To Choose

A new year is upon us in a few days, and for time's sake, let's keep it simple.

We choose different. In 2015, at the crossroads, we'll choose different.

1. At the fork of apathy or action, we choose action.

2. At despair and hope, we choose hope.

3. At confusion and small steps, we choose to take baby steps.

4. At downputting relationship and uplifting ones, we choose the ones that build us up.

5. At fine-tuning what we really want to do or simply going through the motions, we choose our life's work.

6. At drowsiness and energy, we choose to keep moving.

7. At wholesome words and bad talk, we choose words that build us up.

Peace, and God help us all.

The Night Before Christmas

My favorite Christmas song the last 2 years---celebrating the night before my savior was born. Thank you, Jesus.

 Night Before Christmas

Empty manger, perfect stranger, about to be born
Into darkness, sadness, desperate madness, creation so torn
We were so lost on earth, no peace, no worth, no way to escape
In fear, no faith, no hope, no grace, and no light
But that was the night before Christmas

Warm hay, cold sweat, a mother, not yet, praying Godspeed the dawn
She looks to her man, holding her hand, they wonder how long
And the shepherds, wise men come to find them, and bow to a king
One star above shining on love, so bright it lit up the night before Christmas

And the world didn’t know mercy was meek and so mild
And the world didn’t know that truth was as pure as a child
The night before Christmas
The night before Christmas

And the world didn’t know, redemption was sweet and so strong
And the world didn’t know salvation was writing a song
The night before Christmas
The night before Christmas
The night before Christmas

Empty manger, perfect stranger, about to be born

Father's Love

The Father's love letter to all of us....

We Choose Different

David once said this: 

 Psalm 109:17: "As he loved cursing, let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, let if be far from him."

This terrifies me, that cursing, or using swear words only heaps up curses for the user. That it also keeps blessings from far from him. 

No, no, I choose different. I choose a wholesome tongue. I choose the Word of God, Jesus. 

Life and death is in the power of the tongue, which means the tongue does have power both to kill and give life. 

No, no, I choose different.  I choose words of grace, words that heal, words that give life. 

We hear cursing all around us, as if it's nothing, but words are seeds, and whatsoever a man sows, the same shall he reap.

We hear cursing everywhere: in our neigborhoods, on TV, on YouTube, on websites, everywhere. 

In the midst of it all, is it okay, then, to join the crowd? No, the word of God is forever, and will not change, so I choose the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom.

I choose different, we choose different, we choose the Word of God


If you also feel the same way, and choose different, let me know your thoughts on this matter in the comments---there's power in numbers.

In the midst of unrighteousness, let's persevere to do what's right.  His grace is enough.



Peace.

Some Lines For Patience

9 months to give birth

Trees and their fruits in their season

For everything a season

A time for everything on earth

The heart of the wise shall know both time and judgment.

Haste makes waste

He that is hasty with his feet sins

He that is hasty of spirit exalts folly

But he that believes shall not make haste

The faithful shall abound with blessings

He that is hasty to be rich shall not be innocent. 

In the fullness of time, the Son of God was received.

Thanks. 

Terrible

While reading the great book one day, I noticed something interesting. It bothered me a bit, this thing. But I held on to patience. Patience always seems to bring me to clean understanding without the loss of steam in anger or frustration.

It was the word terrible used to describe God. Psalm 68:35: “God you are terrible out of your holy places: The God of Israel is the one who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God.”


I thought of it. God, terrible? But knowing that God is holy, and there is no unrighteousness in him, I knew something was missing. I thought of the other possible senses in meaning of the word “terrible.” 
 
My mind went back to my time as a college freshman in Ghana. As part of required classes for first year students, I signed up to take philosophy classes, and had to often visit the philosophy department to talk things out with professors or buy booklets ( handouts). The motto of the department was,“The mind a terrible thing to waste.” I didn't quite understand it then, but I think I do now.


Terrible, coming out of the word, terror, which is used to refer to fear as we now know it---as in the war on terror, or it's connection to Al qaeda. But it does also have a positive, and good sense in meaning. This sense means immense power. The immeasurable power of the mind, and how that it should not be wasted. With the mind, men have built airplanes, submarines, gone to the moon, and done some amazing things. That is a terrible thing we all have, and not to be wasted.

In God's case, it means his awesome might, power, and holiness, which sets him apart as God. The Almighty God! 

This is the terrible sense which invokes our fear of Him.
And on this fear, it's not the one that cripples you, like what the devil uses against people, but a clean one, that gives life. In one place in the Bible, it's said, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence.” And in Psalm 19, it's described as “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.” 

Yet in another place, “The fear of the Lord tends to life, and he that hath it shall abide satisfied, he shall not be visited with evil.” 
 
Think of it. A fear that makes you satisfied, is clean, tends to life, and keeps you from evil is in no way bad, nor evil. We stand in awe of Him, the God who is past finding out, and dwells in unapproachable light. That state and place of being evokes terror, terrible.

Hence the scripture says He is terrible out of His Holy places.

Oh, give us understanding, that we may know You more, o God! 
 
Peace.