In recent weeks the concept that it is Father God who initiates making contact and who desires the progressive growth of relationship between us and Him repeatedly comes to my mind. Jesus told us this truth in simple yet blunt words.
John 6:41-44 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
One of the “Most Amazing” things about God’s “Amazing Grace” is that Father God through His Holy Spirit visits His children’s minds and hearts to bring Himself to our remembrance.
Each individual has been given the freedom of choice to respond positively or negatively to the insertion of those “thoughts -leadings” into their hearts and minds. What I’m saying is that we get to take no credit for the good things we think about or do for our Heavenly Father. Now to why I am writing this post,
For about 2 weeks now, on many mornings, before I start my daily Bible study a thought comes to mind. This thought is really out of the ordinary for me for a distinct reason. I adopted a saying from an old preacher I’ve listened to countless times. Richard Owen Roberts use to say that before he would “break bread” meaning eat breakfast, he would first study “eat” the Word of God.
For a couple weeks now I’ve had the thought of “breaking bread” in the form of communion with God before starting my Bible study time. So I break off a piece or cut a slice of homemade bread and pour some grape juice in a glass. In my own words I say and meditate on the Words Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 11:23-27) and in the gospels (Luke 22:19-20), (Matthew 26:26-28), and (Mark 14:22-26).
This 2020 year is coming to a close and yet the many distractions that arose in just this year alone are far from being resolved. Maybe these new hinderances to our lives on top of what we have been dealing with do have a beneficial purpose. From Jesus and in the Word of God we are told that the “world system” will wax worst and worst. I personally have never bought into the NAR’s “7 Mountain Mandate” and it’s theology that says Christians will conquer the evils of our world and present to Jesus Christ a pristine environment when He returns again in the flesh. In Revelation chapters 9 and 16 we are told of great judgments God will allow to come upon the earth in those days with a similar closing note: “they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.” NLV
In the good or the bad times we are told by Jesus to center our focus in Him.
Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
In March of 2019 an odd chain of events occurred that I believe taught me a “spiritual lesson.” I wrote them in a post titled, “Keep Your Eyes on Jesus & The Cross.” https://intheword.blog/2019/03/25/keep-your-eyes/
On March 24, 2019 before daylight I hit a large deer crossing the road on my drive to work. The reason I hit the deer was because of “distracted driving,” not keeping my eyes on the road in front of me. The thing that distracted my attention was the 1st big deer that crossed the road in front of me. In the dark of night I was trying to see where the deer would go as it entered the wooded roadside. Then Bam!!! I hit the deer following it. The next day on my drive to work I was wondering “why God let that happen?” Couldn’t I have been warned in some way? Making our first rounds of checking oil wells that morning I came across this,
Then just before nightfall a couple days later, after some stormy weather and rough seas of a passing cold front I come across this again. Notice the lateral beam has now mover to the fat end of the vertical tree trunk.
I wrote a post on March 27th after seeing this cross in my path of life a 2nd time in relation to the Bible study I was in. What a “coincidence” that these tree limbs were arranged in such a way upon “the waters” where I was working. In my 42 years of making my living on the water, 30 years as a commercial fisherman and 12 as a crew boat captain, my waters were bitter at times. “Finding Your Oasis In Elim” https://intheword.blog/2019/03/27/stranger-than/
Exodus 15:25-27 KJVS
And he cried unto the Lord ; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, [26] And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
[27] And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
Our lives are filled with so many “distractions.” There are some like holidays that we look forward to with great anticipation. Others come out of left field like a hurricane, an accident or a historical level pandemic like covid-19.
I’ve prayed a prayer many times in the past that I should remember to pray more in the present, it goes something like this, “Lord you know I’m dense and hard of hearing at times. I don’t want to miss what You are trying to get me to understand. If you have to please draw me a picture so I don’t miss You.”
God is so faithful and it’s beyond amazing. “Thank you my Dear Heavenly Father for all the times You draw me towards you as a parent embraces their child. Thank you for reminding me to keep you as the “first love” of my life and above any distraction that may come my way.”
The cross of Christ has it’s place in the life of a Christian but it’s not 1st place. Even if I could embrace the very tree Christ died on it would mean nothing. To embrace the One who died for me on that cross is everything. I’m not the most educated in anything and God does have to draw me a picture at times. This one thing I do know, my Dear Heavenly Father has been wooing me in these early morning hours to remember to keep Him where He belongs, High and Exalted above all else.
The Word of God says that the Son of God “asked Him for the nations.” Only later do we learn what it would cost Him but He knew all along,
Psalm 2:7-8 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
About 4 hours after publishing this post I feel something else should be added. I have written many times why Jeremiah 33:3 is the title verse of my blog. I pay close attention to scriptures with the number 3 in them because of the countless times I woke up to see 3:33 am or pm on my bedside clock. Now why I’m adding this,
Just a minute ago I was thinking about the “happenstance” of coming upon the trees forming a cross while doing my work duties. Not once but twice “3” days apart. This post is about God revealing Himself to us “where we are” in life. If we are attentive and are desiring to have a deeper relationship with God it is possible. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.”
The thought of God getting my attention and captivating my thoughts for those few days was followed by another. Isn’t that kinda, sorta like when Moses noticed a bush burning that was not being consumed. It was when God saw Moses was “paying attention” that He spoke to him. Logs floating on the water wouldn’t have worked in a desert any more than a burning bush on a lake. God meets us where we are.
So I looked the scriptures up about Moses’ burning bush. Although I am totally amazed I am truly not surprised by their chapter and verse number,
Exodus 3
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
Anyone knowing the past life I lived would probably find it very hard to believe that a Holy God would have anything to do with a person like me. With tear filled eyes I know that “while I was still a sinner” Jesus Christ shed the Only Perfectly Sinless Atoning Blood that could ever cover my sins. Not only that. It’s the Only Blood that could cleanse my guilt and shame riddled conscience so I could know His Love.
Hebrews 9:13-14 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
In The Word 