Tonight I have a "groaning" problem. What I mean is I feel like I want to say what Jesus said to the Father in Matthew 26:39 when He said, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Do you ever get that feeling? Sometime even the "cup" that we drink seems too much for our physical bodies. The doctor's office called today and they say my blood counts are too low once again and I have to go in for another transfusion. I just had one a couple of weeks ago. And I wonder, "does it every slow down for just a day or two?"
Jesus fell on His face in the Garden of Gethsemane and asked God to relieve Him of the burden He was to face in the not too distant future. But He, unlike me, did not fail to say to the Heavenly Father, "yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." I know I have faith and it is a strong faith but will I ever stop thinking of myself long enough to say "yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt" to the Father. He is aware of my plate and nothing escapes His concern for me. I feel His spirit flow through the blood that I "do" have and want to be happy with that.
I look at that verse of scripture and think to myself, how alone Jesus must have felt. And then I compare the support I have with family and loved-ones close by and begin to feel ashamed for the groaning I produce.
However, I believe the verse is here for a reason. It shows us that Jesus was fully man, yet fully God as He fell to His knees before the Father with His most intimate groaning. Sometimes I just want God to reach down and "fix" everything that is wrong with my "tent" but then how will I be able to fulfill the last part of the verse, "yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt?"
There is nobody on this earth who can reach those to whom God has charged me with the opportunity to share His love. So, all I can say at times like these is, "Thank You Father, for allowing me to bring my innermost personal groaning to You and thank You for supplying Your will for my life. I have a "will" from the Father and it is my mission here in this life.
How about you? When you reach the "end of your rope" do you recognize the hand of the Father as He ministers to your needs? Do you recognize that He has a perfect will for you and just waits to see you fulfill it? "Yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt, Father"!
Happy New year and may the blessings of God be yours for 2010.
Dave
Crazy Papa
I'll make 'um an offer
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
A New Year, A New Creation
Okay, there are some who believe that I have had a long enough break and it is time to start writing again. I don't know if it was "writer's cramps" or "writer's block" or just "I'm too tired to think" syndrome, however, I find myself at 1:37AM, unable to sleep and that is usually when the writing begins. For a while there I found myself "tied up" with the political arena and I became frustrated, as so many other Americans did and started posting links related to present day political issues. I will try to refrain from that activity and see how long I can hold out. I really want next year, 2010, to be all about God.
And since we are very close to arriving at the new year, I thought that this passage of scripture would be a good one to remind others of: "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2Cor. 5:17 NASB). Tomorrow night at midnight, most Americans will be shouting "Happy New Year" and finding someone to kiss to bring in the new year. A time of renewing and, in some cases, literally "shaking off" the old year and its troubles.
But here in this passage of scripture, Paul is reminding us that for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, not only do we get to start a new year, but we are also "new creatures" in this new year. "the old things passed away," last years difficulties are now gone, and "behold, new things have come" and as the new year arrives, we can dedicate our lives to a 'new spirit" and "new energy" a "new beginning" once again, with and for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are not required to "make new resolutions" for the coming years because our Lord Jesus was resolute when He suffered and died, then rose from the grave to see that we were "new creatures".
Yes we are in Christ Jesus, new creations, to be used for His glory. And of course, this makes me think of a promise in Romans 8:1 that says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." That's always good news because as we stand, wherever it is on New Year's Eve, we are NOT condemned by God but rather renewed by His spirit and remember that Romans 8:9 reminds us that "we are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in us."
And also going along with that thought is John 3:3 where Jesus says to Nicodemus, "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." So at midnight on December 31, 2009, you can be reminded of not only a new beginning to the calender year, but as well, a new beginning as creations of Christ, being born of the Spirit, not depending upon the flesh to direct our lives.
You don't need a new resolution to live for Christ in the up coming year! You are His "New Creation" and all that is done in your life is while you live for Christ. That should cause some of us to seriously contemplate some of the things that we do, day in and day out. I know, I complain too much, and because Christ has made me whole, I'm going to try a little less complaining and try to add more "rejoicing" in my life as I live for Him.
What about you?
