It's All About Relationship #27

Matthew 6:31 starts off with the word but. And of course I must "LOOK" at what the definition of the word but is.

BUT - on the contrary; yet: without the circumstance that: otherwise than:

So I am to but/be contrary to the Gentiles (heathen). I am to but/be otherwise than the Gentiles (heathen).

Whats that look like? For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek after all these things. This is what I call the flip side. The Gentiles do this so I, being a believer, am to do the opposite. The Gentiles wish for... I am to trust for. The gentiles crave for... I am to seek first. The Gentiles diligently seek after... I am to strive after.

So here's what I'm getting. The Gentiles (heathen) are uneasy, anxious and worry... BUT, I am greater in quality and far above and more excellent. BUT, I am worth more than they. BUT, I am arrayed more magnificant than Solomon.

In closing I realize that I may have missed the most revealing definition of the word but. "Without the circumstance that" Without the circumstance that causes me to be uneasy. Without the circumstance that puts me in a place of being anxious. Without the circumstance I wouldn't worry. Without the circumstance!

CIRCUMSTANCE - a condition, detail, part, or attribute, that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor: the existing conditions or state of affairs surrounding and affecting an agent: an unessential or secondary accompaniment of any fact or event; minor detail.

An unessential or secondary fact.... Food, drink, clothes, uneasy, anxious, worry, wishing for, craving for, diligently seeking after an unessential fact.

APPLICATION - First are you a Gentile (heathen) or a believer? Don't laugh or be insulted, it's a valid question. Isn't it possible that our lives are not reflecting the later? Then take a look at the "circumstances" that may be influencing your life right now and determine whether they are unessential facts.

It's All About Relationship #27

For the sake of clarity... those who wish to continue with plant , application or blog you may do so. But you do so with freedom. Just remember that everything freedom brings or allows is not always beneficial to you.

I recieved what is known as a worry stone. On the back was this saying.

There are only two things to worry about; either you are well or you are sick. If you are well , then there is nothing to worry about; but if you are sick; then there are two things to worry about; either you get well or you will die. If you get well, then there is nothing to worry about. If you die then there are two things for you to worry about; either you go up or down. If you go up then there is nothing to worry about. But if you go down you will be so busy shaking hands with old friends you won't have time to worry.

How's that for putting worry into a different perspective? I think I'll stop here for today as we are now going to get to what I count as the 9th time Jesus speaks one this one subject. Each time saying it a little different but still the same message.

Verse 24 You cannot serve God and Mammon

Verse 25 Stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried

Verse 26 Look at the birds of the air, Are you not worth more

Verse 27 And which of you by worrying and being anxious

Verse 28 And why should you be anxious, Consider the Lilies

Verse 30 But if God so clothes the grass

Verse 31 Therefore do not worry

Verse 32 For the gentiles wish for and crave, and diligently seek after

Verse33 BUT...

APPLICATION - Today as I was discussing this whole series of verses I came up with a new thought. The birds have choices. The Lilies and the Grass have no choices. Only one of the three have choice? Share what thoughts this stirs up in you. Is this an example of the balance of life. Are there more times when we have no choices and we must just go along with life?

It's All About Relationship #26

I knew that the plant applications were not the most popular thing I had ever asked of anyone but I was not aware of just how much people actually disliked it. This weekend Ann Marie asked me to attend a Prayer Room Directors Meeting in Orlando. I did not want to go but we did. She told me when we got there that she was believeing I would hear something that would encourage me or give me direction or just a God thing for my life. I did and thus brings the release of everyone from doing anything else with the plants. No I am not quiting. I will continue to learn thoroughly. The speaker while waiting on people to open their Bibles said that too many Christians are chugging down the milk of the word and never get to the meat of the word. My inner man was stirred immediately with that's what I had done with Galatians 6:9,10 on Friday. I had chugged it down and moved on to the next thing. I will spare you the details but I should not and do not want to be on milk. I want the meat of the word and that translates into learning more thoroughly for me.

I came in this morning and asked God for a confirming word to my thoughts. I played roullett and opened my Bible to Hebrews 5 and verse 13 was already circled. For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness, that is, of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought and action, for he is a mere infant not able to talk yet! But solid food is for full grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to the divine or human law.

He also said that we need to admit that we don't believe before we can believe. I touched on this briefly in a previous blog but I guess forgot to admit it. If I truely believed I would not be uneasy, anxious or worried or have soulish days. Maybe a moment or two but not days. So I admit that I don't really believe. I can't promise to finish in the time frame some are expecting. For me I must stick with it til I chew these verses enough to get all the flavor they hold. Jesus repeats His thoughts too many times for me to give it a lick and a prayer and call it done.

APPLICATION- Say Goodby to your plants and we'll plant them in one of the planter boxes so that they remain as part of the story of Onething.

