We Just Do Not Think Alike, No Common Intersts

Matthew 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, " Get behind me Satan, you are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests...but on man's.

We have so many opinions, mantra's, spiritual insights and mandates constantly forcing their pings toward our  present state of mind.  It is as if they are stoning us if we do not align with them at times.  Those who cast stones, and sometimes it is us, need to consider our strength, aim and how we are poised in relation to others.

We can be honest with ourselves but unless our core thoughts are pure our clarity does not equate with purity in any way.  For instance:

• We all desire to beheld as glorious; but we do not necessarily allow our self to be glorified.  
• We all desire for God to grant us His power, but not necessarily to perform within His power for the glory of His Kingdom.
• We all pine for the justice of the Lord to come rescue us from evil, but we rebel when His justice is toward us.

If we are disciplined by God it is because we are His children.  Those of us who are known by God, are known because we know His son.  It is has nothing to do with if: we know His commandments; we know how to keep His commandments pretty well; we know most of the bible stories and their main characters; we listen to Christian music; we have know preachers; we go on mission trips or pray 10 times a day.  The ONLY reason we are known is because we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We can only have this intimate relationship through the fullness of the words He spoke.  

How close of a relationship do each of us have?  Will we bend just a little to coerce another...... Will we do good to be seen and justify.....Will we hate when another hold us accountable.......Can we be honest before there is ever a consequence felt by us......Can we be joyous if goodness is not extended or acknowledged.....Can we continue by only faith to persevere.....Can we stand up amidst a seated congregation, to honor Him as if we are engulfed within a crowd?

These questions are private, intimate and quiet personal.  They are not for us to share here, but between you and your Lord.  If you are early on in the process of sanctification do not fret, it is a Holy sojourn.  You may be at the sweet place of feeling those first few spiritual grievances which alert you of His presence.  Where ever you are just remember, He is with you for one soul purpose: giving you the common interests of God~ not man.

Today, if a someone meaning to inspire you encouraged you to seek out life by way of this avenue: To thine own self be true, we might sit with it and attempt to fit it in with scripture.  However, we must be aware that we already are a slave to please our selfish wants at the cost of what is eternally holy, lovely and pure.  As we walk intimately with the Lord He will shift our understanding allowing us to glean experiential knowledge of the who we are striving to be true to: The selfless son of God.

To the selfless One be true and May the peace of God be fully received by each of you today ~ share with all abandon!

Shalom

Kisses,
Candace

Copyrights Reserved ©Candace Huffmaster 2014

Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Inc.®

Quitters Do Not Get the Best....the One Behind Them Does

.....once you have overcome ALL obstacles, you will be ABLE to stand YOUR ground.  So then, TAKE YOUR STAND!  /Ephesians 6: b13, 14

We must honestly look at WHY we do not receive the best thing.  Not that what we choose to take is unacceptable; it is simply a lesser thing.  The ONLY reason is we chose to give up or gave it over to something / someone else.  This is what Ephesians 6 is speaking of:

This is not a wresting match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern the world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.  For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies.  Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days.  Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground.  So then take your stand!  Fasten truth around your waist like a belt.  Put on God's approval as your breastplate.  Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace.  In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield.  With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Also take salvation as your helmet and the word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies.

People are given choices and free will can change the course of their and others lives.  Usually an impulsive blurted out decision has no wisdom involved only emotions.  Usually selfish, impulsive, hurt angry emotions.  Life is not always fun.  Life is not always easy.  But God IS always merciful, gracious and just. 

God does not want His children to be immature spoiled selfish brats any more than we human parents do.  So having us face the painful consequences of our growth process is something He allows us, as well as those our impulsivity affects, to suffer through.  His hope is that if we keep going and alienating others we will have no where to turn to except His loving arms.  So let me ask, do you stop people from feeling healthy pain.  If so please try to refrain from stopping God's child from developing at the rate He desires.  Then maybe.....just maybe they will get a belly full and make some healthy choices. 

There is also the problem for the quitter, who in frustration backs their self into a corner with an empty threat.  What then?  If they cannot provoke the response they are prodding for, their pride forces them to BE a quitter.  If the person has any maturity about them what-so-ever, they will do the difficult thing - drop their ugly pride and NOT fulfill their mistaken decision.  However, if the other parties are respecters of free will, no matter what they feel they will not take that persons choice from them.  Which means the other person is forced to abandon pride replacing it with humility in order to restore the relationship.  This is what God desires.  God is a respecter of Free Will which is why we must come to Him.  He already said He loves us unconditionally and the relationship is available even desired. Out of a deep committed love and respect He conditions us. God NEVER wants us to quit just because it's tough. 

Quiting seems like the easy road in the heat of the moment.  However all the road signs are constantly in our face: coward, self loathing, jealousy, coulda- shoulda- woulda till you hit the dead end. This is why God tests us before He places the "precious" into our hands.  Will He find us faithful?

Before you totally trash something you've invested thought effort, time and your heart into......pause..
That is what God did He promises not to trash you, me or anyone else.  He said He will not cut out time short and He will continue to be faithful to us as we Trip, Flail, Fall and Fly.

So Today, give it another shot - all's not lost! Don't be a quitter - be one that when you've done all to stand...STAND and fight the good fight - In Jesus Christ.

Kisses
Candace