Sunday, January 31, 2016

Again God provides

In December 2015 I met my dad at the Volkswagen dealership in Corpus and because of the 2013 Jetta recall they did a settlement for Jetta owners.  We got a $500.00 visa and a $500.00 service card for service.  Well this week on Tuesday night it hit 9 pm and I was talking to my co-worker Phillip Hall.  I went to my car to leave and it wouldn't start.  So after trying multiple people we finally got another officer to come give me a jump start.  So Wednesday morning I got up early to go have the car looked at.  Again it won't start!  But hey it got me home last night.  I call my dad and he tells me how to get roadside assistance from USAA my insurance company.  My dad had told me a battery charger probably wouldn't work at this point.  But i had one. We have a saying in my family from my great great great grandmother that applies here.    "Convince a Gentry against his will; He's of the same opinion still."  So while I was waiting on the Roadside assistance people I left it on the battery charger. Car starts 2 minutes before the guy gets to my driveway.  He jump starts it.   So I go to Volkswagen.  Now mind you i had to be at work at 1pm this is around 10am now.  I'm racing the clock not even sure I'm going to be able to get to work.  My dad had already told me if they take too long at the Dealership I'm to walk down to my grandma's pick up her old car and take it to work.  for those of you who live in Corpus use google maps here this requires me walking from Roddfield to Peterson drive.  I can do it I'm in good enough shape and knowing me i would have run just because I could.  So I get the battery fixed and new air filters and lunch all before work.  My car Blue Blazes owes me a workout I missed during all this but hey I'm glad I didn't have to push the car.  The Incredible Hulk I am not and like Clint Eastwood said "Man's got to know his limitations".  As I was getting the car fixed I thought a lot about those gift cards, a song and one of the names of God.  In Genesis 22:14 Abraham uses the name Jehovah Jireh which translates to The Lord will provide.  There's a song by Big Tent Revival called 2 sets of Joneses about 2 married couples in the starting line up of life.  and a phrase from it has resonated with me.  "And again God provides for bills they've incurred.  At Volkswagen I had a bill of $213.20 I paid nothing because of the service gift card.  I shared that with both my Dad and Marion.  Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."  God supplied for mine and Marion's needs not a want there's a difference.  







 
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Saturday, January 30, 2016

Who we are in Christ

I'm sending out a double digest of Blogs this week.  See i had something i wrote Wednesday and then on Friday i was reading in Five Minutes with Jesus by Sheila Walsh and came across something else that really got my attention.  I have the book so I'll start with that one and type up what i had written today or tomorrow.  On September 13, 2013 I posted a similar study to what Mrs. Walsh has here so I hunted it down and thought I'd add the link because I think they go well together.  Who are you

So here is the chapter Who We are in Christ

Sitting in the psychiatrist's office, I felt as if my pounding heart were going to burst out of my chest.  
I had been admitted to the Northern Virginia Doctors Hospital the previous evening and was staying in the psychiatric wing.  I have struggled with depression for a good part of my life.  I never called it that, though.  I just thought I had a melancholy personality and that sadness was simply woven into my DNA.  But after months of feeling as if I were disappearing a little bit more every day, I had finally reached out to a friend for help, and this was where the journey had taken me.  
"Who are you?"  the doctor asked.
I thought it was a stupid question.  I could see my name on the top of his legal pad.
"I'm Sheila Walsh,"  I said
"I know your name, Sheila,"  he responded kindly, "But who are you?"  
A trick question! I thought.  "I'm the co-host of the 700 club."  
"I didn't ask what you do, Sheila.  I asked who you are."          
That stumped me.  "I don't know."  I whispered"
"Well,"  he said.  "That's why you're here."  
(this is Zac on a side note yesterday i had a friend Hope Keene ask me as a writer to help her with writing an online dating ad Friday and I used this same line of questioning.  it got her thinking. back to the book sorry.)
My greatest nightmare growing up was that I would end up in a psych ward.  My father was thirty-four when he escaped from the hospital where he was being held and took his own life.  As I look back now, more than twenty years later, I can say with confidence that God's mercy led me to that psych ward.
When we are forced to face our greatest fears, we discover that Jesus is right there with us.  I wrote in my journal that first night.  "I never knew You lived so close to the floor."  For a month I worked through the painful process of peeling back the layers I had created to protect myself.  The opportunity to do so was a gift.  (Zac here again I personally in my life have had times where I have had to peel layers of protection away and learn to trust God and others.)
On the day I left, my doctor called out of his office window.  "Sheila, who are you?"  
I responded with everything in me.  "I am Sheila Walsh, daughter of the King of kings!"  

