A short word on myself. I've been away. Sometimes I didn't come back because I didn't want to face myself. Sometimes I didn't come back because I felt doing so would only be fooling myself that someone else could find anything helpful from my text.
Always I've failed to come back because I've been afraid to get right with God and because I've feared my calling and have continued to run from it. I still fear it. Please pray for me should you read this now, or years from now.
I haven't slept tonight, I've been caught up in thought. Somewhere along my thoughts God granted the blessing (yet again as he is faithful in always doing) of his presence in my thoughts.
I need to strengthen my faith and had intended to search his word to help me do so. Sometimes what we want isn't what we need most. Sometimes though we need one thing, he grants us it by giving us what we really needed even more.
James 1:5-7. First take a moment before reading any other scripture, to read this passage.
The KJV is only hard to understand if we neglect to ask for understanding. I'll give you this one portion, but you must read it all to understand this "and it shall be given him"
My search on faith led me first to Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The word faith wasn't used there, but you can be assured that the whole verse deals directly with faith.
This led me to Romans 10:15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Whoa, scary. I am NOT worthy, I am NOT a picture of God's salvation. Time to get that way in no uncertain terms.
"And how shall they preach, except they be sent?"
Kinda boomerangs on me there. There have been places and times I should have gone and shared God's word on my heart. This isn't the only meaning to be taken here, and I STRONGLY recommend reading the WHOLE passage of Romans chapter 10.
"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace," My feet are NOT beautiful. I can't picture anything about me personally (other than God in my life). I can't see me being a beautiful creature through God's will. I do know it is possible. I do know it is his will. I do know I can be what he wants me to be or he'd never called me.
This isn't all there is to take from this and let's NOT miss what comes after "preach". It's not just that I've been avoiding my calling, I've also only now looked at what I already know to be true. To preach the gospel of peace. I have always known that the gospel is peace. I have always known that God's will for us all is peace. I have never read this passage before as it is shown me now. I want peace Love and joy for all. I truly do and this isn't something that I've just starting wanting, but it is just now that I realize that in running from my calling, I'm not just failing God in not sharing his word. I've been failing God in not sharing HIM.... not sharing peace.... not sharing Love.... not sharing joy.... not sharing God!
"and bring glad tidings of good things!" Wow. Where to start............
Heaven isn't the joyful gift Jesus has brought us through his sacrifice. We can and should know joy on earth as we can and should life in the joy of God. We should all know the joy of sharing God in our lives with others, both lost AND saved, and we should know this joy all the days of our lives!
Next I find Mark 11:22
And Jesus answering saith unto them, "Have faith in God."
I have to have faith that God's gonna prepare me and make me as he wills me. I have to let go and let God work in me. This is by FAR not all that we get here.
Back to my initial search on strengthening my faith. "Have faith in God."
Pretty cut and dried! Need faith? Have faith! Need stronger faith. Have faith! Need it? It's yours!
Next we find Mark 11:23
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
FAITH!!!! It's not a parable, it's a fact, read it as one. Read it again. Take account of the simple fact that God's word is true and is fact. Now read it again.
"and shall not doubt in his heart"
Ever had the faith that you could do it? Whatever it is, just had the faith that it could and would happen if you did it?............. And then at the final second, at the moment of putting it in action, allowed your faith to falter? Same here my friend, same here. Now let's not read it in context of "what if", but rather read it more as a guide, that we not doubt in our hearts.
Read it now with me please for the simple standalone fact it presents. "And SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART"! Not only do we see that we can do great things in faith, but we see that we NEED to do great things in faith. We need GREAT FAITH!
Now I find Daniel 12:24
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Please, take the time to read Daniel, chapter 12. It's a short passage. You may wish to read a little ahead of it and perhaps a little beyond it. But please. asking God for understanding and believing he can and will grant it, read it. I have much more to gain from this scripture.
Today IS a wonderful day. God has given it to us and therefor it IS beautiful. Let us see the beauty. Let us live this day in commune with God. Prayer doesn't have to stop because we need to talk on a phone or any other task of the day. Prayer can continue though all events of our day and we'd do ourselves well to do so.
Thank you for sharing this with me and as always, please share all you will. Comments are open and you are not only welcome to post, but I ask that you please share all you will.
Thank you,
Frank
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
A Brother or Sister in need
A Brother or Sister in need. We have a duty to them as they are our Father's Children such as ourselves. To overlook them is akin to throwing away a thousand pounds of food simply because it's not on the menu you wish to prepare for the hungry, it's not Christian and it's foolish.
We need to pray for one another! Daily. Hourly. By the breath we need to pray for one another that each of us would grow and that each of us would strengthen the body we are all part of. If another should ask for our prayers and we fail them, we fail God. Plain and simple.
These are troubled times about us now and there are only a few ways to make things better.
Prayer
Action
Faith
Spreading God's word
These are a few of them, but it's kinda a trick statement of sorts as it all comes down to Action.
Join me this time we are of life in God and pray for all of our Brothers and Sisters health in life and in THE Lord, and all who are not saved, now that THE Holy Spirit would yet again touch upon their hearts to come to the truth.
Don't cast your nets now, cast God's nets now.
Our salvation was not free and indeed cost more than the lot of us could have made a deposit on, but it was paid by one who owed no debt and offered us freely. We all have a debt paid for, but it's up to us to accept the payment in His honor and not drown in our debt.
I'll leave it there for now and ask you to please even now pray for me. Pray for me to be a better tool for God. Pray for me to be a better me. Pray for me to strengthen my faith and grow in it. Pray for all.
I also ask that you would pray for a dear young couple who've been married less than a year and have just experienced the loss of a child through miscarriage. They do fully know that their child is NOT lost and instead never had to know the sorrows of this world, but they still know a loss I would want for no one.
Thank you and Thank God for you,
Frank
We need to pray for one another! Daily. Hourly. By the breath we need to pray for one another that each of us would grow and that each of us would strengthen the body we are all part of. If another should ask for our prayers and we fail them, we fail God. Plain and simple.
