intermission

It's wonderful to spend time with friends and family. Whether a planned event or random get-together. Acivities like having a drink, making dinner, watching a movie, enjoying the game, etc. I often become sad when it's over. Especially when it's with friends or family that come in from out of town. They will be leaving soon and you're not always sure when you'll see them again.

And what about moving to a new city? An event on the horizon for Meg and I. We won't know hardly anyone. I regret that we won't see people we enjoy as often. Sure, we'll find friends we enjoy in the new city - but they aren't always the same.

We are all unique - and there are 'quirky' things about each other that I happen to enjoy very much. Character qualities and personality attributes that are specific to our best of friends and closest of family. I began to dwell on the lack of time remaining to enjoy those friends and family. Some that we may not see again for a very long time.

Then God hit me. Those close friends and I will be getting together soon. And God made it a promise. In that day, there won't be lack of time - or other things to tend to. We'll have endless time to sit and talk and laugh and learn.

Moving to a new city, country, continent or planet ... is simply an intermission. The best part of the show has yet to begin. During that act, our best friends and closest family will multply in number, and time together will be eternal.

A joyful remedy - when this earth crumbles, it's taking 'time' with it.

MMc

an endless game of one-sided monopoly

Occasionally I wonder if God and the devil interact on a regular basis. As if they are the best players of their teams (good v. evil) and the devil knows God will win and he's just buying time. Kind of like those basketball teams that are down by 12 with 31 seconds left and continuing fouling regardless.

Let's assume this is the case. I can hear the devil bargaining and trying to negotiate with God to let him have one soul after another. I wonder what God's response is for a human that has openly rejected him and is stubborn toward Christianity. Does God lower his head and sigh? Does he just ignore the devil and focus on his 'chosen' children and their journeys? I've exercised the idea that a large percent of the population of this earth are not actual people. Probably angels or demons, even temporary residents meant to help forge the lives and souls of the chosen.

For example, a case of murder / suicide on the news. I think it's possible that the people involved as the victim and killer are demons. They've temporarily come to this earth to carry out that act, in order to work for the devil and scare others into thinking, 'How could God do this?' Maybe these are some ways He tests our faith. I'm not saying that's how I believe it really is ... just maybe.

It will be nice to rid this monopoly game of exchanging properties, selling and picking chance cards while occasionally dipping into the community chest. It's so confusing and complicated to figure out how to place yourself in the best scenario for safety and success. And there lies the rub of it, we can't. What a wonderful ordeal we are in.

Only the creator of a universe knows how the dice will roll.

2M

trump card

How many times do I have to read in the Word before I grasp the fact that God is totally in control. Recently, I don't feel like I've had an issue with control, yet I keep running into it in scripture. Maybe a sign that I am trying to be in control too often.

Regardless, it seems that with every person, book or chapter in the Bible, God has to patiently reiterate that he's got it covered. I wonder why our human nature is so geared on control?

When I consider sin, control usually isn't on the list. I'll think of the most popular Sunday school answers: hate, lust, pride, etc. But 'control' seems to be the under the radar desire, that can do it's damage unnoticed.

Thus I'll begin my journey to find more and more ways to give up control over myself and things I do...because no matter what I encounter - the Word will also provide the trump card.

MMc

and yet, he still is able

I walked home from a restaurant alone tonight. I ate dinner with a friend, we had a couple drinks and watched sports. It all seemed so typical. Early morning travel, meetings all day, hit the bar and watch the game. Maybe play a little pool, rag on a colleague, then head back to the hotel for bed.

The game went into overtime, so my friend stayed behind. Walking across the empty parking lots between the restaurant and the hotel, I suddenly became afraid. I was in a city I'd never been. I was alone, and it was dark. I'd heard its not the best part of town.

Scenarios ran through my mind of what should a situation arise - the just-in-case-paranoia. Then it happened - God's hand lay on my shoulder. My thoughts shifted from fear to peace. My thoughts reversed from paranoia to comfort. Being safe in an evil world - relative. He had me and at that moment, I needed nothing else.

The walk was a perfect correlation to being a stranger in this world. I don't belong here. I'm not comfortable on this earth. One day maybe, when the walls of jasper descend from the heavens. Until then, God lays his hand on my shoulder, walks with me, and provides others who love me to lock arms with until that day.

