Authority and Power
I walk with the Power of God. A good statement and one I try to live my life by. I walk with the Power of God. Nothing can stand against me. We all mouth those words and we all think we live by them, but do we really. Do we walk with the Power of God in all aspects of our lives. Maybe, but probably not. At least not all the time. But God says we always have His power and authority. Always, it never leaves us. It is not invoked by saying it, it is not stronger when we pray for it. It does not go away until we want something to happen. It is always there. Always present. Because God is always present. If it helps to try to invoke that power, then go for it. But it does not make it stronger and it does not call it into being. It is always there.
I walk with the Power of God.
It is our right, our gift, our everlasting authority that God has given us. We should know that we can always use it. It is ours to command. But, you say, we have to get God involved. That we have to invoke His name to wield this power. That He is the only one who can truly use His power. It has nothing to do with us or our wishes or wants. It is He that decides when and how this power will be used.
True enough. We can do nothing without God. We are merely the vessels through which God establishes His will. We have no power or authority to invoke or command God's will. He decides when and where it will be used.
So how can I say, I walk with the Power of God. What it means for me, is I have to fear nothing. There is no force or obstacle anywhere that can stand against me. I will not be afraid. I will overcome any obstacle. I AM the power of God and he walks with me everywhere I go. I can do nothing that He does not will, but I will not walk in fear or worry about what will happen or what will become of me. He is my Lord and Savior and whatever His will is, I will accept it.
When I meet with those that do not believe, they have no authority over me. I do not have to worry about them 'corrupting' me. I hear talks of witches and evil spirits. I hear talk of walking into a den of thieves. I hear we must always battle the devil. That he is a constant threat and we must make war against him at all times, in the name of God.
There is no way witches, or spirits or evil men that can harm me. Not even the devil himself can harm or persuade me of anything. I walk with the Power of God. They have no influence over my life. I live according to God's plan and there is nothing that can get in the way of that. I AM the Power of God incarnate.
I invite them to come my way. Bring on the witches, bring on the devil, bring on anything that thinks it can move me in any way. Me and my God will not allow them to affect me. I have more influence over them than they could possibly have over me. I do not have to do battle. God is God. They cannot touch that. There is no battle to be won. God is God and nothing can stand in His way. Nothing.
I do not like it when people say we are in a battle or a war with the devil. That we must do battle against evil all the time and never let our guard down. Really? Do you really think we need to fight off evil all the time? In order to have a need to do battle, the one we do battle with has to have some kind of power or authority that we have to compete against. We are God's children. Do you really think there is something out there that can challenge that. Do you really think that somehow, God needs our help to defeat this so called enemy. My God does not need our help and neither does yours. He is God. I can't say that enough.
Stop putting man made values or structure on God. We think He can be attacked because man can be attacked. But God cannot. He not only cannot lose, he cannot be attacked. He is God and nothing is or was created that can stand against that. He is the creator of the universe, the author of all that we know and healer of all things. He is God.
So what battle is it that we need to fight? What devil is it that we need to conquer? What is it that we need to be afraid of? We walk with the Power of God and nothing can stand against us. We are not afraid of witches. We want the so called witches to stand before us. Let them do what they want. We cannot be conquered. We are not afraid.
I look forward to facing the devil. I look forward to letting him try to conquer me. I have God on my side, so let him do his worse. He cannot touch me.
So why do God's people not walk with power. Why do God's people not have authority over everything. Because we do not know God's plan. We do not know why or how or even when God wants us to do anything. All we can do is live the life we are supposed to live. Follow the path God has set before us. Maybe when we think we have lost or we think we must give in to temptation or let the devil win and move us, maybe that is part of God's will. Maybe that is part of something God wants to teach us. I do not know. We have no way of knowing. We can only try to follow God and let him guide us.
But we can act like we have that authority and power, because God said we do. I do not question it. If God wants it to happen, then it will happen and I do not have to worry about it. I am His vessel to command, and He will point me where I need to go and He will give me the power to overcome whatever stands before me. As God's children, we need to start living that. Stop worrying about what others can do to us and trust God to use us to overcome whatever we perceive to be against us. It is God's will and we only need to obey it.
So trust in God. Do not be afraid. Walk with the Power of God in all things.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Reasons for Jesus
Reasons for Jesus
This story is presented as an explanation of why God decided to send his son to earth. I am not disputing anything the Bible or anyone else has said. What I am presenting is what God told me, to help me understand, why He did what he did and why it was necessary. Please take this as an allegory or explanation that God gave to me to help me understand. If it helps you, then that is good, if it does not, then maybe, in some small way, it will provide some insight into how and why Jesus was here.
The question for me began as I was trying to understand Jesus and his life. I kept coming back the question of why it was necessary for God to send his son. After all, he is God. He can do anything. Why send his son to suffer and die like he did. If God wanted Man to change or if He wanted some lesson to be learned it does not seem necessary to send his son to die. He could just change it. He could just wave his hand and everything would be all right. He could put it into everyone's mind what needed to be done or what truth needed to be made. It did not make sense to me. Of course, it doesn't have to make sense to me. I am not privy to God's plans and thoughts. His way is far above what I can understand.
But God gave me this explanation, anyway. I do not know why but it made me believe in his infinite wisdom even more. Again, I am not saying it is true but it did help me to understand and maybe, if all or parts of this are helpful to others, then it has served its purpose and maybe it allows us to be a little closer to God.
God had created the world and all that is in it. He had created Man in his image and given him domain over the earth. But he also gave Man free will. I will go into free will and what that means at another time, but for now, it means that Man was free to chose to follow God or not. It was up to us to make those decisions. God had provided us with a way to live, but we are free to choose if we follow that path or not. It is free will.
As Man developed and began to make his way in the world, some people choose to follow His path, most did not. Most of the world was doing what they wanted, regardless if it was right or wrong. We choose to create our own idols, make our own moral choices, create harm where God had only intended good. It was God's gift to us, free will.
So God looked down upon us and did not understand. When I say that, most people immediately turn away from this story and say God understands everything. How could he not understand. The problem is, I do not have words for what God felt. It is beyond my understanding. I only know that when I asked the questions, these are the words he puts into my mind. I can feel that I am not conveying the exact sentiment he wants me to convey but that is a problem man has always had. We have to try to interpret what God is telling us into words and actions that are relative to what we understand, even if they are not the true meaning of what God has planned, we can only try. We can only interpret. God will help us but in the end, whatever God tells us, we can only interpret it for others and try to convey the meaning God has sent.
So God looked down and said, why do they not choose the right things to do. Why do they hurt each other. Why do they not follow the path I have set. You see, God gave us all the knowledge of the right thing to do. That is a fundamental of my beliefs for what God has intended. I believe he is inside us and not only inside us but He is accessible and all His knowledge and wisdom is available to us. We always know what is right and what is wrong. It is just a matter of what we choose to do. Follow Him or not. It is free will.
God, not knowing why man chooses to do the wrong things when he told them what was right, wondered what can He do to understand why we do it and why we are not following him. Was there something he was missing, not understanding, not knowing what was in the heart of man that made us choose the wrong things.
So God made a plan, or maybe it was His plan all along. He would send His son down to earth. He would allow His son to live as a man. To live the life that he had created for all mankind. He would send him as an example, but not only as an example of how to live but to experience how and why man has chosen not to follow the guidelines He has given them.
And God sent us Jesus. To live the life, to see the things as man sees them, to live and love and be all that it is to belong to mankind.
So Jesus lived our life. He was the example of how to live and how to follow God's plan. He moved from place to place, preaching the ways of God and the teachings God has provided. Jesus was a man, but he was also the son of God and new all that God had intended. In Jesus's life, we see the way to live and the way to make it possible for all of us to live as God wants us to live. Imitating the life of Jesus.
And, as I can only believe was part of God's plan, Jesus came under condemnation of man. He was seen as a man, or not as the son of God. I believe that it was in the minds of those of the time that he had to prove himself as the son of God. That people did not or would not believe that this man was actually God's representative on earth. That he had to prove himself, over and over again and in front of those who chose not to believe. His words were not enough, they wanted proof.
So they crucified Jesus, asking him to prove He was the son of God. He was put to death. And while He remained an example to those that choose to follow him He was merely a man to those that did not. And this is where the most fundamental words, in my mind, were spoken by Jesus. It means more to me than anything He ever said or did. It shows me that Jesus understood, that he knew what it was like to live as man and that he knew the hardships and cruelties and utter despair that man has and goes through in life. Jesus knew how hard it is to live life and that knowing and understanding God's plan is not always enough. That we, as man, face hard choices and hard decisions we must make everyday, and it is not always easy to make the right decisions or to even trust in the word of God. We have free will and whether it is what we call the devil or just the difficulty of the choices in our minds, we are faced with some inner thought process or inner voice that tells us we are not worthy of God's love and we are not worthy of being the children of God and no matter what we do, we cannot live the life of Jesus. We are only men.
