love

What is the Measure of Your Worth?

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Your intrinsic value as a human being is not determined by what others think of you: true or false? Your answer depends on what part of the world you live in, what culture you were raised among, and even your religion. However, if you have TV or internet access, you are probably aware of the concept of “self-esteem.”  Christianity disagrees with both, and this revolutionary idea of not caring what anyone thinks of you was part of what got Jesus, and many of His followers, killed.

At least in the United States, the pendulum has swung, at least slightly, from one extreme to another. The fear of ostracism still exists in many forms here and around the world, but in American culture, individualism, self-esteem, and “following your heart” are pervasive values, which can carry its own set of issues. We can be, however, conflicted with those “values” and hypocritical when we hold people to their latest mistakes and look at others as incapable of heart changes, especially as Christians.

In the ancient world that Jesus was birthed into, most cultures and Rome had a culture based on honor and shame. Your value as a person was thought to be highly dependment on what the world thought of you. Therefore, you held tight to traditional ways of life and walked the fine line of public approval if you cared at all about you and your family’s life and livelihood. When Jesus publicly renounced rabbis’ beliefs and sat among the dirty sinners, He did a massive taboo, a bigger taboo than we (as modern thinkers) might think upon first reading: He didn’t care about the public’s opinion, and He asked for others to be the same.

Neither basing our worth on others’ opinions NOR OUR OWN OPINION about ourselves are healthy or God’s way. As children of Yahweh, we should base our intrinsic value on God’s view of us. So, how does God view us? We were created as imagers, God’s representatives on Earth. He puts His Holy Spirit inside each of us who allows Him, as we are His personal temples and priests. If that’s not overwhelming and amazing, you’re not listening. We are intended to be breath-takingly awesome. That is our worth. It’s infinitely more honor than anything in this world could give us. Remember this verse:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11: 28-30

The world’s opinion, and our own, can be a heavy load that we must carry through life. It is also an ever-changing, never satisfied master. Let’s not live our lives according to the court of public popularity nor our own self-esteem. Rather, let’s face our God like sunflowers to the sun and live up to what He created us to be, basking in the warmth of His love.

God bless!

Sources other than the Bible: You can check out Episode 204 of the Bible Project Podcast: Honor-Shame Culture and the Gospel, which inspired this post.

The Tapestry of the Word

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There are many themes, references, and symbols not readily apparent from a simple scan of the Bible. They tie the whole book together from beginning to end, which is a feat since each book of the Bible comes from different eras and cultures, especially the Old and New Testaments. The written Word is a tapestry of many threads and designs that tie together in ways we may not always realize.

The first theme we’ll discuss is that of trees just because it’s forefront in my mind from listening to Bible Project podcasts. From the moment Adam and Eve are shown the trees of both Life and knowledge of Good and Bad (the Hebrew usually translated as “evil” actually means a more genetic “bad” (Strong’s), trees entered the mind of the children of God. Time and again, trees are mentioned in ways that point back to the garden of Eden and the choice between life and death that first humanity had there. It comes to mean sacrifice (as we sacrifice our own belief of what is good and bad to obey God’s truth on good and bad). In many ways, humans are symbolized by trees, vines, and branches, fruiting when living in the way of the Holy Spirit, serving others. Finally, it springs forth again to show us Eden come again.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Revelations 2:7

Another theme is the temple, which should be looked at as our true home. The first temple was actually the garden of Eden. It was placed on a high place, with the Holy of Holies in the center (i.e. those pesky trees of Life and knowledge of Good and Bad). The entirety of the Bible is about the journey of mankind searching for the temple to return to their rightful place as priests, ambassadors between heaven and earth in the Promised Land. Noah’s ark (a symbol of salvation), trees, animals that Noah (as a type of Adam) had to rule over, are more symbols of a temple. Mountains count many times as temples, high and close to heaven as to connect man and God, Abraham and countless others perform sacrifices on altars there. Then, of course, Moses and the Israelites built a tabernacle to serve as a traveling temple in order to commune with Yahweh. Solomon and many of his descendants built or maintained actual, permanent structures used as temples where the practice of priesthood was elaborated and cemented. Once Jesus showed up on the scene, as little as they realized at the time, He spoke of another traveling temple that would last until his return: the Holy Spirit would reside in God’s children, and no longer would people have to find the temple: It would come to them. Of course, in Revelations, the final realization of the temple becomes reality, and all of earth will become a grand temple, a massive Eden, where God will walk once again everywhere and with all people.

