Please, Lord, give me the Strength to serve you as you intended. Help me to think outside of ME AND MINE! I thank you, praise you, and I love you, Jesus!
Chef Marcus cooks with love in the pan. Full Post View | List View
1 Corinthians 1:27; But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise..............read on
- Our Truest Friend, Our God, Divine; .......Entry for September 09, 2008
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I was in prayer, when I suddenly had such a urgency to write what He was putting on my heart. I hope you enjoy it and that, more importantly, it edifies your life, in some way. No matter how small or significant. When I am in the trials and fires of my life, nothing gives me much more comfort than His love for me by speaking through me. It gives me such hope and perseverance, when I know that without Him, or any of His presence in my life, I'd be so lost, as I once was. As we ALL were, Amen?
I love you all, so deeply, beyond what the world could imagine, and as it often says, "Just ridiculous; People thinking they have a bond over the Internet." I say, THAT IS WHAT IS RIDICULOUS, and very sad....The absolute absence of the hope in Faith, that the Lord has tied us all together, FOR A REASON! Paul wrote to many Churches, from Prison, and when he came to be with them, in the cases that he could, they embraced him as if they'd known him all their lives. THAT IS JESUS, He is SO MUCH SO in the smallest details and the BIGGEST PROBLEMS AND TRIALS, and nothing is too small or too big for Him! It is why I write. Because, if He lives within me, and He's bought me with such an incredible price, than this VESSEL IS NO LONGER MINE, IT'S HIS! If I say, through everything that I do, with disobedience, etc, that "This is my life, my will that comes first" than how can I say that He is within me? I write, sometimes when I don't feel like it and always, when He tells me to. Almost always, He redirects what I was planning to write, to make it JUST WHAT HEEEEE WANTS TO SAY, Amen?
So, I wrote this poem, after viewing this link, ( www.dashpoemmovie.com ) , which a dear Sister in PA sent to me. I know she needs prayer, also. So could you please join me in lifting up her ministry and guidance in her path? Thanks, so much! I hope you enjoy the photo as well; A little friend that the Lord sent to me in one of my darker hours. HOW MUCH DOES HE LOVE US? IMMEASURABLY! Certainly, more than we could ever Love Him......But let's do our best, right? GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
From me to you, WITH ALL MY HEART;.............
Our Truest friend, Our Lord, Divine
I pray this blesses every one,
In some unique and special way
That with whatever time we have,
We'd be a light in all we say
I pray we all can find the time,
To maximize what we receive
That we would use our every breath,
To cheer with some and others grieve
With each and every passing moment,
Keep our eyes upon our King
The ONE who saved us from all Sin,
For Whom the angels dance and sing
So when we see a glance of hate,
Or someone passing, cuts us off
I pray that we can edify,
Instead of joining in the trough
That we would watch, so carefully,
The words we use, with those we love
Remembering that in all we do,
Our Lord is watching from above
Not only for that cause alone,
While first and foremost in our Mind
Beyond that, for the reason of
"Treat others as we'd like in kind"
Embrace your children tight, today,
Give thanks and praise a little more
Maintain a life of reverence,
To honor Him whom we adore
"For every breath is precious", Kin,
We're all aware of this short verse
Yet when we live our lives this way,
We make Him smile and break that curse
The liar he may prowl around,
Seeking whom he may destroy
Yet when we place our faith IN HIM,
He's faithful to increase our joy
So see each one who passes you,
Through Jesus' eyes, who set us free
"We once were lost, but now we're found,
We once were blind but now we see"
No Jesus and no peace my friends,
Regardless what we have on earth
Know Jesus and Know Peace and then,
He'll wipe all Sin away from birth
So with each step and every breath,
I wish my brethren all the best
Go in, Lord, where they work and live,
To make them shine unto the rest
Your Light to gleam upon their lives,
Protecting them from satans schemes
Watch over all those that they love,
Please guard their walks and even dreams
All this, I pray, with fervor, Lord,
Please do the same for me and mine
Help us to serve you all the more,
Our Truest Friend, Our God, DivineTuesday September 9, 2008 - 12:47pm (PDT) Permanent Link | 3 Comments - "From the EDGE to the DEEP, where the LIGHT IS THE BRIGHTEST!!" Entry for August 25, 2008
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God bless you all! I pray that the Lord would use me and that the words He will use through me will be a blessing, all for the purpose of edifying HIM, making us more assured than ever of the purpose He has for all of us, ALL OF US, in serving Him and bringing the Lost to the Lord.
