Pilgrim

I started reading the book, "Pilgrim's Progress," this last week.  For those of you unfamiliar with this piece of literature, a man by the name of "Christian" is on a journey to get rid of a heavy burden that he physically carries with him.  His life, as told through an epic story line, portrays the events that a Christian in our world faces daily.  I find myself intrigued with this book even though I am only 2 chapters.

I really won't bore you with a dissertation of my readings thus far, however, I mention this book because of something that happens to "Christian" multiple times during his journey.  Christian gets side tracked on multiple occasions by both people and things.  I could relate to this character because it happens to all of us.  We set out meaning to live a great and wholesome life, but we get side tracked many times.  The straight and narrow path of God's grace is not easy to follow by any means.  If it were then the Earth really wouldn't need to exist, and you would see me flying around as one of those cute cherubs with bright white wings and cute red cheeks.  To some that would be a scary thought........ My point is this, no matter how many times we stray from the path of righteousness, God always gives us that mulligan, second chance, or whatever you want to call it.  Don't think you are too far gone from His grace.  He always provides the opportunity, the question is whether we can get past ourselves to accept it.

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep

    ¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. ^{[11] [a]
   12} “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. ¹⁴ In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

The Word of The Day

Psalm 91

 ¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
   will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
   my God, in whom I trust.”
 ³ Surely he will save you
   from the fowler’s snare
   and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
   and under his wings you will find refuge;
   his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
   nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
   nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
   ten thousand at your right hand,
   but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
   and see the punishment of the wicked.
 ⁹ If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
   and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
   no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
   you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
 ¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
   and show him my salvation.”

Today

How shall we live as servants for the Lord Jesus Christ?  I read through the first part of a commentary on the book of James last night, and this was the question that stuck with me.  Coming up in the church I always thought that being a Christian was the process of working on yourself.  If I kept myself in line as far as my walk with God, then I was doing pretty good.  Living life was so different back then with such a self serving attitude.  I lived comfortably, and that was good enough. 

My whole goal in talking with people about my relationship with God is not to come off as a bible thumper.  I guess what I really want anyone within an ear shot to know is that I feel free from what I was when I claimed to be a Christian, yet my life didn't exactly reflect it.  I am not always the happiest person, nor is everyday flowers and rainbows.  Tomorrow I will wake up without worry in my heart knowing that God will always be the Father that never turns His back even though I turn mine from Him. 

Acknowledgement

While growing up God blessed me with two great parents.  I remember being quite the difficult child, and sometimes I wonder how I didn't end up at the local landfill, or at a pawn shop with a price tag.  I was such a little heathen in elementary school.  At first my teachers would draw a circle in the sand that I had to stay inside of for the entire recess period.  However, it wasn't too long before my Mom had to come to school and take me home for lunch.  I was a big question mark and a handful.  I can appreciate the war I put my parents through back then!  I especially consider myself lucky because a lot of my friends back then had split homes, neglectful parents, and /or parents who abused them.  The time I spent inside the teacher's sand circle must have seemed like small stuff to them.

It took me a long time to truly appreciate the time and effort my parents put into my life.  I am not saying that neither one of them ever made a mistake or did not follow the so called "Proper Parenting Manual."  Everyone makes mistakes, however, my parents brought me up in an environment and placed me in situations where I could learn from them.  I left for the military for many reasons, but I also just wanted to get away from home and start life with no questions.  The popular parable, "The prodigal son," explains how we feel sometimes in life.  The thing to remember is that good parents, bad parents, or something in between, we all have a Father up above willing to welcome us with open arms regardless of what we've been through or what we have done.  Read below and enjoy............

Luke 15:11-32

The Parable of the Lost Son

 ¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.    ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
   ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.
   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
   ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
   ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
   ²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
   ²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
   ³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Attention.......

THE BACKGROUND

I can remember going to church when I was a little Cifu.  In Riverside, California my family and I attended the Assembly of God church.  It was a small church that boasted a decent size congregation and a pastor who seemed larger than life itself whenever I would sit through the services.  Even though I would pull the typical "kid stuff", such as crawling on the floor and finding any reason I could to talk during the sermon, I was always drawn to his presence.  If you asked me today about any of the words that came out of the pastor's mouth, I could not tell you one.  I would put money on it though that he talked about God somewhere in the mix.  It's a wonder I am not rich and famous with those kind of deductive skills!  Anyway, when was the last time you were simply mesmerized by someone solely based upon their presence?  Maybe it was their looks, their position, or maybe even how they moved around the crowd in a room? 

