It really is a matter of perspective.....

Have you ever considered why people can share a common experience and walk away with completely different views? Perhaps it’s because we all have our own perspective which is simply a point of view. And our perspective is shaped by our individual experiences.

In this journey called life we all experience births and deaths, new beginnings and endings, times of change and stagnancy, acceptance and rejection, successes and failures. Each with perspective based upon our experience with these events of life. Positive and negative.

Therefore, it seems impossible that we could understand someone’s perspective without a respectful dialogue which includes listening to each other’s point of view. Most happily married for a long time tend to have honed this skill as well as some of the most successful people. These not only recognize other's perspective they admire and perhaps cherish it.

It’s not necessarily those that have similar perspectives that I learn the most from. In fact it can be the direct opposite. I don’t need to walk in another one’s shoes to understand their point of view. I can listen and find the commonality of life’s experiences that bind us and find empathy.

A true test of the heart...RE Post!

Initially I found it daunting to embrace the truth that the bible is not the word of God. Although I desire above all else to know truth and search for it continuously I found that acknowledging, embracing and then walking in this truth proved to be more challenging than I imagined. (Truth is suppose to set us free, right?)   

Let me explain. A man did not speak this truth to me. I didn’t hear a sermon, watch a video or a television show. I didn’t read an article.  It was revealed to me by the Holy Spirit as I sat alone in my home contemplating the words of John the beloved.  Honestly it was over a period of time because I refused to acknowledge the truth of what was being revealed. I had a struggle within my mind between what I had been taught and believed and what was being quietly made known.  I had great trepidation in not only embracing this revelation contrary to what I believed was truth but in comprehending what had been revealed and then communicating it. In part because I hadn’t heard anyone say what I now know was not only true but obvious. The bible is NOT the word of God.  Isn’t it Interesting, we all say we want God to reveal Himself to us, to lead us and guide us. However, when He does and it is not what we know or that which we have ever heard a man say before, the true test of our heart is at hand.

I have experienced therefore testify first hand the harm following man can cause. One of the many lies I believed was that God had put men and women as i.e, pastors, bishops etc, in His body for leadership, guidance and our protection. (I participated).  Therefore to be led by God without a man was absolutely foreign to me. As evidenced by my leariness in being led by God in that which I heard no other man say.  And yet I know that to be led by God without a man is and has been the will of God from the beginning of what we know of God, correct? However, regardless of what I said I knew and believed, I lived according to the traditions I was taught. Perhaps you do the same. This is one of the very reasons I present truth to you with hope that God Himself will reveal the validity of my words to you. I never want to shame, belittle or berate you for that which you don’t know, have yet to embrace or for that which has not been revealed to you.  This approach is also is new to me and taught to me by God and not man. I have learned that regardless of what men/women think, we do not have the power to make anyone receive truth. We can only share our testimony (that which we can testify to, as in a court of law) but God only can reveal Himself to us.

Consider this. The bible is written by men. It is documentation of various men and women and their lives on the earth. It chronicles their dreams, visions, prayers, wisdom, vanity, victories, defeats, triumphs, prophesies and promises. It describes humanity and deity. It records the fulfillment of every promise God gave to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ. From His birth to His death and resurrection. All for the purpose that we would believe. Yet, what we have learned to believe “in” is not the one He willed to reveal. Jesus. We believe, hope and have faith in the actual words that are written to reveal God. Not in God. In doing this, God revealed to me, that we have made the bible itself our god.

Jesus revealed Himself to people throughout the bible in a manner in which they could understand. He spoke to fishermen about fishing, farmers about farming, potters about clay and shepherds about sheep and barns and that which had meaning and relevance to them. Today because Jesus said He is the great Shepherd we learn about sheep so we can attempt to understand a scenario that is truly unfamiliar to us while failing to realize that Jesus reveals Himself to us continuously. However we fail to recognize and know Him because we have confined our minds to our knowledge through teachings of the scriptures.

Trust me when I say I understand the apprehension in accepting my words. Even though I know they ring true inside of you and they make sense to your mind. Acceptance would require actual individual and independent thought. Ex: If I were to believe this I would truly have to walk in faith of a God I do not see. I would truly have to be led by God’s Spirit and believe that He will guide me into truth. I would have to come into knowledge of this Jesus whom I say is my Lord. He would have to reveal Himself to me without a man/woman preaching or teaching me.

Just the thought of what I’m proposing is exhilarating and paralyzing at the same time. That we would 
know God. Each of us from the least of us to the greatness of us. No one having need to say to his brother, know the Lord.  Wow! I know, this truth has become my life. He has become my life. Someone said, be careful what you ask for. Well, I searched for truth and I have begun to find it. There have been times when I’ve wanted to ignore what I know and go sit in some building and go through all the antics I used to participate in. There is comfort in doing what you know. There is solace in the familiar. There is a perverse benefit in allowing someone else to be responsible for your journey. And there is a sense of power in numbers. Then I come to my senses and remind myself of the liberty God has given me in Him. And I remind myself of the bondage and uselessness in those practices. Regardless of how it may feel for a moment it fails to have the ability to produce what it can not, life. Life is only in Christ Jesus. I truly want to know and understand all that God has purposed for us in giving His Son Jesus. Don’t you?