Recently, I heard a message regarding "The Edge". Initially, before it was totally clear, I was thinking, "We need to live on the edge, letting the Lord hold us up upon that narrow path, but not allowing us to fall backwards." Suddenly, it became clear, he was speaking of the other direction that intersects the PATH. We're all to do our best to be Holy, presentable to God through Christ. Obviously, NONE of us can bring this to pass on our own merit or character. WE NEED JESUS, to intercede for us, through the Holy Spirit.
When He spoke of the edge, he was referring to what could be compared to walking out in the Ocean. When we're young, maybe 12-14, we're beginning to have a reverence for the power of the Ocean, the jagged rocks that we once ran across on the jetty. As we begin to become aware, much like our walk with Christ, we realize that we're becoming accountable for the next step we take. As we are "testing" the waters, in the beginning, we stand at the edge between the deep and the shallow. At the edge, it's a lot of fun, exhilarating, yet still safe. I will digress to share a verse that is a great correlation between the teachings of Christ, to the fishermen, where they were taught, it's time to launch out into the deep and become fishers of men. Not recede back into the shallow, waiting for the 'next time'. Somehow, in our own self importance, we can tend to confuse "our" feeling of "the right time" with what would be more comfortable. When, really, all we have to do is trust and wait only upon the Lord, LISTENING FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT, knowing that HE will tell us what time is right, or when it's time to wait.
The Calling of the First Disciples
Luke 5:1-11
1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
In verse 4, Jesus is making a point that would shape much of their walk in the future. These men worked HARD, Jesus knew that they were tired and discouraged. He also knew that the DEEP is where the "biggest fish" are caught, Amen?!? He wanted them to see that aside from Him, they could do nothing, yet with Him, ALL THINGS WERE POSSIBLE.
In verse 5, Simon Peter answered saying "Master". This word is used in original text, not only meant to refer to Christ as 'LORD'. The Greek word that was used meant Teacher. Simon Peter was speaking from a position of respect, yet he's also honest with the Lord in saying, "WE'VE BEEN BUSTING OUR BUTTS FOR HOURS... But you know best, Lord". It was an admission by Simon Peter, "I don't WANT TO, but because I'm your student, and You are, after all, the Lord, I will obey." How many of us have a hard time relating to that, right?
As the Lord began to work in my life to remove the things that got in HIS way, I found it much easier to serve Him in regards to being a fisher of men. However, the roll that I was playing seemed to have reversed, at times, when compared to how I was feeling as a Babe in Christ. When I was saved, I felt so good about myself. As I walked forward, and then started up the stairs to heaven, the Potter made it clear to me that, at times, I was beginning to become more and more able to deal with the problems of others, SOMETIMES HUGE TRIALS....- Yet, I began to take focus off of my own walk and stopped calling out the attacks that the liar tried to use against me for what they were, LIES. I would find myself down, even depressed at times. When I hit those points, I found myself "standing at the edge". I knew the Lord was telling me, "HEAD OUT INTO THE DEEP, Trust me. I know it's sometimes painful, my Child, but I will make you an even better man of God through your Faith in my Grace. Do not resist or resent my discipline, for I only discipline those that I love. It's to sharpen you, not to hurt you."
In verses 6 and 7, the Lord causes their nets to be so filled with fish, they begin to break. They call over others, where the boats become so full with fish, they begin to sink! He WANTS us to head into this deep, so He can fill "OUR BOATS", as vessels, so full, they begin to sink. Why?.....BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE NEED HIM MOST. It's at that point when the Lord can shine through us, IF WE'LL LET HIM! When we've allowed our boats to be filled with all kinds of darkness, do you notice, it's the time that you feel the EMPTIEST? When Jesus was standing on the shore, where was he looking? INTO THE DEEP! He was looking at countless empty vessels, needing to be filled. I believe that much of the reason, for the falling down on it's face that the Church is going through, is that many of us have forgotten the purpose of being there in the first place. One, TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP. Two, TO BE FED. Three, WE'RE BEING FED, IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED TO DO 'OUR PART' for the cause for Christ. Like C.S. Lewis loved to say, "You can't PERSONALLY, TANGIBLY reach those wandering outside of the Church, deep in the darkness of the world, FROM THE PEW." ....