Honey and honeycomb is a relatively obscure symbol that pops up time and again. It tends to stand for God’s wisdom and decrees. Let’s consider these verses:

The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.

Psalm 19:9-10

The above is pretty obvious.

One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

Proverbs 27:7

When someone is full on their own or the world’s “wisdom,” they don’t long for God’s. However, those hungry for God will seek even His most hard to swallow words. By the way, I’m not stretching anything here. See this source that says something similar.

Someone’s it’s symbolism will help you understand other passages where honey shows up.

All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. When the people were come to the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath: therefore he put forth the end of the rod who was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

1 Samuel 14:27

Jonathon was symbolically enlightened with God’s wisdom despite his dad’s oath, and it ended up saving his life and Israel’s in the end. During the Great Exodus when Israel comes across manna, and that’s the only food for a long while, it tastes of honey as well, for good reason. They were living off more than just bread but off of every word that came from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

Revelation 10:7-11

The truth is not always pleasant.

These are just a sample of the many threads that are woven from Genesis to Revelations. Can you find any other symbols, themes, or references that are consistently sewn into the fabric of the Bible? Does it change how you read the Word?

God bless!

Rotten Trees,Woolly Wolves

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Personal circumstances have delayed my writing this post until the day before I will publish it, mainly because they have caused a maelstrom of emotion and mental fogginess. Yet those circumstances have also brought me here to create this very post. I have no idea if this will help anyone, but God laid it on my heart to write it, even if it’s only for me.

Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves…Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’

Matthew 7:15-23

There are many people who call themselves Christians or simply seem like upstanding individuals who are actually dark souls beneath. There are people who we come to trust and love who turn out to be wolves underneath, waiting to strike. That type of betrayal is not foreign to God, who, besides the innumerable people who turn their backs to Him, was also stabbed in the back by Judas while here on Earth as a man. The difference between God and ourselves is that no one can trick God. How would God deal with such a person?

A person living with no remorse for their sins is the rotten tree. We’re not speaking of all sinners, which would include everyone of us. As described in the above verse, many are master manipulators and can don a disguise as easily as breathing. So, you and I will never truly know if a rotten tree ever genuinely feels remorse and turns to God for actual salvation in his or her heart. That is between that person and God on a soul level. However, what is impossible to man is possible for God. He’s raised the dead before and He can do so again.

On a personal level, it is best, when a rotten fruit reveals a deceptively rotten tree in your life, to do three things as a child of God:

  1. Forgive them. You can read a post of mine titled “Forgiveness – What It’s Not.” I wrote another post that’s called “Loving Even the Wolves” about loving our enemies. We don’t do evil against them, exchanging evil for evil. Forgiveness is not absolution. It doesn’t say what they did was right or okay. It does not mean you trust them. It does not mean you will even keep them in your life. However, a rotten apple spoils the whole bunch, they say. Don’t forgive, and you have a death grip on a rotten apple, and that will spoil all of your own fruit. Cast it aside for your own sake.
  2. Cut off the branch. If someone is a manipulator and deceiver, it’s not healthy for you or the others around you to keep him or her in your life. As much as you are able, cut them off. Consider the following verse:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

John 15:1-2

Why does God cut off the branches that bear no fruit (or in this case, possibly rotten fruit)? The death of those branches will pull down the rest. If God does this, it’s a sign you should as well.

3. Grieve. The part of our brain that processes emotion does not easily grasp the complexities of human relationships (or maybe that’s just me). If a person has betrayed or hurt you, it’s not easy to let that relationship go because all of the memories and emotions you had before are still there. Let yourself process the symbolic death of who you thought they were and the life you shared.