What I believe Jesus said was. 'Forgive them, they know not what they do'. A lot of scholars or learned men will tell you Jesus was referring to his being crucified. That it was all about what was happening then, to him and he was referring to the people who did it.
But God has given me a different answer, or an alternative meaning to those words. Not that what others believe is wrong, but that God has told me that there was more meaning to these words. That we have overlooked the reasons why Jesus was here. We believe that Jesus was sent here to save man, to forgive him and allow us to live in what is right instead of being afraid of doing something wrong. And that is all true, but God has told me that he sent Jesus to live as man, and through that life, Jesus came to understand man and the reasons for what man does. He saved mankind and forgave us for our sins.
For I believe the words. 'Forgive them, they know not what they do' applies to all men and not just the situation at the time. That Jesus was asking or telling his father, man is good, he makes the wrong choices, but he is fundamentally good, as God intended. But that we do not always understand what God's plan is and it is hard to live that life not knowing and we make the wrong choices. That we are deserving of God's love and that we can only try to live His life. We are forgiven, because it is hard and we know not what we do.
Jesus then came back from the grave, as proof that there is something after life. Proof that living the good and just life and doing the right thing is a reward. We get to live with God. Nothing more, nothing less. Live your life as God has intended and you will see God. With all that happened and all that occurred for and to Jesus, doing the right thing is how we should live and how we can be God's children.
Jesus came as a way for God to know us as we seek to know Him. Jesus saw us, was one of us and He forgave us. He is our savior and our way to know God. By following His example, we too can come to know God.
I hope this has not caused anyone distress or concern. It is just a way of looking at an event. It helps me to understand why God does some of the things He does. It is not meant to be right or accurate, only a way to get closer to God, for me. If it helps you, then we share a bond. If it only raises questions, then maybe the questions and answers you receive will allow you to be closer to God. For that is our goal, to seek God and find ways to be closer to him.
This story is presented as an explanation of why God decided to send his son to earth. I am not disputing anything the Bible or anyone else has said. What I am presenting is what God told me, to help me understand, why He did what he did and why it was necessary. Please take this as an allegory or explanation that God gave to me to help me understand. If it helps you, then that is good, if it does not, then maybe, in some small way, it will provide some insight into how and why Jesus was here.
The question for me began as I was trying to understand Jesus and his life. I kept coming back the question of why it was necessary for God to send his son. After all, he is God. He can do anything. Why send his son to suffer and die like he did. If God wanted Man to change or if He wanted some lesson to be learned it does not seem necessary to send his son to die. He could just change it. He could just wave his hand and everything would be all right. He could put it into everyone's mind what needed to be done or what truth needed to be made. It did not make sense to me. Of course, it doesn't have to make sense to me. I am not privy to God's plans and thoughts. His way is far above what I can understand.
But God gave me this explanation, anyway. I do not know why but it made me believe in his infinite wisdom even more. Again, I am not saying it is true but it did help me to understand and maybe, if all or parts of this are helpful to others, then it has served its purpose and maybe it allows us to be a little closer to God.
God had created the world and all that is in it. He had created Man in his image and given him domain over the earth. But he also gave Man free will. I will go into free will and what that means at another time, but for now, it means that Man was free to chose to follow God or not. It was up to us to make those decisions. God had provided us with a way to live, but we are free to choose if we follow that path or not. It is free will.
As Man developed and began to make his way in the world, some people choose to follow His path, most did not. Most of the world was doing what they wanted, regardless if it was right or wrong. We choose to create our own idols, make our own moral choices, create harm where God had only intended good. It was God's gift to us, free will.
So God looked down upon us and did not understand. When I say that, most people immediately turn away from this story and say God understands everything. How could he not understand. The problem is, I do not have words for what God felt. It is beyond my understanding. I only know that when I asked the questions, these are the words he puts into my mind. I can feel that I am not conveying the exact sentiment he wants me to convey but that is a problem man has always had. We have to try to interpret what God is telling us into words and actions that are relative to what we understand, even if they are not the true meaning of what God has planned, we can only try. We can only interpret. God will help us but in the end, whatever God tells us, we can only interpret it for others and try to convey the meaning God has sent.
So God looked down and said, why do they not choose the right things to do. Why do they hurt each other. Why do they not follow the path I have set. You see, God gave us all the knowledge of the right thing to do. That is a fundamental of my beliefs for what God has intended. I believe he is inside us and not only inside us but He is accessible and all His knowledge and wisdom is available to us. We always know what is right and what is wrong. It is just a matter of what we choose to do. Follow Him or not. It is free will.
God, not knowing why man chooses to do the wrong things when he told them what was right, wondered what can He do to understand why we do it and why we are not following him. Was there something he was missing, not understanding, not knowing what was in the heart of man that made us choose the wrong things.
So God made a plan, or maybe it was His plan all along. He would send His son down to earth. He would allow His son to live as a man. To live the life that he had created for all mankind. He would send him as an example, but not only as an example of how to live but to experience how and why man has chosen not to follow the guidelines He has given them.
And God sent us Jesus. To live the life, to see the things as man sees them, to live and love and be all that it is to belong to mankind.
So Jesus lived our life. He was the example of how to live and how to follow God's plan. He moved from place to place, preaching the ways of God and the teachings God has provided. Jesus was a man, but he was also the son of God and new all that God had intended. In Jesus's life, we see the way to live and the way to make it possible for all of us to live as God wants us to live. Imitating the life of Jesus.
And, as I can only believe was part of God's plan, Jesus came under condemnation of man. He was seen as a man, or not as the son of God. I believe that it was in the minds of those of the time that he had to prove himself as the son of God. That people did not or would not believe that this man was actually God's representative on earth. That he had to prove himself, over and over again and in front of those who chose not to believe. His words were not enough, they wanted proof.
So they crucified Jesus, asking him to prove He was the son of God. He was put to death. And while He remained an example to those that choose to follow him He was merely a man to those that did not. And this is where the most fundamental words, in my mind, were spoken by Jesus. It means more to me than anything He ever said or did. It shows me that Jesus understood, that he knew what it was like to live as man and that he knew the hardships and cruelties and utter despair that man has and goes through in life. Jesus knew how hard it is to live life and that knowing and understanding God's plan is not always enough. That we, as man, face hard choices and hard decisions we must make everyday, and it is not always easy to make the right decisions or to even trust in the word of God. We have free will and whether it is what we call the devil or just the difficulty of the choices in our minds, we are faced with some inner thought process or inner voice that tells us we are not worthy of God's love and we are not worthy of being the children of God and no matter what we do, we cannot live the life of Jesus. We are only men.
What I believe Jesus said was. 'Forgive them, they know not what they do'. A lot of scholars or learned men will tell you Jesus was referring to his being crucified. That it was all about what was happening then, to him and he was referring to the people who did it.
But God has given me a different answer, or an alternative meaning to those words. Not that what others believe is wrong, but that God has told me that there was more meaning to these words. That we have overlooked the reasons why Jesus was here. We believe that Jesus was sent here to save man, to forgive him and allow us to live in what is right instead of being afraid of doing something wrong. And that is all true, but God has told me that he sent Jesus to live as man, and through that life, Jesus came to understand man and the reasons for what man does. He saved mankind and forgave us for our sins.
For I believe the words. 'Forgive them, they know not what they do' applies to all men and not just the situation at the time. That Jesus was asking or telling his father, man is good, he makes the wrong choices, but he is fundamentally good, as God intended. But that we do not always understand what God's plan is and it is hard to live that life not knowing and we make the wrong choices. That we are deserving of God's love and that we can only try to live His life. We are forgiven, because it is hard and we know not what we do.
Jesus then came back from the grave, as proof that there is something after life. Proof that living the good and just life and doing the right thing is a reward. We get to live with God. Nothing more, nothing less. Live your life as God has intended and you will see God. With all that happened and all that occurred for and to Jesus, doing the right thing is how we should live and how we can be God's children.
Jesus came as a way for God to know us as we seek to know Him. Jesus saw us, was one of us and He forgave us. He is our savior and our way to know God. By following His example, we too can come to know God.
I hope this has not caused anyone distress or concern. It is just a way of looking at an event. It helps me to understand why God does some of the things He does. It is not meant to be right or accurate, only a way to get closer to God, for me. If it helps you, then we share a bond. If it only raises questions, then maybe the questions and answers you receive will allow you to be closer to God. For that is our goal, to seek God and find ways to be closer to him.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Church and the World
Church and the World
I will talk about the church and the image of the church and the attitude of the people who attend church. What I really want to go into is how this image and our attitude have hurt the church and how we, as representatives of God, have sabotaged how the church is perceived. I would also like to purpose an alternative, as you knew I would.
