Scared

In spending some time with Father and listening to my own thoughts as I did, I’ve realized that I have a pretty big fear of failure. I’m pretty sure that it’s the reason I haven’t finished school or started volunteering with youth. I’ve convinced…or allowed myself to be convinced that if I step out and try something I’m going to fail, and I would rather not try and fail, so I just don’t. I read a statement made by someone named Dr. Richard J. Krejicir on a site called “Into thy Word.” He said, “No fear of failure is the ability to take a risk and keep the focus and attention on our call and obedience!” I agree with that in my head, but by my life you wouldn’t know it. My question is this: How do you move past a fear of failure? If I’m scared like a little girl to step out, how do I take steps to work through it? Can you guys please help me with this, it may not be an internet sort of thing, but I’m kinda sorta tired of it.

In Man’s DNA (Rom 2:15)

15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. (Romans 2:15 NLT)

I’ve been contemplating (on and off again) the role of the mind in our transformation. I’ve written about it a few times on this site about the mind being the control center and such. I recently heard a teaching that the “gates of hell” could possibly be the mind itself.

I think this verse lends itself to confirming the importance of the mind. All too often, we’re asked as Christians to turn off our mind in order to walk in Faith. I don’t believe that accurate. I believe God built into the DNA of mankind His truth. This passage adds credence to that thought.

I’m still processing it. It certainly adds weight for me to “renew my mind” (Rom 12:2).

Still chewing on it…

Jacob didn’t get it

Genesis 28, Jacob takes a nap, has a dream/vision about angels going up and down a ladder, God speaks some promises to him and then he wakes up.  After waking up, he says “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.”

Jacob doesn’t seem to really get it.  He seems lost.  He has deceived or manipulated his brother twice.  He has the blessing of his father, but it appears to mean nothing to him besides the monetary gain.  Now he meets with God and he gives an if/then statement.  I am very glad that God held up His end of the deal so that Jacob ended up making Him his God.  Otherwise, things might not have ended up so well.

Jude 1

^17-19But remember, dear friends, that the apostles of our Master, Jesus Christ, told us this would happen: “In the last days there will be people who don’t take these things seriously anymore. They’ll treat them like a joke, and make a religion of their own whims and lusts.” These are the ones who split churches, thinking only of themselves. There’s nothing to them, no sign of the Spirit!

 ^20-21But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

 ^22-23Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven. (Jude 1:17-23 MSG)

Churches beware…there are those who have been positioned in our midst for no other reason than division. They will turn Christianity into their own personal doctrine of self-centeredness. It seems like I have known a few of these in my lifetime of going to church. I have known of division in churches based on the wants and desires of one group vs. another…over Sunday school curriculum…over what type of music…over who is counting the money…over the color of the flippin carpet. Is this the people that are written about here? Or are they the ones who have taken the wrong way? Are they the sinners with which we are to be tender? How do we tell the difference? How do we stay at the center of God’s love?

Wind and Waves pt. 4

Shoe asked a good question on my last post that go me thinking and reading.  What causes the wind and waves.  The wind is caused by pressures of air that collide together and the direction is dependant on the Earths rotation.  The wind blows stronger and faster when the high and low pressure of the air comes closer together. Wind can also be thought of one way that the atmosphere moves excess heat around. All wind is, directly or indirectly, helping to transport heat either away from the surface of the Earth, where sunlight causes an excess of energy buildup, or from warm regions (usually the tropics) to cooler regions (usually the higher latitudes). 

Waves are caused by wind that blows and creates friction against the surface of the water.  Waves can also be cause by under water activity, like an erupting volcano or a shift in the earths surface which actually cause the biggest waves (tsunamis).  Waves are largest out in open water and then slow down and shrink when they get closer to the surface. 

As I started looking at this stuff some spiritual lessons were just obvious to me and still others I am asking Dad to reveal.

Our prayers

In Daniel 10:12, an angel comes to him and says that his words were heard from the first day he set his heart to understand and humbled himself before God.  But that he (the angel) was held up for 21 days.  ???  I don’t understand that.   But then in Acts 10:4 it says ,” Your prayers and alms have come up for a memorial before God.” 
From reading those passages it leads me to believe that ours prayers are said/made and then are like put in a “pot” so to speak.  And as one comes up, God looks at it and answers it.  OR  He answers it a but the angel get distracted or detained while bringing it.  I don’t think that it works like either one of this scenarios, but I don’t understand what they are trying to say.  Or doesn’t work like this?   I would love to get some ya’ll feedback on this.