Dependency is a strength

No one wants to be dependent on anyone or anything. Independence is the goal. We love the idea of freedom. Being able to pick and choose, do what we like and want to do. The thoughts of being dependent on someone else makes us feel weak and we might even have the image of “us” waiting around, just twiddling our thumbs, waiting on “that” other person to show up, to let us in, or do what we can’t. If that’s your thinking, there is no questions about those feelings. We’ve all been there a time or two in our lives and we might even be in such a situation right now. That is the feeling of helplessness and most of us immediately reject such type of thinking. Being strong is considered a positive image and I’m not disputing that is a positive image, because it is. However, strength can be demonstrated or measured in many ways. The word strength does’t seem to match with the word dependency. The word independence doesn’t seem to match well with the word dependency. The word freedom doesn’t seem to work well with the word dependence. However, I am suggesting that to recognize appropriate dependency is a great strength. Recognizing needs and solutions is a great strength. Recognizing surrender is a step to freedom, might seem to be totally out of step, but dependency and understanding work hand in hand when properly applied. In an attempt to be wise, I heard an individual say, “I make my own decisions.” I like the confidence and resolution of the statement, I even like the thought and attitude, but such a position that eliminates the clear need of help, assistance, direction, support and aid in life, will leave you stranded along life’s highway if you don’t take due notice. Dependency identifies a condition. I have been many things in life and I continue to remain dependent upon God. I am not writing this to be spiritually superior, I am sharing this because it is a truth that took the repeated experience of Him carrying me, to finally recognize. Being dependent Sid the best spot for me. I’ve branched out enough, I’ve done my own thing, and repeated that process over and over, thinking that I might discover a different result somehow. Sounds like insanity, because it is. I know I have no ability to control anything. I can share this because I’ve attempted to control many things. I have thought, I had things figured out, to just discover myself broken down along that same road of life you might be traveling today. I found strength in surrendering to God’s plan and purpose for my life. I found strength in acknowledging my survival depended totally on the shoulders of another. That other person is Jesus Christ in my life. I found strength in confessing my need for direction, wisdom and help. I have actually found more than I could have ever imaged through faith, because of God and His plan and because of Jesus and His obedience to God’s purpose for His life. The best decision I ever made in my life, was to begin my journey of faith and following God’s call on my life. I am confident you too will discover this same truth, but trusting God’s plan and purpose for your life. Until then

The Season of Lent

This is the fourth week of the Season of Lent. Lent is a time period of 40 days. The 40 days represent a time of fasting, which Jesus spent in the wilderness. Lent also represents a time of testing, in which the devil tempted Jesus. Jesus being in a hungry state of being because of fasting, the devil first tempted Jesus by telling him to turn stones into bread, which Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3. The devil took Jesus to the top of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Surely the Son of God could throw Himself off and not be hurt? Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16. The devil also took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. The devil offered Him a choice. By-pass His father’s plan of dying in our place on the cross at Calvary and the devil told Jesus he would give Him all the kingdom’s of the world. Jesus again quoted God’s Word. His response to this temptation was Deuteronomy 6:13 Lent is a Season of reflection, purpose, determination, evaluation and commitment to cause. Jesus Christ Himself spent His 40 days reflecting on what lied before Him. He knew He had been sent by His father to die in our place. The only Son of God, was going to yield freely His will and be obedient to His father’s purpose and die for us! Jesus was preparing to be lied about, lied too, abused, betrayed, plotted against, accused of crimes He did not commit and He was preparing to hear the crowds yell “release Barabbas” and He was preparing to hear the crowds also yell “crucify Jesus”, when asked what they wanted done with Jesus. Imagine the preparation, I know I can’t, can you imagine what He was thinking? Jesus knew the very crowd that would great Him with palm leaves and singing hosanna as Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, was the same people who would cry out for Him to be put to death. That requires something that I know I can’t even fathom getting ready to experience. If you ever have trouble understanding the Love of God, I’m with you. I am in the camp of people that are standing wondering, what kind of love is this? Love that freely gives up their life, so we would never have to experience the pain of death. For a Christian, there is no sting in death because Jesus died and lives, because He arose from the tomb, where they had laid Him. I’m confused by that kind of love, because what Jesus was demonstrating had never been seen before. Jesus was going to die for everyone, including those that were shouting for His death. You and I, were are no better of a person, simply because we are not shouting for His death, we are just as guilty. Jesus was preparing to die for the sins of the world, and He took His time in the wilderness to prepare for this, I’ve written about and yet so much more. Lent is a Season for us to reflect and ponder too. Lent is a Season for us to confirm our decisions, define our commitment and to become fully surrendered to following Jesus. Jesus had told those listening that they could destroy the temple, and in only 3 days He would build it back. This was a most confusing statement. It had taken the people some 46 years to rebuild King Solomon’s Temple. What kind of person would even think, they could do, what had taken hundreds of people years to do? It's a fair question to ask, or ponder. What kind of person would make such a statement? I know I am not qualified to make such a statement personally. If we got the best builders available, would they be able to rebuild the temple in 3 days? The best minds in the. construction business would not even give a consideration to such a crazy construction statement. Yet, Jesus made this statement. He being the Son of God, knew that what was impossible with man, was fully possible with God. Jesus also knew that man struggled to understand the ways of faith because we always think of things in terms of what we know and understand. God’s way are so much higher than ours. His thinking, ours doesn’t even compare in any fashion or way. Don’t be confused by the words of Jesus. Scriptures invites us to lean not on our own understanding, but in all our ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths. This invitation sets in motion a step by step process, that leads to life, through faith. Take time to get away with God. Jesus did, we call it Lent. Until then

