+>i Christ Before Me - Blog

Tales from the Trails pt. 15

7/4/2018

I like not working. It gives me a chance to leisurely wake up, have leisure quiet time and continue that quiet time with jogging with the dog. After almost five years, this is the only way Rocky and I connect, but he is a great running partner. The journey is always more fun and interesting with a willing and excited partner.

Jogging is a continued quiet time of introspection. I'm not sure anyone really enjoys running and working out, but we all enjoy the health and wellness benefits. I liken jogging to a life journey. When you focus on how bad it sucks, it sucks worse, but when you look up, take in the air, nature, scenery... the journey is a lot more fun.

Psalm‬ ‭37:23-24‬ The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

I came across a banana peel in the middle of my path this morning. It certainly made me think of a Tom & Jerry cartoon and thought, there is always something in our journey trying to trip us up and slip us up.

Robinson is also notorious for bad roads. There are plenty of bumps and craters that can make the journey more challenging, just like our life journey.

Even Rocky has distractions like other dogs trying to disturb his time out of the backyard jail.
We can still enjoy the journey despite these hindrances. Notice his opposition is in the cemetery though... on the "other side" of the fence.

I thought about the differing paths in our lives. Some of us at some time are on a smooth path, some a rocky road. Even when the road is smooth sailing there is always a price (like on a tollway). There will be things in the way (bad drivers, wrecks, cops, etc.). Sometimes we travel down what is barely a path and sometimes we are just lost with no clear path. We can always find our way back to the best path though.

Proverbs 3:5-6

As long as you know where you are going... try to enjoy the journey!

Galatians‬ ‭5:25‬ ‭ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Flare Stack pt.2

9/26/2017

I can see the fire ahead. I can't help but notice in my picture that there is a wall between me and the fire. Then there is a fence to overcome. There is a track to the fire. It's a journey! We have to overcome hurdles, and keep on the journey towards God. Always acknowledging His fire, trying to reach it. Trying to get close to the fire so we too can burn brightly.

Everything we go through is opportunity towards Him... though it's a tough and arduous journey.

We'll get to that flame one day!

Nehemiah 9:19 "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take."

Romans 5:3-4 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Flare Stack

9/22/2017

As I was driving to work on Hwy 6, there was a magnificent flame that immediately drew attention and focus. It was dancing beautifully bright! I have seen these "pillars of fire" before in the middle of a field, but this one was very close and demanded focus.

I wanted to find out what this huge torch was all about. I have come to realize it is called a flare stack. From my understanding, it is necessary to relieve pressure of gasses, combustion, etc to ensure safety when start up of a plant.

So much spiritual application on this. God is the ultimate "pillar of fire" as He showed Himself in the Exodus. He was looked to for direction. I also think it's interesting that these flares relieve worldly pressures. I was looking out for it this morning, but it was not there. Goes to show that He can appear at different times to us through different things if we allow them to speak to us.

We are to be the light of the world for all to see Him/His light in us- an undeniable and attractive fire. His hope relieves our pressures of this world.

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

WTL

7/12/2016

John14

v6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

As I read in chapter 14 this week, his verse certainly jumped out to me today. Probably the most important verse in the bible so I wanted to break it down.

The disciples didn't understand what Jesus was talking about when He said He was going elsewhere. They didn't comprehend that He was talking about a transcendent place in a heaven- same as God. Thomas (who is know as a doubter) asked "how can we know the way to go along".
Jesus answered in a way that applied to them back then and applies to us right now. He answered in a way that requires faith (confidence that we hope for and the assurance of what we cannot see).
Jesus' answer "I am the way and the truth and the life".

The Way
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
God has designed us for specific purposes on earth. He knows the design for each one of us-after all He is our creator. He has instilled gifts, talents and passions that I believe are given to us for His glory. I've tried and tried to do things my own way in life. I've tried to make my own ways at times only to lead me to depression, anxiety, and insecurity. He knows us personally and His ways are better than ours.

The Truth
2 Timothy 2: 7 Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things
The more we get to know God through His word, the more truth, purpose and understanding is revealed to us.
My 40th year was some what of a time of trials. A friend gave me a truth that I held tightly in hope to. A verse that I adopted as my verse of 2016. I had never done that until this year.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
The follow up verse 21 is "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen".

If we trust in Him, when He comes through, we give Him the glory! He is doing more than I could ask imagine in my life.
His truths are so important because naturally we have continual lies and negativity that we feed ourselves. We need these truths in His love to absorb and believe rather than buying into all of the garbage we can tell ourselves (fears, insecurities, unworthiness, etc.)