It's All About Relationship #25

Well it's Friday. We're at verse 31 which is a repeat of verse 25 and actually of all the verses in between. Jesus just keeps saying the same thing over and over as though I have not gotten it. And He is rightly so. I find myself today not worried nor anxious and not even uneasy but definately something. I have identified these types of days as soulish days. They are days when I am quiet and would appear to most as being wiped out or any of the above three terms I have already used. It is true that my mind, my will and my emotions are trying to lead me in a direction other than where my spirit has me. My mind wants me to think on things which are not edifying, uplifting and certainly not of good report. My will is very anxious to join in with my mind. And as for my emotions they have some serious thoughts of their own.

But for the Spirit I don't know what I would do with this day. I am reminded of the following words from Galatians 6:9,10 And let us/Ed not lose heart and grow weary and faint IN ACTING NOBLY AND DOING RIGHT, for in due time and at the APPOINTED season we/Ed shall reap, IF we/Ed do/does not loosen and relax ourhis courage and faint.

It's more of "LOOK" at the birds, the lillies and the grass. It's more learning thoroughly. And verse ten is more detail about how to apply this word to my life. You have to love it when God gives you the cure for what's ailing you.

Galatians 6:10 So then, as occassion and opportunity open to us, let us/Ed do good (morally) to ALL people (not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage). Ed/BE mindful to BE a blessing, ESPECIALLY to those of the household of faith - those who belong to God's family with you/ED, the believers.

And there you have it. Take one dose of this and Ed... you'll be fine because I say so! Just be still and Know!

APPLICATION - I only know what God has for me today so I have nothing to share. Do with todays blog as you will and with your plant as you will also. The best I can offer you and your plants today are for you both to be blessed.

It's All About Relationship #24

Matthew 6:30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you men of little faith?

Now I am fully aware that many do not care for the Message translation but I must use it here because it says it......

Matthew 6:30-33 (The Message)

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

The first word... "if" is a key word. You must resolve the if before the rest has any signifigance. Of course that's my opinion. I must become convinced that the "If" is a for sure or I can't do the rest. This is why we have spent 22 days looking at birds and plants. It's why I carried my plant and why you carry your plants. It is to learn thoroughly... thus resolving the "If."

Then the words, "most of which are never seen" caught my attention. I drive 20 miles a day to Onething and 20 mile back home. This morning was the first time I noticed a bird flying overhead with this huge branch in its mouth. The branch was at least twice the length of the bird and it had many off shoots as well amking it larger than the bird in all ways. I found myself captivated by what I was seeing. It appeared that he was struggling to stay aloft but since I don't read bird minds I can't say that for sure and actually he did not seem very willing to let his prize branch go. If that bird was me I'd have let the branch go and gone to look for a more managable find. That then made me think of how many things I let go. I did not like the first thoughts because they were all God things that I have abandoned. Some because they were bigger than what I thought I could manage. Some because I was..... well you can finish that line with way to many scenerios. I still have some distance to go in resolving the if and I want to thank all of you for walking that road with me.

APPLICATION - Just SELAH (pause and think on this). The benefit.... You may choose anything you want. Just give me a verse for your request.

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you will walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as unwise and witless, but as wise, sensible, inteligent people; Making the very most of the time - buying up each opportunity - because the days are evil.

It's All About Relationship #23

It is all about relationship!!!! Relationship is what we should all be doing. In every deed and word we speak it should be about relationship. Relationship is why I'm learning thoroughly Matthew 6:25-34. People are what cause me to be uneasy, anxious or worry. I'm not saying that it's right just that it is. And thruth be told I'm sure I have or do cause some people to be uneasy, anxious or worried and maybe worse. It is not usually my intent so I come by it naturally. I don't even have to work at it in either case of causing it or living in it. Anyway the following is why Ann Marie and I do our part at Onething Prayer Center.

Good News! There was a miracle at One Thing just now on Sat. night.

Thought you might like to know about it. 8-)I'll try to make the story as short and to the point as possible but: We already basically closed up and ready to leave when God told Beth to go over to the kids room/lobby and look outside. She walked over and saw a drunk woman staggering down the hallway there. So then Beth went and got Andrea (20 yrs. old) and said: "Lets go pray for that woman" Andrea was shocked to suddenly recognize the girl as a friend she had known a couple years back...but never seen her like this. When Beth engaged her the girl was in desperate shape...covered in urine and crying and begging Beth for help. She kept saying over and over "Please Help Me!" At first we thought she was saying Po-lice, or call the police. We did not know if she had been attacked or what. They got her safely into the prayer center and everyone began to pray for her. We got towels for her to sit on and a bucket in case she threw up. She was an emotional wreck, just freaking out and totally desperate. Some of our folks were tearing up while praying. Very traumatic. She would cling to Beth desperately for a couple minutes, then suddenly try to claw her or punch her, then cling to her again. One of our ladies, Elsa, knew the girl's mother Colleen and called her up to let her know we had found her daughter. Little did we know, Colleen had been at home praying with another Christian woman AT THAT MOMENT that God would send her daughter to a place where she could be protected by the right people. Colleen knew that something was urgently wrong because her daughter had found out her her boy friend in Iraq had rejected her and then she had disappeared that night. At the same time, I was just outside the church front door to stand guard for this girl. A couple of our men did the same. There were a couple bad looking young men who kept passing by the door looking for a girl, with beer in their hands and partially drunk. I think they may have spotted her earlier and had plans of their own. So good thing Beth & Andrea had thought to get her into the safety of the church. I even closed the blinds, which we usually leave open when the lights are on. The girl's family live off of Valrico Road. Why did she happen to choose this bar to drink at, wander down the back of the strip center all the way to us and cross up through our hallway, and Beth happen to look out the glass doors at just the right time? And as her family are praying intensely for her, she falls into our lap, where our ladies know of her and know how to reach her family by cell.