Verses 8 through 10, Simon Peter was being HUMBLE, which is exactly what the Lord wanted and could use! Jesus told them in verse 11, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." They dropped EVERYTHING, their livelihoods as they knew them, and FOLLOWED HIM. Of course, not everyone is called to be a missionary or sing in choir or work in prison ministry or Counsel people on Marriage. However, we are all called to serve, worship, represent Him in our everyday lives and to step off the edge(whatever that may be for each of us), and head into deeper water.
In the past several years, I've been tried in many ways. Many times the liar was behind the attacks that I've faced- Many times I've brought them upon my self- Most importantly, IN ALL OF THEM, THE LORD WAS PRESENT, AND READY TO DO A GOOD WORK OUT OF SOMETHING BAD! Often, in my life, I've done great things through Christ, through grace, by faith, and NOT ONCE, did I deserve credit. Often, I've stood at the edge, in regards to my own life and prosperity(wealth, mind, heart, etc), yet dove into the extreme deep for others. I've come to realize, had I first dove into the deep to be filled with Light and emptied of Darkness, I would have served Him with even greater effectiveness. I don't live in regret, only the occasional reflection. I've lived in the sea of nothingness, that is regret, many times, and it's VOID OF NOT ONLY FISH, BUT PROSPERITY OF SPIRIT AS WELL! Along with a desire for being "sharpened, honed, purified", the Lord wants for me to have a balance of Love for myself, as HE DWELLS IN ME, AND OWNS WHAT IS NOW ME! He paid for it, ALREADY! Why, then, should I continue to ask Him to pay, over and over again? With everything occurring in my life, good and bad, I need to remember, HE IS NOT ONLY IN CHARGE, BUT HE HAS A FAR BETTER PLAN THAN I COULD EVER DREAM UP! If He cares so much for me that He would give me this message AND help me to apply it......HOW MUCH MORE DOES HE CARE ABOUT MY FUTURE?
Below is a message that was within the sermon I attended. I hope it blesses you and leaves you with a simple lesson, an edifying nugget, that you will not soon forget. I plan to take it with me into every facet of my life, from hear on out. When I forget it, THE LORD IS FAITHFUL TO REMIND ME! AMEN?????
God bless you and keep you and yours! May you all be richly blessed, able to let go of the past, and so overflowing with the passion for HIS PURPOSE that not even a mountain could stop your momentum. Take with this the knowledge that I'm praying for all of you. I love and care deeply for all of you, and I've learned very much from your willingness to be a vessel to me as well. Remember one of my favorite lines in a song that's stuck with me from 13, in a Christian Camp. Use it in those times of self defamation and darkness, to remind yourself, "IT'S NOT ONLY OK, BUT NECESSARY, THAT WE LET OTHERS HELP US, TOO".
"Brother let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I might find the grace,
To let you be my servant too!"
Jesus takes our empty boats and fills them. To live intensely for Christ is to live with the resources you have to the highest level of commitment to God! Where is God more likely to challenge us? .....WHERE WE HAVE FAILED!!! Are you at the edge, or are you diving into the deep, letting out your nets to be filled with what GOD INTENDED?
THE PARABLE OF THE PENCIL; .........
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.
ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand.
TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil.
THREE: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.
AND FIVE: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.
ONE: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
TWO: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.
THREE: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.FOUR: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.
AND FIVE: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties. By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.We are just like the pencil, who can make a difference in our lives and in the lives of the people around us. Don't ever underestimate what you have the power to do!
Monday August 25, 2008 - 03:28pm (PDT) Permanent Link | 2 Comments - "Crisis......TIME FOR JESUS"......Entry for July 25, 2008
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Before I dive into all of that which is on my heart; I want to let you all know, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL, and see the beauty in you, before all the "things" that he's placed in my path and interests. For anyone who's commented, or not and just sent up prayers of intercession, or JUST THOUGHT OF ME, IN LOVE, THANK YOU, HONESTLY, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!