The Life
John 3:16 God, our creator gives us life and purpose here on earth but also an eternity with Him. I've heard it said that this temporary home is just practice and preparation for Heaven and that we are to share Him while here. He is the life because when we draw towards Him, we can become more like Him in His goodness of love, mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, self-control, peace, joy, patience, forbearance. Don't we all want and need that?

The second part of this verse 6: No one comes to the Father except through me.
We have to believe in God that came to earth as a person through Jesus.
This is why I believe in only one God- God the Father of Jesus, son and savior. What other God came as humbly (came to serve). He was born humbly and died humbly. What other God sends a physical person to be such an example? What other God sends their physical,person in the form of their own son to take place of our penalty for sin? What other God demonstrates such love (and all of the other fruits in righteousness)?

He is the way, the truth and life and I'm doing my best to stick to it!

In Process

7/11/2016

John 14

Romans 12:2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

We are all "in process" aren't we? Like it or not, we are maturing in age. Hopefully we as individuals are maturing in our character and purpose on earth as well. We all want to find meaning, purpose, fulfillment with our time here.

We all are broken. We come from broken people and try as we may, we aid in the brokenness of others. With that said, we are in process of growing. We all have hurts, habits, hang-ups, circumstances, mistakes, sin that we have been in or are going through. It all can be used to grow.

Our purposes can certainly be misdirected. I believe if we live for this world (and its customs) we can fall victim to taking on all sorts of wrong pursuits. I know this all too well in my own prior life. I think of people like the Dallas shooter, bombers and terrorists. They all want to live for a greater cause. In their minds they think they are really doing something for the greater good of their world. When we live for ourselves, our own knowledge, gravitate towards worldly causes, we can be easily deceived.

v6 "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

That's why we need Jesus. Why is He the one God? When we believe in God the father, Jesus son and savior and Holy Spirit (power through us here on earth), we can grow towards Him. What better cause to grow individually, as a family, community and greater world than to grow towards a God of love, peace, patience, kindness, Grace, forgiveness, self-control. Boy aren't these things needed in our broken lives and the greater broken world?

I know I need His help everyday with these things as a family man, as a worker, church member, citizen, etc.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I certainly have a long way to go, but (with His help), I am still in process.

The Proof is in the "Putting"

7/8/2016

John14

v10-11 “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.”
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If we are to be like Jesus, we acknowledge God the father. He has good works for us to do (the way we live, talk, act, work, serve, raise kids, etc.). If we do this in a Godly way, it will be evident... or not.

v13-14 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
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My friend Ralph always challenges me as to why we pray in Jesus' name. In reading this today, I believe that it is because he gave the power (through Jesus on earth). If we pray in Jesus' name, we acknowlege that there is indeed power here on earth (through Him as it was in Jesus).

The proof is in the "putting". God the father "putting" Jesus here on earth, "putting" power within Him to carry out the works He called for Jesus to do. "Putting" the power of the Holy Spirit within us, thus "putting" power in our hands to do His work here on earth.

v15 But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you
v20 I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you

Am I "putting" Him first?

The proof... is in the putting!

Abstract

7/5/2016

An artist that paints abstract art has their own interpretation of the subject. That is the beauty of it. The way he paints it is open to interpretation. It can move different viewers in different ways and have different meanings.

I feel like God is a creative artist as well. He speaks to us in different ways. Sometimes our paths are not laid out plainly and directly (like a burning bush), but many times our direction is open, full of choices.

John 14

Jesus was preparing to die and go to Heaven. He didn't outright lay out the plan and say this to his disciples. He was a bit more elusive with his words.

v1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus wasn't speaking of a mansion somewhere with map quest instructions on how to arrive there because He was not speaking of a tangible place. He is speaking of a place that transcends our imagination. That is the essence of faith! Belief that there is such a place and there is a way to get there.

The disciple Thomas (known as a doubter) wanted more clarification.
v5 “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Don't we all seek more clarification in life towards our ultimate purpose and being? At the same time we all like creative liberties. When we get a job, we like to know the general duties, but we like the confidence in a boss that let's us do the job without micromanaging our every move. If you've been in a job like that, you know how miserable it is. Laura often talks about our God being a gentleman who doesn't impose himself upon us. We all like that kind of boss, but that kind of boss still expects a job to be done.

v6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I think we serve a creative God- and abstract God who leaves His works and plans open to interpretation. I think He likes us to try and figure things out through Him and how we interpret Him through His word. We are also the artists to paint our own pictures. Even though He may be hard to see at times, we can't leave Him out of our pictures.