We happened to be having church Saturday night, and seem to be sitting around a little late that night before going home. The odds are amazing, except for God. He brought her right to us when she could have gone up a different hall, at a different time, and we would never have known. We still shudder to think of the danger she was in and how close she came to something really bad happening to her. Many of us just had to wonder, what if this was our daughter out in the world like this, in this condition, all by herself? I have left out many many more details...but God was certainly working this one out. What are the odds??? Just thought you might like to know that your prayer center became a pretty important place two nights ago for a particular young girl and her family. Because you planted roots there and established a physical place for God, we were able to be Jesus' hands, face and feet; to be there at the most crucial moment for this family. Her dark, lonely & desperate night could have turned a lot darker except that God was watching over and used your sanctuary as just that -- a safe place -- as a safe haven of love and protection during her dark hour.

APPLICATION - Give God some praise and pick any onetime benefit you would like for use today!

It's All About Relationship #22

Consider the Lilies of the field.... Consider the Lilies of the field... Well our plants are no longer of the field and the one Lille is no longer of the field. Is there some significance to this? Let me just throw out some possibilities.

1. When the plants were in the field who was responsible for them? Who watered them? Who fertilized them? Who took care of their every need? The plants natural setting has been changed and thus so has the caretaker. Right?

2. Who is "paying the price" for their survival? Hint... Who paid the price for us, so that we don't have to worry?

For all of you who forget your plants here and there. I did the same thing on several occasions. The lessons I was to learn that I did and still do the same thing to God. I am overtaken with day to day activities (some that have no long term benefits) and I forget what is most important which is my personal, intimate relationship with God. The experiences from my plant are to many to mention but the one that sticks with me is this. I must admit that when I would leave my plant I would miss it tremendously, it would haunt me that I had been so forgetful. I felt as though I had abandoned this helpless little plant which was very dependant on me for it's survival. I can't say even now, that it is the same when I leave God out of my day. Yes it still happens but I am still pressing in because I am His child, a joint heir, and the apple of His eye. Sorry Father!

APPLICATION - Just share your findings or thoughts by sharing with someone else and then commenting on the blog and get a watering for your precious (to some of you) plant.

It's All About Relationship #21

I said I was not going to blog today but what I meant was that there would be no additional Application. I want to preface todays blog by saying that I found this by accident... on the internet and it fit very nicely with what we have been talking about but I am not endorsing or recommending this blogger in any way shape or form. Our views of christianity at the very foundation differ greatly based on reading his other material. That being said I found this one writing to be the only usable one. I guess this comes from my belief and conviction that every person and everything in my life has within it valuable information. I just have to be still long enough to find it. Blessings and have a God filled weekend!

The Elephant and the Fly
By Remez Sasson

A disciple and his teacher were walking through the forest. The disciple was disturbed by the fact that his mind was in constant unrest.
He asked his teacher: "Why most people's minds are restless, and only a few possess a calm mind? What can one do to still the mind?"
The teacher looked at the disciple, smiled and said:"I will tell you a story. An elephant was standing and picking leaves from a tree. A small fly came, flying and buzzing near his ear. The elephant waved it away with his long ears. Then the fly came again, and the elephant waved it away once more".
This was repeated several times. Then the elephant asked the fly:"Why are you so restless and noisy? Why can't you stay for a while in one place?"
The fly answered: "I am attracted to whatever I see, hear or smell. My five senses pull me constantly in all directions and I cannot resist them. What is your secret? How can you stay so calm and still?"
The elephant stopped eating and said:"My five senses do not rule my attention. Whatever I do, I get immersed in it. Now that I am eating, I am completely immersed in eating. In this way I can enjoy my food and chew it better. I rule and control my attention, and not the other way around."
Upon hearing these words, the disciple's eyes opened wide and a smile appeared on his face. He looked at his teacher and said:"I understand! If my five senses are in control of my mind and attention, then my mind is in constant unrest. If I am in charge of my five senses and attention, then my mind becomes calm".
"Yes, that's right", answered the teacher, " The mind is restless and goes wherever the attention is. Control your attention, and you control your mind".

