Reality Check!

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: - 2nd Corinthians 1:8 (KJV)

Inaccurate it would be to let an impression remain that all emotion in Jesus is exuberance.

That false impression can be given because most remarks are made when a pentacle is reached and feelings of excited expression run high. But there are valleys between those peaks, when there is no desire to write, but a hopeful expectation that the path will lead to a destination of better joy than any other path.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: - 1st Peter 1:6

Even in the valleys, though, there is a knowledge that more peaks are coming, with an anticipation of how wonderful they shall be.

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. - Psalms 30:5 (KJV)

Why not all peaks?! Why not all feelings of exuberance?! The next verse after our primary scripture answers that:

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: - 2nd Corinthians 1:9 (KJV)

God knows when we need a reality check!

Another discovery - freedom from fear

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. - 1st John 4:18 (KJV)

There are some things noticed when one has them and others only noticed after they are gone.

Sleep deprivation was like that. Until I used a CPAP machine and experienced real deep sleep, I never knew I was sleep deprived. What I have now is too good, may I never be sleep deprived again!

I did not notice the fear, either, until I realized, today, it was gone. May it never return!

God has touched me and filled me with His love in a special way and I am on a journey I don't know how long will last or where it will go, but I sure like the ride!!

Today was a particularly nasty day at work with people I am trying to serve complaining about the pickiest things. First complaining I did too much, then complaining I did too little, then complaining that what I did was wrong, sending notes up their chain of command to their bosses and my bosses; it was a mess.

What I noticed, praying on my way home, was that I was not concerned - it wasn't a lack of caring, I do care, it was a lack of fear; not being afraid of what someone might think or do nor of what might happen. I then noticed I was no longer afraid of what might happen to my children, either, if they make wrong life choices, not worried about what pain I might feel in my body, or what accident could happen on the way home.

I did not have to tell myself not to be afraid or not to worry - the worry wasn't even there to ignore. Again, it wasn't that I did not care - I care about my life and my family and living; it was that I was not worried or fearful. I knew things would be OK by God's grace.

I remember a friend telling me he was an alcoholic because when he drank he did not have fear; others have told me the same thing. This may be the answer for those struggling with those addictions; I wouldn't know because that is not my struggle.

My inner feelings and thoughts are filled with the peaceful assurance God has delivered me from any authority of darkness (my interpretation: bad things) (Colossians 1:13) and He doesn't just tolerate me and my shortcomings, He is for me, and is blessing my socks off! It is not feeling bad things won't happen, I'm old enough to know better, it is, instead, a strange knowing that God, being for me, is preventing a lot of bad things from happening and making the rest, both good and bad, work for His purposes, my good, and my greatest joy.

Thinking about this on the way home I could understand the scripture that says perfect love casts out all fear. I could see how Paul would write

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31 (KJV)

and the Psalmist could write:

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. - Psalm 118:5 (KJV)

Good riddance, fear, I am under new management!

Love is easy, when you are touched.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. - Deuteronomy 6:5 (KJV)

Some have wondered how one can feel love for someone who can not be seen. It has also been expressed God doesn't expect us to manufacture loving feelings but to do loving act.

I believe God would not require us to manufacture feelings we don't possess and love is often a choice of action even when it is not felt emotionally, but today I was given a glimpse of how loving feelings arise in our hearts to our unseen Heavenly Father, not out of a effort to feel but a choice to worship.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. - Psalm 4:7 (KJV)

God has a gladness that goes beyond natural pleasurable events and experiences. When God touches the heart in such a way that makes it more glad than anything else, loving feelings are an automatic response.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. - Psalm 16:11 (KJV)

When one gets such fullness of joy in God and pleasures, better than anything else can give, loving feelings can not be stopped.

I am open to the possibility that God's command to love Him is actually a command to come to Him and let Him put His gladness into our hearts that will produce the love He desires.

-fal

Affection - A State of Mind

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. - Colossians 3:2(KJV)

Yesterday I looked up the original word for "affection" in this verse and made an interesting discovery. The original language has it the same word translated in other passages as "mind", as in

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:5)

That word is also translated "thought" as in

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." - 1st Corinthians 13:11 (KJV)

St. Paul is not telling us where to put our feelings, he is telling us where to place our attention.

Asking the Right Questions

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.(John 4:10 KJV)

Had the woman at the well known the gift of God and that she was talking to the one who could give it she would quit arguing and start asking.

C.S.Lewis wrote:

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinate joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased"

Jesus said God has a gift, something that satisfies now and forever, and he is the one who gives it out.

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.(John 4:14 KJV)

Jesus give me that gift so I don't even want to go to puny wells for refreshment! (John 4:15)

-fal

Asking the Wrong Questions

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" (Colossians 1:13 KJV)

We don't understand the gospel because we don't understand the real problem.

God offers forgiveness and redemption from sin and we say, "I don't need that, I need God to make my marriage work, or to keep the bank from repossessing my car or house, or to keep my kids out of trouble."

We say, "I don't need deliverance from selfishness, I need more friends, God, give me more friends!"

We say, "I don't need to be diligent and study more, I need better grades, God, give me better grades!"

We say, "Sin is not my problem, I need God to work in my life, where is all that benelovance God promises; why is he not answering my prayers?!"

Significance of the First Miracle

Today I think I saw the significance of Jesus' first reported miracle in the Gospel of John, the "Water to Wine" miracle.

I have never been satisfied with my understanding of that story until now. I believe its true significance is to be found in the remarks of the clueless Governor:

"Everybody I know begins with their finest wines...But you've saved the best till now!" (John 2:10 Message)

The significance is not in the timing, in the wedding, in Jesus' reticence to act, or in the obedience of the servants; the significance is that Jesus is the source of something better than the finest mankind can produce.

This was not a church service but a wedding where the focus was the celebration with food and fun, and the one responsible for the food and fun, once he tasted what Jesus provided, thought it better than the finest he ever had.

The treasures found in Jesus satisfy in such a way that, once tasted, leave all else lesser esteemed.

-fal