Free Indeed

7/4/2016

John13

I'm so blessed to be free today. The liberties to worship God and post my thoughts.
I was trying to tie July 4th with my readings in John13.

Right after Jesus washed his disciples feet in humility, he predicted some things ahead, even some dastardly deeds from his best of friends that he had grown so close to.

Judas
v21,23,27,30 After Jesus had said this, he was deeply troubled and declared openly, “I am telling you the truth: one of you is going to betray me.”
“I will dip some bread in the sauce and give it to him; he is the man.” So he took a piece of bread, dipped it, and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot

As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Hurry and do what you must!
Judas accepted the bread and went out at once. It was night.
Judas went on to betray Jesus to have him captured by the Sanhedrin leading to Jesus' death at the cross

Peter
v38 I am telling you the truth: before the rooster crows you will say three times that you do not know me.
After Jesus was arrested people associated Peter with Him, but Peter (as predicted) denied this association

Jesus
v33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

Jesus knew that he was going to die and be united with God, His father. He knew that his brother, friend, men-tee would be the one to put that in place. He knew that Peter would deny knowing Him when facing death. He understood though. He accepted each of these. He knew how it was going to play out. He allowed it. Why? He knew that it would glorify His father. He knew it was for the greater good.

I believe God knows how things are going to play out. I don't think He is surprised at either our good nor bad choices that we make. They all can be turned around for God's glory. He is ultimately in control. Do we really have much control over our lives in the big picture of things?

On this independence day, let's remember that He is ultimately in control. That gives us more freedom, less anxiety about our future. Our future is secure in Him. Yes we have free will, but His guidance allows us to be more free. Bad choices, bad things and good things can and will be glorified through Him! He knows how it's all going to play out so trust in Him.

He died so we could be free from laws we can't uphold. We are free, free indeed!

Lavishing Love: Giving, Receiving, Having & Sharing

7/1/2016

John13

v1 Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Jesus knew He had a specific plan here on earth and that was to love. Everything He did was out of love-the way He taught, modeled his life and even died out of love to reflect and glorify His father/our father, the God that is love. His love for His brothers/disciples was not fickle. It was not conditional. He loved them to the end even amidst denial and betrayal.
Jesus gave love to his disciples. He literally lavished His love on them by demonstrating humble servanthood of washing their feet.

v8-9 "No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Maybe we can learn something from Peter. Peter received Jesus' love offering. "Okay then if you are going to do this, then lavish it on me. I want this blessing and I accept it".
Sometimes it's hard for people to accept love. Sometimes we create distance even with our most dear loved ones. We all deal with our own stuff (selfish motives, insecurities, non acceptance) as well as others people's stuff.
That's why we need a savior. Allow Jesus to lavish His love. He already has because he died for us He loves us so much.

v34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus demonstrates sacrificial true love. Imagine if we loved and accepted love in this way. The world would be a completely different place wouldn't it?

Give, receive, have & share!
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Joey's marriage ordinance Friends video:
https://youtu.be/HTjqz0_wsZo

Feet of Jesus

6/28/2016

Me and my men's group are talking about the spirit of humility this week. Funny that I am in John 13 where Jesus washes his disciple's feet.

John 13: 3-5 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Verse3 really jumped out to me this morning. As I started reading "the Believer's Authority" last night, maybe humility is a power from God (a spiritual fruit) that we can tap in to only through Him as we get closer to Him.

Ol' Peter was always one to challenge (but he was also the one to do the same miracle as Jesus to walk on water)
v8 Peter declared, “Never at any time will you wash my feet!”
“If I do not wash your feet,” Jesus answered, “you will no longer be my disciple.
-Jesus was adamant to do this service. I feel Jesus was saying "I have to serve you and be this example so you can serve God in anyway He might ask for His glory.

Jesus was always teaching and being an example. I think He was showing example of two things- cleansing and humility. He needed the disciples to take on that role since he knew he was leaving.

1) I believe he was He was cleansing them in order to cleanse others (in a spiritual sense).
v14-15 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you

2) I also feel that Jesus was demonstrating humility and servant leadership.
16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him

We have often heard that as Christ followers we are to be the "hands and feet" of Jesus. I think Jesus was literally showing the disciples how to be a humble servant. We as followers are to do the same and figure out how to live in humility and fear of God and serve humbly to show the hands and feet of Jesus.