TODAY......

I never let God have my full attention for a quite a while.  I always found someone else to fill that role.  Maybe it was whatever girlfriend I had at the time, or even my Mom getting ready to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with me.  Unfortunately, I always paid attention to someone else first.  There are endless amounts of individuals out there who would never believe there is a God.  Why should they, what with all the bad stuff going on in the world.  It is easier in the short term to tough it out and commit their attention to the next big thing.  How wonderful would it be to finally find that permanent patch, the fix to end all of your break downs in life?  It's even harder for the man or woman that has had a good life to believe God would ever need to find a place within them.  Sure they might have had a few set backs, but everything worked out for the best, right?! 

I read that poem, "Footprints," from time to time.  Even though I never quite gave God the focus He so much deserved in my life, He was always there carrying me.  God is to me what that Pastor was back in the day, a person who gets my attention without needing word.  I have never found myself as fortunate as most televangelists out there that have heard God speak to them.  I find myself following a graceful figure whom I have never seen or heard so much as one word from.  In most cultures that would get you a trip to the institution for "special people."  I follow Him because at the end of the day, whether things went outstanding or poorly, He will be there when I drop to my knees and lift up my praise and worries.  God you have my attention!  This little boy is no longer stuck crawling on the floor of life thanks to you.

Jesus Walks on the Water

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
²⁹ “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Nature

Nature's beauty is only surpassed by God's glory.  There are places in this world that inspire thoughts of awe and wonder.  I remember the first time I saw Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah) on a high school missions trip.  I slowly walked toward the ridge overlooking the canyon which has become so famous for it's free standing spires and rock formations.  I stared across the expanse and watched the sun rise over the red, yellow and white washed sand that covered the terrain.  Isn't it incredible to see something that is incomparable with everyday sights.  Maybe it's that tall skyscraper, green valley, or beach just outside your door that embraces your senses.  Nature is what God intended it to be; it is what he intended you and I to be as well, great.

Genesis 1

 ¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
 ³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

God brings us this same glory day in and day out, yet not everyone sees the beauty and glory of this world as His creation.  Some scientists and skeptics would say that this world "just happened", or maybe it was created by some cosmic explosion and formation over millions of years.  I would say to each his own, however, there is no other explanation than our Earth and everything in it was created by God. 

John 1: verse 3

  ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

I used to find it so hard to embrace the idea that God created everything that I saw, everyone I met, and everything around me.  There was no way one guy did all this?!  Well therein lies the answer, God is not just a guy.  There are things in my life that have happened and things that I have seen that could not have possibly happened by chance, or by any other means.  Trusting that God has your back day in and day out is a part of this faith/trust factor that goes hand in hand with the landscapes that surround us day in and day out.  If God is great enough to create all of what you see, feel, hear, touch and smell, then why question His ability to carry you in your darkest hour?  My wife can attest to the fact that I used to be a huge worrisome mess when it came to life.  Trusting god was the hardest thing I ever did, but I have no regrets.  God isn't a crumbling piece of rock that breaks a part in bad weather, and he sure isn't the drug or alcohol using abusive parent that just really wasn't there in life.  God is what you let Him be in your own life.  If you place Him at the forefront of your priorities and issues then you have the brightest light in this entire world to guide you.  Next time as you gaze upon the splendor of nature think of the one who created it for you to enjoy.

Proverbs 3: verses 5-6

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight.

Stuff

We had a pretty intense prayer session at the Youth Ministry meeting I attended tonight.  Sometimes prayer amazes me because everyone has there own reason for doing it, and every prayer is somehow distinct in its own regard.  Although I didn't add to the circle tonight, there were many that did.  Sometimes when people are praying they only lift up the bad stuff in life.  You know what I am talking about: disease, family problems, financial issues, divorce, car problems, a crappy job situation, no job at all........the list goes on and on! 

Tonight I received a much needed reminder that throwing a little thank you back upstairs is owed more often than not.  I remember the Cifu teenage era when I would send up a prayer to stay with a particular girlfriend, or some other adolescent desire that I had at the time.  Wow, I was lost in the sauce!  Everyone knows the basic concept of a prayer even if you are not Christian.  Next time you are sitting there thinking how happy you are in your life, or maybe a hardship revealed itself as a lesson in perseverance and challenge; let God know what's going on with a short prayer.  Remember what your Mom said when you were growing up too, a little thank you goes a long way.

Luke 18:1-10
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"