Embrace the Within no. 47

“One great concern I have is that many of today’s Christians are not taking the Word of God seriously. For whatever reason, the Scriptures do not have authority in the Christian’s life in the way that is necessary for him or her to live a life to the glory of God."

-A.W. Tozer

"If we are going to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must start by taking the Bible seriously."

-A. W. Tozer

I spent a lot of time over the past three decades talking about hypocrisy in those that profess Christianity. I spent those three decades ridiculing folks for their beliefs. I spent a lot of those three decades waiting for someone to step up to get silenced and made to look foolish. And I spent all of that time letting those people actually win.

I let the hypocrites beat me. I let the hypocrites steal my joy. I let the hypocrites get in the way of a relationship with YHWH. I did that.

There are a lot of hypocrites in the world and no less inside of churches. BUT someone else's hypocrisy is not going to obstruct my walk. I am going to strive to not be a hindrance. I am going to strive to help.

And that is what has come as a shock to many folks in my life since my change in heart, mind, and spirit. It is quite confusing to folks that not very long ago I was a sinner mocking the Word and the Truth. It’s not confusing for me. I have seen my journey. I have watched the path that this all took as I walked into getting healthy. I never saw this ahead of me BUT now, looking back, it all makes perfect sense. This is the only way that it could possibly have worked for me.

So, maybe I am the biggest hypocrite of them all since I walked away from a life where I was trying to figure it all out with no success. Maybe I am the biggest hypocrite of them all for turning my back on the world and embracing the love of YHWH through Christ. Maybe I am the biggest hypocrite in the world for walking a path that makes me happy and full of grace. And if I am the biggest hypocrite, then that is a fact I will embrace with all that is within me. I will embrace that description because I know peace through grace.

I never thought I cared what other people thought about my life, my choices, my decisions BUT I probably cared a lot more than I thought. You probably care a lot more than you think as well. BUT, YHWH doesn’t care what people think. He doesn’t have to worry about peer pressure because He has no peers. And walking in alignment with His Truth has led to a smaller group of peers to whom I need concern myself. And if they think I am a hypocrite for my change then that is another story. BUT if the world thinks I am a hypocrite, then that does not concern me any longer. We all have a decision to make about our life and that decision is placed well in the writings of Joshua, “If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”(Joshua 24:15 AMP).

Peace to your home. Bless your being. The reign of YHWH is now. Be a blessing to YHWH and others.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #MyNepheshMyChoice #ChristsLifeMatters #EmbracetheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH #GodKnows

Embrace the Within no. 46

"Only when we understand that we were created for His glory can we turn life’s trials and toils into acts of worship."

• Alistair Begg

There is a lot for which to give thanks. Sure, we can definitely find a lot of things that will give us reason to complain and doubt and think things are horrible. BUT there are so many more things for which to be thankful. I spent this weekend getting out of my comfort zone and doing things that I know the Spirit was leading me to do. And there were a lot of physical trials and mental trials over the weekend that always push my nephesh. BUT, I am not alone. No matter what I am placed among. No matter what obstacles I face. No matter what the size of the mountain or the weight of the burden, I am not alone.

I had the great opportunity to travel up to Leitersburg to see my folks and my brother. I got to drive some of the roads of my youth and stopped to take some pictures of the church I attended when I was young. I got to drive through rural Pennsylvania and get lunch in Thurmont with my daughter. I got the opportunity to work outside in the garden as I moved things round for the coming chill of fall. I got the opportunity to celebrate my upcoming birthday. I got the opportunity to visit four churches this weekend and take away something from each opportunity that my community churches have to offer. I got to do a lot and I am thankful for all those things.

Sometimes we lose focus on how many great and wonderful things are going on for us. And we forget that we don’t deserve any of those things to occur. We get so haughty and self righteous and justified because we accepted Christ’s sacrifice. BUT Christ’s sacrifice is nothing I did. I was broken. I was separated from YHWH. And only His plan allowed me to come near to Him again. I don’t deserve any of those things BUT I get to be thankful for those things.

I am thankful for all the opportunities that I get to show that I am thankful. That even though I do not deserve to have anything good happening in my life. Even though things should be going so much worse for me. I have the gift of changing my situation through Christ. I get to change my self into something new through Him.

I pray you never forget to be thankful because there is nothing we have that YHWH does not provide. There is nothing good in this life that I deserve BUT He still provides. And I think a lot more humility about what this life could be like without the new covenant is something important on which to focus. This could be like the Old Testament where the very real fear of not ever getting at one with YHWH fills their writing. Unlike the promise and hope that comes from the promise of Christ’s teachings in the gospels. Unlike the promise of this new covenant.

So, be thankful for hope, love, and grace.

Peace to your home. Bless your being. The reign of YHWH is now. Be a blessing to YHWH and others.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #MyNepheshMyChoice #ChristsLifeMatters #EmbracetheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH #GodKnows