Sparrow Missile

 

Sparrow missile 

 

I don’t blog as much as I used to.  I struggle at times with a sense of purpose and direction.  I recently finished writing a story where I channeled a lot of my emotions into one character.  I find myself often switching what I listen to and read to get my eyes fixed back on God.  Problems in life will overwhelm you.  Like Robin the Boy Wonder asked “Why isn’t anyone just whelmed?  It’s always over or underwhelmed.”  Life can at times come at you like a sparrow missile.  But here’s the thing instead of a weapon I needed to be reminded this week what God has done for the birds.  Sometimes we need to look up and remember that the stars, the sky, the sun, and moon aren’t there by accident.  They don’t even fly off into space.  There’s a God in control and he’s taking care of all of this, and he can take care of you and me.  I read two verses Saturday night that got me off my stinking thinking and directed me back to God because I needed to remember that God takes care of the sparrow and the swallow.  Two little birds!  Maybe just maybe you need to look at them too.  

 

Psalm 84:3-4

 

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—

A place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King, and my God 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.”  

 

It referred to the birds finding a place for a nest near God’s altar.  That brought something to mind that I hadn’t thought about in some years.  I used to go to Zephyr Baptist Encampment at least once a year for youth camp and there was a building where we met for church services called the tabernacle.  This building had bird nests everywhere.  Now here’s verses years before about birds being near God’s altar and years later a place of worship surrounded by bird’s nests.  Yeah, I don’t think that escaped God’s attention at all.  At my job I walk around with Christian music playing directly into my hearing aids while I’m verifying that buildings are locked singing loudly not caring that anyone can hear.  I’m pretty sure God notices that.  If you’ve ever watched the movie the Highlander in it the Immortals can’t fight on Holy Ground.    Sometimes we need to remember where we are with those sparrows and swallows flying around that can actually be Holy Ground.  Maybe there’s not a church or an altar around but we can still pray and sing to God, and we can turn that place into Holy Ground.  Maybe you need to be like that crazy security guard who’s walking around a college campus in the wee hours of the morning singing.  Because I think the best way to end this is would be……..

 

“O, Praise the name of the Lord our God.  

O, praise his name forevermore. 

For endless days we will sing Your praise 

O Lord, O Lord, our God.”  

 

 

 

With everything by Hillsong 

O, praise the name by Hillsong 

God is faithful by Sheila Walsh

Blessed be your name by Rebecca St James

 

Day by Day

Day by Day

 

Recently I posted on Facebook that there’s a conversation at the end of Rambo First Blood part 2 that I very much relate to lately.  Colonel Trautman asks Rambo after his long one-man war and rescue of the POWs.  “How will you live, John?”  “Day by Day.”  Sometimes all we can do is live day by day seeking God in prayer.  

 

I work a strange night’s schedule 2 eight hour shifts with 2 12 hour shifts between them then 3 days off.  Recently a lot of things happened at work.  But before I tell you about that you need to get a mild amount of background.  I’m not complaining about it, just stating facts.  So, one of the guards backed the golf cart we use into a vehicle.  Our main boss took away golf cart privileges from everyone.  Now we walk all over campus where I work.  I had one of the dispatchers tell me to my face I was too slow.  I seriously almost got mad at him.  Then I thought about it.  I’m 46 years old.  I walk with a limp due to having one leg longer than the other because of growth hormone deficiency from birth.  I’m diabetic.  Every building we walk to has a different key we must locate among many keys.  If I’m slow I’m sorry.  I can run very fast to disarm buildings.  I wasn’t even mad because I was giving my best.  By the time you go through a 12-hour shift and I talk to this dispatcher I’m usually exhausted.  I want to tell you about some changes though.  I started the job in October.  I am still learning new things.  Recently one guard my friend Stephen quit for another job.  He and I worked well as a team.  Then another guard got fired for coming to work very drunk.  Well, we hired a new guard since then.  Suddenly the dispatcher who called me slow is treating me like a very valuable team member.  Also, I have been praying a lot on the way to work for the safety of my coworkers.  They can’t stop me because I’m in my car.  

 

On Monday nights I’m usually extremely exhausted after walking Friday-Sunday.  Well, I showed up for work this Monday night and I had told my friend Abbey and only her.  “I’m tired and hurting and exhausted.”  When you get to the point where you’re taking a 12-hour Aleve to get you through work because your legs hurt so bad, and your knees keep popping it’s about to be a long night at work.  I love my job.  I like what I do but it can wear you down.  Well, I showed up to work and the same dispatcher who called me slow asked me when the last time he made me a rover.  I didn’t remember either.  So I got to do fire watch all night.  Basically, you sit in a building all night and call in every hour making sure there’s no trouble.  I can do that.  It gave my body a chance to rest, and I was thankful to God for that rest.  I texted my mom and my friend Abbey and told them I was grateful to God for a chance to rest and not walk so much.  God provided.  

 

Psalm 71:3 asks this of God.

 

“Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my Rock and my Fortress.”  

 

Philippians 4:19

 

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

 

Romans 8:28

 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to His purpose.”  

 

Psalm 23:1-3

 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”  

 

See God provided me some recovery time to give him the glory.  

 

God is faithful by Sheila Walsh 

Tell me again by Geoff Moore and the Distance 

Psalm 23 by Kathy Troccoli 

Brute Beast

 

Brute beast 

 

In the comics and the 80’s Tv show Robert David Bruce Banner was always attempting to separate himself from the Incredible Hulk.  At times he was actually able to purge himself from his raging alter ego.  In He-Man Revelations there is a moment where Prince Adam separates himself from He-Man and just becomes this savage beast.  If we let our emotions get the best of us, we become no different.  We function on instinct and stupidity.  It’s those times especially when we are emotionally messed up that we need to seek God and reconnect.  If you’re confused by this comparison, I’m making I’m about to show you in scripture why I connected with it in the way I did.  My brain goes to comics and cartoons but these verses will make sense in a moment why I mentioned the Hulk and Savage He-Man and it’s because there are so many facets to us as humans.  

 

Psalm 73:21-28

 

“When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.  Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.  Whom have I in Heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.  But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”  

 

The Psalmist Asaph described us when consumed by emotions to be like a brute beast.  It’s like the Hulk separated from Banner.  Recently my dog got an ear infection and I’ve been having my mom as well as a friend of mine try to help me with giving Arisia ear drops.  Dogs don’t like it at all and they become like a brute beast.  I basically have to pin her down to be able to have someone else give her the ear drops.  Sometimes when we’re emotionally messed up God has to go to the extreme to get us to pay attention to Him.  I love how this whole passage ends though because once we stop fighting and pay attention God is right there trying to teach us. 

 

Who am I by Point of Grace 

At your feet by Casting Crowns