Knowing The Unknown

Sometimes in life, you stumble across the most amazing people. This is one of the things I like about the internet. Although you may never meet some of the one's you may get to know via the internet, you still develope the recognition of who that person is through their writings and posstings of opinions. You can spend a whole lifetime with some people - spend huge amounts of time together and never really know anything about them at all. You may get to know what they like in their coffee, what style of clothing they prefer, what their hobbies are, but all these things are superficial. Knowing these things isn't knowing the person - it is knowing that you have the ability to observe and remember such things. Sometimes we mistake our ability to observe and remember for knowing. We are satisfied with just what we observe about others and really knowing them becomes less important.

What is in one's heart comes out in words, whether it be spoken or written. More often than not, for a lot of people, hearing is thought to be just the ability to do just that - hear with our ears only. But, I think hearing others words is much more than that. Hearing involves thinking about and meditating about the words we hear. Doing this leads to greater understanding when we hear what one has to say at any given time, meditating on it, and putting that together with words said in the future from the same person and meditating on those as well. At first the hearer may only get some understanding from what they heard, but after future meditation, their mind is capable of getting further understanding from the words.

I believe because of lack of this understanding of hearing, that it can be easier for one to really get to know another by never meeting them and reading their written word. Reading takes concentration and thought. It shows more of a desire to really want to know what others are saying because the reader has to take the action and make the effort. Most people when they read pause at various times to ponder the significance of what they read and how it relates to the whole picture thus far. They go back to it in their mind during the day giving it more thought. When they put the written words down and return to it, they first take a moment to put themselves back into what the other has written. Sometimes, even months after reading something, a new understanding with deeper meaning comes to the reader.

Sometimes we get frustrated because we don't feel as if others are talking to us and letting us know how they feel. When we find ourselves in this position, it may be helpful to look to ourselves to see how we are hearing.

Contentment

A happy man finds joy in what is his, not wanting something because someone else has it. He never loses his desire for what he has acquired. A discontent man finds fault in all that is his, forgetting his labor which was put into gaining what he has. It is not that the possessions of the discontented man has changed. The discontent loose the desire for the very thing about his possessions that made him want them in the first place.

Being discontent with what you have is a result of ourselves changing. This doesn't apply to just material possessions but also to relationships. Some say they have grown as their reasoning for changing relationships. We perceive growing older and lack of committment within ourselves for growing. But, growing up is realizing the fact that keeping a committment is the true growth.
Lack of committment to others results in a change in our hearts and minds. As love is a gift given for no other reason than it is ours to give, so is committment. Committment from one is not dependent on another keeping their committment. It is not a reward which is earned by another than is to be taken away if they fall short to your expectations.

The one who keeps their committment to another regardless of others lack of committment in return gains respect and leaves the one lacking committment in the relationship with humility. The uncommitted witness and learn from the committed the need for growth in their own life and heart.

Sometimes we don't realize that if we ask for conditions to be met for us to commit to something, we are not really committing to anything at all. We are only asking for someone else to commit to us.

Blessings From God

Some look at life and see all the problems and complications that are before them. I guess you could say they can look at my life and see the same things. There are a lot of problems and things that need to be overcome in my life. Physical problems, financial problems, relationship problems - some major, some minor.

But when others look at my life and at their own lives I want them to see what I see.

I have a wonderful husband. Eventhough there are battles to face and hills to climb, God has blessed me with a loving man that I care deeply about. I have two wonderful daughters, and I can't stress the word wonderful enough when it comes to them. My oldest is the apple in one eye and the youngest is the apple of the other eye. They both love the Lord with all their heart. They are caring, generous, loving, compassionate and support me even when things are rough. I have a wonderful son-in-law, also. He too is caring and loving to others but more than that he serves the Lord along with my daughter in their church. He is more than a son-in-law to me - he is a son.

I have my mother, who lives with me and I admit at times there are battles and hills to climb on that front as well. But, she is always there for me when I need it helping me whatever the need may be.

I have a loving, caring, and compassionate church family and friends who are always there praying and lifting my needs up and give a shoulder whenever I need one.

But, most of all I have the Lord. On Him I can depend and trust. He is always here and never leaves. He not only gives me a place to go with my concerns, but he bears them for me and holds me up and leads me each step of the way while He's doing it.

God has given me these blessings in life. And no matter what mountains I have to climb or what difficulties come along, they can not compare to the blessings I have. When I look at the blessings, all the difficulties just seems so small. The blessings remind me that if God loves me enough to give such wonderful gifts, I am foolish to let the difficulties of this life concern me. After all, He is there to bear them for me. When I put my trust and faith in him and remain faithful through all that comes along, I can smile and know that all is well with my soul.

