Second Guess

Most life on earth relies on the sun; photosynthesis by plants provides oxygen for a host of life processes including breathable air. Deep sea environments however, have no sun, no photosynthesis, but still there is life. Most species discovered there including albino shrimp have either non-functioning eyes or no eyes at all. Because it’s pitch black.

The one thing that intrigued me spiritually about this situation is that these creatures don’t know that they’re blind. They live, eat, reproduce and die with no reason to second guess that there’s any more to existence than their daily experience. We were once that way, but hopefully, not anymore.

Here’s the word;

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When we’re brought out of darkness, we’re immediately introduced to a dilemma;

We now have reason (rightfully so), but not much desire (yet) to second guess ourselves.

Just like those shrimp, we have an old nature that’s been developed over time and it moves us to reflex responses without 'divine filtering'. We operate out of personal convenience rather than Spiritual conviction. The Power of the Holy Spirit afforded us by the Son allows that we would take the time to ‘second guess’ ourselves; ‘test rather we be in the faith’. ‘Without faith it is impossible to please Him’, which is the very reason we were called out. Our eyes are now open and our new lives indeed, rely on the SON.

Completely Irrelevant

I tend to get a kick out peculiar things, like those posters of the universe with the little arrow marker stating “You are Here”. As if the reference to where earth is in our galaxy and that galaxy’s position in the universe could possibly be useful to get somewhere else or even back to ‘Here’. You may not follow science in regards to studies of the universe, but here’s the latest:

Scientists have recently realized that everything we’ve ever seen from the naked eye to the most powerful of optics shows us only about 4 percent of ‘The Universe’, the rest is 'invisible'. This leads scientists to deduce that WE, in the context of the vastness of universe, are ‘completely irrelevant’.

Here’s the word:

In Job 38:4-7, God is talking to Job, (contextually paraphrasing, please check) “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you know. Tell me who constructed it according to the plans? Who established it and holds it all together? Where were you at its completion when the heavenly host beheld it and were amazed?”

The earth and universe are testimonies to the awesomeness of God.

Further more;

Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Science can try as they may to resolve the situation according to their much learning, but as a Christian, you know that there is more to the story and that you could never be irrelevant in the least. Know why?....because “You are Here.”

Just the Right Thing to Say

We live in a sad state of affairs when the feeling across the land is to keep your faith to yourself.
We are to be activist, actively engaging our culture right here and right now. And the great thing about it is in that engaging (not offesnsively, or without compassion) you get to witness the move of God, the Holy Spirit
Here’s the word:
Luke 12 :11-12 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
That is the very nature of things, there will be those in high places that will want to contest your beliefs ....but that's when GOD shows up.
I tell you that there is nothing more awesome than sitting in the audience when God speaks, cause that’s how it is. You’re standing , you’re mouth is open….but God’s speaking and you immediately recognize it as an onlooker.
You may be one to wax eloquent on many an occasion, but there’s nothing you can come up with that can not only cut deep at, but also has the ability to change the stony heart of men, like a word from God Almighty. But you won’t see this move of God, pretty much keeping to yourself as the culture tries to get us to do.
Speaking the truth in Love…..engage.

Clothed In My Right Mind

You know, growing up in church, one of the things I remember most was ‘Testimony Night’. There’s one statement, heard rather frequently that particularly stands out:
“He woke me up this mornin’ clothed in my right mind…” And it’s there, where I want to focus today’s attention. As I’d hear that phrase, I just thought they were being unnecessarily wordy. I mean how hard can it be to wake up in your right mind? How often do you hear in the news where the ambulance has to go get somebody out of the bed and take them straight to the mental hospital cause they didn’t wake up in their right mind? Now, I know it sounds like I’m trying to be funny, but that was my immature mindset. Those people were simply speaking on something that I’ve only recently come to understand;
Here’s the word:
Romans 1:28 (mid-verse) God gave them over to a reprobate mind,
1 Samuel 16:14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him. (if this verse confuses you let me know).
Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Titus 1:15 but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

I've used a phrase very familiar to me as a child, and I realize that this verse, being from Mark 5:15 (or Luke 8:35) is properly rendered as "Clothed and in my right mind"... The point is this: There is truly a whole spiritual realm going on right in our midsts, and I bet that if we could see it visually, it would probably scare us to death! But the fact of the matter remains; God is active in that spiritual realm and He’s actively progressing His plan’s for you. (Jer 29:11)
There are dark forces probably begging to have you and they’re not just jumping up and down crazy like a kid in a toy store, they’re submitting well thought out arguments on why God SHOULD let them have you. I’m not perfect, …heck, I can honestly say that I’m not even always obedient to do what I KNOW is right. But He doesn’t give me over, When I sin, I’m convicted and repentant, my mind doesn’t become immune to it (defiled)… Those older people at Testimony Night had is exactly right…..He keeps me clothed in my right mind.