First, it is the word Church itself. Nothing wrong with that but I think, in today's world, the word Church has a bad name. Not for people who go but for those that do not. And, it has some connotations that are negative, or maybe not negative, but connotations that are not what they should be.
When you say Church to non-believers, they conjure up a set of rules and a belief in something that may not be there. It means a place that is too be avoided. A place where people will try to talk to you about things you would rather not talk about. It is the belief that the people in the church will always try to convert you and they all feel they are superior to you and are always in judgement of you. People who go to church are different and something that cannot be related to or talked to without a lecture on how you should live and how you should be changing your life. That what you are doing is wrong and what you choose to do in life is not the right way to do things.
People who do not go to church are seen as inferior by those that do. They are treated like they are less important than those who do go to church. The attitude of those that go to church is one of superiority and not related to every day life and the people who live it.
When I say that, it is immediately rejected. We are the children of God. We do not look down upon anyone. It is the other guy, not me. That is what we try to tell ourselves. That is how we see ourselves. We wouldn't do that. We are good and kind and want the best for everyone. We believe in something and it is so powerful, we have to make sure everyone else believes in it too. It is God's will.
Jesus never said that. God never intended it that way.
God loves everyone. Everyone. No matter what their religion or non-religion or good deeds or bad deeds. Jesus Christ forgave us for out sins. (I have something further to say about that, but once again, another time.) We can do nothing that will diminish God's love for us. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Understand that. Nothing we do will change how much God loves us. It is not just 'God's people' he loves. It is not just the chosen ones. It is not just the ones who follow His path and obey His rules. It is everyone. He loves the Muslims, the Buddhist, the agnostic and the atheist. Every one has the love of God. There is nothing we can do to change that.
So what does this have to do with the Church and the connotations of that word. It means that we, God's children, do not get to judge, do not get to criticize, do not get to hold ourselves above any other of God's children. We are all equal in His eyes. We are all forgiven. Every one of us.
All we can do, as Christians, is be an example to the rest of the world. We need to be not only the followers but the image of Jesus Christ. We live by what is right. Not that we are always right, but we try to live by the principles that God has set forth. That is our only job as Christians. Do the right thing. A favorite subject of mine.
But how does this relate to the perceived bad name of the 'church' I am speaking about. Well, that is how we, as Christians, have hurt the image of the church. We hold ourselves superior and we attempt to impose our will, or what we call God's will, on others. We try to use the power of God to convert or change those around us. We think we can influence someone to move closer to God and therefore allow them to walk the path that God has intended.
And, we can. We must. But God wants to tell you that you can do it in a better way. You do it by being the example. By doing the right thing. By following the life of Christ and trying to be like Him in every way you can. We live a righteous and just life. We are not always right, but it is the effort to try to be right that others will see. That others, outside the church, will perceive. They will notice those around them that have a meaning and a purpose to their lives. The will notice that there is somehow something different about you, because you are always trying to do the right thing.
Maybe they will not see what you do as the right thing, but they will notice that you have a plan and an idea about what or how things should be done. And that plan is God's plan, as much as you can make of it. You try.
And how does this help the image of the church. Because we need to stop beating people up with God. Stop telling them what they are doing is wrong. Stop trying to 'convert' them to your way of thinking. It puts people off. It does not represent the words and life of Jesus Christ. It is your effort, by a man, to show your perceived superiority over those that do not believe as you do. It is not the work of God, it is the work of the church and of Man.
Stop it.
The way you influence and truly convert people to the ways of Christ is by example. You live what you believe. You do what is right. It is not your job or position to criticize or judge or attempt to convert any other person to the ways of God. That is God's decision. That is up to God to lead these people to you and use you as an example of how to live His life and how to be a Christian. If you live by the life of Christ, then people will notice and they will pay attention. If you try to force your way of thinking onto others, then they will not listen and they will not pay attention and they will see God as a perpetrator of rules and religious jargon that they cannot live by. It is too big of a jump to move from living without God to giving their lives completely to God. Yes, some will follow. There are people that will get the revelation and move into the body of Christ. But if you truly want to move people to a better way of life and a vision of what God has intended, then you have to be the example and not the hammer.
To get people into the 'church', do it by living a life that is like Christ. Get them into the body by being the body. Invite them in. Let them see how you live. Let them notice that you are happy and content, no matter what your circumstances. That is does not matter what is happening around you, in your finances, in your marriage, in your life, you always seem to take it in stride. You always seem to be in control. You are different.
People will notice. People will wonder. People will want to know what it is that you have that allows you to be a good person. And that is key, you have to be a good person. Always, all the time. When people become curious, when they begin to wonder how you do it and they begin to ask, that is when you tell them it is because you follow the teachings of Christ. That it is His power that you allow to flow through and control you. That the only way you can be content is to have Jesus Christ in your life and allow him to guide and help you in all ways.
People will listen. Maybe not everyone, maybe only one. But that is not what we are about. We live according God and if others are converted or not converted that is not how we measure our success. We are successful in our lives because we know what God wants and we follow that life. We are the examples of God's power here on Earth. We are the children of God.
Some will say it says in the Bible that we will know them by their works. And before I offend every Christian who reads this, I need to say I have some things to say about the Bible and how we interpret what it says. Not to say I do not agree with everything the Bible has to say, I do think there is an issue with how we as Christians interpret the Bible to fit our own needs. But that is a major undertaking for me to explain that and I hope by simply saying those words I do not turn people off from what I, or God, has asked me to say.
Saying we will know them by their works could mean we will know them in how they live their lives. Not by how many people they convert or how many churches they found or how many people they have healed. Those are examples of God but it does not diminish that the number one way we can show God's works is by living the life God has intended for us. That is how we will convert the world to the ways of Jesus Christ. Not by the flashy miracles, or the big booming church or even the success we might have in life.
We convert people to God by being the example. We show them that there is a better way of life. We show them that we have a guide and if they follow that guide, they too can be happy.
It is that simple. Because we do not have control over when the miracles happen, or when the sick are healed or when the blessings will come. When we try to make those things happen, it can only lead to failure. We have to live by what is right and if we do that, all the other things will come. Stop putting the results ahead of the efforts. Do the right thing, live according to Christ and everything else will take care of itself.
Stop beating up the world with God. They don't deserve it. They are the children of God as much as you are. They deserve your love and your respect and your help. Because that is what Jesus was all about. Helping others, whether they deserve it or not in your eyes. God loves them. We should to.
I will talk about the church and the image of the church and the attitude of the people who attend church. What I really want to go into is how this image and our attitude have hurt the church and how we, as representatives of God, have sabotaged how the church is perceived. I would also like to purpose an alternative, as you knew I would.
First, it is the word Church itself. Nothing wrong with that but I think, in today's world, the word Church has a bad name. Not for people who go but for those that do not. And, it has some connotations that are negative, or maybe not negative, but connotations that are not what they should be.
When you say Church to non-believers, they conjure up a set of rules and a belief in something that may not be there. It means a place that is too be avoided. A place where people will try to talk to you about things you would rather not talk about. It is the belief that the people in the church will always try to convert you and they all feel they are superior to you and are always in judgement of you. People who go to church are different and something that cannot be related to or talked to without a lecture on how you should live and how you should be changing your life. That what you are doing is wrong and what you choose to do in life is not the right way to do things.
People who do not go to church are seen as inferior by those that do. They are treated like they are less important than those who do go to church. The attitude of those that go to church is one of superiority and not related to every day life and the people who live it.
When I say that, it is immediately rejected. We are the children of God. We do not look down upon anyone. It is the other guy, not me. That is what we try to tell ourselves. That is how we see ourselves. We wouldn't do that. We are good and kind and want the best for everyone. We believe in something and it is so powerful, we have to make sure everyone else believes in it too. It is God's will.
Jesus never said that. God never intended it that way.
God loves everyone. Everyone. No matter what their religion or non-religion or good deeds or bad deeds. Jesus Christ forgave us for out sins. (I have something further to say about that, but once again, another time.) We can do nothing that will diminish God's love for us. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Understand that. Nothing we do will change how much God loves us. It is not just 'God's people' he loves. It is not just the chosen ones. It is not just the ones who follow His path and obey His rules. It is everyone. He loves the Muslims, the Buddhist, the agnostic and the atheist. Every one has the love of God. There is nothing we can do to change that.
So what does this have to do with the Church and the connotations of that word. It means that we, God's children, do not get to judge, do not get to criticize, do not get to hold ourselves above any other of God's children. We are all equal in His eyes. We are all forgiven. Every one of us.
All we can do, as Christians, is be an example to the rest of the world. We need to be not only the followers but the image of Jesus Christ. We live by what is right. Not that we are always right, but we try to live by the principles that God has set forth. That is our only job as Christians. Do the right thing. A favorite subject of mine.
