Thy will....

Thy will be done...
On earth...
As it is in Heaven...

A line from perhaps the single most popular prayer...

Thy will be done...
The Christian's reason for accepting answers to prayer that don't always make sense... the words expressed as one accepts that things don't always go the way they want it to...
So vastly important... and yet... I think we often forget there's more to that prayer...

On earth...
This miserable, completely screwed up planet... for those of you who don't know the history of the war in heaven and spiritual battles that have been in progress from the Beginning of time... I would suggest looking deeper into that.. essentially there is a power struggle for humanity... Satan vs God...

As it is...
Present tense... comparison... generally saying that one thing should be "as it is" elsewhere...

in Heaven...
A place of beauty... The home of God...

Have you thought about this particular prayer before??? Have you thought it all the way through??? Do you realize how incredible things would be... if only we prayed for earth to be as it is in heaven??? Heaven where God's will is automatic... where ideal situations are a reality... have you prayed a prayer that stopped accepting that earth's reality is all there is???
Yes I recognize that sometimes things don't always go our way... that sometimes God's plan is different then ours...
But do we simply pray that God does what He thinks is best??? Or do you pray for a new reality??? One where God's will.... is always done... just like it is in Heaven... where love always wins...

God is so Good...

He has blessed me with
<3 incredible friends and family who want me, need me, and love me.
<3 A roof over my head with a beautiful view, warm blankets, family, and food.
<3 A community that welcomes me, appreciates me, accepts me,
<3 4hrs every morning to pray, think, exercise and keep company with some of His most lovable creatures in some of His most beautiful country...

A year ago I thought my life would be very different from where I am, I had plans, dreams, direction, and I knew God was leading... looking at where I am now, I can see how far off I was... and now I'm starting to realize He brought me into this wilderness so He could catch up to this restless gypsy... always making goals to reach, dreams to make come true... I know He's always been there every step of the way... but now I not only live in His presence, but grow in His love...

The question was asked today...

"Who in your life, aside from God, do you feel grateful for? You cannot answer God, because I know we all want to praise God... But aside from God... Who do you have tonight to be thankful for?"

To all those in my life who may read this... Please don't be hurt or offended by what I'm about to say...

I couldn't honestly answer anyone...

Now don't get me wrong... I am incredibly thankful for the people in my life... I thought of saying my mother... My father... My grandparents... My friends... My cousin... Mentors, teachers, pastors... But everytime I thought of someone else... I kept thinking how cliche each answer was... If I'm trying this hard to come up with an answer... Do I really have one???

The truth is... No...

The truth is... I've given up on humanity... I simply don't believe in people anymore.

Maybe... That's because I've given up on me... I don't believe in myself anymore...

The truth is... I've come to understand a fundamental truth of Christianity to the core if my soul... A depressing reality... I am nothing... I am worthless... I am, as stated by "Alfalfa" in the little rascals to his true live Darla, 'the scum between His toes "

Kind of depressing eh???

Now here's where things get good... Where things get exciting...

I am told simultaneously by many people... That I am sad, depressing, miserable, unpleasant... And yet they turn around and say... That I am happy, positive, peaceful, pleasant...

How can I be simultaneously both??? Well here's my secret...
Galatians 2:20...

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

As worthless and pathetic as I am... As much as I don't believe in myself... I believe in Christ... And He's proven to me time and again how willing He is to take my body as a vessel to do His will...

Any Sci-fi nerds reading???
Well for my example please forgive me I'm more familiar with Star trek then any other examples... But I know Star-Gate also has a pretty good example...
But in Star Trek DS9 we meet Jadzia Dax... A Trill symbionts... Jadzia is the Trill Host, and Dax is the symbiote... The 2 are joined and become 1... Jadzia's personality becomes shaped by Dax... She doesn't lose her own personality... They become blended together... The 2 become 1 and the bond makes them stronger...

Can you see where I'm going with this???

Now in some examples of the host/symbiote examples throughout many sci-fi examples the host is completely taken over... We often find the struggle between the host trying to regain control from a symbiote that took over for an unwilling host... But in the case of Jadzia Dax the 2 become unified... Totally by choice... But how incredible is it for Jadzia to gain the knowledge of Dax... Dax who has lived many years beyond Jadzia... To have the memories, the wisdom, the patience of years... And for Dax to be able to use those memories, to participate in the world around and have someone to share those experiences with...

