Perplexed

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Mt 7:13-14 ESV).

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Mt 11:29-30 ESV).

Now the Lord is funny as a began to write this entry he showed me the answer to some questions I had about the above scripture references. The first reference is about our ability to enter heaven, and that the gate being Jesus is narrow because he is the only way. (John 14:6) So many people nowadays want to say that there are mulitple ways to heaven. But Jesus himself says he is the only way.C. H. Spurgeon once said " I will have no complicity in that atrocious treason against God's Word which leads men to believe that they may perhaps seek and find him in another state. I believe that of all falsehood that ever were preached, this is the most dangerous, and likely to do the most hurt to men's souls."

And it amazes me in our country today so many people are screaming tolerance, yet when we talk of Christ we are hated on and treated with intolerance. Then again I should not be surprised because the Lord told us that we would be hated and despised on his account.

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. (Jn 15:18-21 ESV)

And sometime through this intolerance we can feel stressed out and not even realize it. By this stress we often forget all that Jesus went through in his life. When we have obligations we dont want to fulfill we get stressed out, when our kids keep on going with the yelling and playing, when we just cant get along with our spouse. Jesus had the weight of the world thrust upon him because of an ungreatful people. US.

Then he tells us to take his yoke upon ourselves because he is humble and lowly of heart. If that comment came from anyone else it would be considered as pride. Have you ever felt burdened to love Jesus. after you took up that yoke. I know anytime I have struggled to follow him was due to my own sin, I am not going to sugar coat it. There have been times in my life where I have chosen to flat out rebel against God even after confessing Jesus is Lord. But also the times where I have chosen to serve Jesus over myself have been the most joyful, but also rather difficult due to the opposition. We were never told the road would not have challanges, but we would beable to bear it due to Christ.

If you do not know this Jesus, confess your sins and your need of a savior. Believe that he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified, died and was buried, resurrected on the third day, and asscended to the right hand of the father.

Broken Down

In our lives we set out with our own goal and ambitions. We are willing to set out and seek them with a baltent disreguard for everything and everyone else. We not only allow this to happen for our life goals but also our day to day schedules. I know that i am not perfect and set forth a plan for my day, & want it to go accordingly. This is honestly one of the largest areas of sin in my life because when my day doesn't go the way i feel it should I begin to feel furious. The Lord however my have other plans for me through that day.

When I began writing this entry (eight hours ago or more lost count) I had a whole different direction I intended on taking this. The scriptures that jumped out to me this day almost pictured God as a Drill SGT in the marines. Because when you come in you have your own way of thinking but, you get introduced to this person who shows you all of your faults, then teaches you how to make them into strengths. God took a man who could not speak actually had a pretty bad speach impediment and sent him to Pharoh and used him to lead the people of Isreal. Or how about when you come to boot camp you are rather weak, however through the process you get stronger because you have had to use muscles you never knew existed in your body. Well that is like our faith in Jesus when we first accept him as our Lord and Savoir we have no idea how to persue life, so he teaches us. That first trial shows up, for me someone went into my car and took almost $900 worth of photography gear, now we have a choice to fall back to our old life or believe that the Lord will provide. Especially since I had to have a camera for my classes. Then we grow stronger and our faith becomes stronger. All I am really trying to say is we never know where Jesus is going to take us, and it can be a little difficult to want to trust him but he is the master on the pottery wheel, we just need to be a little more pliable. So please do not look at one another and question what Jesus is doing in them because he has something special in store for all of us.

Beloved recieve the gift of God which is eternal life only given by the sacrifical death of his son Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin. Lived a sinless life, was crucified on a cross, died and was buried, but on the third day was resurrected. He now lives at the right hand of the Father, confess your sins to Jesus and have that new life today.

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Ro 9:20-24 ESV).

And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. (Je 18:4 ESV).

Providence

Well lets see today i thought we were going to give Lucy back to the Chesapeake animal control. That didnt happen. God chose to use his providence and taught me somethings on my ride home with Lory, Richard, & Lucy. He reminded me that everything worth having takes work. Like my marriage, my kids, and my future career path. He also took me back to the story of Joseph in the pit his brothers wanted to see harm befall him but the Lord had other plans. It allowed Joseph to become the leader of Egypt only second to the Pharoh.

So maybe Lucy can turn things around & be the dog our family is looking forward to having. Also i might need to learn a little more perserverance in the end, while helping my family with the stress of another knuckle head. The Lord is always good and he has good things in store for us at least i hope so.

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
(Ro 8:24-30 ESV).

Joy from Pain

There are times i want to run and hide, but i cannot hide because what scares me lives inside. It has taken root and tries to grow. I try not to feed it but starve it instead, but it keeps growing larger im not sure how it gets fed. I lay down closing my eyes pretending it can see me, I know its still there waiting to devour me. Confused and affraid i cry out to God, help me please save me, wondering does he hear me?

If he does i dont know it have i done something wrong why wont he save me, i thought this was home was this where i belong? I look out into the night now there is a figure coming towards me its hard to make out, the fog is not in my eyes but my mind. He speaks gently calling my name telling me to follow him away from the pain. As we walk farther the fog begins to lift I realize who is walking with me, it the Fathers' precious gift. The Son is my guide whom i must follow for light. He felt more pain, shame and dispear on that day, so i can have joy after tonite.

Better day

Yesterday was a rough day but the Lord in his goodness got me through. Today has been a better day rough @ chuch w/ Ethan but he did better in sunday school. We had a good lunch of steaks & potatoes. Then we decided to go over to the inlaws & go swimming. I was to much of a wuss the water was way to cold for ME! Ruffin had a good sermon today, talking about the way we worship @ Westminster. That we should not just come to church to be refilled but to be recharged. Jesus is good in so many ways I wish i could fathom them all.