Another thing to remember, just in case: If a person who claimed or claims to be Christian shows his or her true nature of being rotten, some will use that as a reason to fall away from God. If you stop following God because a follower of God (or fake follower) betrays you or lets you down, you were never following God. You were following the person. A human will always disappoint in some way.

Hope this helps someone one day.

God bless!

How Much More Does God

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If the evil judge serves justice to the sufferers of this world, just to shut up the victims from their constant cries, how much more will God, who is just and loving, serve justice to His children (Luke 18:1-8)? If an evil man is capable of treating his children with gifts, how much more will God, who is the creator of love and holds His little ones to His heart each moment, bless His children (Matthew 7:11)?

You can look around you, pay attention to the expressions of love and selflessness that stem sometimes from the lost, the confused, the consumed, the fallen, the broken, and the terrible. See these things and know that even they understand, in their soul somewhere, the essence of God. They can not escape the truth of Him, even if they don’t know it consciously (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-20)

They are stumbling into good, so how much more wonderful is God who is the very personification of Love, Righteousness, and Peace? It’s understandable, after being steeped in the darkness of the world since your birth, to know no other way than distrust. Know this though, God is not of this world (Numbers 23:19; John 18:36)). He is so much more than you’ve ever experienced: you don’t know love. You think you do, but there is no love in this life that can compare to His.

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 89:1-4

Some of you may already know of all the above, and if you do: wonderful, wonderful, and live in that joy! Some do not or only see a piece of the picture, not understanding the entirety of God’s overwhelming love and concern for us. During these times, they aren’t fully sure of Him or His promises. I write to remind and to teach when possible. Let’s not forget, especially in these days of doubt and darkness, to sing of His love and faithfulness, forever.

God bless!

Listen

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Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words? For God does speak – now one way, now another – though no one perceives it.

Job 23:13-14

The world, I believe, is receiving a lesson on listening.

Sometimes, I really long to speak with God, not just pray to Him but hear from Him. Just the other day, I sat outside in the sunshine to eat my lunch while reading Lord of the Rings (I have never read it, just watched the movies). It came to a part where the wizard was rushing out of Frodo’s home, and he promised that although he’d never openly visit again, he would come see Frodo when he least expected it.

“Like me,” I felt God say.

This feeling made me stop my reading and look up. Like Frodo with the wizard, I didn’t want God to just say those words and leave. I wanted Him to stay and converse with me, but I had a sinking feeling that was all He would say.

Then, I noticed the sunlight glinted off the grass as it swayed in the warm breeze, the sound of cars sweeping down our road up front, and the smell of my coffee as I sipped it. The difference, He seemed to say through His creations, between Frodo’s wizard and I, is I never leave. I’m always there in a million subtle ways. Why chatter on incessantly when we can just be together?

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Psalm 62:5

I think, during this time of social distancing and standstill, the world is learning to listen: to the rhythm of nature, to the heartbeat of their family, to the essence of what makes us human, to the foundations of our world, to the voice of God even in the silence.

Through the news, social media, and various other outlets, I see people talking about community, family, God, and the care of Earth more than I ever did before. The center of the universe has been shaken a bit from ourselves and shallow entertainment. It took the world being put on quarantine to make it happen.

So, whether you’re still busy or being forced to take a Great Pause, take a moment to really listen out for God’s voice, and realize that maybe He speaks to you by simply remaining by your side through it all.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

God bless!

What Remains

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If you’re anything like me, you’ve already read too many articles about the era of history unfolding before us. It’s a strange time to live, and it came so suddenly upon us, I think most of us are still reeling from the changes that this virus, the lockdowns, and just the fear have brought to the world. That’s the thing though, right? This concerns the entire world. I know I’m young(ish), but I don’t recall any single event affecting the entire world so abruptly and at the same time.

