DRUNK ON ONE SWALLOW OF BROWN WATER

          Some times life's the smallest moments cause the greatest impact. Many folks tell stories about mustard seeds and mountains. My story is about some brown water and love.

          Today is Maunday Thursday, 2014. The term comes from the remembrance of what a dude named Jesus did at his last supper with his closest friends. He began the meal by washing their feet and telling them: "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). My last supper was Sunday night April 13, 2014. That was my last meal before I began my yearly custom of fasting from solid foods from Sunday evening until Friday evening.

          A fast is simply my way of saying: "I want to set aside normalcy and seek God totally." My life slows down as you might expect that it would when your body's energy wanes from fasting. Life becomes magnified with small things becoming more important than normal. I think appreciation is a food of fasting. Today it was a mouthful of brown water.

          My wife brings me coffee every morning before we spend our time reading God stuff together. After a while she goes on about her day as I commence writing a book, a blog or a post. She was in the kitchen as I took a sip of coffee. I did not swallow immediately as I normally do. I was like a wine taster savoring and discovering the flavors of a new wine. I paused and reflected on how that brown water got to be in my cup. It was like a foot washing moment, my wife is always doing something to serve me. Each day begins with brown water that she began preparing the night before. The "brown-water-coffee" is an act of love. It took me a moment to savor my wife's act of love that only served to reflect her continual acts of love. It was a "Brown-Water-Moment" and the flavor of love trickled from my mouth into my heart.

Thanks for your time.
Go do something nice for somebody.

I CONFESS

     

God is the Spring of new beginnings.

Forgiveness melts the frozen past. 

"They’ll get to know me by being kindly forgiven,

with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean."

          Several years ago I went through a devastating life episode. Some of my actions had hurt other people and I needed to take responsibility for those actions. It was the lowest point of my life.

          I felt like a dirt bag. I felt guilty. I was heartsick. I felt like a failure. For three days I fell into a deep depression. Wallowing in guilt and self pity is like a seed moaning about the Winter past when Spring was in full swing; it's useless and counterproductive. On the third day, my life changed forever.

          At about 5 am, I awoke up. I was still feeling like I'd poured some poison soup into my soul. Still in bed, I was lying on my back looking at the ceiling. I closed my eyes and I began to see in my mind. A mental picture had formed in my head. It was like I was looking at words carved on a rock. The rock was actually my forehead. Imagine for a moment. that your eyes had moved to the inside of your head and were looking at the inside of your forehead, that's what I saw. It was like a giant movie screen.

          Etched into my forehead was the word "Hebrews" along with the number "8:13." I am fairly familiar with the Bible but I had no idea what this passage meant. Grabbing my Bible, I looked it up.

Hebrews 8:13 (New King James Version)
In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

It's a good idea to read the surrounding passages to give you a greater perspective. Here's verse 12:

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,
 and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

For an even greater perspective here is Hebrews 8:6-13 from The Message Bible:

"But Jesus’ priestly work far surpasses what these other priests do, since he’s working from a far better plan. If the first plan—the old covenant—had worked out, a second wouldn’t have been needed. But we know the first was found wanting, because God said,
Heads up! The days are coming
when I’ll set up a new plan
for dealing with Israel and Judah.
I’ll throw out the old plan
I set up with their ancestors
when I led them by the hand out of Egypt.
They didn’t keep their part of the bargain,
so I looked away and let it go.
This new plan I’m making with Israel
isn’t going to be written on paper,
isn’t going to be chiseled in stone;
This time I’m writing out the plan in them,
carving it on the lining of their hearts.
I’ll be their God,
they’ll be my people.
They won’t go to school to learn about me,
or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons.
They’ll all get to know me firsthand,
the little and the big, the small and the great.
They’ll get to know me by being kindly forgiven,
with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean. 
By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust."

          I have to admit I balled my eyes out, I was wasted. The God of the universe had spoken to me personally and let me know I was forgiven. I got to know God on a deeper level through his forgiveness. I was starting over, taking responsibility, being forgiven, being loved - but best of all: God was teaching me to go and do likewise.

Pay forgiveness forward.Pay kindness forward.Pay love forward.

Thanks for your time.
Go do something nice for somebody.
#JLYASDW

And So This Is Easter - What Have You Done?

And so this is Easter,
And what have you done?
Another year over,
Has your new life just begun?

Some folks complain about holidays not having a real meaning other than material celebrations: Eggs, bunnies, bonnets, buns etc. 

What matters the most is:
The condition of your heart.
The work of your hands.
The direction of your feet.
The truth of your words.
The water quality in the River of Life is measured by the flow outside the gates of your heart. As a man drinketh - so he floweth!

Proverbs 23
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
But his heart is not with you.
8 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up,
And waste your pleasant words.