Jesus has put a special place in my heart for nature and the beautiful things that He's placed all around me. Even when in the Ghetto, I've noticed things that many can't or just don't want to see. In thinking about this, today, it came to me that, not only do I have the GIFT OF SIGHT, that he's allowed me to SEE MORE OF THE LITTLE THINGS...., but He's given me the desire to capture it and share it with others. Now, if I could only have the grace to let Him MAKE MY LIFE BETTER, using the Gifts He's given me. I mean, it makes so much sense, that HE GAVE IT TO ME TO BE USED, at least, not to mention possibly make a living at it. Allow me to digress.........
I had to choose, a little while back, to either give up everything and take care of my family for now.......or to MOVE ON, trusting in God to "take care of everything". Well, the Holy Spirit made it loud and clear....."YOU ARE THE VESSEL WHICH I WILL USE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY FOR NOW.......and the rest will come back and fall into place in my timing". Being a servant at heart, this was neither disturbing, nor a surprise. However, being that this was a particularly ambitious time in my life, where I began to have a fire to "START OVER again, doing it right this time", it was a little discouraging. Now, to be honest, looking back, THANK GOD HE DID THIS FOR ME! I've grown so incredibly in the last few years, I can't even explain it. Obviously, that fire in me to "build my own nest", etc, is still BURNING, and more and more clear to me that IT'S GETTING CLOSE! This, in a strange way, is both terrifying and SO EXHILARATING IN THE SAME MOMENT! You see, I'm not worried, but more so, clueless as to what to do with what the Lord has laid before me.
My point, in relation to the title of the blog is; I NEED TO SEEK HIM WITH FERVOR IN ALL THINGS!!!! Giving thanks, praise, worship and MORE THANKS to him in all things, the blissful and CRISIS RIDDLED STRESS alike~! Crisis seems to be when most of us, according to the majority of the testimony I've seen, read and lived myself, SEEK HIM LIKE CRAZY, crying out to him with a passion, "SAVE ME, HELP ME, RESCUE ME, OH LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER!" Yet, when life is going swimmingly, smooth as silk, all the desires of my heart seeming to fall in line, one after the other...., my crying out for guidance seems to be FAR LESS than while in a Crisis. I WANT THIS TO CHANGE IN ME, FOR GOOD! ..... Until then, and while He's working this out in me, THANK GOD FOR GRACE, since I surely don't deserve it. Nevertheless, GOD IS NOT A MAN THAT HE WOULD LIE OR BREAK A PROMISE! He promised me, WITHOUT STIPULATION, while I walk with Him, He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me! He promised me, WITHOUT COMPROMISE, He will NEVER give me more than I can handle or bear!
My purpose in the photo I chose, while I wasn't sure when I clicked, "select", is clear as day now. I can say without hesitation, the Lord sent these Birds to me, for many reasons. To REMIND ME; His love for me is so great, in knowing that I'm in one of the trials of my life, He sent me something that fascinates me to tease, buzz and catch my eye, until I PAID ATTENTION!(He KNOWS how much I love to capture wild Birds in their environment, not interfering but interacting with them)........To COMFORT ME; How much more does the Lord care for and weep for and intercede for ME, a creature that He made in his Own image, than a Bird that He's placed in my life to entertain and remind me, "Matthew 6:26; Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" WHY, OH LORD, do I insist on complicating what you've made so simple? Why do I forget to THANK YOU IN ALL THINGS, the good and the bad. Why do I fear for my future, my family, my coming out of trials blessed or even untouched, when You've set the heavens and entire universe in motion, around ME, TAKING CARE OF ME.....even though I'm SO unworthy? AFTER ALL YOU'VE DONE, I'M SO CERTAIN, TO SAVE MY RUMP SO MANY TIMES....Why? .......because YOU ARE GOD, AND I AM AS FILTHY RAGS, WERE IT NOT FOR THE GRACE OF THE BLOOD! This bird may represent or inspire the thoughts of something different in EACH MAN.....how beautifully and wonderfully made are we, AMEN?
