The sin of man plagues hard on me. I claim to be a child of God, but yet my human spirit whispers, “You fool yourself.” What struggles, what strife, what pain we go through when we designate ourselves as drivers! We are drunk on the flesh when we chose to take the lead instead of follow Him! Those around us crying, “STOP!” We realize that we are not safe and admit it, but still we continue. Why must I do this, why?

My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe [6]my ways…

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
Those who tarry long over wine;
those who go to try mixed wine.
Do not look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
In the end it bites like a serpent
and stings like an adder.
Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart utter perverse things.
You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
like one who lies on the top of a mast. [8]
“They struck me,” you will say, [9] “but I was not hurt;
they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
I must have another drink.” (Proverbs 23:26, 29–33 ESV)

This is the way my soul feels. There are those that see me as a spiritual fool, but then there are those that see reality and realize that they have been there or are there. Those that do not suit these descriptions have either been there and still do not know it or they will be there soon. Then while I sober up spiritually, Christ tells me,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 ESV)

Why do I suffer so much? …because I am human and I have not fully laid my whole self in the hands of His everlasting mercy and grace. I am like Peter. I strive…but for what? “I am always saying things and doing things without even thinking of the consequences. I’m like a reed shaking in the wind.” I have been reading in James lately and I find myself open wide in Chapter 1:5-8.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (ESV)

I believe that it is for a reason that the passage leading into this last passage says the following:

Count it all joy, my brothers, [2] when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV)

This is the result of our depravity. We must go through the fire. We must be purged from our uncleanliness. We must learn that our hope and our trust and faith must be placed in and on the One who saved us and cleansed us from our sins. I believe that Romans 6 captures this thought well, but I believe verse 6 may sum up what I am trying to say.

We know that our old self [1] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (ESV)

After I now see this, I must do something because faith without works is dead. Take this passage to mind if you have felt or do feel the way that I have mentioned here.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (ESV)

I am learning that to see this is one thing. To do something about it is the complete opposite. I ask that those reading may be inspired along your earthly journey. He calls unto us all. His burden is easy and light. He asks us to take His burden and not our own. I am finding that I must submerse myself in the Word. It is not enough to just read a passage a day. David says that the man that is planted by the tree meditates day and night. This is what God meant when He told the Israelites to post the Scripture to the foreheads of their children. He did not mean literally (although it allows very easy access); but that in every circumstance, their minds will sift their thoughts through the Word. God desires this to happen for our benefit and for His glory. For when we look to Him, we bring glory to Him because He has given us the victory. His love is everlasting and He wishes that this happen so that He can bestow His mercy and love to us so that we will give Him the glory.

This is just a little of what has been going through my mind lately. These are just a couple things that God has shown me. I hope that it is an encouragement to you. (No I did not drink recently either – it was only used as an illustration). I hope that God may use this in someone’s life as God has used it in mine. Let me know some thought for all you out there reading this.

A Debtor to Mercy,

Josh

2 Corinthians 12:9

Well, it is Thanksgiving Day. My mind automatically is drawn to the greatest gift and blessing that I have – salvation. Was it not for the most incredible sacrifice made by God, I would not have the life that I live today (or as Paul said, “Not I, but Christ who lives in me.”) What an incomprehensible thought to think that an almighty, pure, and holy God would love sinners enough to send His pure and undefiled Son to make a sacrifice for me! Through that, I receive not only eternal security in wonderful fellowship with God, but I receive the benefit of God as my Father watching over me, teaching me, guiding me through each step of life. Do not think that I am minimizing the sweet fellowship either. That is an honor far above meeting any human in this world. Such a thought as meeting an “important” human carries no weight to knowing my Lord, God, and Savior. So, what am I thankful for? Everything – my Father owns it all – wealth, possession, position, communion, fellowship – He owns it all, and I become a partaker by being an heir to Christ.

My day went very well. I woke up at 10:00 and cleaned some of my room. I then cleaned some more of my room. After that I took a shower and cleaned some more of my room. Following that, I cleaned some of my room. It was just about 45 minutes before guests began to arrive that Cherith needed to drop some stuff off at GW Fashions (Good Will) and drop some books and videos off at the library. Concluding our short venture, we began to fellowship with our guests and took time to think about our wonderful Savior. What an awesome God! We meditated on the thought of the many luxuries that we have to enjoy; yet we find ourselves in “need” of things, which our gracious Father still subsides to our cries. (This leads me to another thought that I will later write on – the humbleness of God.) Next, we ate a delicious buffet of Thanksgiving food – such as turkey (of course), green junk (pistachio pudding with marshmallows in it), cranberry sauce, salad, green bean casserole, and other great middle class delicacies. We followed that up with just some fellowship with one another. There were five kids around, so we played a little bit as well. At the end, my brothers and I ended up watching the most depressing Star Wars: Episode III. Yeah, that was totally not cool. When all was said and done, it was a pretty good day. I did not favor the movie at all and could care less if I neither watched nor heard of it ever again.

