Human Nature

Sinful Nature

 

 

Somewhere in time, last Saturday, I had a busy day.  I had to work some overtime. I still had to do my normal Saturday running around and I was having lunch with two of my nieces (the bright spot of my day).  On my way out, I was stopped at a stop sign waiting for traffic to clear.  It was a four lane street, with two east bound lanes and two west bound lanes.  I need to cross the east in order to go west.  For some reason, this was a heavy traffic day.  One way would clear and the other would be busy.  Just when I had the opportunity to make it out and just when I had the chance to put my foot on the gas pedal – the car behind me honked.

I don’t know how to describe the overwhelming feeling of anger, irritation and nastiness that suddenly rose up with in me.  I wanted to put the car in park and march back there and give that driver a lesson in safety – but, I really did have my foot on the gas, so these feelings stormed my soul as I sailed across the two lanes of traffic I had been waiting for all along. 

Now, I was having an argument.  There was no one in the car with me, but I was giving that other driver a piece of my mind. Have you ever done that?  Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t need another person to have an argument, I can carry on both sides.  

I was fuming and sputtering when a still small voice spoke to me and it said – look how easy it is for the sinful nature to rise up. 

The voice was right.  I went from happy Christian to irritated driver in the time it took to sound a horn.

Romans 7:19

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice²⁰ Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. ²² For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

My struggle was not unique.  We all struggle at times, but God doesn’t give up on us.  Even though I got angry for a silly reason, God still forgave me. 


My worst enemy at times may be myself and I may have lost my private battle with my anger, but God is not through with me yet.  

 

 

MercyMe - So Long Self (Official Music Video) from mercymemusic on GodTube.

The End

Is Near!

 

 

Somewhere in time, or rather, somewhere in the future, the end of the world is coming.  I’m not like some; I don’t believe it’s right around the corner.  The Bible talks about Christ having a millennial reign of one thousand years.  From that I can deduce that the end of the world is over one thousand years away.  Before the millennial reign, bad times are predicted – now how faraway is that?

Matthew 24:36

King James Version (KJV)

³⁶ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

I don’t know, but I know many people are expecting the rapture of the church and the beginning of the tribulation to happen any day now.  It might and it might not, we really don’t know. 

There is a Pastor in San Antonio named John Hagee and he has spoken on this a few times. He also wrote a book called, “Four Blood Moons: Something is about to Change.” I haven’t read the book but I listened to his DVD series on the subject. He always makes good observations and points in anything he talks about, but this was interesting to me. Mainly because blood moons have happened in the past and we can trace them to historical events.  Now we are scheduled for them in the future.

Blood moons happened in 1493 and 1494 – Columbus left to find America in 1492.  Back home in Spain, Jews were being expelled from Spain in 1493 and 1494.  The blood moon marked the expulsion of the Jews and the discovery of a new nation.

Blood moons happened again in 1949 and 1950 – this was about the time the Nation of Israel was assembled for the final time.

Blood moons happened again in 1967 and 1968 – during this time, the six day war took place in Israel. 

Blood moons are going to happen again, In April and October of this year.  We will then have an eclipse of the sun in March of 2015, followed by two more blood moons in April and September of 2015. The blood moons will happen on the Jewish holidays of Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles.

What does this mean?  She we get worried and start storing food?

I honestly don’t know.  All I do know is that Christ is coming for his church someday and I want to be ready when that day comes. 

 

Chris Tomlin - How Great Is Our God (World Edition) from chris-tomlin on GodTube.

Overworked

And - Well you know the rest

 

 

Somewhere in time, this week, I have been working a lot of overtime.  I work for a company where this time of year is extremely busy.  The hard part about working so much is I don’t have much time for anything else.  Plus, you get really worn out.  Before I turn on my computer for work today, yes I know it’s Saturday – what’s up with that – I thought I would find something to put in my blog.

You know when it gets really busy, it easy to forget what is important.

Actually I was thinking of the Old Testament. Every 50 years it was a time of celebration.  No work, freedom for the captives.  This sounds really fun lately.  I feel like a need a year of jubilee – but alas, I need to work. 

Yes, the year of Jubilee almost made it to the blog.  A blog devoted to vacation.  I thought about it, but I decided to share what I truly believe to be important.

God wants us to care about other people.  In small ways or large ways, however we can. 

Matthew 25:34 - 37 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”

Matthew 25:40 “And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it for the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me.””

So, if you’re like me and crazy busy, you can do two things.  First be thankful you have a job in a time when many people don’t and second, find someone to help.  Helping someone makes all the rush and work worth it.

 

NEWSBOYS - Born Again [Official Music Video] from newsboys on GodTube.

Peace

And Safety

 

 

Somewhere in time, I have prayed a prayer that requested peace and safety.  When driving, I don’t want to be in a wreck, so I pray for safety.  I pray for peace on the job because people under stress can get unpleasant at times and I want to keep everyone calm.  The prayer is not a bad one, but can we really serve God one hundred percent and be safe.

As Christians, our examples are the authors of the New Testament.  Men who walked and talked with Jesus and could give us eye witness accounts.  Other men who were not eye witnesses, but they were able to speak to those who were.  We read their writings to learn and grow closer to God. Were they safe?

Peter was crucified – upside down.

Paul was imprisoned and later executed.

John was imprisoned. 

It is believed that eight of the twelve disciples were martyrs in some way. 

In no way was their life safe, yet each one helped spread the gospel that revolutionized the world. 

Philippians 1:21

King James Version (KJV)

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I’ve touched on this subject before and I’ll be honest, I really want to be brave in the face of any persecution I might face - but what if I’m not.  This has really bothered me lately. I assumed it’s because I didn’t have trust in myself to be strong.  God has really dealt with me on this.  My trust is in Him, so if I lack trust, it’s in His ability to keep me close to Him no matter what.  That realization was an eye opener and I repent. I will trust God to keep me faithful in all circumstances. This is my heart’s desire. 

My prayer for 2014 may still be for peace and safety, but more than that I want to pray for strength.  Strength to do what God has called me to do.

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Hillsong United cover- Lauren Daigle from centricitymusic on GodTube.