Oh My Aching Head

Not a great week!

I managed to damage my new friend.  It was not intentional, just a comment, made with the best of intentions.  Yeah, as they said, the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions....  Or is that just a German one?  Anyway the emotion took a beating to the point I had to revert back behind Kris' wall - allowing the clown to reappear.  Everyone except me was quite delighted to see the old Kris back.  I literally felt a piece of me die.

But, my new friend, kept their faith in me and we were able to uncross communications and restore our friendship - I hope with an even stronger basis.  Also appearing in my life yesterday were Dutchman and Swedish Rocket Scientist.  Apparently I needed all of my friends to make it through yesterday.  God does work wonders.

Body is slowly healing from having eaten a telephone pole last week.  Car however, well it will take a while to either repair or replace that one.  sigh.....

Well, I have an antique show to prepare for - so best get with it!.

God At Work

Thinking on John 16:8-15, Ephesians 1:13-14.

The Holy Spirit convicts the world.

We need to start listening to the truth, not the lies of this age.

He convicts all of their sin, believer and non-believer.  Each can harden their heart so they can not listen any longer.

You have to learn to see yourself as God sees you.  To the libertine, see your sin and know you are to be judged.  To the aesthetic, see you sin and know His love.

The Holy Spirit calls us to righteousness.

The Holy Spirit calls us to holiness.

The Holy Spirit Guides the believer.

Learn to listen and follow His lead!

The Holy Spirit is here to guide you in truth, not all knowledge.

All knowledge belongs to God, but He shares when it is in His benefit to do so.

Use God's empowerment to lead you into a life of ministry.

The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus and the Lord.

Let Him in your life.

Allow Him to glorify Jesus through your life.

Your Help Is Here

Thinking on John 16:5-8.

Realize that the Holy Spirit is to your advantage.

Jesus promised to send the Spirit, to be with the believers after His departure.

Of course His followers were a little unsure as to what was meant, since who or what is that Spirit thing He was referring to?

And, they had a point.  You will not find anything in the Bible called the Holy Spirit in the "Old" Testament.  Instead you have the Breath, Wind, Ghost, Hand, Comfort, etc.  The concept of the Holy Spirit was not well defined to them.

But, Jesus did make the point, if He did not leave, the Spirit would not come.

Jesus saw what the Apostles could not, there would be great advantage to them, in having the Holy Spirit.

Recognize the Holy Spirit is living in you now!

The Holy Spirit has a mind of its own.  Romans

The Holy Spirit speaks.  Acts 13:2

The Holy Spirit has a will.  1 Corinthians 12:11

The Holy Spirit commands us.  Acts 8:28

The Holy Spirit has emotion.  Ephesians 4:30

Relax, the Holy Spirit does all of the work!

To those whom cling to the "God helps those, whom help themselves" crowd.  Sorry, but God does not work this way, nor does the Holy Spirit.  Yes, there is a point at which you must act - at the Spirit's prodding, but when done on your own - you will only make a mess and give other Christians black eyes!

The Holy Spirt, a part of God, seperate from God, here to empower you in performing God's task He has set for you.....

Still Recovering

It was a busy day yesterday, I tried to rout the drains myself and with my damaged body form the auto accident - it did not go well.  I pretty much loss of use to my left side, reminding me greatly of my father after one of his strokes.  sigh.

So, I was chatting with Dear Friend on FaceBook when I lost all control.  Probably pretty weird to be having a conversation and then they are gone for 10 hours with no explanation.  Weird how the body works.

It appears that my car is going to be totalled by the insurance company, that telephone pole just did too much damage.  But, I am thankful for the Lincoln because it took a beating between the other car and the pole.  So now in the market for another car.  sigh.

Well, the day calls.  I need to get ready for the professional drain router to show up and do it right!  Then tonight my new friend and I are going to the Seattle Art Museum, ought to be fun to see what those whack-O's are up to!

So saving my left arm and stopping typing now.

ciao!

Happily Flattened

Ah, the joys of muscle relaxants ..... Seems yesterday's auto accident left me with a bruised collar bone, both knees, left shoulder, sprained neck and back.  Sigh ..... And I had been getting myself off of meds at night.  Oh well.

I took my friend, of two months, to lunch yesterday.  I needed to know that there was someone whom actually cared about me, not the car, not the money, not to make them a meal, or work on plumbing, etc.  I needed, for me .....

Do you know how rare that is?  Like perhaps the first time in my adult life, well and with a newborn emotion, I guess that is reasonable.  And my friend, I knew would be the only one whom could help with the turmoil throughout my being.