But how does this relate to the perceived bad name of the 'church' I am speaking about. Well, that is how we, as Christians, have hurt the image of the church. We hold ourselves superior and we attempt to impose our will, or what we call God's will, on others. We try to use the power of God to convert or change those around us. We think we can influence someone to move closer to God and therefore allow them to walk the path that God has intended.
And, we can. We must. But God wants to tell you that you can do it in a better way. You do it by being the example. By doing the right thing. By following the life of Christ and trying to be like Him in every way you can. We live a righteous and just life. We are not always right, but it is the effort to try to be right that others will see. That others, outside the church, will perceive. They will notice those around them that have a meaning and a purpose to their lives. The will notice that there is somehow something different about you, because you are always trying to do the right thing.
Maybe they will not see what you do as the right thing, but they will notice that you have a plan and an idea about what or how things should be done. And that plan is God's plan, as much as you can make of it. You try.
And how does this help the image of the church. Because we need to stop beating people up with God. Stop telling them what they are doing is wrong. Stop trying to 'convert' them to your way of thinking. It puts people off. It does not represent the words and life of Jesus Christ. It is your effort, by a man, to show your perceived superiority over those that do not believe as you do. It is not the work of God, it is the work of the church and of Man.
Stop it.
The way you influence and truly convert people to the ways of Christ is by example. You live what you believe. You do what is right. It is not your job or position to criticize or judge or attempt to convert any other person to the ways of God. That is God's decision. That is up to God to lead these people to you and use you as an example of how to live His life and how to be a Christian. If you live by the life of Christ, then people will notice and they will pay attention. If you try to force your way of thinking onto others, then they will not listen and they will not pay attention and they will see God as a perpetrator of rules and religious jargon that they cannot live by. It is too big of a jump to move from living without God to giving their lives completely to God. Yes, some will follow. There are people that will get the revelation and move into the body of Christ. But if you truly want to move people to a better way of life and a vision of what God has intended, then you have to be the example and not the hammer.
To get people into the 'church', do it by living a life that is like Christ. Get them into the body by being the body. Invite them in. Let them see how you live. Let them notice that you are happy and content, no matter what your circumstances. That is does not matter what is happening around you, in your finances, in your marriage, in your life, you always seem to take it in stride. You always seem to be in control. You are different.
People will notice. People will wonder. People will want to know what it is that you have that allows you to be a good person. And that is key, you have to be a good person. Always, all the time. When people become curious, when they begin to wonder how you do it and they begin to ask, that is when you tell them it is because you follow the teachings of Christ. That it is His power that you allow to flow through and control you. That the only way you can be content is to have Jesus Christ in your life and allow him to guide and help you in all ways.
People will listen. Maybe not everyone, maybe only one. But that is not what we are about. We live according God and if others are converted or not converted that is not how we measure our success. We are successful in our lives because we know what God wants and we follow that life. We are the examples of God's power here on Earth. We are the children of God.
Some will say it says in the Bible that we will know them by their works. And before I offend every Christian who reads this, I need to say I have some things to say about the Bible and how we interpret what it says. Not to say I do not agree with everything the Bible has to say, I do think there is an issue with how we as Christians interpret the Bible to fit our own needs. But that is a major undertaking for me to explain that and I hope by simply saying those words I do not turn people off from what I, or God, has asked me to say.
Saying we will know them by their works could mean we will know them in how they live their lives. Not by how many people they convert or how many churches they found or how many people they have healed. Those are examples of God but it does not diminish that the number one way we can show God's works is by living the life God has intended for us. That is how we will convert the world to the ways of Jesus Christ. Not by the flashy miracles, or the big booming church or even the success we might have in life.
We convert people to God by being the example. We show them that there is a better way of life. We show them that we have a guide and if they follow that guide, they too can be happy.
It is that simple. Because we do not have control over when the miracles happen, or when the sick are healed or when the blessings will come. When we try to make those things happen, it can only lead to failure. We have to live by what is right and if we do that, all the other things will come. Stop putting the results ahead of the efforts. Do the right thing, live according to Christ and everything else will take care of itself.
Stop beating up the world with God. They don't deserve it. They are the children of God as much as you are. They deserve your love and your respect and your help. Because that is what Jesus was all about. Helping others, whether they deserve it or not in your eyes. God loves them. We should to.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Heaven and Earth
Heaven and Earth
God created the world and everything in it. God created us in his own image. God gave us the earth and all that is in it as our domain. We are the caretakers of the world and we are responsible for everything that God has given us.
Jesus taught us that we are all the children of God. Jesus gave us a way to live, without regrets and without the worry of always being right. He showed us that we can live the life that God has intended for us and that we can be happy with what we have and look forward to what we are promised.
And it is that promise I want to address. It is what we expect from this life and what we are promised in the next that God wants me to speak on. God has asked me to try to clarify what it is he has given us and what it is we can look forward to.
I am not saying that what I have to say here is true or right or correct but it is something to think about and something to consider and it is something that God has asked me to share. If it helps others, then it has served its purpose and it not then at least consider what I have said and let it maybe allow you to appreciate what God has done for us and continues to do for us every day.
What we are taught and what we believe is that everything will be better in the afterlife. That everything will be great and everything will be perfect and we will have all we want and lack for nothing when we die. We believe all our worries and all our troubles will disappear and we will be happy and rewarded and live a justified and carefree life in Heaven.
I know all that will be true. When we go to meet God, everything will be better. Everything will be good and full of love and happiness. But there are things that we believe that are not true. That God says do not exist and maybe it is just our human way of expressing in Man's terms what Heaven will be like but He thinks we are beginning to believe that these things are true and that we are expecting something that will not happen and will not be true when we go to live with God.
For one thing, there is no gold in heaven. There are no mansions and no fancy chariots and certainly no flowing honey and roses. Those are man-made things and things that we covet as men. They are not what God has promised us as there is no use for these things in heaven. Now I know that we say these things as an example of what we expect but it is a problem that we sometimes believe these words to be true. That we somehow think that this is what God has waiting for us. We believe that the things that are important to us in this life are what we can expect to have in the afterlife. God says that is simply not true. I think we understand that and that we really do not believe that is what will happen but I think sometimes we do believe it. Maybe it is a need to know that things will get better, that sometimes in our lives, we need to know there is something better and the problems we have will go away. As I have said many times, if that is what you need to get you closer to God, then that is what you need to believe. But these things are just something to think about, something to consider when you start to think about your life and the life God wants you to live.
So lets talk about what God has asked me to say. What God has asked me to ask you. It has more to do with this life and not necessarily the afterlife and how we are not living up to our potential in this world. How we seem to have forfeited what God has given us and we are looking at the afterlife and ignoring what we already have. We are so focused on what we are going to get, we are not realizing that God has already given us everything we need.
Look out the window. What do you see. Do you see the sky, a tree, a mountain, a hill. Think about that. Think about what that means. A tree. How is it that we think gold is more valuable than a tree. Or a rock, or grass or birds or water. How can these things not be as valuable as the most precious gems, the largest stack of coins, the illusion of wealth. Our values are so skewed by what we value as men that we have forgotten what God has set all around us. The sky, the wind, the oceans, the land and all the trees. The animals and the all the things that make life worth living.
It is said we cannot take our possessions with us when we die. God asks, why do you want to. Why do we think that the things we value in this life will still be valuable in the next. Why is the only way we can describe what heaven is like is by describing it in the terms of this life. It is Heaven. It is a chance to meet God. Isn't that enough? It says everything. Heaven. The word has meaning and does not need superlatives to make it better. By giving it values based on this life, we cheapen the value it has in the afterlife. It is not necessary. When we say we are going to heaven, that should be enough. It is all there is and nothing more is needed. We have lost the meaning of what heaven is and what it should mean to us.
But lets talk about this world and what has been given to us. God gave us the world and all that is in it. He did that because He loves us and wanted us to have everything He has created. He gave us everything we need. Everything we can see, or touch or smell is ours to make what we can of it. We have the greatest gift of all. God's love. And part of that love is everything he has created for us.
So God is asking, why is that not enough. Why do we look towards heaven and say, when I get there, I will have more. That what we have now is not good enough. That we can only be happy when we get to the afterlife and we somehow have more.
There is no more. We have everything we need now. Everything we would ever want or need is here. We have it all. There is nothing more.
I can say that because everything we have now and everything we will ever have and everything we will ever desire has no meaning in heaven. It is Heaven. We cast aside worldly things and we live with God. Is that not enough?
So look at what we have now. Stop looking at what is wrong with the world and take a look at what is around you. We have everything we need to make a happy life. God has provided us with everything around us. We do not need any more. God has provided all. We need to make of it whatever we can make of it.