These are troubled times about us now and there are only a few ways to make things better.
Prayer
Action
Faith
Spreading God's word
These are a few of them, but it's kinda a trick statement of sorts as it all comes down to Action.
Join me this time we are of life in God and pray for all of our Brothers and Sisters health in life and in THE Lord, and all who are not saved, now that THE Holy Spirit would yet again touch upon their hearts to come to the truth.
Don't cast your nets now, cast God's nets now.
Our salvation was not free and indeed cost more than the lot of us could have made a deposit on, but it was paid by one who owed no debt and offered us freely. We all have a debt paid for, but it's up to us to accept the payment in His honor and not drown in our debt.
I'll leave it there for now and ask you to please even now pray for me. Pray for me to be a better tool for God. Pray for me to be a better me. Pray for me to strengthen my faith and grow in it. Pray for all.
I also ask that you would pray for a dear young couple who've been married less than a year and have just experienced the loss of a child through miscarriage. They do fully know that their child is NOT lost and instead never had to know the sorrows of this world, but they still know a loss I would want for no one.
Thank you and Thank God for you,
Frank
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Power of Faith
Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Faith.
Faith.
Faith.
Faith is key to our journey. Great miracles seem to be things of the past when in fact, with strong Faith in God, they are not. Great miracles happen all around us every day and seldom do we even take notice.
Believing and having faith that things will come to pass which have been asked (in faith) of God which will better us, another or even make our lives a little easier, we will see things come to pass. More?
Well, we can believe all day that God can grant us the desires of our hearts (not our minds and NOT our greed) and without having faith in him to do so, it's meaningless.
Faith brings great peace. If you want to know peace within yourself, nurture and grow your faith. Pray for strength in faith, believing that it will come to pass (faith) and it will.
Now let's take another look at this scripture in more context.
Matthew 15:21-28
21Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
A woman of faith comes before Jesus and asks first that he have mercy on her, acknowledging him as her Lord. Then she asks his healing of her child. It's noteworthy that she didn't ask for money or means to have her child cared for. She didn't ask for her child's healing AND wealth or anything of the like. She asked Jesus to heal her daughter.
She didn't ask "hoping" that he could, she asked knowing he could.
She then worshiped him WHILE saying "Lord help me".
Jesus then tought more and had her show her true faith by replying that it would not be good to take from the chosen people to give to the heathens. It's important to note that here is proved that He came for all, not just the few, that not one would have to do without for another to have his grace, and that faith in Him would bring grace.
Showing her faith, she replied that no, it would not be right to take from God's chosen people to give to a heathen (her), but that even the tiniest "crum" of blessing would be not only plentiful, but more than enough.
Jesus then told her that her faith is great and grant's her request. Her daughter was not made whole eventually, but rather was made whole that very hour.
That passage pretty well explains what great faith can do. That's not all the passage teaches us, but it DOES show the power of faith.
I can remember a time when my faith in God was strong and I recall the peace, joy and security of that time. It is my folly that I am not of such faith now and that I ever let it falter. This is my focus, I long to have that closeness with God and I must have full faith to get there. I strive now for full faith to help me be fully faithful.
If you would to do so, I ask for your prayers for myself and all who are on this journey or might just be beginning. I now end this post to go to God in prayer for my weak faith and I pray as well for all who desire it as well.
As always, please share all you will.
Thank you,
Frank
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Faith.
Faith.
Faith.
Faith is key to our journey. Great miracles seem to be things of the past when in fact, with strong Faith in God, they are not. Great miracles happen all around us every day and seldom do we even take notice.
Believing and having faith that things will come to pass which have been asked (in faith) of God which will better us, another or even make our lives a little easier, we will see things come to pass. More?
Well, we can believe all day that God can grant us the desires of our hearts (not our minds and NOT our greed) and without having faith in him to do so, it's meaningless.
Faith brings great peace. If you want to know peace within yourself, nurture and grow your faith. Pray for strength in faith, believing that it will come to pass (faith) and it will.
Now let's take another look at this scripture in more context.
Matthew 15:21-28
21Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
22And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
A woman of faith comes before Jesus and asks first that he have mercy on her, acknowledging him as her Lord. Then she asks his healing of her child. It's noteworthy that she didn't ask for money or means to have her child cared for. She didn't ask for her child's healing AND wealth or anything of the like. She asked Jesus to heal her daughter.
She didn't ask "hoping" that he could, she asked knowing he could.
She then worshiped him WHILE saying "Lord help me".
Jesus then tought more and had her show her true faith by replying that it would not be good to take from the chosen people to give to the heathens. It's important to note that here is proved that He came for all, not just the few, that not one would have to do without for another to have his grace, and that faith in Him would bring grace.
Showing her faith, she replied that no, it would not be right to take from God's chosen people to give to a heathen (her), but that even the tiniest "crum" of blessing would be not only plentiful, but more than enough.
Jesus then told her that her faith is great and grant's her request. Her daughter was not made whole eventually, but rather was made whole that very hour.
That passage pretty well explains what great faith can do. That's not all the passage teaches us, but it DOES show the power of faith.
I can remember a time when my faith in God was strong and I recall the peace, joy and security of that time. It is my folly that I am not of such faith now and that I ever let it falter. This is my focus, I long to have that closeness with God and I must have full faith to get there. I strive now for full faith to help me be fully faithful.
If you would to do so, I ask for your prayers for myself and all who are on this journey or might just be beginning. I now end this post to go to God in prayer for my weak faith and I pray as well for all who desire it as well.
As always, please share all you will.
Thank you,
Frank
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Focus
Today I failed to focus any of my time or energy toward my journey to become what God would have me to be.
Up until the time I began this post, God has NOT been on my mind. For this I have no excuse. I have slept and I have rested, but I have NOT done what I should.
