Dreams
I've been best by dreams lately.
Mostly, they are about my career. I want to change. I want outta here!
I don't like call-centers. They are a pain. Out of 7.5 hour days, I'm on the phone about 50 percent of my day. The other portion, paperwork, is fine. I tend to like paperwork. I'm strange like that.
My dreams focused on things that are a part of my day. The public transit system. Old houses. Things of the past that were a part of my daily life. On occassion, strange objects pop up. In yesterday's dream, I removed a door via its hinges and the top of the hing turned into a grenade. I grabbed it, accepting that the house that it was in, was so old, that it wouldn't hurt me. I even gave it to a construction worker, after telling him that I had grown up in the neighborhood. He shrudged and accepted it. (I don't know what he did with it. The room was so dysfunctional, that I could barely walk. I had take a portion of the door as a prize as a souvenir.) And I believe that I went about my business.
Scripturally, I think of the potter and clay example. God is changing me (at my request) to be more like his son. And I believe that when I comply, he blesses me every now and then. And that blessing includes cleaning up some cluttered and dysfunctional areas of my life, that I don't want anyway. Maybe even areas that I once considered hazzardas. (hence the mention of the grenade) and maybe that God gives me the courage to handle an explosive situation and it doesn't go off in my hand, as I feared.
Maybe. Although I will stay away from any grenades that I find, just in case! ;-)
Mostly, they are about my career. I want to change. I want outta here!
I don't like call-centers. They are a pain. Out of 7.5 hour days, I'm on the phone about 50 percent of my day. The other portion, paperwork, is fine. I tend to like paperwork. I'm strange like that.
My dreams focused on things that are a part of my day. The public transit system. Old houses. Things of the past that were a part of my daily life. On occassion, strange objects pop up. In yesterday's dream, I removed a door via its hinges and the top of the hing turned into a grenade. I grabbed it, accepting that the house that it was in, was so old, that it wouldn't hurt me. I even gave it to a construction worker, after telling him that I had grown up in the neighborhood. He shrudged and accepted it. (I don't know what he did with it. The room was so dysfunctional, that I could barely walk. I had take a portion of the door as a prize as a souvenir.) And I believe that I went about my business.
Scripturally, I think of the potter and clay example. God is changing me (at my request) to be more like his son. And I believe that when I comply, he blesses me every now and then. And that blessing includes cleaning up some cluttered and dysfunctional areas of my life, that I don't want anyway. Maybe even areas that I once considered hazzardas. (hence the mention of the grenade) and maybe that God gives me the courage to handle an explosive situation and it doesn't go off in my hand, as I feared.
Maybe. Although I will stay away from any grenades that I find, just in case! ;-)
April 29, 2008
Isaiah 59
The past two days I've been reading Isaiah 59.
It is such a powerful chapter to me, because it answers so many questions. The most obvious would be 'why has God forgotten us?' This questions is posed by the world. Usually the secular world and carnal Christians. The answer begins in verse one: 'See, the Lord's hand is not too short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear, Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God.'
The verse is wonderful. I can see Isaiah speaking directly to the heather of his day. The Israelites loved their Gods. They loved doing things their own way and only called upon God in a time of crisis or extreme hardship or abuse. But it goes to show that God is alive. He hears. He sees. And God is still in the miracle business. But it should be made clear that Isaiah was speaking to stiff-necked people. There are some Christians who are just the opposite and have great concerns and ask God for his intervention in saving people. And God does not. I am one of them.
In October 2002, my father died from Dementia. This disease is in the Altzheimer's family. I prayed very hard for dad to be healed. God didn't. I did the same for my sister, my aunt, cousins, etc. No good. I knew that I had no 'sin' in my life, as the ancient Israelites did, that 'sin' being idols and forgetting God. (I'm not trying to cop a holier-than-thou attitude. I'm only trying to show some actions that weren't pleasing to God and he held back on his blessings from his people. In my case, God chose to answer, it just wasn't the answer that I thought it would be. God does say: 'no' on occasion. Why? I don't know. Like a lot of people, I'll be asking that question. Perhaps when Christians are gathered together, we'll automatically know the answer. We'll just have to wait and see.
In Isaiah 57 God talks specifically that 'my ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts. ' That might be a start of an answer. I just have to trust God and I do. For many people (secular and Christian) that turns them off. At that point they become very angry. My father did when my mother died of cancer. It happens for a lot of people. I can only pray for them. I can not supply them an answer. I believe that it gets down to faith. But if it is that, then I pray that those people have just a small ounce of it and that God will sooth that terrible hurt and begin from there. God doesn't ask me to climb a mountain, in terms of great things that must be done, say like Moses leading a nation. He does ask for just a small grain of sand in faith. And he'll do the rest. Amen.
