Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Completion Date


…This seems odd to be talking about the building permit so late in the construction stage. This month I will be celebrating another year that I have been under construction. Yes it’s my birthday, but sometimes we don’t know the true value of something till we meditate on it. Oddly enough that’s what I have been doing, as I have been constructing and learning to go deeper, examining my heart. Every new building needs to submit a blueprint to city hall for approval, before construction can start. I am so thankful when I answered that altar call many years ago. It was as if I was submitting my blueprints, that every inch of my life was exposed. Every room, every closet, was open for examination. What the evil one brings to harm, the Holy Spirit turns it around for our good. As a little boy growing up going to church, I was taught that the evil in me sits on my shoulder whispering in my ear, prompting me that its o.k., you can get away with it, no one is going to know. That’s a lie because I know. So if I know shouldn’t I also know that God knows? As my dad would say, sometimes we are our own worst enemy. If you are still reading I know that there has been a good work started in you. Don’t quit, don’t give up hope.

Ephesians 4:25-32 (New Living Translation)
25 So put away all falsehood and "tell your neighbor the truth" because we belong to each other. 26 And "don't sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. 28 If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.


Most log homes fall into the category of one of a kind, custom made, and for this reason need a special seal that is obtained from a structural engineer. I believe there is a special seal on each one of us. Years ago when we built our first house, we were able to move in before final occupancy was granted. This allowed us the time we needed to complete some of the unfinished details, and the privilege to live in the house before final occupancy was granted. In God’s word, our Bible, we are taught that we will never be complete till we are in our true home Heaven, that this earth is a temporary thing, and this will all pass. I have been asked many times will I ever build that log house for real? We all have things we would like to do, big dreams we would love to see come to reality. I have seen glimpses of the possibility of this happening, and my hope is that I will. I know that’s not an exact answer, but it’s the best I can say. I do believe we need to keep moving forward toward our dreams in the hope that one day the impossible becomes the possible. I also believe if you grieve the Holy Spirit you aren’t doing you self any favors. Our manual (the Bible) was written to teach, not to condemn and that God does care about whatever we are going through.


Ephesians 1:13
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation -having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,


Titus 3:5 NLT
He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.

As I am struggling with my thoughts, with the words I want to write, there is this cry inside of me to be able to express as clearly as I can that God is an awesome God. No one going to make you follow after the things that please Him, your spirit is going to have to want it. God’s Holy Spirit will not force any wrong on you. It’s not possible. In the Bible Jesus says, “Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest.” Are you one of the all? I know I am. My prayer is that you think about your actions and remember what love is.—LOG - ON

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

What Kind of House Are You Building ?


…I’m one of those morning type people,
usually when I wake up I have a thought that I feel I need to build on. My thoughts these last few mornings have been on Sin and how it relates to this house. We all like to have nice furniture, things that will make our home comfortable and if you could listen to the decor it would tell you about the people who live there. There comes a time when you have
to decide what kind of home you want, what it will be furnished with even down to the smallest detail, like the pictures on the wall. What we take in through our eyes (what we look at ) to what we take in through our mouth, brain and yes heart. There that word again I’ve tried to run from. Some doorways are so banged up because the owner tries to bring in the wrong size furniture and in the process cause damage to the entranceway. Sometimes the owner picks up pieces that don’t add to the overall style or character that they are trying to create. When I picture a log home I visualize a great room, massive logs and a roaring fire sitting in a hearth surrounded by river rock. You could almost sense the unity to the home as you walk through each room. Sometimes in our life we can pick up things, wrong thoughts doubt, resentment, unforgiveness, failour, almost a woo is me mentality and in bringing these things in, we damage the doorframe. These things can build up to a point were we have a battle on our hands till we have to force these thing out. We are told to hide His word in our heart for a reason, for when we feel beat up you could have something to hold on to. Up to this point building the log house and examining myself has for the most part been fun so I am feeling as I share my thoughts just a little exposed. Sin can you feel the power this little word carries? Love a word with only one more letter covers all, relay what more can you add to that.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands. 


Ephesians 6:8-18 A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. 11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. 13 Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. My sincere prayer is that you don’t go weary and get a cold heart and give up. Log-On

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Custom Plan One Of A Kind


…My thought here is not to give the wrong impression. I grew up in a loving home with two parents, and two sisters that I love dearly. I have many, many, fond memories of a great childhood. Most of my Christian life I have felt that, I'm not too sure of the correct word to use here, so I'm going to use a quote from Paul’s letters in Romans...Romans 7: 24-25. 24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? 25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. (The Message)
We are called as Christians, as believers to put off those things that hold us back. That each one of us is important, that we have something to contribute. So many people get caught up looking for their gift, that I think they don’t realize that they are the gift. I don’t mean that in a puffed up kind of way. We are made unique, one of a kind. If you really want to get down to it we are made in God's image. Intimacy with God to me is such a strange concept, but this is becoming more and more real to me as I am still learning to hear His voice for myself. I know in my heart someone will read this, let me assure you God loves you, He cares for you. There is a will in your spirit, it's a battle, it's you telling you lies. Lies that you messed up again. Lies that you are not a very nice person. Lies to bring you down, to draw you away from the goodness of God's Holy Spirit that is in each one of us. You are not alone. Everyone who walks this earth will have battles, but you can have victory. Are you at the end of your rope, do you feel that you have reached bottom? My heart is sad because of your pain, but I think you know what you have to do.
As I stand back and look at the log house, a tear comes to my eye. I shake my head, I think that I have come so far. Things are starting to take shape. I’ve had to go back and redo some stuff. Some of my choices I’ve had to rethink, I’ve had to ask for help at different stages of construction, and advice when I wasn’t sure of a product. But I am happy with the overall look.
Romans 16: 16-18. Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. 17 But thank God you've started listening to a new master, 18 one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! (The Message)
Are you happy with the house you are building? Log-On