Here and now my heart is heavy with the knowledge that I could have done much this very day.
Today was a blessing. I have had another day on this earth. I have had another chance to appreciate the blessing of family, health, home and much more. Let's contemplate the blessings we often overlook.
I am a tow truck driver for a living and I see daily the things we humans do to ourselves and each other. I also see flat tires, simple breakdowns and the occasional vehicle ran out of fuel.
Blessings can come during the most horrid times as well as the most joyful.
I have seen people who have survived terrible accidents and had the faith to sing the praise of God for allowing them safe passage through such times.
I have seen people who have had simple breakdowns who had the presence of faith to observe that there could well be a reason for such. I've even heard "this could have been what kept me from being in a specific place at a specific time where there could be a deadly wreck or otherwise" (NOT an exact quote, sorry).
I've seen the adverse as well. I have been of such mind myself and I KNOW that it IS my responsibility to not only take the joy of being God's worker, but to share it. I have done so and found joy in it. I have also failed to do so and have missed out. Worst, I have shown up with, obtained during or left with a bad attitude and not only have I missed out, but I may well have made another's day worse in the process. There is no excuse.
There is not a moment of our lives that God is not here for us. He knows the count of every hair on our heads. We ARE blessed!
When we take a breath, we have breath to praise God.
When we share time with another, we have time to share the joy of being God's servant.
When we eat we have a chance to remember what God has done for us. There was the loaves and fishes, the care of the stranger and the last supper as just a few examples.
As we live, we have the opportunities to spread love, to spread God's word.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Psalms 40:10
Psalms 89
Proverbs 13:17
Proverbs 14:5
Proverbs 25:13
Proverbs 28:20
Matthew 8:26
Matthew 9:2
Matthew 9:22
Matthew 15:28
Let us take time on our faith and learn. Here will likely be the focus for a little while of this blog.
Thank you,
Frank
Up until the time I began this post, God has NOT been on my mind. For this I have no excuse. I have slept and I have rested, but I have NOT done what I should.
Here and now my heart is heavy with the knowledge that I could have done much this very day.
Today was a blessing. I have had another day on this earth. I have had another chance to appreciate the blessing of family, health, home and much more. Let's contemplate the blessings we often overlook.
I am a tow truck driver for a living and I see daily the things we humans do to ourselves and each other. I also see flat tires, simple breakdowns and the occasional vehicle ran out of fuel.
Blessings can come during the most horrid times as well as the most joyful.
I have seen people who have survived terrible accidents and had the faith to sing the praise of God for allowing them safe passage through such times.
I have seen people who have had simple breakdowns who had the presence of faith to observe that there could well be a reason for such. I've even heard "this could have been what kept me from being in a specific place at a specific time where there could be a deadly wreck or otherwise" (NOT an exact quote, sorry).
I've seen the adverse as well. I have been of such mind myself and I KNOW that it IS my responsibility to not only take the joy of being God's worker, but to share it. I have done so and found joy in it. I have also failed to do so and have missed out. Worst, I have shown up with, obtained during or left with a bad attitude and not only have I missed out, but I may well have made another's day worse in the process. There is no excuse.
There is not a moment of our lives that God is not here for us. He knows the count of every hair on our heads. We ARE blessed!
When we take a breath, we have breath to praise God.
When we share time with another, we have time to share the joy of being God's servant.
When we eat we have a chance to remember what God has done for us. There was the loaves and fishes, the care of the stranger and the last supper as just a few examples.
As we live, we have the opportunities to spread love, to spread God's word.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Psalms 40:10
Psalms 89
Proverbs 13:17
Proverbs 14:5
Proverbs 25:13
Proverbs 28:20
Matthew 8:26
Matthew 9:2
Matthew 9:22
Matthew 15:28
Let us take time on our faith and learn. Here will likely be the focus for a little while of this blog.
Thank you,
Frank
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Showing and sharing this Christmas
That's today's topic. What's it mean? Settle back and we'll explore it all together.
You see, I do this for myself as much as in hopes that it might help another.
Let's begin with "Showing" Christmas.
First off let's define Christmas.
To come to mass is to come together in recognition and/or celebration and to the greatest point to honor God.
Christmas then to my way of thinking would be the coming together in recognition and celebration of Christ's coming to be with us in human form in this world.
We strike a few points there.
Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth
Christmas is the coming together of people to honor Christ over the recognition of his birth.
Christmas is the gathering of Christians to praise God for having his Son Jesus Christ be born unto the earth and for the ultimate gift He gave us that would have THE most worthy life to have ever been born to the world not only show us how to live, but also to pay the debt of every soul that is and will be. For no other man born to earth would be worthy to pay even his own debt of sin, let alone that of all. Only the sinless Christ could pay such a debt. And so he did.
Let's review thus far:
Christmas is a time to come together and praise God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost for doing something out of pure love for us that in turn offered us each eternal salvation if only we accept it.
Yes, we should do this year round, day in and day out, but there should be a day set aside to focus on nothing but this most beautiful gift God gave us. Such there is. It is called Christmas!
Now onto "showing" Christmas.
Many people decorate their houses and yards in light. This can be quite proper if done to commemorate the light that was given to the world that wondrous day.
Many people come together in groups to "carol". To sing songs of the season. This too can be quite proper if the songs are in celebration, recognition and praise of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.
These are but a few examples of common forms, but by now I think we should begin to see the common denominator. GOD
There are in fact many ways to show Christmas and the most important is to have God strong in our hearts, for with God in our hearts, it WILL show. Then all we need do is share the joy within us!
That brings us to our second topic, "Sharing".
Let's explore sharing Christmas.
Sharing Christmas is to share the joy of life eternal, the very gift God gave us beginning with Christ's birth.
There are more ways to do this than there are numbers to recognize them all.
A simple act of kindness done in Christ's name.
A prayer that the Holy Spirit would place the truth once more upon a lost soul that perhaps this time that soul might accept Jesus.
