Mysteries of the Faith

My disclaimer: Test these thoughts against what you know in the Word.

I have a need. That is not so unusual, because it is likely everyone
has a need. Needs come with life. I was praying about my need to the
Father and wrestling with Him over the issue of serving a God of just
enough or serving a God of abundance. For many years there has been a
conflict with what I believed balanced against what I experienced. I
believed in abundance. I received just enough.

I have many times in the past stated that I serve a God of abundance.
I refuse to serve a God of just enough. I believe that the evil ones
have figured me out and step in between my receiving from a God of
plenty by providing just enough. I still believe that is the case for
me, many times.. I am impatient and when I see just enough offered, I
accept and thank God for just enough when it was not from God at all.
Does that make sense?

Tonight in prayer I once again shared with God that I refused to serve
a God of just enough. I reminded Him of His ownership in everything
as He is the creator. I said it as a blessing and not meant to get in
God's face or challenge Him in any way. I believe God gave me a
thought, I will share with you. Then, you will need to bounce it
against the Word and see if there is any truth to it.

I had the thought of a great banquet table. There was a place set for
me. The plate was over flowing with all types of savory food. A big
red juicy steak had caught my attention and I had cut off a chuck. It
was skewered on my fork and I was waving it in the air as I talked
with God,even as I had a mouth full already. I had every intention of
eating everything on the plate as it was mine and I was hungry. I
had no appreciation for the source of the food. I had no appreciation
for the fact that God had set the table. God had invited me to it.
God had encouraged me to take a seat. God allowed me to eat.

Then, truth was revealed and the mystery of serving a God of just
enough and a God of abundance was reconciled. We have received God's
Kingdom. We live in His Kingdom. We have been given keys to His
Kingdom. It is the keys that open the door to an incredible banquet.
But I believe with the keys come a responsibility.

With the keys, we have the opportunity to gorge ourselves because God
is the creator and a God of abundance. But with the keys to God's
Kingdom comes a responsibility to receive only what we need while
appreciating the fact that our plate is full to overflowing. It is
the receiving according to our needs, that God is Glorified and
honored in our attitude toward Him.

It is such a simple concept, yet took a life time to be revealed.
Maybe you will be smarter than I...

As a bonus, I think it important to note it is unlikely to be wise
waving a juicy chunk of prime steak on the end of your fork while
flippantly chatting with Jesus. .... in total deference to the
provider of the steak.

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

I am passionate about this.... I have paid the price to speak.

I walk up to Job in the midst and say, "I am sorry for the suffering
you are going through. Oh so sorry." Job says, "Yeah. Me too. It will
get better, I believe." WRONG!

I walk up to Job and say, "How's it going?" Job says, "God is AWESOME!
You won't believe the blessing I am in the middle of! Won't you come
join me? Did I tell you? God is AWESOME! His love surpasses
Knowledge!"

I agree. God is AWESOME and I am happy for you! Be blessed. Be
faithful. Be ALL IN! I am there with you! Hand me some pottery. I'll
help you scrap.

Father. Forgive us for lack of knowledge... and poor revelation.

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

God Spots are Encouraging!

Kathleen Heck Freeman of Facebook: Here's my small miracle. 1)
Boyfriend almost gets taken out by a car on his motorcycle 2) The
chiropractor he is sent to is given the choice of paying more to lease
with the doctor he'd been with for 14 yrs or having to move in 3 days
or less 3) Chiropractor moves to space within walking distance of our
home, helps boyfriend to heal and hires this little unemployed girl to
help him out and may even keep her. The LORD works in myseterious
ways.

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"Is there a cross handy?"~priest

It is easy to judge the religious types of Jesus time as bad, because
they killed Him. We have the luxury of looking back and judgment
becomes easy. Jesus is the Son of God and the religious types killed
him, so they must have been bad.

But if you were living in midst of the events of the time, it might
not have been quite so easy to judge the religious as bad. After all,
it was the religious type that were attempting to keep all the law.
That made them good. Right?

