Lord | Did Jesus have a Facebook Page?

December 16, 2013
by Naphtali 1 Comment

Law? What Law? (Part 4) “The Rulers of this Age”

Psalm 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy making wise the simple.”

Perfect words written by an imperfect man. A man who became King and messed up big time.

The lineage of David would bring about the Messiah, “The Lamb of God.” His coming was prophesied more than once in the Old Testament.

The birth of Jesus came along at a specific time and place as God ordained. How he came up with the schedule is anyone’s guess.
However with it came the writing of the New Testament.

The event marked history bringing with it correction of the Old Testament laws. God ushered in through Jesus the only way evil could be defeated.

For many doubters understanding God came down from Heaven and became a man through a virgin birth is ludicrous. But the blood had to be “holy and pure” and that could only come from God himself.

1 Corinthians 2:8 speaks of how the “rulers of this age” didn’t understood the wisdom of God. If they had they would never have crucified him. In a word God “duped” the enemy.

Many today believe everyone is under God’s wrath or judgment. If that were true Jesus would be dying over and over for our sins even for those who have accepted him.

Romans 8:7 “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law nor can it do so.”

Those who reject God also reject his laws which is where his wrath and judgment appear.

Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

History completely changed when Christ was born. 33 years later his death and resurrection became the focal point of our existence.

The depth of what Christ did for us is unseen by many which is tragic. Not only did he save us from “hell” he gave us himself.

What does it mean “he gave us himself?”

To be continued……

October 1, 2013
by Naphtali 1 Comment

The Black Widower’s Sticky Stuff

God is full of surprises.

Just when you think he has forgotten your prayers he vindicates you with the promise he made.

Years later the course of action brings justification to prophetic words spoken by the one who saw it coming. Yes. Over and over you grill into the thick heads of pride and stubbornness,

“You can’t do that, it is illegal.”

The confirmation occurs at the expense of hurt feelings, ruined relationships and lost trust.

It would be so much easier if bone headed brains would listen in the first place.

The all famous slogan of “I told you so,” might get a break in the event the egotistical fool hits rock bottom.

Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt. Mark Twain must have known many who fit this category. Certain types of personalities tend to reach the level of stupidity using denial as their weapon of choice. Why accept what you don’t want to believe? Make it go away with “No, you’re wrong.”

What is so terrible about admitting we’re wrong?

Is it worth the loss of family, friends and your health?

Is it worth your job, integrity or success?

While the denier slowly peels off pieces of everything and everyone in their life, eventually one gets close enough to witness the unraveling of a mask, or disguise. Once discovered, the true meaning behind this dual personality is one lie after another.

The court of public opinion will never believe the innocent one. Why?

The deceiver is an actor. Broadcasting their wonderful attributes in an open forum they honestly believe they will never get caught. Behind closed doors may be a monster who threatens the very one they are supposed to love. Call it what you will; it is mental and emotional abuse from a cowardly jerk who could care less who they step on.

But, what they don’t know will get them in the end.

No gloating here. God deserves all the glory.

Eventually, and always the deceiver is found out. Years after the fact not only does the prophetic come to pass, the deceiver gets caught in their own wicked web.

Caught red handed in a “spider’s web” they spun, God allows the tensile strengthened silk to get slapped with rain and wind causing it to fall apart on its own. The Black Widower is now left with nothing much but a few strands of non-sticky web that can’t catch anything.

Psalm 37: 5-6 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.”

Exoneration is God’s business.

Jesus knew all about injustice. More than anyone else.

Isaiah 53:8 “By oppression and judgment he was taken away.”

And while he was away he beat the devil at his own game.
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September 26, 2013
by Naphtali 3 Comments

What is God really up to?

The lingering question outlines many who wonder where God is.

As I previously wrote, God is in the midst of us no matter what it looks like; and it looks pretty bad.

However, it is usually in our worst of times whether private or public God makes a show of his greatness.

