Called Higher

                

When you feel you don’t belong

in the place God’s called you to

                    At  times it’s easy to ‘check out’

                    find other things to do

To occupy your idle time 

and ‘busy up’ your life

                  Really just ignoring 

                  your own internal strife.

                        But God has called you higher 

                        to walk this barren road,   

Though you may feel weighted 

by life’s heavy load.

Child, God has called you higher – 

to the place you’re planted in

                    To grow in spite of arid soil,

                    submit yourself to Him.

Yes, God has called you higher 

to the place you’re planted in –

                    To grow within this present soil

            simply press yourself ‘in Him.’ 

                                                    

                     To grow, despite the hardened soil,  ~ Press yourself ‘in Him.’

1 Samuel 16:11, 13, 21. Acts 9: 8, 9, 16

When we think of trials endured by men like David or Saul of Tarsus, it can be daunting to think about how they ‘got through’ each day when they were just ‘ordinary people,’ before their conversions, or title.

During a 3 day-blindness with sparse conversation, perhaps Paul (Saul of Tarsus) sat or maybe leaned against a wall as he pondered his fate at the hands of fellow Christians. 

Imagine David scratching his head, wondering if his life would ever be anything different. He’d continued tending sheep, but since his anointing from Jesse, all had been quiet.

Neither outlook for David nor Paul seemed promising to any by stander. In fact, it may have looked pretty bleak – even boring!

Friend, when life seems boring, difficult, or even hard, when you’re waiting for those answers to come, those are the times God wants us to press into his Word, i.e., into Him.  

In spite of how it looks on the outside - of how easy it would be to just give up and play Xbox or scroll mindlessly on your phone,  in spite of how easy it is to do nothing - get out and do something! 

                                                  

Like a seed planted into the earth must die first, then ‘push through’ and grow upward, so too, we must die to self – our own self-will, our selfish ways. 

We must die to self when posting ‘angry words’ about another person or ‘posting a brag tag’ about some new trinket, or latest material possession. God wants us to ‘push ourselves ‘into Him’ so that we may grow upward.

Often times our own social media choices influence the calling/gifting/talents God has placed on our lives. If we’re not careful, when we’re stuck in a ‘hard place,’ we air out our feelings digitally – without regard to our Christian influence. We must remember our influence is beyond our local church family. Our friends, coworkers, and our community are all watching - both on and off social media. 

My Friend, God has called us higher to wait on Him even when our current situation is uncomfortable, hard, or boring. For in the waiting, He’s refining and developing you. 

He believes in you, and so do I. 

You got this.

#Nothingventurednothinggained

#Dohardthings

What Defines Me

The lettering that teachers bring their students after test

dispels a myth, much to their wit

they didn’t do their best.

A student’s grade so oft displays 

triumphant bold decree:

Victor or victorious 

vs plain mediocrity.

But, to the dismay of those who lay

beside their books pre-test

it just may be - the letter "C" – 

is, perhaps, ‘their best.'

Yet, a "C" does not define me

It only serves to try me

to gain attention of a higher grade.

It whittles and it tries me 

and often does it buy me

extra tension to a stress filled day.

Still, a "C" will never thrill me

Hardly will it kill me

and herein is the element of pride:

For my "C' will just afford me 

Vanilla mediocrity,

A place wherein I choose not to abide.

                                  ~*~

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being . . . 

This poem-type essay was written while I was struggling with self-worth as a college student; an example of how, despite constant studying and tutoring, the grade – the elusive golden ring I reached for but never received, the elusive “A”, was always beyond my studious efforts.  I did, however, make a passing grade. 

It was a simple ‘C.’   

While striving to achieve high grades shows a mark of excellence, to seek status or approval through this singular self-imposed world view, will always leave you feeling disappointedly inadequate. Anytime someone uses a world view template overlaying a Christ given principle, i.e.  ‘straight A’s equal acceptance/greatness/respect’ – the outcome will fall flat. 

When we move from a world view of how worth is achieved, and look to the scriptures, we see self-value is derived from God’s spirit. 

I am ENOUGH because HE is enough. 

In him (Jesus Christ) we have our being. 

Plainly said, In Him, I have my being.  

I have worth. 

I have value. 

You are more than ‘average’ because HE was (and still is) more than average. Our material worth – position, title, conferred degree, or educational status, what we have or don’t have, truly doesn’t define us. 

Jesus Christ is, by definition the embodiment of value. He alone is what humanity needs; what you need. He alone brings worth and support in any crisis, current or post Pandemic. 

If you’re feeling a little disheartened Friend, never forget that you live, move, and have your being – your TRUE essence, in the nature of Jesus Christ.  I offer you peace, hope and comfort through His great name. 

Eternal life is defined through Jesus Christ. 

                                                                        1 Cor 15: 1-4  

Checkmate

      

Carefully she moves her piece across the board

Breathing in, she awaits his turn

She watches the effort he puts forth

Winning is everything to him, defining.

He calculates little before his move,

his interests vested in other pleasures

Blinded by pride he proceeds carelessly   

with smug demeanor, anticipating triumph.

She takes her last turn, slides her piece slowly into place

And rises to announce

check mate.

She. is. done.

Photo cred:@Hailey Lesage

Judges 3: 15 . . .When the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer.

Just when you think your opponent has an advantage - perhaps even won, God will come to your aid with the full weight of justice each and every time you've been wronged; he takes note when unjust actions cause hurt or pain on the innocent.  God hears every cry, and balances the scales of fairness and retribution accordingly. At His time. As He sees fit. 

There are times when we find ourselves in situations where our disobedience or willfulness has grieved God to the point of disciplinary action, as he did with the Israelites. Time and again they danced around obedience, toeing the line then abandoning commandments, statutes, and teachings - offering oblations to other gods and intermarrying after the Lord had told them not to. 

However, our heavenly Father is true to himself and despite recurring acts of sinfulness, when the Israelites cried out in desperation, he continued to show forgiveness, mercy, and grace. 

Consider the story of King Eglon, he ruled over Moab. He smote Israel, enslaving them eighteen for years. Yes, this was due to their own poor choices, however, there is something about the repentant cry of a wounded heart that bends the ear of God like nothing else. God heard the pleas of his people and sought to settle the score. 

Chosen by the Israelites and saddled with a gift, for King Eglon, Ehud had been instructed by God on how to bring Israel a reprieve. Scripture doesn't offer details of the Israelites' gift to King Eglon, however, Ehud used this opportunity to his advantage. 

Perhaps King Eglon thought his meeting with Ehud would further set him further apart from the rest of kings in the land, honoring him - promoting him. Maybe in his own mind King Eglon thought he couldn’t be overtaken, or that he’d already triumphed. But that’s where the story turns.  

Ehud gave the king his present from Israelites then turned and offered his own. 

It had never occurred to King Eglon that God would use Ehud's unlikely ‘gift’ to accomplish his will and grant peace to the Israelites for another eighty years!

 My friend, if you’re struggling right now, remember God uses the unusual to surprise our enemy and bring us victory . . . just like the surprise ‘Checkmate’ from a left handed swordsman named Ehud.