It is up to us to make the world a better place. It is up to us to use what God has given us and do what is right. You might say, but other people don't do that. Other people get in my way. Other people prevent me from doing what I think needs to be done. All true, but it does not prevent you from doing the right thing. It does not prevent you from trying to make the most of what the world has to offer. Don't focus on what you cannot do but focus on what you can do.
And when things do not go your way and things are not what you want them to be, then focus on the tree. Look out the window and say thank you God, you gave me a tree. And the grass and the sky and the mountains. You, God, gave me everything and I am grateful for all that you have done. You may not have given me gold or jewels or a new car, but you gave me a tree. Only God can make a tree. Only man treats gold as a reward for life. God says, you have the sky, is that not enough. It is enough, because we should be grateful for what we have and not complain about things we do not have and things that have no meaning in any world except the world that Man has created.
Enjoy the world. Be thankful and amazed for the things we have and the things God has provided. When the world gets you down, say thank you. I know what You have done for me and I am happy to be your caretaker of what You created here on Earth.
Yes, we should strive for the Heaven we are going to, but we should be thankful for the Heaven we have here on Earth. We live in what God has created for us and he has allowed us to make of it what we will. Do your best, do the right things, and you will see Heaven in the afterlife. And you will get to live with God. It is the promise He has made to us and it is His gift that He has provided. We live in the paradise God has created. We should be more grateful for it.
God created the world and everything in it. God created us in his own image. God gave us the earth and all that is in it as our domain. We are the caretakers of the world and we are responsible for everything that God has given us.
Jesus taught us that we are all the children of God. Jesus gave us a way to live, without regrets and without the worry of always being right. He showed us that we can live the life that God has intended for us and that we can be happy with what we have and look forward to what we are promised.
And it is that promise I want to address. It is what we expect from this life and what we are promised in the next that God wants me to speak on. God has asked me to try to clarify what it is he has given us and what it is we can look forward to.
I am not saying that what I have to say here is true or right or correct but it is something to think about and something to consider and it is something that God has asked me to share. If it helps others, then it has served its purpose and it not then at least consider what I have said and let it maybe allow you to appreciate what God has done for us and continues to do for us every day.
What we are taught and what we believe is that everything will be better in the afterlife. That everything will be great and everything will be perfect and we will have all we want and lack for nothing when we die. We believe all our worries and all our troubles will disappear and we will be happy and rewarded and live a justified and carefree life in Heaven.
I know all that will be true. When we go to meet God, everything will be better. Everything will be good and full of love and happiness. But there are things that we believe that are not true. That God says do not exist and maybe it is just our human way of expressing in Man's terms what Heaven will be like but He thinks we are beginning to believe that these things are true and that we are expecting something that will not happen and will not be true when we go to live with God.
For one thing, there is no gold in heaven. There are no mansions and no fancy chariots and certainly no flowing honey and roses. Those are man-made things and things that we covet as men. They are not what God has promised us as there is no use for these things in heaven. Now I know that we say these things as an example of what we expect but it is a problem that we sometimes believe these words to be true. That we somehow think that this is what God has waiting for us. We believe that the things that are important to us in this life are what we can expect to have in the afterlife. God says that is simply not true. I think we understand that and that we really do not believe that is what will happen but I think sometimes we do believe it. Maybe it is a need to know that things will get better, that sometimes in our lives, we need to know there is something better and the problems we have will go away. As I have said many times, if that is what you need to get you closer to God, then that is what you need to believe. But these things are just something to think about, something to consider when you start to think about your life and the life God wants you to live.
So lets talk about what God has asked me to say. What God has asked me to ask you. It has more to do with this life and not necessarily the afterlife and how we are not living up to our potential in this world. How we seem to have forfeited what God has given us and we are looking at the afterlife and ignoring what we already have. We are so focused on what we are going to get, we are not realizing that God has already given us everything we need.
Look out the window. What do you see. Do you see the sky, a tree, a mountain, a hill. Think about that. Think about what that means. A tree. How is it that we think gold is more valuable than a tree. Or a rock, or grass or birds or water. How can these things not be as valuable as the most precious gems, the largest stack of coins, the illusion of wealth. Our values are so skewed by what we value as men that we have forgotten what God has set all around us. The sky, the wind, the oceans, the land and all the trees. The animals and the all the things that make life worth living.
It is said we cannot take our possessions with us when we die. God asks, why do you want to. Why do we think that the things we value in this life will still be valuable in the next. Why is the only way we can describe what heaven is like is by describing it in the terms of this life. It is Heaven. It is a chance to meet God. Isn't that enough? It says everything. Heaven. The word has meaning and does not need superlatives to make it better. By giving it values based on this life, we cheapen the value it has in the afterlife. It is not necessary. When we say we are going to heaven, that should be enough. It is all there is and nothing more is needed. We have lost the meaning of what heaven is and what it should mean to us.
But lets talk about this world and what has been given to us. God gave us the world and all that is in it. He did that because He loves us and wanted us to have everything He has created. He gave us everything we need. Everything we can see, or touch or smell is ours to make what we can of it. We have the greatest gift of all. God's love. And part of that love is everything he has created for us.
So God is asking, why is that not enough. Why do we look towards heaven and say, when I get there, I will have more. That what we have now is not good enough. That we can only be happy when we get to the afterlife and we somehow have more.
There is no more. We have everything we need now. Everything we would ever want or need is here. We have it all. There is nothing more.
I can say that because everything we have now and everything we will ever have and everything we will ever desire has no meaning in heaven. It is Heaven. We cast aside worldly things and we live with God. Is that not enough?
So look at what we have now. Stop looking at what is wrong with the world and take a look at what is around you. We have everything we need to make a happy life. God has provided us with everything around us. We do not need any more. God has provided all. We need to make of it whatever we can make of it.
It is up to us to make the world a better place. It is up to us to use what God has given us and do what is right. You might say, but other people don't do that. Other people get in my way. Other people prevent me from doing what I think needs to be done. All true, but it does not prevent you from doing the right thing. It does not prevent you from trying to make the most of what the world has to offer. Don't focus on what you cannot do but focus on what you can do.
And when things do not go your way and things are not what you want them to be, then focus on the tree. Look out the window and say thank you God, you gave me a tree. And the grass and the sky and the mountains. You, God, gave me everything and I am grateful for all that you have done. You may not have given me gold or jewels or a new car, but you gave me a tree. Only God can make a tree. Only man treats gold as a reward for life. God says, you have the sky, is that not enough. It is enough, because we should be grateful for what we have and not complain about things we do not have and things that have no meaning in any world except the world that Man has created.
Enjoy the world. Be thankful and amazed for the things we have and the things God has provided. When the world gets you down, say thank you. I know what You have done for me and I am happy to be your caretaker of what You created here on Earth.
Yes, we should strive for the Heaven we are going to, but we should be thankful for the Heaven we have here on Earth. We live in what God has created for us and he has allowed us to make of it what we will. Do your best, do the right things, and you will see Heaven in the afterlife. And you will get to live with God. It is the promise He has made to us and it is His gift that He has provided. We live in the paradise God has created. We should be more grateful for it.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Prayer
Prayer
Let's talk about prayer. I know what we are taught and what we think we need to do and all the hows and why we should be praying. And none of that is wrong. It might be misguided and may not be what God has intended but if that is what you need to do to get closer to God, then God is all for it. He listens no matter what you are doing or how you are doing it. God is there, always and forever.
So let's talk about what God is telling me we need to be doing. Need to be doing is kind of harsh but what I mean is, God thinks of prayer in a different way. Or that is what he is telling me.
The first question I would ask is, how often do you talk to God. Once a week. At night before bed. First thing in the morning. At church. There is no wrong answer to that question. Whenever you think it is time to talk to God and whenever you feel comfortable with your prayers, then God is understanding and listens to whatever you have to say. God wants to hear from you. He is never too busy.
What I would say, and what God has told me, is there is no set time for prayer. Or, more importantly, no set way to pray. God is listening all the time. He is always there. It goes back to the knowledge that God lives within you. He is there, all the time, every day, in every way. You cannot hide from God. You cannot think, say, or do anything that God does not know about. So when are you talking to or praying to God?
Always.
Everything you say, everything you think, everything you do, God is listening. He is there. He is within you. He knows what it is you want, what it is you desire, what your inner most private thoughts are. He is listening.
Scary, I know. It means there is no way to hide from God. It means you cannot tell yourself that if you say or do something, God might not be listening or he might not be watching. He is always listening and He is always watching. He is there, within you, knowing you. He is God.
So what does that mean. What does it mean about praying and going to church, and having your God time. It means all times are God's time. He is listening. It means, you do not have to go to church to pray. It means you do not have to bow your head or sink to your knees or go into your prayer closet to talk to God. He is listening all the time. And what's more, he doesn't care where or how you do it.
