t coming back soon.

Luke 12: ⁵⁴ He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. ⁵⁵ And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.

⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

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Freedom is something my wild spirit craves.  I want to do “what” I want to do “when” I want to do it, and then I want to conveniently ask GOD to forgive me. “I can have my cake and eat it too” is an old saying that suggests I want everything to go my way.

• There are currently wars and rumors of wars just as JESUS said.
• The earth’s natural state is becoming more violent just as JESUS said.
• Human’s attitudes toward one another will become less and less compassionate just as JESUS said.

How does wanting what I want, when I want it relate to JESUS’ return? Well, my wants, lusts and desires cause me to take my eyes off of JESUS. I think to myself, “HE won’t return soon so I can do this sin and simply ask HIM for forgiveness, HE’LL understand.” Yes JESUS has forgiven me for “ALL” my sins but has not remove the consequences for all my actions.

• I must treat JESUS’ return as a sacred event that is imminent.
• I must treat JESUS’ return as something that guides my actions day and night.
• I must treat JESUS’ return as the only important event that happens next.

As an executive we develop ten year plans, but are there ten years left? There are many who scoff at CHRIST’s return because of the false predictions and ludicrous behaviors of those who claim to follow JESUS yet do opposite of HIS compassionate teaching.

I truly believe the time is getting ripe for HIS return. This belief changes my mind on the purpose of my life. Yes I will work, because GOD wants me to work. Yes I will plan because it would be foolish not to but I will also try to convince as many people as I can to not get too used to remaining on this GOD cursed wasteland.

Speaking about the future and the return of CHRIST sounds like a fairy tale or some wild superstition, but everything JESUS said is happening just as HE said.

• Do you believe JESUS could return any moment?
• Will you show compassion to as many people as you can?
• Do you believe GOD made humans with free will and many will reject eternal life with HIM?
• Do you believe your compassion can be used by GOD to draw people back to HIM?

“Give” your worries away.

Luke 12:   ³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

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Every dime had to be accounted for after the job elimination. After being able to buy anything, it became difficult to adhere to a budget to only buy the necessities. With the account diminishing and expenses rising I just shook my head and questioned in a worried state, “why me?”

• When my possessions become more important than GOD’s plan I worry.
• When my happiness is based on getting more things I don’t seek GOD.
• When my feeling of security is based on my bank account I don’t rest when it diminishes.

During these times of economic woes GOD wants me to stand firm with faith in HIM. HE knows exactly what I need and it’s up to me to accept getting “needs” versus “wants.” Unfortunately for me I tasted getting more “wants” than “needs” in the past.

• When I worry about money GOD wants me to give it away then it won’t have control of me.
• When I worry about my house GOD wants me to open it up to serve others.
• When I worry about my possessions GOD wants me to give them to HIM to do with them as HE pleases.

Whatever is mine is GOD’s. If HE wants to take HIS stuff back then it’s up to HIM. If HE wants me to have more then it’s up to me to ask HIM what HE wants me to do with HIS stuff. I have noticed my worries disappearing and my feeling of anxiety dissipating when I give according to GOD’s plan.

Oh, and one more thing I have noticed, people who are in need are becoming whole through GOD’s blessings of the stuff HE has entrusted to me.

• Are you worried about losing “your” stuff?
• Can you give “your” stuff to GOD and allow HIM to do what HE wants with it?
• Are you willing to help “that” person who is in more need than you?
• Will you step up your generosity no matter what financial circumstance you are in?  

Fearing GOD is more important!

Luke 12: ⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

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Interview day had arrived and I was meeting with the entire senior management team. Needless to say I couldn’t sleep the night before. When they called my name fear went through my entire body. “This is my chance” I said to myself which made me more nervous.

For the first time in my life, my hand actually trembled as I sat in the room with the steely eyed intimidating team. Where did this fear come from? I never had it before, why now?

• Lust can drive fear in my life.
• Titles of people can drive fear in my life.
• Losing my stuff can drive fear in my life.
• Bullies can drive fear in my life.
• Wanting to be liked by everyone can drive fear in my life.

I’m not going to be able to please or reach everyone. GOD has specific people who HE wants me to be an example for.  HE wants me to be ready to have words of love, grace and mercy to those who can accept it coming from me. I should not fear this purpose.

• GOD wants me to fear not following HIS ways instead of fearing humans who are in power.
• GOD wants me to fear others facing the consequences of their sins rather than getting my way.
• GOD wants me to fear missing an opportunity to be HIS example because of the sin I just committed.

One problem that I face is GOD is too familiar to me at times. Oh I believe HE should be my friend, but not my pal. What I mean is HE deserves reverence, awe and healthy fear of HIS power. HE is pure love, yet HIS consequences are eternal.

HE despises sin and anything that turns my head away from HIM. HE made me for HIS purposes and that should be the only thing that matters in my life.

• Do you have a healthy fear of GOD?
• Are you more concerned with how you look in front of humans than being worried about how you look to GOD?
• Do you care if people know about your love for JESUS or are you busy lusting?

You are what you “see.”

Luke 11: ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵ See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

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Huddled around a hole gouged in the locker room wall that separated our dressing area from the girls, we took turns peeping making us late for our next class. Pervert! Standing around complaining because everyone else was, so I joined in. Complainer! Joining in on the mob to take “that” person down. Backstabber! And the list goes on.

• I become a creep if I watch a steady diet of creepy things.
• I become a violent person if I watch violence as a regular diet.
• I become a bully if I watch and admire other bullies get their way.

Sometimes I have to turn the TV off! I mean to get away from the depressed news, over indulgent sensuality, compassionless sarcastic humor and over exaggerated violence. I found I needed “silence” to heal my soul because I saw too many negative things that wounded and harassed my spirit. I was becoming the things I watched.

• In order to be compassionate, I need to see examples of compassion.
• In order to be loving, I need to see examples of love.
• In order to be caring, I need to see people who need to be cared for.

I can’t always hide from the sewage spilling into my mind, but I can purposefully seek a break from it in order to serve GOD the way HE wants to be served. When I look at whatever is good, lovely, pure and kind, I find all burdens, fears, worries and doubts to go away. I can then praise GOD!

• What are you looking at?
• Is the thing you are looking at causing you to lust or stumble?
• Can you take time to stop looking at that for a moment?
• Will you seek to look at someone serving?