Well, there will be more later, just not now. Thank you all for caring and reading. I hope everyone had an incredibly blessed and glorious day in our Lord Jesus Christ – for He alone is worthy to be praised! “Bless the Lord, o, my soul and all this is within me!” I will write more soon.

Glorying in my Wonderful and Merciful Savior,

Josh

There are many things lately that have burdening my heart. Since my last post, many events have occurred. I have friends that are burdened down with the weight of sin shown through their spouses, parents, friends, and others that have been taken captive to the chains of sin. I must first start by the joyfulness of Reformation Sunday. I joined my brother’s congregation for Reformation Sunday and marveled during Family Bible Class at how God used the life of a man like Martin Luther to see the truth of Scripture in the midst of the darkness of this world of sin and the so-called “Christianity” of the day. And although we were shown the many things for which God used him as a vessel, we were also shown how human Luther was. Following the Family Bible Class, Pastor Thorton preached a message by Luther. Wow! I find it surprising that we wonder now why our churches are not as strong as they used to be. Local churches, especially American, and believers get so caught up by the fact they want to be in charge or they feel that God is so much in charge that we have no responsibility. Both err greatly! KJV Controversy – Calvinism vs. Humanism – women wearing slacks – music – and other menial controversies are like thumb tacks on a wall that someone is trying to go past. The issue is sin and the depravity of man, and glorifying God. That is the wall! We get so caught on all the small things and the rough edges that we forget the main point and focus of life. There is so much more out there. Yet, it all brings me back to the love, grace, and undying mercy of our wonderful Savior. He paid it all for sinners like us. What I was getting at earlier is that men are not preaching the Word of God solidly and soundly as they used to teach and preach. Did they have “Bible College?” Who taught the Bereans? Who taught the Philippians? Must we put so much emphasis on man and man’s standards that we lose sight of our responsibility to each other? What I mean is that Christian colleges were originally intended to teach men what scholars of Scripture had studied to equip the younger generation. The intent was valid, but the result is that the common church has become slack concerning teaching younger men in the church. People have become uninvolved in the lives of others that they forget that it is commanded in Scripture to teach the younger generation? What about those that are past school and have a career and have just recently been saved? Is there not food enough for them also? Because their path of life is so different than the young Baptist kids that have always been in church and feel the calling to ministry at a young age, we feel that the young minister gets more food than the older convert. There is no difference. While there are churches that teach others and teach sound doctrine, there are those like the ones I have seen that teach their kids morality and how to live a good testimony. Is that the point?!? Of course not! Godliness – not morality! Dr. Binney once said, “I can teach you to be happy, but that does not teach you to be holy. But if I teach you to be holy, I will also teach you to be happy.” You can even replace the word “happy” with “moral.” Love God and keep His commandments – not vice versa.

On issue that has been on my heart for a while now is the responsibility of the church to the welfare of other believers. While this may seem like a menial subject, the results and effects are tremendous! For some reason the passage in 1 Timothy has been a passage that has repeatedly come to my mind whether through preaching or devotions or just common talk. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” What truths and relevance does this hold? Some that I know say that his own would be his church body. It would make sense in light of the many other passages in the New Testament where Paul and Luke of how things were common among each other and how those that lacked did not lack because of the overabundance of other brethren. If we as Christians become gluttonous with our money and want others to learn to fend for themselves, are we any different than the world? That should be a resounding, NO! This is the point at which I am reminded of a quote that I heard once. To this day, I do not know the author. The quote proceeds, “Giving is not the luxury of the rich; it is the privilege of the poor.” Until you have been on both ends of a giving, then you may never learn to give.

I have placed the picture above my writing because I think this best describes the way I see people going through life. They are waiting to catch the big stuff, but they miss all the opportunities to save the small stuff in life which adds up to a big pile of stuff. They let life ”slip through their fingers.” What incredible things to which God has held us responsible! Is He not good!? It is only when you try to catch things in life that you will see the goodness of God. When you realize that all things are from Him and through Him and to Him, you will realize the humility and love of God.

As you may tell by now, my mind is scattered with every different thought and I can’t seem to gather them together in an understandable writing. Bear with me as I write this. There have been many things which I have thought to write about. I do not feel that I still have not made myself clear enough about what I am talking about. I tend to do that. I have it all up in my head and it does not all want to come out.

For those that are still reading, thank you. Hopefully, I will write next time without the huge time gap so my mind will still have my thoughts gathered. May God richly bless you! May you see the goodness of God this week! May my friends who may be suffering look to God as their all in all. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” Look to Him. LIFE IS ABOUT GOD – not us!

With Sincere Love in Him,

Josh