God wants the conversation. He wants to talk to you. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants you to feel comfortable talking to Him. He is our God. He created us. He loves us. He just wants to be in a relationship with you.
If you only feel comfortable talking to God in prayer or kneeling in church or singing his praises in song, then God is all for it. Whatever it takes for you to talk to Him. He wants you to talk to Him and more importantly, he wants to talk to you. So however you can get it done, it is ok with God. He understands and he wants the conversation.
And a conversation is what it should be. YOU CAN talk to God. You can. In fact, you cannot do anything but talk to God. He knows everything. If you have a stray thought, if you speak a bad word, he knows. You cannot hide it from Him. He knows. But it is the conversation he wants.
I used to bow my head and kneel on my knees when I talked to God. It was right and appropriate for what I needed to have that conversation. But one day, God asked me why. Why do I feel it is necessary to do that. Why is it that I only feel comfortable talking to God as if he was not my friend. As if he was not my savior and the one thing in the whole world that I can trust and believe in. Why did I feel it was necessary to not speak to him as I would speak to any other person I knew or met.
Of course, my answer was, because you are God. I owe you everything. I must show my worship and respect for you by avoiding your gaze, by making myself humble in front of you.
God said stand up. Look me in the eye. Say what I need to say and talk to Him like he was my friend, my father, my mentor, my strength. Look me in the eye and say what you need to tell me. You are my child and I know what your thoughts are and I know that you respect and worship me. I want to be your friend also. I want you to be able to talk to me, any time, anywhere, about anything. Hold your head up. Speak, and I will listen. Think and I will answer. I am here, always within you, always ready to answer you, and always there to guide you.
As you can probably tell, this was a real revelation for me. It was not what I have always been taught. It was not how you 'pray to God'. God sees nothing wrong with prayer, but he wants to be your friend. He wants the conversation. He wants you to be able to talk to him and feel comfortable doing it.
He told me, 'I am God. I created you. But I created you so I could be with you. Not be distant and something that is to be worshipped but you as my friend. You are the person I want to be with, that is why I created you'.
Again, I was taken aback. Not what I had been taught. Not what I understood to be the truth. I know it sounds like I am criticizing the church or religion as it is taught and lived today. And maybe I am, but you need to understand that what is done today and in the past is how Man has attempted to interact with God. We have done our best. Maybe it is sometimes self-serving for the church or the religion but if it gets you closer to God, then God says, so be it. He does not turn away people who are trying to be in a relationship with Him. He accepts it for what it is and just wants for you to seek Him in any way you can.
But what I am here to say is it does not have to be that way. It does not have to be a 'religious experience' to talk to God. He just wants to be in a relationship with you. He wants to be your friend, or your father, or inspiration, or even your servant. Whatever it is you need, he will be that for you. He wants the relationship.
It sounds grandiose and self-congratulating but I talk to God all the time. Every day, every minute, there is no time that I am not aware that God is there, he is listening and he understands. I do not say that as if I have something that everyone else does not have. This applies to everyone. We all talk to God whether me mean to or not. He is there.
The trick is, are we listening to what he has to say to us. Because, he answers us. He tells us what we need to do and he answers all our prayers. We just need to or learn how to listen. But that is another discussion. Something else God wants me to tell others but I will discuss that in another entry.
The point of this entry is to get across to you that God is your friend. Treat Him as a friend. Talk to Him. Do not be afraid. Do not let 'prayer time' get in the way of a conversation with God. When you need it, when you want the relationship, when you need His help, talk to Him. He wants to hear from you.
I was going to end this entry with that but God wants me to say a couple more things. I will probably edit this and make it flow a little better but then again, God has a lot to say so I might not.
What God wants me to say is, if you have to change your voice, if you have to change your speech or the way you talk to speak to God, then that is not talking to God. It might be 'prayer' and he wants you to know he understands, but it is fake. His words not mine. It is not being with God but it is for show, it is for religion, it is more about you and how you want other people to see you than it is a real conversation with God. It has its place. Some people need to hear what you have to say and they need the trappings and religiosity of that type of prayer, but it is not you having a conversation with God. It is not you expressing your thoughts and feelings to Him. He knows it and he wants you to change, Speak to Him. Talk to Him. He is your friend. He is your father. Treat Him as such.
Most times, when you hear prayer like that, and again, there is nothing wrong with it, but you need to know why you are doing it and why it might not be necessary. When I pray like that, in a loud voice so everyone can hear what I have to say, it is for someone in that room, or within hearing of my voice. It is because God has told me someone needs to hear that and someone needs to know that God is here and you can speak to Him. Never think that is how you talk to God. But it has its place, and it is a good place, but it is not how God wants you to speak to Him.
For me, and I only have myself and what God tells me to go on, prayer or conversation with God is private. It is between me and Him. No one needs to know about it and I should never make a spectacle of it or myself. Then again, as I write this, he says there will be a time and place for me to do that but He will let me know when that is. But for me, my conversations with God are private and it should be for you. That is your conversation with God. No one needs to know, unless God tells you to tell others. But that goes back to listening to what God has to say. Hopefully, God will allow me to teach others how to do that, because I don't know how or why I talk to or listen to God, it just is. Maybe that is why I use my own experiences as an example. Maybe, through my stories, others can get some kind of revelation on how they too can talk to and listen to God.
Maybe, it's up to Him.
Let's talk about prayer. I know what we are taught and what we think we need to do and all the hows and why we should be praying. And none of that is wrong. It might be misguided and may not be what God has intended but if that is what you need to do to get closer to God, then God is all for it. He listens no matter what you are doing or how you are doing it. God is there, always and forever.
So let's talk about what God is telling me we need to be doing. Need to be doing is kind of harsh but what I mean is, God thinks of prayer in a different way. Or that is what he is telling me.
The first question I would ask is, how often do you talk to God. Once a week. At night before bed. First thing in the morning. At church. There is no wrong answer to that question. Whenever you think it is time to talk to God and whenever you feel comfortable with your prayers, then God is understanding and listens to whatever you have to say. God wants to hear from you. He is never too busy.
What I would say, and what God has told me, is there is no set time for prayer. Or, more importantly, no set way to pray. God is listening all the time. He is always there. It goes back to the knowledge that God lives within you. He is there, all the time, every day, in every way. You cannot hide from God. You cannot think, say, or do anything that God does not know about. So when are you talking to or praying to God?
Always.
Everything you say, everything you think, everything you do, God is listening. He is there. He is within you. He knows what it is you want, what it is you desire, what your inner most private thoughts are. He is listening.
Scary, I know. It means there is no way to hide from God. It means you cannot tell yourself that if you say or do something, God might not be listening or he might not be watching. He is always listening and He is always watching. He is there, within you, knowing you. He is God.
So what does that mean. What does it mean about praying and going to church, and having your God time. It means all times are God's time. He is listening. It means, you do not have to go to church to pray. It means you do not have to bow your head or sink to your knees or go into your prayer closet to talk to God. He is listening all the time. And what's more, he doesn't care where or how you do it.
God wants the conversation. He wants to talk to you. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants you to feel comfortable talking to Him. He is our God. He created us. He loves us. He just wants to be in a relationship with you.
If you only feel comfortable talking to God in prayer or kneeling in church or singing his praises in song, then God is all for it. Whatever it takes for you to talk to Him. He wants you to talk to Him and more importantly, he wants to talk to you. So however you can get it done, it is ok with God. He understands and he wants the conversation.
And a conversation is what it should be. YOU CAN talk to God. You can. In fact, you cannot do anything but talk to God. He knows everything. If you have a stray thought, if you speak a bad word, he knows. You cannot hide it from Him. He knows. But it is the conversation he wants.
I used to bow my head and kneel on my knees when I talked to God. It was right and appropriate for what I needed to have that conversation. But one day, God asked me why. Why do I feel it is necessary to do that. Why is it that I only feel comfortable talking to God as if he was not my friend. As if he was not my savior and the one thing in the whole world that I can trust and believe in. Why did I feel it was necessary to not speak to him as I would speak to any other person I knew or met.
Of course, my answer was, because you are God. I owe you everything. I must show my worship and respect for you by avoiding your gaze, by making myself humble in front of you.
God said stand up. Look me in the eye. Say what I need to say and talk to Him like he was my friend, my father, my mentor, my strength. Look me in the eye and say what you need to tell me. You are my child and I know what your thoughts are and I know that you respect and worship me. I want to be your friend also. I want you to be able to talk to me, any time, anywhere, about anything. Hold your head up. Speak, and I will listen. Think and I will answer. I am here, always within you, always ready to answer you, and always there to guide you.