The easiest way to know that you are sharing Christmas as God would appreciate it done is to pray to God in Jesus name, asking for his perfect guidance in your life.
To do this we must go to god in prayer without sin........
But wait! We are all sinners! Correct. We should strive not day by day, but rather heart beat by heart beat to not sin. If there is however unforgiven sin within us, Jesus gave us the gift of using his name to ask forgiveness.
So.........
Entering into prayer with God, we ask in Jesus' name that he forgive us our sins that we might be closer to him and that we might hear more clearly his voice. This requires Faith. The wonderful thing is that God will help you grow your faith as well if only you'll ask.
In prayer with God, with sins forgiven through Jesus' name, we have an open channel with God and can ask and receive. The most important thing here in my own personal walk with the Lord is to remember that this prayer does not have to end.
Correct! Pray without ceasing does not have to mean pray, then stop, the immediately start again.
Let's examine the word "Amen" to keep things short and simple, it means "so be it" or "let it be so" and is a word of faith that we believe in God to do what he said he will. If you don't believe it, or don't mean it, DON'T SAY IT. What it does NOT mean is "the end" as it is often taken to be.
God doesn't hear "amen" and turn off the radio switch. We CAN continue to speak and commune with GOD. In fact it's important to note that He IS our greatest friend and we can talk with him as we would with a friend. We can talk about our day, even that funny noise our car's making. We can talk about life, about the funny mistake we made earlier today that made us feel goofy until we finally laughed it off.
Ever have that phone conversation with a friend that just seemed to go on forever and yet seemed as though it had only been minutes at the same time? We can have that with God as well.
We can Show and Share Christmas in many many ways, but the most effective is with our lives.
Let us not forget.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Share some joy with someone today
and show some eternal happiness along the way
Thanks again,
Frank
You see, I do this for myself as much as in hopes that it might help another.
Let's begin with "Showing" Christmas.
First off let's define Christmas.
To come to mass is to come together in recognition and/or celebration and to the greatest point to honor God.
Christmas then to my way of thinking would be the coming together in recognition and celebration of Christ's coming to be with us in human form in this world.
We strike a few points there.
Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth
Christmas is the coming together of people to honor Christ over the recognition of his birth.
Christmas is the gathering of Christians to praise God for having his Son Jesus Christ be born unto the earth and for the ultimate gift He gave us that would have THE most worthy life to have ever been born to the world not only show us how to live, but also to pay the debt of every soul that is and will be. For no other man born to earth would be worthy to pay even his own debt of sin, let alone that of all. Only the sinless Christ could pay such a debt. And so he did.
Let's review thus far:
Christmas is a time to come together and praise God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost for doing something out of pure love for us that in turn offered us each eternal salvation if only we accept it.
Yes, we should do this year round, day in and day out, but there should be a day set aside to focus on nothing but this most beautiful gift God gave us. Such there is. It is called Christmas!
Now onto "showing" Christmas.
Many people decorate their houses and yards in light. This can be quite proper if done to commemorate the light that was given to the world that wondrous day.
Many people come together in groups to "carol". To sing songs of the season. This too can be quite proper if the songs are in celebration, recognition and praise of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.
These are but a few examples of common forms, but by now I think we should begin to see the common denominator. GOD
There are in fact many ways to show Christmas and the most important is to have God strong in our hearts, for with God in our hearts, it WILL show. Then all we need do is share the joy within us!
That brings us to our second topic, "Sharing".
Let's explore sharing Christmas.
Sharing Christmas is to share the joy of life eternal, the very gift God gave us beginning with Christ's birth.
There are more ways to do this than there are numbers to recognize them all.
A simple act of kindness done in Christ's name.
A prayer that the Holy Spirit would place the truth once more upon a lost soul that perhaps this time that soul might accept Jesus.
The easiest way to know that you are sharing Christmas as God would appreciate it done is to pray to God in Jesus name, asking for his perfect guidance in your life.
To do this we must go to god in prayer without sin........
But wait! We are all sinners! Correct. We should strive not day by day, but rather heart beat by heart beat to not sin. If there is however unforgiven sin within us, Jesus gave us the gift of using his name to ask forgiveness.
So.........
Entering into prayer with God, we ask in Jesus' name that he forgive us our sins that we might be closer to him and that we might hear more clearly his voice. This requires Faith. The wonderful thing is that God will help you grow your faith as well if only you'll ask.
In prayer with God, with sins forgiven through Jesus' name, we have an open channel with God and can ask and receive. The most important thing here in my own personal walk with the Lord is to remember that this prayer does not have to end.
Correct! Pray without ceasing does not have to mean pray, then stop, the immediately start again.
Let's examine the word "Amen" to keep things short and simple, it means "so be it" or "let it be so" and is a word of faith that we believe in God to do what he said he will. If you don't believe it, or don't mean it, DON'T SAY IT. What it does NOT mean is "the end" as it is often taken to be.
God doesn't hear "amen" and turn off the radio switch. We CAN continue to speak and commune with GOD. In fact it's important to note that He IS our greatest friend and we can talk with him as we would with a friend. We can talk about our day, even that funny noise our car's making. We can talk about life, about the funny mistake we made earlier today that made us feel goofy until we finally laughed it off.
Ever have that phone conversation with a friend that just seemed to go on forever and yet seemed as though it had only been minutes at the same time? We can have that with God as well.
We can Show and Share Christmas in many many ways, but the most effective is with our lives.
Let us not forget.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Share some joy with someone today
and show some eternal happiness along the way
Thanks again,
Frank
Friday, December 12, 2008
A little introduction
What are we but mere men and women?
We are God's creation.
We are not hateful foul things from the beginning, but rather are quite adept to turning ourselves to such.
We are still God's creation.
We are not artists of our surroundings, but rather are capable of seeing the art with which God has surrounded us.
We are ALL God's creations.