It is such a powerful chapter to me, because it answers so many questions. The most obvious would be 'why has God forgotten us?' This questions is posed by the world. Usually the secular world and carnal Christians. The answer begins in verse one: 'See, the Lord's hand is not too short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear, Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God.'
The verse is wonderful. I can see Isaiah speaking directly to the heather of his day. The Israelites loved their Gods. They loved doing things their own way and only called upon God in a time of crisis or extreme hardship or abuse. But it goes to show that God is alive. He hears. He sees. And God is still in the miracle business. But it should be made clear that Isaiah was speaking to stiff-necked people. There are some Christians who are just the opposite and have great concerns and ask God for his intervention in saving people. And God does not. I am one of them.
In October 2002, my father died from Dementia. This disease is in the Altzheimer's family. I prayed very hard for dad to be healed. God didn't. I did the same for my sister, my aunt, cousins, etc. No good. I knew that I had no 'sin' in my life, as the ancient Israelites did, that 'sin' being idols and forgetting God. (I'm not trying to cop a holier-than-thou attitude. I'm only trying to show some actions that weren't pleasing to God and he held back on his blessings from his people. In my case, God chose to answer, it just wasn't the answer that I thought it would be. God does say: 'no' on occasion. Why? I don't know. Like a lot of people, I'll be asking that question. Perhaps when Christians are gathered together, we'll automatically know the answer. We'll just have to wait and see.
In Isaiah 57 God talks specifically that 'my ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts. ' That might be a start of an answer. I just have to trust God and I do. For many people (secular and Christian) that turns them off. At that point they become very angry. My father did when my mother died of cancer. It happens for a lot of people. I can only pray for them. I can not supply them an answer. I believe that it gets down to faith. But if it is that, then I pray that those people have just a small ounce of it and that God will sooth that terrible hurt and begin from there. God doesn't ask me to climb a mountain, in terms of great things that must be done, say like Moses leading a nation. He does ask for just a small grain of sand in faith. And he'll do the rest. Amen.
March 08, 2008
Ecclesiastical Revelations
I'm almost finished this book and I can only say that it has been thus far: refreshing!
It might be where I am in my life, in that I was so bored in my life and hated about half of my job. I have been so stressed with phones, that I thought that life coulnd't get worse. But after reading how 'life is meaningless' and how it appears that the 'evil often overcomes good' it has hit me with a stange sort of peace.
Naturallly, no one likes it when evil triumps over good. Of course not. But it is helpful to know that others have been where I am now and have gotten through it. They have continued with the knowledge of God and saw the blessings that he pours out on those who love him. And despite the evil of the world, despite the evil that lurks within every heart, and despite that even the best of Believers have their evil side, God still blesses. And the righteous will stand in the day of judgement. And that promises fills me with such happiness and joy!
There are famous quotes throughout the book. 'What so ever your hand findeith to do, do so with all they might' and 'More bitter than death is a women who's heart is snares and traps' or something like that. Interesting. Of course, people twist the verses, change their meanings and apply them 'out of context.' Sttill it is good to be familiar with the Word of God. It is wonderful, I think, to believe it with all my heart. To accept its precipts and naively drink it all in and believe that by the power of the Holy Spirit, he will order my steps. Amen.
It might be where I am in my life, in that I was so bored in my life and hated about half of my job. I have been so stressed with phones, that I thought that life coulnd't get worse. But after reading how 'life is meaningless' and how it appears that the 'evil often overcomes good' it has hit me with a stange sort of peace.
Naturallly, no one likes it when evil triumps over good. Of course not. But it is helpful to know that others have been where I am now and have gotten through it. They have continued with the knowledge of God and saw the blessings that he pours out on those who love him. And despite the evil of the world, despite the evil that lurks within every heart, and despite that even the best of Believers have their evil side, God still blesses. And the righteous will stand in the day of judgement. And that promises fills me with such happiness and joy!
There are famous quotes throughout the book. 'What so ever your hand findeith to do, do so with all they might' and 'More bitter than death is a women who's heart is snares and traps' or something like that. Interesting. Of course, people twist the verses, change their meanings and apply them 'out of context.' Sttill it is good to be familiar with the Word of God. It is wonderful, I think, to believe it with all my heart. To accept its precipts and naively drink it all in and believe that by the power of the Holy Spirit, he will order my steps. Amen.
January 18, 2008
Happy New Year!
God is good.
I spent the New Years in Times Square, New York welcoming-in the new day with a million revelers! It was great. Party favors, cuzoo's, lots of people howling, shouting, holding their cell-phone cameras, digital cameras, cups of beer and otherwise! What an atmosphere and I'm glad that God let me be a part of it.
