I've been sick with some seasonal "bug". I didn't want to go to the doctor, but I finally relented. I tried to rationalize that I could beat it with over the counter medication. Thankfully, I listened to my wife and mother and went to the doctor so I could get a shot of antibiotics.
As I was thinking about it, how often do I attempt to attack the symptoms rather than the source of the problem? I was trying to attack stuffiness with symptom meds rather than the source of the stuffiness with the antibiotics.
Just today as I was back at the doctor to have an MRI on my knee, I thought to myself, "its not that bad, I could make it with regular pain meds. Tough it out. I have good days and bad days, I'll be alright". I don't want to have surgery on it again, but if that is what is best for me long term, then I guess that is what I'll do.
Once again, I was going to attack the symptom, (pain), rather than the source (tear, scar tissue, etc...).
With that being said, how many times do we do this in our spiritual walk? Our marriage? Our relationships? Our jobs? How often do we try to throw a little spiritual medicine at the issue rather than address the real problem?
This type of action is crazy:
It's putting a band-aid on a problem that needs surgery.
It's trying to candy coat a rotten apple hoping that it will taste better.
It's putting a coat on inside rather than turning off the air conditioner.
It's putting more gas in our vehicle rather than fixing the fuel leak.
We should allow God to heal our wounds. We need healing for all of the hurts, pain, torment, disappointments, and character flaws that we possess. Choking the issues down or burying them will not heal the problem, but will only temporarily help the symptoms, its also going to cause more damage long term to both you and your loved ones.
Father I pray that You reveal to us the area's where we need healing. I pray that You will heal the hurts, imperfections, ailments, disease, anguish, and more from our lives. Please be the great physician that we need. Please give us the courage to take these steps, let us not be ashamed. Please heal the source and remove the symptoms. Thank you that our testimonies will be used to help others.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Dinner with God
A few months before Sarah & I got married, we bought our first house. On my move-in day, her family and mine began to bring my stuff and make this new house a home. Sarah even brought a few things of hers that she wanted to leave so she would have less stuff to bring after the wedding.
After a long day of carrying & lifting furniture, I had a silent house to myself. It was a weird feeling. I was 27 years old and had never lived away from home. I had traveled the world, but always came back home to my parents house. I say again, it was a weird feeling. I looked around and saw things that reminded me of home and of my fiancee, but it was a strange feeling. This was my new home.
After preparing a quick dinner, I sat down at the table, and for the first time in my life, I sat, as the man of my house, at my table. I took up the seat at the end of the table and something happened.
I broke. I wept and sobbed like I haven't done in a long time. Tears streaming down my face, I thanked God for His awesome provision for me. I felt so blessed, yet so unworthy. I didn't feel like I deserved a brand new house or a fiancee or anything else. I was overwhelmed at God's goodness and favor towards me.
In the midst of my thankfulness I pushed my plate over to the vacant spot at the table and said, "Here Jesus, you take this plate, I'll fix me another one". So I did, sitting down with my plate, less food on it than the first one, and ate my meal with Jesus. I wish I could say that He physically consumed the food like this story in the scriptures, but He didn't. Nevertheless, I had a pure, holy time of worship with the Lord that night.
I know in that moment, my act of worship and thankfulness was worth more than a thousand offerings. What came from my heart that day, the crying, sobbing, thankfulness, and more was pure, un-defiled worship. It was spontaneous and un-rehearsed.
Somehow, although He didn't eat the food, I know He liked it. Want to know an awesome part about eating with Jesus?
.
.
.
.
He always lets you eat His leftovers.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: How are you worshiping God? It doesn't have to be like I do, or how your parents do, or even like anyone else. How are you showing your love to God, our savior, creator, redeemer, friend, comforter, counselor, peace, hope, etc... In what ways are you showing your gratitude? Could God say today that "He/She worshiped me in "blank" manner today?
After a long day of carrying & lifting furniture, I had a silent house to myself. It was a weird feeling. I was 27 years old and had never lived away from home. I had traveled the world, but always came back home to my parents house. I say again, it was a weird feeling. I looked around and saw things that reminded me of home and of my fiancee, but it was a strange feeling. This was my new home.
After preparing a quick dinner, I sat down at the table, and for the first time in my life, I sat, as the man of my house, at my table. I took up the seat at the end of the table and something happened.
I broke. I wept and sobbed like I haven't done in a long time. Tears streaming down my face, I thanked God for His awesome provision for me. I felt so blessed, yet so unworthy. I didn't feel like I deserved a brand new house or a fiancee or anything else. I was overwhelmed at God's goodness and favor towards me.
In the midst of my thankfulness I pushed my plate over to the vacant spot at the table and said, "Here Jesus, you take this plate, I'll fix me another one". So I did, sitting down with my plate, less food on it than the first one, and ate my meal with Jesus. I wish I could say that He physically consumed the food like this story in the scriptures, but He didn't. Nevertheless, I had a pure, holy time of worship with the Lord that night.
I know in that moment, my act of worship and thankfulness was worth more than a thousand offerings. What came from my heart that day, the crying, sobbing, thankfulness, and more was pure, un-defiled worship. It was spontaneous and un-rehearsed.
Somehow, although He didn't eat the food, I know He liked it. Want to know an awesome part about eating with Jesus?
.
.
.
.
He always lets you eat His leftovers.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: How are you worshiping God? It doesn't have to be like I do, or how your parents do, or even like anyone else. How are you showing your love to God, our savior, creator, redeemer, friend, comforter, counselor, peace, hope, etc... In what ways are you showing your gratitude? Could God say today that "He/She worshiped me in "blank" manner today?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
God was in Alabama today
So a friend calls me today totally excited. This person was completely blown away by God's Faithfulness towards his family today. My friend had a need. He needed God to move on his behalf. What blows me away is that my friend put himself in a position to experience God. He trusted God. He waited on God. He believed in God. Remember, Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness. My friend knew that God would act on his behalf. My friend, father of two, knew, he could count on his Heavenly Father to meet his need just as much as his family counts on him.
What happened? My friend had a financial need. He checked the mailbox daily. He knew something was going to happen. Today, as he reached in, he found a random check from his insurance company. Some would see it as chance, luck, or a coincidence. He saw the answer to his prayers.
"For The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV
As I was speaking to him, I remembered a story I heard a preacher tell. He said "Someone once asked me, "Preacher, blessings seem to always be falling in your lap"". His reply was "I just try to put my lap where blessings are falling".
The moral of the story is that you need to put yourself in position to receive from God. Posture yourself in that manner. Wait on The Lord. Don't be foolish and blow all your money and wait for God to bail you out, but rather, be obedient. Stand on His word. Wait for Him.
Some people experience God. Sadly, others never experience Him move on their behalf. They hear about God, but He never becomes real to Him. Which do you want?
What happened? My friend had a financial need. He checked the mailbox daily. He knew something was going to happen. Today, as he reached in, he found a random check from his insurance company. Some would see it as chance, luck, or a coincidence. He saw the answer to his prayers.
"For The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV
As I was speaking to him, I remembered a story I heard a preacher tell. He said "Someone once asked me, "Preacher, blessings seem to always be falling in your lap"". His reply was "I just try to put my lap where blessings are falling".
The moral of the story is that you need to put yourself in position to receive from God. Posture yourself in that manner. Wait on The Lord. Don't be foolish and blow all your money and wait for God to bail you out, but rather, be obedient. Stand on His word. Wait for Him.
Some people experience God. Sadly, others never experience Him move on their behalf. They hear about God, but He never becomes real to Him. Which do you want?
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