We pride ourselves on knowing how God is going to do this or that, when the Bible clearly states,

Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t care how God shows up; the point is that I trust him to do so.

One example of his surprises is in 2^nd Chronicles 20.

Jehoshaphat, King of Judah found himself in a mess. Armies of enemies were heading toward God’s people.

Moabites, Ammonites, Meunites and all the “ites” made up a vast militia that wanted his kingdom gone.

As Jehoshaphat heard the news, he gathered the assembly of Judah at the Temple and announced to the people what they were up against.

Fear must have swept over him as he began to cry out to the Lord for help. His prayer was detailed with explanations of what was about to happen to his people if God didn’t intervene.

Instead of focusing on the enemy they kept their eyes on God.

So what does God do?

He pulls an ambush.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke to a man named Jahaziel.

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you.”

The next day, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing and praise God.

A funny thing happened while they gathered together making music.

Instead of coming after the people of Judah, the enemies began fighting each other. In an all-out slaughter, not one was left. It took 3 days for God’s people to gather the plunder which included equipment, clothing and items of great value.

The 4^th day, they didn’t play Spades or Monopoly. NO…..they assembled together praising God for saving them.

God sent some nasty plagues to Egypt for resisting Moses to let his people go.

The Red Sea parted in what may have been one of the most extravagant miracles God has ever pulled.

The Walls of Jericho fell while the Israelites marched around it.

And he preserved the families of Judah, the lineage of Jesus, with a surprise trap that no one saw coming.

These miracles made their way to other lands and adversaries. It was well known the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was a force to be reckoned with.

I wonder; if God pulled off such supernatural exploits in Old Testament times, do you think he might do it again?

History does repeat itself.

Hmmmmm….an ambush?

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August 28, 2013
by Naphtali 2 Comments

“Hear ye, Hear ye! Your King is on the Floor!” (1)

Reading 2 Samuel 12 God sends the prophet Nathan to King David. He comes to him after David has sinned with Bathsheba and killed her husband.

Now, you can’t tell me when Nathan arrived David wasn’t a little uneasy.

Conviction lies in the hearts of those who know the difference between good and evil. Maybe at this point which was too late David was hoping God might have missed his transgressions? Maybe God took a vacation and left no one in charge? Or he hoped God overslept that day?

Yeah, right.

Honestly, what did he think he was going to get away with?

Human nature isn’t privy to Kings, Presidents, royalty. It has no knowledge of discrimination. It does not play favorites.

David was a King, but first he was a man.

After Nathan rakes him over the coals David speaks.

“I have sinned against the Lord.” 2^nd Samuel 12:13

Repentance sets in. Sickened by his actions, he fasts, prays and lies face down dormant on the floor for days. He is motionless in his misery yet hopeful in his heart.

Just like us, he made a real boo-boo. He really messed up bad. He did the unthinkable.

But…..

His response was correct. Is that why God gave him grace? Did he deserve God’s favor after all he had done?

If you continue in 2^nd Samuel 12 the servants observe David’s remorseful behavior. Concerned for his well-being the elders of the household remained at his side hoping to feed him. He refused.

What would you do if your King was lying on the floor face down for hours and days at a time?

Remind him how the neighbors would talk?

Inform him his actions were not that of a King?

Ask him if he missed his last therapy session with Dr. Phil?

Picking this apart are more than one dynamic.

David’s priority as a servant of his God took precedence over being King.

His immediate sorrow for how he had hurt God sent him into despair and depression.

His efforts to pray and fast ceaselessly reveal how David knew God’s mercy extended far beyond his sin.

So what does this mean?

King David knew his God.

He knew the Lord would forgive him, but he also understood the consequences of “reaping and sowing.”

He recognized within his own passion how he would beat himself up for quite some time.

Living with the guilt and shame of his erred ways he wrote his feelings down lamenting his soul resulting in discovering he was a man after God’s own heart.

But….there is more to this story.

