Loving with the heart of God

A few days ago, it was my earnest prayer to see the world as God sees it. To have understanding as He does about it. To have the love that God has! Well, tonight, me and my dad went downtown Canton to eat the Dominoes that we picked up, and to walk around the 'First Friday' fair thing going on.

My eyes and ears are not sheltered from the 'corruptness' of society, but tonight I have understood that corruptness in a different viewpoint - God's. It was not 'uncomfortable' to walk amidst the many different characters that appeared tonight, as many Christians would explain their experience to have been 'uncomfortable,' as if in the presence of evil. I do believe them, surely there is tension when evil sees Christ in us. We do fight a war not of flesh and blood, but of the Spirit.

Driving home, me and my dad spotted black smoke in the air. We decided to follow it and see what was up. At first, we thought it was just a big mechanical plant or something, I would have laughed! But there was a truck-fire at an auto repair shop. This was yet another notable moment in my life. As we slowly drove past, I could not help but see the people standing on the street observing - again, many different characters, all of which shared common threads: hopelessness, carelessness.

My heart was torn apart as we were getting on the highway and a rusty old car cut us off, nearly side-swiping the front of our blue Toyota. It missed, only because my dad put on the breaks. The car acted as if, quite literally, we were not there. When my dad pressed on the horn, there wasn't a reaction from those in the car, except the small amount of energy the passenger was willing to deal with, lifting the finger out the window.

When we were finally on I-77, I wanted nothing but to go back to where we had just left. It would do no good to wave a Bible in the faces of passerby's, screaming "TURN OR BURN!" It may even do no good to try and speak rationally about the Bible with them. But what I saw in the people tonight was far more than Godlessness. I saw the Godless, restless, friendless, fatherless, hopeless, careless, and the list is never-ending.

It was natural to think "what would Jesus be found doing, here?" I saw a man sitting on a bench alone - Jesus would have spoken to that man. I saw people dressed in knight's armor, battling each other with wooden weapons, Jesus would have asked them about it! Does not Jesus love the things we are passionate about, like "Facing the Giants" says when the coach explains how God is out on the football field with the players? Yes, Jesus would have shared the passion these people had for the fun they were having. It is just like Him to meet us where we are.

I'm beating myself up tonight. I did nothing. A conversation could have brought a friendship - which could have led hundreds of people to Christ in itself. God provided the opportunity; twenty times at least. I walked right on without thinking twice. Now, I'm feeling discouraged because I was not faithful to discerning His specific purposes for me.

Lord, do not keep Your Holy Spirit from me. Please deal with me as you have David! My I have the privilege of having a heart so like Yours, a mind so like Yours, discernment as from Your wisdom, courage as from your confidence! Give me success in just one 'part' of my life - the part that is completely surrendered to You; bringing You glory and a smile.

Just thinking (about the comings of Christ)

The 'pastors' of the day in Biblical times were so excited about the Christ' soon-coming. They expected Christ to be, as was told by the Old Testament, a war-Lord, a conqueror of nations, a victor in battle, etc.. Jesus was all of these things, but each in a way that the leaders were not expecting. For, our battle is not one of flesh and blood, but of the Spirit.

Thinking about Christ' second coming, we usually are told in church that it will be magnificent, unforgettable, marvelous! All of these things, it couldn't help but be. However, do not keep your eyes looking for a flash of light! Do not keep your ears intently listening for a loud trumpet blast! The religious leaders held expectations for the day Christ would come to save them of sin. Little did they know that their imagination was not nearly in line with the ways of God, let alone know that they were the perpetrators who would execute the very Son of the Living God, who came to save them, that they've been waiting for since the fall of man.

When reading the Scriptures, it's easy to take away our own image of what an event will look like. Especially with events like the second coming of Christ (trumpet blast - the opening of the heavens - the multitudes of angels). Make no assumptions, however; especially audible and visual assumptions! Have little expectation other than for the Almighty God to be glorified. Ask for His wisdom and insight when concerning the Scriptures; lest we have the very Word of God in our worldly minds, like the pastors and religious leaders of Biblical times, and fail to receive the heart-translation.

Just Thinking (about prayer)

Conversation with myself today:

You’re a Christian, right?
How do you spend your time?
How do you use your energy?
What do you think about most?
An idol is something that takes up your time, energy, and thought.
Ouch.
Is God your idol?
Where is your loyalty?
Have you lied to yourself all along, believing that you are living for God when you are really devoted to yourself?

You profess to be for Him, in Him, and of Him.
I wonder if you know Him.
I wonder if you love Him.

Today, I recognize:
God's infinite wisdom - about everything!
His ultimate power - to do anything!
His transformation - so we can do something!
I recognize the desire of God’s heart - to be being loved by His creation.

I proclaim that God is calling every person to play a considerably small and eternally significant role in His grand story.

Nobody can fill your shoes. God only called one person to build the ark, to deliver the Israelites, to draw water from a well. You are called to do something(s) especially, things which nobody else ‘will do.’

Instead of focusing on the sea of regrets and unholy routines that are in your life currently and need to be replaced, just follow the streams flowing into that sea (sea = your life). Construct a single stream to overcome all others, a stream of prayer! Let His love be flowing from His heart into your life, that you may truly be of Him, for Him, in Him, and truly devoted to Him. (Romans 12!)

I agree with Phillip Yancey who said, “Prayer, and only prayer, restores my vision to one that more resembles God’s.” When you pray, you will be given insight from the mind of God as to what you are called to do. Whatever you decide to do with the wisdom you are given determines who/what you are serving.

As for now, pray. For me, prayer is a matter far greater than life or death. William Booth once said something like this: “Work as if everything depended on your work. Pray as if everything depended on your prayer.” Yet another person, I’m still unsure who – I believe he is from Akron Citadel Corps – once said,

“The greatest regret Christians will have when they get to Heaven will be when they realize how powerful prayer really is and how lightly they regarded it while here on earth. They will realize how much more of a difference they could have made, but it will be too late.”

Praise God for the power and wisdom and guidance He gives us through the gift of prayer. I praise Him too, now, for the realization of my slack of a prayer life. I’ve said a prayer for you today, who read this. May you feel the Lord’s tug, call on Him, and reap the tools and peace and guidance He has in store for you by it.

(Stream/Sea illustration was the idea of Phillip Yancey, used in his book "Prayer")