A Narrow Road and The Open Mind

As Christians we walk along the narrow road as Matthew 7:13-14 says. But I think we have a misconception that you have to have a narrow mind in order to walk that road. I don't think this is true. I think God calls us to have an open mind, I mean think of some of the events in the old testament. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-3), God spoke to Balaam through Balaam's ass or donkey (Numbers 22:28-31) and many other miracles in the old and new testament. You have to have not only faith and trust that these events happened but also an open mind to really wrap our brains around these things. When we close our minds I think we limit God, we limit what He can do in our lives. If we don't have faith that He can than He won't. There maybe some out there that say "The burning bush and what happened to Balaam are just symbols and not real events that happened." I think a statement like that limits God and says "He can't really do that." I think we over analyze scripture, not saying that we shouldn't study scripture but I think we just over analyze it to fit in our small minds or somehow make it more believable. I kinda think God just wants us to simply believe what He said. Really, the Bible is God's word and if He said it then I am not going to argue. Have you ever been outside on a moonless night and looked up at all the stars? You can see thousands upon thousands of stars. Did you know that if you held out a dime at arms length you would block out millions and millions of unseen stars? That is a really big universe so how much bigger is God than the universe? So if He said He spoke to Moses through a burning bush than I believe He did.

We shouldn't be so quick to close our minds off to things that we may not understand. Remember the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost when we walked on the water (Matthew 14:22-33) They didn't understand what was going on and were scared. For a small moment they had closed their minds and thought Jesus was a ghost. Having an opened mind is not a bad thing you need one when reading through the scriptures. Trust and faith open our minds to the amazing wonders of God.

On a side note about Balaam, Rich Mullins who was a popular christian singer, writer and thinker once said. "God spoke to Balaam through his ass, and He has been speaking through asses ever since. So, if God should choose to speak through you, you need not think too highly of yourself. And, if on meeting someone, right away you recognize what they are, listen to them anyway."

In The Twilight Of His Coming
Dan

The Weight Of Worry

And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet
if then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is
thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an
anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your
Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all
These things shall be added to you. Luke 12:25-31

What by worrying can be accomplished? Does worrying about what we will eat or drink tomorrow feed us? Does worrying about the bills get them paid? Worrying about something solves nothing. The only thing worry does do for us is give a useless weight that we have to carry. God knows our hearts and knows our needs even before we ask of them. He gives us our needs only on His time. Why? Why does God make us sweat it out til the last minute? Why does God wait to answer a prayer from a person who needs a miracle? Why does God wait to answer a prayer from a would be mother in need of a child to love? Maybe it is that He wants our trust, our faith, our patience, our love. Maybe He wants us to seek Him and not the need. God is standing at the ready with our needs if we would only turn our eyes to Him and seek Him. Worry only blocks what He is ready to give us. So what to do with this worry? "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 and Matthew 11:28-30 says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Give all your worries to Christ. Seek after God not the need, seek after God with trust, faith, patience and love and all these things will fall in line on His perfect time. We may not understand why that is but what by worrying can be accomplished?

In The Twilight Of His Coming
Dan

Missing The Mark

We are to follow the example of Christ. Christ got down in the dirt with the lowest of the low and looked them in the eye and made them fell loved and accepted. If we as christians do not do this, we have missed the mark. We should get down in the dirt with the lowest of the low no matter who or what they are. It should not matter if they are thieves, liars, adulterers or homosexual. If we don't follow Christ's example and get down in the dirt with the lowest of the low and look them in the eye and let them know that they are loved then we have missed the mark. I know this goes against the teachings in most churches today, but I would rather follow the example of Christ. We are taught to be holy which this is true. Holy meaning to be separate, but not to the point of where we don't associate with the lowest of the low. How can we shine our light in dark places if we don't go to these dark places? I don't believe that the church is for the saved, I believe the church is for the broken, for those wounded on life's journey and for those who have been ate up and sit out by the world. My own sin and shame left me for dead, left me broken on the wheels of living. Fallen to my knees in the dirt was when I met my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He bent down looked me in the eyes and put His arms around me and has carried me ever since. What's sad is that today many Christians will walk past those in the dirt and not even think twice about it. Jesus gladly bends to pick those up who are in the dirt, He looks them in eyes and lets them know that they are loved. Ephesians 5:2 says "And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Love as Chirst loved, get down in the dirt with those who need love.

In the twilight of His coming
Dan

Just A Random Thought

Something has been on my mind as of late, and I can't seem to understand it. How can a church that claims to be a Bible believing Christ centered church, turn their backs to those that may not fit the church image? There is a local church here in town that I attended. When I was younger I felt God's love all over that church, I mean you walked in and you were showered with love to the point that when you left you were dripping wet. Now the last few times I have been there that love is no longer there. There is a lady that goes to this church and she has some issues with uncleanliness and some metal problems. When she walks in the church everyone turns the other way, some may even run. I see this and I think if we are to the example of Christ, didn't Christ spend most of His time with those that others thought to be dirty and filthy? So do we think that we are above that?
What if when we came to God in prayer for a need, a miracle or forgiveness, He turned the other way because we are sinners. Ephesians 5:1 says "Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children." If we are to imitate God and God is love then shouldn't we be love also? God has unconditional love then shouldn't we also have unconditional love? Someone once told me that God's love has conditions, well if that were the case then I wouldn't be where I am today. It breaks my heart to see the church as a whole turn away from the broken of this world. Remember we are called to be imitators of God and God never has and never will turn from us, He is there waiting, His love is always there and I just can't understand how the church can ignore that.

In the twilight of His coming
Dan