We are not lost journiers on life's great voyage, we have not only a map, but a guide who's already taken every step before us.
We are still God's creation.
We see evil men and call them evil. We should witness to them and shine God's love upon them.
We are ALL God's creation.
We blow time, energy, health and much much more in search of happiness, and yet God did not create us for misery.
We are still God's creation.
We search endlessly for the meaning of life when we know that it's well defined already.
We are still God's creation.
We praise our heroes of the football field, the baseball diamond, the race track and in all manner of such, while we hold praise from the only one who could give us our very lives to experience such.
We are still God's creation.
We search for emptiness of things we wish not to feel or know in bottles, pipes, straws, syringes, pills and other forms of mind altering drugs, when all we need do is hand our worries to God and consider them no more.
We are still God's creation.
We look to "programs" to beat addictions that we have come to call "disease" in order to remove some of the blame from our selves. We go through steps, even forgiving ourselves in hopes that these lies will help us to not abuse. Yet we know full well that God can cure not only cancer, but even death it's self.
Drunks are not destine to always be drunks, drug addicts are not always destine to be addicts, yet those who refuse to believe in God's power are certainly likely to remain as such.
WE are still God's creation.
Sometimes the fact that I'm a poor house keeper comes to burden me. I may slip on something on the floor that I should have picked up some time before and did not. It is no fault of God's when I injure myself in such a blunder, but it is the grace of God that it's not worse than it is.
I have little money and live paycheck to paycheck. I have many wants and often give in to them in some way or another only to find that now that I have that truck I wanted so bad, I have no time or money to fix it or get insurance and registration.
At this particular point in time we are heating a large old house with space heaters because we can not afford to replace the leaking gas lines and even if we did, we can not afford the high price of natural gas, and yet we are happy and we are home. Somehow we end up staying warm. I wonder if anyone can guess who's blessed us with that. Quite simply, God has and Glory be his
for he is Glory, Praise be his for he is above all praise worthy. Thanks be his in the like for he is always giving.
I've heard it said that perhaps one human could find enough goodness in his heart to give his life (with NO call for praise or memorial) to save the masses.
I have NOT heard of the man who loves his child as I do mine and could send that child to die for the masses.
The point is meaningless either way, for God the Father did send his Son, Jesus Christ to pay the debt of all of our sins, yours and mine alike. No one of us is good enough to pay such debt for the
masses in any fashion. Jesus was up to the task and he did die for each and every one of us that has been, is or will be.
We ARE God's creation and He is still the perfect sculptor. He can take the worst of me or of any of you and not only remove the bad, but replace it with his perfect hands. He can make of us more than we could ever hope to be. He can make of us that which we are intended to be. He can make our lives worth while. He can make our days meaningful and warm.
My name is Frank. My nickname is Freaky One as I am a bit of a freak :)
I was born in a semi small town in Alabama in 1971 with the help of a good man and great Doctor. I was a "dry birth" and things did not go so well. I spent some large amount of time in an oxygen tent though I don't recall the actual amount of time as told me by my parents. My childhood began in Pine Hills, Fort Payne, Alabama.
We lived in a nice house, though it was never quite finished, it was still a very nice house.
Though I've never actually come to understand the frailties that were supposed to be mine, I was heavily restricted that I not get hurt. I have two older brothers. The oldest brother was no protector and preferred to hide within his belongings than to help his little brother. The middle brother was something of a torturer and it took me some time to finally say to myself that enough was enough and stop allowing such torture.
For years I was an easy target for my older brother and most anyone in school with a new fighting badge to pick up. I would stand and take the punches, kicks and whatever was thrown at me, for I did not want the punishment that came later at home from fighting. Never the less I would always be beaten and otherwise punished for fighting. I would get in even worse trouble when they'd ask what started the fight and I'd tell them that I did not know. I truly did not know.
Then I finally figured it out. What was starting the fights was the fact that anyone could come throw punches at me and look like a great fighter for not getting a single bruise on himself. Enough was enough, if I could stand like a stone and take a beating over and over again, I could surely dish one out.
From that point on, I would not get in trouble for fighting when I didn't even fight. I would instead leave a reminder on the poor soul who thought they could bash me without consequence, for he would leave in far worse shape than I. I never got into trouble for fighting again after that. Truth be told, I never had to fight. (this is all going somewhere, please stay with me)
I made a solid decision about that time that no longer would I put up with things that I didn't have to and no longer would I be stepped on so someone else could climb up some miserable fake ladder of status. I have been true to that to this very day...... except when I wasn't.
As the song goes, needing love, I looked in all the wrong faces and therefore couldn't find what I was looking for. I was not the guy who was out to bed down a girl and call it a conquest. I was definitely out to bed down the girl, but each one was to be the one. Shame holds me from making that disgusting count. I wanted love and I wanted sex. I wanted sex with someone I loved and needed to be loved in return. In high school I was engaged no less than 3 times and
we'll not discuss how many in total, because they genuinely don't matter.
Out of school I did a stint in the military and another in Walt Disney World. I did fall head over heals for a beautiful lady at Disney. We'll call her RLP.
I learned much from this short relationship and grew much from it. RLP and I slept in the same bed on a few occasions, but never had sex. Being near her and knowing she was there, even feeling her warmth had become much more important than sex. Of course I messed that one up.
You see, somehow I needed to please everyone. One of RLP's cousins was into some occultish beliefs that were no more real than their believer's make them.
Going to the mall with her one day I felt like the ugliest thing to ever walk the earth as RLP had dressed up and done herself up to reveal more beauty than an ugly man such as myself should be seen with and I knew that before the day was out, she'd see this. Needless to say I was not the best of company.
Going along with her cousin about blessings of swords to kill vampires or something of the like she certainly saw the ugliness in me, though the ugly she saw was the fake in me which I think she took for real.