Happy New Year 2010 with your "Life In Christ"
Dave
all scripture, unless otherwise stated, will come from the NASB)
And since we are very close to arriving at the new year, I thought that this passage of scripture would be a good one to remind others of: "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2Cor. 5:17 NASB). Tomorrow night at midnight, most Americans will be shouting "Happy New Year" and finding someone to kiss to bring in the new year. A time of renewing and, in some cases, literally "shaking off" the old year and its troubles.
But here in this passage of scripture, Paul is reminding us that for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, not only do we get to start a new year, but we are also "new creatures" in this new year. "the old things passed away," last years difficulties are now gone, and "behold, new things have come" and as the new year arrives, we can dedicate our lives to a 'new spirit" and "new energy" a "new beginning" once again, with and for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are not required to "make new resolutions" for the coming years because our Lord Jesus was resolute when He suffered and died, then rose from the grave to see that we were "new creatures".
Yes we are in Christ Jesus, new creations, to be used for His glory. And of course, this makes me think of a promise in Romans 8:1 that says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." That's always good news because as we stand, wherever it is on New Year's Eve, we are NOT condemned by God but rather renewed by His spirit and remember that Romans 8:9 reminds us that "we are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in us."
And also going along with that thought is John 3:3 where Jesus says to Nicodemus, "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." So at midnight on December 31, 2009, you can be reminded of not only a new beginning to the calender year, but as well, a new beginning as creations of Christ, being born of the Spirit, not depending upon the flesh to direct our lives.
You don't need a new resolution to live for Christ in the up coming year! You are His "New Creation" and all that is done in your life is while you live for Christ. That should cause some of us to seriously contemplate some of the things that we do, day in and day out. I know, I complain too much, and because Christ has made me whole, I'm going to try a little less complaining and try to add more "rejoicing" in my life as I live for Him.
What about you?
Happy New Year 2010 with your "Life In Christ"
Dave
all scripture, unless otherwise stated, will come from the NASB)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
My Best Friend
This was my present when I arrived home from the hospital after the very first chemotherapy treatment about 4 and a half years ago. It's been a lot of work but we are becoming very good friends. He is so "astute" when he sees me putting on and tying my shoes, he goes to his kennel knowing that we are leaving the house.
He can also tell time. Every morning by 9AM he is attempting to wake me up so he can be fed and, as a matter of fact, it's nearly 5PM now and he is at my feet speaking to me about dinner. Once again by 9:30PM he will very excitedly ask for his late night snack.
So now it is time for me to get off of my butt and get his dinner for him. The only thing that is left to do is teach him to close and latch the kennel door when we leave.
He is wonderful and loves me no matter how mad I get at him. Wish I had more friends like him.
Dave
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Last Night I Had A Dream!
I was standing at the edge of the ocean, in my dream, and I was watching a man maneuver a Kayak around not too far from the beach. It looked as though he were really enjoying himself. Before I knew it he was on the shore and started talking to me about taking his kayak out for a ride. I told him I had never been in one before and it might not be a good idea. He explained that it was simple; as long as you follow a few simple rules that go along with kayaking!
So I agreed, climbed into the kayak and he handed me the paddle. As I began to float out away from the shore, he called out to me saying, "Hang onto the paddle. You cannot maneuver the kayak without it". So off I went and got a little bit away from shore and it was, indeed enjoyable and relaxing. I paddled around for a bit and got more familiar and brave with this new adventure. So I paddled and I paddled and after about half an hour or so the paddle suddenly slipped out of my hand. I remembered his last comment about hanging onto the paddle as the only way to operate the kayak.
Realizing that it was very important that I have that paddle in hand, I leaned to the left using my left hand and arm to motor myself and rocked to the right to use my right hand and arm and by the time my left hand hit the water again, the entire kayak had turned upside down. There I was stuck in an inverted kayak, not having any idea what to do, not to mention "not having any oxygen either". So naturally I began to panic. I began struggling and rocking, trying to get the boat upright so I could breathe again. All I remember of the end of the dream is that I lost consciousness and I woke up.
I thought about that dream and thought about it and wondered if that dream had any real meaning for me or someone I love and the Holy Spirit reminded me of a verse that I thought was very NOT related to this incident. So when I got up I went to God's Word and read the passage of scripture.
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it" (1Corinthians 10:13).