Being A Light

If you light a candle in the dark, it drives the darkness away. But, no matter how much darkness you pour on the light from a candle it is impossible to drive the light away. In fact, the light seems to get brighter the darker it gets.

I noticed this the other night while sitting on my porch. We don't have candles on the deck but we do have four solar lights on the posts of the deck. It's funny what you notice when everything is quiet and you concentrate on what is around you.

This just made me realize, all the more, how important it is for believers' in Christ to be a beacon of light. No matter how desperate a situation, or how many around us are trying to extinguish our light, it is impossible to put it out as long as we ourselves don't let it go out.

Even nature itself proves to us that things are drawn to light in the darkness out of instinct. I have never seen an outside light that was shining when bugs weren't flying around it. Human nature also teaches the same thing. When someone is stranded, they go to the house where the light is on. If you're looking for a restaurant late in the evening, you pass by the ones whose lights are off. Whether we realize it or not, most people are looking for the light that shines in the dark, because where the light is, is where all can find their need - whatever it may be.

Not only have I noticed that one single light in the darkness draws things to it, but I have also realized that in any one given place, if there are several lights the more you can see. But the best thing I have realized is that if there is an abundance of lights in that one given place, the clearer one's sight is.

So, I am writing this post to be an encouragement for others to always keep their light shining. Never let it go out. Be vigilant and keep watch over it and see that nothing diminishes it's flame.

Great Quotations

I love to look up quotations from Spurgeon, Moody, etc. Today I happened across these quotes. This has turned into one of my favorite past times and has been extremely encouraging.

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Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrows,
but only empties today of it's strength.
- Charles Spurgeon

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Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving.
My warrent is the Word of God --
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is one greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!
- author unknown

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It can be said:
That using one's time in this manner and fashion is a "truly teachable moment."
- B. Harless

When Confustion Is Added

I have another Christian blog on another social network. Two days ago I posted a blog about salvation from God's Word. I was bombarded immediately by criticizers. It was very hard for me to answer questions from those who really had interest. It took some time thinking about what had happened to realize that posting these blogs were truly a good thing.

Eventhough some didn't believe at least they took the time to read it. Some were suprised upon learning some of the Greek and Hebrew meanings of words that had gotten them so upset. Some were suprised to learn some of the Jewish customes that explained some verses clearer to them.


I also learned practically that "soft answers turn away wrath". Most became very polite after awhile possibly realizing they had leaned up to their own understanding of some scripture. Some were irritated from answers given they had no idea about. Some, I am sure will go to the bookstore and purchase concordances and commentaries to check for themselves. One imparticulat appologized for hi-jacking my blog because I had been so compassionate in my answers to him/her.

I have to say, I was suprised to see how fellow Christians were so quick to ridicule and jump in on the free for all. I was also suprised that most of them also came across as angry and bombardant. This confuses and turns away those that don't believe so they won't even listen. This has also made me realize that I need to show genuine concern and compassion to unbelieves so they too will hear the Word.

I feel sure that they are at least hearing and considering scripture. This is all I can hope to accomplish through these blogs. God will do the rest.

Fear and Faith (Part 2)

I have continued in my study once again because I feel it has been laid upon my heart to dive even further. So many questions by so many are being asked because of the fear they have in their personal lives due to these economic times. My study has led me to 1 John 4:16-18.

v. 16 And we (have known and believed) the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
v. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
v. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

These verses further convinced me further that fear is a tool used to diminish our faith. If we truly have confessed that Jesus is the Son of God (v.15), then God lives in us, His love abides in us, we have experienced the love of God and believe in His love toward us. There is no fear in love. God is love. His love casteth out fear.

Also, these verses have further convinced me that fear comes from unbelief. These verse say
to me that, If I believe that God's love is perfect toward me then I can believe that I can have no fear. This also means that, If I don't believe that God 's love is perfect toward me then I will have fear because of my unbelief in God's perfect love. This is perhaps something I will never completely master. But I can spend an abundance of time striving to overcome by studying scripture, meditating, and referencing.


This also is futher convincing that we desperately need to spend more time in scripture; reading, studying, meditating, asking the question to ourselves about what we don't understand about God and His love toward us, but more importantly than asking the questions to ourselves, we desperately need to make the time to SEARCH, SEARCH, SEARCH the scriptures for the answers to our questions. It will bring you closer to God, bring clearer understanding, bring lasting peace and comfort. It will also bring a desire to know more and to understand more.