It's All About Relationship #20

It's the half way point in our learning thoroughly Matthew 6:25-34 and carrying our plants as well. I am a big fan of Jesus teaching style. Why? Because He never just says something once. He usually says it three times using three different examples or ways of saying it. Matthew 6 is no different. First the Birds and now the Lilies. And on this second example he goes a little bit further in explanation for those of us who didn't get all we needed from the first time He said it.

INFORMATION -

Matthew 6:28, 29 - And which of you be anxious and worry about clothes? Consider the Lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; (Read the comments from yesterday from Hayley regading toiling or spinning). Yet I tell you, even solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.

MEDITATION -

So here's the deal. In order to understand the fullness of what He's saying I would have to look at Solomon. What was his magnifigance, excellence, dignity and grace? What does dignity and grace have to do with Lilies and birds? Learning thoroughly!

APPLICATION - This is a little bigger application than the norm so I will not be blogging tomorrow. I am leaving plenty of time for everyone to catch up if they need to and if not for some well deserved rest. Things to meditate on are Solomon's magnifigance, his excellence, his dignity and his grace. All the while keeping in mind the lilies of the field and how they grow. The benefit for this application is light for your plants for the remainder of this study. There will be a bonus available for the one who best captures this application. That doesn't mean in quantity of words or elegance in writing skills. It will be given based on the expression of the heart.

It's All About Relationship #19

INFORMATION -
Matthew 6:28 And why should you..... be anxious about your clothes? That's right why should you? Aren't we supposed to look good for Jesus? How about pressing toward the high mark of fashion? Just kidding. Jesus says, "consider the lilies of the field. Here we go again, looking at something. Look at the lilies of the field. I will spare you by not repeating all the stuff we have already written about regarding "LOOKING". You can go back and refresh your thoughts on your own.

There is additional instruction this time. Consider/look at the lilies of the field A...N...D.... learn a little bit how they grow; they neither toil or spin. NOT!!!! Learn thoroughly! And there you have it.

Learn - to acquire knowledge of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience: to learn, to become informed of or acquainted with; ascertain: to learn the truth, to memorize, to gain (a habit, mannerism, etc.) by experience, exposure to example, or the like; acquire

Thoroughly - executed without negligence or omissions: a thorough search, complete, extremely attentive to accuracy and detail, painstaking, having full command or mastery.

Yes.... there you have it! My first thought is that I will never read another word in the Bible or anywhere else. I will now spend the rest of my days watching birds of the air and plants of the field, attempting to learn thoroughly what it is they do or better yet what they do not do.

MEDITATION -
The birds neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet... my heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Some might say that they are lazy and what about the verse in Proverbs that says no work no eat. The lilies neither toil nor spin? Ask quickly as I wrote this I was drawn back to the words, "Are you not worth more than they?"

APPLICATION -
I can not come up with anything better than for us to just do what Jesus said. Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow. What's that look like? It will probably be different for each one of us and that's why comments may be important for others to read. You have Websters definition of learn and thoroughly which is probably the more difficult of the two words. This is now a matter for you and God. Learn... THOROUGHLY!

It's All About Relationship #18

Matthew 6:27 And which of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure to his stature or to the span of his life.

When you read from verse 25 on and all in conjunction with the remaining verses these words seem to me to be a little sarcastic? I am quite aware that I am insinuating that Jesus is being sarcastic. Jesus knows the answer yet asks the question anyway. And when confronted we would all answer the question correctly by saying, "Not me!" A great example of us knowing the answer or the truth but until confronted we do everything we know not to do. Uneasy, anxious and worry being prime examples.

Psalm 39:5-7 Behold, You have made my days as short as handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing is as nothing in Your sight. Truely every man at his best is merely a breath! Selah [pause, and think calmly of that]! Surely every man walks to and fro like a shadow in a pantomime; surely for futility and emptiness they are in turmoil; each one heaps up riches, not knowing who will gather them. And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in you.

There is one word that stands out to me in this verse. Expectation! Singular! One hope and one expectation and they are both in the Lord and come out of waiting.

James 4:13,14 Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money. Yet you do not know the least thing about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are really but a wisp of vapor-a puff of smoke, a mist that is visible for a little while and then disappears into thin air.

It's true I don't know with any certainty what will happen tomorrow. I work very hard at living in the today and experience some success and some failure. For me I can get so caught up in the future that I miss opportunities today. They fly right by me and go unnoticed until I am reviewing my day as I lay my head on the pillow. I may only be a wisp of vapor-a puff of smoke, a mist that is invisible, but my desire is for that wisp, vapor or mist to be completely filled with Him.
That puff of smoke, that mist of vapor a sweet smelling aroma to Him and those around me.

I Corinthians 7:31, 32a And those who deal with this world - over-using the enjoyments of this life - let them live as though they were not absorbed by it, and as if they had no dealings with it. For the outward form of this world - the present world order - is passing away. My desire is to have you free from all anxiety and distressing care.

