Galatians 6:2 (NASB77)
Bear
one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.
A little over two years ago, I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my right leg. It was a terribly excruciating ordeal. For weeks I barely got out of bed and had to use a walker to get from my room to the bathroom which is literally five feet away. There were several days I did not get out of bed. I slept much and ate little. I relied heavily on my dad to care for me during those days.
However, there was another person who cared for me during those days. Her name is Kristi Germack. Those of you who know Kristi know that she is a character and that is an understatement. She would call and check on me and make sure I had everything I needed. Not only that, she would listen to me complain a great deal about being unable to get around among other things. It wasn't that others did not check on me, but it was consistent and almost daily with her. This meant a great deal to me. I have been in difficult situations before where my church family rarely checked on us. To have someone do it consistently and readily was a great blessing.
Through Kristi, I saw God's care and concern for others. She helped me bear that burden, and in doing so, Kristi became an incarnation of Jesus in my life. I am not sure if I have ever told her, but I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to a dear friend.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Incarnation - Matthew
Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)
24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
It is a rare thing in life to have a friend who is closer than family. Someone who loves you and cares for you no matter what. Someone who wants to spend time with you. God has been kind enough to place someone in my life like that. I met him a little over a year ago at work. His name is Matthew Hayes.
My relationship with Matthew started on a highly contentious note. We got loud and raucous at the Ruby C. Hunt YMCA while we were competing in a vigorous game of Wii bowling. There was lots of yelling and trash talking. Needless to say we have been buddies ever since. Matthew is a very special young man. He is confined to a wheelchair by cerebral palsy. He volunteers at the Y in Kidzone with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He is a great asset to the Y and a great help to myself. He is ready and eager to help me with whatever I need done. However the great thing about Matthew is that he loves me. He is my buddy and if I needed him he would do whatever he could to assist me. I went to his house a few weeks back to spend some time with him and I took my remote control truck and we had a blast driving it down his road and through his yard. It was nice to feel like a kid hanging out with is buddy. It's great to have someone who wants to be your friend and spend time with you just because they love you and not because of what you are doing. They are more interested in you than in the activity.
Through Matthew, I have seen the type of love that God has: unconditional. He loves people regardless of who they are. Even if they get on his nerves and he has conflict with them he still cares for them. For me, Matthew is a friend who is closer than a brother and I see the love God has for me through him. I thank God for sending Matthew into my life. When I am down he always brightens my day and brings a smile to my face. And he cheats at Wii bowling!!
24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
It is a rare thing in life to have a friend who is closer than family. Someone who loves you and cares for you no matter what. Someone who wants to spend time with you. God has been kind enough to place someone in my life like that. I met him a little over a year ago at work. His name is Matthew Hayes.
My relationship with Matthew started on a highly contentious note. We got loud and raucous at the Ruby C. Hunt YMCA while we were competing in a vigorous game of Wii bowling. There was lots of yelling and trash talking. Needless to say we have been buddies ever since. Matthew is a very special young man. He is confined to a wheelchair by cerebral palsy. He volunteers at the Y in Kidzone with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He is a great asset to the Y and a great help to myself. He is ready and eager to help me with whatever I need done. However the great thing about Matthew is that he loves me. He is my buddy and if I needed him he would do whatever he could to assist me. I went to his house a few weeks back to spend some time with him and I took my remote control truck and we had a blast driving it down his road and through his yard. It was nice to feel like a kid hanging out with is buddy. It's great to have someone who wants to be your friend and spend time with you just because they love you and not because of what you are doing. They are more interested in you than in the activity.
Through Matthew, I have seen the type of love that God has: unconditional. He loves people regardless of who they are. Even if they get on his nerves and he has conflict with them he still cares for them. For me, Matthew is a friend who is closer than a brother and I see the love God has for me through him. I thank God for sending Matthew into my life. When I am down he always brightens my day and brings a smile to my face. And he cheats at Wii bowling!!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Incarnation - Mack
A while back I got an idea for a book. Rather than writing it, I think I will just share some of the stories here. As a Christian, I believe I play a vital role in either leading someone to or away from Christ. I also believe that people have been sent into my life to be Jesus to me at various times in my life. This is the story of someone who has become a close friend and confidant in my life: Mack McKeithan.