What a wonderful, loving, caring God he is. As my plane took off toward Charlotte at 5:50am earlier this morning, the lights of the cities were breath-taking. It looked so similar to stars in the sky. As I stared I thought, 'and he still has the omnipresence to talk and walk with me.'

In hindsight - I spent most of the day flying or driving. Had a couple drinks and ate decent food. Not much to speak of. But I did think about God a lot. I came to terms again and again with his purpose and not my own. I didn't lead anyone to Christ; cast out a demon or break down any of Satan's barriers.

Significance of the realization was still prominent - and all it took was a thought.

2M

'Lord, watch over me and guide me in all my worldly endeavours for your namesake. Never let me lean on my own understanding, but in everything, acknowledge you. Amen.'

what if I say that I'll never surrender

Just as real as God is on the earth, so is his enemy. I often forget the force that is Satan, and how powerfully deceptive is his nature. This earth is his realm, in a sense, we're in his backyard. I felt slight shame in forgetting.

The recent weeks have been some of the closest I've felt to God. Some of the most real times that his glory and love were truly tangible. Not based on particular circumstances, simply an inward feeling. I just felt Him. Experiencing immense joy, I felt such peace. Little did I realize that I had thrust myself into priority status on the demon hit list. The beast and his minions have tried so vigorously in the past week to make me feel small, invaluable, and sinful.

What if I say that I'll never surrender? Almost like a POW in the hands of the enemy, being tortured and troubled. At no costs, can I give in. Being on fire for God is a place I want to be, and I welcome the devil's best shot to change my mind. All he has to do is make me dwell on myself. If I get my heart in the right place, my mind and heart will be on God; and I'll never surrender. That's the beauty of His death on a cross.

MMc

comforting discomfort

Evidence regarding the difference between comfort in sin and comfort in God is so comfortingly clear. Having the Holy Spirit gives me the awareness toward the evidence I speak of.

In 1 Peter, Peter stops and addresses those he is writing to. He says, 'To God's elect, strangers in this world.' Being a stranger means I am uncomfortable in my surroundings, I feel out of place, unknowing and unaware. I'm not used to anything. Peter is using the terms 'God's elect' and 'strangers in this world,' interchangeably. So in being one of God's elect, I am a stranger in this world.

Recently I've had moments, that I actually feel like a stranger in a community I've lived in for years, around people I've known for a long time. And it's comfortable. I've felt out of place. I've felt small. Yet at the same time, bullet-proof.

I felt God had my back no matter what. This isn't my home for long, I'm a stranger here. I've been so comfortable being out of place. So comfortable with having the sole purpose of pleasing God. To keep this comfort, I have to keep dying to myself and not find a need to succeed in the 'wordly' realm.

2M
'God, continue to give me comfort in being a stranger, to fight evil everywhere I go, and ultimately and solely live to advance your kingdom and give you glory, Amen.'

the toll of an atypical day

I begin my day with a quiet time, and by the end; I've almost totally forgotten the motivation I set out with. I usually do not get too motivated by early morning quiet times. I like it short and sweet - an old John Edwards quote or a given verse from Paul's letters. Today, I opened John Piper's book, 'Don't Waste Your Life,' and my perspective shifted.

It's never about me. I presume I never quite grasped - 'He created me so I am His.' It made sense, but never registered. He made me, so I am his and not mine. Upon this realization, I asked myself, 'who am I to demand my own good?' Reading on, I came across the idea - 'He is most glorfied in me, when I am most satisfied in Him.' Unlike quotes and verses in prior days, this would not leave my imagination.

I set out the day with this perspective. An eventful day of twists and turns - but I was running smooth. God was working me, reminding me of the encouragment I revealed this morning. For once, it was easy to turn to him with every first thought.

This continued throughout the day, until late in the evening. I got tired, and I felt myself beginning to loose the spiritual drive. I had several things to face the next day that I really didn't want to; and I was mad about it. Suddenly, it was again difficult to shrug off worldliness and selfish desires.

All was not lost. I found something, I found an instinct I crave to develop over time. An undeniable, reckless abandon, feast of the mind for God. Every morning, I need to reload, it's too important. A day without God is a day wasted. I don't ever want to waste another day thinking of myself.

MMc