As you can probably tell, this was a real revelation for me. It was not what I have always been taught. It was not how you 'pray to God'. God sees nothing wrong with prayer, but he wants to be your friend. He wants the conversation. He wants you to be able to talk to him and feel comfortable doing it.
He told me, 'I am God. I created you. But I created you so I could be with you. Not be distant and something that is to be worshipped but you as my friend. You are the person I want to be with, that is why I created you'.
Again, I was taken aback. Not what I had been taught. Not what I understood to be the truth. I know it sounds like I am criticizing the church or religion as it is taught and lived today. And maybe I am, but you need to understand that what is done today and in the past is how Man has attempted to interact with God. We have done our best. Maybe it is sometimes self-serving for the church or the religion but if it gets you closer to God, then God says, so be it. He does not turn away people who are trying to be in a relationship with Him. He accepts it for what it is and just wants for you to seek Him in any way you can.
But what I am here to say is it does not have to be that way. It does not have to be a 'religious experience' to talk to God. He just wants to be in a relationship with you. He wants to be your friend, or your father, or inspiration, or even your servant. Whatever it is you need, he will be that for you. He wants the relationship.
It sounds grandiose and self-congratulating but I talk to God all the time. Every day, every minute, there is no time that I am not aware that God is there, he is listening and he understands. I do not say that as if I have something that everyone else does not have. This applies to everyone. We all talk to God whether me mean to or not. He is there.
The trick is, are we listening to what he has to say to us. Because, he answers us. He tells us what we need to do and he answers all our prayers. We just need to or learn how to listen. But that is another discussion. Something else God wants me to tell others but I will discuss that in another entry.
The point of this entry is to get across to you that God is your friend. Treat Him as a friend. Talk to Him. Do not be afraid. Do not let 'prayer time' get in the way of a conversation with God. When you need it, when you want the relationship, when you need His help, talk to Him. He wants to hear from you.
I was going to end this entry with that but God wants me to say a couple more things. I will probably edit this and make it flow a little better but then again, God has a lot to say so I might not.
What God wants me to say is, if you have to change your voice, if you have to change your speech or the way you talk to speak to God, then that is not talking to God. It might be 'prayer' and he wants you to know he understands, but it is fake. His words not mine. It is not being with God but it is for show, it is for religion, it is more about you and how you want other people to see you than it is a real conversation with God. It has its place. Some people need to hear what you have to say and they need the trappings and religiosity of that type of prayer, but it is not you having a conversation with God. It is not you expressing your thoughts and feelings to Him. He knows it and he wants you to change, Speak to Him. Talk to Him. He is your friend. He is your father. Treat Him as such.
Most times, when you hear prayer like that, and again, there is nothing wrong with it, but you need to know why you are doing it and why it might not be necessary. When I pray like that, in a loud voice so everyone can hear what I have to say, it is for someone in that room, or within hearing of my voice. It is because God has told me someone needs to hear that and someone needs to know that God is here and you can speak to Him. Never think that is how you talk to God. But it has its place, and it is a good place, but it is not how God wants you to speak to Him.
For me, and I only have myself and what God tells me to go on, prayer or conversation with God is private. It is between me and Him. No one needs to know about it and I should never make a spectacle of it or myself. Then again, as I write this, he says there will be a time and place for me to do that but He will let me know when that is. But for me, my conversations with God are private and it should be for you. That is your conversation with God. No one needs to know, unless God tells you to tell others. But that goes back to listening to what God has to say. Hopefully, God will allow me to teach others how to do that, because I don't know how or why I talk to or listen to God, it just is. Maybe that is why I use my own experiences as an example. Maybe, through my stories, others can get some kind of revelation on how they too can talk to and listen to God.
Maybe, it's up to Him.
What Can I Do
What Can I Do
Everyone always prays to God to have him solve their problems. We pray to God to help my finances, fix my relationship, make me thinner. Whatever it is we need or want, we are taught to leave it to God. Turn it over to Him and let Him handle it.
I agree, we should pray to God to help us with our problems. We cannot handle life's issues without His help. But I think we need to go beyond that. That instead of asking God to handle our problems or solve our dilemma, we should be asking, 'What can I do to solve this', ' What do You want me to do, God. How can I, with Your help, solve this issue. What can I, as your servant and your representative, do to help others or more importantly, help solve or work through my own problems.
The problem is, we keep waiting for the big miracle. We tell ourselves, it is in God's hands, he will handle it. We don't need to worry about it because God is going to solve or fix it. But, we never take the time to ask or listen to God when he is telling us we should be doing something. We should be doing what needs to be done and we are the instrument through which God is going to perform this miracle or solve this problem.
We ask God, please bless me with financial freedom, allow me to have a better relationship with my partner, make me thinner. These are personal requests but after we make those prayers and turn it over to God, we expect Him to make the changes, perform the miracles, wave His hand and it all goes away. We never have to worry about it or do anything about it. It is in 'God's hands'.
We continue to spend the money. We continue to order the large fries. We still make ourselves feel superior to our partner, because 'We pray to God and we are better than you'. If only God would change you, we can have a better relationship. That in itself is another subject about how we react and treat others in our belief that since we are 'closer' to God, we have a moral superiority and we are more beloved by God, but I will address that later.
What I am saying and what God is telling me to try to teach you is what he has intended all along. That praying to God is good and asking Him to help you with your problems is what He wants you to do, but He expects more and always has. I will not go into why or where things went wrong or even suggest that they are not what God has intended but God wants you to know that the message has been changed. Not by God but as man has continued to interpret and translate his original message, that somewhere in there, a large part of His message has been lost. Not that the message today is wrong, but there is more to it. There is more to a relationship with God than asking for and expecting Him to do everything.
God created us in his image and He lives inside of us. Everyone will tell you this and everyone says they believe it. But what does that mean. What does it mean that God lives within us. What does it mean that we are the children of God. What does it mean that God created the world and gave all that is in it to us, His children. I will address that in a later topic but for now, what does it mean we should be doing or praying for when we talk to God.
God is telling me something we should be asking. Instead of praying for God to fix the problem. we should ask what do you want me to do to make this better. Praying for the miracle is all good and well, but most of the time, we are the miracle. We are the instruments of God's will. We have the power and the authority to act in his name. Just ask him. He will tell you what to do. Sometimes, you will not like the answer. Sometimes, the answer is no. Sometimes, God will intervene and perform the miracle you are asking for. But here's the problem.
While we are sitting around waiting for the big miracle, when we are 'waiting on God' because 'it's in God's hands', we think we are not part of it anymore. God will handle it.
Maybe God is trying to tell us what we need to do. While we are going about our lives, doing what we do, letting God handle the problems, God is crying out to us to do something about it. Not only do something about it, but he is telling us what we need to do. He is talking to you right now, telling you what to do, what to think, what to be. God is always there. He lives within us. He is talking to you all the time. What we need to do is learn how to listen. Again, another topic, but that is what God wants. He wants to be able to talk to you. He wants to be able to speak to you as a friend, as an mentor, as an equal. God is not scary and hearing from him is not something you need to be afraid of or bow down to or even something that can only happen when you are praying. God is talking to you right now. We need to learn how to listen.
So how does this relate to the topic right now. Why should I not be praying for God to handle my issues. I am not saying that you should not. God is not telling you that you should not. But you should be listening to what is it that God is trying to tell you. What is it that God wants you to know and more importantly, what it is you can do.
The answer is, just ask. Instead of asking God to handle the problem, ask God to tell you what you can do to handle the problem. If you want better finances, listen to God. He might be telling you to not make that purchase. He might be telling you maybe you don't need to spend that money today. He might be telling you that you need to trust Him and not keep doing the things that might be causing your finances to be in trouble in the first place. I do not know what God is telling you. I only know what God is telling me.
Once you learn how to listen to God and hear what he is saying, then it becomes a different issue. It moves into the realm of free will. Do you follow what he says or do you not. That is a life choice but what God is telling me to tell you is this.
Stop waiting for God to solve your problems. God will help you. God will give you the strength to do it. God will even tell you what it is you need to do. But turning it over to God to handle all your problems is not the way He intended it to work. He wants to work with you. He wants you to trust Him. He wants you to be the one who walks with His grace and knows that whatever the problem is, you walk with the power of God and you and He together will face these problems and you and He together will allow you to live your life under the comfort of His will.
What has happened with the 'church' and 'religion' is we spend all our time praying to God to solve everything. And I am not saying God does not work that way. He is God. He can do anything and I am not going to presume that I know what God's plan is or what he intends or what he wants of you or anyone else. What I am telling you is what God is telling me.
As the children of Christ, we have come to look at God as something that we are totally dependant upon. That nothing can be done without Him. Amazingly, that is true. We cannot do anything, good or bad, that he does not allow and he has not already planned for. But we have become dependant upon that.