Because of my own experiences with the teachings from men.  I remained silent for many years for fear of leading anyone astray. Not to mention the conflict of truth with the doctrines requiring submission  to some man so that I would not go astray. I considered so many that have gone on another way. Then I considered Jesus and decided to believe Him. Not only in my words but as He is in me, I am in Him, to walk and continue to be led by Him. To learn of Him as He reveals Himself. Truthfully the walk can be lonely but I am never alone. The Word Jesus abides in me.

I hope my words have stirred you to think and perhaps examine your own self. I encourage you to read the two previous blogs on this topic if you haven’t. I think you will find them helpful. You can also read or watch other blogs and you will clearly see the progression of my journey.  God is good and it is my joy and commission to share my knowledge of Him with you.

My thoughts about Prayer

While taking a walk a few days ago my mind pondered prayer. I thought about the books and articles I’ve read. The sermons and teachings I’ve heard that are purposed to help with a more effective prayer life. Which translates into getting prayers answered. I thought of some of the concepts that loom above others like prayer moves the hand of God, can you not pray with me one hour, you can have whatever you say and faith without works is dead (i.e. if you’re not praying you don’t believe). I thought about the types of prayer that are taught like corporate or congregational prayer, individual prayer, the prayer of agreement, calling for an elder to pray and the prayer of faith. I thought of so many people with needs from physical and emotional to financial and situational who pray and believe that God can and will change the circumstance. I reasoned in my mind, well all things are possible with God so it seems reasonable that one could expect God to change whatever is needed by the prayer request. Then I asked myself a simple question, so why doesn’t He? Why does a prayer go unanswered? Immediately I remembered the dis- qualifiers: God knows best, it’s not His timing, it’s not His will, His ways are not our ways, or the prayer wasn’t said in faith. Those are the things we’re told to pacify us when prayer is unanswered.

One might think to ask why a prayer isn’t answered is to question God. But is it? Or is it questioning our thoughts and beliefs about prayer?

I then turned my thoughts to what I know of God. I considered the writings of the Old Testament when time after time God answered prayer. From Abraham to Moses all the prophets, kings and priest. God answered the prayers of His people. As David lifted up his eyes to the hills and told us where his help came from, God answered. I thought of recordings of Jesus and could not recall one accounting when Jesus did not answer when asked. He answered and went to Lazarus knowing he was dead. He answered the disciples when asked who would betray him. He answered a woman that asked for healing and liken herself to a dog asking for crumbs. He turned water into wine when asked. He healed all when asked. In these recordings of God walking on the earth He answered prayer.

So again, my thoughts returned to why all prayer is not answered? What has changed? I believe the testimonies given throughout the bible that God is the same yesterday, today and forever are true. It has been taught effectively that there is nothing wrong in heaven, therefore the issue must be with either the person praying the prayer itself or with our understanding and/or expectation of prayer, correct? Perhaps there is an alternative answer. Actually a more comprehensive explanation for consideration. Perhaps it is our failure to understand that although God has not changed God has determined a change. The predestined change I am referring to is the birth, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Through Christ Jesus God provided a different method for us to commune with Him. We are no longer required to keep the requirements of the law. (Unfortunately in error many have made scriptures from the bible NEW requirements) When born from above we now commune with Christ who dwells within us by God’s Spirit. The prophecy by Isaiah “before they call I will answer, while they are speaking I will hear” is fulfilled. (not going to be, it is done) We no longer look to the hills for our help because our help comes from the One that leads and guides us from within.

We fail to understand that when Jesus said, “it is finished” He fulfilled all and His work was done.

Because my understanding has been enlighten, I can honestly say all my prayers are answered. I no longer look for circumstances or situations to change. I don’t look for God to intervene in my natural circumstances. I understand that the sun rises on the just and unjust as well as the rain on all. I understand cause and effect or reaping what is sown. I seek understanding and wisdom to walk this journey of life on earth daily. I now look to Him within me for any and all answers I seek while taking responsibility for my actions. I live because He lives in me. And He is more than enough.

I am confident that if you ask God if what I am sharing with you is true He will confirm it’s authenticity to you. God is all and all. He will reveal truth to you. Now the question is, will you hear Him?

Regret

“Regret comes with two faces: to regret our failures is one thing, to regret our life choices is entirely another.”

“When we regret the roads that have taken us to where we are now, we risk the loss of the future.

However, when we regret doing what we should never have done--injuring someone’s reputation, abusing someone we loved, abandoning the truth for sake of advancement or approval, violating our own bodies to the point of physical or emotional degradation--we know we’ve grown into someone of value. It is a moment of enlightenment when we realize that the years have grown us as well as have sustained us.” Joan Chittister

I looked at a live streaming of the organization I used to participate in yesterday. I’ve had a flood of thoughts and emotions. Like with all things I seek to learn. In my effort to understand I ran across that quote and it spoke to me and gave me insight.

I struggled trying to find balance for many years. The balance between the regrets I have for my past at Genesis. As I watched that service I realized I have found what I searched for. I have grown from my regrets for my actions whether intentional or not. And through my  acknowledgment  of my participation I have found empathy, compassion, understanding, strength and wisdom. I no longer regret my journey through Genesis because it brought me to where I am today.

I no longer feel the need to justify my stance or my past. I am learning to live with who I am in peace and liberty. God has graciously given me eyes to see and a heart to understand. I am grateful.

I can only hope as you read this quote that you consider any regrets that you may have and determine for yourself how or if they have helped or hindered your journey.