Janitor

Here I am sitting in the hospital. Along comes a janitor mopping the floor of the room. She overhears my conversation about church and a prayer over lunch. She approaches and asks what church I attend. I respond. Immediately, she begins preaching. Preaching like you do not hear very often. Preaching I admire and wish I had such adept ability at executing. She is on fire. The janitor at the hospital, who'd of thunk it?

She goes on to tell me about growing up in Iran and being a Muslim. She said, "We had no personal relationship with God. We knew of Jesus, we just thought he was a prophet. We had no idea He was Son of God!" With her cute accent and broken English she goes on to explain multiple situations of actions she took in her life based on the Word of God. The very first time she heard the Gospel she responded with joy to be a Christian. She shared her disappointment with the state of the church and the lack of those that actually live out their faith.

This lady, she amazes me. Where did she come from? Does the hospital know they have an on fire preacher roaming these halls? She recalls multiple examples of witnessing to patients, patients on their death beds. There is something irresistible about her faith. It glows. She shines. This janitor puts me to shame.

What was that Jesus said about the last being first and the first being last?

I'm not competent to run my life

I met this guy at work, a customer of mine. He chews tobacco, is a little rough around the edges, has a big ford diesel truck, and I may have heard him cuss a little here or there. But you know what I found out one day? This guy knows the Lord. Sometimes you can not be too quick to judge others. You never know what they experienced in life (abuse, neglect, disabilities, bad parents, poverty, disease, bad environment, etc...). To be honest, I had no idea this guy knew the Lord.

One day a conversation came up over lunch. I told him I was looking at going into full-time ministry. As we wrapped up our meal and went outside, he threw a lipful of tobacco in and we walked out to his Harley Davidson motorcycle and he proceeds to give me a lecture on Christianity and on God. He confessed he didn't attend church everday, but I swear when he talked about the Lord something lit up inside him. I am telling you, he knows God. He probably knows God better than some imitation Christian that just goes thru the motions.

He gave me an intense sermon on how all denominations were all just Christians and only wearing a different label. He talked about living the life everyday and not just on Sunday. He talked about how he saw his business as an opportunity to serve his community and to help out those in need when he can. He confessed he falls short in certain areas, but he also confessed his searching for God's heart on certain matters. He has saught the Lord. The Word states that he who seeks, will find. And also, God is a rewarder of those that seek Him.

What hit me more than anything else he told me was this, "I am incompetent to run my life." "I need God to help me." Those words have been ringing in my ears for the last week. This guy threw all the outside appearance places his life in God's hands. He trusts God and believes in Him to guide him.

Now I know you all will look at me and say, you think he's a Christian? He dips tobacco, gambles, and cusses AND you think he knows the Lord? Yes I am telling you. He knows the Lord. He admitted he could be better, yes. But can't we all? Who can throw the first stone at this guy, who out there has no sin, no imperfections?

I think this guy, this guy should be a pastor. Not me. This guy. I'm not competent to run my own life. Thats humility. Thats a guy who has seen the Almighty and the awesome power and glory of God.

I tell you Jesus has His church. Not all of them are attending the buildings. Not all of them look like saints.

Too much passion?

Sometimes I believe I get too excited about God. Sometimes I feel this overwhelming explosion of passion welling up on the inside when I meet someone that I can talk to "deeply" about God. Talking about His church, about His people, about whats going on at large in spiritual matters, about what He is doing and has done. There are so many times the pathway to deep conversations about God are blocked or cut off at the pass with small talk or just plain lack of any relationship, BUT there are those precious times when God is present and two believers get to join together in pursuing God and His Will. I treasure those moments...it's only too bad they aren't more frequent.

My fear is that I dominate a conversation and don't listen as much as talk. The fervent spirit in me just gets so out of control that there is actually a kindred spirit that understands what it feels that it just upchucks all over them. Excuse the language.

I pray that God would continue to humble me to allow my fellow believers room to share their faith and to shut my mouth to see what God may be trying to tell me. I am sorry God for not letting you speak to me and for interupting you. I know you know I love you, but again you find me, lacking.

