Who is God? What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God, then it goes on to say that Faith is believing that God is...(which for many is the easy part, I just went for a bike ride on the shore of Lake Okeechobee this morning, and watched the sun rise....I cannot deny God exists.) However the next part of the verse explains a vital part of what faith is...."and that God is a REWARDER, of those who sincerely seek Him." This latter part of Faith's definition has more to do with WHO we believe God is. For many God is a punish-er, or a distant divinity, or an object of their own failed parents projection. How many times have you heard fiery sermons on God's desire to reward you. Maybe only if you first send the preacher an offering.

I am reminded when Christ was Baptized and God the father's voice was heard from Heaven saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.Now surely this was not news to Christ. I don't believe he needed to hear this affirmation in order to fulfill His role in our Salvation. However Christ came to reveal to us the heart of God. This day God revealed, his love for his children and his desire to show himself as a loving parent who delights in his children. Christ many times compared God to us as parents and he said over and over, "if you do this for your children, How much more will God the father......" My prayer is that you would allow the Voice of the Father to speak to your heart this morning, " You are my beloved child I am pleased with you."

Now you are probably like me and would think, well I know there are things in my life that surely do not please God. However as a Dad myself of two wonderful teens, that I love and delight in very much, I still recognize that are not fully who they will grow up to be. But that does not stop my love and delight for who they are now. God desires to walk with us as we grow into the men and women he has created us to be. We haven't arrived, but the journey is much better when we can delight in the love and delight of our Heavenly Father who is committed to giving us everything we need for life.

GOD IS FOR US NOT AGAINST US!

Peace!

Fresh starts

This morning I am sitting on the back porch with a cup of coffee watching the sun come up over the water.....what a great way to start the day......loving the new place!

Watching the day come alive reminds me that living in the Now is living in the rebirth and freshness of all that God is! Each moments comes full of hope and opportunity for the fulfillment of all that is good and God. Embrace this moment, welcome the presence of God in the now to bring about the fullness of the miracles of life!

- Posted by a fellow sojourner from his mobile office

Today I was reading an email newsletter, What is "Being" a Christian?
Part 2 WHAT'S IN A NAME? by D.E.PAULK and it got me thinking. My spirit really resonated with the phrase, " Let this mind be in you" which pastor Paulk quotes from Philippians 2: 5.

This is what made Jesus the "Christ", we worship. This is what set him apart. It was because he let the Mind of Christ or God be and live through Him. As Christians, we are supposed to follow his example.

Like most, my mind can get carried away and go to all kinds of places. Whether it is places of worry and stress due to finances, or fear of being alone and not finding that life long partner to share my life with or whether it is that my daughter has just turned 16 and is starting to drive and date. It also can get carried about by the bigger questions, of mortality, faith and what is the meaning of life. Thankfully Apple has now created SIRI and she has answered the last question for me.

Scripture teaches that there is a "secret place". This a place of stillness, a place of peace. It is found in the present moment, when one gets quiet from all the endless mind noise that makes up much of our lives and gets still and becomes aware of the presence of God within.

In these moments we become aware that we are much more than our minds, bodies or even this life. We are eternal like our creator. We are loved and we are love. We can rise above the Ego of our false lives and allow the mind and heart of God transform us. This is what Christ meant when he said to deny ourselves. He meant don't live your life from the brokenness of this life. The labels, baggage and burdens this life has put on you. But allow God to reveal to you your true nature and essence, and lift you up and set you in a better place.



Our Deepest Fear

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson

What's Next..Giants, Storms and Traffic Lights (Part 2 of the Human Condition)

In the last post we looked at the Human Condition as it relates to our lack of connected-ness to God and our true selves. This disconnect leads to a life of discontentment, disillusionment and a life devoid of meaning. We seek out things, relationships and distractions just to get us through. This is not life but simply going through the motions of life. When in fact, we are created to enjoy life and live with purpose and creativity.

In today's post, I want to look at what is spirituality? This question could get a different answer for each person you ask, however, My purpose today is not to get an all inclusive answer to this question but rather, boil it down to a simple practical answer that can easily be applied to someone's life. I leave the deep questions,to others who are more qualified than I, to dive into the "Big Questions".

For me spirituality is simply being connected to spirit. This would be connected to God and also being connected to the true person or essence of our own spirit. This connection in turn lends itself to touching and impacting every area of our life and the lives around us. I am not promoting some kind of mega, super spiritual life that makes one "so heavenly minded they are not earthly good".

True spirituality is useful in life, even in the small moments that may seem to be mundane, Today, I read a quote that makes this point, “Life’s what happens while you’re waiting for the light to change.”

There are times when we need to reevaluate our belief systems. This is necessary when our life is not helped but hindered by the personal truths we hold or have had passed down to us. In my life, I found myself facing a "crisis of faith or spirituality" when what I believed, (my personal truth) was not able to meet the challenges and struggles of my life. Namely, my 36 year struggle with my sexuality. Although this was the scariest time in my life and spiritual journey, it was also when my journey of discovery really began. I have ministered over the years with many people who are held captive by their beliefs, and who live miserable lives trying to reconcile what they believe with what is their life experience. My religion failed me miserable, however the crime of it was that I equated my beliefs with God. What I discovered is God is much bigger than beliefs, religion, sacred books, or creeds and doctrines. It wasn't God who failed me but my religion. This is a truth that surely set me free and began my journey of self and God discovery.

I am not anti- church or religion. Both of these can serve a valuable service to a seeker. However if what you believe does not meet the challenges of life and does not serve to help you draw closer to God and a healthy spiritual life, then it is time for to reevaluate what you believe. Our Faith should be relevant to life and the challenges of today. The church and it's followers must be willing to grow and evolve in light of the reality around us. After all the world was never flat, it was only our understanding that needed to change.

Spirituality is about all of life, not just the great moments. Spiritual life can have great events of excitement and Ecstasy. Like in the life of Christ with at transfiguration, or when the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. However even Christ had to face the challenges of everyday life. Here is when my traffic light example may not work, but I am sure we got held up at an intersection waiting on a caravan of camels or a herd of sheep. God not only wants to be a part of our life in the big challenges but God will even fill our lives with God's presence at the smaller "traffic light moments.

Make it a practice to invite God's presence (Spirit) into all moments of your life, especially moments of depression, doubt, despair and difficulty. These are times when we are tempted to disconnect, and turn to distractions, but it is when we need to purposely connect with Spirit. Also take times, to focus on spirit throughout the day, it is a great way to start and end the day, but I take spirit breaks throughout my day as well.

I hope this article has given you some practical thoughts that ideas that will be helpful.