We’re all realizing how connected we all are. If such a terrible thing like this virus can spread so quickly from person to person across the globe, then so can a wondrous thing like love, kindness, compassion, and hope. What if, when you serve your neighbor, that joyful servitude spreads, infectious with love, to a child in Japan within a month or two? We usually never know because the CDC doesn’t report spreading acts of compassion, we don’t pause our daily lives for the bellies filled or the smiles created, and we don’t have world-wide counts on the re-born rates of children of God.

I lay in my hammock yesterday realizing something about all of this. I’ve never felt more like a child since I was an actual child. It’s a weird thing to feel, now, during all of this. I used to play all day, from sunrise to sunset if I could, outside, barefoot and dirty. Now, when I step outside I notice that the world of nature hasn’t changed in the face of the news. The birds still sing over the warmer weather. The flowers have been blooming, bringing the joyful buzz of bees. Some days it rains, and the smell brings me back to memories of sitting on my parent’s porch with the wind chimes ringing in the storms.

I always feel closer to God when in nature. When I’m inside, I feel Him too, but I’m distracted by all the man-made stuff, chattering TV, the chores left to do. When I’m outside, I sense Him in His creation, things going on as they have been when He set them in motion. He can be seen in His creation, too. His hope in reflected in the erupting colors of spring, His calm in the gentle, warm breeze. You can feel how solid He is if you stand, barefoot, on the soil and watch His smile in the cotton clouds above.

I guess I’m writing this to tell you that we’re all feeling super complex feelings about this. It’s temporary; this will pass, but difficult times always feel like they’ll last forever. We’re all grieving the loss of control we thought we had over our lives. We’re all anxious sometimes of what tomorrow will bring. The emotions sometimes hit me out of nowhere. You’re not alone; but you’re probably just realizing this more than ever. Everything you do affects the whole world, at some point. We’ve never been in control. God has been this whole time, still is, and He is calm, hopeful, loving, and reaching out to you whatever you’re feeling. Even if all else fell away, He would remain.

Maybe step outside, take your shoes off to feel the ground beneath your feet, and speak to Him.

God bless!

Lost that Loving Feeling

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Have you ever heard someone say that God is silent? Or maybe He doesn’t answer his or her prayers? Did they say they’ve been searching for Him, but He seems absent?

The fact that they feel a lack is a good sign they haven’t grown complacent to a distant relationship with God. If they’ve been searching and praying, God has been showing up and answering. The question is, why don’t they see or hear Him in their lives? Why can’t they feel Him anymore?

He exists and loves you external to and despite your feelings. Whether you perceive Him or “feel” anything in relation to Him doesn’t change the fact He is there, always moving, speaking, and reaching out to you. Consider the oxygen around you. If you didn’t know it existed, would you be unable to breathe? Does it change its existence. No, the truth remains outside of our perception or acceptance. It just is.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

1 John 4:16

The hard fact about God’s love is that more than just a feeling. It’s an action. If you don’t sense God or feel as though He’s distant, consider that maybe you’re the one who walked off. Walk your way back, and the best way to do that is be called into action to show your love for Him and His creation. Volunteer, donate, spread comfort, love, and cheer to others, tell others of your love for Him, whatever you do, do it in Love. You’ll find Him there.

You should be aware that you’re not the only one to have felt this way. In fact, it is said David (God said he was a man after His own heart) wrote this psalm:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
    by night, but I find no rest
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
    you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
    scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
    they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
    “let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
    since he delights in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
    you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
    from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
    for trouble is near
    and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
    strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
    open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
    it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
    you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me,
    a pack of villains encircles me;
    they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
    people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
    and cast lots for my garment.
19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
    You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
    my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
    save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will declare your name to my people;
    in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
    Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
    the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
    but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
    before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek the Lord will praise him—
    may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth
    will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
    and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
    all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
    those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
    declaring to a people yet unborn:
    He has done it!
Psalm 22

God answered many times during David’s time, which he speaks of in his other Psalms. However, He answered again, this time to all of humanity who felt this way. Notice Jesus mentions this psalm when He hung on the cross:

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Matthew 27: 45-46

He feels the cries of countless souls who suffer in this fallen world, and in answer, He dies to save them from the darkness. Know that although David felt unheard at times, God heard and remembered.