Now that I've got you side tracked... Let me get back to why I couldn't find anyone to be thankful for tonight... Because when it came down to it...

God has given me God fearing parents to be an example to me.

God has given me grandparents who choose to live as servants of God to bless those around them... Including me...

God has always found someone to be there when I needed them most... Be it a simple prayer, a kind word, or to listen to a rant that I just needed to get out.

People have failed me time and again... Because they're human... That's what we do...
People have been there for me time and again to uplift and encourage me in my darkest moments... Because they were willing to be used by God whether they knew it or not... Because deep down humanity isn't lost... God already won it for us... He created in our DNA... His image... His love... To be used for His glory...

Unfortunately for us... We've got 2 symbiotes fighting for each one of us...
1. Takes over and suppresses our instinct to love... And fills it with His desire for hate, revenge, and power.
2. Gives us the freedom to choose Him as a partner to share in His wisdom and experience as part of our own while adding to our very nature which is love...

I hope you guys realize just how absolutely incredible it is that the God of the universe... Wants you to be His host...
Remember... You have 0 worth... Except that Christ died... For You.
That's like finding a plastic button at a Jeweler's shop in North America... And the Queen of England comes all the way to that expensive shop and sees the out of place, miserable looking button... And says "that one... That's the one I want on my coat for our next press conference." Suddenly you've just become worth a million bucks... Just because the Queen had you on her coat...

You've just become worth your weight in the finest jewels in the galaxy... Because the King of the Universe... Chose you....

The question was asked today...

"Who in your life, aside from God, do you feel grateful for? You cannot answer God, because I know we all want to praise God... But aside from God... Who do you have tonight to be thankful for?"

To all those in my life who may read this... Please don't be hurt or offended by what I'm about to say...

I couldn't honestly answer anyone...

Now don't get me wrong... I am incredibly thankful for the people in my life... I thought of saying my mother... My father... My grandparents... My friends... My cousin... Mentors, teachers, pastors... But everytime I thought of someone else... I kept thinking how cliche each answer was... If I'm trying this hard to come up with an answer... Do I really have one???

The truth is... No...

The truth is... I've given up on humanity... I simply don't believe in people anymore.

Maybe... That's because I've given up on me... I don't believe in myself anymore...

The truth is... I've come to understand a fundamental truth of Christianity to the core if my soul... A depressing reality... I am nothing... I am worthless... I am, as stated by "Alfalfa" in the little rascals to his true live Darla, 'the scum between His toes "

Kind of depressing eh???

Now here's where things get good... Where things get exciting...

I am told simultaneously by many people... That I am sad, depressing, miserable, unpleasant... And yet they turn around and say... That I am happy, positive, peaceful, pleasant...

How can I be simultaneously both??? Well here's my secret...
Galatians 2:20...

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

As worthless and pathetic as I am... As much as I don't believe in myself... I believe in Christ... And He's proven to me time and again how willing He is to take my body as a vessel to do His will...

Any Sci-fi nerds reading???
Well for my example please forgive me I'm more familiar with Star trek then any other examples... But I know Star-Gate also has a pretty good example...
But in Star Trek DS9 we meet Jadzia Dax... A Trill symbionts... Jadzia is the Trill Host, and Dax is the symbiote... The 2 are joined and become 1... Jadzia's personality becomes shaped by Dax... She doesn't lose her own personality... They become blended together... The 2 become 1 and the bond makes them stronger...

Can you see where I'm going with this???

Now in some examples of the host/symbiote examples throughout many sci-fi examples the host is completely taken over... We often find the struggle between the host trying to regain control from a symbiote that took over for an unwilling host... But in the case of Jadzia Dax the 2 become unified... Totally by choice... But how incredible is it for Jadzia to gain the knowledge of Dax... Dax who has lived many years beyond Jadzia... To have the memories, the wisdom, the patience of years... And for Dax to be able to use those memories, to participate in the world around and have someone to share those experiences with...

Now that I've got you side tracked... Let me get back to why I couldn't find anyone to be thankful for tonight... Because when it came down to it...

God has given me God fearing parents to be an example to me.