A couple of years ago, I was beginning to recover from the events most of you know about already. I was looking for a church. I had been visiting Florence Baptist Church off and on for several months and wasn't sure if that's where God wanted me to go. So, one week I prayed and asked God to show me where he wanted me to go. As I sat in the pew the following Sunday night before service started, Mack walked up and introduced himself to me. He asked me about myself and then proceeded to invite me to come to his Sunday school class. He took me to where the class met and showed me the choir room and invited me to join the choir. I laughed at him and said, "I'm not even a member here." He responded, "That doesn't matter." He talked about the church and invited me to participate in various activities. Well, I would say that was a clear indication of God's answer to prayer.After I joined the church, a deacon came to my house to visit me. Yep, it was Mack. I am now in the rotation to teach the Sunday school Mack invited me to join, and have been involved in many ministry events with Mack since then.
For me, Mack is a significant person. He was available and open to be used by God and God used him in my life. In this way he became for me an incarnation of Jesus Christ. A living, breathing representative of God. God spoke to me through him, and I will be forever grateful. God used Mack to answer my prayer and give me guidance at a critical time in my life.
Is there a Mack in your life God has used to give you guidance at a critical time in your life? If so, post a comment on the blog page so that others may see.
A couple of years ago, I was beginning to recover from the events most of you know about already. I was looking for a church. I had been visiting Florence Baptist Church off and on for several months and wasn't sure if that's where God wanted me to go. So, one week I prayed and asked God to show me where he wanted me to go. As I sat in the pew the following Sunday night before service started, Mack walked up and introduced himself to me. He asked me about myself and then proceeded to invite me to come to his Sunday school class. He took me to where the class met and showed me the choir room and invited me to join the choir. I laughed at him and said, "I'm not even a member here." He responded, "That doesn't matter." He talked about the church and invited me to participate in various activities. Well, I would say that was a clear indication of God's answer to prayer.After I joined the church, a deacon came to my house to visit me. Yep, it was Mack. I am now in the rotation to teach the Sunday school Mack invited me to join, and have been involved in many ministry events with Mack since then.
For me, Mack is a significant person. He was available and open to be used by God and God used him in my life. In this way he became for me an incarnation of Jesus Christ. A living, breathing representative of God. God spoke to me through him, and I will be forever grateful. God used Mack to answer my prayer and give me guidance at a critical time in my life.
Is there a Mack in your life God has used to give you guidance at a critical time in your life? If so, post a comment on the blog page so that others may see.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Trusting God to Meet Our Needs
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Notice it says "according to" and not "out of." His riches are boundless and unlimited and He is able to meet your every need.
2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV)
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
What more really needs to be said? If you are facing a need today, trust God to meet it whatever it is.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Notice it says "according to" and not "out of." His riches are boundless and unlimited and He is able to meet your every need.
2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV)
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
What more really needs to be said? If you are facing a need today, trust God to meet it whatever it is.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Let It Out
Let's just be honest. I'm a whiner. I complain a lot. I have discovered recently that I am full of frustration and bitterness and anger. Well, I say discovered, but I already knew it. Maybe I just did not like to acknowledge it and move forward. Yet for me, I am a venter. I have to vent my anger and frustrations to clear the emotions (hopefully) and see clearer how to handle a problem. This can be difficult when you do not have many people close enough to you to listen and understand that you are just venting. I need a person to be a sounding board and possibly to give feedback on if what I am thinking makes any sense. I believe that when we get full of emotions, either good or bad, we lose perception and good judgment. This often leads to bad decisions. These are some of the things that ran through my mind as I read Psalms 32:3 (NKJV) "When I
kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long."
I find it amazing how keeping pent up emotions eat at your health physically. We can eat all sorts of "bad" foods, yet I believe that stress is more of a health concern than hamburgers. I have been heavy most of my life. I started gaining weight after I had my tonsils removed when I was six. Besides the weight, I am just a big guy. I was bigger then my dad by the 7th grade. Despite my size, I do not have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. However, when my body undergoes stressful situations, such as a semester at school where I am consumed by schoolwork, I can feel the stress vacate my body at the end of the semester through fatigue, not feeling well, and aches and pains. It is like my body undergoes a decompression of sorts.