And my desire is to be free from all anxiety and distressing care.

APPLICATION - Take a moment today and consider if anything has changed since becoming acutely aware of Matthew 6:25-27 and the addition of a plant to your life.

It's All About Relationship #17

No comments from Friday regarding the application. So unless you were given light through some other application, your plant should be in a dark bag which would keep you from water, misting, food etc..

Here are my closing thoughts on Matthew 6:26.

That’s For The Birds....Or Is It?

Fact: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following. By flying in a formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the bird flew alone.

Application: People who share a common direction and sense of comununity can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Acts 2:1. 42,46,47 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of: bread, and in prayers. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Fact: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.

Application: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go. This means we must be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.

Galatians 6:2,10 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Fact: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

Application: It pays to take turns doing hard tasks and sharing leadership with people like the geese. We are interdependent on each other.

II Corinthians 8:13, 14 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality, that at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that at their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that their maybe equality.

Fact: The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Application: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging and not something else.
Hebrews 10:24, 25 And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up stimulate and incite to love and helpful deeds and noble activities; Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together as believers, as is the habit of some people, but admonishing, warning, urging, and encouraging one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

Fact: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own with another formation, or catch up with the flock.

Application: If we have the sense of a goose, we too will stand by each other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong.

I Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does notboast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it records no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects. always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE NEVER FAILS!

Now it appears to me that these birds trust! I think I'll join a flock.

It's All About Relationship #16

As I meditated all day yesterday I was awakened to just how carefully God is listening. I'll just share a couple of instances. The first is as soon as I hit the send button I recieved an email with some verses from the book of James. As is my policy I read up and down from the sent verses to make sure they are in context. That's when James 5:7-11 spoke to me, which by the way were not the exact verses sent. I will share my in white as I go through it.

James 5:7 So be patient, (Again with the patient thing!) brethren, (Ed) [as you wait] (I have really grown to love that word wait.) (SO how long this time?) till the coming of the Lord. (That's a long time!) See how the farmer waits expectantly (I can do that for a day or a week and maybe even a month and then that gets difficult) for the precious harvest (Ahhh yes the precious harvest.) from the land. [See how] (See how... is that anything like "LOOK" how?) he keeps up his patient [vigil] (Vigil... probably need to go to Webster to get a closer LOOK at what that word really means.) over it (IT... whatever it is) until it receives the early and late rains (early and late). So you also must (not an option) be patient. (So help me out here God.) (okay Ed.) Establish your hearts [strengthen and confirm them in the final certainty], (So in otherwards BE STILL AND KNOW!) for the coming of the Lord is very near. Do not complain, (DO NOT COMPLAIN! I just needed to here it again.) brethren, against one another, so that you [yourselves] may not be judged.

VIGIL- a devotional watching, or keeping awake, during the customary hours of sleep.

The second instance was that from the early morning hours a particular person was on my mind. In fact I was seeing some things that were going to take place between this person, God, and myself. All day long the person remained in the front of my thoughts. I prayer in the Spirit all day for him, not really knowing any specifics. Later that day this person showed up which is not the norm for him. That still did not give me any insight as to why he was in my head for the entire day. I decided there was only one thing left to do. I found a way to lay hands on him without him having any idea as to what I was doing. I didn't know what I was doing so I couldn't have told him anyway.

Many would say that both are just coincidence.... but I have a difficult time with that. Regardless, coincidence or divine appointments, both brought me to a place of more meditation that I would not have done otherwise.

Application - This weekend hold a patient vigil! And recieve the light or a watering that is so desperately needed.

It's All About Relationship #15

INFORMATION -
Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, and about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater in quality than food, and the body far above and more excellent than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth more than they?

Matthew 6:25-26

MEDITATION - Today I am meditating on the last 7 words of these two verses. ARE YOU NOT WORTH MORE THAN THEY? The nagging question is, do I believe that. The reality is that God is not dependent on my believing it or not for the truth of it to exist. So in short it makes no difference to Him if I believe it or not with the exception that it probably makes Him sad if I don't. If I am not living in the fullness or the satisfaction that my heavenly Father keeps feeding me, then I will spend some days being very hungry and unsatisfied.

WORTH - good or important enough, having a value of, excellence of character, usefulness or importance, or for a purpose.

Am I good enough or important enough to God? Do I have value to God? Do I have excellence of character in Gods eyes? Is there a usefulness God sees in my life? Purpose... does God really have a purpose for my life?

I wonder what it would take for me to be completely sold out to that belief? Is not Ed's life greater than? Is not Ed's life worth more than they?

APPLICATION - Today consider these words and ask yourself "ARE YOU NOT WORTH MORE THAN THEY?

It's All About Relationship #14

As I "MEDITATED" on yesterdays blog I realize that there can not be any relationship without some form of communication. Perhaps communication is relationship at some level. The more we communicate about ourselves the more intimate the relationship. The more general the communication the more casual the relationship. My reason for blogging is to communicate more intimately the things going on in my life. Not just spiritual, but mental, physical, and emotional.

