What is this, madness?!

General Faith
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That’s something I would say to myself during way too many things in my life, and what’s worse is I’ve said it against simple things and even at God. How well do you think any of that went? I can tell you, it went poorly in every way except when Christ pulled me out of the flames. Amazing Grace! The simplest task, read the book of Life to trying to make right everyone I hurt with an intolerable level of ignorance. From the simplest idea of treating your neighbor as yourself and listening to the sweet little old lady who said I should chop down a bush and ignoring her, to trading a car to a friend to use his excavator to dig up a massive root system that threatened to take over both our yards. Imagine what level I must have been at if I could look at commonsense ideas and scoff at them because I didn’t think the messages were broad enough while I missed the obvious. My vision was whole tree/whole tree not 20/20. Yeah, that’s me and what I want to say but I’ll say that was the dead me and my eyes are getting better so practice will make perfect (or as close as I can get).

I know God is with me, and I know I have a lot to learn. I know my mistakes are many, and I will make them right or they are already in the works or are good. I know my Spirit is blessed and righteous so I pray it to follow a good path to bring Glory to our Father and His Son so I can be an example to mine and hopefully to you. In that regard, I know that I need you, whoever is reading this. You know a lot that I don’t so if I slip maybe say “Brother, this is the way!” I ask for prayers of clarity, guidance, wisdom, leadership and reinforcement. If you see anything past that I pray God to put it on your heart to pray for me that way also.

Digging up roots has been a message I’ve received. In the front yard I made two gardens for my Wife to enjoy her flowers. Those gardens are important because that’s a place she spends time with the Littles (my kids). It’s a place for her to be away from work and get fresh air in her lungs and sunlight on her skin. Those gardens highlight our house and its potential for growth to my neighbors. That growth reflects in the value of my house which also increases theirs. Those weeds I can pull by hand, and in those moments I also get to sit with the bees and work on my fear of them. I shouldn’t fear what God has made, I use the local Honey to deal with the allergies that bring me down me almost as heavily as Satan. I can then go to the back of the house where a bush of destruction has gained a massive roots system that I can’t reach alone but a good friend shows up to rip it and out so I can make good with my neighbor. This then opens up to an opportunity to talk which opens up other opportunities to do God’s work.

I see His plan in the works and all I can do is praise God! Thanks for reading, God Bless You and your Family!

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Thank you David! Great stuff! We all need to pull the rates together!

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I know just how you feel Brother. Your testimony reminds me of one of mine.

One day I prayed to the Lord to teach me how to love others the same way He loves me…What happened was, He answered it! Within two days, I had somehow accidently became friends with the most obnoxious individual in the neighborhood. Oh, how I regretted saying that prayer. It made sense though. I learned some patience real quick because I knew that the Word says to bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and if your neighbor asks you to go a mile with him, go two miles with him and so forth.

Overall it was a good lesson and I’m reminded that the Word says to love others as yourself. so I kept at it and also learned to be content in any situation. like Paul was, singing hymns in Prison! The Lord’s Word does not promise us peace and comfort. It promises tribulation and strife and while Jesus has won the Victory, we still have to enfore the Victory until He comes.

It occurs to me that life on earth for a Christian is also a lesson in delayed gratification! Leave the earth behind and always look toward the Lord. So who cares if I am a poor man on earth? Not me, my real life is being prepared for me before He comes for me. And His Word was right, the world did turn against me. And it’s not pretty sometimes, but so what. I have a lot to look forward too, and you do also, Brother. So take it in stride and praise the Lord.

Something else I learned. We wrestle not against flesh and bone (people) but the evil spirits behind them. So that helped me understand that the people who wrong you are likely a spiritual attack on you for glancing toward Jesus! So you don’t have to get mad at the people, it’s some evil spirit whispering things in their ear or tempting you.

And when you are not mad, it’s easier to be compassionate and lovingly helpful to people. Plus, you have authority in Jesus name to cast those spirits out in Jesus name and they must obey the Name. I’ll pray for you Bother.