Later back at my apartment she confronted me about the occult and asked if I really believed all that. I lied and told her that I did and sealed my doom with a freakish display including cards and a knife. She left me that same night and I've yet to come to terms with the stupid things I had done when she meant so much to me. I doubt there is anything I wouldn't have done for her and perhaps that is where God's blessing lies in this part of the story.
I had to become my own man. I still hold love for RLP and I pray her life brings her joy in God's grace.
I fell into deep depression and was eventually fired from Disney.
I was forced to move back home in disgrace as I had failed at what must have been the simplest test I had come up against at that time. Still, I met some wonderful people during that time and learned much about myself, even setting some ground work to becoming the real me, though I didn't know it at the time.
Back home in Leesburg, Alabama (where we'd moved to my Grandfather's camp ground several years before), I was a failure and had given up on being anything better. All this and I had been saved by God's pure grace many years before, so all blame was squarely on my shoulders.
I moved now and again to new housing arrangements that never lasted long as I always messed things up for myself. I even moved into a nice rental house while working at McDonald's and messed that up by trying to be whatever it was that would make the girl I was living with happy. We never had a relationship, but I wanted one. If she wanted to have a dog and let it mess all over the house, jeopardising my living arrangements, then great, go get a dog. If she wanted to break into a barn and then the tack room and steal someone else's belongings, then great, let's go be thieves.
Yes, I did. I was later convicted of B and E as well as theft of property, but was granted youthful offender status even though I was 21 and had but days left at that age.
There is a story here that leads to my becoming a better man.
You see, I was all nerves waiting for my day in court. My court appointed lawyer was all well and good as I suspected all were. It was all I could do not to pass out. I was sitting in my Lawyer's office waiting for them to tell us that it was time for us to come when my Lawyer told me to take a quick walk (or perhaps I suggested it, I'm not certain on that point as the one to come took precedence). I walked a few blocks along the sidewalks in the neighborhood of
the courthouse and had come to a corner where I'd decided I'd better turn back before I got so far away that I'm miss the call to court and be in worse trouble.
There on that very corner stood a very tall older black gentleman in dated and slightly warn clothing. He said to me "God knows your heart and he wants to help you if you'll let him". I thanked the man and turned to walk back to the Lawyer's office, but after a step or two I turned to say thank you.
There was no black man, there was also no place for any man of any size to hide, even if he could have silently ran at better than the speed of most cars.
This was no ordinary man who had spoke to me, this was God's doing and there was NO questioning it. My mind was made up. I would stand before the judge and tell what I did. I would not gloss it over or anything of the like. When I got back to the Lawyer's office, it was time to see the judge.
I did what I had decided to do and admitted my guilt in acceptance of it's consequences. I can not know what was in the judges mind or heart, but I was given youthful offender status with probation and restitution. I handled my probation as a priority and got it over with. I handled my restitution in payments as much as I could to get it done with some speed. Some commended me for being so willing to pay for my misdeeds, when in fact, all I did was make a small deposit on the damage I had done. Yet the man whom I had wronged was good with this as he was certainly a better man than I was at that point.
Aside of my B and E, I also have a DUI and later a driving on suspended (from the DUI), attempting to elude, endangering officers and civilians and though it's not a crime for which I was charged I totaled a friend's car. Again, I lost a job.
That day on the corner, on the sidewalk with the tall black man has never left me and now I strive to be a better man and even better Christian. I believe the latter will actually take care of the first.
I'm going to skip many years here, many drugs, even being raped by a gay man as they're not important.
I still have trouble forgiving my family and coming to terms with my childhood as I've still never been told why. I know my Father cheated on my mother. I was there and yet they assume I don't know. I know my Mother cheated on my Father though I was not there, but I know just the same. I guess they think I was too young to remember being molested by my Father's Father, and the list goes on.... This is a fault, MY fault. I should be able to forgive without question as my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did me. If you actually read this, I ask that you'd pray for me on this point as well as being a better Christian all around.
I've been in multiple wrecks that should have not only maimed, but killed me. I should have been ripped apart many times over. I DO NOT believe in luck, so I know with certainty that God had been watching over me and taking care of me far beyond what I deserve. There is a purpose for my life and that is God's purpose for me. As such, I am his.
He molds me and remakes me. I mess up and he fixes me. I fall and he lifts and cleans me. I fall short and he gives me another task. I am blessed.
I met my Bride in Church. Oddly enough I had been heavy hearted in the bar at the strip club where I was playing pool and approached my best friend who invited me to her church to see if I could find some answers for my life. I arrived that Sunday Morning and she did not, but her family took me in as though they knew me.
After church, they took me to Jacks for some lunch and good conversation. I seemed to spend the whole time talking to a wonderful Lady by the name of Kay who is my best friend's sister. Only the night before had I prayed to God that his will be done in my life, that if I was to have a Bride to live with and love throughout my days that he put us together and that if not, then that he would give me the strength to be alone.
What seemed like minutes must have been hours and I was genuinely impressed with Kay. She was a wonderful woman.
Later we went on three dates and by this time I was in love. A few months later we were married and I had a wonderful Bride and Daughter! God gave me a family to love and to live out my days with, even though I deserved a fate worse than death for my past
.
That's been a few years ago and I still love my Bride with every ounce of my being. I still am amazed at the joys of being a Father.
There is nothing more important than God and Family. If I can pass this on to you, then perhaps you can know the joys I know. I pray for nothing less for any and all who read this, hear of it or don't even know of it's existence. True happiness comes from God, it is multiplied by sharing it with others.
Now is your chance.
We are all God's creations and I can assure you that he's NEVER made a mistake, those are up to us to do when it's easier to just do the right thing and follow God.
If there's a bad spot in you, go to the sculptor and have it removed and remade. Let him re-sculpt you into what you should be.If God can cure cancer and even death, he can do for you what needs done.
We are ALL God's creations!
Frank
We are God's creation.
We are not hateful foul things from the beginning, but rather are quite adept to turning ourselves to such.
We are still God's creation.
