The Approach

The Approach 

 

As some of you know I have a new dog named Arisia.  We as humans can learn a little about our own behavior when it comes to dogs.  Sometimes she can be very timid when approaching me.  When I noticed this, I thought a bit about how we as humans come to God.  We should definitely approach him with fear and reverence.  For He is holy, and we are sinful creatures, yet he calls us to come to him.  Like my dog we desire to find a place of refuge, comfort, and love.  I mentioned before that I’m dealing with some hurt and pain and my dog reminded me to seek my master because as much as we want to handle things on our own, we can’t do it.  There’s a messed up theology that has been circulating for some years that says “God will never give me more than I can handle “.  Actually, God will use problems to bring you to a choice.  Will you choose to seek him or are you going to do things on your own.  Personally, I’m trying to get better at seeking Him.  I don’t always get it right.  I’m trying hard to read my Bible and listen to Christian music more.  I have the Youversion app on my iPhone and I let it read devotionals and the Bible straight to my hearing aids and I listen to sermons while walking at work.  Small choices can make a difference.

 

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all ye who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  

 

God wants us to seek him.  The late Rich Mullins had a song title that just about sums up us as humans.  Simply put “We are not as strong as we think we are.”  All of us like my wobbly dog Arisia are just a few French fries short of a Happy Meal.  

 

Here’s another reason we need to seek God with our problems.  I love how the English Standard Version translates this verse because on days I’m exhausted I’ve prayed this back to God.

 

Psalm 23:3 

“He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”  

 

Something as of late that has been bothering me is the sheer plethora of profanity my coworkers use and there are times, I get off work and I’m so happy to be away from it.  God calls us to live a better way.  We need to spend time in prayer and in his Word.  I’ve mentioned before if just one person draws closer to God and finds hope because of something I have shared then I have accomplished my purpose.  Make little choices to seek God.

 

I want to end with these two verses because as someone who works nights, I greatly related to them.

 

 

Psalm 16:7-8

 

“I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.  I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.”  

 

 

Come near to me by Geoff Moore and the Distance 

God is faithful by Sheila Walsh 

Life to me by ZoeGirl

 

Battle

 

Battle

 

There are things that God has called you to do.  Mine is to encourage.  I have been in some struggles as of late.  Maybe I don’t talk a lot about it. But I’m seeking God.   Saw on Facebook recently my friend Crystal posted this thing that said, “Have you ever given someone else a motivational speech when you yourself are hurting.”  Every week.  If someone can learn from my pain and seek God, then I will keep doing this.  As open and vulnerable as that may be.   I have echoed the words before of Margaret Becker’s song “God’s not afraid of your honesty.  He can heal your heart if you speak honestly.”  I was reminded recently by some friends how much we need to be seeking God in prayer and spending time in the Bible.   Humans are a stupid lot because that sometimes is our last choice.  I’ll admit it.  Sometimes I’m stupid and make bad decisions.   

 

In order to fight my battles, I have to remember how.

 

Psalm 62:5-8

 

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.  

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.  My victory and honor come from God alone.  He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.  

O my people, trust in Him at all times, Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”  

 

Another thing I have done during this time is to write poetry.  I have never claimed to be good at it.  But sometimes you must unload your feelings into words.  I’m going to share a poem I called The Fog.  

 

The fog

 

I walk through each day 

I have no focus 

Matter

One day my life may matter

So hard 

To see the next thing, I need to do

Did all I knew to do

Loved with every fiber of my being 

Now I walk around 

Confused 

Must keep breathing 

I don’t know why

Scattered 

Shattered 

World has crumbled 

Need hugs

Prayer

Something to focus on 

Can’t give in to anger or bitterness 

This is not the way to turn

Keep breathing 

Do something 

Anything 

It’s all a blur

Activity dulls

But doesn’t help focus 

Fog remains

Tears keep coming 

Hurt strikes at the worst of times

Mentally and emotionally drained 

Fog in mind 

Surrounds me with cold

I just keep praying 

God heal my pain

All I wanted was to be loved

The fog slices with emotional knives

It wears down my defenses 

Once again, I journey with Kismet 

Slowly this journey with Kismet 

Will either strengthen 

Or destroy 

Life and existence 

My struggle 

Each day

Either seek God or give in to despair 

I believe somehow, somehow 

Hope to go on will be seen

Get me out of this painful fog

 