What do you think it is?

August 16, 2013
by Naphtali 2 Comments

The Joy of the Lord is what?

Have you ever figured that one out?

What really is the joy of the Lord?

How does it work?

Nehemiah 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

You know that you know that you know.

But I didn’t for a long time.

The other day I walked around the bed to my bedside table and I knew. Now why would God tell me at that moment in a rather odd place?

It was like stopping to pick a rose and it bloomed in my hand.

Knowing the verse for decades it always seemed to be on the other side of the rainbow. A venture so far from my intellect, it was only for Mother Teresa. If anyone knew the meaning behind such words it would have been her. Truthfully, getting it was never a request of God I made because it seemed so foreign I didn’t want to waste God’s time. It sat in a box with other impossibilities on a shelf.

Now there is no boasting here. Simply put it is all God.

A few weeks ago the verse appeared out of nowhere. Not on my radar for years I found it strange that all of a sudden the desire to look it up and read those words, became overwhelming. Having found it, hope welled up that it would jump off the page and sink into my fully over-loaded mind of months of technological muddle.

I guess there wasn’t room for it then. Repeating it over and over I waited. And waited. And waited.

Nothing. Zilch. Zero.

Either God was on a mission somewhere else or he was playing “Hide and Seek.”

Sad how quick one can become low, daunted or gloomy.

God loves to surprise us and he is impossible to track.

He is always with us. How, when, where, or what he shows up as is sometimes an inconvenient truth.

So when he did arrive it was totally unexpected.

My response most often and this was the case is laughing with him while acknowledging,

“Ok. Got it but help me learn how to apply it!”

The Joy of the Lord is a natural treasure or elation of bliss giving us what we need to go on because of Jesus. The days we are at our worst or life is one big meltdown of problems, He is our rock; refuge and power.

Excitement actually takes over weariness, fear, or anxiety because knowing and spreading Jesus around has trumped everything else.

And that my readers is a producer of miracles.

http://lynleahz.com/2013/08/15/do-you-want-to-fall-head-over-heels-in-love-today-this-will-change-your-life-forever/

http://thefaithbook.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/the-trusting-heart/

July 10, 2013
by Naphtali 5 Comments

Where is the Tag Police when you need them?

Usually there is plenty of room for scatterbrains; most of the time I do not fit in that category. Maintaining those moments are either “elder moments” or that ah-ha!

You know life is busy and full of who knows what when you come back from a trip to the store only to find out the brand new blue jean shorts you wore still have the price tags on them.

The cardboard tag attached to the back of the top of the jeans is still stapled in place. But worse is the plastic strip that slides down the back of your thigh giving homage to the size and style.

Once discovered you begin to wonder who noticed.

Then you wonder what they thought; did they laugh and point it out to their friends saying, “She must not know the tags are on her pants! LOL!”

Then you wonder why someone didn’t tell you. At least I wasn’t hunted down by the mattress tag police who so rudely write, “DO NOT REMOVE THIS TAG BY ORDER OF THE LAW.”

It is a stark reminder my brain may not be functioning as it use to but then again maybe it has just gotten too crowded in there.

Responding to a comment lately of my love for reading, I have to wonder if God is trying to tell me “don’t cram so much in that little head of yours” or if I just forgot to take the tags off.

Recently statistics revealed people who are on the internet, pc or phone a lot tend to let other things become “null and void.” I submit to that as a valid customer of the literary scene or blogosphere. The conjuncture of the price tags is a result of brain overload.

Keeping our minds clear is essential to focus. Focus is necessary to reach successful achievements.

Keeping our focus is as serious as what we read or listen to. What goes in must come out. The information, good or bad we receive will ultimately become our focus or direction.

If you listen carefully to the subject matter of conversations, you will quickly notice what is important to the person speaking. Today’s world is full of noise, garbage and lies. The choice is ours individually what we do with it.