Perhaps I'm a looney bird? As I looked at the birds I saw many of their homes. Homes being nests. What I noticed about their homes/nests was that there are no mansions. They are only single rooms barely big enough for one bird let alone the entire family. Chirpping chicks and all. Then I noticed that no two nests are the same and that's because there are no nest blue prints. They build with whatever they can scavage and you don't see another bird watching another bird building and saying to themselves, "I like that, I think I'll build one just like it." I saw small nests and huge nests again only in proportion to the size of the bird. One nest had what looked like toilet paper woven into the sides. I wonder where that's been? Then I began to think about where these nests are. Not one of them was on the ground. Only penthouse views. I also saw a squirrel sitting in a nest? What's that all about?

I saw birds playing or perhaps fighting with one another. Then there are the ones that just perch themselves on a phone line and stare at all of us. I'd like to give them a penny for their thoughts. I realized that birds just like humans leave a lot of liter behind. And in their everyday lives they spend little if any time thinking about the consequences of pooping where ever and when ever they want. No consideration for a fresh car wash. No concept of just how much work goes into washing a car in 90 degree heat.

I saw a bird fly straight into a window and fall to the ground. It reminded me of some people I know. Not to worry though it eventually got up and flew away. So I wonder if he'll ever do that again or does it only take once for a bird to get it? Lastly are the birds that taunt Tinkerbell our dog. Actually they get a rise out of me as well. Last night I thought I was in a remake of a very old movie called The Birds. On my roof which has several peaks, sat a bird. No.... I mean a bird sat on every peak. Then I noticed that on every light post within my view there was a bird. It occurred to me that they just might be planning an all out attach. It was very strange in light of this application. There were probaby 15 to 20 birds just starring at us. I tried to throw some bark at one of them but they were unmovable. Fortunately Tinkerbell completed her task before I made this into a full scale case of anxiousness and worry.

There is so much more but I'll stop here. I think I just figured out what I'm really trying to point out. Maybe I have communicated to much of the application portion of this blog and I should have been stressing the meditation. Information alone misses the point all to often as does application. But meditation brings the two together. I had to take the time to meditate on the birds and the information that my eyes were seeing. I had to let my mind imagine what the story could be if I just spent a few moments of what a friend calls porch time. The simple sight of a bird flying has been the material for many books. How old is he? Is he traveling alone? Does he have any family?Where is he going? Where did he come from? What hair raising circumstances has he faced along the journey? How many times has he narrowly escaped death by some wild stray cat?

In conclusion... As far as I can tell birds put no thought into anything. They do what they do out of instinct. It's there character and nature to build high up. It's within them to be very aware of cats and other animals that may enjoy them as a meal. They give no thought to anything as they were not created with that ability. They live each day without giving thought to tomorrow. They do what they were created to do. Nothing more and nothing less. This leaves me with the question... why can't I do just that. Do what I was created to do. Nothing more and nothing less. Maybe because I don't have enough "Porch time."

Application - Porch Time/Meditation

How do you keep a fish from smelling? Everyone who answered this question gave just one choice. How about one of these options. Cook it as soon as you catch it. Wrap it in paper. Freeze it. Leave it in water. Keep a cat around. Switch to chicken. Burn incense. Cut its nose off.

The answers to yesterdays Bonus Application are H,C,J,I,G,D,E,A,F,B

It's All About Relationship #13

I'm going to chase another rabbit and get off track for a day. I am sure it must be my error in communication regarding some of the applications. We are spending to much time on the plant itself and not enough at the lessons  of the plant which are brought about by the Word we're "LOOKING" at. Please allow me to recall some training material that I've done in the past,

When I communicate I must remember that, it takes two! Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it’s the only one you have. These examples I hope will set me straight.

First grade assignment. The instructions said: “ On this sheet of paper, you will find an outline of a house, trees, flowers, clouds, and sky. Please color each with the appropriate colors. One of the students, put a lot of work into her drawing. When she got it back, she was surprised to find a big black ”X” on it.. She asked the teacher for an explanation. “I gave you an “X” because you didn’t follow instructions. Grass is green, not gray. The sky is blue not yellow as you have drawn it. Why didn’t you use the normal colors? Because that’s how it looks to me when I get up early to watch the sunrise.

Who was right? There is not always one right answer.

Ask for what you want or settle for what you get.

Count Basie told a nightclub owner that he would not return until he fixed the piano. A month later Basie got a call telling him that everything had been fixed. When he arrived he was very angry to find that the piano was still out of tune. He confronted the club owner with “You said you fixed it!” to which the club owner responded, “I had it painted.”

Who was right? The first answer is not always the right answer.

Asking the wrong question will get me the wrong answer. What am Ireally looking for when I'm communicating?

What is the answer? What does this mean? What is the result? These questions get me only one answer.

Changing the question gets me choices. It gets me deeper thoughts. People will think more before answering.