I needed someone whom wanted to talk with me, literally someone to tell me that it would all work out, and had they of told me to pack for that long walk I would have.  I have no fear of a future begun at zero and with a friend at my side, well that is more than many have.  I only see chaos and destruction around me here, more and more I recognize all that I have known to have just been a series of takers and users - sucking me dry of everything there was and now embittered there is nothing left - save for my blood.  I think myself mad when all around me are calling evil - good and good - evil.  Deeds no longer matter, the appearance does, and that is relative to them and their decisions, reality plays no part any longer.

And yet, God is still answering my prayers, He is still leading me towards a path I have no clue as to how to not to fail myself as I step forward.  It contradicts even whom I have been.  And evil will be thought of me and I have no understanding as to how this accomplishes something!  Why not just walk away now?  Indeed.

So, my friend turned me on to Portlandia.  Are you familiar with this?  OMG it is hilarious!  It perked my spirits right up because they so easily portray those in Portland, Oregon but also take it to the next absurd level!  This clip is of a song number, not the comedy sketches, but it is so Portlandian that you will have to laugh!

http://youtu.be/1mWRAhy1dcw


When you see the heavily tattooed red-haired dude, just know that I spent Monday with him and his charming wife, actually in Portlandia at a birthday party for one of "my" boys from back in 1977!  Of course, he has lost the beard now but yeah, I recognized him right off!  And I had to laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh.  Two hours of this have really raised my spirits.

And so, my Dear Friend, your first official recognition in Bloglandia.  And my impish nature likes not saying anymore about you - other than you make me laugh.

Accident

You know, with 1 major and 156 minor heart attacks to my credit last year, you would think that my life should be as stress free as possible.  But, it seems that Satan uses every tool at his disposal to take whacks at me.

Today it was an auto accident.  Major for the lady I hit because it killed her car, permanently.  Minor because my car was only lightly hurt, given that the car also took out a light pole.  God was protecting me.

It had been a good day.  I was on my way home from school, less than a mile away, when that lady pulled a U-turn off of a shoulder and left me with so little reaction time I could not even leave a skid mark!  Major because Gaelic Girl lit into me like there was no tomorrow.  Well, it was her car, but hardly my fault.

But, it brought to  a head, exactly what I had finished praying only seconds before I turned on to that road: what is God going to do about healing the relationship between GG and me - or - what is He going to do to kill it?  Let me just say that the ball certainly got pushed in a poor direction from my viewpoint (at this time).  It was not the car, it was not that I was not critically injured, which I think she hoped for, but it was the money this represented.  The car is insured, so that is not it, but she just exploded over how there is no money any more.

I had to remind her that everything has gone up in price by about 30% while our earning potential is flat.  Well, except for when she is in Texas, as all of her expenses are then covered.  Lots of anger directed at me.

And that lone emotion, you remember - the one whom is untouchable so far?  Took the hit.  I thought I was going to have another heart attack.  But, I stood for what God has done in my life across the past year (without her permission!) and what decisions it looks like I will be making in the near future.

Her parting shot to me was if I left this church, which she likes, then it is over.  And Germans just love ultimatums.....

So, her lack of concern for my injuries was noted, the ultimatum noted, etc for the past three years.  But, I am after-all a sociopath, so all of this is just data and I have not completed gathering sufficient to take to her therapist or to take that first step upon that roadway to a place far away.

And I am reminded of November 2011, when God asked me if I would do anything for Him - and I said yes.  And He asked me if I was willing to lose everything for Him - and I said yes again.  And God so blessed me across that prior year!  And it is costing me everything.....

But, I have now known Love and I have seen Love - and I captured those memories in verse to always remember.  And I have one that I can trust, my equal it seems, or a kindred spirit.  And I have one long term friend active in my life.

I may be losing everything, but I am growing into a very rich man.

Putting Feet To Your Faith

John 4:46-54 and Luke 2:8-20.

Sometimes you need to hear the Word, from the person who has the authority to give it!
In verse 50, he believed!

Faith produces Fruit: he came, he went on his way.

"These all died in Faith, not having received the things promised, but having Seen them and Greeted them from afar.  (Hebrews 11:13)

So, what does you putting faith to your feet look like?

Do you ever write off the work of God you could be doing, due to doubt?
We are talking the probability here of you experiencing miracles!
Do you credit coincidence, or God's leading?
Do you need medication,. or God's healing?
Is it the power of your will, or God's intervention?

Big point here, Do not explain away God's work!
Celebrate the work of God in your life!

Live wholly for the Lord. Do not make idols of what you can see but worship the maker of all, with your life.  Be a living testimony to all you know.
And remember that it is His righteousness, His sacrifice, His work - and not of you at all.  But, let him be reflected in all that you do.