Ramming your brain with loud, negative abusive music or foul language will produce adverse and gloomy moods and actions. Unfavorable attitudes and pessimistic dispositions are no fun to be around because those temperaments are contagious. Persistent cynicism breeds cynicism. Eventually what you hear repeatedly will become what you believe.

Empty your brain of such miserable burdens and begin to fill it with positive, uplifting Godliness. The importance of depleting the vulgarities is absolutely necessary to make room for the Holy Spirit to immerse your thoughts with God’s word.

The difference is immediate and once you start this process the desire to retreat is lost.

God speaks of becoming empty vessels.

2 Kings 4:3 “Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.”

In other words, fill your empty vessels with the truth.

Now that is noise worth listening to.

June 5, 2013
by Naphtali 5 Comments

You Know that Thing?

There are times when a foreign object or problem is dropped in your lap and you had nothing to do with it.

The object can become a “thorn in your side.” Wasn’t this supposed to drop in someone else’s lap? Think again.

Is this outlandish issue something you are unqualified to handle? or is it more an “intellectual challenge?” or completely alien to your realm of understanding?

Events that happen where you are totally incapable of dealing with and you are diligently trying to follow God, have to be God. There is no other explanation.

How do I know that?

Over time the closer you get to God, the more you know him and his character you begin to see Him in the middle of that thing, whatever it is.

Did you ask for that particular assignment?

Probably not. Wait a minute….

Maybe you did.

Did you ask God to use you?

Did you give God a list of your best attributes for him to coordinate with how he plans to use you?

or what was your “burning bush” moment?

God wants willing hearts; not for us to decide which burning bush we get to spray with the water hose.

No. When he uses his followers in many cases there is no forewarning. No time to prepare. No writing on the wall or email. God doesn’t even send a text.

What is the line? “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16

Classes of life’s learning are meant to show up during these unexpected calls. Years of God’s teachings and words should surface. Abilities unknown should emerge that weren’t built in at conception.

The element we fail to see is when a crisis or dilemma occurs all of a sudden, we forget all God has taught us or who is in charge. Viewing trials from the flesh can prompt one to believe you are ready for the nuthouse. My reservations have been on hold for a very long time.

“Why?” you cry. “Lord, I am the last person for this job?” “I am not qualified God!”

Exactly.

May 16, 2013
by Naphtali 3 Comments

“Mystery Meat” or the Antartica?

Life throws us curves at the end of a season. Just when we believe we ended a major accomplishment, it turns out the season was a prerequisite to the next one.

So it is with growing up. We live each day preparing for the next day. Vocabulary places it all in the “future” tense. What we fail to realize is all the while we are focusing on what we are to do, we forget we are living it in the present.

Living in the future wears on our souls in the present. Another clear tactic of the enemy is the busyness of planning. We have gone too far ahead of ourselves.

Such is the case of moving on after graduation. Having numbers of close relatives and friends graduating from college is an awakening in itself of how old I am! LOL!

With that in mind, they have their entire future ahead of them. Unless they are specialists in the production of daily planning, it won’t go at all as they believe it will. Not sounding negative here, life gets in the way of life.

Hopes and dreams line up our agendas.

Job hunting becomes a job.

Years of education embody the components of what we hope to become.

Isn’t that what we went to school for?

All those years of horrible classes, mystery meat for lunch and teachers/professors we would like to forget?

While our misery was foremost in our minds, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to be educated. Leaving those memories to move on is the end of one season and the beginning of another.

Reality sets in and the loss of “mystery meat” or that 8am Biology class is the difference between understanding how good we had it and wishing we could do a re-run.

But the future has arrived. Going backwards is not an option. Facing the prospects of the unknown isn’t easy for anyone. The sheltered Graduate leaves years of a safe haven they didn’t know was a place of refuge to begin with.

The truth is we can make plans all day long, but if they don’t match up with God’s plan for our lives, any number of events can happen such as:

Jobs are scarce in general much less in the field studied.

