Paradym Shift in Awareness?

At first you think that your family and everything you experience in that sphere is how things are for everyone and you learn to deal with the situation. Then at sometime you experience a paradym Shift in your perspective. There are hints along the way but then it happens. And your perspective gets shaken with additional information that makes you question your previous assumptions.

,This is a good thing!

The Sacrificial Element in "Becoming".

We often tell young children "you can be/do anything you want".  But growing up means sacrificing all the "potential" to be anything and making a choice to be something.

https://youtu.be/JjfClL6nogo

original source: https://youtu.be/nsZ8XqHPjI4?t=2h5m17s

Competence?

To many definitions to firmly understand the meaning, yet...

Many think they are "highly" competent to represent the Kingdom of God. Their proof? Signs and wonders?... But!

1 Cor. 13:1-13

How can God “not” know someone?

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23. And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The Movie - I "Heart" Huckabees: a Comedy!

This is a funny movie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Heart_Huckabees ....

Existentialism?... The Father of Existentialism?... The "Wisdom" books of the Bible?... Their conclusion?

Acts 17:28

...“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;...

Your Full Potential?

Who am I? Why am I here? What's the point? Does anything matter?

The simple answer is... Yes you matter, you can make a difference, and you are here to be who God created you to be..

Your full potential is "only" found/discovered/obtained when you understand Proverbs Chapter 3 verses 5 and 6...

5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6. In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will direct your paths.

Competence?

Is it an intrinsinct quality of character?

Competence?

I need to understand the meaning of the word.

The Promised Land in the old testament

Is the "Kingdom of God" in the new!

Speak the truth in love.

We should break it down.

Speak the truth in love.

3 words...

Speak. Truth. Love.

Inordinate

in·or·di·nate
inˈôrd(ə)nət/Submit
adjective
unusually or disproportionately large; excessive.
"a case that had taken up an inordinate amount of time"
synonyms:excessive, undue, unreasonable, unjustifiable, unwarrantable, disproportionate, unwarranted, unnecessary, needless, uncalled for, gratuitous, exorbitant, extreme.

A SIGN OF OUR TIMES!

James 4:17

James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Is it not wisdom to know what the right thing to do is? In doing that right thing, do we not feel justified? Can you do the right thing, all your life, according to your wisdom and Still Not be Justified in God's eyes?

Innocence

The Innocence of obedience? As a child it is unequivocal. But impossible to maintain. Parents are hardly an example to trust, but we are called to obey our parents "in the Lord".

And when you do, you fall into the trust of their own understanding.

Wisdom? The Bible is full of practical wisdom. Wait... Crap!  How does the book of "Job" fit Into your understanding?

Proverbs 3:5-6 makes more sense now.

Distraction?

Back to that I go.

Distraction. Occupy your time. Use it up.

If the enemy can't deceive you he will try to distract you. Not just with worthless entertainment but with causes that we perceive as worthy.

These "causes" satisfy our need to feel justified, but fall short of explicit obedience and trust of God's will for our lives.

MIND boggling - Daniel 3:16-18

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

He is able, He will, and even if He doesn't...

They knew what to do. "NOT BOW DOWN". Their trust was in an "Able God" that had the power to save them. Yet. They acknowledged His Will not their own as reason to obey, instead of a desired outcome for themselves.

This is the faith that Jesus revealed on the cross as he cried out in Matthew 27:46...
"ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

Mind boggling

Unity!

Unity does not equal uniformity. Diversity provides needed perspectives for unforeseen opportunity.

All that are led by the Spirit of God are the Children of God!   Romans 8:14

It's His unlimited perspective that provides insight to those who desperately rely on His guidance. They understand, like Job, not to trust in their own understanding. They recognize God's participation in their situation. How He goes before them to prepare the way. Because He has a plan for their life. And He will direct them through the obstacles that the enemy places to thwart God's will. Prov. 3:5-6

When all is said and done they shall proclaim...

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Take every thought captive to the Lordship of Christ?

Well, I certainly have been considering my thoughts. It's been quite... Educational... Inlightning... Convicting... OH CRAP!

I seem to be a little judgemental. It's most apparent on the highway. I won't be specific, you know what I mean...

Do I need to mention at home?...

"?..." means - think about it!!!

Take "every thought captive to the Lordship of Christ". Impossible without a desperate realization that you can't anticipate the next step in your future.

Play it by ear?

To play it by ear is to act according to the situation. Playing it by ear means you work with what you get.

The original meaning of this term was to play music without sheet music, meaning you improvised from what you heard and did your best to bring everything into harmony with a melody that everyone would appreciate.

Hmmm! I believe that's God's job.

Life is Hard!...

Why? Because things are unpredictable...

For us!

But not to the One who sees the beginning from the end. To the One who goes before those who trust in Him, and anticipates every decision that will be made by those who affect His desired plan for your life. He is able to bring His promise to pass. Just Trust and Obey. Walk through the valley of death. Cling to the promise of your understanding.

And your witness will be. HE IS FAITHFUL!

Jordan Peterson

Who you are, and on being responsible

Life is hard, you will suffer, and in order to handle that suffering, you will have to be prepared. Preparing means taking responsibility for yourself. That’s hard, too, so you may try to avoid it. You may use all manner of evasions and rationalizations to convince yourself that things will sort themselves out on their own, or that others will bail you out, or that if they don’t, it’s their fault and not yours. But that’s a lie. So stop lying. Accept responsibility for your fate.

God's Hand?

Today I found myself saying to a business colleague of mine that "I see God's hand in this opportunity". We agreed that we can't go wrong trusting in His Guidance, no matter what the outcome.

God's Hand is motivated by love, manifest through Grace, informed by "His" plan, guided by His will and committed to our highest good.

You can't go wrong knowing that He goes before you preparing the way. So trust in His guidance and act accordingly.

Proverbs 3:5-6

CONSTITUTION?

The way in which someone or something is composed.

The Holy Spirit is in the business of changing our Constitution.

Romans 12:2  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

THE LORD, A COVENANT GOD

Deuteronomy 7:9 
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 

Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.

Hebrews 3:1. Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2. This is why the ancients were commended. 3. By faith we understand that the universe was formed by God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By Faith we understand...

Matthew 9:20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22. Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Matthew 8:5. When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. "But just say the word, and my servant will be healed." 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith... 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

By the Holy Spirit we hear the promise. In hope we believe it's truth. In obedience we trust His Guidance. And in joy we proclaim His faithfulness.

BIBLICAL FAITH in its basic form...

God Initiates - We Respond