What are the possible answers? What could this possibly mean? What are the possible results?

If an architect looks at an opening between two rooms and asks “what type of door should I use to connect these two rooms. He will design a door. If an architect looks at an opening between two rooms and asks “what type of passageway should I use to connect these two rooms. He may get a curtain, a hallway, a courtyard.

We must be on the same page when communicating to others.

A deadly plague appeared in a small town in Luthuania. As soon as a person got the plague it put them into a death like comma. Most died within a day. On several occasions a person would recover and come back to live a full life. This was the eighteenth century so technology was limited as to determining death. One day they discovered a person was buried alive and so the called a town meeting. They decided for two committies to provide a solution to the problem.

The first group asked the question what should we do if we bury someone alive? They decided that they would put food and water into every casket and they would put an air hole from the casket up to the earth’s surface. Expensive but worthwhile if it saved peoples lives.

The second group facing the same challenge asked themselves “How can we make sure everyone we bury is dead?” They decided that every coffin would have a 12 inch stake attached to the lid of the coffin directly over the persons heart. When the lid was closed there would be no doubt about if the person was dead. Much less expensive!

The results I get often depend on the instructions I give. (the criteria for this is that you are the right person to communicate to in the first place.) With that said then what is communicated becomes the issue.

APPLICATION - Exercise: How do you keep a fish from smelling?

Sometimes communication is not so obvious.

BONUS APPLICATION - Connect the metaphor on the top list with the idea it represents on the bottom list.

1. A constant dripping on a rainy day.

2. A cool day in the hot summertime.
3. Chewing with a sore tooth.
4. A cloud blowing over the desert without dropping any rain.
5. A city with broken down walls.
6. Yanking a dog’s ears.
7. Sparks fly when iron strikes iron.
8. Honey.
9. Polluting a stream.
10. A dog returns to his vomit.


                                                                          

A. Kind words

B. A fool that repeats his folly

C. A faithful employee

D. Interfering in an argument that isn’t your business.

E. A stimulating friendly discussion

F. A good man who compromises with a wicked one.

G. A man without self-control

H. A cranky woman

I. A person who doesn’t give the gift he promised.

J. Confiding in an unreliable person

                                                                                                                      

It's All About Relationship #12

INFORMATION - Matthew 6:26 LOOK! at the birds of the air; (and pay attention to this) they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and YET your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are YOU not worth more than they?

I can see it now. Everybody stopped what they were doing and immediately began looking up for birds. Well if that was not the case then they must have closed their eyes and imagined watching birds. I wonder how many that it just went in one ear and out the other? For how many was it so simple to that they paid it no mind. Oh, and how many ignored it because it wasn't DEEP enough?

MEDITATION - I was surprised by these seemingly simple words and what they revealed to me and about me. Birds? If Jesus is telling us what they do not do then what exactly does a bird do?

And what a great place for an application. At first I really thought that a birds life was realtively easy. After two days of doing what Jesus said and actually looking (directing my eyes in order to see, directing my attention mentally upon birds) I found some things about a birds life that I hadn't considered. With my new found knowledge I don't find it easy by any means.

APPLICATION - On Saturday, Sunday and Monday observe the birds. Become a bird watcher. Write down a short description of the various birds you see and in just a few words what did you observe about them. And as always should anything be revealed to you that has life application please share it for some great rewards!

It's All About Relationship #11

Okay..........! No more information today! Only Meditation and application.

Meditation is to reread yesterday and see if there is more to it than you first thought. Sometimes reading blogs can become routine and this we miss things. Meditation: continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation.

Application - Now that you have your list I want you to take a piece of paper and draw lkines down it to make four columns. Title the first FOOD. Title the second Drink. Title the third Clothes. And title the fourth Greater Than. You guessed it! Take your list from yesterday or whatever day it is that you read it and did it and put each item in it's proper column. Now I know there is at least one of you who will say that not every item fits. Correct but wrong. Look deeper as to why each item is on your list? Example: you saw a woman crying. Why did you notice? Was she wearing something that caught your attention? If so it goes under clothes. Did you notice her because she was someone you knew and you went to her and spoke to her to offer comfort? That would be Greater Than. You're on the honor system so don't try to be more spiritual than you are. There are no right answers or wrong answers. Don't worry (ha, ha) about what is revealed. This was extremely enlightening for me and as I am doing it again now it is still extremely enlightening to me. I will reveal my findings in a later blog as I don't want to influence the results of your findings. No I don't want you to redo the application with this new information in mind. Use what you have. Remember I don't have all the answers. My assignment is to stir your hearts to go and find your own answers.

PS. This is a first. For those who are asking God to open or close your eyes you need to reread yesterdays blog and that actual verse (Matthew 6:26 first word) two or three more times. GOD WILL NOT AND CAN NOT DO WHAT HE HAS ASSIGNED US TO DO. Jesus is telling us to LOOK not that He will make or cause us to LOOK. Perhaps that's why so many people are wishing and waiting to find God's will for their lives. They want God to do everything. Just an observation. And I have not forgotten about rewards. Everyone who has done this may mist their plant within 24 hours of your post.