Sometimes God will take you to a prison to set you free.

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6

I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-38

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will but born of God.  John 1:12-13

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Ephesians 2:9-10

It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ.  He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.  2 Corinthians 1:21-22

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Sunday, January 24, 2016

According to His purpose

I've had a varied work history.  I've picked up paint chips off the ground, been a Pizza Hut waiter, worked at a video store, done customer service over the phone.  Now I'm a security guard.  Had a strange education history too.  From 4th grade on I was home-schooled.  When Dad would go on transfer with the phone company we would go with him.  In college I wanted to be an x-ray tech but I got queasy around dissecting a cat and can't stand blood.   I majored in computer information.  At one time I even wanted to be a Christian counselor for teens and I took classes on the ministry of the pastor.  Most don't know this but I'm a preacher's kid.  By now you're probably asking "Zac why are you telling us all this?"  Four days into my job and its a slow windy day so I stood looking at the water and began asking God what he wanted to show me here.  I've done bad and good jobs.  I've learned weird skills.  At the age of 16 I surrendered my life to God.  I've had heartache and hurt, good and bad but all that's happened in life God has used all I've learned.  Like the Christian counselor desire is met by having one of the teens from Real Life as someone who reads the the blog.  Hi Quentin.  Ministry of the pastor that skill is being put to use in an online bible study.  Hey Dad my education wasn't wasted.  The computer information Degree is being used by the very act of doing this online.  I want to show you something about trusting God.  As I watch the seagulls and ducks and the water today I kept coming back to this line by Steven Curtis Chapman in the song His Eyes.  "But He who spoke peace to the water cares more for our hearts than the waves."  See Romans 8:28 says this "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."  See God's not done with you and me by a long shot.  Philippians 1:6 "And I am certain that God who began the good work, within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."  See before and after I started my new job some things took place.  I was interviewed by a friend.  When offered the shift I chose Mon-Fri 1-9 it paid less but i made my choice because I could go to church with Marion and put God first.  I worked at a job for 13 yrs that made it very hard to find joy in and did not work with church attendance.  I had an adviser from Mullins International assigned to me by my former job who was helping me in my job search.  Miss Albrecht understood my personality and desire to help others.  Becoming a guard fills that desire in my heart.  She and Pastor Greg both told me because I chose a schedule to allow me to be at church that God would honor that.  In four days I have learned none of the guards want this shift.  They aren't content.  I have found it to be a blessing.  I'm working at a laid back fun job.  All the long shifts at a call center prepared me for just observing, reporting, and verifying.  Like the WWE announcers always say "This is right up in his wheelhouse."  I'm going to throw some verses at you to look up.  Romans 10:11 "Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame."  Psalms 25:3 and Isaiah 49:23 both echo this.  Trust God he's not done with you.  





This next song is here for a specific reason see in the song it says  "I remember Oh God you're not done with me yet."  He's not done with us and that thought brings tears to my eyes.  Big Daddy Weave - Redeemed with lyrics





This is Philippians 1:6 turned into a song.  STEVE GREEN - HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU with LYRICS
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Friday, January 15, 2016