In the verses that follow verse three, David talks about his sin. The weight of unconfessed sin can cause your body to undergo some serious stress. This is what David was talking about. he kept silent. He did not want to confess his sin. Yet when he confessed he felt the relief of forgiveness. Psalms 32:5 (NKJV) "I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, ' And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah." Sometimes just being able to talk to someone and getting things off your chest can be the best medicine for you. I was angry and frustrated and I asked God why and He showed me. Am I better than I was before? In my situation, no. But I understand what I am going through and am better able to cope with it. This is where faith comes into play. I must trust God to handle my problems in his time. When I truly learn to do that, I hope to be stress free.
I find it amazing how keeping pent up emotions eat at your health physically. We can eat all sorts of "bad" foods, yet I believe that stress is more of a health concern than hamburgers. I have been heavy most of my life. I started gaining weight after I had my tonsils removed when I was six. Besides the weight, I am just a big guy. I was bigger then my dad by the 7th grade. Despite my size, I do not have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. However, when my body undergoes stressful situations, such as a semester at school where I am consumed by schoolwork, I can feel the stress vacate my body at the end of the semester through fatigue, not feeling well, and aches and pains. It is like my body undergoes a decompression of sorts.
In the verses that follow verse three, David talks about his sin. The weight of unconfessed sin can cause your body to undergo some serious stress. This is what David was talking about. he kept silent. He did not want to confess his sin. Yet when he confessed he felt the relief of forgiveness. Psalms 32:5 (NKJV) "I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, ' And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah." Sometimes just being able to talk to someone and getting things off your chest can be the best medicine for you. I was angry and frustrated and I asked God why and He showed me. Am I better than I was before? In my situation, no. But I understand what I am going through and am better able to cope with it. This is where faith comes into play. I must trust God to handle my problems in his time. When I truly learn to do that, I hope to be stress free.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Thankful
Psalms 28:7 (NKJV)
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
What is it about music that causes our emotions to pour through us as we sing? I have no clue, but it seems to be a natural response when we experience extreme emotions. In pain, pleasure, sorrow, joy, gain, or loss, we tend (or at least I do) to express those feelings in song. I generally wake up with some song on my mind. Music isn't what I want to talk about, but if you notice in the above verse David's reaction to God's help is to sing.
What was the source of his singing? His joy! What gave him joy? The Lord's faithfulness! David says that he trusted in God, and God helped. This help brought to David great joy and peace, and David responded with a song of praise. How many times have I been helped by God without so much as a thank you in response to His work? Too many times.
But I want to take this opportunity now to say to my Lord, thank you! The last couple of weeks have been somewhat difficult as I remember the passing of my mother. Along with this memory is attached the memory of my wife leaving on the same day basically (see http://mdarrinh.blogspot.com/2010/08/journey-begins.html if interested). To say that this was the most devastating time in my life would be an understatement! It has taken me a very long time to recover from the losses of that day, and I still have much more recovering to do. The amount of pain and anger I still feel during this time always catches me by surprise. In addition to this memory, I have been having difficulties in some relationships with friends that have confused, hurt, and perplexed me. But God is showing me that He is still working it all out for my good and benefit that I may become more like my Lord Jesus Christ.
But let me say as David did. The Lord is my strength and my shield. He has carried me through these times with His strong arm. He has protected me from so much that could have destroyed my life during these times. He has lent me strength when I felt as though I could not carry on. Indeed I often wonder what is the point of the path I am taking. I know my life and my past and how I always seem to end up in failure. Yet God gives me strength to continue this journey. He gives me hope that this time His plan will come to fruition where my plans have failed. I see the mistakes and sins of my current life and wonder at the mighty hand of God to protect me from myself. Through it all, I just want to say thanks to my God and King. Let me lift up a song of praise to Him today and everyday.
Now I know you are waiting for me to sing, but this is a blog. So to suffice I will post the lyrics of one of my favorite old songs and a video you can listen to someone sing it much better than I could. May God bless those who read this today that they may be strengthened in their faith and protected from all harm. Amen.