God has given me grandparents who choose to live as servants of God to bless those around them... Including me...

God has always found someone to be there when I needed them most... Be it a simple prayer, a kind word, or to listen to a rant that I just needed to get out.

People have failed me time and again... Because they're human... That's what we do...
People have been there for me time and again to uplift and encourage me in my darkest moments... Because they were willing to be used by God whether they knew it or not... Because deep down humanity isn't lost... God already won it for us... He created in our DNA... His image... His love... To be used for His glory...

Unfortunately for us... We've got 2 symbiotes fighting for each one of us...
1. Takes over and suppresses our instinct to love... And fills it with His desire for hate, revenge, and power.
2. Gives us the freedom to choose Him as a partner to share in His wisdom and experience as part of our own while adding to our very nature which is love...

Which one will you let win?

True Love

Hey guys! So Valentines happened yesterday!!!!
Hope you all did something special with your loved ones. I did... my jeep and I had a lovely valentines together, new parts, simple fixes... it was lovely ;)

You know this past year or 2 I've done a lot talking to people about love, relationships, marriage... You know it's that time of my life where I'm learning through experience, observation, and of course all the wonderful people in my life who want to pass down their wisdom...

As you probably have gathered through many of my posts throughout the years my #1 relationship is and always will be with Jesus Christ... my hero, the love of my life, my best friend and the one who seeks every opportunity to remind me of His unfailing love for me. and normally on valentines day I like to celebrate it with Him... Reminding everyone that no matter what their current romantic situation is... Jesus thinks they're to die for and that should never be forgotten.

Today however I'm going to deviate from my tradition and actually make a traditional blog post about human to human love...

Lately I've had a hard time believing in love and marriage. Commitment just doesn't seem to mean what it used to... I grew up seeing lots of married couples, lots of divorced couples, lots of couples who i think should be divorced.... I spent my life chasing something that didn't seem to actually exist...

"Don't just look for someone you can live with. Wait for someone you can't live without."

Maybe I'm just dramatic... (Ok.. I know I take everything way to literally sometimes...) But that's probably the worst advice on love I'd ever heard... And even @10 I knew that. Several things that are wrong with that...
1. If they die in 5yrs from a tragic car accident leaving you behind with 2 kids... Do you really want to have someone you can't live without??? They die, how long till you also die... Either physically or just emotionally and can't give the kids the support they will desperately need...
2. If you can't live without them.. Honestly that's probably just an unhealthy relationship... Marriage shouldn't be about 2 people dependant on each other... It should be about two people who look forward to coming home and talking about how they functioned and  lived apart... Healthy relationships are founded on interdependence... Not dependence, not Independence... Interdependence where 2 people put their strengths together in order to thrive, not survive...
3. Placing them in a position where you can't live without them, is putting them on the same level if not a higher level then God... Who gave us life? Who gave His life so we can live? Who do we need to accept into our lives to see eternity?? God... Not some person who you've lived without for 18-30 give or take years of your life already...how many times do we try to live without God??? No one should be so important to take that place... If you were born without Someone... You can probably die without them to... Which means you should be able to live all of the in-between without them to...

I started hearing stories from people who I thought were happy...
"I married Him because I was afraid no one else would marry me."
"I wish I had looked around more. Not settled for the first beautiful girl I found. What if I had married so & so instead? My life would probably be incredibly different."

You know the first... I never would have questioned their marriage before... They were made for each other... They're a couple who has been through a lot of trials but they've learned to thrive... Not because they are financially well of, not because they have been super successful with their careers... But because when you walk into their house you instantly understand this is a house of love... They thrive socially, and they are abundant in love with everyone they meet... God included... Whether their marriage was built on fear of loneliness or not... They found true happiness...

The 2nd, I have to say I've often questioned their relationship, they don't seem made for each other... They're 2 very different people... How could it have been in Gods plan for the 2 to be married???
But what I've come to believe, and better understand... Marriage isn't always about getting along and finishing each other's sentences... It's also about helping each other through this journey called life. It's true that journey would be different. But would it ever be better??? The thing I love about this couple is that they have a life they should be proud of, incredible kids who I believe God has incredible plans for, work that fullfills them, and someone to share every moment with. They have a life where they are able to inspire those around them to strive to live life to the fullest, to let God be first in your life, and to remember nothing is too small for Him to take care of.