When I look at this tiny little bird..... I SEE STRENGTH, in spite of it's size. I see PERSEVERANCE, a constant fluttering all day, with tiny wings, in order to feed and keep moving. I see COURAGE, although he's so little, as he sits on a perch in the middle of the wilderness..... that comes from the experience of KNOWING that he's faster than nearly ANYTHING out there! I see BEAUTY, which makes him, both, desired by other birds and appreciated by people like me, who see the MAGNIFICENCE in such a tiny little thing. Jesus must see all of this as well..... SO THEN, HOW MUCH MORE DOES HE SEE IN ME, THAT I CAN'T SEEM TO SEE IN MYSELF AT TIMES? HE SEES A LOT! He sees IT ALL!!!! Surely, if the Lord takes care of the every need of this little creature, sent here to earth to pollinate, bring beauty, keep things going in my environment......HOW MUCH MORE DOES HE SEE IN AND EXPECT FROM ME???
I pray all of you are so blessed that you can hardly contain it, in the coming years of your life. I pray that in the times of horrible trials, you'll know that I AND OTHERS WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU, with a fervor and intercession that the angels can hear from heaven! I pray that your loved ones are kept safe from harm, yet as many of us have seen this week with Greg Laurie's son, Christopher, THE LIAR HAS OTHER PLANS, ALWAYS! For your loved ones, those most dear to you, I PRAY ESPECIALLY HARD.......since I know that the most incredibly intense feelings of needs for prayer come over me when those in my life are suffering, in trouble or grieving. I pray that all of you would have the desires of your heart, within the Will of God, FULFILLED! Most of all, I pray for those of you in TRIAL, suffering, grieving and struggling at this very moment. As hard as it is, sometimes, please remember that HE LOVES YOU, AND IS ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE! While he doesn't interfere with the will of Men............. HE WILL INTERCEDE IN THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF HIS CHILDREN!
God bless you all, MY BRETHREN! Keep your eyes on the prize awaiting you and the purpose you SERVE...........not in the flesh, focused on the fallen nature of Man--or what others owe you--or what you DON'T HAVE! Focus on what HE'S GOING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU DO HAVE, and how greatly he can multiply it when He's ready. I'm sure that Jesus said that He'd not hand us more than we could bare.........KNOWING THE KIND OF WORLD WE'D BE LIVING IN! Amen? It's surely more difficult to live for Christ, than to live for ourselves......BUT OH, DEAR KING, THE REWARDS SO FAR OUTWEIGH THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY OR WHAT WE TRULY DESERVE! Let us all, Your servants, do our BEST in serving those that you put in our path, and with what you put in ours, ....GOOD AND BAD!
"Dear Jesus, Please teach me to appreciate what I have.....before time forces me to appreciate what I had!"
Love you all,
Mark M.
Friday July 25, 2008 - 05:46pm (PDT) Permanent Link | 5 Comments - PLEASE PRAY FOR ME, UNTIL YOU HEAR FROM ME AGAIN? THANK YOU! Entry for July 13, 2008
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God bless and keep you all!
Please pray for me as I am facing a heavy trial. I'm choosing to keep it personal, for good reason, for now. Just please trust me, I NEED PRAYER, and I will claim them while I am away from you. I'm letting you all know that I will not be able to respond or even check my email or pages for a while. So, please, know that you are loved and prayed for, in my absence, and know that I CARE FOR ALL OF YOU, VERY MUCH!
Some of you know what's going on, and I appreciate you keeping this between us, as I don't want to bring any trials upon my loved ones while I am not able to respond.
I care for you all, DEEPLY, and I've come to see the fruits from the prayers we all put out for each other. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ME, UNTIL YOU HEAR FROM ME AGAIN, AMEN?
Love, ALWAYS, and forever,
Mark M.
Sunday July 13, 2008 - 11:45pm (PDT) Permanent Link | 6 Comments - Who's SIN am I, primarily, most focused on ?.......Entry for June 23, 2008
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I think that today, meaning, this day and age, with the world caught up in this self-serving hurricane, it's a good time to take a moral, spiritual and character inventory. I can't speak personally for anyone, and it's just not my style. Often, when I write, I'm mis-characterized as "pointing fingers". Let me lead by saying, PRIMARILY, that this, once again has the finger pointing at ME, no one else. Sure, I notice iniquity and absolute abandonment of righteousness within my brethren all the time, but as the title of this blog begins, "Who's Sin am I, primarily, most focused on?" You know, "Pull the plank from your own eye, before you think to point out the splinter within your brothers".