Verse 1:I've Had Many Tears And Sorrows,
I've Had Questions For Tomorrow,
there's Been Times I Didn't Know Right From Wrong.
but In Every Situation,
god Gave Me Blessed Consolation,
that My Trials Come To Only Make Me Strong.
chorus:
through It All,
through It All,
I've Learned To Trust In Jesus,
I've Learned To Trust In God.
through It All,
through It All,
I've Learned To Depend Upon His Word.
verse 2:
I've Been To Lots Of Places,
I've Seen A Lot Of Faces,
there's Been Times I Felt So All Alone.
but In My Lonely Hours,
yes, Those Precious Lonely Hours,Jesus Lets Me Know That I Was His Own
chorus
verse 3:
I Thank God For The Mountains,
and I Thank Him For The Valleys,
I Thank Him For The Storms He Brought Me Through.
for If I'd Never Had A Problem,
I Wouldn't Know God Could Solve Them,I'd Never Know What Faith In God Could Do http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFzdFzzBqTc
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
What is it about music that causes our emotions to pour through us as we sing? I have no clue, but it seems to be a natural response when we experience extreme emotions. In pain, pleasure, sorrow, joy, gain, or loss, we tend (or at least I do) to express those feelings in song. I generally wake up with some song on my mind. Music isn't what I want to talk about, but if you notice in the above verse David's reaction to God's help is to sing.
What was the source of his singing? His joy! What gave him joy? The Lord's faithfulness! David says that he trusted in God, and God helped. This help brought to David great joy and peace, and David responded with a song of praise. How many times have I been helped by God without so much as a thank you in response to His work? Too many times.
But I want to take this opportunity now to say to my Lord, thank you! The last couple of weeks have been somewhat difficult as I remember the passing of my mother. Along with this memory is attached the memory of my wife leaving on the same day basically (see http://mdarrinh.blogspot.com/2010/08/journey-begins.html if interested). To say that this was the most devastating time in my life would be an understatement! It has taken me a very long time to recover from the losses of that day, and I still have much more recovering to do. The amount of pain and anger I still feel during this time always catches me by surprise. In addition to this memory, I have been having difficulties in some relationships with friends that have confused, hurt, and perplexed me. But God is showing me that He is still working it all out for my good and benefit that I may become more like my Lord Jesus Christ.
But let me say as David did. The Lord is my strength and my shield. He has carried me through these times with His strong arm. He has protected me from so much that could have destroyed my life during these times. He has lent me strength when I felt as though I could not carry on. Indeed I often wonder what is the point of the path I am taking. I know my life and my past and how I always seem to end up in failure. Yet God gives me strength to continue this journey. He gives me hope that this time His plan will come to fruition where my plans have failed. I see the mistakes and sins of my current life and wonder at the mighty hand of God to protect me from myself. Through it all, I just want to say thanks to my God and King. Let me lift up a song of praise to Him today and everyday.
Now I know you are waiting for me to sing, but this is a blog. So to suffice I will post the lyrics of one of my favorite old songs and a video you can listen to someone sing it much better than I could. May God bless those who read this today that they may be strengthened in their faith and protected from all harm. Amen.
Verse 1:I've Had Many Tears And Sorrows,
I've Had Questions For Tomorrow,
there's Been Times I Didn't Know Right From Wrong.
but In Every Situation,
god Gave Me Blessed Consolation,
that My Trials Come To Only Make Me Strong.
chorus:
through It All,
through It All,
I've Learned To Trust In Jesus,
I've Learned To Trust In God.
through It All,
through It All,
I've Learned To Depend Upon His Word.
verse 2:
I've Been To Lots Of Places,
I've Seen A Lot Of Faces,
there's Been Times I Felt So All Alone.
but In My Lonely Hours,
yes, Those Precious Lonely Hours,Jesus Lets Me Know That I Was His Own
chorus
verse 3:
I Thank God For The Mountains,
and I Thank Him For The Valleys,
I Thank Him For The Storms He Brought Me Through.
for If I'd Never Had A Problem,
I Wouldn't Know God Could Solve Them,I'd Never Know What Faith In God Could Do http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFzdFzzBqTc
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