Gotta tell somebody

Recently we purchased a cd at Mardel and the main reason i bought it was because of my Dad playing this one artist for the family for years.  2 days ago i heard the song again for the first time in years and I want you to read the lyrics.  The gospel account of this can be found in Luke 8:40-56.  If you've never heard Don Francisco you don't know what you're missing he brings full passages of the bible to life with his songs.  This is called Gotta Tell Somebody. 
 She kept on getting weaker as day dragged into day
The doctors gave no hope for her; she seemed to fade away
My hours were filled with constant dread; time became a knife
That slowly and relentlessly cut the cord of life

There was a teacher in the region then some of us had heard
That He'd healed the paralytic by the power of just His Word
So with hope again rekindled I went at once to see
If I could find a man named Jesus from a town in Galilee

I began to search the city and soon I saw the crowd
They were pressing in to touch Him and they called His Name out loud
But with the strength of desperation I pushed them all aside
I threw myself before Him and from my knees I cried

"Lord, come and heal my daughter, even now she's close to death
Her fever's uncontrollable, she fights for every breath
But God's given You the power; life is Yours to give
If you'll just lay Your hands on her I know that she will live"
(She will live, she will live)

Well, He'd just begun to go with me when a face I saw with fear
Came towards me with the news I knew I didn't want to hear
And although I tried to steel myself I trembled when he said
"Why bother the Teacher anymore, your little girl is dead."

Then Jesus touched my shoulder and He told me not to grieve
The trembling stopped when He looked at me and said, "Only believe"
Then He sent the crowds away except His closest men
And they followed right behind us as we started off again

But we were still a long ways down the road when I heard the sounds and cries
Of the mourners and musicians as they strove to dramatize
My grief they had no business with beneath their loud disguise
My wife just sat there silently and stared through empty eyes

Then Jesus asked the mourners, "Why is it that you weep?
She isn't dead as you suppose, the child is just asleep. "
It only took a moment for their wails to turn to jeers
"Who does this man think he is? Get him out of here!"

With authority I've never heard in the lips of any man
He spoke and every sound rolled out with the thunder of command
And in the sudden silence they all hurried for the door
Wondering what the reasons were they'd ever come there for

Then He called his three disciples that were with Him on the way
He led them and my wife and me to where our daughter lay
He took her by the hand; He told her "Child, arise"
And the words were barely spoken when she opened up her eyes

She rose and walked across the room and stood there at our sides
My wife knelt down and held her close and at last she really cried
And then Jesus told us both to see that our daughter had some food
But as to how her life was saved, not to speak a word...
Not to speak a word...

I got to tell somebody
I got to tell somebody
I got to tell somebody
I got to tell somebody
I got to tell somebody, got to tell somebody, what Jesus did for me
I got to tell somebody, got to tell somebody, what Jesus did for me
I got to tell somebody, got to tell somebody, what Jesus did for me
I got to tell somebody, got to tell somebody, what Jesus did for me


one of my favorite verses is this Psalms 18:19 " He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because he delights in me."  See once God changes your heart and life and you become a new creature in Christ you can't contain it.  over and over in scripture we see people's lives being changed by God and if you go to churches you see the same.  a lot of people use these next verses I'm going to share for evangelism only but i think there's more to it than that.  I read this graphic novel a few years back called White Tiger: Hero's Compulsion.  See it wasn't just that she had powers and could help people but she was compelled to do so.  When God changes us it's so radical of a change We've "Gotta tell somebody."  In Matthew 28:18-20 we find these familiar verses.  Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always even to the end of the age."   Yes this is the great commission but i also believe because of our heart change it becomes also our great compulsion.  



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Saturday, January 9, 2016

Yet

As you know the Batcave Blog has always been about hope for the reader.  This week i was reading in 5 minutes with Jesus by Shelia Walsh and i read part of the verses I'm going to quickly share with you.  When i read the verse she referenced i went and read the whole chapter and in three simple verses I was amazed.  So here's Psalms 22:3-5  "Yet you are holy enthroned on the praises of Israel.  Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.  They cried out to you and were saved.  They trusted in you and were never disgraced."  I was laid off on November 19th and I have been trusting and praying for a new job along with friends and family.  Yesterday it was confirmed i had the job.  I trusted God and was not disgraced.  God can be trusted!



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