I think religion has not changed much at all. I think there are a few
bold pastors who communicate truth regardless of the cost. In their
zeal to communicate truth, other men of the cloth will quickly judge
them as being a loose cannon or a threat to organized religion. If
there was a cross convenient, they might ever be crucified.

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"There is a dark chasm between belief and unbelief. It is known as IF."~priest

I have believed in Jesus many years. It is likely you believe in
Jesus. There are few who do not recognize Jesus. Most of those
described will call themselves Christian. It seems believing is but a
1st step to enjoying a Christ centered life.

Many years ago, there was a man with a son who had incredibly bad
seizures from an early age. They crippled him and there were times
when the seizures drove him to wanting to kill himself. This may even
describe you today. You might just rather be dead than go through
what you are experiencing in life. You believe, but there is no
relief...

This man had unsuccessfully sought relief for his son, likely many
times in his life. Nothing seemed to help, but he continued to hope
and thought, "If only..." Upon successfully negotiating his way
through the crowds surrounding Jesus, he cried out, "If you can, then
heal my son!" Jesus said, "IF?..." The man took an incredible leap of
faith over the chasm of doubt, known as "IF" and shouted,"I believe!".

This was a miraculous event in the man's life. The healing was good,
but the miracle was in the leap the man took across the chasm of "IF".
No man comes to the Father but by Jesus. It is Jesus that enables
you to take the leap across the chasm and into the arms of the Father.
There is great healing in His arms. Miraculous healing found only
through Jesus.

Pray today for God through Jesus, to encourage you to take that
miraculous leap of faith over the dark chasm known as, "IF". Pray,
"Help me to believe." End your prayer with, "I believe".

As for the rest of the story... Begin a new life, receiving the
Kingdom of God as a child, allowing it to live in you and you in it.

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"The thought comes to my mind. How shall I spend the day?"~priest

I am an entrepreneur. As a career I have been many things... Today, I
am an entrepreneur. I wish the world was blessed by "entrepreneur"
being counted as the most highly valued profession. It's not but I
wish it was. To most, being an entrepreneur just means you don't have
a real job. It is that, but so much more.

As an entrepreneur, I am dependent upon God for today's provisions.
Depending on how He chooses to work in my life and the lives of others
that impact mine, determines when and how I receive the gifts God has
planned. I am ever conscious of His desire to interact with events in
my life, such that He is highlighted as being God - sovereign and full
of grace...

So today, I have spent time in prayer and reading from God's Word. I
am on a plan to read the entire Bible during the summer months. For
some, this is an impossibility because of how busy they are. For an
entrepreneur, the time is there. I just have to choose to do it. At
breakfast, I had the thought, "How shall i spend the day?"

I will do a lot of things and impact a lot of people with the things I
do. It is my hope at the end of the day, I have faithfully shared
Christ in thought and deed such that others will fall in love with my
God. Somehow in the process, I trust God will craft my adventures
such that resources are received to bless my family with His
provisions..

If you have needs of a web presence, post a comment. I'd love for you
to be the one God has selected to intersect lives with today. God
bless. Enjoy the day as an entrepreneur, using every opportunity to
be the person God designed for service.

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren't going to the same place?"~Amos

There is a path to take in each of our lives, that leads to
fulfillment and peace. It is a path made clear by God's grace and
enlightenment by His Holy Spirit. It is a path where we can
confidently walk, hand in hand with Jesus.

Most attempt to walk this path using the personal strength God has
given them. It is never enough. One is fooled into thinking
personal strength can overcome all obstacles. It is what we are
taught.

Real strength comes from being dependent on God. We are incredibly
blessed when God steps in to do the heavy lifting, according to His
will and purpose. It is on this path, the one seldom chosen, we are
never alone. It is a path where you will find Jesus.

"Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren't going to the same place?"~Amos

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"Your car may be your safe haven. In its protective bubble, there is little need for God."~priest

Guest Post by: Aaron David,

   Father had me wait for a man today. He was filled with demons and
.... when he left he said he was going to the graveyard, to stay. I
don't understand what happened. I feel like I may have failed so bad
it cost someone eternity. Father is totally comforting me but it still
feels like great loss. It was a very hardcore experience and I'm
pretty confused about it. Was this a lesson? What is the lesson? I'm
glad I don't know the man. I keep thinking about what I could have
done differently.

July, 26 Ten days later....

    After I came home today, after some hours, Father told me that I
was to take my tent and go wait for a man who needed it. I thought I
knew who He meant so I went and waited for him. I found a place in the
shade and prayed silently for a couple of hours, then I saw the man I
had thought Father meant the tent for riding a bicycle towards me. I
stood up and waved to him but instead of seeing me he turned away. I
called to him but he didn't hear. I tried to follow, I wasn't far, but
I turned the corner and he had vanished.

    Tent in hand and knowing I was wrong about who it was for, I
crossed the street and sat on a bench beneath a tree. I closed my eyes
and sought a Word. After a few moments I opened my eyes and right
across the street was a figure walking slowly North with a filthy
green blanket draped over his head so that I could not see a face, I
should have been able to but there was nothing but blackest darkness
under that blanket.

    I felt the anointing wash over me, this was who Father had meant!
So I made a bee-line across the street, by grace I wasn't hit, and
called to him; "Excuse me."  The figure turned and the blanket fell
away, It was him! It was the man who said he was going off to die!

    He looked at me and, with dim recollection through tormented eyes,
asked me, "Have I talked with you? I talked with you before?" "Yes, we
have talked before.", I replied.  I held out the tent to him and he
asked what it was. I said, "It's a tent, Father told me that a man I
was to wait for needed it, that man is you."

Thank you, he answered, and then told me how badly the insects
(strange creatures, he called them) in this desert had been attacking
him at night.

    He told me that he had 42 cents and some stamps, asking if I would
take them in trade and get him a little food. I told him to wait and I
would return with some food.

    When I got home I asked Father what I should return with. I packed
some food, soap, razors, deoderant and a roll of TP in a bag and
returned. I wanted to bring him something to dring but Father said:
"No."

    The whole walk I was praying for guidance, eager to pray for this
afflicted young man. But as I sat with him and he ate Father made it
clear that any spiritual ministry was to remain silent, that I would
only frighten him and that his demons would drive him away in torment
again. So, I waited with him as he ate and gave him what small comfort
my company was able to as I prayed for him in my heart.

     Then the young man stated that he was very thirsty, that he
needed water. Since Father had said not to carry water in the first
place I told him that Alsup's would give him water. As he just
appeared confused at that and other local suggestions I realized that
I was to return home and get him water. I didn't understand, but I
obeyed. As I was returning home a Sister, Carie B. pulled in front of
me and said ; "Hop in!"

    I told her what was happening and she drove me home to get the
water. As I was walking out to her car with the water I began to feel
a holy prayer well up in my spirit and as I sat down in the car I
received understanding. "Where two or more are gathered, there am I."

    Father knew what He was doing, He wanted two of His children to
pray for that man in one accord with His Holy Spirit. Daddy don't
play!

    God guided us in wonderful and prophetic prayer that this young
man will not only be saved, but will be used mightily by Father God.
Father also anointed that water to begin a healing work in him.

     As we pulled up to the bench he was on we saw that he had
shrouded himself in that blanket down to his toes. Carie remarked at
the obviousness of his demonic torment. It was an awful picture but we
had peace in Christ, knowing this man was being saved. No one apart
from Christ would ever be capable of any hope at all, let alone the
sure hope that my sister and I now share for that young man.

    The lesson I learned is this; hope and faith are perfectly
reasonable in every situation because God is in control. Thank You
Father God for being our Holy Father God! Thank You for saving us from
such darkness!

I hope this blesses you as much or more as it has me with even more
ridiculous faith in God Almighty to redeem. And I know He will because
Father would never be cruel to my heart, or anyone's. God is no
sadist, no matter what the scorners may say. God is Love.

Shalom

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream