Discouraged?

DISCOURAGED?

That's a question I have been asking myself lately. When I'm discouraged, what discourages me? What are the triggers? I'm starting to realize very clearly what my triggers are,  and it seems they all have to do with people and their response to the message I preach and the church I pastor.

I'm finding that it grieve's me to the core when people neglect making time for fellowship with other believers. I'm discovering that it hurts deeply when people that you know and love can turn there back on you and walk away as if you never existed and not even offer a reason why.

I'm seeing the spirit of the age that is attacking the church like never before manifesting in an attitude of unfaithfulness. The weight of these very real observations triggers discouragement in my heart. Why? Why do these things discourage me?

For me the answer is Jesus Christ. That sounds simple but this is what I mean. I'm looking for Christ to manifest in his people. I'm looking for the traits of Jesus that should be prevailing in the lives of those who believe. His people should lift discouragement not create it.

I may be alone in my observation, but I'm willing to take that risk.

I don't expect Christ to break fellowship with me or anyone in his church. I don't expect Christ to turn his back on me and walk away from me as if I our relationship never existed, and certainly not without an explanation. And, I don't expect Christ to be unfaithful.

I guess my discouragement comes from expecting Christians to act like Christ. There is a drought of Christlike Christians in our land. There are religious Christians, Petty Christians, Offended Christians, but where are the Christlike Christians.

Where are the faithful Christians who will stay with one another come hell or high water? Where are the Christians who will love one another the way Christ loves us?  1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Describes that love. Where are these people who the world will know by there love for one another?

I know some, they are refreshing, encouraging, generous, faithful, and love to a fault even when people are hard to love. But they are to few. Thank God for the one's I know. But God give me more of those who don't bring discouragement but lift discouragement everywhere they go.

I'm expecting discouragement breakers to surround me, come into my life, and impact the city where I pastor for all of eternity. I am, and I will, do my best to raise up this type of Christ follower. One's who know and follow Christ who said this about himself.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed. To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

His very anointing has discouragement breaker all over it. I know he will break my discouragement.

And when he does! I want to continue to break discouragement in others. Because this is what Christ followers do.

Be Blessed

Life Works #12 The Way Out!

Okay friends, I don't know that it gets any clearer than this. This is fresh manna, hot off the press, a message of spiritual wisdom I believe "The Source" has just poured into my heart. Many of you are struggling, battling, wondering how you will ever get out of your current condition or circumstance.

Remember what I told you in earlier blogs. The words that He speaks to us are Spirit and they are Life and I believe the word that He is speaking to us right now is 'Listen to Your Righteousness!'

You heard me right. Those of us who know "The Source" through faith in His Son know that righteousness has been credited to our account not because of what we do or have done, but because we believe in Him and His promises. Because we believe, His righteousness dwells within us.

That is good news. What is even greater news is His righteousness dwells in us for a reason. It dwells in us to bless us, to lead us, to guide us, to direct us into the good things He has for our lives. We need to clear the clutter in our lives, all the other voices, all the other downloads, all the false and deceptive information and "Listen to Our Righteousness."

It will lead us out of whatever situation we are in that is hindering God's goodness in our lives. Trust your righteousness, trust the voice speaking from deep within your heart, listen listening and you will be standing in victory before you know it.

Would you please take the time to listen? Let me know that you have done so! Help me help you be accountable for shutting out all the wrong voices to listen to the right one. It would be my honor and privilege to do so. Hope to hear from you soon. You are on your way out now, don't look back.

Life Works #11

Here are some more words that are keys to how Life Works. "Have faith in God!" These words were uttered by Jesus Christ with complete trust and utter conviction to any and all who would listen. They are words that flow from the Son of "The Source." 

So do you have it? Have you put it to work? Have you placed faith personally in the God and Father of Jesus Christ? If not, this could be the missing link in your life. Why? Because Jesus understood that faith activates the power of His Father in our lives. 

There is another quote from the writings associated with "The Source" that says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who would come to God must believe that He exists and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." 