There were a thousand things that I'd wanted to write on, following the trials that I've been going through for some time now. However, the Lord WILL NOT be ignored, and I grew tired, long ago, of learning that the Hard way. I have since changed my focus, methods and thirst. Actually, I should say(as I was just reminded, through the Holy Spirit), "HE HAS SINCE changed my focus, methods and thirst."
I have to just be honest and come forth, in the name of the Lord, with the TRUTH!---I have fallen short, daily, in keeping my heart focused on my own SIN and iniquities. Don't get me wrong, I'm very aware of the immense growth that He's been achieving through the transformation of my heart. Yet, just as I learned so much from my fathers saying, "Mark, you can't SAVE THE WORLD, just plant seeds, and let the Lord cultivate them from there. Learn to walk away, when the Lord reveals that you are NOT THE VESSEL".........I've been refreshing myself on the fact that, as a babe in Christ, My Zeal often got me in trouble, teaching me lessons of humility. I've had to ask myself, lately, "Mark, do you honestly think that you have a healthy balance of discernment into the lives of others, against the level of healthy scrutiny you're applying to your own walk?" THANK GOD, TO THIS DAY, it's He that answers me, and not myself, lol. Nonetheless, IT'S OFTEN DEVASTATING, for a moment, when the Lord REBUKES ME, after a time that I've been feeling so good about myself and how well I've done through the hurdles of much adversity. "FOR A MOMENT", key words here, considering that the LORD LOVES ME SO MUCH, he forgives my pride, and, usually, gently reminds me, "I'M THE REASON YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, LET ALONE THE DISCERNMENT AND STRENGTH THAT YOU LACKED FOR SO LONG". The entire time, at the SAME TIME, He's comforting me, helping me to accept that "Not only is this not about me, it's NOT OF ME!"
Applying this to my walk, with everyone whom he puts in my path, is, VERY MUCH, incredibly relieving! From the outside, from a worldly outlook(which we allllll fall into, daily, for at least a moment or two), it would appear emasculating or maybe disheartening. I'm so grateful to say, THANK YOU JESUS, for showing me the light through conviction and a healthy rebuking. How else would I grow? How else would I learn that; The person down the street, that's living a life that is making me, literally, ill, is LOVED BY JESUS, JUST AS MUCH AS I! How else but through the absolutely free and undeserved gift of salvation, then conviction, then transformation, would I learn to, more quickly, stop myself, when being critical of my family member, who is being totally inept or irresponsible or even bordering on reprobate?
Something that I learned a long time ago, has been coming back to me in WAVES, and I mean POUNDING WAVES, unavoidable, must go around or pray for the strength to PRESS THROUGH, types of waves. It was a teacher, in 6th Grade, Mr. Drake, who told me, "Mark, I know you're a Christian. I'm not going to beat you up, or hurt your feelings on purpose. However, I have to tell you something. Every time you make fun of that geek, or slander that person who isn't as smart as you, or pick on the weak, to make yourself better, you're cheating yourself." I was, even at 12, intrigued. I asked him, "Myself?" He said, "Yes, Mark, because in every one of those cases, you've missed an opportunity to let God help that person, through their SHOCK AND SURPRISE, that someone more fortunate, better looking, more athletic, would stop and defend them, share a personal deficiency with them, bring out the best in them. Your reward for that is SO MUCH GREATER, than the brief feeling of superiority that you feel from tearing something down. BUILD THINGS, stop tearing them down, and He promises you, He will not only forgive you, but BLESS YOU, on top of it. See, Mark, you can do this to people your entire life, and wind up spending much of it alone or you can change, right now, and while you'll take some heat, from others, you'll become loved, appreciated, endearing to others. Every time you bless someone, with the right motives, you become more and more blessed, yourself. I know you're going through a lot, and you've been abused, watched your mom treated cruelly, but you now, however, have a choice to turn the page, and become something that NO AMOUNT OF "COOL KID" status will ever offer. You can become a TRUE leader, not a commander, leading by fear and domination." This 10 minutes, taken by a man of God, who I now can see had sacrificed so much to teach, and edify children, changed my life forever. And as this man told me, I pray that he's been abundantly blessed, OVERFLOWING, in his own life, as many of us in his class were.
