The River Is Always There

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Emptiness??? This ain't Heaven

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10am

lk; good morning hs

hs: good morning son.. how are you?

lk; so good hs.. thakn you

hs: and why are you so good. 

lk: well.. i slept decent last night.. i had ample time to get my mindset straight today.  i had a nice chat with noah's buddies that stayed here last night for the natanael's wedding..  i had a nice chat with shannon britt.. it has been nice.. it is raining.. which means i do not need to go out and mow..  and I am siting here doing my most favorite thing in the whole world.. spending time with my God..

hs; that is awesome.. 

hs: but do you still sense that emptiness?

lk: yes.. I was not going to say anything about it..  but yes I do..   do you want to talk about it now?

hs: yes.. lol.. why do you think i brought it up?

lk; lol.. that's true..

lk: so hs.. tell me about this emptiness in my soul..

hs: well son.. tell me what percentage of it that you are feeling righ tnow?

lk: wel... i would say that it is about 20%

hs: okay.. tell me more abou tit

lk; well.. i typically think that it is strange that i would have ANY emptiness.. because my goal is to be complete and be happy and fulfilled.. to have any kind of voice just seems like it is foreign and should not be there.. 

in fact.. i have worked hard at answering some ofthe most difficult questions in life.. about fulfillment.. satisfaction.. etc.. 

hs: well with all of that.. work..  let me tell you this..... there wil lalways be times and palce where you fill this emptiness.. and dissatisfaction..   and not totally fulfilled..   because.. this is a fallen world.   you are not totally redeemed..  your body is not redeemed... your soul is a work in progress.. but your spirit is totally redeemed..   and all things will not be perfect until you go to be in heaven..

...... doe that make sense?

lk: perfect sense..  but now.. i just need to remember this.   so.. give me a few seocnds.. i am going to make notes in other places to remind myself.

lk: wow.. hs.. this is such a great topic.. and such good revelation for me.   help me to remember it..

hs: i will son.. thanks for always being willing to listen..

lk: oh father.. i love our times of revelation.

Think about the time you were most passionate for Christ.. now... Let that be the first step back in that direction ❤️

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The Narrow Way.... Is It Really That Narrow?

Just a thought that I want to develop.... I hope I get back to it eventually.... 

But it seems that the life I have in Christ is not narrow at all.   There is a lot of liberty. 

The thought of man.... taking dominion.. that is a lot of territory. 

I had a discussion the other day while hiking with a buddy... about how much is God really concerned with our day to day activities.  I mean.... not to make God out to be a noncaring Being.. but  I look at my adult kids... I mean... I love them..  I want the best for them.  But I do not make their second by second... minute by minute decisions for them.   I love to hear their stories.  I am ready and willing to listen to them anytime they want to talk.. I will be glad to give them advice if they want it.. But.. part of the joy of raising kids.. is to see them grow up and live their own lives.. and make their own decisions..   

Does that make sense?

But...  i diverted... The main thing I mean to express in this post is this.. . 
Yes... when I first came to Christ.. perhaps i did have to give up some things.  and yes.. as I walk with Christ there are many things that I will not do because I follow Christ.  But it seems that the things that I get to enjoy and have... far out weigh the things that I have had to give up in order to follow Him. The peace, joy and contentment alone is worth anything that I have had to give up.    Knowing that God has it all figured out.  Knowing that He has a wonderful plan for my life takes the worry out of this life.   Wow.. what a trade off!

Why We Should Journal

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Are others irritated?

And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.”
Mark 3:11 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mrk.3.11.NKJV

Hmmm.. makes you think....
Now.. I am not a paranoid type person... But... I wonder if sometimes when Jesus is shining through us.. if someone else is really having trouble with the enemy.. and perhaps are really giving in to the ways of the enemy.. if this person can act out.. and maybe not even feel comfortable around you because of the Spirit of God inside of you?  
Something to think about.

Constantly Changing

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Mistreated and overlooked?