I know many are having a hard time lately with all that’s going on in the world, but know that despite your feelings, God loves you and is still reaching out to you. Know in your heart that He hears and answers. It may not be the answer you like, and it may not come when you want it, but God knows better than any of us. You’ll find it was the right answer and the right timing. Please love one another in action, not just emotion. We all need each other more than ever.

God bless!

Aliens – Like the Space Kind

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According to ancient astronaut theorists… you know you’ve watched it: So many “experts,” so many conspiracy theories. It’s fun to think about other beings inhabiting the universe, the deep space full of more lives than our own. So, what does this have to do with God and His heavenly estate? Apparently a lot according to Ancient Aliens show. If you’ve watched this show or just heard similar perspectives, you’ll know they look at God from an alien enthusiasts’ view. So, here, we’ll be looking at the idea of aliens from God’s. So, let’s dive into the vacuum of space and look around.

If you read the Bible trying to scan for terms like space, aliens, planets, or maybe UFOs, you’re not going to find them. Modern people have different ideas about beings from other planets, about what to call them, and really about the universe all together. You really should open your mind a bit to the idea that neither of us really know what we’re seeing when we see strange things in the sky. We all are describing events in a way our audience will understand. What we call spacecraft, the people of long ago may have called a chariot or wheels within wheels.

Let me tell you a strange, true story, and you can believe it or disbelieve it. That’s fine. Maybe there’s a good, rational, society-accepted explanation for the event I’ve experienced. When I was in my twenties, Johnnie was driving me back home from a date we’d been on. It was somewhat late, from what I recall. The dirt road that leads back to my parents’ house goes down a fairly large wooded and uninhabited area. As we neared the road, we saw a metallic-looking cylindrical thing, maybe as large as a semi hovering just above the trees. It made no noise, and it was lit up all around with lights. It had blue and red lights that alternated from what I recall.  Anyhow, despite the fact we both had phones with cameras, neither of us took photos (of course!). We were in shock and couldn’t move. We just stared. When we finally high-tailed it out of there, Johnnie decided to return just a minute later, and it was completely gone.

I told someone about this experience back in college, and they, a devout Christian, called it a weather balloon and dismissed the idea outright, stating that aliens were a myth. Um, you believe in flying chariots and angels who come from where (heaven = sky)? Okay, I’m not here to argue the existence of aliens, rather the hypocrisy of immediate dismissal when you’re a Bible-toting believer. Open your mind to the fact that God is omnipotent and has the capability of being a God and creator to not just this world but many. I’m not saying He has made more worlds with other intelligent beings. I’m just saying that with God all things are possible.

Now, I do find about 90% of the Ancient Alien show hogwash because they really, really stretch things to fit the theory that basically everything was done by or initiated by “otherworldly beings.” They also will try to justify Satan’s actions (let’s pause for a moment of silence), stating that he was “just trying to impart helpful knowledge.” *Cue maniacal laughter here* It wasn’t so much that he was imparting knowledge. It was that he was acting in direct disobedience to God’s commands and attempting to get humans to do the same (“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat of any tree in the garden?'” Genesis 3:1). Sure, if you don’t believe God is an all-good God full of love, you may be tempted to believe Satan was a rebel with a cause. He only wishes he were that cool.

There are instances in the Bible where you can see strange events that sounds otherworldly. For instance, Ezekiel:

I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber, and within it was the form of four living creatures… The workmanship of the wheels looked like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their workmanship was like a wheel within a wheel. As they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as the moved.

Ezekiel 1:4-17

Maybe you’ll be interested in how Elijah was taken up into the skies by fiery chariots:

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more.