I had some concerns about traveling to the City during this time of year. I didn't know if I"d get my pocket picked. Two of my freinds in work warned me: 'be careful.' My aunt advised me, too, to be careful. (As if I was still a young child. LOL) But I had the confidence that all would go well and it did. In fact, a visitor is safer there during New Years Eve festivities than probably any time of year because there are police every twenty feet. If they aren't on food patrol in two's or three's, there riding their horses. And if they aren't doing that, they are in the vehicles. It was a wonderful feeling. But even without that, God gave me the 'green light' to go out and have a good time.
I took down the Amtrak from Boston. My trip into Penn Station took about four hours. From their, I climbed a non-working escaltor to the mezzaine and made my way to the Metro. I had planned on walking the eight to ten blocks to Times Square, but I found that I had to pay to get out of the Metro station. New York, much like Boston and Washington, DC, London, and several other big cities, offers a self-serve computer with a 'press this screen' menu. For $2.00 I could by a single pass and, at the suggestion of a transit employee, I took the train one stop and got off at 8th Avenue and East 43. And that was pretty much my view on the world and I had a great time.
New York City is a great place to visit. So much to see and do, even though the Writer's Strike has cripled most of the theaters that draw in thousands each week. But the restaturants, stores, street life, Port Authority, etc (even the new giant New York Times building) was impressive to see. (Already I want to go back) But I believe that I could have given into fear -- and missed a totally good time. (BTW, the idea for traveling down popped into my mind just Monday morning.) If I had gave into fear, instead of using common sense and trusting God for my safety and security, I'd be home right now -- another lonely new years night. But I'm glad I trusted in God.
It will be a good, new year!
I spent the New Years in Times Square, New York welcoming-in the new day with a million revelers! It was great. Party favors, cuzoo's, lots of people howling, shouting, holding their cell-phone cameras, digital cameras, cups of beer and otherwise! What an atmosphere and I'm glad that God let me be a part of it.
I had some concerns about traveling to the City during this time of year. I didn't know if I"d get my pocket picked. Two of my freinds in work warned me: 'be careful.' My aunt advised me, too, to be careful. (As if I was still a young child. LOL) But I had the confidence that all would go well and it did. In fact, a visitor is safer there during New Years Eve festivities than probably any time of year because there are police every twenty feet. If they aren't on food patrol in two's or three's, there riding their horses. And if they aren't doing that, they are in the vehicles. It was a wonderful feeling. But even without that, God gave me the 'green light' to go out and have a good time.
I took down the Amtrak from Boston. My trip into Penn Station took about four hours. From their, I climbed a non-working escaltor to the mezzaine and made my way to the Metro. I had planned on walking the eight to ten blocks to Times Square, but I found that I had to pay to get out of the Metro station. New York, much like Boston and Washington, DC, London, and several other big cities, offers a self-serve computer with a 'press this screen' menu. For $2.00 I could by a single pass and, at the suggestion of a transit employee, I took the train one stop and got off at 8th Avenue and East 43. And that was pretty much my view on the world and I had a great time.
New York City is a great place to visit. So much to see and do, even though the Writer's Strike has cripled most of the theaters that draw in thousands each week. But the restaturants, stores, street life, Port Authority, etc (even the new giant New York Times building) was impressive to see. (Already I want to go back) But I believe that I could have given into fear -- and missed a totally good time. (BTW, the idea for traveling down popped into my mind just Monday morning.) If I had gave into fear, instead of using common sense and trusting God for my safety and security, I'd be home right now -- another lonely new years night. But I'm glad I trusted in God.
It will be a good, new year!
January 01, 2008
Psalm 65: 4
My NKJV version reads as follows:
"Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple."
The word that strikes me is ‘courts.’ In David’s day, a ‘court’ wasn’t the place where lawyers argue over civil and criminal law. They were a place of refuge and blessing. A person in the king’s court ate well. They dressed well. They were treated well and were protected. To ‘dwell’ in the king’s court, meant that you lived there. The ‘king’ in this day, is very much like God in that you are not arrested, but you came of your own free will. The Psalmist speaks of ‘causing’ one to ‘approach’ God.
How wonderful! How absolutely divine that something so invisible as the finger of God, unseen to the human eye, but it nonetheless, so real and powerful, that the person leaves their life behind that he may ‘dwell’ in God’s ‘courts.’ When I read this, I automatically thought of a similar verse found in John 6:44 which reads: ‘ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…” David speaks that if such an event happens, the man who heeds the invitation is blessed and that we shall be ‘satisfied’ with the goodness of God’s house.
