Of Cracker Crumbs & Fleeting Pleasures

Have you ever had an experience in which you'd decided the lesser of two choices only to find out that you'd chosen poorly? Another words, you got the fuzzy end of the sucker. But in the heat of the moment you were so sure of what you wanted that a second thought would have been foolish! Or, perhaps a second thought didn't even occur.

Such are the ways of life. Sometimes we choose more wisely than others. Sometimes we make a more conscious effort to better our lives than going with a whim. Whether conscious or not the results are what must be dealt with. Granted, sometimes the decisions embarked upon call for more severe consequences. Take for example this story:

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, ² “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, ³ and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. ⁴ Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ ⁵ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, ⁶ while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. ⁷ The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. ⁸ Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹ Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ ¹⁰ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.¹¹ “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. ¹² And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.”   Matthew 22: 1-14

One cannot help but wonder why those guests which were invited to the marriage feast should have refused. Why would they not join in the celebration of another's rejoicing? What was more pressing and important that no matter the amount of beckoning was applied a deaf ear was only given? Where had the honor gone?

The king says, "The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy." Ouch. Swift consequence was brought about to those 'murderers'.  The guests had forfeited their invitation. And instead the king reaches out to whoever wants to attend.

The marriage feast is full. However, as the king surveys all his guests he finds one who is not in proper attire. His lack of appropriate etiquette causes him to be bound and cast out into outer darkness. Swift and extreme punishment, don't you think?


Perhaps my reader is wondering what this post has to do with crackers. A number of years ago,  a speaker compared leaning on 'her own understanding' of the time she was flying on a certain airline in which she'd been upgraded due to traveling complications thus allowing her to receive a hot meal(yes, they actually did that at one point, though to you you're probably scratching your head... but that was the case). For one reason or another she settled for her crackers at the bottom of her purse. After those around her had been served a more satisfactory meal she began to chide herself. How could she have opted to 'settle' for the cracker crumbs and miss out on the feast which could have been hers?

Lord I Need You 

Consider yet another picture. In Lord of the Rings, we find Gollum as a fine citizen however, overtime he becomes possessed by the ring he finds which he believes will bring him happiness and who knows what. He turns into this despicable being who thinks of nothing more than 'his precious'. In the end 'His precious' ends up controlling him and robbing him of joy and happiness.


Bringing it closer to home...

In life we are faced with many a decision. Some are given deep thought, others, well not so much...depending on the flavor. If it is to our liking then we want to come up with all the possible pros. However, if it is a more serious matter then we sleep on it. What you eat, drink and wear perhaps to you doesn't have much weight. But who your friends are, the activities you choose to engage in, school/college you attend, work and marriage should be taken into serious consideration before jumping head long into. ...But, what about the every day trips we make over words which come out and inflict injury, or, actions which have a lasting effect? The thoughts which no one can see? Or the meditation of your heart? As human beings we try to excuse it. It's natural. In other words, don't take lightly the little things which seem to be of no importance lest you find yourself settling for crumbs. God has so much more for you...more than what you're willing to settle with. Don't cheat yourself.

8/15/2013

A Fresh Glimpse of Jesus

For the past week I've been dealing with what seems like hives. It all starting with itchiness on my legs then appearing on my arms. Couple days later it showed up on the back of my neck making its way to the front and up my face. With the itches came little goose-bump-like protrusions inflating to bigger lumps. At times it would just be redness. By this time my face felt like sandpaper, course and sandpaper sounding when I touched it. After taking Benadryl and the itchiness dying down(though it would decide to come and go) there was still the existence of the lumps in said places.

Friday evening found me at a place where I thought I'd be able to attend a gathering. Little did I know the grander scheme God had in mind. Having talked a friend joining me, we set off for the unknown...rather expecting much less than I knew I was yearning.

The message was given. It was on healing. If Jesus healed, commanded his own disciples to do the same...are they(healings) no longer part of our age?

Our speaker asked if there were any who were sick and/or needed prayer. I raised my hand. I didn't need prayer but rather WANTED prayer! If you know me, I never turn down prayer. I stand in desperate need of it. Sometimes I feel like a little child, so excited when I hear that sweet word.

There were a number who prayed for me. Though one word of all the prayers stood out: sensitivity. That was it. The picture of hearing Jesus more than anyone or anything else was the deepest desire which stirred within. A strong passion for 'seeing' and hearing and experiencing Him was all that was important at that moment. That is all that I want. Should He not choose to take away these 'hives', I long to see and hear my precious Redeemer. To know the presence of Christ more than the air I breathe...that is sufficient.

Today, I've not seen total healing but that is okay. What is more precious to me is that Jesus showed up right when I needed Him. :) That is enough. Yes, He is enough. These verses came to mind during prayer: 

Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit, and though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be happy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17 & 18

Love...