It may be hard to believe, but I remember this conversation, WORD FOR WORD, as well as many other moments from my childhood. See, I have this photographic memory, that I, for so long, viewed as a curse. However; I've come to accept it as A GIFT, FROM GOD, that HE CHOSE FOR ME TO HAVE for a darn good reason. At times, during much later years, it appeared to be a curse, being able to remember every conversation, strangulation, humiliation by my step father and others that the Liar tried to Kill me with. NOW, I KNOW, IT'S A TOOL MEANT FOR A CONQUEROR! I truly believe, in time, it will help me to complete a testimonial, in one form or another, that the Lord will use to transform Lives. He's done it already, in many instances, that I would not boast in. Yet, as every believer should agree, HE'S ONLY JUST BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN ME, THAT WILL NOT CEASE EXPANDING UNTIL COMPLETION. FOR HIMMMMMM, AND HIS GLORY, NOT MY OWN!
I pray this reaches you all, well, blessed and rejoicing in this right here, MOMENT IN ETERNITY! However, I'm very aware that the world is cruel, and that circumstances can leave us DEVASTATED AND FEELING ALONE! Instead of telling you, the ever true, yet often untimely cliche, "You're not alone, Jesus is right there with you".......I will offer a pact, with my brethren, every one.........to pray for you every day, and to wish you all, every single one of you, the opportunities that I'm experiencing right now. That you'd feel, as I do right now in the midst of many trials and painful transformations in life here on earth, BLESSED, OPEN AND READY FOR THE LORD TO PUT THOSE WHO NEED YOU IN YOUR PATH. I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOWWWWWW, if you step out for them, including your family(some of the hardest hurdles to CRUSH), in the middle of what might seem, nearly too much, YOU'LL BE CHANGED FOREVER! I offer this, brethren, BECAUSE HE PROMISED US, and HE is NOT a man that he would lie! Become a LIGHT to those who test your every nerve. Become a helper, to those who shoot you down, yet have fallen into a time of need. Become a SERVANT, every second that you can bear it, and you WILL blessed!
I leave you with a poem that the Lord just put upon my heart. I pray it touches or reaches you in some way and edifies your life. God bless you all, your grateful brother, Mark
"The Man Who's in our Path Today"
A man who crossed my path today,
Said "Move aside, you're in my way"
And much, I'm sure, to God's dismay
I shot a glare as if to say,
"Don't mess with me you bitter fool,
I've harmed you none, don't be so cruel
Be not to satan such a tool
I'm not the ONE, your baggage mule"
He turned in passing, our eyes locked
His look was not of hate or shock
It was of sorrow that I'd mocked
His cry to me, alone, to talk
And so next time I feel the liar,
Behind the eyes within my path
I will remember GRATEFULLY,
That Jesus waits within the Gap
To show the hurting, lost, alone and
Even angry to the core
That while I once would tear them down,
I long to love them even more
I pray that they would see in me,
Though countless scars and weathered eyes
That all the Joy within my stare,
It's offered without pride or lies
I thank you, Lord, for showing me,
Through countless failings of my own
That through each fire you've strengthened me,
Yet never was I all alone
That through your lessons, often hard,
I grow each moment, on and on
Into a mighty man of God,
With WEAPONS dressed before the dawn
You've shown me, King, so patiently,
That EVERY BREATH is not my own
So with that precious gift of Grace,
I WILL keep guard upon my tone
I ask you Jesus, fervently,
To keep me ready and aware
That next time anger crosses me,
I'll see YOU there behind that stare
This is my greatest plea, dear Lord,
To be like you in spite of me
So when he passes me again,
I'll GRASP the opportunity
He'll grunt and sigh as if to say,
"Oh great, that man I pushed aside"
Yet this time, Jesus, he will see,
YOUR LIGHT and not my foolish pride
If you should open further, God,
The door within his heart, so dark
I pray you use me, mighty King,
To form within that hole a spark
I pray that, Abba, with that spark
You will ignite the fire beneath
Whatever hold the liar has,
Then force the lord of pain to FLEE
I pray this prayer for all I know,
We ALL will fall upon the way
"Please help us be a light unto...
The man who's in our path, today"
By M.W.M., with Love, to MY SAVIOR!Monday June 23, 2008 - 04:46pm (PDT) Permanent Link | 7 Comments
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