Based on this information I would say faith is something that is most essential if we desire to have a relationship to "The Source." Seeings how we can't please Him without it, and that He rewards those who put it into action, we better take the "Have faith in God" thing serious. After all, there are rewards at stake. 

God is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. There it is again. The principle that God works in the lives of those who believe. God is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Obviously you won't seek God if you don't believe in Him, but if you do believe, and you do seek Him because of that belief, you can be assured that He will reward you. 

What those rewards are has yet to be determined, but based on my own experience they cross into every area of our existence that makes "Life Work." In other words, through faith in God, His rewards flood into every area of our lives. 

God rewards us spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, there is really no limit to where His rewards will flow if we will learn to place our faith in Him. But the choice is yours. Don't believe, don't encounter these amazing rewards. Do believe, and you open up your life to the realm of what we would call on this earth, Miracles. 

Anyone in need of a miracle? They begin with faith in "The Source." Have faith in God!

Lifeworks #10

"A soft answer turns away wrath!" Wow! There you have a very practical concept from "the Source" that is a great starting point for any relationship going through struggles. It has to do with your response to the verbal attack of another. It's the same principle as "Turn the other cheek."

The person who doesn't enter into the verbal or physical attack is actually resisting the spirit behind the attack. I understand that this is easier said than done, I also understand that our physical body and mind is weak when placed in these types of circumstances. Which is why our relationship to "the Source" is so critical.

Some other words from "the Source" instruct us to come boldly before the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. In these words, "the Source" is trying to teach us that help is available and on the way if we will just recognize our need and make the call.

He is no respecter of persons. He loves all of us the same and extends His amazing grace to all who recognize their poverty of spirit. This grace covers every area of life, relationships included. Our part is quite simple. Just believe. Like R. Kelly used to sing, "I believe I can fly." or Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey sang, "There can be miracles, when you believe."

These are certainly true phrases. "the Source" responds to faith in all individuals, He has designed us for encounters with His grace and power which we access by faith. So imagine, all this grace and power is available for you to tap into so you can learn to extend "a soft answer that turns away wrath" and begin the healing process in your relationships. Believe and then ask! You will not be disappointed. Someone loves you beyond your ability to comprehend. Keep reading!

Life Works #9

Now where did we leave off? Relationships. What "the Source" has to teach about relationships to those who are willing to listen. Now, we have already discovered from the source that the root of all relationship struggles are born from the desires that rage within us.

Not that all desires are bad, but obviously some desires can be bad, or at least can cause great trouble and stress in relationships. So based on what "the Source" is telling us we need to give some serious attention to recognizing, confronting, and reconfiguring the desires that are working within us. If we don't do so, we can be assured of a life of relational conflict.

I will say this with absolute positivity having been in relationship with the same amazing woman for over 30 years. The majority of the battles or conflicts we have had during this time have been rooted in her desiring one thing and me desiring another. So it became her desire and her will over and against my desire and my will.

That's a great thing if you both desire and will the same thing. In fact, I believe that's where "the Source" would like to teach you to live if your willing. However, if you are both desiring and willing something different get ready for a lifetime of relational misery or what some might dare to say as "Hell on Earth."

I know that many people in relationships feel as though this is where they are living. It's also often those same people who are unwilling to listen to what "the Source" has to say about them and their relationships. They want help, they just want it on their terms. Which is precisely the problem. Their terms, their desires, their wishes, their wants, their needs.

There is a place for all the things they want and desire, in fact when you learn to do it the way "the Source" desires, your desires are met and fulfilled more than you ever imagined. At least that's how it has worked in my experience. The reason it works is like I said before, "the Source" knows better than I do what will work.

In one of His early writings, "the Source" warned a young man about the desires that were battling within him, that they were unchecked, ready to pounce, and take control of his life, but that he must control the desire, that he must become the desires master rather than the desire becoming his.

Now we are getting somewhere. Because all of us who are honest with ourselves know that we have some desires that are not good or beneficial to us outside of maybe a very short lived pleasure. Those desires seem to have a mind of their own and want to own us.

I won't go into where those desires are coming from according to "the Source," but I will instead stay focused on the fact that those desires want mastery over our lives and "the Source" says we must master them instead. Master those desires and you are on your way to mastering every relationship you have.