God bless you all.....keep up the fight out there....seek and you will find....knock on those doors, they will be openend!!!

A kingdom of opposites

To have life, you must lose your life Matthew 10:39
If you want to be first in the kingdom, you must be the very last Mark 9:35
The greatest in the kingdom of God will be servant of all (Out of Mark 9:35 as well)
The King of the Universe, road into town on a donkey Mark 11:10
Love your enemy Matthew 5:44
In the Kingdom of Heaven...The last will be first and the first will be last (Luke 13:30)
To truly love, you must put your flesh to death
To obtain wisdom, fear the Lord Proverbs 9:10 (Previously posted on)

Amazing, mind-blowing words from Jesus...you talk about flipping the world of religious experts and laymen upside down...Many in that day did not see that coming. The king we were expecting to be great and powerful and he's riding on a donkey, has no beauty, no physical strength, no money, and no army???? Who is this man who claims to be the Son of God??? And he is going to let us kill and mame Him? He is going to lay down His life when He could call the clouds to reign down fire on us? He is going to serve us rather than conquer us? Humble Himself instead of exalt and assert the position of King in the land?

Yeah....makes you think! What are we expecting from Jesus? Do we expect to be lifted up, rule this material world? Do we wish to be served? Are we looking to be last? Are we seeking humility and humbleness? Are we seeking to be a servant to our wife, our family, our friends?

Just some things to meditate on this evening........It's been on my mind for a week or so now...God as He usual does pounds something into my tiny brain many times before I start to really catch on. So often I want big things, I wanna conquer the world for Jesus, when sometimes all He may be asking is to serve a single person, to show some love to someone having a bad day, to smile at the person that hates his job and cheer him up.

I was reflecting on Job while thinking of humility. Job was pretty sure of himself, even the Bible said he was the most righteous thing going. Job was so confident he faced God and argued his righteousness and that none of the terrible things that happened to him were justifiable and he wanted answers from the most high. Well, as it turns out...The Lord did answer this man who was so confident and proud of his righteousness, in his own abilities...
The Lord said, "Where were you when I laid the earths foundation? Tell me, if you understand Wo marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ....See Job 38 to read the rest of what God had to say to little mortal man who overstepped what he thought he was.....Sounds like valid questions from God, who are we to question God???? Who are we to think we can stand on our own merit? What do we really know?

Humbling????

Repenting from being a Pharisee

Matthew 5:3-10 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I have talked with some of you of my recent experience of repenting from being a Pharisee. I would like to share more.

About 1 month ago, I had a parting of the way with some very close friends. The division was based on a set of laws created by people. I was following my conscience and praying for guidance, but that did not seem to matter to these individuals. They had laws in place and they could not believe the Spirit within a man to be trustworthy enough to follow. Well, if we cannot rely on God inside of us, then we have totally lost anything of value in what it means to be a Christian. Jesus in you.

God also revealed to me that I too had participated in being a rule book, judgemental, proud Pharisee. I am sorry for this. If I have uttered any words to any of you that were out of place, please accept my apology.

Rather than pride and thinking I have it all figured out. God taught me HUMILITY. What a great word. God has also told me that I am an idiot. Which at first glance seems harsh, but I urge you to consider: It is not I that carry wisdom, love, and purity-but the One who is in me possesses all wisdom beyond measure. So I can say Blessed are the poor and humble and broken in spirit, because when we are weak and empty; that is when we are strong. In our humbleness we are lifted up, not in our pride.

To futher that cause, I have nothing to claim of my own even my intellect...But God is responsible for all...my very thoughts are His.

So, whether or not calling yourself an idiot is the right word. It works for me and keeps me in a humble stance; where I am able to love all the people God places in my life.

I just love those words...poverty of spirit. It is so freeing to know we don't have to seek greatness and be proud if we are great, but rather we should seek to think much less of ourselves and let God do the work. Because afterall, he is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and more than capable, if we believe.