The passage in Psalms I shared referred to God as my refuge and a place to pour out my heart.  I must be like Zero Sugar Minute Maid fruit punch being poured into my Green Lantern mug as the mug fills the bottle empties.  When we pour our hearts out into God who is our refuge, he defends us and shows himself strong.  See God has called me to encourage people and sometimes I let myself be vulnerable to do so.  I’m baring my heart with poetry.  Not all will relate but I’m being honest and open.  If God can somehow use someone as feeble and broken as me then he’s not done with you.  I want you to leave this blog knowing God wants our hearts, our troubles, our mess all of it.  

“Heal the wound but leave the scars 

A reminder of how merciful you are

I am broken, torn apart 

Take the pieces of this heart

And heal the wound but leave the scar”

 

If you’ve been hurt or are in emotional or mental battle, seek God.  Pick up his Word and pray.  Get the Youversion app and have it read devotionals and scripture to you.  Make God your first choice not your last.  Recently I went to a men’s Bible study group, and it was something I needed more than I would admit.  We need encouragement and like I said before if God can use my hurt to help someone else, I say go for it.  

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 

“All praise to God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

 

 

 

 

 

Honesty by Margaret Becker 

Big Enough by Chris Rice

All I need is you by Adie 

Tis so sweet by Amy Grant

What a friend by Kathryn Scott

Acoustic mix by Point of Grace 

 

 Safety 

The last two weeks have been quite the struggle.  I’m trying so hard to focus on anything.  The last thing I want to do is give in to anger and bitterness.  I don’t want to put up walls around me but at the same time I’m tired of being hurt.  Things have happened and my family and my new dog have helped a lot.  I keep relating to this part in the song Show the Way by Kim Hill.  

 

“Look, if someone wrote a play, Just to glorify what’s stronger than hate

Would they not arrange the stage

As if the hero came too late

He’s almost in defeat

It’s looking like the evil side will win”

  It’s the old plot to the Empire Strikes Back.  Everything that can go wrong has.  I truly feel like Evil has won.  I’m simply asking what’s next or as Goldberg would say “Who’s Next?”  This is the longest I’ve gone without doing a blog in a long time and it’s because I’m rattled.  Each day is just focus on something.  I don’t always quote secular music but this one song has been running through my head a lot.  You see I’ve spent years trying to share hope I really have.  I don’t know if I’ve even succeeded in what I’ve done.  I’ve always tried to help that one person who will listen.  

“Sometimes when your hopes have all been shattered 

There’s nowhere to turn

You wonder how you keep going 

Think of all the things that really matter

And the chances you’ve earned 

The fire in your heart is growing 

You can fly if you try leaving the past behind 

Heaven only knows what you may find

Dare 

dare to believe you can survive 

You hold the future in your hand

Dare

Dare to keep all your dreams alive

It’s time to take a stand

You can win if you dare”

There’s been 3 verses I keep coming back to because a week and a half ago I lost my job, I got a new one and a dog named Arisia.  I lost my confidence in my ability to even be a security guard.  I was that rattled.  It’s something I enjoy I like to think I might be good at it but the way things all went down I had no focus afterwards.  None.  

I’m not alone as I have felt.  For lot’s of reasons I have cried a lot and being a man it doesn’t bother me to admit that.  Psalm 3:3-5 has been somewhere I keep turning.  If you know the history of me doing this blog it’s where it all started.  But verse 5 has been hitting me the hardest.  See I have this new dog Arisia, a Terrier/ American Staffordshire mix that is all muscle with a big head and she sleeps by the bed and protects me. She’ll make you feel safe and loved.  A gift of safety from God.    

Psalm 3:3-5 

“But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.  I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.  I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.”  

With everything by Hillsong 

Show the way by Kim Hill

All I need is you by Adie

Dare by Stan Bush