Walking With Jesus

Months have passed since my last post. I am keenly aware of the importance of regular posts, in part, to maintain the interest of those following the blog. I chose at the onset to write what I believe The Holy Spirit is impressing me to write, and I have stayed true to that decision. The absence of posts is because I had not sensed the leading of The Holy Spirit with direction for a post. I am thankful now to be writing and sharing this one. To say the months since July have been challenging and sometimes difficult would be an understatement. In early July my sister Sandra, my only sibling, passed away after a months long battle with cancer. She lived in Texas, and due to shutdowns and travel restrictions related to COVID, we could not be with her prior to her passing or attend the memorial service, which has been difficult. Realizing you are the last one alive of your parents and siblings can be a stark reality. However, there have been some good things occuring with us even in these most difficult times. Our youngest daughter is pregnant and later this month will bless our family with a precious granddaughter. Another arrow added to our quiver of grandchildren and great grandchildren, soon to number twenty three.

I have come to understand with more clarity during these months, the timelessness of God’s Word and of my relationship with Him. Timeless is defined as having no beginning or end. Not restricted to a particular time or date. not affected by time. I believe I am gaining a better understanding that the Bible’s relevance never diminishes and how it can speak so clearly to us today, just as it did to believers hundreds of years ago. His Word is timeless just as God himself is timeless. His love for mankind and for each of us individually is timeless as well. Believers have testified, back to very early historical accounts, how He intersected their lives and spoke to them through His Word, resulting in countless testimonies being voiced and written.

Nothing impacts us quite like a personal experience. In 1983 I was a relatively young Christian. On September 23rd at around 11:30 PM I was awakened and experienced an impression from The Holy Spirit, a message I wrote down and later shared with the church family we were part of at the time. This was in the latter portion of what has been called the Charismatic Movement. I came to faith in 1976 during the height of the outpouring of The Holy Spirit. On occasion over the years, I have experienced impressions I believe have come out of my relationship with God and striving after Him. The message I received that night was one of those occasions. Through the years and several moves, we lost track of the copy I had written. Recently my wife found it among some papers. In reading it again, we were amazed how relevant the message still is today, just as it was in 1983. Rediscovering the copy and reading it anew has enabled me to experience personally what I am saying here and have come to better understand during these past months, that being the timelessness of God and His Word.

His love for each of us is timeless and He speaks to us through His timeless Word and the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. Certainly not the only ways but important and common ways we hear from Him. May God Richly Bless you and your family as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

It is unfortunate a legitimate peaceful protest of the unjustified death of George Floyd has been allowed, in many cities, to be used by some to spread and impart more injustice upon innocent citizens. Their agenda is to spread hate and create division. What they are doing is wrong and only hampers needed change. Instead of giving platform to those breaking the law, we need to consider their victims and the results of their insurrection. Innocent citizens had their business destroyed which they had spent years or in some cases a lifetime building. There is likely no justice for the loss they sustained. Many harmed are also people of color.  What happened to George Floyd is wrong irrespective of his color. Those responsible will be punished to the full extent of the law. The media would lead us to believe unarmed black citizens are routinely killed by police, and that most police are racist. The truth is twice as many unarmed white citizens were killed by police than were blacks. One would need to study the details of each incident to know the justification of the use of deadly force. If any were the result of unauthorized use of force or racism, a crime was committed, and those responsible need to be held accountable. To riot and attack innocent citizens and destroy property for the cause of events which happened 400, 300, 200, 100 or 50 years ago serves no legitimate purpose. It hinders the cause for those seeking to heal the wounds of the past and move forward with unity. We know racial prejudice exists and there is work which must be done to eliminate the injustice. We know as well the overwhelming majority of police professionals do not display or practice mistreatment of the public they serve. Change can happen only with the present and the future. The agenda of those who riot, loot and destroy property is not to bring the change those who demonstrate peacefully seek.

I believe it important to look at why what we see happening is happening. There is not just one cause. There are many facets to what has brought us to this place. Unless we identify and accept the truth, nothing will change. While there are many facets involved, the main point I wish to make as absolute truth is, we have a spiritual and moral problem in America. I am convinced it is at the root of the hate and destruction we are seeing. We have been desensitized regarding the value of human life. There is blatant disregard for the welfare of others. When harm occurs to another person because of our actions, for many, there is little or no concern. I do not condone abuse or harm to any person or animal. Today if I harm an animal I am subject to a fine and imprisonment. We place more value on animals than we do on human life. God’s view is every person has equal value and is to be equally valued and respected. I hold to that truth.  Every person is equal in God’s sight and loved by Him. We have turned from God’s values and established values of our own which are contrary to His plan and purpose. We have a spiritual and moral problem which is affecting the health of our nation and each of us. There is help for our condition. God does not change! His Word gives us clarity as to how we are to treat one another. His plan is for harmony and unity between each person and a healthy environment for mankind.

There is being heard a loud and clear call for a move towards unity within The Body of Christ. Unity is defined as oneness, a condition of harmony and accord. Most will agree that this is a desirable state of being! In our home church Westside, the vision Pastor Steve Mickel has “For The City”, is being realized and gaining momentum. Serving the community and being the hands and feet of Jesus wherever we can. I was visiting with a good friend New Years Eve and he voiced that similar local and global activities were happening in the church he attends. Pastors in our area and throughout America are coming together to pray for and support the other churches in their communities. Unity is God’s plan and desire for his people who make up The Body of Christ.  In Scripture we gain insight into God’s heart and intent. John 17:11, Jesus is speaking, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they (this includes us) are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” In the verses following Jesus prays for His Disciples and for All Believers. His prayer as recorded in verses 20-23 is that we would be one as He and The Father are one, and we would be brought to complete unity. The last portion of Chapter 17, verse 23 reads, “Then the world will know that you sent me and You have loved them even as You have loved me.” God emphasises his love for each of us and his desire for close intimate relationship with every person. Don’t be fooled into thinking or believing God does not love you or that he won’t accept you. It simply is not true and is completely contrary to Scripture.

At the end of this month my wife and I will celebrate our 39th anniversary. We are a blended family. When we married, some of the emotions within the family were very raw. As is the case with most blended families, it took time to adjust and for the uncertainty of this coming together to begin to subside. A few months into the marriage I felt prompted by The Holy Spirit to fast a dinner meal each week and to pray for unity and harmony for our family. I did this for several months. Looking back I know my efforts resulted in a deepening of my personal relationship with God and my relationship with my new family for whom I was praying.

As we step into a new year my wife and I have committed to pray for unity and harmony within our family and extended family. We are also praying for our unity with God and unity within The Body of Christ. God wants us to develop a deepening relationship with each other and with Him. This is, without question, His will for each of us.