What I mean is, we are waiting for the miracle. We pray to God, we sit back and say, God do something. We expect and depend on Him to perform some act, that we can see, that solves the problem.
When that doesn't happen, we are disappointed. We blame God or worse, we blame ourselves. It makes us move away from God. For people outside the church, it allows them to say, 'see, God does not exist and does not want to help His people'.
We know that is not true but we also know that we all feel that way at times. That God is not there for you or He is disappointed in me, or I have not worshipped Him enough or prayed to Him enough or sang loud enough in church or any number things that you did that caused God to not do what you wanted done. And during all that disappointment, do we ever ask, what can I do, with your help, to solve this problem. It never occurs to us that maybe God's answer to your prayers was, 'you handle it'. You do what needs to be done to make it happen. He will help and He will do what needs to be done to be successful, but He has given you the authority and the power to solve the problem. And if the problem does not get resolved, then it is not because you did anything wrong or that He does not love you. It might be that the answer was no. It might be that He has another plan and solving your problem, in the way you want it solved, does not fit into what He has designed and what He knows is best for you and your life and your walk with Him.
We need to learn how to have a relationship with God. A much abused word, relationship, but that is how we describe it. It is the knowledge that God is always there. That you can talk to God at anytime. It does not have to be a prayer or in church or in your special place where you talk to God, but He is always there. He is always there with the right answer. He lives within you and you can talk to Him.
And we need to know that we are the children of God. We have His authority, His power, and His blessing to do what needs to be done to make not only our lives but the lives of others a happier and more fulfilling way to live.
So, pray to God for Him to help you and to help others. Allow Him to be your shelter and your answer to how to live your life. But learn to listen. That is the most important thing to learn. To listen to God and let Him tell you what it is you can and should be doing to avoid or solve any issue or problem you might face.
He has the answers. He is telling you what they are and He is willing to help you work with Him to make things better.
Everyone always prays to God to have him solve their problems. We pray to God to help my finances, fix my relationship, make me thinner. Whatever it is we need or want, we are taught to leave it to God. Turn it over to Him and let Him handle it.
I agree, we should pray to God to help us with our problems. We cannot handle life's issues without His help. But I think we need to go beyond that. That instead of asking God to handle our problems or solve our dilemma, we should be asking, 'What can I do to solve this', ' What do You want me to do, God. How can I, with Your help, solve this issue. What can I, as your servant and your representative, do to help others or more importantly, help solve or work through my own problems.
The problem is, we keep waiting for the big miracle. We tell ourselves, it is in God's hands, he will handle it. We don't need to worry about it because God is going to solve or fix it. But, we never take the time to ask or listen to God when he is telling us we should be doing something. We should be doing what needs to be done and we are the instrument through which God is going to perform this miracle or solve this problem.
We ask God, please bless me with financial freedom, allow me to have a better relationship with my partner, make me thinner. These are personal requests but after we make those prayers and turn it over to God, we expect Him to make the changes, perform the miracles, wave His hand and it all goes away. We never have to worry about it or do anything about it. It is in 'God's hands'.
We continue to spend the money. We continue to order the large fries. We still make ourselves feel superior to our partner, because 'We pray to God and we are better than you'. If only God would change you, we can have a better relationship. That in itself is another subject about how we react and treat others in our belief that since we are 'closer' to God, we have a moral superiority and we are more beloved by God, but I will address that later.
What I am saying and what God is telling me to try to teach you is what he has intended all along. That praying to God is good and asking Him to help you with your problems is what He wants you to do, but He expects more and always has. I will not go into why or where things went wrong or even suggest that they are not what God has intended but God wants you to know that the message has been changed. Not by God but as man has continued to interpret and translate his original message, that somewhere in there, a large part of His message has been lost. Not that the message today is wrong, but there is more to it. There is more to a relationship with God than asking for and expecting Him to do everything.
God created us in his image and He lives inside of us. Everyone will tell you this and everyone says they believe it. But what does that mean. What does it mean that God lives within us. What does it mean that we are the children of God. What does it mean that God created the world and gave all that is in it to us, His children. I will address that in a later topic but for now, what does it mean we should be doing or praying for when we talk to God.
God is telling me something we should be asking. Instead of praying for God to fix the problem. we should ask what do you want me to do to make this better. Praying for the miracle is all good and well, but most of the time, we are the miracle. We are the instruments of God's will. We have the power and the authority to act in his name. Just ask him. He will tell you what to do. Sometimes, you will not like the answer. Sometimes, the answer is no. Sometimes, God will intervene and perform the miracle you are asking for. But here's the problem.
While we are sitting around waiting for the big miracle, when we are 'waiting on God' because 'it's in God's hands', we think we are not part of it anymore. God will handle it.
Maybe God is trying to tell us what we need to do. While we are going about our lives, doing what we do, letting God handle the problems, God is crying out to us to do something about it. Not only do something about it, but he is telling us what we need to do. He is talking to you right now, telling you what to do, what to think, what to be. God is always there. He lives within us. He is talking to you all the time. What we need to do is learn how to listen. Again, another topic, but that is what God wants. He wants to be able to talk to you. He wants to be able to speak to you as a friend, as an mentor, as an equal. God is not scary and hearing from him is not something you need to be afraid of or bow down to or even something that can only happen when you are praying. God is talking to you right now. We need to learn how to listen.
So how does this relate to the topic right now. Why should I not be praying for God to handle my issues. I am not saying that you should not. God is not telling you that you should not. But you should be listening to what is it that God is trying to tell you. What is it that God wants you to know and more importantly, what it is you can do.
The answer is, just ask. Instead of asking God to handle the problem, ask God to tell you what you can do to handle the problem. If you want better finances, listen to God. He might be telling you to not make that purchase. He might be telling you maybe you don't need to spend that money today. He might be telling you that you need to trust Him and not keep doing the things that might be causing your finances to be in trouble in the first place. I do not know what God is telling you. I only know what God is telling me.
Once you learn how to listen to God and hear what he is saying, then it becomes a different issue. It moves into the realm of free will. Do you follow what he says or do you not. That is a life choice but what God is telling me to tell you is this.
Stop waiting for God to solve your problems. God will help you. God will give you the strength to do it. God will even tell you what it is you need to do. But turning it over to God to handle all your problems is not the way He intended it to work. He wants to work with you. He wants you to trust Him. He wants you to be the one who walks with His grace and knows that whatever the problem is, you walk with the power of God and you and He together will face these problems and you and He together will allow you to live your life under the comfort of His will.
What has happened with the 'church' and 'religion' is we spend all our time praying to God to solve everything. And I am not saying God does not work that way. He is God. He can do anything and I am not going to presume that I know what God's plan is or what he intends or what he wants of you or anyone else. What I am telling you is what God is telling me.
As the children of Christ, we have come to look at God as something that we are totally dependant upon. That nothing can be done without Him. Amazingly, that is true. We cannot do anything, good or bad, that he does not allow and he has not already planned for. But we have become dependant upon that.
What I mean is, we are waiting for the miracle. We pray to God, we sit back and say, God do something. We expect and depend on Him to perform some act, that we can see, that solves the problem.
When that doesn't happen, we are disappointed. We blame God or worse, we blame ourselves. It makes us move away from God. For people outside the church, it allows them to say, 'see, God does not exist and does not want to help His people'.
We know that is not true but we also know that we all feel that way at times. That God is not there for you or He is disappointed in me, or I have not worshipped Him enough or prayed to Him enough or sang loud enough in church or any number things that you did that caused God to not do what you wanted done. And during all that disappointment, do we ever ask, what can I do, with your help, to solve this problem. It never occurs to us that maybe God's answer to your prayers was, 'you handle it'. You do what needs to be done to make it happen. He will help and He will do what needs to be done to be successful, but He has given you the authority and the power to solve the problem. And if the problem does not get resolved, then it is not because you did anything wrong or that He does not love you. It might be that the answer was no. It might be that He has another plan and solving your problem, in the way you want it solved, does not fit into what He has designed and what He knows is best for you and your life and your walk with Him.
We need to learn how to have a relationship with God. A much abused word, relationship, but that is how we describe it. It is the knowledge that God is always there. That you can talk to God at anytime. It does not have to be a prayer or in church or in your special place where you talk to God, but He is always there. He is always there with the right answer. He lives within you and you can talk to Him.
And we need to know that we are the children of God. We have His authority, His power, and His blessing to do what needs to be done to make not only our lives but the lives of others a happier and more fulfilling way to live.
So, pray to God for Him to help you and to help others. Allow Him to be your shelter and your answer to how to live your life. But learn to listen. That is the most important thing to learn. To listen to God and let Him tell you what it is you can and should be doing to avoid or solve any issue or problem you might face.
He has the answers. He is telling you what they are and He is willing to help you work with Him to make things better.
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