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God Is My Cake

        Here is one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn but now that I've learned it, it is the most rewarding.

God is my cake

At Least I Have Cake

People will always fail you at some time or another..... even the best are imperfect..... so don't be surprised when it happens.   Because it WILL happen!!!

Now life is like cake.  God is my cake...  I get to enjoy cake everyday.  No matter what is going on in my life... I always have cake.  Everything else is icing or whatever else you want on top of your cake. 

There are days when all you will eat is cake.... but that alone is enough.  Then... there will be days when extra things happen.... that is the icing in life.  Maybe it is a phone call from a friend.  Maybe it is something nice that a complete stranger does for you.  Maybe it is a good movie.  Perhaps it is a memory of a fun time you had years ago.  Icing typically does not come every day.  Sometimes you can go weeks without icing.  But.... YOU ALWAYS HAVE CAKE!  

So.. on a day.. when you are feeling lonely, unneeded or unappreciated... go enjoy yourself some cake.  Realize that tomorrow there might be icing.  Or just go ahead and make your own icing.  Make a list of things you really like.  A TV show, a book, a country drive, call a friend, relive a happy moment.  Make it happen, and apply that icing to your own cake.  

But... remember... you ALWAYS HAVE CAKE!  

People are like sprinkles or... the icing...... they're  not always there...... but when they are..... it's a special treat..... but I still have the cake to enjoy!

This has been the hardest thing I have had to learn.  It has taken me so long to learn... even a 15 year nightmare excursion in the desert that about killed me... but I finally got it!!!  I am a happier, better person because of this lesson.....just wish I wasn't so darn slow! :-)

Addendum 11/18/21  I believe one if the reasons why the drug epidemic is so bad is because people are looking for sprinkles and cherries and candies on their cake every day.

God's got this

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God's renewing presence

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There's A Chink In My Armor

Are you aware of some weakness in your life?  Does there seem to be some area that always catches you off guard? That is like the "chink in one's armor". 
    Don't just ignore that weakness. Don't just accept that it's just "who you are"! Repair those areas.  Fix them before you are delivered a deadly blow. 
     In fact, be thankful for those weak areas... the fact that they are exposed gives you the opportunity to fix them so you are not vulnerable in future attacks.

     Several years ago there were some "chinks in my armor" that enabled the   enemy to take me down.  The wounds were so severe I wanted to die.  Overtime, the wounds healed. But, my armor still wasn't fixed.  I was determined to not let another life threatening blow be dealt. I started noticing the little stabs here and there. I didn't get mad at the attacker or my weaknesses..  I became thankful... because, as they were exposed,  I could work on those weak areas in my armor.

     Today, I am so much stronger. I am so much healthier. I am so much happier because those "chinks" were exposed and fixed.  You can be too!

Be blessed!

A smile opens your soul

This is a thought that I have been thinking on for the last week. I really don't have time right now to develop this thought but I thought I would throw down a few ideas and then finish the entry at a later date.

I have always been a fan of the smile. Many times I purposely put on a smile and I have noticed that it always makes me feel better. I know that just a simple smile from someone else can make me feel better and lift my spirits as well.
The other day I fought what does let your light shine mean. What is the most evident sign of someone letting their light shine? It would have to be the smile that they place on their face. Look at the smiling face on a baby. Isn't that as fresh as the sun coming up in the morning. Isn't that as encouraging as light being shown in the darkness?
I think, that as we smile that that pulls on the strings of our soul and our spirit and just causes it to open up and let the abundance of Christ in the love of Christ flow out of us into the lives of other people.

 So, let your light shine today. Share a smile with someone.

The many layers of victory

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Some victories are quick and decisive. Others are achieved with mundane repetition of consistency and discovery.

I think at my age.. most of the things that are just going to "drop off"  have.  It seems now.. the issues I have to deal with are there because of many years of believing the wrong things.  It seems the process is now to unravel those many layers of wrong thinking.  Sometimes the things we face are not new issues... but just another layer working our way to freedom.