Twisting Arms

“Twisting arms” is an expression that indicates one person is inflicting pain, discomfort, or pressure on another individual to get them to do something they don’t want to do. Of course, arm twisting has many different variables of pressure and pain. Some individuals may require just the slightest twist before they give in, while others may requires a full submission mode before giving into the demand of another. My yearly verse of scripture for 2021 came from the Book of James, chapter 4, verse 7. The first two words of this verse, “Submit yourselves…”, was my focus. The time devoted and energy I spent was toward my goal of fully understanding what the impact of making such a decision looked like. The focus was to comprehend actions that would serve as a good indication that I had made such a “Submit…” commitment. In a real “twisting arms” event, I think of my brother Jim. I could be professional today and say, we were just playing around when he would twist my arm and make me submit. However, that would be like saying when my mother would twist our ear off, while we were sitting in church and we were misbehaving, that mother was just playing too! Reality is, “twisting arms” is designed to demonstrate superior force and to make you do what is demanded by making you consent through force and infliction of pain. Faith in Jesus Christ is an act of submission, but there is absolutely no force from Him, to make anyone believe or follow Him. Faith is a free-will decision. I do so of my own free-will, no force, no coercion, no tricks and no moves to cause one to submit against their will. The best example of free-will submission is Jesus. Him following the wishes and will of His Heavenly Father, we’re all decisions of obedience, not force. Submit, submission, surrender, are words that to some, might be considered words of weakness, words that describe personal failure or a flaw. Faith and following would be two words that I believe best describe “Submit yourselves…” from James 4:7. Faith in Jesus Christ is not a decision that He, Jesus Himself, would ever force on anyone. Faith in Jesus Christ is not a decision that the God Himself, forces on anyone either. Faith is an action of free-will that unleashes all the resources of God into our lives. A decision to follow Jesus immediately provides direction, purpose, and a foundation from which we can begin to view our circumstances in light of His will, which changes everything. “Submit yourselves…” can also be view as a voluntary enlistment to become a Christian. It a perfect way to view a clear understanding of God’s demonstrated love for us and our free-will response to His death on the cross and His offer of forgiveness for the asking. Faith and following Jesus are never and will never be something forced upon anyone, ever! Will there be a time that everyone will acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of God, born in Bethlehem, the one who died on a cross in Jerusalem, was raised from the dead and lives forevermore, absolutely, but you will never be forced to follow Him. In 1961, Frank Pourcel recorded an instrumental song titled “Chariot”. Then in 1963, Little Peggy March sang the song, with added English lyrics, written by Norman Gimbel that led to big music success back in that day. Today, that classic song, is referenced to the movie Sister Act and Whoopi Goldberg, “I will follow Him”. A song about free-will submission that is motivating and encouraging. It is also a song of personal testimony that has seen millions of people profess through faith and actions by following Jesus. “I will follow him, wherever He may go. There isn’t an ocean too deep, a mountain so high it can keep me away”. The second stanza words are: “I must follow Him. Ever since He touched my hand, I knew, that near Him, I always would be and nothing can keep Him from me, He is my destiny”. The chorus to the song is the commitment and is a great refrain for anyone declaring submission to James 4:7, “Submit yourselves …”. “I love Him, I love Him, I love Him, and where He goes I’ll follow, forever and ever and side by side together, I’ll be with my true love and share a thousand sunsets together, beside Him”. Jesus will never twist your arm, but He will be and is gently knocking at your door. Until then