Love Life

Recently I found a ring(band) in the lost and found. Since it hadn't been claimed in so long I decided that I'd get rid of it. However, as i carefully investigated it there was an inscription in black which read, "Love Life". Instantly there were numerous verses/passages which came to mind.

"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:15-20

"Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. " Isaiah 3:10

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:10, 11

CHOOSE LIFE. Those are such powerful words. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, also comes to mind.

We also have the power to snuff life out of others. By giving grief, sorrow, heartache or being a constant sorriness.

Do I love life? The good, the bad and the ugly?

We all have the choice to embrace or despise life by the way we live. We even loathe it if we become despondent about the outcome of circumstances.

The more I contemplate on this line the more I realize how empty and loathsome life would be without Christ! There'd be no reason to 'Love Life' and expect it to last for any amount of time. But through Christ, I may 'Love Life' because He is the giver of life....and that SO MUCH MORE ABUNDANTLY! With Him I may sail the seas of life without a shadow of doubt that He will see me through.

CHOOSE LIFE! Not only for yourself but also for those around you. We either are giving or taking life in every single action carried out. Embrace the short span of life God has given! :)

What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

Psalm 34: 12-15

Wedding Music...

Canon in D

Song for Sienna

So...I can't seem to make up my mind as far as wedding music. ...As if I'm getting married tomorrow. Haha. The old time favorite is Pachelbel's but if I really wanted it, I'd like to ask a friend of mine to play it for my wedding. Even if it was just by ear. There's just something soothing about it. Song for Sienna is  a second favorite I ran across last summer. It is beautiful. I'd like to have an orchestra to play it...but good luck to me, right? It is repetitious as Canon in D. A slow waltz to it would be wonderful as well...I think it would work for that. 

Remind Me Again

The day long over, he is left with his own thoughts running and rerunning while sitting on the edge of his bed. "How could you?!" From the outside you'd think he had a perfect life. Except for the one thing which weighted heavily on his heart. Why must there be this monstrous set back?

Both the winter and spring months had been fruitful and maturity seemed as wings of birds ascending to unknown heights. A friendship forms only to be disillusioned. "Why!" the heart cries.

Grasping violently with outstretched arms for someone to engage with...only in vain. The lack of friends climaxed leaving an emptiness and heartache. With a recent relationship called off life feels stagnant.

"Why" I ask. What are the 'blessings' for these seasons, I ponder.

To be honest with you, I am the person in each of these circumstances. I wish that I could share victorious seasons in each leaf turned. But no, I've questioned God, demanded answers and even cried bitterly.

However, there have been a few times in which stepping back and asking God to open my eyes to view life from His frame of reference has blessed me. During one such time, in which I was at my lowest of strength, non other but God himself must have posed a thought. "What IF someone else who didn't know Me had experienced some of the very same things you've gone through? How would they cope with it?" That got my attention. "Okay, Lord, I get the point." How do unbelievers go through life without Jesus?!? I was dumbfounded. To question and doubt who God is...do I really know who He is? To have no hope or reason for living was far beyond me. But I DO have a Reason and Purpose for living and chose not to allow my circumstances to determine my outlook of God.

Praising Jesus in and through each trial hasn't been the easiest even though I wanted to. That is when I realized that in whatever allotment I find myself, God still can be found. That is, He became more real to me than ever. He's right there; right beside me.

The song Just to be With You by One Sonic Society has spoken to me so many times. It is my heart of hearts desire and prayer. All I need is just to bask in His presence. To be so consumed with Him that not even a single thing in this life would detour me from sweet worship of my Jesus.

As I sit back and reminisce over the last year, I can honestly say, blessed be the name of the Lord! I see now that, had He not given out of His grace and mercy I could not be the person I am today without the hardships. A few of the lessons I've learned/or increased in:

🔸An increase of a greater passion for Jesus!
🔸He has made me more adamant about what I believe.
🔸More determined to follow Him no matter what loved ones may present.
🔸 A greater need for Jesus than ever before.
🔸He means my good when hard things come.
🔸He can be found right where I am...on my knees and it doesn't behoove Him.

Yes, it is a good thing to be reminded of God's mercy and grace. Even as I've read the psalms, often David is found expressing his thoughts of God being afar or that he's being silent and forsaken him. But he always ended with reminding himself of who he knew God to be. It's important that we speak to our soul. Remind it again...

Be reminded again of a God so great that grace is never out of reach. Christ never condemned the adulterous woman, but rather uttered, "...Go and sin no more." So He gives grace to you and every imperfect Believer. And the trials of life are to form us more into His image. My prayer is that as we pilgrimage through life our eyes be open to see the grander scheme of life God has in store...eternity. May you be found faithful in Him.