Let God love on You

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Our Filters Determine Our Reality

Who sees the world truly as it is?  I would dare to say no one!   

Reality is not really reality at all... because we all see it through our own filters. 

One situation can have as many realities as people that view it. 

This has never been so apparent to me as now in our current social/political climate. 

If you watch multiple news outlets.. it will appear that our country is actually not one country but two separate countries!

Being aware of the above phenomenon will help you navigate through your day to day interactions with those around you.

It will allow you to not be so quick to judge and argue.  It might even allow you to question your own judgments and viewpoints. 

So... how does this dynamic work out in a modern society.  Well... what do you think?  The Book of Judges tells the stories of Israel's tumultuous existence in the Promised Land.  Judges 17:6 seems to sum up that time period in their history.  "... but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."   Hmmmm... I wonder how that worked out for them?  You can probably figure it out or you could read their story in Judges. 

My purpose in sharing this post is to give some clarity to our current climate.  Since no one truly sees pure reality for reality's sake... that means we all will experience this life as we see it through our own filters.  Filters are really nothing more than our way of thinking about a situation.  Most of these thoughts happen right inside of our minds without us even being aware of it.  These filters/thoughts are the culmination of past thoughts and attitudes.  They are formulated by words, attitudes and thoughts from others around us and through our own processing....  we make them our own.   Again...  most of this happens without us even being aware that it is taking place.  

I must say that in my years on this earth.. I have seen these filters make life absolutely miserable for myself and others at times and if not challenged can bring people to absolute ruin.  So....  how are we to make these filters work for our good?  It is a simple process in theory but much more difficult to put into practice.  First, we have to decide what kind of life we want to have.  After we determine that.. we must begin to look for the truth that will help us move towards that kind of life.  Second... we have to begin to root out and challenge those attitudes that move us away from our destination.  

In closing.. let me say this... from my many trips around the sun.. There are so many filters to choose from out there.   I have found out that the more I try to align my filters (thoughts, attitudes and viewpoints) with the Word of God and how God thinks of me.... the closer I find myself walking in a life that is not only fulfilling.. but a life that I frequently experience peace regardless of what is going on around me.   Conversely.. the farther my filters (thoughts, attitudes and viewpoints) are from the Word of God.. the more I find myself walking in turmoil, unrest, and discontent.  

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now CHOOSE LIFE!   Deuteronomy 30:19

I Want To Always Be Needy

The Storm From Nowhere

1 / 1 / 19
As I become more sensitive the inner moving's deep inside me I am aware of the frequent changes of the inner atmosphere.
I notice these sudden changes
In my inner atmosphere... Where fro nowhere a sense of anxiety will rise up inside of me. . I have heard of people talk of these kind of things.. But i didn't think I had experienced it.. But i can see... That yes.. I do experience it.  And I always have just taken that as a change in my emotional state.. Or that something spiritual had taken place..   Or a fear that a depression was coming on.. Now.. Just like I have counseled people who have had these anxiety attacks... Now.. I can counsel myself to not be so freaked out when these storms rise up all of a sudden inside of me... I need to recognize them quickly.  Not be afraid of any damage that might be brought on.  Any damage, would be the result of damage done by a riot that is stirred up in trhhing to flee an otherwise small skirmish. So many times in the past what was only a small skirmish.. Because of my over reaction.. I have created so much damage.  Perhaps the beginnings of a grudge.  Or a fit of silence towards someone who I took offence at.  Perhaps I treated the unrest in me with things that were more damaging than the storm itself... Eating.. Drink... Laying in bed that might lead to further deeper depression..   Putting off doing important duties.

Well... Now that I am staring to recognize those tiny skirmishes for what they are.. I will choose to not react.  But to allow the storm to pass.  To relax and know who can and will calm the storm. And that I, as a believer in Christ can weather any storm with my hand in His.