And again there, the Psalmist writes: ‘We shall be satisfied with the goodness of God’s house.’ How wonderful. ‘Satisfied’ suggests to me that they are aware of much more that exists with God; perhaps higher office, wealth, knowledge, sensual luxuries. But they are not asking for that. ‘Goodness’ seems to suggest that they would be happy with just the basics that they probably weren’t getting in the life that they had or if they did get them, it was probably at dear price. (terrible labor, hunting in the wild, bartering with devious people, etc.) It's a beautiful promise.
I feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction in that my decision to follow Christ was a correct one.
Of course, in the modern vein, I don’t ‘dwell’ in a court in any way as nice as those were in David’s day. I live in one of over one hundred apartment units in a high-rise in a major metropolitan city. I have to work for living to keep it. Yet, the promise is the same. By faith, I have accepted God’s son for the atonement of my sins and by faith, I will be in the house of God when I die. Until then, God’s blessings will suffice.
In this verse God is looking down on the Psalmists' David's troubles. David reflects on God's wisdom in choosing any person and prompting that person to come and know and experience God in his fantastic courts, even this broken-hearted servant that is regretting his past actions.
The verse also prompts me to realize that God doesn't make robots. He makes us with minds that allow us to choose which way we want to go. He understands our spirit. He knows why we choose what we choose and what the consequences will be from our choices.
David is on the run from Saul. Not only does he have to flee for his life, the people that he knew best: family, business associates, his fellow countrymen, are out to malign him, twist his words, and otherwise break him down physically and mentally. But in this terrible trial, God realizes that God continues to be his best friend. David knows that God will create a terrible end for who are persecuting him. He only need wait on the Lord.
I've read the Psalms before. From Psalm 1 to Psalm 150. They're beautiful words of hope and peace. And they are so much a part of our public lives as Christians. We hear them on the radio, we see them inscribed on buildings (Psalm 8:3-4 ...What is man that you are mindful of him...) We’re preached them from the pulpit. I don't know a Christian, past or present, which hasn't found some amount of solace in them.
Each year as I attempt to read the Bible through (it usually takes me about a year and three months) I reflect on the life and experiences that God has taken me through. Although I have not had the exact struggles that the Psalmist has had, I've endured my bumps and hurdles. I've gone through (and am going through) financial challenges, physical and mental stresses, career uncertainties, deep loneliness, questions on my identity and of course, rich, wonderful blessings. We all go through them. The war in Iraq. The mortgage crisis. Global warming. Unspeakable crimes that beggar the imagination. Loss of family and friends. These all wear away at our souls and we (at least I do) wonder when God is going to come and call it all to a halt. (I often wish it would be tomorrow. Other times, I wish he'd hold off, not only for the sake of the lost, so they can get the embraced the message and be saved, but that his children can get some things done here on this planet that we've set our hearts on, so we can mature in our faith.) But on this day, God's grace has left me here to abide by and do His will. By his mercy, I've been spared disaster and danger. My God is a good God! And I give him all the praise and glory.
The Devil has me on his calendar. Every day, Satan is mounting a campaign to attack me or trip me up. Satan knows me better than I know myself. Like any enemy, he crouches in the darkness, watching and waiting to strike. But my God is there, too. He has put his Word in my mouth. He has his angels around me to protect me. I have more challenges to endure in this life. But if I hold on to the hand of God, I'll be able to make it through.
I'm struck by the earlier verse: 'Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.' (verse 3) How awesome, that the Psalmist, carried on by the Holy Spirit, may have seen (or felt) the promise of the upcoming sacrifice of Jesus himself! He is our ultimate atonement. We can't help our sin nature. In our flesh, we often give-in to sin. David brought an entire world of problems on himself by his sins. (Bathsheba, the poor raising of his son Ammon and subsequent rape of his half sister Tamar, the unauthorized census he took of his people.) But God admires a repentant heart and a contrite spirit. He often disciplines, but he is merciful in his disciplining. And it is always for our own good.
So, there my dear fellow Christian! Walk in God's grace. Walk in his power. Walk in faith of his promises. God's face will shine down you. And God's blessings will flow down on you like a mighty river.
Amen!
"Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple."
The word that strikes me is ‘courts.’ In David’s day, a ‘court’ wasn’t the place where lawyers argue over civil and criminal law. They were a place of refuge and blessing. A person in the king’s court ate well. They dressed well. They were treated well and were protected. To ‘dwell’ in the king’s court, meant that you lived there. The ‘king’ in this day, is very much like God in that you are not arrested, but you came of your own free will. The Psalmist speaks of ‘causing’ one to ‘approach’ God.
