The Standard

I was making my long trek back home after a visit with my family. I was attempting to do the speed limit and not speed. That was a very challenging task, not that I am a crazy driver but I typically do the 5-10 mph over. At times I would be driving and a few people would pass me and I wouldn't pay much attention. There were other times though that it seemed everyone had passed me and I began to question if I had missed a speed limit sign with a higher limit. I began judging the speed of the cars around me as an accurate reflection of the speed I should be going. At that point I began to anxiously look for a speed limit sign. Of course if would take forever for one to appear, but the funny thing was that when they did appear, I was doing the correct speed. This happened a couple of times and the Lord spoke to my heart about something. You see in life I have recently felt like I am living in two totally different worlds. This is a hard thing to do. I have my world that is all about teaching, politics of education,politics in general, societies definition of tolerance, and a very skewed sense of right and wrong. When I am in this world it is easy for me to just keep doing life as if everything is fine and it is going to continue like this forever. I fall into this trap of allowing myself to blend into this thinking and it is easy, for it is all around me. Then reality hits when I am around other believers who are reading the signs of the times according to scripture and trying to prepare for the judgment that we have brought on ourselves. Here where the heartbeat is crying out for mercy, in repentance for the sins of abortion, human trafficking, self centeredness, and so much more. Here where there is a sense of urgency for time is short to prepare and to reach people. Here where the true reality is so very present. In the midst of this world I remember what my standard is to know if I am "doing the right speed", the Word of God. I have to stop allowing the world that is spinning around me, flying by me, and having a party make me think or feel what I am doing is wrong or crazy and just remember my source and guide is never wrong and never changes.

Entertainment, fame, money, and pleasure

In America we have people throwing cash registers because their burgers weren't made right. In America we have people suing others because they were irresponsible for their own behavior or did not look out for their own children. In America criminals have rights and victims do not. In America if you work hard the government takes away your money to give it to those who don't want to work. In America lifestyle, status, money and possessions are more valuable than an unborn child. In America you can find a church on every corner, but God is nowhere to be found in them. We complain about everything and are thankful for nothing. We expect everything to be given to us and refuse to give anything to others. In America we have no moral code and blame the consequences for our sins on the prejudice of others.
While all this is going on human beings are being trafficked for the pleasures of men, children are being raped and murdered, young boys are being forced into becoming child soldiers, nations are starving, continents are being ravished by disease and America does nothing. And that is just in it's churches.
America has had its fun and soon the bill for it will come. What will we do when we can't pay it?

Interesting

"For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart." Ecc 5:20

While reading through the book of Ecclesiastes I found it quite depressing and negative. But in the midst found some very timely verses, one being the one above. The thought that I could not even think about what had, is, or will be happening in my life because God has filled my heart with so much gladness that is all I can think about. That is an incredible thought!

Just In Time - His Time

There are those times in your life when everything seems out of control and going the wrong way. In the midst of those times it is easy to forget that He is not only right there with you, but He also still has everything under control. That has happened to me the last few days. I knew He was in control but by outward environment was so crazy. Yet in the midst of it He sends me to the place He knows I need to go and speaks through people there the words I need to here. I love having a heavenly Father who loves me so much that he orchestrates everything for my best and to draw me to Him.

The So Great and The So Small

About a week ago I was in West Virginia looking for apartments. We drove through the mountains and were reminded how big our God really is. Semi's looked like toy cars next to these huge formations. The trees were gigantic making us feel like we had been shrunk down. All we could keep saying was wow. There just wasn't any other word. Then a song came on with these words, "Everything You hold in Your hand, yet you make time for me I can't understand." It seemed to put to words what we were feeling. I love it when pictures and songs come together to make something stick in your mind. It was something I will never forget. Thank you Father for the reminder of who You are and how much You love us.

My Spirit is Stirring

Just spent that last couple of hours reading George Muller of Bristol. My spirit is burning. I am going to share a little.

"Blessed are they who have thus learned to use the Key which gives free access, not only to the King's Treasurers, but to the King Himself!"

"And what revolutions in our own lives as believers might take place, if we should first put every notion of truth and custom of life to this one test of scripture authority, and then with the courage of conviction dare to do according to that word - counting no cost, but studying to show ourselves approved of God!"

"Experience confirmed them in the conviction that a life of trust forbids laying up treasures against unforeseen needs, since with God no emergency is unforeseen and no want unprovided for; and He may be as implicitly trusted for extraordinary needs as for our common daily bread."

"Unbelief makes God a liar and, worse still, a perjurer, for it accounts Him as not only false to His Word, but to His oath."

Growing Pains

God has been working so much. Cleaning, scraping, medicine, and bandaging. It is good, it is necessary, it is wanted. But it hurts. Oh, but I trust Him and love Him. I know that He loves me and loves being with me. He only does is for my good and will be best for me. I wouldn't dare take a step without holding His hand. Though I know at times I run before I think. But He always takes me back into His arms and tends to the wounds I have from running. It is tough struggling with the desire to run and be free and grown up, yet wanting to crawl up into His arms and hear His heart beat and fall asleep to the sound of His voice. I wouldn't be anywhere else. No matter the pain.