Pay scale won’t feed a mouse much less a hungry graduate.

Moving out of home sets in motion a diversity of issues one never prepared for.

Many take jobs they hate or wind up living in Antarctica.

Within months of graduating you find out “mystery meat’ was really not all that bad opposed to starving.

All the education in the world, won’t advise a stubborn heart to seek God first for a future only he can ordain.

Proverbs 16:9 “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

Maybe the bullheaded, former student will learn that while cleaning toilets.

May 13, 2013
by Naphtali 6 Comments

Be Still and Fight

James 1: 12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Do you know what that means?

We are to wear the devil out. He gets weary trying to keep up with the faithful champions of endurance.

Lately, I am swiping at him from all angles.

Actually, clobbering him.

There is something to be said for justified anger. It breeds passion to do something about that which has been unjustly treated.

The injustice going on in the world has hit an all time high; but on the other side of that is a powerhouse uprising in the hearts and souls of determined Jesus people.

As I have had to refrain to some extent from using this somewhat broken laptop, I refuse to allow the enemy to stop me from doing that which God has called me to do. If for no other reason I will keep blogging just to make him mad.

The enemy hates perserverance in God’s people. He hates endurance.

Those who seek to remain loyal to God’s call burn him out.

We must have the attitude we will out run him; debiltate him and cripple his incompetence.

Crisis is a normal event in the champions of Christ. Around every corner lies one more battle, one more fight but what most do not anticipate is Jesus is way ahead of it all. His steps are placed on the scrimmage lines of good verses evil; and he always wins.

Endurance, perserverance doesn’t always come in the packages of action. Human nature is to rush or stir up some accomplishment; an activity producing a visual achievement.

However, agitation is hostile to good. Calm can perform two actions at once; constructive of good and destructive of evil.

Yes, calm is an action; it is called trust.

God says it is wrong to take matters into our hands quickly or to speed into action. This is where “be still and know that I am God” comes into play. Check in with God first before making any kind of move. If he says be “patient” then wait until you know you have heard from him.

Go against the grain of the world in fighting off the enemy. He detests the peace of Jesus in the soul of workers. We are left unburdened and victorious at the same time.

Now that is my kind of warfare.

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http://samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/the-work-of-faith-in-prayer/

http://thelostkerryman.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/the-impossible/

April 24, 2013
by Naphtali 3 Comments

The Case for the Mentally Ill

In the days and weeks to come, I tried to sort out the events that had placed my life on hold for a truly mentally ill patient.

Trying my best to look at her from every angle didn’t ease my tendency to feel powerless. If anything, I felt guilty for not wanting to deal with it all, yet sad because at the time there seem to be no answers. I wanted to help, but didn’t know how.

The conclusion was not what I wanted, but what other options were there? Mental Health was not on my radar because it was not an acute issue within our society. In fact the mention of anyone needing counseling for anything labeled that person crazy. The point was a mute incident.

The police contacted me for further communication to detail the case to close it out. As we discussed the bizarre events, a sense of relief came over us. We had done nothing to help her but the common ground of conflict and confusion was our emotional grievance. We were struck with the notion there really were people who suffer such unbalanced and psychotic disorders but knowledge to aid or cure such a disease seemed remote besides sticking them in a horrid institution.

We sat around like a “think tank” hoping to come up with any other alternative besides the one she got. The resounding words of her husband ended our exchanges because he had already tried everything possible.

Years have passed and often they come to my mind.

What happened to them? To her?

Unfortunately, this type of mental illness is prevalent today and in some cases much worse. New drugs and therapy are common, yet more and more people reveal a bondage to such a cruel and distorted mind.

Why?

It is demonic.

Psychologists, doctors and/or Psychiatrist rationalize common everyday stress, anxiety and an overall inability to cope as a structured illness. Maybe so, but the roots are a demonization of paralyzed fear and pointed attack of the devil himself.

2 Chronicles 20: 15 “This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”