That's when it dawned on me. I was still asleep. I had lost my paddle, my ability to maneuver in the kayak and so I began to break the laws of physics (the kayaker's very last instruction). What I failed to hear him say was "don't try to paddle with your hands and arms as you will rock yourself over and will have real problems.
Sometimes in life we break the rules. We do things that God never intended for us to do and we find ourselves turned upside down and drowning in our own mistakes. We are tempted every day in every way known to man and suddenly we are upside down in a boat that we cannot upright to save our lives. Sometimes all this sickness makes me feel like I am in that boat.
But to get back to my dream, what struck me most was the verse that God drew me to in my sleep, especially the last part of that verse where Paul says "...but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." I mean, I can't believe that I am still asleep and God is providing me a way to escape from the tipped over kayak. He simply said, My son, just slide your body out of the little hole it is in and return to the surface of the water. While I was panicking, God was providing my way of escape.
The easiest way to see the "joy" in the middle of all these "bodily breakdowns" in my life is to realize that God is always there to "provide a way of escape" for each one of us. In the middle of my dream, in the middle of the ocean, in the middle of one of the biggest crisis of my life, there was Jehovah Elohim (God - A God of power and perfection, a finishing God) ever so quietly and gently instructing me on how to fall back into His hands.
The verse says that "No temptation has overtaken you, BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN..." That means none of us reach a temptation or difficulty in life that another hasn't experienced and God is the Redemptive Tool "that we may be able to endure it."
WOW, what a dream! No, a better way to put it would be WOW, what a God we have!
Dave
So I agreed, climbed into the kayak and he handed me the paddle. As I began to float out away from the shore, he called out to me saying, "Hang onto the paddle. You cannot maneuver the kayak without it". So off I went and got a little bit away from shore and it was, indeed enjoyable and relaxing. I paddled around for a bit and got more familiar and brave with this new adventure. So I paddled and I paddled and after about half an hour or so the paddle suddenly slipped out of my hand. I remembered his last comment about hanging onto the paddle as the only way to operate the kayak.
Realizing that it was very important that I have that paddle in hand, I leaned to the left using my left hand and arm to motor myself and rocked to the right to use my right hand and arm and by the time my left hand hit the water again, the entire kayak had turned upside down. There I was stuck in an inverted kayak, not having any idea what to do, not to mention "not having any oxygen either". So naturally I began to panic. I began struggling and rocking, trying to get the boat upright so I could breathe again. All I remember of the end of the dream is that I lost consciousness and I woke up.
I thought about that dream and thought about it and wondered if that dream had any real meaning for me or someone I love and the Holy Spirit reminded me of a verse that I thought was very NOT related to this incident. So when I got up I went to God's Word and read the passage of scripture.
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it" (1Corinthians 10:13).
That's when it dawned on me. I was still asleep. I had lost my paddle, my ability to maneuver in the kayak and so I began to break the laws of physics (the kayaker's very last instruction). What I failed to hear him say was "don't try to paddle with your hands and arms as you will rock yourself over and will have real problems.
Sometimes in life we break the rules. We do things that God never intended for us to do and we find ourselves turned upside down and drowning in our own mistakes. We are tempted every day in every way known to man and suddenly we are upside down in a boat that we cannot upright to save our lives. Sometimes all this sickness makes me feel like I am in that boat.
But to get back to my dream, what struck me most was the verse that God drew me to in my sleep, especially the last part of that verse where Paul says "...but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." I mean, I can't believe that I am still asleep and God is providing me a way to escape from the tipped over kayak. He simply said, My son, just slide your body out of the little hole it is in and return to the surface of the water. While I was panicking, God was providing my way of escape.
The easiest way to see the "joy" in the middle of all these "bodily breakdowns" in my life is to realize that God is always there to "provide a way of escape" for each one of us. In the middle of my dream, in the middle of the ocean, in the middle of one of the biggest crisis of my life, there was Jehovah Elohim (God - A God of power and perfection, a finishing God) ever so quietly and gently instructing me on how to fall back into His hands.
The verse says that "No temptation has overtaken you, BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN..." That means none of us reach a temptation or difficulty in life that another hasn't experienced and God is the Redemptive Tool "that we may be able to endure it."
WOW, what a dream! No, a better way to put it would be WOW, what a God we have!
Dave
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