Here's the good news! Not only does "the Source" want you to master those desires that can hurt or harm you or others. He wants to help you do so. All he needs for you to do is recognize when those desires are wrong, find and agree with the right desires, and then ask for some help in living out the right desire. He then will assist you in mastering the wrong and living the right.

Someone might be thinking, how come you never say who "the Source" is? I know 'the Source" and I know "the Source's" name. But right now that really doesn't matter and some of you have already figured it out. What matters is that you know "the Source" is trying to help you and that you are loved very much. Your relationships are about to change for the good. Keep reading!

Life Works #8

Relationships, relationships, relationships. Sometimes it seems as though you can't live with them and most of us certainly don't want to live without them. Most of hunger for meaningful and fulfilling relationships. However, in fulfilling our desires for meaningful relationships we find out the whole relationship thing can get quite complicated.

In real life we find that relationships between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, friends and acquaintances, employees and employers all seem to have struggles and challenges that seem overwhelming and sometimes impossible. So even though all of us want fulfilling and meaningful relationships, as the old saying goes, "its easier said than done."

So where do we go? "The Source!" We go to the one who has the words of life that make "Life Work" in the area of relationships. Yes my friend, "the Source" not only created relationships but also understands how relationships work the best. Not some relationships, but all relationships. So, if you find yourself at the reading of this blog in struggling relationships maybe its time to see what "the Source" has to say about it and not just listen, but put into practice what "the Source" has to say.

Let me give you one quick example of what "the Source" has to say about relationships and then I will elaborate more in my next blog. Here is a quote,

"What causes fights and quarrels among you, don't they come from your desires that battle within you?"

So here we have "the Source" revealing to anyone who will listen the root cause of all fighting and quarreling. Fighting and quarreling is birthed out of the desires battling within us. A further observation of these desires will cause all of us to see that not only are these desires there, they also cause us to want our own way.

So if fights and quarrels are born from the desires that battle within us then the solution is to either control or eliminate those desires. The problem with many of our relationships then is not only external, or the other guy, but the problem is often born in us.

Takes some time before our next blog and think about the desires that battle within you that have caused you to be more than hard to get along with in one of more of your relationships. What do you observe in you? Will talk about the other person later.

Life Works #7

We have been talking about words that make "Life Work" that stream to us from "The Source" of life. My general thinking has been that "The Source"of life probably knows better about how his creation should function and thrive in life better than those whom "the Source" has created.

I have also spoken of how "the Source" communicates the ultimate truth that makes "Life Work" through words. Sometimes those words come as warnings! For instance, if we ignore or reject the words that make "Life Work" we do so to our own harm. Not because "the Source" wants to see harm come to our lives; He is much to good for that; but because "The Source" wants whats best for us and when we ignore His words He knows the results will not be as we think.

The words He speaks are ultimate truth, they are pure Spirit, and the possess Divine Life. Here are some of those words,

"They rejected my words of advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm."

Voices are speaking to us all the time, but one voice, "the Source" is always speaking to us for our good. He understands that left to ourselves without His influence we often choose our way, but the wrong way, because we have a propensity toward that which can hurt us.

Think about it, when you make a wrong decision and violate your conscience, "The Source" is speaking to your heart through words to lead you away from wrong decisions and bring healing to your wounded conscience. Again, he is trying to lead you away from a condemned heart and the fruit of choosing your own way.

He desires that you live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. Do you hear him? Are you listening? Do you understand that you are loved beyond your ability to comprehend? Do you understand that you are not alone in this world and there is someone that understands and knows better than you and that someone wants to help?

Lately I have been confronted by many problems people are going through in the area of relationships. Very negative things in many ways. That's the bad news. The good news is that "the Source" has much to say in the area of relationships.

He has the answers that make "Life Work" in the area of relationships just like he has the answers in matters of conscience.

So we are going to begin a journey into relationship advice from "the Source" in my next blog. I hope you come along. In the end I believe your relationships will be stronger, more healthy, and more influential than ever before. Be back soon! Be blessed!