You know what I admire the most about these couples? They understand the commitment they made so many years ago... To love and to cherish, till death do they part... They may not have had the best reasons for getting into the relationship, but they know what it means to stand by someone, for better or for worse. Even after the honeymoon and infatuation wears off... When you start to realize you got married to someone who drives you up the wall.

So for the month of February, for Valentines this year where the world is full of the lovey dovey, romance... I hope you remember:
- as single people to look for someone who you can love, respect, and who has proven they understand what for better or worse means.. Who you know will never let you go, no matter how rough the road gets. Don't give up on love. There's a shortage of people in this world who still believe in a life long love between two people... If you give up... That's one less person for the rest of us to find... Do your "soul mate" a favor and stay a believer so they don't have to settle for a non-believer...
- and for those of you in a dating/engaged relationship... Make sure you let them know, your not just with them for the adrenaline rush... Your a man/ woman of commitment, who says what they mean and means what they say... And let them know your expectation are the same. Enjoy this time of your life, don't make promises you can't keep, but always make promises you know you will keep.
- if your married... I hope you remember what an incredible treasure that is. Your married to someone who loves you... Someone who has committed to spending the rest of their life with you, and commitment starts with you... Make sure you remember every day that you committed to love, which is an action... Not just a feeling... Show them you love them and make sure you never take the commitment for granted... We're living in a generation that is looking to you for reminders that marriage is about thriving, its about committing, and its about having someone special in your life who wants to share the journey with you.

"Don't look for someone you can survive with... Wait for someone you can thrive with."

"Dance with God and He'll let the right person cut in"

"A woman's (or man's) heart should be so close to God that a man (or woman) should have to chase Him in order to find her."

Perfection according to the Borg

Well if you've been keeping up with my posts you'll know I gave myself a fast from star trek... Well for my birthday I watched it again, and since then I've decided my fast is over... I only watched 2 episodes last week, and it actually felt Really good to  not have withdrawal symptoms everytime I turned it off.
But now that it's backbin my life as a secondary source of entertainment and not my primary, I've come to find a real appreciation for Seven of Nine... Our rehabilitated Borg from the series Voyager. She's learning to integrate herself into the human collective... Not quite as easy as the Borg assimilation...

The Borg were a pseudo-species of cybernetic beings, or cyborgs, from the Delta Quadrant. (Wikicollectivem the time Q introduces Captain Picard to this race in Star Trek The Next Generation, to the time Janeway meets them in their own part of space the Borg seem to have one goal in mind... Assimilation of every race in the universe. They seem to be a dominant species who exist to conquer...

When Janeway removes Seven of Nine from the collective we begin to understand Seven as an individual, and as the series progressed we get a deeper understanding of the Borg collective.

At first Seven seems very rude and arrogant... With the collective memories of races from all over the known universe can we really blame her for thinking she knows more then the crew on Voyager??? Interacting with illogical and temperamental individuals all over the ship comes as quite the challenge as well... She's been raced since a child as a member of the Borg collective... With all minds linked directly everyone's thoughts were immediately shared, the sentiment clearly understood. Everything running quickly and efficiently... It takes alot of adjustment for Seven to get used to the proper etiquette of the Federation star ship...

What we begin to realize though is Seven of Nine strives for perfection... She longs for it... In one episode we learn of a particle that the Borg consider to be "god" because they believe it to be absolute perfection.

Eventually she finds her niche on Voyager, she creates a routine, and she begins to appreciate those on the ship.

What I find intriguing is that she is constantly learning, growing, striving to become a better version of who she is. Striving for perfection. She explores what this word means in many different settings... Social, emotional, mental, physical.... When each new aspect is learned there is often much nashing of teeth... But upon understanding why each aspect is important she begins to put every effort into improving her skills as to be more efficient...

As I wrote this I'm pretty sure I deviated from my initial point... As I typically do... But let me wrap up with a conclusion anyways...

How many of us strive for perfection... When our God shows up do we put all rational thought behind us and do whatever we can to study and understand what He is? Do we make an effort to improve our efficiency as people? As Christians??? Or do we instead fight off change and growth as being irrelevant??? What have you done lately to improve yourself??? To make yourself more efficient??? Physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, spiritually... God is the very perfection we should all strive to understand... Don't get me wrong we need to understand first and foremost that we will never understand the full character of God... There just isn't enough time in the day... But if by beholding we become changed... Wouldn't it make sense to make the pursuit of perfection our goal??? If we can even see glimpses of what perfection really means... Maybe someday we can see enough glimpses to achieve maximum efficiency, as close to perfection as humanity can ever be.

Well Guys, I got a new website!
I was going to post a new blog tonight... but then I got distracted finishing up my new 2016 website instead :P so my new post will simply be a shout out for my new site... "www.soar4him.com" go check it out!
Keep in mind it's still under some pretty heavy construction... but do feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the page with suggestions and comments!

"ADDICTED TO GOD: I have a radical theory that God made all humans to be addicts. That's right every one of us is an addict, and God designed us that way! That is, God wired us to be addicted to Him. And when people reject Him, they struggle in vain to fill that cavernous black hole with some other possession. Some become workaholics, some become addicted to food and suffer bulimia or obesity. others choose alcohol, drugs or cigarettes as their favorite addiction. For some it's sex or music; still other, fashion and outward appearance. They become consumed with materialism and vanity. And there are those who become addicted to other people in twisted codependent relationships. All this is done in misguided attempt to fill a void that was designed for God. Human beings were created to be filled with God's Spirit, and when God is not the center of their lives they will desperately seek to fill that vacuum with something else. God designed us to be addicted in love to Him. It is only in Him that we will find joy and satisfaction." Doug Batchelor

I think the quote speaks for itself... Are you addicted to God??? or is something else in His place???

David, the shepherd boy... He's been on my mind alot lately... The insignificant country kid who grew up to do amazing things...
A man after God's own heart...

Have you ever thought about what that means??? I have... Alot...
Now anyone who knows anything about David knows he was definitely a bit rough around the edges. Did you know He had at least 5 wives??? I always knew about 2... Heard at least 3 I think, but eventually I learned he had at least 5... He was the guy who had another man killed to save himself the trouble of telling him about getting the man's wife pregnant... Oops...

I've always seen God as my best friend... I've come to know Him as my true love and coming from that true love perspective, its kind of bugged me to know David was a man after God's own heart... Because if David had a similar heart as God... Maybe God has the same philosophy about love as David... Love whoever you want and dont worry about the effects it may have on those around...
But you know David's woman problems weren't a matter of the heart, many of his marriages were political, so you can't really be after him for that... And any that weren't political was driven by the eyes not the heart... And since we already know from Davids story that man sees what's on the outside but God looks at the heart, we should already know, that God's love affair with each and everyone of us is so much more then lust or a shallow love...

With December just past and the new year begun, we've just come out of that "season of love" where individuals couple up, and couples make deeper commitments in their relationships... Anyone left single takes some time to reevaluate what they want out of life...

Well as one of the later of those choices, I've definitely reevaluated my life without romance...

My conclusion... I have more of a love life then alot of married people these days. I am certainly not lacking in Romance... I have everything my heart desires. God is good and He's chosen me. Every morning I wake up with countless gifts showered upon me... Every night I get to go to bed knowing I'll wake up in the morning to spend another day with Him...  I know its a long distance relationship and sometimes it gets hard... But He thought His life on a cross was worth seeing me for all of eternity... No matter how long it takes to get me there.
There's nothing I want more then to see Him face to face... But until then it gives me lots of time to get to know Him...

David had alot of love to give to the world... He had a best friend who he devoted his life to. He had 5 wives who he must've spent some good quality time with, since he also had a few kids... 1 that he mourned greatly over, knowing it was his mistake that would cost his sons life... And when He mourned for his lost child... He hadnt even met the kid yet...  Of course there was Absolom who would have killed David in order to have the thrown, but because he was David's son... David sought every possible solution apart from death to bring Absolom home...
David most certainly was a man after God's own heart... Because both knew how to love... Both gave love everything they had... Heart and soul for the ones they cared about... David made alot of mistakes... And I am so glad my God is perfect in every way... He's alot smarter then David... But thankfully for us... He's No more careful about who He chooses to love... Because He loves each and every one of us, with a passion so deep, and a love so strong... That not even in death shall we part.