12 Apply your heart to instruction,
And your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold correction from a child,

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself;
16 Yes, my inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak right things.

19 Hear, my son, and be wise;
And guide your heart in the way.

22 Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it,
Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her who bore you rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart,
And let your eyes observe my ways.

TWO BEAMS of TIME

It took years for this tree to grow into a cross.

The times of many seasons came together in the timing of growth for a cross-tree.

Time and timing are like two beams on a cross.
They are separate until they are brought together.
Take the time to connect the beams of your cross.
Your actions will create the timing of death for an old way of life.
Timing is the accumulation of times.
Timing is the completeness of times.
Timing is the result of actions.
Timing is the crossing of times.
Time is not for keeping, time is for making and giving.
Let God hold your stopwatch, He alone holds the hands of timing.
"Don't stop until the Holy Spirit stops you!"*

*This last sentence is a quote I heard from Pastor Craig McLeod at Life Church Buffalo and I have adopted that line as a personal life mission statement.
Thanks Pastor Craig!

Acts 1:7-8 Amplified Bible
7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know [a]what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed [b]years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.
8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

Acts 1:7-8 The Message
7-8 He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

Mark 1:15 Amplified Bible
15 And saying, The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled (completed), and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ([a]have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to) the good news (the Gospel).

Mark 1:15 New King James Version
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

The HEART FARMER & The BEES "HAS BEE'NS, WON'T BEE'S & WILL BEE'S"

Once upon a minute the Heart Farmer and his daughter Beauty were planting their garden. It was spring and the bees were beginning to buzz because buzzing is what bees do. At first Beauty was afraid of the bees. She remembered being stung in the behind when she was just a baby. Her Dad told her that their was nothing to be afraid of if you leave them alone.

The big burly man's smile beamed down on Beauty as he said: "God put the bees here to teach us what we should be." Beauty squinted as she looked up at her Dad whose face was barely blocking the sun in the beautiful blue sky. "What do you mean Daddy?" Asked the Heart Farmers daughter.

"Well my sweet little green bean, a bee will be what ever it's made up its mind to be. I've got it figured out that there are three kinds of bees. They are the "Has Bee'ns", the "Won't Bees" and the "Will Bees". The bees are just like people. Some folks sulk in the memories of what they used to be. They are the "Has Bee'ns".
Some never do anything but dream about what they want to be. Those folks soak in the fantasies of what they will never be. They are the "Won't Bee's". Some folks will be all that they can be. When life seems hard and they struggle to fly, they just try and try and try and then they fly, fly, fly! Those folks are the "Will Bee's". They Will Bee whatever they make up their mind to Bee!"

Beauty smiled a smile that beamed from behind each ear and said: "I love you Daddy!" Then the little girl looked at the freshly broken ground and said: "What are we going to plant today Daddy?" The behemoth of a man scooped his darling Beauty up into his burly arms and kissed her and said: "BEETS! Today we will plant beets in honor of the bees. Today my little green bean we will be as happy as we make up our minds to be!"

Just BEELIEVE
Mark 5:36
“Do not be afraid; only believe.”

The HEART FARMERS SECRETS of LOVE

SOW what you desire to grow.
WATER what you desire to grow.
FERTILIZE what you desire to grow.
REMOVE the weeds from your own heart.
SPEAK what you desire to hear.
PLAN according to the Four Seasons:
FORGIVE, REST, START OVER, CELEBRATE
BECOME what you want to RECEIVE.
The Heart Farmer uses a special blend of coffee to start each day.
It's grown on the Mountains of God and it's called:
"FMG" or FORGIVENESS, MERCY & GRACE.

{James 5:7
Be Patient and Persevering
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.}

{Psalm 126:6
6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.}

PRAYER of a HYPOCRITE

          I saw a dude in a hoodie yesterday that said: "SEX & DRUGS & RAP." My first arrogant thought was: "That's stupid. That guys probably mixed up in stuff that is not good." Then my memory appeared through the fog. It wasn't that many years ago that I was singing along with a song on the radio called: "SEX & DRUGS & ROCKIN' ROLL." Then I thought: "Oh yeah, I haven't been and I'm still not a perfect guy." I read this morning about a guy named Daniel who took responsibility for the sins of a whole nation.
           Okay God, I want to take responsibility for what I have done that has not brought glory to you. I want to take responsibility for my actions that have been hypocritical and may have lead others away from you. I want to take responsibility as a leader who has not always paved the way for young people to walk in a way that leads to you. I know that you are a God of forgiveness, mercy and grace. Please cover my irresponsibilities with your second chance grace. Please cover the irresponsibilities of those who didn't know what they are doing. Please cover the irresponsibilities of our city and our nation. Thank you for your passion. We proclaim our hearts be lent to you in one accord. Amen

Daniel 9:16
16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”