It's All About Relationship #10

Perhaps today is the day to explain about the rewards and references to plants. Several people have been given the assignment of carrying around a small potted plant wherever they go. This is for at least 40 days so they will be doing it til approximately October 1st. Matthew 6:25-31 explains why the plant. I love illustrations that I can see so that translates into people whom I am sharing with having to do something. This is why the plant people get rewards for doing the applications at the end of each blog. They are becoming very familiar with what their plant needs, likes, and dislikes. They are getting to know the character and nature of their plant. One plant comes to mind where the person earned food for their plant Palm.Bee. Sounds like that would be a good thing? It would appear as though it may have been given a little to much to eat. What was once a very full and bushy plant is now a little thin and skimpy.

Anyone can feel free to join in with us at any time. Let me caution you though, it's not for the faint of heart. I suggest you read all the blogs thus far and even look at the affiliated ones before you decide. If you are up for it just respond to this blog and I will bring you up to speed with more detail.

Now we're going to see how Jesus says we can stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried.

Verse 26- LOOK!

Here's how Webster defines the word Look - Direct ones eyes in order to see, direct ones attention mentally upon something.

Jesus says, in order for you to be able to do what I have instructed you to do, I need YOU, to redirect your eyes, your attention, your mind on something other than what they have been focused on. Did you get the YOU part. Nobody can do this other than YOU. God can not and will not do our part. Your eyes belong to you and they have free will along with all your other parts. So for me it is a matter of choice as to what I LOOK at. Remember the very first lines of these verses. Therefore I say to YOU! YOU LOOK! If I had looked a few days ago I would have seen that the speed limit sign was changed. But since I drive that way at least twice a day I had become comfortable in not looking. I missed the opprtunity to see something new which by the way would have been to my benefit. How many other things am I missing because I am comfortable.

Application - At the end of today take a moment to make a written list of what you saw today. Single words not paragraphs. Off the top of your head not well thought out responses. In otherwards short!

It's All About Relationship #9

Did you miss me yesterday? It was another test of my understanding what it is that God has been teaching me. My computer was infested with a virus or should I say viruses. I am so careful to not open anything that I do not know yet almost a full 24 hours later I am just coming back online. It was during my search for a site called covenant eyes that I caught the disease. I was trying to help someone. Honestly don't the people who create and spread these things have a life. What joy can come from making others miserable? I watched a moivie this weekend and there was a line in it that made the whole movie worth while. "Failure is an absolute but don't make it a habit." My mind immediately said, "Uneasy, anxious and worry are absolutes but don't make them a habit."

I am led to share something that seems to be off the beaten path.

Romans 10:21 But of Israel he says, All day long I have stretched My hands to a people unyielding and disobedient and self willed to a fault finding contrary and contradicting people.

I sure hope that's not me? I'm really trying to stay out of God's way here at the center. So I think I am yielding? There is a push right now to take on a major project and honestly I'm not interested but I am yielding to those that seem to be, to at least investigate the possibility. Disobedient? I think at this moment I am being obedient to everything that I'm aware of? Self willed? I don't want to be prideful but so far these are things I work on everyday with great effort and much diligence. Fault finding? Okay not to bad 1 bad one out of 6? Fault finding just seems to creep in. I'm working on it but just not as dilegently as the others. Contradicting? That is one thing I hate about people and specifically myself. So 2 out of 6. See, I hate when God sends these words that appear to be ( in my mind) for those reading this blog or other things that I write or share with people, because ultimately they are not for anyone but me. And that is the case today so I have been called out from the crowd and indentified by my actions. As if that isn't enough the chapter is not just one verse.

Verse 2 - I bear them witness that they have a certain zeal and enthusiasm for God, BUT it is not enlightened and according to correct and vital knowledge.

This says to me that there is something missing from my certain zeal and enthusiasm for God. In fact it would appear that there could be something incorrect which is vital to the knowledge I currently have. This comes as no surprise as I don't consider myself as knowing it all. In fact I know very little. My knowledge is from life experiences. Each day of life experience draws me deeper into relationship with God. And out of that revelation of His love for me I hope to have and I believe will have a correct response. It is only when I lose focus of that love that my mouth or my actions begin have their way and thus I end up where I don't want to go.

Verse 3 - For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes, which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought and deed, and seeking to establish a righteousness of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness.

Righteousness or right standing with God is defined by Him. I think to often I have tried to define what it should look like or sound like. Reason being is that my standards may be just a little lower than mine. Each person's relationship with God is personal and intimate. Righteousness is personal and intimate as well so I must stop comparing myself to anyone else regarding my success or failure.

Application - I have been instructed to leave the application to each of you as it is personal and intimate in nature but helpful and needful for others to find their way.