2 Kings 2:11-12

God is amazing, omnipotent, and omniscient, and He can do anything. It’s possible aliens exist, but it’s okay whatever you believe on that matter. The fact of the matter is that we really aren’t alone in the universe. We’re already told there are beings God created other than us called Sons of God or angels. We see prophecies throughout the Bible with various strange creatures that could be figurative, symbolic or maybe not. Just looking around the Earth, we can see wondrous lives swimming deep in the ocean, flying in the air above, teeming all around us. It’s not a stretch to believe He may have created more we are unaware of, whether that’s on another planet or in another dimension, if those exist. What do you think?

God bless!

Burn Out

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I’ve learned that a good way to treat burn out is by creativity.

They are complete opposites. Burn out is spurred by ongoing, unresolved stress rounded out by unmet needs. True creativity may be shaped by practice and work, but in essence, it is a free thing, unrestrained by expectations and stress. Children are innately creative as they color outside lines and sometimes on walls. They don’t call themselves uncreative or stop from drawing their stick family because they think their hands aren’t talented enough. They sing without worrying about how squeaky their voices are. They dabble in poetry without realizing, as it falls from lips during hopscotch or while sitting in the trees.

We are all creative beings. God is the ultimate artist, and we, in His image, are as well. God also doesn’t stop painting the sunrise or forming the ears on a newborn calf because He wonders if someone else will disapprove of His style or ability.

Neither should you.

So, the reason I bring up burn out is, quite simply, I’m experiencing it. It’s not because of this blog. It’s due to a number of reasons connected to work and other life stresses, which reach their tentacles into other areas of my life. So, this is why I’ve not been writing consistently the past few weeks.

However, God put the urge to write poetry in my heart for some reason, pulling out my creative urges and reminding me of who I am and why I write here. I don’t like to show off unfinished works of art, but I did before here, and I will again today. I’m reminded that this is not just a place full of essay-like studies, but rather a connection to God’s heart. And God’s heart is full of joy, creativity, and not burn out. He’s healing, and He’s healing me too.

I like to document my journey through learning how to love like Jesus, so here you go. You can love like Jesus by stepping back and being creative once in a while. Write, draw, sing, create. It’s what you were made for, and do it all in love. I love y’all, so here’s my latest poem. It’s about the Father and Son from before humanity. I may add to it later or change a lot, but if I don’t, I don’t. It’s a sacrifice of time and effort on the altar to God. I hope you both like it.

In the beginning there was you and me
Hemmed by darkness
Word; a cord connects us
Echoes
Calls for light from void
When we were, we are, will be
The sounds of thunder
creation freed
All that was hidden is burned,
revealed
A Word, The Word
From edge to edge
a Blossoming begin
A calling from the nothingness
Unfurling, flinging, fly
Torn from the womb of abyss
Bordered now by sky
Summon forth the suns and souls
Topple worlds; plant more anew
A universe full
Once just me and you

God bless!

P.s. if you can’t see the poem as it can get glitchy with the IOS app, switch to your internet browser.

Patriotism, Fandom, Christianity: How You Define Yourself Matters

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Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

Philippians 3:17-21

What a delight to see people band together and call each other family of some sort, whether it’s because they are born of the same landmass, cheer for the same team, or fight the same struggles. Fellowship is a picture of God’s kingdom. To consider yourself a part of Yahweh’s family is not to the exclusion of different types of fellowship; however, it can be a slippery slope that many people find themselves falling down. 

So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

Galations 4:8-9

It’s important how we define ourselves because it boils down to what you stand for. I’m a proud American, but I am first of all a Child of God. So, I try (sometimes I fail) to perceive the world and its rights and wrongs from my Father’s perspective. It’s important because the ways we define ourselves can become our master.

No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:24

The writer of the above verse obviously had a certain master in mind (money) whose principles directly conflict with God’s frequently. Eventually, there will be a conflict between the two “masters” you serve, and I would pray that you would choose the right one. This conflict may be obvious, or it may not.

Think on the ways you define yourself, be it a team you root for, a philosophy you uphold, a form of government you admire, or a group of people you connect with, and make sure that you aren’t serving it above your status as citizen of the Kingdom of God. All the above will fade away one day or may even leave you in this lifetime, but your Father in Heaven never will.

God bless!