We are not artists of our surroundings, but rather are capable of seeing the art with which God has surrounded us.
We are ALL God's creations.
We are not lost journiers on life's great voyage, we have not only a map, but a guide who's already taken every step before us.
We are still God's creation.
We see evil men and call them evil. We should witness to them and shine God's love upon them.
We are ALL God's creation.
We blow time, energy, health and much much more in search of happiness, and yet God did not create us for misery.
We are still God's creation.
We search endlessly for the meaning of life when we know that it's well defined already.
We are still God's creation.
We praise our heroes of the football field, the baseball diamond, the race track and in all manner of such, while we hold praise from the only one who could give us our very lives to experience such.
We are still God's creation.
We search for emptiness of things we wish not to feel or know in bottles, pipes, straws, syringes, pills and other forms of mind altering drugs, when all we need do is hand our worries to God and consider them no more.
We are still God's creation.
We look to "programs" to beat addictions that we have come to call "disease" in order to remove some of the blame from our selves. We go through steps, even forgiving ourselves in hopes that these lies will help us to not abuse. Yet we know full well that God can cure not only cancer, but even death it's self.
Drunks are not destine to always be drunks, drug addicts are not always destine to be addicts, yet those who refuse to believe in God's power are certainly likely to remain as such.
WE are still God's creation.
Sometimes the fact that I'm a poor house keeper comes to burden me. I may slip on something on the floor that I should have picked up some time before and did not. It is no fault of God's when I injure myself in such a blunder, but it is the grace of God that it's not worse than it is.
I have little money and live paycheck to paycheck. I have many wants and often give in to them in some way or another only to find that now that I have that truck I wanted so bad, I have no time or money to fix it or get insurance and registration.
At this particular point in time we are heating a large old house with space heaters because we can not afford to replace the leaking gas lines and even if we did, we can not afford the high price of natural gas, and yet we are happy and we are home. Somehow we end up staying warm. I wonder if anyone can guess who's blessed us with that. Quite simply, God has and Glory be his
for he is Glory, Praise be his for he is above all praise worthy. Thanks be his in the like for he is always giving.
I've heard it said that perhaps one human could find enough goodness in his heart to give his life (with NO call for praise or memorial) to save the masses.
I have NOT heard of the man who loves his child as I do mine and could send that child to die for the masses.
The point is meaningless either way, for God the Father did send his Son, Jesus Christ to pay the debt of all of our sins, yours and mine alike. No one of us is good enough to pay such debt for the
masses in any fashion. Jesus was up to the task and he did die for each and every one of us that has been, is or will be.
We ARE God's creation and He is still the perfect sculptor. He can take the worst of me or of any of you and not only remove the bad, but replace it with his perfect hands. He can make of us more than we could ever hope to be. He can make of us that which we are intended to be. He can make our lives worth while. He can make our days meaningful and warm.
My name is Frank. My nickname is Freaky One as I am a bit of a freak :)
I was born in a semi small town in Alabama in 1971 with the help of a good man and great Doctor. I was a "dry birth" and things did not go so well. I spent some large amount of time in an oxygen tent though I don't recall the actual amount of time as told me by my parents. My childhood began in Pine Hills, Fort Payne, Alabama.
We lived in a nice house, though it was never quite finished, it was still a very nice house.
Though I've never actually come to understand the frailties that were supposed to be mine, I was heavily restricted that I not get hurt. I have two older brothers. The oldest brother was no protector and preferred to hide within his belongings than to help his little brother. The middle brother was something of a torturer and it took me some time to finally say to myself that enough was enough and stop allowing such torture.
For years I was an easy target for my older brother and most anyone in school with a new fighting badge to pick up. I would stand and take the punches, kicks and whatever was thrown at me, for I did not want the punishment that came later at home from fighting. Never the less I would always be beaten and otherwise punished for fighting. I would get in even worse trouble when they'd ask what started the fight and I'd tell them that I did not know. I truly did not know.
Then I finally figured it out. What was starting the fights was the fact that anyone could come throw punches at me and look like a great fighter for not getting a single bruise on himself. Enough was enough, if I could stand like a stone and take a beating over and over again, I could surely dish one out.
From that point on, I would not get in trouble for fighting when I didn't even fight. I would instead leave a reminder on the poor soul who thought they could bash me without consequence, for he would leave in far worse shape than I. I never got into trouble for fighting again after that. Truth be told, I never had to fight. (this is all going somewhere, please stay with me)
I made a solid decision about that time that no longer would I put up with things that I didn't have to and no longer would I be stepped on so someone else could climb up some miserable fake ladder of status. I have been true to that to this very day...... except when I wasn't.
As the song goes, needing love, I looked in all the wrong faces and therefore couldn't find what I was looking for. I was not the guy who was out to bed down a girl and call it a conquest. I was definitely out to bed down the girl, but each one was to be the one. Shame holds me from making that disgusting count. I wanted love and I wanted sex. I wanted sex with someone I loved and needed to be loved in return. In high school I was engaged no less than 3 times and
we'll not discuss how many in total, because they genuinely don't matter.
Out of school I did a stint in the military and another in Walt Disney World. I did fall head over heals for a beautiful lady at Disney. We'll call her RLP.
I learned much from this short relationship and grew much from it. RLP and I slept in the same bed on a few occasions, but never had sex. Being near her and knowing she was there, even feeling her warmth had become much more important than sex. Of course I messed that one up.
You see, somehow I needed to please everyone. One of RLP's cousins was into some occultish beliefs that were no more real than their believer's make them.
Going to the mall with her one day I felt like the ugliest thing to ever walk the earth as RLP had dressed up and done herself up to reveal more beauty than an ugly man such as myself should be seen with and I knew that before the day was out, she'd see this. Needless to say I was not the best of company.
Going along with her cousin about blessings of swords to kill vampires or something of the like she certainly saw the ugliness in me, though the ugly she saw was the fake in me which I think she took for real.
