Fear

Have you ever been the instigator of a misunderstanding? One where the seeming cold indifference of the other person you misconstrued into high drama of epic proportions? The pain you were meticulously rehearsing was built into a story that took on a life of its own. That driven feeling was fueled solely by the misinformation and uninformed emotion of the mind. All this happened before you decided to go and talk to the "offender". Then came the change of perspective, where nothing is as you thought it was, the sun is actually shining, and everyone really has your best interests at heart.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Psalm 111:10) If we are not motivated to go and talk to God when we experience fear, then our dread of Him becomes a sad misunderstanding, where the facts of His mercy and compassion are overwhelmed and subsumed by our emotions of the moment. He takes such care, when revealing heaven , to tell us to "fear not"! He is very protective of His reputation. If someone has convinced themselves that He is a harsh and cruel taskmaster, He will not be pleased by their lack of faith. "If any draw back, my soul will have no pleasure in him." (Heb 10:38) Of such persuasion was the unfaithful servant, who buried his "talent". He was condemned as unprofitable because he was content to console himself with inaction and atrophy.(Matt. 25:30)

"And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."(John 3:32) If we would just allow ourselves to see the real truth behind the circumstance, we would instead be praising Him! Whatever is happening, it is an opportunity for Him to reveal His glory, wisdom, and power! For the one with eyes to see, His victory is happening now!

So, What Happens Next?

One of the things I've learned about God's character is that He delights in doing the unexpected. If you think back to all of the the times Israel was delivered from her enemies, many times this was accomplished without the use of any force whatsoever, contrary to expectations. Also, in fulfilling prophesy, God's completion, in exact detail, of what He has told us will happen, takes place in forms totally unexpected by leading religious authorities. (Those who have their own ideas of what should be happening.) God does these things to "shake up" our perceptions, to change our perspective, from a godless worldview, to how HE views. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord." He desires us to be inspired to obey Him, rather than our own ideas of what is right. Acting in anticipation of what we think it is that He wants is not obedience, but rather a rut that we fall into and that He is helping us climb out of. So wait. See what the Lord will do. Be prepared to be in awe and overflowing with joy and gratitude! Feel the anticipation! I can't wait to see what happens next!

Accountability

This word sparks feelings of resentment in me. My response is a result of my experiences with those blinded by the illusion that physical strength is the sole requirement of leadership. That view sees leading as a hiearchy where control comes from the top, goes in one direction, down, and obedience comes from the bottom up. Accountability is where, when the rules are broken, the offender is punished in some way by his superior. The inherent idea is of violent domination. Fear accrues the good things in life to the one who is at the top. All others aspire to and compete for positions of similar advantage.This value system is the godless concept of survival of the fittest.

Accountability only works if it is mutual. In reality, a leader has more to account for than the ones he leads. "To whom much is given, much will be required." (Luke 12:48)

The term that I prefer to use is submission. Whereas you would not love or trust the one you are accountable to, submission is a voluntary act of love, done to the one we know has our best interests at heart. Remember that Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments." (John 14:15)

Submission is synonymous with humility, which to me, means teachability. To learn, we must surrender our pride. Then we can see that He is worthy to receive only our best. We can honor and glorify Him. When we lift Him up, exalting Him, He in turn lefts us up with Him, creating a powerfully supportive community of love.

Past the Pain

My eyes roam over the events of my life,
random consideration of pain and of strife.
My reaction of amazement, to it, the sum?
I realize, with it, I've been granted my freedom!
It dawns on me God has used circumstance
to break open my chains, move my feet to dance!
Only after the battle's been fought
could I understand, with my will, what it is that He sought!
To produce resilience in my character!
In His compassion I stand assured,
that nothing has happened He hasn't allowed,
even dark valleys obscured by black clouds!
His spirit has driven me into the desert
where, like Him, I'm tested and allowed to feel hurt,
to learn to stand tall and to face unafraid,
the bleakest of darkness, the price to be paid,
because I'm determined to win victory,
go through even death, His face to see!
When corruption comes calling and threatening,
no force of persuasion, to my life, does it bring!
Now even the grave has no authority over me,
in His sacrifice, I now stand, and am free!


"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Gal. 6:14)

because.....

"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20)

That Familial Conflict

This has got to be the same place
that I was at yesterday!
Surrounded by the familiar,
No wonder I didn't want to stay!

When I started I was secure
in innocence, all unaware,
that knowledge of good and evil
did not drive me, back then, to care.

Family battles then drew the lines
of character, and what is right.
They didn't realize they set in stone,
their role as villains, careless in their spite.

In the midst of the battle of wills,
I gave them all my blame.
I am so angry at others
for exposing me to shame.

Yet here I am, out of their reach.
So why do I feel as I did then?
Pressed from both sides, failing of both,
influence of sin, yet only men?

As long as I had them at my side,
it was impossible for me to see
that I didn't have to face my burden!
By blaming them, from my own fault I was set free!