Gaining Ground

Sometimes it feels that we take 1 step forward only to take 4 steps backwards. We begin to get discouraged and believe that we aren't gaining ground. I have a spirtual brother who is addicted to crack cocaine and was feeling very down and discouraged the other day. The house where he stays has no water, and gas. His tags are dead on his vehicle, he owes the city for driving violations, and his family life is the pitts. He was ready to give up, and throw up his hands.

I asked him has he used, and he said no. I then asked him does he believe God is still in control? He said yes. I then got excited, and exclaimed to him that he does not see the blessing in all of this chaos. I said you just don't see it. He wanted to know what. I told him that the friend I knew last year, or 10 years ago would have smoked crack with all of this trouble going on. I told him that last year if he was in this perdicament that he would have been stealing and robbing trying to get high, and the blessing is that all of this is going on, and you have not used. Look at God. He got excited and then told me "G, this is the first summer in 28 years that I have not taken a drink or used a narcotic." I told him although it may seem that he is loosing ground, he really is gaining ground!

Before you decide that nothing is going right and that it's time to quit, make sure you do the proper evaulation of your life.

Passion

What is your passion? What is it that you would die for? What is it that you would be willing to loose everything for? If I could not preach, I think I would die. Preaching is what I was made to do. I know that I am nowhere near a great preacher, but I feel like I am most comfortable, and centered while preaching. It is the mountain-top experience that Peter experienced with Jesus, and wished would never end. Monday through Saturday are my days of uncomfortability - trying to find the place where I fit in.

Trouble Doesn't Last Always

Test and trial do come. But I have learned that this fight is not a 3 round match, but it is more like a 15 round match. I have learned that if I can hold on to the end everything will work for my good. Satan's attack comes like a roaring lion. But he is really a toothless tiger. He comes with the storm, but when you are like a tree planted by the waters, you will bend, but won't break. Trouble is a part of our development, and necessary. But trouble only last for a season!

IF ONLY MOMMA WAS HERE

Have you ever thought that your life would be totally different, or some situations would be different if certain things in your life did not happen? This thought hit me smack in my face the other day concerning my mother. I said, "if momma was here, she would know just what to say and do to make things right." So it is now up to me to live the life she taught me to live.

Sometimes we feel that we need our earthly comfort, when all we need is our heavenly comfort.

THE FEELING OF PAIN IS ACTUALLY A BLESSING

Have you ever thought how things would be if you could not feel pain? Suppose that baby who puts her hand on the hot stove could not feel the heat. Suppose the young boy who is always in trouble never felt the pain of the father's belt. Suppose while you were doing your hair you never could feel the curling iron burning your scalp. I could go on and on, but pain is an essential need to our life. Pain causes us to stop what we are doing, assess the situation, and change. Our pain makes us go to God more than we normally go to Him. Our pain makes us live a more pleasing lifestyle.

Our pain hurts, but it helps!

Stay In The Left Lane

I have learned not to rush into decision. Life moves fast, but that doesn't meant that you have to move fast. The Bible says wait on the Lord, and be of good cheer, again I say wait. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. My faith is tested to give up, to say what's the first thought to come to my mind, to take the easy way out, and to rush and make bad decisions.

So if we stay in the slow lane, then when our exit comes we will nor miss it. When we are in the slow lane, when God gives us direction, we aren't too busy to hear Him. When we are in the left lane we become more calm and alert to the will of God.

What is interesting is that when I wait, God always shows up, and works it out. THANK YOU JESUS!

Learning To Be Empty

When I am weak, that is when I am strong. God uses me best when I am empty my wants, thoughts, and feelings and allow him to pour the right spirit in me which is in Christ Jesus. This emptiness is not a good feeling. It requires humbleness, selflessness, pain, struggle, and a purpose-driven life, but it makes me a better husband, father, preacher and christian. I wish that I can always say, "Lord not my will, but thou will."