Later back at my apartment she confronted me about the occult and asked if I really believed all that. I lied and told her that I did and sealed my doom with a freakish display including cards and a knife. She left me that same night and I've yet to come to terms with the stupid things I had done when she meant so much to me. I doubt there is anything I wouldn't have done for her and perhaps that is where God's blessing lies in this part of the story.
I had to become my own man. I still hold love for RLP and I pray her life brings her joy in God's grace.
I fell into deep depression and was eventually fired from Disney.
I was forced to move back home in disgrace as I had failed at what must have been the simplest test I had come up against at that time. Still, I met some wonderful people during that time and learned much about myself, even setting some ground work to becoming the real me, though I didn't know it at the time.
Back home in Leesburg, Alabama (where we'd moved to my Grandfather's camp ground several years before), I was a failure and had given up on being anything better. All this and I had been saved by God's pure grace many years before, so all blame was squarely on my shoulders.
I moved now and again to new housing arrangements that never lasted long as I always messed things up for myself. I even moved into a nice rental house while working at McDonald's and messed that up by trying to be whatever it was that would make the girl I was living with happy. We never had a relationship, but I wanted one. If she wanted to have a dog and let it mess all over the house, jeopardising my living arrangements, then great, go get a dog. If she wanted to break into a barn and then the tack room and steal someone else's belongings, then great, let's go be thieves.
Yes, I did. I was later convicted of B and E as well as theft of property, but was granted youthful offender status even though I was 21 and had but days left at that age.
There is a story here that leads to my becoming a better man.
You see, I was all nerves waiting for my day in court. My court appointed lawyer was all well and good as I suspected all were. It was all I could do not to pass out. I was sitting in my Lawyer's office waiting for them to tell us that it was time for us to come when my Lawyer told me to take a quick walk (or perhaps I suggested it, I'm not certain on that point as the one to come took precedence). I walked a few blocks along the sidewalks in the neighborhood of
the courthouse and had come to a corner where I'd decided I'd better turn back before I got so far away that I'm miss the call to court and be in worse trouble.
There on that very corner stood a very tall older black gentleman in dated and slightly warn clothing. He said to me "God knows your heart and he wants to help you if you'll let him". I thanked the man and turned to walk back to the Lawyer's office, but after a step or two I turned to say thank you.
There was no black man, there was also no place for any man of any size to hide, even if he could have silently ran at better than the speed of most cars.
This was no ordinary man who had spoke to me, this was God's doing and there was NO questioning it. My mind was made up. I would stand before the judge and tell what I did. I would not gloss it over or anything of the like. When I got back to the Lawyer's office, it was time to see the judge.
I did what I had decided to do and admitted my guilt in acceptance of it's consequences. I can not know what was in the judges mind or heart, but I was given youthful offender status with probation and restitution. I handled my probation as a priority and got it over with. I handled my restitution in payments as much as I could to get it done with some speed. Some commended me for being so willing to pay for my misdeeds, when in fact, all I did was make a small deposit on the damage I had done. Yet the man whom I had wronged was good with this as he was certainly a better man than I was at that point.
Aside of my B and E, I also have a DUI and later a driving on suspended (from the DUI), attempting to elude, endangering officers and civilians and though it's not a crime for which I was charged I totaled a friend's car. Again, I lost a job.
That day on the corner, on the sidewalk with the tall black man has never left me and now I strive to be a better man and even better Christian. I believe the latter will actually take care of the first.
I'm going to skip many years here, many drugs, even being raped by a gay man as they're not important.
I still have trouble forgiving my family and coming to terms with my childhood as I've still never been told why. I know my Father cheated on my mother. I was there and yet they assume I don't know. I know my Mother cheated on my Father though I was not there, but I know just the same. I guess they think I was too young to remember being molested by my Father's Father, and the list goes on.... This is a fault, MY fault. I should be able to forgive without question as my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did me. If you actually read this, I ask that you'd pray for me on this point as well as being a better Christian all around.
I've been in multiple wrecks that should have not only maimed, but killed me. I should have been ripped apart many times over. I DO NOT believe in luck, so I know with certainty that God had been watching over me and taking care of me far beyond what I deserve. There is a purpose for my life and that is God's purpose for me. As such, I am his.
He molds me and remakes me. I mess up and he fixes me. I fall and he lifts and cleans me. I fall short and he gives me another task. I am blessed.
I met my Bride in Church. Oddly enough I had been heavy hearted in the bar at the strip club where I was playing pool and approached my best friend who invited me to her church to see if I could find some answers for my life. I arrived that Sunday Morning and she did not, but her family took me in as though they knew me.
After church, they took me to Jacks for some lunch and good conversation. I seemed to spend the whole time talking to a wonderful Lady by the name of Kay who is my best friend's sister. Only the night before had I prayed to God that his will be done in my life, that if I was to have a Bride to live with and love throughout my days that he put us together and that if not, then that he would give me the strength to be alone.
What seemed like minutes must have been hours and I was genuinely impressed with Kay. She was a wonderful woman.
Later we went on three dates and by this time I was in love. A few months later we were married and I had a wonderful Bride and Daughter! God gave me a family to love and to live out my days with, even though I deserved a fate worse than death for my past
.
That's been a few years ago and I still love my Bride with every ounce of my being. I still am amazed at the joys of being a Father.
There is nothing more important than God and Family. If I can pass this on to you, then perhaps you can know the joys I know. I pray for nothing less for any and all who read this, hear of it or don't even know of it's existence. True happiness comes from God, it is multiplied by sharing it with others.
Now is your chance.
We are all God's creations and I can assure you that he's NEVER made a mistake, those are up to us to do when it's easier to just do the right thing and follow God.
If there's a bad spot in you, go to the sculptor and have it removed and remade. Let him re-sculpt you into what you should be.If God can cure cancer and even death, he can do for you what needs done.
We are ALL God's creations!
Frank
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