How wonderful! How absolutely divine that something so invisible as the finger of God, unseen to the human eye, but it nonetheless, so real and powerful, that the person leaves their life behind that he may ‘dwell’ in God’s ‘courts.’ When I read this, I automatically thought of a similar verse found in John 6:44 which reads: ‘ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…” David speaks that if such an event happens, the man who heeds the invitation is blessed and that we shall be ‘satisfied’ with the goodness of God’s house.
And again there, the Psalmist writes: ‘We shall be satisfied with the goodness of God’s house.’ How wonderful. ‘Satisfied’ suggests to me that they are aware of much more that exists with God; perhaps higher office, wealth, knowledge, sensual luxuries. But they are not asking for that. ‘Goodness’ seems to suggest that they would be happy with just the basics that they probably weren’t getting in the life that they had or if they did get them, it was probably at dear price. (terrible labor, hunting in the wild, bartering with devious people, etc.) It's a beautiful promise.
I feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction in that my decision to follow Christ was a correct one.
Of course, in the modern vein, I don’t ‘dwell’ in a court in any way as nice as those were in David’s day. I live in one of over one hundred apartment units in a high-rise in a major metropolitan city. I have to work for living to keep it. Yet, the promise is the same. By faith, I have accepted God’s son for the atonement of my sins and by faith, I will be in the house of God when I die. Until then, God’s blessings will suffice.
In this verse God is looking down on the Psalmists' David's troubles. David reflects on God's wisdom in choosing any person and prompting that person to come and know and experience God in his fantastic courts, even this broken-hearted servant that is regretting his past actions.
The verse also prompts me to realize that God doesn't make robots. He makes us with minds that allow us to choose which way we want to go. He understands our spirit. He knows why we choose what we choose and what the consequences will be from our choices.
David is on the run from Saul. Not only does he have to flee for his life, the people that he knew best: family, business associates, his fellow countrymen, are out to malign him, twist his words, and otherwise break him down physically and mentally. But in this terrible trial, God realizes that God continues to be his best friend. David knows that God will create a terrible end for who are persecuting him. He only need wait on the Lord.
I've read the Psalms before. From Psalm 1 to Psalm 150. They're beautiful words of hope and peace. And they are so much a part of our public lives as Christians. We hear them on the radio, we see them inscribed on buildings (Psalm 8:3-4 ...What is man that you are mindful of him...) We’re preached them from the pulpit. I don't know a Christian, past or present, which hasn't found some amount of solace in them.
Each year as I attempt to read the Bible through (it usually takes me about a year and three months) I reflect on the life and experiences that God has taken me through. Although I have not had the exact struggles that the Psalmist has had, I've endured my bumps and hurdles. I've gone through (and am going through) financial challenges, physical and mental stresses, career uncertainties, deep loneliness, questions on my identity and of course, rich, wonderful blessings. We all go through them. The war in Iraq. The mortgage crisis. Global warming. Unspeakable crimes that beggar the imagination. Loss of family and friends. These all wear away at our souls and we (at least I do) wonder when God is going to come and call it all to a halt. (I often wish it would be tomorrow. Other times, I wish he'd hold off, not only for the sake of the lost, so they can get the embraced the message and be saved, but that his children can get some things done here on this planet that we've set our hearts on, so we can mature in our faith.) But on this day, God's grace has left me here to abide by and do His will. By his mercy, I've been spared disaster and danger. My God is a good God! And I give him all the praise and glory.
The Devil has me on his calendar. Every day, Satan is mounting a campaign to attack me or trip me up. Satan knows me better than I know myself. Like any enemy, he crouches in the darkness, watching and waiting to strike. But my God is there, too. He has put his Word in my mouth. He has his angels around me to protect me. I have more challenges to endure in this life. But if I hold on to the hand of God, I'll be able to make it through.
I'm struck by the earlier verse: 'Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.' (verse 3) How awesome, that the Psalmist, carried on by the Holy Spirit, may have seen (or felt) the promise of the upcoming sacrifice of Jesus himself! He is our ultimate atonement. We can't help our sin nature. In our flesh, we often give-in to sin. David brought an entire world of problems on himself by his sins. (Bathsheba, the poor raising of his son Ammon and subsequent rape of his half sister Tamar, the unauthorized census he took of his people.) But God admires a repentant heart and a contrite spirit. He often disciplines, but he is merciful in his disciplining. And it is always for our own good.
So, there my dear fellow Christian! Walk in God's grace. Walk in his power. Walk in faith of his promises. God's face will shine down you. And God's blessings will flow down on you like a mighty river.
Amen!
November 12, 2007